many ages, observe it. No one felt himself at liberty to neg- lect it : nor would any man have been accounted a Christian, indeed, if he had neglected it. This then shews, that none who desire to serve and honour God should abstain from it. They should come to it, to express their gratitude to the Lord Jesus for what he has done for them, and to obtain fresh supplies of grace and peace at his hands. Yet no one should think that the performance of this duty has any such charm in it, as to recommend him to God, and to conciliate the Divine favour. It is Christ alone that can save us : and, whether we seek him in this or any other ordinance, it is He alone that can recon- cile us to God. It is not the act of praying, or the act of communicating at his table, that can form any legitimate ground of hope : it is on Christ, as apprehended by faith, that we must rely ; and it is only so far as we exercise a simple faith on him, that we can justly hope for acceptance with our God. Let the ordinance, then, be viewed aright. It is a memorial of the death of Christ, and a medium of communion with Christ, whose body and blood we feed upon in the sacred elements, and by whom we are strengthened for all holy obedience. Let the ordinance be observed in this way, and we shall find it a good preparative for heaven, yea, and an earnest and foretaste of heaven itself.]
2. Seek to realize the great truths declared in it —
[Here you behold Christ giving himself for you. In the bread broken, and the wine poured forth, you behold his agonies even unto death, even those agonies which have ex- piated your guilt, and obtained the remission of your sins. O let the sight fill you with holy joy and gratitude ; and let it encourage your access to God, even though you had a thousand times greater guilt upon you than ever was contracted by any child of man ! The death of Christ was a propitiation for the sins of the whole world : and if every sinner in the universe would look to him, it would suffice to conciliate the Divine favour in his behalf, and to save them all, without exception. In a full confidence of this, take the sacred elements within your lips, and expect from God all those blessings which his dear Son has purchased for you ]
3. Look forward to the feast prepared for you in
heaven —
[Soon, very soon, shall you be called to " the supper of the Lamb in heaven," and there see the Redeemer and his redeemed all feasting together in endless bliss. May we not well say, " Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of our God^?" Anticipate, then, this blessed day. Watch
=» Luke xiv. 15.
1402.] Christ's apprehension. 559
and wait for your summons hence : survey the glories that shall then encompass you on every side: and let it be your one endeavour now to get " the wedding garment," that shall qualify you to be acceptable guests at that table. Remem- ber, that " Christ, our passover, is sacrificed for us^." Re- member that even in this world it is your privilege to " keep the feast" from day to day. And be assured, that the more constantly and entirely you feed on Christ below, the better shall you be prepared for the nearest intercourse with him above, and the fullest possible communication of all his blessings to your souls.]
^ 1 Cor. V. 7.