ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. "A credible profession of Christianity is all that the Church may require in order to communion. She may be deceived; her utmost caution may be, and often has been, ineffectual to keep bad men from the sanctuary; and this, too, without her fault, as she is not omniscient. But she has no right to suspect sincerity, to refuse privileges, or inflict censure, where she can put her finger upon nothing repugnant to the love or the laws of God."Dr. Mason. "If the Church is one under both dispensations, if infants were members of the Church under the theocracy, then they are members of the Church now, unless the contrary can be proved."-Dr. Hodge. "It is plain that, according to the standards of the Reformed Church, it is the children of the members of the visible Church who are to be baptized. Agreeably to scriptural usage, such members are called 'fœderati,' saints, believers, faithful, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling. The apostles, in addressing professing Christians, in the use of such terms did not express any judgment of their state in the sight of God. They designated them according to their profession. "1. The visible Church has always consisted of those who professed the true religion, together with their children. "2. The terms of Church membership under both dispensations have been the same ame—namely, profession of faith, and promise of obedience. "3. The requirements for participation in the sacraments have been the same. That is, any one entitled to the rite of circumcision was entitled to partake of the passover; those under the Christian dispensation entitled to baptism are entitled to the Lord's supper. Those who, unbaptized, would be entitled to baptism for themselves, are entitled, and they only, to present their children for baptism. "Those, therefore, who have been themselves baptized and still profess their faith in the true religion, who have competent knowledge and are free from scandal, should not only be permitted but urged and enjoined to present their children for baptism, that they may belong to the Church, and be brought up under its watch and care.”—Abridged from Dr. Hodge. "I spent some time," says Mr. J. Baily of New England, "in offering up myself and my child to the Lord, and in taking hold of the covenant for myself and him. It is actually to be done to-morrow in baptism. I prayed hard to-day that I might receive help from the Lord. It is not easy, though common, to offer a child to God in baptism. Oh, that is a sweet word, 'I will be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee.' No wonder Abraham fell on his face at the hearing of it." Philip Henry used to take hold of his children by the hand of baptism and try to lead them to the Lord. His Excellency Sir Thomas Brisbane, Bart., when Governor of New South Wales, thus wrote: "October 8th, 1824. I have had great reason for gratitude to God for conferring on me the unspeakable privilege of admitting my only son, then named Thomas Australius, to a participation of the benefits belonging to the children of the disciples of Christ, by baptism. May the Lord, of his infinite mercy, grant to him and to me that justification in which 'he freely pardons all our sins, and accepts us as righteous in his sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.' May one and all of my household, particularly my own family, be changed by the divine sanctifying Spirit into the image of Christ; that we may know that living and dying we are his, that life is passed in his constant presence, and that death resigns us unto his merciful disposal." Again he adds: "April 23rd, 1825. This day I had the privilege of renewing my baptismal vows at the table of the Lord; and I am thankful for the progress which I trust I have made in the divine life since my last approach,—my faith sensibly augmented, and saving grace, I trust, increased." Where the blood-washed robe ranks fairest, Were tears in human eyes. "Come then, blessed Dove, Through cleft heavens above, Crown this babe, white-robed, ascending; While we on the shore, down-bending O'er the depths of love, Cry, Come blessed Dove!"--W. B. Robertson, D.D. QUEST. 96. What is the Lord's supper? ANS. The Lord's supper is a sacrament, wherein, by giving and receiving bread and wine, according to Christ's appointment, his death is shewed forth; and the worthy receivers are, not after a corporal and carnal manner, but by faith, made partakers of his body and blood, with all his benefits, to their spiritual nourishment, and growth in grace. 1 Cor. xi. 20. The Lord's supper. 1 Cor. xi. 23. The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: Ver. 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. Ver. 25. 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 ye drink it, in remembrance of me. Ver. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. JOHN vi. 63. It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. 1 Cor. x. 16. The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? Ps. 1. 16. But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? LUKE xiii. 26. Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. Ver. 27. But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity. I. The signs of this sacrament.-These are bread and wine: Matt. xxvi. 26, 27. These represent Christ's body and blood. II. The design of this sacrament.-To show forth or commemorate Christ's death; to hold communion with Christ. Hence called the Lord's supper, the communion. III. The significant actions in this sacrament. 1. Bread and wine are given to communicants by Christ's appointment. He took bread-referring to his taking a body. He broke it-referring to his suffering. He gave it, and also the cup-referring to the gift for his people of his body and blood. 2. Bread and wine are received by communicants. This is done in obedience to Christ's appointment, and to confess an interest in Christ's death. IV. The blessing to worthy communicants. 1. They are made partakers of Christ's body and blood. They are regarded as one with him. (1.) This is not in a corporal or carnal manner. Christ's body is in heaven, not on earth. It cannot be in two places at the same time, nor can it be handled or eaten. (2.) It is by faith, and is a spiritual exercise. Christ is present by his Spirit. He is received by the soul in faith, as the atonement for sin, and the means of life everlasting. 2. They are made partakers of all his benefits. secured for the salvation of his people is included. Whatever Christ has As bread and wine 3. Their spiritual nourishment and growth in grace. nourish the body, so Christ by his grace nourishes the soul, and promotes its spiritual growth. LESSONS. 1. We should first come to Christ by faith, before we come to the Lord's supper. 2. All who believe in Christ should remember him in the way appointed. 3. The Lord's supper is not a sacrifice. ANECDOTES AND ILLUSTRATIONS. Bread is most necessary for preserving the natural life. It is prepared by bruising, etc., for use. It is pleasant and profitable to the body. The wine is also pressed out of the grape before it is used. 66 'Supposing," said Archbishop Tillotson, "the doctrine of transubstantiation had been delivered in Scripture in the very words in which it was decreed in the Council of Trent, by what clearer evidence could any man prove to me that such words were in the Bible than I can prove to him that bread and wine after consecration are bread and wine still? He could but appeal to my eyes to prove such words to be in the Bible; and with the same reason and justice might I appeal to several of his senses to prove to him that the bread and wine after consecration are bread and wine still.” The Rev. John Brown of Haddington said: "I reflect on it as a great mercy that I was born in a family which took care of my Christian instruction, and in which I had the privilege of God's worship morning and evening. About the eighth year of my age, I happened in a crowd to push into the church at Abernethy on a communion Sabbath. Before I was excluded I heard a minister speak much in commendation of Christ; this in a sweet and delightful manner captivated my young affections, and has since made me think that children should never be kept out of church on such occasions." The doctrine of transubstantiation-that the elements of bread and wine are changed into the body and blood of Christ-is the very heart and marrow of the Romish system. It is repugnant to the senses, to reason, and to Scripture. Yet it is taught by the Church of Rome, and made the basis of many deadly errors and corrupt practices. It is pretended that it is a sacrifice for the sins of the living and the dead; and that Christ is corporeally received by the living. It leads to the adoration of the elements. It dishonours the perfect work of Christ, and leads people to build their hopes upon a false foundation. It is made an article of merchandise, by which so many masses or celebrations of the sacrament are made for the dead. A father once kept a cancelled bond for his family to look upon, and see how he had paid a heavy debt, through much self-sacrifice, to make them happy. Christ cancelled the claim of justice against us, "nailing it to his cross. In the Lord's supper, his family look upon the cancelled bond. ,, "The King dineth with his prisoner, and his spikenard casteth a smell. He hath led me to such a pitch and degree of joyful communion with him. self as I never before knew."-Samuel Rutherford. "Here, O my Lord, I see thee face to face; Here would I touch and handle things unseen; "Here would I feed upon the bread of God; Here drink with thee the royal wine of heaven; "This is the hour of banquet and of song; This is the heavenly table spread for me; The brief, bright hour of fellowship with thee.”—H. Bonar. QUEST. 97. What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord's supper? ANS. It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord's body, of their faith to feed upon him, of their repentance, love, and new obedience; lest, coming unworthily, they eat and drink judgment to themselves. 1 COR. xi. 28. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. Ver. 29. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. JOHN xxi. 15. Jesus saith to Simon Peter, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me more than these? 1 JOHN iv. 8. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. 1 COR. v. 8. Therefore let us keep the JOHN vi. 57. He that eateth me, even he feast, not with old leaven, neither with the shall live by me. leaven of malice and wickedness; but with 2 COR. xiii. 5. Examine yourselves, the unleavened bread of sincerity and whether ye be in the faith. LAM. iii. 40. Let us search and try our ways, and turn again to the Lord. truth. LUKE vi. 46. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? |