莱尔主教upper_room-第96章
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awakened to see the real nature of the existing differences about the
Lord's Supper； there will e in a few years the disestablishment； the
disendowment； and the disruption of the Church of England。 Half the lay
Churchmen seem so absorbed in politics； or fine arts； or cotton； or
iron； or coal； or corn； or shipping； or railways； that you cannot get
them to look at religious questions。 Of the other half； too many are
crying 〃Peace； peace。〃 when there is no peace； and insisting that every
〃earnest〃 clergyman should be allowed to〃 do what is right in his own
eyes； to break the law； and to be let alone。 In short； unless a change
es soon； our candlestick will be taken away； and our Church will be
ruined。
The paper now in the reader's hands is a humble contribution to the
cause of truth about the Lord's Supper。 It is truth as I find it in the
New Testament； truth as I find it in the authorized formularies of our
Church； truth as I find it in the writings of our greatest English
divines；it is this truth which I advocate in these pages。
1。 Is the Lord's Supper a subject of primary importance in the
Christian religion？ Do not thousands of Churchmen live and die without
receiving it？ Do not the majority of church…goers turn their backs on
it； and always go away when it is administered？ How is this？
Nothing can possibly be of small importance which the Lord Jesus Christ
ordained and appointed。 Our Lord most distinctly manded His
disciples to 〃eat bread〃 and 〃drink wine〃 in remembrance of Him。 What
right has any Christian to disobey this mandment？ No doubt a man may
be saved； like the penitent thief； without having received the Lord's
Supper。 It is not a matter of absolute and indispensable necessity；
like repentance； faith； and conversion。 But it is impossible to say
that any professing Christian is in a safe； healthy； or satisfactory
condition of soul； who habitually refuses to obey Christ and attend the
Lord's Table。 If he is not fit to be a municant； as many say； he is
confessing that he does not live as he ought to do； and is not fit to
die and meet God。 It is very difficult to see what habitual
non…municants will be able to say for themselves in the
judgment…day。 There is a judgment to e； a judgment of things left
undone which we ought to have done； as well as of things done which we
ought not to have done。
2。 Is it of much importance to have right and true views of the Lord's
Supper？
It is of the utmost possible importance。 On no subject in Christianity
has there been such an immense amount of superstitious error taught and
held for nearly eighteen centuries。 No error probably has done more
harm to the souls of men。 Those who think it does not signify what
opinions we hold about the Lord's Supper； so long as we receive it； are
under a strong delusion。 No ordinance appointed by Christ does good to
our souls 〃ex opere operato；〃 or by the mere outward bodily use of it。
The value of the Lord's Supper depends entirely on its being rightly
understood； and rightly used。
3。 Where shall we find right and true views of the Lord's Supper？
We shall find them in the four accounts of the institution of the
ordinance given by St。 Matthew； St。 Mark； and St。 Luke in their
Gospels； and by St。 Paul in the First Epistle to the Corinthians （see
Matt。 26：26…28； Mark 14：22…24； Luke 22：19…20； 1 Cor。 11：23…29）。 These
are our only full sources of information in God's Word。 In the three
Pastoral Epistles to Timothy and Titus； written especially for the
instruction of ministers； the Lord's Supper is not once named。 The
views and principles of the Church of England are to be found in her
Articles； munion Service； Catechism； and Twenty…seventh Homily。 Any
views which cannot be reconciled with these formularies are not 〃Church
views。〃
4。 What is the Lord's Supper？
It is an ordinance or sacrament appointed by Jesus Christ the night
before He was crucified； for the perpetual benefit and edification of
His Church； until He es again at the end of the world。 The only
other sacrament is baptism。 The Church of Rome holds that Confirmation；
Penance （or Confession and Absolution）； Ordination。
Matrimony； and Extreme Unction； are sacraments of the gospel。 The
Church of England in her Twenty…fifth Article says distinctly that they
are not。
5。 How many Tarts are there in the Lord's Supper？ The Catechism of the
Church of England rightly tells us that there are two parts。 One is the
outward and visible part； which is received by all municants； both
good and bad； without exception。 The other is the inward and invisible
part which is the thing signified by the outward part； and is only
received by believers； and received by them； as the Twenty…eighth
Article says； 〃after a heavenly and spiritual manner。〃
6。 What is the outward and visible Tart or sign in the Lord's Supper？
The outward and visible part of the sacrament consists of bread and
wine； which are placed on the Lord's Table； consecrated and set apart
by the minister； seen； touched； received； eaten； and drunk by the
municants。
7。 What is the inward part or thing signified in the Lord' s Supper？
The inward or invisible part is that body and blood of Christ which
were offered for our sins on the cross。 It is neither seen； nor
touched； nor tasted； nor received into the mouth by municants。 It is
not a tangible and material thing； and can only be eaten and drunk；
spiritually； with the heart； and by faith。
8。 What did our Lord mean； when He said of the bread； 〃 This is My
body；〃 and of the wine； 〃This is My blood；〃 at the first institution of
the Lord's Supper？
He certainly did not mean； 〃This bread is literally and materially My
body； and this wine is literally My blood。〃 It is quite plain that the
Apostles did not so understand His words。 As devout and well…taught
Jews； they would have been shocked and horrified at the idea of
drinking literal blood。 Our Lord simply meant； 〃This bread and this
wine represent； and are emblems of； My body and My blood。〃 It is just
the form of speech He had used when He said； 〃The field is the world；
the good seed are the children of the kingdom〃 （Matt。 13：38）。
9。 Why was the sacrament of the Lord's Supper ordained？
The answer of the Church Catechism is the best that can be given。 It
was ordained 〃for the continual remembrance of the sacrifice of the
death of Christ； and of the benefits which we receive thereby。〃 The
bread broken； given； and eaten； was intended to remind Christians of
Christ's body given for our sins on the cross。 The wine poured out and
drunk was intended to remind Christians of Christ's blood shed for our
sins。 The whole ordinance was intended to keep the Church in perpetual
recollection of Christ's death and substitution for us； and His
atonement for our sins。 Five times over in the munion Office of the
Prayer Book； the words 〃memory〃 and 〃remembrance〃 are expressly used；
to describe the principal object of the Lord's Supper。
10。 Who ought to e to the Lord's Supper？
Only those who have the marks and qualifications which are described in
the last answer in the Church Catechism。 People who 〃repent truly of
their former sins； and stedfastly purpose to lead a new life；〃people
who 〃have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ； and a thankful
remembrance of His death；〃people who are 〃in charity with all
men；〃these； and only these； are fit to be municants。
11。 What good do fit municants receive from the Lord's Supper？
Their souls； as the Catechism says； are 〃strengthened and refreshed〃 by
inward spiritual munion with the body and blood of Christ； after the
same manner that a material body is strengthened by bread and wine。
Their repentance is deepened； their faith increased； their hope
brightened； their knowledge enlarged； their habits of holy living
strengthened
