THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER, EXPLAINED IN SIMPLE LANGUAGE, WITH MEDITATIONS AND PRAYERS. By G. B. LONDON: JAMES NISBET AND CO. BERNERS STREET. MDCCCXLIII. INTRODUCTION, SHEWING THE IMPORTANT NATURE OF THE SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUpper. THE Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is a religious service, which ought to be considered in the most serious manner by every professing Christian. Those persons who are come to years of discretion, and have never received it, are either in great ignorance or great sin; and most probably, they are both more ignorant and more sinful than they have any idea of. At the same time, many who go up to the table of our Lord are so unfit for the sacred service, that it would be well for them had they never gone. It certainly must be a great sin to neglect the solemn command of Jesus Christ, who "the same night in which He was betrayed took bread, and when He had given thanks, He brake it, and said, Take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me." (1 Cor. xi. 23.) It is fearful to think of the ingratitude and guilt of disobeying a command given under such circumstances, and for such a purpose; and yet it is a still greater sin to approach the table of the Lord, as many do, without a proper preparation of heart for so sacred a service. Suppose a king, or some great lord, should make a feast, and invite a number of guests. It would, of course, be considered a great affront, if any of those who were invited refused to go. But would it not be a great deal worse, if any of those who did go to the feast should take the opportunity of their being admitted into the great man's presence, for insulting him to his face? We should certainly say, it had been better for such to have kept away. So also, we had better not go at all to the Supper of the Lord, than go in an improper state of mind. For what do those do but offer an insult to the Lord of life and glory, who present themselves before Him on such a solemn occasion with indifference and unconcern, without repentance and without faith? They pretend to commemorate the death He died for them, and to seek life at His hands; and yet they feel no grief for their sins, on account of which He suffered, nor any intention or desire of giving themselves up with holy devotion to His service. But observe; while we continue willingly to absent ourselves from this sacred service, we are living under the displeasure of God, and if death should overtake us in such a condition, what shadow of hope would there be for us? Can we suppose that Jesus Christ would own us for His disciples, when we had never owned Him for our Lord? Is it likely that those who have constantly turned their backs upon the spiritual feast provided for them in God's house on earth, will be permitted to enter His house in heaven, and dwell with Him for ever? Only let us say whether this is at all likely. Can that soul be prepared for heavenly joys in the presence of our Lord, which never found any joy while on earth in communion with Him? No, no; it stands to reason this cannot be; and the Scriptures confirm the same fearful truth. For our Lord Himself has said, "Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood, ye have no life in you." (John vi. 53.) Now these words, if they were rightly understood and duly considered, would strike terror into many hearts too little inclined to think that an eternity of misery is likely to be their portion, when a few more years are over. But, indeed, who can say that they have yet years, or even a year, to live? A few weeks, or perhaps only a few days, may bring their lives to an end, and eternal torment may begin. Perhaps, Reader, you never before considered the Sacrament of the Lord's supper as being so absolutely necessary to your salvation, or regarded death as so likely to prove the gate of hell, while you continue to leave the church, when the faithful disciples of Christ spiritually feed upon His body and blood. But can it be shewn from Scripture, that there is any thing but death eternal awaiting those who have not found life in Christ? It is written, "He that believeth on Him is not condemned; but he that believeth not is condemned already." (John iii. 18.) And again, "He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned." (Mark xvi. 16.) But perhaps you think you are a believer in Jesus, although you have never made an open profession of your faith, by receiving the Lord's Supper. Beware of self-deception. You grievously deceive yourself, if you fancy you are feeding upon Christ in your heart by faith, while in your life and conduct you wilfully disobey His commands. Then again, it must be observed, that to believe in Christ is to receive as true all He has said, be it what it may, His threatenings as well as His promises; therefore, if you are a believer, you must believe His words, which tell you that you have no life in you, since you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink His blood;" that is to say, you do not eat of that bread and drink of that cup, which are signs of His body and blood, appointed by Himself, as the means of spiritually feeding upon Him in our hearts by faith. It may, perhaps, be observed, by way of objection to what has been said, that the language of our blessed Lord in the sixth chapter of St. John's Gospel, has no express reference to the Sacrament, |