صور الصفحة
PDF
النشر الإلكتروني

*

"After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye as oft as s yé drink it 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."

In drinking together, my christian friends, from this cup, we joyfully acquiesce in the new and better, and well-ordered covenant," ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator," and " established upon better promises;" a covenant which makes provision not only for human infirmity, but for the deepest and most malignant guilt, and which af fords not merely a temporary relief, but confers an "This is unchangeable and everlasting security. the covenant that I will make with the house of Is rael, after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people: and they shall not teach every man his neighbor, and every man his brother, saying, know the Lord, for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest. For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their ini quities will I remember no more." And what is the seal of this better covenant? It is before 'you." "This cup," says the Saviour, " is the New Testament in my blood:" the wine in the cup is a symbolical representation of my blood shed for the remission of sin. "Ye know that ye were not re deemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold: but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a Lamb without blemish and without spot ;" "slain from the foundation of the world," and which " cleanseth us from all sin."

i

[ocr errors]

In celebrating this holy ordinance, we are not only more closely cementing the ties of nature and the

bonds of friendship among ourselves, but we are extending our communion to the church of Christ universal, in the east and west, in the south and north, we are stretching out the right hand of fellowship over continents, over oceans, to give the; salutation of brotherly-love to all who love our Lord Jesus, and to invite men of all colors and of all languages to cast in their lot among us, and to take shelter with us under the shadow of this ** great rock in a weary land," to repose with us amidst "the trees of life," whose " leaves are for the healing of the nations."

But is not "our fellowship with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ?" Is it not then, with them who are drinking new wine in our Father's kingdom, with the spirits of just men made perfect, with those whom on earth we loved, with those who have often eaten and drank with us at this table, and with whom we hope to eat and to drink at the table that is above, sitting down with them, and "with Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven?" Delightful reflection! The employmentsof earth and heaven are the same: the animating principle, the spirit of love is the same: the subject of their praise and the source of their joy are the same. Unto Jesus Christ, who is the faithfulwitness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the kings of the earth: Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his ownblood, and hath made us kings and priests unto Godand his Father; to him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

[ocr errors]

The solemnity concludes with an intimation of Christ's second appearance. "As often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.' 66 Why trouble ye the woman?" said Christ to the indigent disciples, who

[ocr errors]

grudged the waste of the ointment which she poured on his feet, "for she hath wrought a good work upon me; for in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial." Her pious act embalmed the body for the grave: Ours contemplates Jesus and the resurrection; ours looks® forward to the day when "the Son of man shall come in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory." "Yet a little while and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry." "He which testifieth these things saith, surely I come quickly.... Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all, Amen.'

"

[ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][merged small]
[ocr errors]

LECTURE XVI.

[ocr errors]

And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of to Galilee and the mother of Jesus was there. And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, they have no wine. Jesus saith unto her, woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. And there were set there six water pots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins a piece. Jesus saith unto them, fill the water pots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith 1 unto them, draw out now, and bear unto the go·vernor of the feast. And they bare it. When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants which drew the water knew) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom, and saith unto› him....every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine: and when men have well drank, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilée, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him.... JOHN Xi. 1...11.

t

جمہ

IT requires no common degree of wisdom, to make

the transition from various situations one to anot ther, with dignity and propriety. The gravity and

seriousness of deportment that suits the temple do not suddenly melt away into the familiarity and ease of private life. Men are called to act various parts, but often lack the skill to discriminate between character and character. At other times the scene changes too rapidly, and the habit of the public personage is scarcely laid aside, when the spirit of it is likewise shifted, and the man discovers that he is merely an actor. Difference of behavior may undoubtedly be assumed with change of place and of company, without incurring the imputation of hypoorisy but there is a radical character which the honest man never lays aside, whatever be the season, whatever the situation. He cannot indeed be gay and serious at the same moments but in the house of mourning he may be sad without sinking into depression, and in the house of feasting he may be cheerful without rising into levity. He can “rejoice with them that rejoice, and weep with them that weep," without losing the firmness of his mind, or betraying inconsistency of spirit and temper. In truth, if you would be useful to then, you must accommodate yourself, where the rights of conscience do not interfere, to their circumstances, and to the laws of decency and prudences pressiona

But where, alas! shall we find the man who is continually on his guard, who in every situation possesses his soul, and governs his spirit, and keeps the door of bis lips ? In vain we look for such a one among men of like passions with ourselves. But it is not for want of a perfect pattern, in the person of him who in all places, at all seasons, and in every situation, approved himself the Son of God and the friend of men. Let this mind be in you, which also was in Christ Jesus. He hath left us an example that: we should follow his steps. Blessed Lord, we will follow thee Whithersover thou goest.

[ocr errors]
« السابقةمتابعة »