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recognise the sacrificial character of Christ's death, and the doctrine of "faith in his blood," as necessary to our salvation, this is "an altar of which they have no right to eat" who reject these doctrines; and from the Lord's table all such persons ought to be repelled by ministers, whenever, from compliance with custom, or other motives, they would approach it.

memoration was to be on their part an acknowledgment | Lord's Supper be in truth much more than this; if it of the doctrine of the vicarious and propitiatory nature of the death of Christ, and an act of faith in it. Then as to the cup, they were commanded to drink of it, for a reason also particularly given, "FOR this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins:" the recognition, therefore, implied in the act, was not merely that Christ's blood was shed; but that it was shed as the blood of "the 2. It is equally evident that when there is no evinew covenant," and for " the remission of sins;" a re- dence in persons of true repentance for sin, and of decognition which could only take place in consequence | sire for salvation, according to the terms of the Gospel, of faith in his blood," as the blood of atonement. they are disqualified from partaking at "the table of Again, says St. Paul, as taught by the particular reve- the Lord." They eat and drink unworthily, and fall lation he received as to the Lord's Supper, "For as therefore into "condemnation." The whole act is moften as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do deed on their part an act of bold profanation or of show or publish the Lord's death until he come;" hypocrisy; they profess by this act to repent, and which publication of his death was not the mere de- have no sorrow for sin; they profess to seek deliverclaration of the fact of "the Lord's death," but of his ance from its guilt and power, and yet remain willingly death according to the Apostolic doctrine, as the true under its bondage; they profess to trust in Christ's propitiation for sin, the benefits of which were to be death for pardon, and are utterly unconcerned respectreceived by faith. Thus then we see in the Lord's ing either; they profess to feed upon Christ, and hunSupper, the visible token and pledge of a covenant of ger and thirst after nothing but the world; they place mercy in the blood of Christ, exhibited by God its au- before themselves the sufferings of Chrst; but when thor; and on the part of man a visible acknowledgment they "look upon him whom they have pierced," they of this covenant so ratified by the sacrifice of Christ, do not "mourn because of him," and they grossly ofand an act of entire faith in its truth and efficacy in fend the all-present Majesty of heaven, by thus making order to the remission of sins, and the conferring of all light of Christ, and "grieving the Holy Spirit.” other spiritual benefits. As a SIGN, it exhibits, 1. 3. It is a part of Christian discipline in every reliThe infinite love of God to the world, who gave "his gious society to prevent such persons from communionly-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him cating with the Church. They are expressly excluded might not perish, but have everlasting life." 2. The by Apostolic authority, as well as by the original instilove of Christ, who "died the just for the unjust, that tution of this sacrament, which was confined to Christ's he might bring us to God." 3. The extreme nature of disciples; and ministers would "partake of other his sufferings, which were unto death. 4. The vica- men's sins," if knowingly they were to admit to the rious and sacrificial character of that death, as a sin- Supper of the Lord those who in their spirit and offering and a propitiation; in virtue of which only, a lives deny him. covenant of grace was entered into with man by the offended God. 5. The benefits derived from it through believing," remission of sins;" and the nourishment of the soul in spiritual life and vigour, by virtue of a vital "communion" with Christ, so that it is advanced and perfected in holiness," until he come" to confer upon his disciples the covenanted blessing of eternal life. As a SEAL it is a constant assurance, on the part of God, of the continuance of this covenant of redemption in full undiminished force from age to age; it is a pledge to every penitent who believes in Christ, and receives this sacrament in profession of his entire reliance upon the merits of Christ's passion for forgiveness, that he is an object of merciful regard and acceptance; there is in it also, as to every one who thus believes and is accepted, a constant exhibition of Christ as the spiritual food of the soul, to be received by faith, that he may grow thereby; and a renewed assurance of the bestowment of the full grace of the new covenant, in the accomplishment of all its promises, both in this life and in that which is to come. In every cabration, the sign of all these gracious acts, provisions, and hopes is exhibited, and God condescends thus to repeat his pledges of faithfulness and love to the Church of Christ, purchased by his blood. The members of that Church, on the other hand, renew their acceptance of, and reliance upon, the new covenant; they publish their faith in Christ; they glory in his cross, his sacrificial though shameful death, as the wisdom of God, and the power of God; they feast upon the true passover victim by their faith, and they do this with joy and thanksgiving, on account of a greater deliverance than that of the Israelites from Egypt, of which they are the subjects. It was this predominance of thanksgiving in celebrating this hallowed rite, which at so early a period of the Church attached to the Lord's Supper the title of" The Eucharist."

We may conclude this view by a few general observations.

1. The very nature of the ordinance of the Lord's Supper excludes from participating in it not only open unbelievers, but all who reject the doctrine of the atonement made by the vicarious death of Christ for "the remission of sins." Such persons have indeed tacitly acknowledged this, by reducing the rite to a mere commemoration of the fact of Christ's death, and of those virtues of humility, benevolence, and patience, which his sufferings called forth. If therefore the

4. On the other hand, the table of the Lord is not to be surrounded with superstitious terrors. All are welcome there who truly love Christ, and all who sincerely desire to love, serve, and obey him. All truly penitent persons; all who feel the burden of their sins, and are willing to renounce them; all who take Christ as the sole foundation of their hope, and are ready to commit their eternal interests to the merits of his sacrifice and intercession, are to be encouraged to "draw near with faith, and to take this holy sacrament to their comfort." In it God visibly exhibits and confirms his covenant to them, and he invites them to become parties to it, by the act of their receiving the elements of the sacrament in faith.

5. For the frequency of celebrating this ordinance we have no rule in the New Testament. The early Christians observed it every Sabbath, and exclusion from it was considered a severe sentence of the Church, when only temporary. The expression of the Apostle, "as often as ye eat this bread," intimates that the practice of communion was frequent; and perhaps the general custom in this country of a monthly administration, will come up to the spirit of the ancient institution. That it was designed, like the Passover, to be an annual celebration only, has no evidence from Scripture, and is contradicted by the most ancient practice.

6. The habitual neglect of this ordinance by persons who profess a true faith in Christ, is highly censurable. We speak not now of Quakers and Mystics, who reject it altogether, in the face of the letter of their Bibles; but of many who seldom or never communicate, principally from habits of inattention to an obligation which they do not profess to deny. In this case a plain command of Christ is violated, though not perhaps with direct intention; and the benefit of that singularly affecting mean of grace is lost, in which our Saviour renews to us the pledges of his love, repeats the promises of his covenant, and calls for invigorated exercises of our faith, only to feed us the more richly with the bread that comes down from heaven. If a peculiar condemnation falls upon them who partake" unworthily," then a peculiar blessing must follow from partaking worthily; and it therefore becomes the duty of every minister to explain the obligation. and to show the advantages of this sacrament, and earnestly to enforce its regular observance upon all those who give satisfactory evidence of " repentance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ"

THE END.

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