The Communion Service
W. Barrow, LL. D. Mark 14:22-24 And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body.… It is hardly necessary to remark, that almost every transaction of human life has its appropriate ceremony, its established order and process. In our most familiar intercourse we have oar known forms of salutation. The system is natural in its origin, and beneficial in its effects. In religion above all other subjects, established forms are valuable. They fix attention on the duties which we assemble to perform. They give its due solemnity to the most interesting of all human concerns. They impress more deeply the sentiments of piety on the heart. They support uniformity and sympathy in the public worship of God. Would it not then be unwise and ungrateful if we did not commemorate by some appropriate ceremony the most important transaction of the gospel, the sacrifice and death of Jesus Christ. Such has been prescribed by Him who had the undoubted right to prescribe it, the Author of that religion, which it is intended to support. The fitness and propriety of a commemoration appointed by such authority will not be called in question. I. THE MEMORY OF THE MOST INTERESTING EVENTS IS APT TO FADE FROM THE MIND, UNLESS OCCASIONALLY REVIVED BY REFLECTION ON THEIR RESPECTIVE CIRCUMSTANCES, OR BY SOME SUITABLE AND REGULAR COMMEMORATION. Even the sentiments of friendship require to be kept alive by tokens of regard. The disciples had seen the miracles of Christ. From the minds of those who had not teen them, at the distance of almost two thousand years, the genuine religion of the gospel might have been lost, had it not been cherished by the ordinances of the Church. II. BEFORE THE PUBLICATION OF THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD, THE NATIVES OF EVERY HEATHEN NATION HAD THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFERINGS TO THEIR GODS. They knew not from what authority their sacrifices were derived. They did but imperfectly understand the meaning of the ceremonies of their own worship. Their expectations were limited almost to temporal advantage. When we partake the sacrament we unite in an act of worship, of which we know the authority, intention, and benefit. III. THE SACRIFICES OF THE HEATHENS, AND THE FESTIVALS THAT FOLLOWED THEM, WERE USUALLY ATTENDED WITH CRUELTY TO INOFFENSIVE ANIMALS, DISGRACED BY IMMORAL PRACTICES, AND PERFORMED AT RUINOUS EXPENSE. The sacrifices of the Jews were designed to typify one efficacious sacrifice of the Redeemer of the world. Our sacrament is not the sacrifice itself. It is only the festival after it; commemorating the sacrifice, and urging our claims to the benefits, which it was intended to convey. By the prudent regulations of our Church no indecent excess can disgrace this act of our worship. The exhortations to repentance, faith, and charity are Scriptural. IV. The last recommendation of our ceremonies at the sacrament is THE FITNESS AND PROPRIETY OF THE SUBSTANCES EMPLOYED ON THAT SOLEMN OCCASION. From the wisdom and goodness of Him who prescribed them this was to be expected. Instead of the slaughter of animals, select and perfect, but within the reach of the poor; — instead of incense and spices which are only found in a few favoured regions of the earth, and which when found are more costly than appropriate, our Saviour has directed us to employ the simple elements of bread and wine; produced in every country; which may be obtained without delay or difficulty. These elements are fit emblems of the benefits to be derived from the solemnity; nay, "the strengthening and refreshing of our souls by the Body and Blood of Christ." (W. Barrow, LL. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And as they did eat, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and brake it, and gave to them, and said, Take, eat: this is my body. WEB: As they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had blessed, he broke it, and gave to them, and said, "Take, eat. This is my body."