The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1882-04-06
The Sacrament of the Lords Supper.


Methodist Church; and Rev. Mr.. Smart,
rs appropriate 10 the occasion, preached
upon the Sacrament Of the Lords Sup
per. As the subject is one Of interest
to so many people we have thought il
worth while to reproduce the prominent
ideas of the sermon as we remember
! them.
| While Catholics have seven sacra-
| ments, Protcstants have only two. Bap-
tism and the Lords Supper. Different
branches Of Protestanls hold different
views concerning this sacrament: The
Quakers reject it altogether; others,
who regard the Lords Supper us taking
the place of the Passover, ol'serye-it
only .-ycarlY; OILERS believe in trans
Observation-Disclosures the bread and vine
of the sacrament are changed in the act
Of consccration from their original SUBJ
stance into the real flesh and blood of
Christ; others believe in consubstan-
tlation-that the zeal body and blood of
Christ exist in the consecrated bread
and wine.
The Sacrament Of the Lords Supper
is both Il sign and L pledge. 1t is \
sign (D Of tho love of God in sending
his son into the world; (2) it is sign
Of the love of Christ in dying for man.
kind. and (3) it is also sign on the
part Of the participant that his purpose
il to obey God and to accept his mer-
cics 1t Is pledge that God will con-
tinue his mercies always, and that he
will accept and pardon the penitcnt
On the part Of the participant, it is a
pledge that he will observe the promises
and vows he makes to God. Aste who
are to partake of the sacrament, they
arc CD all who truly repent o. their sins
and intend TO lead q new life-the only
condition is true repentance; (2) all
who are in love and charity with their
ncighbor-the love here spoken Of
means simply good will; (3) all who
have formed 4 full purpose to obey
God.
The reasons for pnrtaking of this sac
ramcnt are, first, that it is Gods conf
mand, and. secondly, because of the
benefits to the participant, which are
W pardon, ~ spiritual nonriShmcrt
and strength for I'll the duties of life,
,3) grace to enable one to resist evil
temptations and to hold Out faithful.
Every argument that. proves iic duty Of
r:;raking Of the sacrrIn"nL ut ail prnvts
Me duty Of doing sp:ts oilcn Is ornnrin.
nifty offers. 1t is one OF the means Of
help ordaincd by God for man, and he
cannot safely reject any offer of help
thus made to him. Like all His COM
mands, this one is;"j'ist ;:od right" and
obedience brings happiness, while DISC
bedience brings misery. The limit Of
obedience should be- the ability to obey.
Same object to partaking of the sacra-
ment on the ground that they are ma
worthy; but this is no good reason, for
if We refuse to accept any aidfrom God
until we are worthy of it we will never
bo worthy St. Panl's language to the
Corinthians that they who "eat and
drink unWorthily' do so to their dam
nation, does not afford any excuse, be-
canse that language was used under
circumstances that do pot exist now.
'Ehc Corinthians had got into tbs habit
Of carrying their food TO church With
them and turning the sacrament into a
sort Of picnic or carousal. This is
proved by his saying, in this same con-
ncction, "Have you not houses 10 eat
and drink in?" Another objects be-
cause be has committed some grievous
sin. Such ap oae should not partake
unless he has rcpented. But this Is a
reason for immediate repentance. An
other objects on the ground that he will
not be able TO live upto the high, Chris
tian life indicated in taking the sacra-
lnent. This is no excuse; for one who
has professed Christ, or has ever p#rta-
ken Of the sacrament, has taken VOWS
from whicn he cannot escape by ne
gleciing this duty. Another says lie
has not had time TO prepare. There
should be preparation; hut no press Of
business can prevent Il proper preDara-
tion. All the preparation necessary is
:. full purpose TO serve God, and sin
cere desire to receive His blessings.
Another objects that frequent comniun-
ing abatcs his reverence for the sacra-
ment. This reverence may be the eff
feet of novelty. and if so will soon pass
away; bnt if the reverence arises from
the love and fear of God it will be in
creased by communing often. Another
objects that he has conniunef so often,
and has derived no benefit from it. We
are not to obey God solely for the benefit
that may accrue to us. But how does
one know he has not been benefited?
lie may not haye rerei7ed any niracn-
lous manifestation Of grace in partaking
Of this sacrament. but the grace Of God
comes gently and constantly into the
heart to strengthen it; and he does not
know what he might have been but for
this sacrament.