News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1913-02-05

- Oval good opportunity
OF stating to the
child the facts in connection with
their redemption from bondage. So
today, in like manner, the Lords SUD
per is often the means of arousing
questions in the minds of both chill
dren and adults. What is the Com
munion service? What does it repre-
sent? What truth does it teach? In
answering these questions the Chris
tan afforded an opportunity of stat
ing the facts of the Christian faith.
First, the Communion commemo-
rates fact of history. One can take
boat or train and soon arrive at Cal
vary. He may climb this hill and
reach its summit where once stood
the cross on which Jesus Christ died
No intelligent person will deny the
historicity of the fact of Christs
death.
second, the Communion is fact Of
Christian faith. True, Jesus died, but
what did he die for? Here Christian
faith declares itself by answering, HE
died for our sins" The question of
sin must be dealt with, it's debt must
be paid, the divine wrath against 1t
must be appeased, some ground must
be found upon which righteous God
may deal in mercy and pardon with
sinful man. The Communion table
tells us that all this has been accom-
plished in the death of Christ 1t ac-
knowledges the reality of both sin
and death, and relates these two great
facts in the death of Christ. In the
words of Jesus we say, This cup is
the New Testament in my blood, shed
for the remission of sins" Preachers
may deny the vicarious atonement of
Christ; the pulpit may be silent
touching the substitutionary character
of Christ's death, but this table has
proclaimed since Christ's death and
will proclaim until he comes the fact
that he died for our sins; that
Bearing shame and scoffings rude,
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Sealed my pardon with His blood
Hallelujah. What a Savior!''
The Communion is a fact of pro
phecy LAS oft as We eat this bread
and drink this cup ye do show forth
the Lords death till he come" A
fact of history, a fact of Christian
faith, fact of prophecy-that the
links itself to the past,
present and future 1t reminds us of
our Lord, who, while present in spirit,
Is absent in body, and assures us that
he will some day come again person
ally and visibly to this earth. There
are two pledges for Christ's second
coming: The resurrection acts
I7:3D, the pledge to the world; the
lords supper Il Cor. 11:2S), the
pledge to the church. The Commun-
on table is aglow with hope and prom
Sc; it constantly breaches the sec
md coming of Christ. Every time we
gather around this table we should
ook forward with JOY to that glorious
lay when we shall see not only our
blessed Lord, but also Those whom
We have loved long since and lost
while"
When from loved ones we are parted,
And our eyes are dmmed with tears
Almost feel we broken-hearted, +
AS we struggle with our fears. J
But, 1t will not be forever,
We shall meet them all at home;
Separations will then be over
They are only It'll He come"
The Communion is a fact of me- |
lorial. Jesus said, do this in re-
of me-" The Communion
) to be a tangible reminder to us Of
ur Lord. Sight helps memory. How
he mementoes we have of our loved
mes remind us of them, of what they
,ere to US. and of our love for them.
We so soon forget what we do not
ee. Is 1t not strange that of all that
esus did when he was here upon the
arth the one thing he would have us
emember was not his life-wondrous
5 that was, nor his miracles-star-
ing as they were, not even his resur-
as it was of
II supernatural claims, but his
cath. The Communion table is a
Iemorfal of that death, and every
me we gather around it we please
lie Master by doing that last thing
. asked his disciples to do in re-
embrance of him. The mother goes
the bureau and from the drawer
,e takes two little shoes. They are
mple. and plain. and worn; they
ave no commercial value, but, oh,
hat a food of memories they bring
her heart and mind and soul as
lie thinks Of the one who has died!
et MS not forget our Master; he will
,t forget us.
Help me. dear Savior, Thee to own
And ever faithful be;
And when Thou sittest on Thy throne