September 22

Mark xiv.—22. And, as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.

23. And he took the cup; and, when he had given thanks, he gave it to them: and they all drank of it.

24. And he said unto them, This is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many.

25. Verily I say unto you, I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine until that day that I drink it new in the kingdom of God.

26. And, when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.

27. And Jesus saith unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night; for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered.

I Corinthians xi.—23. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread;

24. 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.

25. After the same manner also he took the cup,

when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.

26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come.

27. Wherefore, whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.

28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.

30. For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.

31. For, if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

32. But, when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.

33. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.

34. And, if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

"I am that bread of life," said Jesus; "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him." By faith in his atoning sacrifice we incorporate Christ into ourselves as the principle and power of an endless life. The symbol of this union is the Lord's Supper. The apostle Paul, acting under a special revelation, combined into one formula the several accounts of the institution of the Supper given by the evangelists. The simplicity of the sacrament appears in its two leading objects, — as a symbol of doctrine, and as a memorial of suffering. As we say of a portrait, "This is my friend," or of a statue, "This is Washington or Lincoln," so our Lord constituted the bread and the cup a perpetual representation of himself. It is the bread as

broken which is his flesh, given for the life of the world; it is the wine as poured out which is his blood, shed for many for the remission of sins. And in its character of a symbol the sacrament teaches that the sacrifice of Christ is our redemption from sin, and that our partaking of Christ himself as the bread from heaven is the life of the soul. In its character of a memorial, the sacrament brings vividly and tenderly before us the love of our Lord, and enables us in the most significant and impressive way to testify our faith and devotion as his disciples. Hence we should observe the sacrament with becoming seriousness. Some in the Corinthian Church had made the Lord's Supper a substitute for their old pagan festivals; thus perverting its meaning, and observing it in an unworthy and unseemly manner. It is such impropriety of observance that the apostle condemns, and not that sense of personal unworthiness which too often keeps back the humble and devout from the table of the Lord.

APPROPRIATE HYMNS.]

Thou blessed and glorious Redeemer, who didst give thy life a ransom for us, grant us grace, we beseech thee, to follow in thy steps, and be baptized with the same baptism of devotion and sacrifice for the glory of the Father and the good of men. May we be members of Christ's body, of his flesh and his bones! Redeemed with his precious blood, may we devote to him all the powers of our being! Keep us, O Lord! from the absorbing power of earthly things. May we live under the powers of the world to come, loving thee now with a sweet and blessed foretaste of that love with which we shall love thee forever!

We pray for all who have named the name of Christ. Give unto thy Church peace and unity.

Prayer.

[Nos. 100, 164, 195.

Bless our own immediate circle: may God be their Father, and Jesus their Elder Brother, and heaven their everlasting home! [May the children of this family make thee their portion and their hope! May they early learn to do thy will; to wish for and to do only that which will please their Father in heaven!] Bless, O Lord! the teachings and the worship of this holy day. May thy kingdom come! Sanctify affliction to all in sorrow; and satisfy the poor with bread. Accept our thanks for the mercies of thy day and of thine house. Our cup runneth over. Oh! bring us at last to drink with thee the cup of joy which thou hast provided for us in thy Father's kingdom. And to thee be glory forever. Amen.