To come to a right and profitable understanding of the Lord's supper, what it is, why, and wherefore it was enjoined, four things in particular must be observed.

In the first place, we must take heed, that we do not as some, who make the visible, perishable bread and wine, the Lord's real flesh and blood; to believe this, is contrary to nature, reason and scripture; yea, it is open blasphemy of the Son of God, abomination and idolatry.(a) But as Israel had to hold the passover annually, according to the command of Moses, to commemorate that the Almighty God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and Jacob, did signally deliver them in passing over, and sparing their first born, when he slew the first born of the Egyptians; and by his strong hand and outstretched arm, gloriously redeemed, and rescued them from the iron furnace of Egypt and the dread tyranny and dominion of Pharoah, according to the word of his promise, (Exod. 15,) and hence the paschal lamb is called the Lord's passah, that is, passover, (Exod. 12.) The sign for the reality, (b) for the lamb was not the passover (leap over) although so called, but it only typified the passover, as said. So in the eucharist, the bread is called the body, and the wine, the blood of the Lord. (Mark 16; Luke 24; Acts 1; Rom. 8; Eph. 4; 2 Pet. 3.) I say the sign is put for the reality, the thing signified or typified, not that it actually is the real flesh and blood of Christ; for with that he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of his father, immortal, and unchangeable, in eternal majesty and glory; but it is a memorial. and type that Jesus Christ the son of God has redeemed us from the power of the devil, from the dominion of hell and eternal death, by offering up an immaculate sacrifice,—his innocent flesh and blood, and has triumphantly led us into the kingdom of his grace, (Heb. 10,) as he himself says; (Luke 22:) This do in remembrance of me.

In the second place, it is to be observed, that there is no greater evidence of love, than that one suffers death for another, (c) as Christ says: Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Since this holy sign is only a memorial of the Lord's death, and since death is the greatest evidence of love, as said, we are therefore

(a) The sign and the reality are not the same. (b) Observe what passover signifies. (c) To die for another is the greatest love.

feminded, when we are at the Lord's table, to eat his bread and to drink his cup, that we not only show forth and remem ber his death, but also all the glorious fruits of divine love, manifested towards us, in Christ; namely, that God, in the beginning, made man after His image-placed him in Paradise, and made all creatures subject to him, (Gen. 1, 2,)

And when he was beguiled of the serpent, he was comforted with the promise of a coming Conqueror, and Savior, Jesus Christ. That God sent Moses and the prophets, who sedu lously practiced the law, and directed to the promised Christ and his kingdom. That Christ Jesus, according to the promise of the scriptures, finally appeared in this world,-a true man, born of the Virgin Mary, (Matt. 1, 2; Luke 1; John 1.) That in much misery, affliction and labor, he preached the saving and gracious word to the house of Israel-sought the lost sheep, and brought them to their true shepherd, (Matt. 18; Luke 15.) Who has pacified and reconciled us before the Father, through his painful death and precious blood, (Eph. 2; Col. 1, 2,) as he himself says: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3.)

Oh! the great, wonderful unsearchable and incomprehen. sible love of God. He did not send into this unfriendly world an angel, a patriarch, or a prophet, but his eternal, ALMIGHTY WORD, his ETERNAL WISDOM, the brightness of his glory, in the form of sinful flesh, (Rom. 8) and made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. (2 Cor. 5.)

My good reader, do not understand this, as if Christ had been a sinner. Far from it. The scriptures acquit him of all sin. He was the spotless lamb. He knew not sin, neither was guile found in his mouth. But Paul calls him sin, according to the Hebrew manner of expression: (a) that · offering for sin as the prophet says: He was wounded transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: The chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes were we healed, (Isa. 53.)

is an

for our

Beloved, worthy reader, all those who believe with their whole hearts in this glorious love of God, this abundant, great

(a) Here observe in what manner Christ is called sin, in scripture.

blessing of grace in Christ Jesus, manifested toward us, they' are more and more renewed through such a faith; their hearts are filled with joy and exultation; they will break forth with joyful heart, in all manner of thanksgiving-they praise and commend Cod with all their heart, because they know, and believe with joyful heart, in the spirit; that the Father loved us so, that He gave us poor, wretched sinners, his own and Eternal Son, with his merits, as a gift and eternal ransom as Paul says: The kindness and love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness, which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; which he shed on us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Savior: That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. (Tit. 3.)

Here it is proper to observe: How the righteous died for the unrighteous, when we were yet sinners and enemies. (Rom. 5.) How the spotless lamb was prepared for us, in the fire of affliction-suffered upon the cross, and was offered an eternal propitiation for our sins. He, the creator of all things was bruised for our sakes, (Ex. 12; Heb. 1; John 1; Col. 1; Ps. 45.) And he, the most High, who was above all the children of. men, &c. became as the most unworthy, and was counted with evil doers, (Isa. 53.) The innocent bore the sins of the whole world, and blotted out all our transgression, by the price of his crimson blood; as the scriptures declare: I restored that which I took not away. (Ps. 69.) In short, that Jesus Christ through His obedience, delivered Adam and all his seed from the consequences of disobedience, and by His painful death, again restored life. (Rom. 5.)

The apostle Pau', whojknew this great and glorious work of divine love, broke forth and said, (Rom. 8:) Who will separate us from the love of God? Shall tribulation or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword, as it is written. Ps. 43.) For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any

other creauture, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

And this is what John says: Let us love him for he first loved us. (1 John 4.) For nature teaches us to love those, who love us. And this is the first fruit of the holy sacrament, if rightly celebrated.

In the third place, we have to observe: That christian union, love and peace are presented to us, and we are reminded of them, by the Lord's supper; after which all true christians will have to strive with all their heart. For we being many, (says Paul) are one bread, and one body: For we are all partakers of that one bread.

Like as natural bread is made of many grains, broken and kneaded together, and baked by the heat of fire; also is the church of Christ made up of many true believers, broken in their hearts, by the hammer of the divine word, and are baptized by the Holy Ghost, and with the fire of pure love, into one body. (1 Cor. 12) And as the natural body is in harmony and peace with all its members, and as each member discharges its duty to promote the good of the whole body; thus it also becomes the true and living members of the body of Christ, to be in harmony, of one heart, one mind and one soul. Not quarrelsome and unpeaceable, not spiteful and envious, not wrathful and hateful, not malicious, not obstinate or rancorous, one toward another, not like the ambitious, covetous of honor, or the haughty of this world; but in all things, one toward another, be long suffering, friendly, peaceable, ever ready to serve his neighbor in true christian love, in all things possible; by exhortation; by reproof, by comforting, by assisting, by counselling, with deed and with good, yea, in labor, with body and life. (Eph. 4.) Ready to forgive one another, as Christ forgave us, and served us by his word, with his life and death. As Paul says: Put on, therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long suffering: forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any Even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness: and let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also ye are called into one body; and be thankful. (Col. 3.)

And again; as in the natural body, the more honorable members, such as the eye, the ear, the mouth, do not proscribe the less honorable, and they also do not envy the more honorable; but every member in its place, is peaceable, and contributes to the good of the whole body, whether it is honorable or feeble; and thus in the church of the Lord God gave, says Paul, some apostles, some prophets; some evangelists; some teachers. Let every one be mindful that he boasts not of the things he has; for it is all the grace of God. Let every one attend to his duty, to the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: till we all come in the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the son of God, into a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. (Eph. 4.)

This is also set forth in the holy supper; but how the world, calling themselves christians, live up to this, is shown by their fruits and actions.

In the fourth place, we have to observe: That the holy supper is the communion of the body and blood of Christ; as Paul says: The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? (1 Cor. 10.)

Since then it is a communion, as said, I would fraternally exhort all of you; that you would earnestly examine your selves, whether you have been made partakers of Christ? (Heb. 3.) Whether you are flesh of his flesh, and bone of his bone? (Eph. 5.) Whether you are in Christ, and Christ in you? For all who would worthily eat of this bread, and drink of this cup, must be changed and renewed in the inner and outer man through the power of the divine word and the operation of faith, (John 3; 2 Pet. 1) and be of a new mind, as new creatures born of God, and translated from Adam into Christ; be of a christian disposition, longsuffering, peaceable, merciful, affectionate, and truly humble, and be obedient to the word of the Lord. The proud, ambitious, selfish and sensual heart must be circumcised. (Col. 2.) The evil eye must be plucked out, (Matt. 18) the ear that delights to hear evil, must be closed; the unprofitable, backbiting tongue must be bridled; the unclean, bloody hands must be cleansed; the unclean, unchaste flesh must be corrected, &c. (Isa. 2.) They must lead a crusade against the world,