Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1879-07-10
@eadinq tur the Sabbath,
CONDUCTED BY
REV. ROBERT LATHAM.
lOriginal
THE LORDS SUPPER.

THE LORDS SUPPER.
Simplicity is one of the striking character
istics of the New Testament Church. In its
ordinances and mode of worship, it is adapt
ed to the circumstances and pecuniary condi-
ton of the poor as we'll as the rich. The
only sacraments are baptism and the Lords
Supper. Both of these ordinances are SIM
pie, and yet they are very significant. They
are not like all the services of pagan wor-
ship, mere idle ceremonies. They are de-.
signed by the king and head of the church to
subserve particular purpose, and the means
are suited to the end contemplated.
The symbols used in the sacrament of the
Lords Supper are bread and wine. The
bread represents the body of Jesus Christ,
broken for sin, and the wine represents the
blood of Jesus Christ, shed for the remission
of sins. The design for which the Lords
Supper was instituted, was "to show the
Lords DEATH" or for remembrance of the
Lords death. This is not an inference 1t
is the plain and positive declaration of the
Scriptures in number of places. The church
is commanded to perpetuate this sacrament
until Jesus Christ shall come again-come at
the last day come to take all his people to
heaven to be with him at the right hand of
the Father forever. Wherever in the world
there is Christian congregation, there the
Lords Supper is to be observed in remem.
brance of the death of Jesus Christ.
Several things are worthy of note concern
ing the sacrament of the Lords Supper.
One thing is, it was given to the Church by
Jesus Christ himself: Consequently, it is not
a matter of Indifference with the Church
whether this ordinance be observed or not.
The Church must celebrate the Sacrament of
the Lords Supper. 1t is just as binding on
the New Testament Church to keep the pass
over supper, as it was upon the Old Testa-
ment Church to keep the passover. What is
true of the whole, must be true Of all the
parts. This being true, we conclude that each
Individual member of the New Testament
Church must, as opportunity is granted, OBJ
serve the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
In other words, to celebrate the Sacrament of
the Lords Supper is positive command, ad-
dressed to every member of the Church Of
Christ. Every individual who makes pub
lie profession of Christ, and lives life con-
sistent with the precepts of the gospel, is enti-
tied to the great privilege of publicly celebra-
ting the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
But it is more than a privilege-it is COM
manded duty. If one member of the Church
may, without sin, neglect to celebrate the Sac
rament, then two may, and then the whole.
This would make the observance of the ordi-
nance wholly optional, and, consequently, not
a command of the Saviour. 1t is doubtful
whether the Church could be perpetuated
without the Sacrament of the Lords Supper.
If such be the case, then those professed
Christians who are habitually absenting them
selves from the communion table, are doing
what they can to root out the Church.
No doubt, some persons of tender con-
sciences neglect to observe the Lords Supper
because of their supposed un6tness. 1t would
be wrong to advise any one to disregard the
warnings of conscience; but it should be re-
membered that conscience is not always sale
guide. Conscience is right when its admoni.
tons are in harmony with the teachings Of
the Scriptures. Otherwise, it is wrong. Those
persons whose tender consciences keep them
aoof from the Lords Supper, may find en-
couragement in the character of those to whom
our Lord administered the supper. They
were those whom, for wise and holy purposes,
the Lord, at the beginning of his public min
istry, had chosen to be eye witnesses of his
mighty works. They were poor and unlearn-
ed, with very indistinct notions of the Mes
siah's kingdom, and, wthal, weak in faith.
They loved the Master and to them was ad-
ministered the Lords Supper. 1t is clear,
that it would be an easy matter to require so
much as to efectually deprive all of the priv.
lege of celebrating the Lords Supper, and
still not require great deal. No professed
Christian should neglect to 60 to the table of
the Lord because he really feels that he is a
sinner. All who have professed faith in Je-
sus Christ, and are sorry at heart on account
of their sins, and are conscious that they love
the Saviour, should be encouraged to come to
the Lords Supper.
Others keep themselves out of the Church
because they think it an objectionable sin to
take the Lords Supper unworthily. They
found this notion on the language of Paul, in
the 29th verse of the 18th chapter of the 1st
Corinthians The following is the language:
"He that eateth and drinketh unworthily,
eateth and drnketh damnation to himself"
Whoever will consult the whole passage, will
find that in the 26th verse, the Apostle states
the design of the Lords Supper is to pro-
claim the Lords death. This is to be a per-
petual ordinance in the church below. The
death of Jesus Christ was great victory. In
his death, Jesus Christ conquered death, and
him that had the power of it. The infer
ence, as stated in the 9th verse; is that who
ever eats this bread and drinks this wine, un-
worthily, is guilty of the body and blood of
the Lord. Now, this does not mean that
these persons are as sinful as if they had &C..
tually put to death the Lord Of Glory. 1t
simp y means that they incur guilt; that is,
expose themselves to punishment because they
treat with contempt the victory gained by the
death of Christ. Since then, blessed results
follow the worthily receiving of the Lords
Supper, and liability to punishment follows
the unworthily receiving of it, he admonshes
us in the 2Sth verse to examine ourselves be
fore we eat and drink. The 18th verse as
signs the reason for self examination. If we
eat without selfexamination, making no dis
elimination between the Lords Supper and
an ordinary feast, then we eat and drink
damnation to ourselves.
Now, damnation, in this instance, cannot
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