we contemplate Him with whom is "neither variableness now shadow of turning," we should look out beyond our narrow selves, and learn to feel that the least act which has a more immediate reference to Him, is at once invested with a solemnity, which arises from the thought of His glorious nature, and depends not upon the measure of man's little mind, or the waverings of his faint devotion. Having said thus much to those who object altogether to the Lord's Supper as a Christian rite, I come now to those, who, without objecting to the rite itself, or denying the general duty of partaking in it, do still in their own persons disregard the duty, and find pretences for their habitual disobedience to our Lord's injunction, "Do this in remembrance of Me." 1. Some there are, who purposely abstain from Holy Communion, because they prefer to live with less regard to God and His holiness than He requires, and would therefore avoid any confirmation of their Christian engagements. But do such men think that they are * James i. 17. absolved from their obligations as Christians by refusing to receive the Lord's Supper? Or do they imagine that so they can be a whit more free from their obedience to the moral law as established and explained in the Gospel of Jesus Christ? Alas! what is this their confidence and their boldness? Are you stronger than God, I would ask them, that you may set lightly by any of His commands? Are you able to withstand the King of heaven, that you venture to despise His Son? Or are you wiser than your Creator, that you should know better than He what is good for you; wiser than your Redeemer, that you should know better than He how He must be worshipped, and what is the end of those who will not have Him to "rule over them ?"* What infatuation is this to say, "We will not come to the Table of the Lord, because we may not (as indeed you may not) come there, and retain at the same time a liking for our sins: we may not come unwashen, and therefore we will not come at all: we may not come otherwise than in decency and in penitence, therefore bidden though we * Luke xix. 27. be, commanded, entreated, we will continue to be as though we heard not." Oh! this is a mere impotence, a weak fighting against the pricks. "Go, wash you, make you clean; cease to do evil; learn to do well."* Behold, the master of the feast is waiting to be gracious. Kiss the Son lest He be angry, and so ye perish from the way "† for ever. 66 2. Others there are, who from timidity or unbelief abstain from Holy Communion. To such it may be said, "Are you afraid of your Saviour? What farther signs of mercy seek you? What more could have been done for your encouragement than Christ has done? Are you afraid of your best Friend, because of your unworthiness? He is the best judge of that, not you. He has invited you to His supper, and He may surely summon whom He will: He never yet rejected any sinner § who came to Him in sorrow and true penitence. Are you afraid because your sins have strong hold upon you? Can absenting yourselves from Holy Communion weaken their * Isa. i. 16. + Ps. ii. 12. § Luke xiii. 2. hold? Do you need assistance; and is not this a most reasonable and hopeful way of obtaining all you need? Are you still afraid, and will you yet hold back and say, 'We cannot come?' Already the King holds forth to you the golden sceptre of His love and favour. Is not this enough? what would you more? why, now He has even left the throne of His glory, and as it were placed Himself beside you; nay, He has taken your nature, and made Himself your servant, that He might bear your iniquities, pay your debt, suffer your punishment, die your death! What would you have more to convince you of His good will? Alas! what can save you in this faintness of resolution and of courage, if even thus you cannot take heart? Remember that your distrust of yourselves is not a reason for distrusting Christ. Go then, and low at the throne of mercy, cry 'Lord we believe; help Thou our unbelief.'"+ 3. Others there are, who, while they profess to abhor the profane disobedience of some, and to despise the faintheartedness of others, are † Mark ix. 24. *Esth. v. 2. found themselves to abstain from Holy Communion from simple indifference, or that they may not be singular among their neighbours. But if they acknowledge the duty, it must be their concern to fulfil it; and if it require due preparation, it must be their concern to make that preparation duly. And what is that reason which rests on the deeds of others? Shall not every one "bear his own burden?" Shall the multitude of transgressors make one sinner safe? The command is "come;" the summons is sent forth. And if one is for his merchandise, or another for his farm, that cannot excuse you. They are wrong in their refusal, and you cannot be made right by following them. Besides which, if you fear lest they should mock you, remember what the Master of the feast has said, "Whosoever shall be ashamed of Me, and of My words, in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of His Father with the holy angels." + * Gal. vi. 5. Mark viii. 38. |