for a heart to "watch and pray, that I enter not into temptation!" May I have "my loins girded about with truth, and my lamp trimmed and burning, and be like the servant who waits for the coming of his Lord;" so that, when he cometh, I may hear from his lips, the approving sentence, "well done, good and faithful servant, enter thou into the joy of thy Lord!" "A charge to keep I have, A never-dying soul to save, From youth to hoary age, O may it all my powers engage Arm me with jealous care, Help me to watch and pray, CHAPTER V. NOTICE OF THE EXCUSES COMMONLY OFFERED BY THOSE WHO NEGLECT THE LORD'S SUPPER. SECTION I. The guilt of neglecting this ordinance. THE very general neglect of the Holy Eucharist, forms a frequent topic of admonition and reproof on the part of the ministers of Christ, and awakens strong feelings of solicitude and grief in the bosoms of all his friends. A melancholy spectacle is presented in Christian churches, on sacramental Sabbaths, when the great majority of those who attend in the character of worshippers, though earnestly and affectionately invited to approach the feast of Zion, most unthankfully refuse to come;-turn their backs upon the altar, and withdraw from the company of their brethren who "feed upon the spiritual banquet of that most heavenly food." In the number of these neglecters there are many who acknowledge the binding nature of the divine commandment in reference to it, and are conscious that they live in the habitual neglect of an important duty. They are convinced that it has been regarded as a valuable mean of grace in all ages of the Christian Church; and yet, either from disregard of the Saviour's authority, or, a doubt whether compliance with his will would be of any service, or, from some more culpable cause, they have never yet approached the table and commemorated his dying love. What is such habitual disobedience but rebellion against the Great Head of the Church? Is it not making themselves wiser than God? and virtually saying, "the table of the Lord is contemptible?" Is not this a fair interpretation of the conduct of those who never approach the altar of God? And may not the same be said of those who being blessed with health and frequent opportunities, communicate only occasionally, but generally withdraw from the church while the faithful are engaged in that holiest and highest service of the Christian sanctuary? Would to God that all neglecters of this ordinance, whether habitual or occasional, might be convinced of the sin with which they are chargeable! As one who "longs after them all in the bowels of Jesus Christ," whose "heart's desire and prayer to God for them is, that they may be saved;" I would, earnestly and affectionately, expostulate with them on this deeply interesting subject. There are some of you, who have been blessed with pious parents, and nurtured in the very lap of Christianity. You were taught with your earliest accents to lisp the praises of your Creator. You have for years sat under the "droppings of the sanctuary." Sabbath after Sabbath, you have listened to the precepts of the law, and the promises of the gospel. You call Christ your Lord and Master. You have heard the wonderful story of his redeeming love, frequently repeated, and presented in all the various and affecting lights of which it is susceptible. You have been told of his "agony and bloody sweat; his cross and passion; his precious death and burial." You have often travelled in thought through the dreary shades of Gethsemane; have paused on the hill of Calvary, to mingle your tears with the blood of the suffering victim; and, taking a passing view of the glories which surrounded the opened tomb of the Son of God, you have followed him to the heavenly throne whither he ascended, where "he ever liveth to make intercession for us,”—and from whence he pours down gifts upon the rebellious and guilty children of You bow the knee in token of your submission and worship, and acknowledge that the wonders of his love surpass man's understanding; that the blessings of his religion are infinitely superior to all worldly possessions and enjoyments; and, that without an interest in his merits, you must sink into endless woe. And yet,―glaring inconsistency!—you have never commemorated the death which alone can give you life, nor gratefully acknowledged the Saviour's love in the way of his appointment. If he had asked some great thing of you, would you not have done it? If he had enjoined a painful duty, would you not have performed it? If he had demanded a tedious men. penance, or a heavy sacrifice, would you not cheerfully have submitted? How much rather, then, when he saith, "do this in remembrance of me?" That Remember, be entreated to remember, that your opportunities of obeying this command will soon have passed away. Sabbaths and communion seasons, the commands, and invitations, and offers of the gospel, will soon be over with you for ever. Master, who died for our sins; who often spreads his table before us and invites us to approach it, will soon call upon us in a different manner, to bear our part in a very different solemnity; he will summon us with "the shout of the archangel and the trump of God," to stand before his bar, and render an account of the deeds done in the body, whether they be good, or whether they be evil. What will be our doom on that great day of Christ's second appearing? Will they who have refused to honour him upon earth, expect to be honoured by him then? Will they who have turned their backs upon the sacramental table here, be welcomed to the marriage supper of the Lamb hereafter? Can they, who knowing that it was their duty to confess him before men, have neglected to do it, hope that he will confess them before his Father and the holy angels? The mind is unwilling to dwell upon the thought of their future destiny; but the Saviour himself has left us no room to doubt what its awful nature will be. WHOSOEVER SHALL |