SERMON I. ST. LUKE, 22d Chapter, part of 19th Verse. "This do in remembrance of me." We are instructed by the Catechism of our Church, that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is "generally neces 66 sary to salvation;" by which is meant, that the observance of this holy rite is absolutely necessary to the salvation of all persons who are capable and have the opportunity of communicating. In the following discourses I shall undertake to prove the scriptural truth and justice of this position. I shall first treat the subject independently of all its B spiritual relations, and show the obligation under which every Christian lies to receive the Sacrament as an act to which he is bound by a positive command of God. I shall, afterwards, proceed to treat the subject with a view to its spiritual relations, and show the obligation under which every Christian lies to receive the Sacrament, as the means divinely appointed for applying to himself those blessings which are offered to mankind through the sacrifice and mediation of the Redeemer. Every disciple of our Lord, who voluntarily and constantly abstains from the Lord's Supper, puts his eternal interests in imminent peril. I. Because by his omission, he lives in a state of habitual sin, which is incom patible with the accomplishment of his salvation. II. Because by his omission he deprives himself of those graces of the Holy Spirit which are indispensable to the attainment of his salvation. Our reflections will, in the present discourse, be confined to the consideration of the first of these heads. The Christian, who refuses to communicate, lives in a state of habitual sin, which is incompatible with the accomplishment of his salvation. No terms can be more distinct or comprehensive than those in which this solemn rite was instituted.-The scriptural account of its origin as given in the collected words of St. Matthew, St. Luke, and St. Paul, is this:*"The Lord Jesus, * Matthew xxvi. 26, 27, 28;-Luke xxii. 19, 20;-1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26. "the same night in which he was be 66 trayed, took bread and blessed it, and "brake it, and gave it to his disciples, 66 saying: take, eat, this is my body, which "is given for you: this do in remem"brance of me. After the same manner "also he took the cup, and gave thanks, " and gave it to them, saying, drink all "of ye of this, for this is my blood of the "New Testament, which is shed for you, "and for many, for the remission of "sins; this do in remembrance of me. "For as often as ye eat this bread and “drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's "death till he come." No command can be more clear:-no language can be more distinct or unequivocal:—A religious observance is here appointed by the Messiah, as a figurative commemo |