Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1888-04-09
THE r LECTURE

THE FIFTH LECTURE
BY Rev. M. r. Dryden Upon the Holy sacra-
ment.
Last evening Rev. NJ. F. Dryden de-
hvered his fifth sermon upon the general
subject of the Holy Sacrament to q large
congregation. Following is the full text
of his lecture
We come now to consider the nature and
end Of the "Holy Sacrament" which was
instituted by our Saviour in the days Of
his incarnation, and has ever since been
observed by the Christian Church. This
sacrament is styled by st. Paul, in his first
Epistls to the Corinthians, ''the Lords
Supper" because il was instituted at SUP
perfume. The same writer also speaks Of
this institution as "ths Lords table, and
'the cup of the Lord" The terms, "Com.
munioa" md 'Eueharist'' were afterwards
! introduced and applied to it by the early
Church, The word Communion" was
borrowed from j. Corinthians, 10th chap
ter and 18th verse. where the Apostle calls
the bread, "the communion of the body of
Christ" and the cur, ''tbe communion Of
the blood of Christ" The word "EH-
eharia," from the Greek word "eueharistia,"
which signifies, "giring Of thanks" was
used by the Church to mark the admins
tration Of this ordinance, as an occasion of
praise and Handspring. The word "Sdcrd-
meRt' from the Latin "sdcramentum,"
which means an oath or pop is also applied
to the Lords Supper" by way Of emphs-
sis, because here we renew our solemn
vows Of obedience 10 God, while we
commemorate the death and passion
Of our Redeemer. Other Greek and Latin
terms were used, for which in our Ian
guage we have no exact equivalent. This
ordinance, instituted by our Saviour, is the
Sacrament" because it signifies and seals
to the believer the benefits of Christ's sac
rificial death upon the cross. II is the
Eucharist" because it commentaries the
sacrifice which he then and there made. II
is the Communion" because it is the
badge of Christian profession and fellow
ship. And while Christians agree in the
observance of this sacrament, they differ
widely both as to its mature and the bless.
iRgs which it conveys. To follow up in de-
TAIL the growth Of doctrine upon the sub
ject would require Of US q critical exami.
nation Of the teaching Of the f3thers, the
various controversies in the church from
the ninth TO the thirteenth century, the
different formularies Of the Reformation,
together with the present teaching of the
Christian church upon this subject. And
to undertake such a task as this, upon the
present occasion, would be % work OF
supererogatiop. We shall, therefore, in
the consideration of this subject, discuss
it only as it forms an issue between
Protestant Christianity and Romanism,
The Church Of Rome holds and teaches
the dogma Of transubst imitation. The
afirms, that in the holy Eucharist, when
the priest p~ronounces the words OF conse-
Grafton, the whole substance of the bread
and the wine are changed into the real flesh
and blood Of Christ, together with Lis soul
and divinity; and that the communicate
does not partake of bread and ipine. bat
eats the real flesh, and drinks tina real blood
of the Saviour. That there may be no
donbt as to the teaching OF the R3mish
Church upon this subject, I cite here the
Language found in her Catechism OF Chris.
tian doctrine and also the language en-
ployed by the Council of Trent in setting
forth this dogma. In her Catechisu we
find the following, "The Holy Eucharist
is the Body and Blood, the Soul aud the
Divinity, of Jesus Christ, under the ap-
pearances Of bread and wine" This
change is called Reconsideration, which
means a real change ofthe substance ofthe
bread, into the substance of the body of
Christ, and of the substance Of the wine
into the substance of His blood" II
further declares that Christ empowered
and commanded the Apostles, and Through
them the Catholic Bishops aud
Priests, to change bread and wine
into His body aud blood" The
Council OF Trent says, 'If anyone
denieth, that in the sacrament of the most
holy Eucharist are contained truth, reaUy
and Substantially the body and blood to-
gether with the soul and divinity of our
Lord, Jesus Christ, and consequently the
whole Christ; bat saith that He Is only
therein asina sign, or in a figure, or in
virtue; let him be anathems." Again,
IF anyone denieth that, in the venerable
sacrament of the Eucharist, the whole
Christ is contained under each species, and
under every part Of each species, when
separated; let him be austhema." Again.
IF anyone saith that Christ, given in the
Eucharist, is eaten spiritually only, aud
not also sacrauentally and really; let him
be anathems." Now this is the teaching of
the Church of Rome, and at this point,
Professionalism aud Romanism Join issue
upon this subject. Romanists affirm the
dogma OF transubstantiation and Protest
ants deny, aud here the Issue is squarely
made. Aud we must not forget, that the
Church Of Rome in taking this position
has also taken upon herself the burden of
proof. As Professionals we unanimously re-
ject this doctrine, upon the ground that it
is aHscriptardI, and therefore,
cannot be received as an article
of faith. The word Of God as
contained in the c~anonical books of the
Old and New Testament constitute the
only ruie Of tuih and practice. This is the
Court of Appeals where every question Of
faith and morals must be settled. And all
doctrines and dogmss, however plausible
they may seem TO men, il they do not &C.
cord with the teaching of Christ and His
inspired Apostles, must be rejected as hav-
ing no claims upon our faith. Aud on
the other hand, whatever doctrine is
taught in the Scriptures is trge, aud &C.
though it may be beyond the sphere of
pure reason, we are bound to accept and
believe it, upon the authority Of Gods
word. But we must first he assured that
it is The Touching of The Bible. Therefore, if
it can be shown that the doctrine of tran
standardization was taught by Christ and
His Apostles, then are we ready to accept
and believe it. But what is the Scripture
proof upon this subject? The first pass
age to be examined is that in which the
words Of the institution are recorded.
They are found in Matthew, Mark, Luke
and in the 18th chapter and 23d verse of
Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians.
The accounts given by the four writers are
much the same, except that st. Luke aud 81.
Paul in reviewing the transaction add this
command, do this in remembrance of
The words of the institution are
found in the 26th chapter of Matthew,
26th, 9th and 2sth verses. He says,
And as they were eating, Jesus took