THE LORD’S SUPPER

My Dear Haggai:

IN a letter to your brother Enoch, I have reminded him of the two prominent features of the scheme of redemption, represented by two standing ordinances in the church; one of which I have explained to him, and have now written a few thoughts on the other for your perusal.

This ordinance is also of as ancient date as the organization of the church of God, and is designed to commemorate the glorious deliverance of the church from the worst of tyranny.

Much instruction is contained in it, and much comfort has often been derived from the source of blessedness by the use of it; yet, it is a solemn fact, that many shamefully trifle with, and others live in the sinful neglect of it; I am, therefore, the more solicitous, that my dear young friend should clearly understand and habitually enjoy it.

The great truths set forth in this ordinance are, the sacrifice of Christ—the deliverance effected by it—and the personal participation of it: and it is no less than solemn mockery to approach the Lord’s table, without seeing and feeling these essential truths.

“Not discerning the Lord’s body” in this sacred feast, is said to be the characteristic mark of those who eat and drink unworthily.

How awful then is the delusion of those, who receive this supper as a kind of make-weight to their supposed good works, or as a periodical atonement for their sins.

But, I am persuaded, my dear Haggai is not so blind; I will therefore preceed to descant upon the nature of this feast, and then describe the welcome guests. This ordinance, as well as that of Baptism, was the same in substance under the Old Testament dispensation of it, as under the New, and designed for the same purposes; it was first instituted to commemorate the deliverance of the church from the Egyptian bondage, typical of the spiritual deliverance of the church from the bondage of sin and Satan; (in which there is the most striking analogy) hence the apostle exclaims, “Christ our passover is sacrificed for us, therefore let us keep the feast.” Believing Israelites knew that God would pass over the houses where the Lamb was slain, and the blood sprinkled and they commemorated this act of sovereign grace periodically, in the ordinance of the passover; so, my dear brother, new testament saints commemorate the death of Christ, being sprinkled with his blood, and rejoicing to know, that “the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all,” Isaiah 53:6; and consequently that he will pass over us, in the day when he executes vengeance upon the ungodly.

As often as the church of old kept the feast of the passover, they remembered their bondage, and their deliverance; and their glorious Deliverer commanded his redeemed family, to perpetuate the remembrance of his death, “this do in remembrance of me;” and Paul shows this to be the design of the Lord’s supper when addressing the believing Corinthians, he says, “As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord’s death till he come.”

Gethsemane and Calvary are often before the eyes of believers, when surrounding the table of the Lord; and while they view the broken bread and flowing wine, their fixed attention and holy admiration catch the echo of John’s exclamation, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.”

How strikingly do our senses assist our faith in this ordinance; we partake of bread the staff of life, and of wine refreshing and exhilarating in its qualities, conscious that our spiritual life and comfort are received from Christ alone, and frequently, while the emblematical bread and wine are passing our lips, faith is actually feeding upon Christ, and receiving the choicest communications of his everlasting love to the soul; but when faith is not in exercise, (which is sometimes the case with the most eminent saints,) we prove most painfully, the truth of Christ’s declaration, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” John 6:53. The spiritual presence of Christ in the ordinance, is essential to our enjoyment; and when he condescends to reveal himself to us, all our graces are lively in their exercise, and it becomes a banquet of love to our souls; he communicates the secrets of his heart, and we obtain sweet and intimate communion with him.

Moreover, while the disciples of Christ give this public testimony of their attachment to, and dependence upon him, they hold the sweetest fellowship with one another; there is a holy union of soul cherished among them, and a sacred glow of affection runs through all their hearts toward each other; they look upon their brethren and sisters in communion, as members of the same mystical body, and members one of another; they give and receive mutual pledges of spiritual attachment, by praying with and for each other, and renew their public vows to “love one another with a pure heart fervently.”

Surely vital religion must be in a very low and declining state, where nothing of the communion of saints is enjoyed; and that must be the most happy society of Christians, who know most of this spiritual intercourse with the members, as well as with the Head of the mystical body. What can so much resemble heaven, as a multitude of redeemed sinners, surrounding the festive board of their Redeemer, in holy harmony of soul, enjoying fellowship with him, and with one another? “Being knit together in love,” partaking of the same divine nature, 2 Peter 1:4; and cherishing mutual concern for each other’s happiness. Let it be my high privilege, dearest Lord, always to witness this delightful fellowship among the dear people whom thy kind providence has committed to my pastoral care!

Have not you, my dear Haggai, tasted these sacred delights? And do you not often long to repeat the enjoyment? Permit me then to exhort you to act in character; remember you are not of the world, though passing through it; maintain your distinction from it, and let a consciousness of your dignity, as an heir of glory, maintain an habitual contempt of the vanities of time.

The blind dupes of Satan will intrude themselves to the Lord’s table one day, and hasten to the card table the next; you are in no danger of treating the Saviour’ sufferings with such licentious insult; but allow me to caution you against grieving his Spirit by unbelief, lukewarmness, or worldly mindedness.

Ponder well that solemn statement: “Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils; ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils.” That man is neither happy in religion, nor an honor to it, who can trim his conduct and conversation to all companies; nor can he that lives near to God in secret, and communes with Christ in public ordinances, cultivate intimacy with the enemies of his cross.

Oh! it is a mercy to be decided for Christ! I am afraid the leanness of soul so apparent in many professors, is to be attributed to their fruitless attempts, to serve both God and mammon. Never forget, my dear brother, to what family you belong, nor allow yourself to betray its honor by a temporizing spirit: the eye of God—of the church and the world is upon you; look up to your covenant Head, for grace to “glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s” and “let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

“Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness,” but cultivate intimacy with heaven, under the sweet assurance, that your kindred, your Father—your Saviour, your Comforter are there.

I will now just advert to the welcome guests at this delightful commemorative feast; aware, that there are different opinions among wise and good men on this point, and having no with to dictate to them; but I do not feel at liberty to encourage any to approach the table of the Lord, until some evidence is given that they are new creatures in Christ Jesus, for only such can discern the Lord’s body, or hold any fellowship with him or his saints.

“This is the ordinance of the passover, There shall no stranger eat thereof.” Exod. 12:43; it is a family feast, to which every heaven-born soul is invited, and which none but such can enjoy; yet it is to be lamented, that many of these absent themselves from the table of the Lord, and cherish scruples the most unfounded and contradictory; depriving themselves of the very comforts for which they hunger and thirst.

This was once your case, my dear Haggai; but when the pride of your heart was sufficiently humbled to bring you off from the delusive notice of self-preparation, and destroy all hope of being more worthy in yourself, you came to Jesus for a whole salvatin, and approached his table with no other qualifications than a deep sense of your total depravity, and a trembling hope in his blood and righteousness; you put in your humble claim to his infinite merit, felt your vital union with him, and now you can rejoice in him, having no confidence in the flesh.

Go, happy youth, and encourage every awakened sinner you meet with, to do likewise; if they say they are too vile, tell them “the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses from all sin”—if they fear they shall be overcome by sin and fall short of heaven, tell them what Jesus has said, “My grace is sufficient for thee;”—and if they scruple, as you once did, on account of their darkness, barrenness, and want of spirituality, tell them the very knowledge of these things, and the grief accompanying that knowledge, are indubitable evidences of spiritual life; and that spiritual life will be nourished and strengthened by living sumply on Christ, in the use of appointed means; in short, you may tell them, that their being made willing to be saved in Christ’s own way, renders them as welcome guests at the table of the Lord, (and with the Lord himself,) as the most eminent saint on earth, for the Lord himself hath said, “whosoever will, let him come,” and it would be the very essence of popery to enact any other terms of communion, that those which the Master of the feast has given.

Anxious to give the hand of fellowship to every renewed sinner, and anticipating the full communion of the general assembly and church of the first born,

I remain, my dear Haggai,
Your affectionate brother in Christ,

Delightful feast! where Jesus Christ presides, And gives his flesh and blood, as meat and drink. The life—the love—the joy which crown the board,

Are pledges of the glory yet to come,

Untasted—yea, unknown, by carnal minds. But sinners, quicken’d by his sovereign grace— Alive to God—averse from sin—who trust His perfect righteousness, are welcome guests: These I must own as kindred souls—with these Approach my Saviour’s board—break down the bars

That bigotry erects, nor creed, nor pool,

Nor crucifix shall separate our souls.

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