Page images
PDF
EPUB

affords. It is a pleasure to act in obedience to the commands of our God. It is a pleasure to resemble our Saviour; and it is a pleasure, and we are permitted to consider it as one of no small importance, to look forward to the future recompense of reward.

SERMON XXXI.

ON THE LORD'S SUPPER.

For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 1 CORINTHIANS Xi. 26.

MANKIND are too generally prone to run into extremes. If they wish to avoid the errors of one extreme, they think they cannot secure themselves from its infection, till they have plunged into the opposite one. The pages of history, whether ancient or modern, prove the truth of this assertion. If we go back to the early ages of the world, we perceive it in Heathen philosophers. What could be more opposite than the Stoics and Epicureans? We see it in the Jewish economy, in the tenets of the Pharisees and Sadducees; the former believed every thing, the latter nothing.

It is observable, even in the history of the christian church. We can trace it in all the councils and synods which have been convened, from the first establishment of the gospel, to the present period; and the difference of opinion now existing among the various sects into which christians are divided, proves that the same spirit still prevails.

There is no subject which has occasioned greater diversity of sentiment than that on which I shall address you at this time. While the Lord's Supper is, by some, exalted above every other duty, (that is, of a moral nature,) while they entertain so high a notion of its solemnity above every other act of worship, that they approach the table with that severity and dejection of countenance, with that awe and trembling as if the trump of the archangel was summoning them to the bar of God; others, falling into the opposite extreme, make so light of this ordinance, that they do not consider it as a duty incumbent on Christians; and, consequently, live in an habitual neglect of the observance of it. They think it a service of no importance in the church; to value it, they deem superstition; to recommend it, priestcraft; to practise it, weakness. I hope and think there are none in the congregation I am addressing, who

have fallen into either of these extremes. But there are many who have not yet made this public profession of their belief in Christianity; either there remain scruples in their breast, which no sermon or book upon the subject has yet been able to remove; or, what is far more common, they intend to become communicants, but from a habit of delay, or some other reason, equally weak, have postponed their resolution. Thus they deprive themselves of the comforts of the institution, and others of the benefit of their example, by indulging such a spirit of procrastination. It surely cannot be thought improper, in either of your ministers, and especially in him who sustains the pastoral office, occasionally to call your attention to a subject of such importance. I shall therefore endeavour, in a very plain and familiar manner, to explain the nature of the institution; the ends for which it was ordained; and conclude with recommending it to your serious consideration.

I. I shall consider, first, what is the general nature of the ordinance.

II. On what authority it rests.

III. The circumstances of endearment

with which it was attended.

IV. For what ends it was instituted.

[ocr errors]

V. The persons for whom it was intended. VI. How long will the service continue?

I. What is the general nature of the ordinance ?

It is simple and significant. When a rite is instituted to be a means of holiness, it should be divested of all useless appendages and ornaments; lest, in the celebration of it, we should attend more to the outward pomp and splendour than to the spiritual good for which it was designed. The Mosaic dispensation was burdened with numerous ceremonies; partly because their kingdom was a temporal establishment, and partly in conformity to the customs of the neighbouring nations. But Jesus (to use the words of the Apostle Paul) has abolished the hand-writing of ordinances;" his institutions are simple, easy to be understood, and as easy to be practised. And the service of which I am now speaking, is not only beautifully simple, but also strikingly significant,-terms which are seldom united. An institution may be simple in its nature, and easy in its performance, but without bearing an allusion to the fact it was designed to commemorate; but the contrary is apparent from the slightest survey of this ordinance. What could more effectually bring to our minds the mangled body of our Lord,

« PreviousContinue »