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THE DESIGN AND IMPORTANCE OF THE LORD’S SUPPER
THE Corinthians had shamefully profaned the Lord’s supper. St. Paul reproves them, and rectifies their views of that ordinance.
I. The design of the Lord’s supper—
Our ungrateful hearts are prone to forget the richest mercies. To keep up “the remembrance” of his death, Christ instituted his last supper. When we celebrate that ordinance, we “shew forth” his death—
[The passover was a memorial of the deliverance vouchsafed to the Jews from the sword of the destroying angel. At every returning celebration of it the reason of that ordinance was declared [Note: In reference to Exo_12:26-27. a custom obtained among the Jews that a child should ask the meaning of the passover, and that the person who presided should then give an account of its intent and origin, that so the remembrance of God’s mercy might be transmitted to their latest posterity: and this was called “the declaration” or “shewing forth.” Dr. Gill on the text.]. Christ in his death has effected a greater deliverance for us. In partaking of the bread and wine we “shew forth” his death: we shew forth the manner of it as excruciating and bloody [Note: The breaking of the bread and the pouring out of the wine seem well calculated to impress this idea.]: we shew forth the end of it as a sacrifice for our sins [Note: In this light it is represented by St. Paul, 1Co_5:7 and by our Lord himself, Mat_26:28.]: we shew forth the sufficiency of it for our full salvation [Note: We express our affiance in his blood as the Jews did in the blood of the Paschal Lamb, when they sprinkled their door-posts with it, and eat of the flesh that had been roast with fire.].]
We shew forth his death “till he come”—
[Christ will, in due season, come again to judge the world; then his people will no longer need such memorials as these. They will incessantly enjoy the brightest vision of his person, and the richest fruits of his death; but till then the remembrance of his dying love, and the expectation of his future advent, must be thus preserved. Such was Christ’s end in instituting, and such should be our end in observing it.]
To enforce the observance of this ordinance, we will proceed to shew,
II. The necessity of attending it—
The duty of commemorating our Lord’s death is much neglected; but a neglect of it involves us in the deepest guilt. It implies,
1. Rebellion against the highest authority—
[Christ, the Supreme Governor of heaven and earth, has said, “Do this”; yet the language of too many is, ‘I will not.’ But they who disregarded the passover did not go unpunished [Note: If a man had contracted any ceremonial defilement, or were on a journey, he might omit eating the passover at the appointed time; only he must eat it a month afterwards. But if he forbore to eat of it without any such impediment, God said concerning him. “That soul shall be cut off, that man shall bear his sin.” Num_9:7-11.]; much less shall they who slight the invitations to Christ’s supper [Note: Luk_14:24.]. Surely it is no less than madness to persist in this rebellion.]
2. Ingratitude towards our greatest Benefactor—
[Christ has even “given his own life a ransom for us;” and shall we disregard his dying command? On the same night that he was betrayed, did he institute these memorials of his death. Had he at that season such a concern for us, and can we refuse to do so small a thing in remembrance of him? The Jews went thrice every year up to Jersusalem, from the extreme parts of Jud æ a, to commemorate their deliverance. And shall we turn our backs on the table when it is spread before us? Shall not God visit for such ingratitude as this [Note: Let such conduct be expressed in words; “Thou didst indeed give thy body to be broken, &c. for me; and only requirest me to eat bread, &c. in remembrance of thee; but I account even that too much to do for thee:” Who could dare to utter such language? Or who would endure it if spoken by his servant or his child? Yet such is the language of our actions.]?]
3. Contempt of the richest mercies—
[To communicate, without discerning the Lord’s body, can profit us nothing; but to approach the table in humility and faith is a sure mean of obtaining all spiritual blessings. Christ sometimes reveals himself in the breaking of bread, to those who had not so fully discovered him in the ministration of the word [Note: Luk_24:30-31.]. And do they not manifest a contempt of these mercies, who will not use the means of procuring them? How may the Saviour take up that lamentation over them [Note: Mat_23:37.]—!]
4. A renunciation of our baptismal covenant—
[In baptism we covenanted to renounce the world, &c and to serve God: this covenant we ought to renew and confirm at the Lord’s table. But our refusing to confirm it is a tacit renunciation of it. And can we hope that God will fulfil his part while we violate ours? Will he be our God when we refuse to be his people?]
We shall conclude with answering some excuses—
[‘I am not prepared.’ How then can you be prepared to die [Note: Is not this acknowledgment the strongest reason for immediate repentance?]? ‘I am afraid of eating and drinking my own damnation.’ Are you not afraid of damnation for neglecting your duty [Note: In neglecting duty you ensure condemnation; in practising it as well as you can (to say the least) you may avert it.]? ‘I am afraid of sinning afterwards, and thereby increasing my guilt.’ If sins after receiving the Lord’s supper were unpardonable, none should receive it till the last moment of their lives [Note: If you really desire strength, where would you so soon obtain it? But if you determine to live in sin, your condemnation will be equally sure whether you come or not.]. ‘The time of administering it interferes with other engagements.’ To those who cannot deny themselves in any thing, we say with Paul [Note: Rom_3:8. “whose damnation is just.”]—; but where the difficulties are insurmountable, God will accept the will for the deed [Note: Mat_12:7.]. They however, who are at liberty, should attend “as often” as they can; only they must be careful to communicate with reverence, humility, faith, and gratitude.]