The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-08-04
BROOKLYN CHURCHES.
CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.


mental Ordi Inn ncc-Scrmon by the
Rev. DIR. Partridge.
Notwithstanding tie extreme heat yesterday
morning q goodly number assembled IN Christ
Protestant Episcopal church, on Bedford avenue.
The rector, Rev. DR.. Partridge. conducted the ser
vice and preached discourse suitable to the occa.
sion. His text was taken from the Gospel OF st.
Matthew, XVII, &c. q, 2S:-"And as they were
eating, Jesus took bread. and blessed it, and brake
It, and gave 1t to the disciples. and said, 'Take.
eat; this is my body And He took the cup and
gave thanks and gave it to them. saying Drink ye
all of it; for this is my blood Of the Ne Testament
which Is shed Tor many for the remission OF SINS"
In his opening remarks the Doctor said that the
cup OF the Lord was not to DC denied to the people,
and both parts OF the sacrament, by Christs ordi-
nance and commandment. ought to he admins
tered to all Christian men alike. The eating of the
bread and the drinking OF the wine being always
connected with Cnrist's example, they ought never
to be separated; whenever one was given the
other should not be withheld. The memorable
act of the Saviour spoken Ofin the text was per-
formed very near the close OF His life In the presence
OF His beloved disciples. Those gracious words
were addressed to them under the most trying Cir
cumstances, ana On tho very night in which He
betrayed He sat at supper With Ills chosen lol.
lowers for the last time upon earth and spoke to
them encouraglngly OF
beyond the grave. Even in view OF His own suf-
tefings and death, which lie know would take
place on the morrow and which drew from Him
great drops OF blood In the garden, and amid the
AWFUL scenes OF Calvary and the Cross ana the
taunts OF the multitude He never Tor one moment
forgot His beloved disciples, their wants and neces
Sites when He should be taken away from them:
nor did He orget that bond of union which would
forever ter keep His followers together and unite
them more firmly to Himself and the best interests
OF His spiritual kingdom. In that solemn hour
Christ declared His love for and interest In them
uncfot. ticbi In nrASc GVv,
cSarcS and 3D. among , Ills people e the end
forgotten and that night mad been remembered BY
the faithful followers of the Lamb ever since. On
the very last page Of the history OF our race, before
His coming in glorious majesty to judge the quick
and the dead, the account OF the Lords Supper
Will appear and be classed among the sweetest
children OF men. This sweet memorial OF Him has
ever been dear to His Church and people, who
with se Iead ITS
too highly estimate Its Importance. nor could 1T
allow for single moment the separation OF the
elements used IN the sacrament nor think IL can
be neglected with impunity. However, the Church
did believe that some preparation Of heart is neces
sary for its reception, and that the holy spirit OF
God alone could make persons worthy partakers
and
PROPER GUESTS AT HIS TABLE.
An ordinance wonderful, simple, so lovely
aud attractive at its first appointment should
rvet the attention and secure the admiration of
the world. But men had perverted 1t and thrown
mystery about It, claiming more TOR 1t than the
Saviour attended, while others mutilated, adored,
carried 1t about and elevated 1t in such manner
"a to render 1t almost worthless in the eyes OF the
people. The sread eaten at the Lords table was
intended TO remind Its recipient of Christ's body
given to death upon the crsss for our human sins,
and the whole ordinance was meant to keep fresh
In the memory the great atoning sacrifice made
| by the shedding Of HIS blood on Calvary
| for the sins OF the race. There Is
! always special Blessing attached to
| the right use OF the sacrament anu every other
| ordinance appointed by Jesus Christ In His holy
| Church and among His people; hut approaching
| the table without living faith in His atonement,
the individual would go away empty, mise rable,
poor and bind and naked. deriving no real benent
! from the ordnance but on The contrary,
INCREASING THEIR CONDENSATION
and aggravating their guilt in the sight of heaven.
christ said, "Do not come because you are worthy
do not lay away because you are unworthy. but
| come unto Me and will give you rest" Were 1t
not for this blessed sacrament In connection with
| that OF baptism, which always precedes it,
| the union between the Church and her
| living Head would long since havo been
| broken, and instead OF unity love anu peace
| there would have been dscord and confusion
| reigning among the proiesscd followers OF the
| Lamb. The ordinance OF baptism and the Lords
! supper were two monumental pillars raised by and
the GOdhead were 0fically present at the porch Of
| the Church to receive the believer and welcome
| him into the fold OF the great shepherd Jesus
Christ, and the latter was one OF the great means
| of nOurs ling and training him Tor heaven.
DR.. Partridge enlarged upon the benefits aCcru-
| ing to those who observe the SacTamental Ordi-
| nance, and closed by urging on-Communicanis to
| avail themselves OF its benefits The holy commu-
Mon was administered at the close OF the sermon.