fest pleasure and diligence in fulfilling the promises of my baptismal covenant, which I myself ratified at my confirmation, and renewed at the Lord's supper, with the same fidelity in which I desire him to fulfil his promises, he has given and confirmed to me? Is there any thing in me that urges and constrains me to live for him? Or do I still live agreeably to myself and my own will, to my flesh, with its affections and lusts? Do I find in myself an inclination and readiness to follow Jesus by denying myself, by sacrificing my darling propensities, by surrendering that which is dear to me, as soon as he requires the offering at my hand, or as soon as I know that he is displeased with that which is well-pleasing to me? Could I also determine, for his sake and with his temper of mind to suffer, to wait, to bear? Or do I prefer the things that are seen to the things that are unseen; the present, to the future, the changeable, to the unchangeable, the earthly, to the heavenly? Will Jesus then have owned me, as his disciple, and as having love to others? Does my Christian faith manifest itself as faith which worketh by love? Do I seek to do unto others as I would that others should do unto me? Or does selfishness still make me hard, and loveless, and inimical to my neighbours? Do I always, and every where keep that precept in view: Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus? Are they questions of this nature, which you keep before you in your selfexamination? How is it? Do you think that the answer thereto will so turn out, as to prove, that with the Christian mind and Christian life, it is easily and promptly done! O, would you but so ask, so examine yourself! Surely, the more you are in earnest with these questions, the more impartially you will answer them, the more justly and cautiously you investigate, so much the more vividly will you know, that there is something quite as needful for you, as is indicated by the sacramental bread and wine; and so much the more intensely will you desire, that that something might become your own. And the more vividly you know, the more deeply you feel, how much you are in need of forgiveness and help, of strength and quickening; the more fervently you desire to be enabled to obtain it, and to be sure of having it, so much the more dear and precious to you will be the proofs and pledges in the supper, of the love of your God and Saviour; so much the more heartily and gratefully will you appropriate to yourself what is thereby offered to you; so much the greater grace and love will you see therein; so much the more will it be meat and drink to your inmost soul; and so much the more cordially and faithfully will you ever naturally live in love and gratitude to him, who has given himself for you. Thus celebrated, the Lord's supper will inevitably be a blessing to you; and every sacrament so celebrated, a new and ever richer blessing. Thus look upon Christ, and his love and his dying love! Thus look on your heart and life, on your deficiencies and sins, on your infirmities and necessities. Thus compare how little you are, and how much you ought to have been, according to the will and good pleasure of him who hath so greatly loved you. Think how much is wanting in order to have and to maintain, peace with God, quiet of heart and conscience, comfort and confidence all your life long, and joyful, blessed hope, triumphant over death and the grave. Then will the celebration of the supper never become to you a cold and empty ceremony, an indifferent custom, or a forced service. Your heart will understand what the heart of Jesus intended to give you in this custom, and why he instituted such a custom in remembrance of him. Not only in his death, which is there shown forth, but also in this supper itself, by which his death shall be shown forth, will your heart feel and praise his love. Ah! to one who has loved him, and yet has never seen or heard him; to one who hungers and thirsts after him, or after one word,-one gift from his loving heart, how unutterably dear must be such a bequest from his loving heart, such a visible, representing memorial, in which is sight and enjoyment! You come to his table then, filled surely with humility and reverence. He is your meditation. His love is the emotion of your heart. You receive what is given you according to his ordinance, with the same faith as if he himself offered it to you. Yes: he gives himself entirely to you, with all that he has and is. He is yours! And with exalted love, with strengthened gratitude, do you live to him, and through him to the Father; and for his sake, to men, to brothers and sisters of yourself and him. |