Thoughts on Sacramental Occasions, Extracted from the Diary of Philip Doddridge

As I am preparing for the table of the Lord, and my intended journey, I would seriously think of my business with God, in regard to each. 1 come to the sacred table humbly to receive a renewed pardon for my renewed. and and aggravated transgressions. I come, to seal those sacred engagements into which I entered myself on my birthday. I come, to get a lively view of Christ by faith; that, having him crucified and set forth before me, I may thereby be engaged to obey the truth, according to the exhortations I am giving to others, and which I earnestly pray God to seal home upon my own soul. I come, to refer to him all the future concerns of my life, and particularly the continuance of it, — and of my health, and capacity for usefulness. I come, to ask his assistance in the cultivation of the several branches of learning which lie before me; and in that great design for the defence and improvement of Christianity, which has been the subject of so many of my late thoughts. I come, to commit myself to his care in this journey; to beg preservation from all the snares and temptations of it; and a continued adherence of soul to him. And I come to ask his direction in that great concern, the choice of a companion for life. May he preserve me from being misled by any of those foolish passions to which I know that I am naturally obnoxious. I would solemnly engage myself to a care in secret devotion, to be watchful over my thoughts, my heart, my appetites, and my words; and I humbly depend upon him, to lead me and guide me; to prosper my way before me, and to make such provisions for the supply of my wants as he knows that I may need. He is my covenant Father and Friend; may he never leave me nor forsake me, and may I never depart from him!

AT THE lord’s TABLE THIS DAY.

Of the union and communion of the soul with Christ by faith, and of the emotions of gratitude it should inspire.

God favoured me with very uncommon enlargement of soul; which I desire to mention to the glory of his grace. I began with that question of God to Elijah, “What dost thou here?” 1 Kings xix. 9 J and observed how careful we should be to be able to answer it in every circumstance of life; and with what peculiar pleasure and cheerfulness we might answer it here; since we come to eat the flesh and drink the blood of the Son of God; — that flesh which is meat indeed, and that blood which is drink indeed. And then, from these words, I proceeded to consider, having briefly explained what it was, with what expectations, and with what resolutions we should feed upon this divine banquet. For the expectations; they may be founded on the promises connected with that passage of Scripture, wherein Christ tells us, that if any man thus eat and drink, he “dwelleth in me, and I in him:” John vi. 56; which signifies the most intimate union and delightful communion. It is a pleasure on both sides. Christ will dwell in that soul! To have been visited by Christ in the days of his flesh, how great an honour! “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof; but if thou wilt come, no prince shall be so welcome.” Now he comes; and comes not like a wayfaring man, that turns in but for a night, but as a constant inhabitant. And he says, “he dwelleth in me.” I do not only give him a transient look; entertain a kind thought of him in the hour of my conversion, or at the time of my entrance on the world of spirits; but he has a constant possession of my soul. He dwells in me, even before I dwgll in glory. How delightful a thought, to think we are at this moment dwelling in Christ! Again, — “I will give him eternal life!” Life eternal! How vast the import! Not one day’s, one year’s, one age’s enjoyment; but an immortality of happiness! It is true that the body must die. ‘These bodies that are now going to receive this sacred food, shall soon fall into a ruin, undistinguished from that of those who never knew a Redeemer; undistinguished from that of those who despised him. As the Israehtes ate manna in the wilderness, and are dead, so shall we be who are now eating this bread of life. Yet still it deserves that name, for the soul shall live — live, and look down without terror, without sorrow, on the mouldering clay, especially when it is secure of a glorious resurrection! For that follows — “I will raise him up at the last day!” John vi. 54. In consequence of this blessed promise, we, when feeding upon Christ by faith may apply to ourselves all the great and illustrious things which the Scripture says of the resurrection. We shall bear the image of the heavenly Adam, we shall be raised incorruptible! This mortal shall put on immortality, and these vile bodies shall be changed. And it surely increases the pleasure of the prospect that Christ shall effect it. “I will raise him up!” Well, then, may he say, “My flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed:” as if there were nothing else that deserved to be called meat and drink in comparison. With these expectations should we eat; and these expectations may instruct us in correspondent resolutions. Let us come with resolutions of maintaining this union; of delighting in it; of using the faculties of our souls, and the members of our bodies, as what are to be for ever glorious with God in heaven.

As for the returns of gratitude, and of love, they are natural. Would Christ dispense with them, and give us a liberty of sinning, the holy soul would decline it with horror.

While breaking the bread, I discoursed of the free love of Christ. “What could deserve all this?” — I appealed to conscience in pouring out the wine. “• Had we shed the blood of Jesus, what self-resentment would have attended it! what the guilt of having drawn down such agonies on the Son of God! Let us not increase it by trampling his mercy under foot.”

When taking the cup I observed: “Shall I be ashamed of a public engagement? No! — Were the whole world of men and angels assembled, I would glory in it; that I am the disciple of the crucified Jesus; and that I receive this sacred cup in token of my sincere resolution of devoting to him all I am and have — of being his for time, and his for eternity.”

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