The Sixty-Fifth Sacrament, October 5, 1735

I OPENED the ordinance with some meditations on these words, “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies.” Psalm xxiii. 5. Here is a table spread, a table of provisions, which may, indeed, to an eye of sense, seem but of little value; yet, to the believing eye of faith, in connexion with the purposes for which they are appointed, the value of them is inestimably great, as that of parchment and of wax may become in being made the conveyance of some vast estate. God has prepared this table: to spread it was not a sudden thing, the work of an hour, or of a day: “Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world;” Acts xv. 18; and all seem to have been centred in this; therefore, was the way prepared by so many prophecies; by so many types; but, through the singular goodness of God, the dearest discoveries have been reserved for us. Never did God say concerning the passover. This is the representation of my Son, who is to be made a sacrifice for sin; this seals to you the covenant of grace, to be established in the blood of that immaculate Lamb, the most excellent dispenser of this most valuable covenant; — this was happily reserved for us. And this table is prepared for us “in the presence of our enemies.” Scripture represents a band of formidable spirits as engaged for our ruin: they urged on the death of Christ, but found their own disappointment and defeat in it; and, no doubt, they look with envy and rage on the work of our redemption, and all the memorials of it. God anoints our head as with oil in this ordinance; we receive the effusion of that blessed Spirit from Christ our Head, of which it may be said, that it is like the oil poured out on the head of Aaron, which ran down to his beard, and thence to the skirts of his garment. And we may truly say, that our cup runs over. God bestows upon us, not only a sufficiency, but a superfluity of blessings. We might have had eternal reason to have adored his goodness had he done much less than this. Had he continued us in this present life, free from its decays and its calamities, and favoured us with an eternal duration of those pleasures of friendship and devotion which we here enjoy, it would have been matter of grateful acknowledgment; much more so, had he given us the entertainments of holy and separate spirits, although the body had been lost in the grave; but he graciously adds the happiness of that to the happiness of the soul, and thus makes our whole person completely blessed. How reasonably may we then conclude, that surely “goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives;” for what can we imagine so valuable, that God would compare it with, or prefer it to, his Son? Should our days be gloomy, afflicted, unprofitable, and useless, still shall mercy and goodness follow them; and, what is best of all, we shall “dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.” It would be a great favour to be allowed every day to spend an hour in God’s house with such delight as we have sometimes, and I hope this day, done; much better than to enjoy a great estate, or than any of the delights of sense. But God will bring his children home, and there they shall dwell for ever! Reviving thought! We may arise from the table of the Lord with satisfaction; nay, in this view, we might take our last leave of it with pleasure; yes, with far greater and more reasonable pleasure than the Jews took their leave of the Mosaic tabernacle, that they might go and worship God in his temple at Jerusalem.

In breaking the bread, I said. Blessed Jesus, had we only seen thee in a mortal form, at a table with the children of men, although it had been under a golden canopy, and every luxury of Ahasuerus’ feast had been renewed; though the children of princes had been waiting upon thee, and all the kings and emperors on the earth had been sitting with thee; though the greatest delicacies of animal nature had been exhausted for thine entertainment, what a condescension had it been! especially, if thou hadst here instructed them in a way of virtue and of happiness; but how much more at a paschal table, when telling thy disciples of thy body broken, and thy blood shed! How important must the case be! An angel would not have descended from heaven, nor dwelt one day in a mortal form on the earth, upon any mean and low occasion; how much less, then, the Lord of angels!

In pouring out the wine, I said. We have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus. To think of the blood of Jesus poured out is wonderful; to think of it in this connexion, and that without it we might have had no boldness. Had we arrived at the gates of the heavenly Jerusalem, so TWENTY-FIRST MEDITATION.

we might have stopped short, as some poor naked beggar at the door of the presence chamber of a king; but now, we are encouraged to make our approach as those who may hope to worship there.

In taking the cup, I remarked, We commemorate thy death, blessed Jesus; nor would we be ashamed nor afraid to do so, if we were surrounded with thy blaspheming and persecuting enemies, and although we might be led out to share thy cross, for we are ready to take it with thy crown.

I addressed the spectators with an expostulation on the folly of continuing irresolute, and of absenting themselves, without due cause, from the table of the Lord.

I bless God, that I had some comfortable communion with him this day, and could say, that it was good for me to be there.