The Hundred and Ninth Sacrament, March 4, 1739

I INTRODUCED the Ordinance with a meditation on those words in the Revelation, chap. vii. verse 9 and 10: “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; and cried with a loud voice, saying. Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne;* and unto the Lamb.” Let us observe, who this blessed company were, how they were situated, and how they were employed.

First — They were a vast multitude. Although the fold of Christ on earth is little, and the gate strait, yet in heaven it is great, because it takes in infants. How many little creatures, having for a little while borne the image of the earthly Adam, bear that of the heavenly! And in the latter days many shall be brought in; the way shall be wider, and many shall say, “Come, let us walk in it.” It is a various society, not confined to the Jews, but of all nations and kingdoms; our own, through grace, is eminently distinguished. Let us acknowledge the goodness of God therein; and that, in our language, a multitude of holy souls, being dead, yet speak.

Secondly — In what a situation: clothed in bright robes of purity, of victory, and of joy; wiih palms in their hands, as conquerors over sin, Satan, the world, and death. How joyful that triumph, and how completely secured by salvation appointed as its walls and bulwarks!

Thirdly — How they are employed: in humble worship, ascribing salvation (not in wishing it) to Him that sitteth upon the throne, to their God. They consider him as on the throne; they see how lofty, how radiant, how firm; and this God is our God. The bands of nature are often broken, but those that ally Him to us shall never be broken. They also ascribe salvation to the Lamb, remembering their obligation to suffering love. How doth humility mingle itself with all the honours and joys of the heavenly world; — -the Lamb feeds them, and takes them to the fountains of living water.

In breaking the bread, my meditations turned on the Lamb of God. How wonderful that His Son should ever be so represented! And when this Lamb suffered, it was to take away the sin of the world — to take away our sin.

In pouring out the cup, I alluded to the Jewish benediction, “Blessed be God, who hath created the fruit of the vine.” What a vine is ours! how refreshing its shade, how sweet its fruit, how strons; its root! No wind shall blast, no worm corrode it; we shall sit under its shadow for ever. I met with very much of God this day, and my soul has been greatly established.