Communion
Let us now turn our thoughts for a little on the character of the holy institution we are about to observe as an ordinance—OF MUTUAL COMMUNICATION—SPIRITUAL INTERCOURSE. There is in it mutual communication between the Saviour and the individual communicant, and there is mutual communication among the communicants themselves.
1st. There is mutual communication between the Saviour and the individual communicant. (1.) On the part of the Saviour there is the emblematical statement of truth, "I, the only begotten of God assumed your nature, became the man Christ Jesus—bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh," and suffered and died in your room for your salvation. Such is the language of the emblematical elements as interpreted by our Lord himself. When the communicant receives these elements, when he takes the bread and wine, he, in the most appropriate way, expresses his hearty assent to this statement,—"Wonderful as the declaration is, I firmly believe it, Yes, I know, and am sure: ‘The word was made flesh, and dwelt among men. God was manifest in the flesh. Inasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He also took part of the same:’ Yes, I know, and am sure that He ‘the just one died in the room of the unjust—was given for my offences—died for my sins—became a curse for me that he might redeem me from the curse.’"
(2.) On the part of the Saviour,—there is not only the statement of truth, but the conveyance of benefit. "Take, eat—take, drink."—In the exercise of faith, in the belief of the truth, accept and enjoy the blessings it reveals. My death procured pardon: receive the remission of sins. My death procured acceptance with God: receive and exercise the privilege of drawing near to him as your Father because my Father, and your God because my God. I redeemed you from the curse of the law that ye might receive the promised Spirit: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. My death opened the fountain of living water: drink of its refreshing stream, and thirst no more. I give my body and blood—myself to you—and with myself all the blessings of the salvation procured by the bloody sacrifice of myself. On the part of the communicant there is an appropriate expression of the grateful acceptance of these benefits, dearly purchased for—freely bestowed on us." "Gladly and gratefully do I receive what is freely given me of my divine Saviour. I accept him, and I accept his salvation. "In HIM I have redemption, even the forgivenness of sins—I am washed, I am sanctified, I am justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." He of God is made to me wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. I am "complete in Him." "Surely in the Lord have I righteousness and strength."
(3.) On the part of the Saviour, there is a declaration of tender affection. Jesus says, ‘Behold how I have loved you,’ and, "showing them his hands and his feet," he points to what he has done—what he has suffered—what he has obtained—what he has bestowed—what he has prepared for them. "Behold what manner of love is this." And this declaration of love on his part is met by a corresponding declaration on the part of the believing communicant, "Thy love to me is wonderful. It constrains me. I love thee who hast so loved me—chief among ten thousand, altogether lovely—my beloved, my friend!"
(4.) On the part of the Saviour there is a claim made for implicit affectionate obedience. Jesus says, "Ye are mine, for I bought you with my precious blood, I delivered you by my redeeming power, that ye might be to me a peculiar people,"—and the believing communicant replies, "Truly, O Lord; I am thy servant—I am not my own, I am bought with a price. I will glorify thee in my soul and in my body which are thine."
2d. There is also mutual communication among the believing participants themselves. Amid the solemn silence, there is interchange of sentiment, of affection, of purpose, of expectation. The sacred elements circulate—but there circulates also that of which they are tho emblems. (1.) As to SENTIMENT, each says to his neighbour, "I am a Christian," and the reply is, "so am I"—"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God—the Saviour of the world,"—"and so do I."(2.) As to AFFECTION each says, "I love Christ; and the reply is, "so do I. Each says, "I love you, for you love Christ, and Christ loves you;" and the reply is, "my heart is as your heart." (3.) As to PURPOSE, each says, "I am determined to walk with you in all his ordinances and commandments blameless;" and the reply is, "I will go with you." (4.) As to EXPECTATION, each says, "I am expecting the Lord’s second coming. I do this not only in remembrance of him, but till he comes. I am looking for the Saviour from heaven, who shall change this vile body, and fashion it like to his own glorious body;" and the reply is, "I, too, am looking, for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,—I too, am looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God."
You see, then, Christian brethren, what is your appropriate employment at a communion table. Receive and give, give and receive—both in reference to the Saviour, and to one another. And oh may there be not only all emblematical, but a real communion between Him and each of you individually, and between every one of you, and every other one of you as brethren in Christ; and may we have reason to say before we rise from that table, ‘Truly we have had sweet fellowship one with another,’ and better far than this, "truly our fellowship has been with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
1st. There is mutual communication between the Saviour and the individual communicant. (1.) On the part of the Saviour there is the emblematical statement of truth, "I, the only begotten of God assumed your nature, became the man Christ Jesus—bone of your bone, flesh of your flesh," and suffered and died in your room for your salvation. Such is the language of the emblematical elements as interpreted by our Lord himself. When the communicant receives these elements, when he takes the bread and wine, he, in the most appropriate way, expresses his hearty assent to this statement,—"Wonderful as the declaration is, I firmly believe it, Yes, I know, and am sure: ‘The word was made flesh, and dwelt among men. God was manifest in the flesh. Inasmuch as the children were partakers of flesh and blood, He also took part of the same:’ Yes, I know, and am sure that He ‘the just one died in the room of the unjust—was given for my offences—died for my sins—became a curse for me that he might redeem me from the curse.’"
(2.) On the part of the Saviour,—there is not only the statement of truth, but the conveyance of benefit. "Take, eat—take, drink."—In the exercise of faith, in the belief of the truth, accept and enjoy the blessings it reveals. My death procured pardon: receive the remission of sins. My death procured acceptance with God: receive and exercise the privilege of drawing near to him as your Father because my Father, and your God because my God. I redeemed you from the curse of the law that ye might receive the promised Spirit: "Receive ye the Holy Ghost. My death opened the fountain of living water: drink of its refreshing stream, and thirst no more. I give my body and blood—myself to you—and with myself all the blessings of the salvation procured by the bloody sacrifice of myself. On the part of the communicant there is an appropriate expression of the grateful acceptance of these benefits, dearly purchased for—freely bestowed on us." "Gladly and gratefully do I receive what is freely given me of my divine Saviour. I accept him, and I accept his salvation. "In HIM I have redemption, even the forgivenness of sins—I am washed, I am sanctified, I am justified, in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God." He of God is made to me wisdom and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. I am "complete in Him." "Surely in the Lord have I righteousness and strength."
(3.) On the part of the Saviour, there is a declaration of tender affection. Jesus says, ‘Behold how I have loved you,’ and, "showing them his hands and his feet," he points to what he has done—what he has suffered—what he has obtained—what he has bestowed—what he has prepared for them. "Behold what manner of love is this." And this declaration of love on his part is met by a corresponding declaration on the part of the believing communicant, "Thy love to me is wonderful. It constrains me. I love thee who hast so loved me—chief among ten thousand, altogether lovely—my beloved, my friend!"
(4.) On the part of the Saviour there is a claim made for implicit affectionate obedience. Jesus says, "Ye are mine, for I bought you with my precious blood, I delivered you by my redeeming power, that ye might be to me a peculiar people,"—and the believing communicant replies, "Truly, O Lord; I am thy servant—I am not my own, I am bought with a price. I will glorify thee in my soul and in my body which are thine."
2d. There is also mutual communication among the believing participants themselves. Amid the solemn silence, there is interchange of sentiment, of affection, of purpose, of expectation. The sacred elements circulate—but there circulates also that of which they are tho emblems. (1.) As to SENTIMENT, each says to his neighbour, "I am a Christian," and the reply is, "so am I"—"I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of the living God—the Saviour of the world,"—"and so do I."(2.) As to AFFECTION each says, "I love Christ; and the reply is, "so do I. Each says, "I love you, for you love Christ, and Christ loves you;" and the reply is, "my heart is as your heart." (3.) As to PURPOSE, each says, "I am determined to walk with you in all his ordinances and commandments blameless;" and the reply is, "I will go with you." (4.) As to EXPECTATION, each says, "I am expecting the Lord’s second coming. I do this not only in remembrance of him, but till he comes. I am looking for the Saviour from heaven, who shall change this vile body, and fashion it like to his own glorious body;" and the reply is, "I, too, am looking, for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ,—I too, am looking for and hastening to the coming of the day of God."
You see, then, Christian brethren, what is your appropriate employment at a communion table. Receive and give, give and receive—both in reference to the Saviour, and to one another. And oh may there be not only all emblematical, but a real communion between Him and each of you individually, and between every one of you, and every other one of you as brethren in Christ; and may we have reason to say before we rise from that table, ‘Truly we have had sweet fellowship one with another,’ and better far than this, "truly our fellowship has been with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ."
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