St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-08-05
REV. DIR. cHRiSTIE'S SERMON
PREACHED AT THE HOUSE CT
HOPE CHURCH YESTERDAY
MORNING.
ACT OF HIGH SERVICE TO GOD.
Communion a Striking Memorial
of Chri"t's Love for the Chill
Iren of Men.

y
triness of the weather. 1t is not
likely that anything less than a cy-
clone would have kept the people
away, for Rev. Dr. Christie, who
was pastor of the church I'D to
three years ago, was to preach the
first Of a series of sermons he will
deliver during the present month.
The fragrance of beautiful flowers
permeated every corner of the sacred
edifice, and the elegance of the sum-
mer dresses of the ladies added to the
general beauty Of the scene The
heartiness Of his reception by his
former parishioners must have con-
WINGED the reverend gentleman that
he holds a very warm place in the
hearts of the people of ST. Paul.
DR.. Christie plunged into his theme
earnestly. I'm order that wemay come
to the table of the Lord Alright" he
said, let US try to answer the ques-
ton, What mean ye by this service?' :"
F'irst-It is meant to be an act of ODE
dience. AS long as there are interiors
and supeTiors, as long as there are
parents and children, and as long as
there are creatures and a Creator.
there is no duty more important than
obedience. There are many duties that
we perform here which grow out of
what is peculiar 10 this life. When sin
entered our world it laid man under
new class Of obligations. 1t created
the duty of repentance, and confession.
and sacrifice. But obedience is enjoin-
ed by the eternal law OF nature. 1t is
the law Of angelic life, and was the
law of that state of innocency that ex-
listed in Eden. Hence, il an act of ODE
dlence commanded of God had a ref
erence to nothing beyond itself; that
is, even If we could see no connection
between 1t and any good to ourselves,
IL would still be not only the most ra-
t1onal form of service, but the most ac-
ceptable we could render to our heay-
emily Father
Therefore, in gathering about the
Lords table in response to His COM
mand we are performing one of the
very highest acts of service of which
we are capable toward our Master.
Since 1t is in the highest degree hon
oring to Him, it must in an equal meas
ure be helpful and blessed to US. New
er are we stronger than when our wills
are moving along in lines subordinate
of Importance in connection with di-
vine commands, that which we propose
now must be among the highest. since
1t was among the last laid down upon
US by Him before He suffered.
THERE MUST BE FAITH.
Second-It is an act of faith. There
Is nothing in the bread and in the Wine.
or in him who administers the ordi-
nance, or in the act Of partal1ing, that
OF Itself can be of any benefit to the
participant. There were many press
ing upon, and no doubt in contact with.
the Savior in the way, besides the
woman who touched the hem of His
garment. But she alone received a
blessing. Why? Because she had
that receptivity that is produced by
faith without which we can have no
spiritual benefit.
We may bring to this sacrament
good, moral character and a large IN
teiligent knowledge of religious truth,
but II we do not come believing that
we shall meet Jesus here, as He prom
ised, we shall rise from the sacred Ger
emory without increase of spiritual
strength or comfort. We must believe
that He who instituted the supper is
our Prophet, Priest and King: that
His death was a vicarious Offering for
our sins, that He lives and loves
US and Is present to bestow upon us the
blessings that come through personal
communion with Him. These beliefs
are to be brought to the table or there
is danger of their not being found
there.
Third-It is an act of communion
THE cup which we bless is the COM
munion of His blood; the bread we
break IS the communion of His body. -
Communion" in this connection means
a joint participation in, or partaking
of His body and blood, and therefore
in receiving the bread and wine as
the memorials of Christ, we receive His
body and blood; that is, we receive
their sacrificial and saving virtue. and
thus become one with Him. It is.
therefore, an act of intimate commu-
Mon with Christ. The apostle saws
that all who come to the Lords table
are Of one body. The unity resulting is
not a mere social or sentimental one.
such as may exist among the members
of a. social club or friendly society: nor
is 1t analogous to that of state
where the body is pervaded by certain
feelings of patriotism and held togeth-
| er by well-defined political bonds. but
1t is a unity brought about by a com
mon spiritual life, flowing down
through all the members from Him
who is the head. This