The Seventeenth Sacrament, September 5, 1731

I BEGAN the discourse with some meditations on these words, “O how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!” Psahn xxxi. 19. I observed, that here is a kindness immediately prepared; and a further loving-kindness laid up for them. It is as at this table, here is goodness prepared in this feast of love, to which the words of David may be applied, “Thou hast prepared a table:” it is prepared in the presence of our enemies. The malignant host of hell behold this remedy, and see that grace offered to us which was never vouchsafed to them! — And it is intended to strengthen us against our enemies, especially against those of our own household, the corruptions of nature, and the allurements of the world. And I hope that we have found it successful against each. God has anointed our head with oil. Here, even here, he pours out his Spirit upon us. Here, he regards us as a Father, and fills us with joy and peace in believing! I hope that we can say, through grace, “Let us see Thee as we have seen Thee in the sanctuary.” Here our cup runs over. This feast that is given to us is an abundant supply. Here is enough, — more than enough for us, — there is enough for the whole world. — O dehghtful thought!

But besides all this, here is rich mercy laid up for them that hope in Him. Our sacramental opportunities are coming to an end. But all our enjoyments of God are not to end with them. O my friends, whenever God shall say unto us in his providence, that we shall drink no more of this fruit of the vine, may we rejoice in this, that we shall then drink it new with Christ in his Father’s kingdom! And what, therefore, if he were to say so to us now? How joyfully would the tidings be received by some of us! to think that this is the last solemnity of this kind that I should attend; — but whei-e shall I be before another? When my brethren are meeting around this table here below, I shall then be with my Father above. When they see my Saviour through these obscure and typical representations, I shall behold him face to face. My sorrows, my fears, my complaints, my trials, would all be come to an eternal period, and my soul be overflowing with eternal joy and triumph! Well, Christian, be comforted. It is near; it is even at the door! It will be but a few moments, and you will receive this bread and this wine. And it will be, at most, but a few years, and God will give you a call to the eternal world, and will put into your hand the cup of complete salvation. And to a creature conscious of eternal duration, what so great difference is there between a few years and a few moments? Methinks, that, in the view of this, our thoughts, as well as words, are swallowed up, and that nothing remains but to lift up our adoring hands and eyes to Heaven, and to say, “0 how great is thy goodness!” — Let it be our care to secure to ourselves the evidence of our interest in it, and to live like those that fear him, and that hope in him.

The first prayer was taken up in going over these thoughts. And when breaking the bread, I repeated my address to the spectators from these words, “Is it nothing to you?” Lam. i. 12. — Is not your salvation concerned? Is it not your duty to remember Christ? And are not you undone without an interest in him? But I persuade myself that it is something to some of you. And to those of us who have turned aside to see this great sight, let me entreat you to think how nearly you are concerned in it. There, were all our hopes suspended — there, was our eternal fate concerned in the atonement and death which we here commemorate. Should not our hearts, then, be filled with reverence, be inspired with love, with gratitude, and joy, and established in the firmest exercise of faith.

When I came to pour out the wine, I particularly discoursed of it as the seal of the covenant, by which we give ourselves to God; and prayed over what I had said in the pulpit of giving up ourselves, our lives, and our possessions, to him. And, Lord, if thou seest fit that these frail bodies should not only be used, but worn out for thee, — thy will be done. We hope, when the weak machine of flesh and blood is dissolved, that its immortal inhabitant, the spirit, will spring with joy into the presence of God. And we may say, “Into thy hands we commend it, for thou hast redeemed it.” I particularly received it with this profession, and added something of our dependence on Divine grace, to add efficacy to these purposes. The blood of God’s covenant is awful; but much more so when we consider that it is the blood of his Son too. It is pleasant to think that God knows all the secret language of our hearts, and that he with pleasure hears what no other creature is a witness to.