The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1899-09-22
The Home Circle.
The Living Bread.

THE SERMON PREACHED AT TIKI COMMUN-
ION SERVICE IN THE NEwTOWN CON
EDUCATIONAL CHURCH, SUNDAY MORN
ING, SEPTEMBER 3, 1899, BY THE PAS
TOR, REV OTIS W. BARKER CHRIST
MANY TITLES; NONE MORE SATISFYING
THAN THIS, THE LIVING BREAD.-sOUL-
HUNGER AND ATTEMPTS TO APPEASE
1.-THE GLoIsTERED CHAMBERS OF
GODS woRD.-TwENTY YEARS OF UNIN
TERRUPTED PROSPERITY; WHAT 1T
WOULD DO,-PROOFs OF BACKsLIDING.
DANIELS BUDDY CoUNTENANCE.- THE
WISH OF EVANGELINE.-COLD q lMFORT
FOR THE DISTRESSED. -LIMPING JACOB
AND PAUL's THoRN.-FORwARD TO A
CHRIsTLIKE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
AT THE REQUEST OF MANY WHO WERE
PRESENT AT THE SERVICE
Text, John 8: 81. Ell am the living bread
which came down from heaven"
never attempt to do any great thing
at a communion service; for 1t has al
ways seemed to me that then, II ever,
the endeavor and blessed privilege OF
the Christian minister should be to tura
the attention of HE people to Christ and
away from himself. By no trick of rhet-
ORIG, by no orAtorical device should the
man of God at that time strive for praise
every word and thought of the service
should contribute to the honor and glory
of Him who died that we might at length
live and reign as kings and priests to
God. The whole aim of communion sea
sons ought to be Christie centric.
In the Old and New Testaments Jesus
ia spoken of by so different titles, and
taken together, these give magnificent
view Of His tenderness, love, sympathy
and confederation. They are so differ
emit stars that 90 to form constellation
of superior Brightness which shines
forth the praise of the Redeemer's name.
. Christ is called the Vine. which does not
keep the life within Itself, but gives it
out into the branches, denying itself the
privilege of bearing fruit, content that
the branches which 1t nourishes shall
hang with purple clusters. Christ is the
Good Shepherd, bringing into view al
once by the title the picture OF the East
ern shepherd who calls his sheep by
name, carries the lambs in his bosom
goes out into the night seeking the lost
whom the sheep know and follow
but from q stranger they will fee
Christ 10 the Door, and no one can keeT
US away from that Door when He bids
us come in; Christ is the Door OF Hope
opening before a srAying and des
pairing world. Christ Is the way; anC
though In the Vanity Fair of life many q
siren voice sings seductive song to at
tract US into other ways, we we'll know
that Christ only is the way to everlast
ing life. Christ IL the Bridegroom. I'll
GENES Himself with the invitation wv
are more hOnored than il He had sent thu
word of welcome by servant or o
friend), and bids US to an eternal feast
to Joys which know no end. This feast
to-day about which we gather Is sym
boil OF the great feast In the realms above
the marriage-supper of the Lamb, wheri
we shall sit down with Moses and Isaa'
and Jacob, and those whom we have Low
ed and who have passed on before shall
be as close and near to us as II no sun
dering had ever parted the friendship
that made life field of fragrant flowers
These titles--Vine, Good Shepherd
Door, Way, Bridegroom--make known
i say, Christ's tenderness, His msjesty
His glory, His long-suffering patience ant
His love, and there,are many other titles
that would give fuller setting to tbs
picture; but among them there is mons
more satisfying, more comforting thar
that have chosen for our consideration