March 8

The Lord's Supper.—1 Corinthians 11:2.

THIS interesting and standing ordinance of Christ's church was instituted by the Redeemer, on the last night of his suffering life on earth. That night wherein he was to be delivered into the hands of enemies, by whom he was to be condemned and put to death. Surrounded by his disciples, he took bread, and gave it unto them, as a striking memorial of his body, now about to be offered for sin; and then he took wine—a striking emblem of his own precious blood—and desired them all to drink of it, as being the blood of the new testament, shed for the remission of sins. As if he had said, "I came to bequeathe life and salvation to the world. The blessings included in this salvation are all contained in the gospel, which is the revelation of my will to mankind; but as it is necessary that where there is a testament there must also of necessity be the death of the testator, I am now about to ratify and to seal that testament with my life. This bread therefore, is the emblem of my body, which is about to be covered with scars and wounds. This wine is the emblem of my blood about to be shed for the remission of sin. And this ordinance I appoint for the commemoration of this event: and on all future occasions, when my body shall be far removed from you, do this in remembrance of me." How very affecting must this scene have been to all the parties connected with it. The disciples must have felt unutterable grief at the prospect of being deprived of their Lord and Master: and Jesus had now fully before him the sorrows of that gloomy night wherein he had to drink the bitter cup, and wherein he should be called to lay down his life as a sacrifice for the sins of the world. This ordinance has peculiar claims upon the constant and affectionate regards of all true believers. It is an ordinance wherein we have the closest fellowship with Christ, and the most intimate communion with one another. Here we partake of Christ's flesh and blood, and feed upon it by faith.

And here the Lord's friends are one Bread. All partakers of the same grace, enjoy the same Spirit, possess the same hope of beholding together the king in his beauty, and dwelling together in the bond of indissoluble fellowship in the land that is far off. Then let us ever be found at this ordinance, with hatred to sin, with genuine contrition of heart, with faith in Christ's blood, with ardent love to Jesus, and with fervent charity towards all men, and thus let us shew forth Christ's death till he come.