The herald., 1895-06-03
THE central PRESBYTERIAN
Communion Services Yesterday
at Temperance Temple
THE COMMAND OF CHRIST
81 Must Keep This Feast That Cometh
in Jerusalem
The Feast Not Only Commemorative of His
Death, but It Tells Of His Second
Coming-A Synopsis

The communion service held yesterday
m orning by the Central Presbyterian
church at Temperance temple was con-
Quoted by the Rev. N. II. G. Fife of Pas
adena, who announced as his text, Acts
1921: 81 must by all means keep the
feast that comeuh in jerusalem" and
after brief introduction said in part:
With the prospect before us of observing
the Lords supper doubtless every
Christian heart here responds to this ex-
preston OF the Apostle to encourage and
strengthen this purpose as well as to
point out some of the Jnentits of the Or
dinance istelf, 1 would simply and briefly
Suggest few thought: FIrst-The Chris
tians will say, II must by all means keep
this feast" becase it is the command of
Christ. Were it mere conventional ordi-
nance, q matter of outward convenience
and accommodation, it might be left to
our option whether to observe it or not,
but it is not SO presented. 1t comes to
us associated with the names of confess
ors and martyrs who found in it strength
with which to honor the Master. but it
comes with higher authority. He who
left the glory he had with the Father and
came to earth on our behalf who laid
down his life for us and now lives and
reigns on high to carry forward the pur-
poses of his love says: "Do this in remem-
brance of me-" We cannot therefore, de
cline to obey or serve this ordinance
without setting aside the authority of
him 10 whom we are indebted for all we
are or hope hereafter to enjoy.
Second-The wolds of Jesus that night
in which he was betrayed were not only
command but an invitation, and it
should be enough for the disciple that he
asks him n pp1 bpr hi m this feast
of love.
Third-The Christian says. 81 must
keep this feast" because IL is one of the
appointed means of grace. The word of
God. prayer and the sacraments are the
outward means whereby Christ communi-
Gates to us the benefits of redemption.
Fourth-This faith is the sign and
means of Christian fellowship. At the
Lord s table there is a manifestation of
oneness: all testifying to the same truth
and processing the same dependence and
faith. Hence the believer says. II must
keep this feast" because therein is so
much of that brotherly kindness, forbear-
ance and mutual helpfulness of which in
the journey of life there is so much need.
Fifth-This feast is a witness and
pledge of things TO come. There is in it
not only reference to the past but to
the future. It not only contemporaries
the death of Christ but tells OF His sec
ond coming. "Ye do show the Lords
death till He come" In view of all these
things does it not appear that this ordi-
nance is one of great blessing from which
no disciple can willingly absent himself
without being disobedient to the COM
mand of Christ, ungrateful to Him who
has asked us to remem Der His dying love
and turning away from one Of the means
of grace and one of the pledges of final
triumph and victory over sin and The
world? In response to His invitation.
Come. for all things are now ready, be
it ours to respond, though conscious of
being unworthy:
"Just as / ami Thy love unknown
Hath broken every barrier down.
Now to be Thine, yea. Thine alone,
o Lamb of God, / come"