9 CHAPTER I. BIBLE THOUGHTS ABOUT HOLY COMMUNION. SECTION I.-Introduction. HOLY Communion is appointed by our Saviour Jesus Christ as a means for us to meet Him on earth; that the union between Him and us may be drawn closer, that His merits may be applied to us for the remission of our sins, and that the graces of the Holy Spirit may be imparted to us for our growth in holiness. "Come unto Me," said Jesus (St. Matt. xi. 28), and in Holy Communion we obey His call and come to Him." Behold, I stand at the door and knock," St. John heard Him saying (Rev. iii. 20); "if any man hear My voice and open the door, I will come in to him; and hereby we open the door of our hearts to Jesus, and He will surely keep His word and come in to us. SECTION II.-The Institution. "And as they were eating. Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is My Body. And He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it; for this is My Blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins" (St. Matt. xxvi. 26-28). "This do in remembrance of Me" (St. Luke xxii. 19). With these words our Lord instituted the Holy Communion, and announced the beginning of the New Covenant between God and man (Jer. xxxi. 31). And under His divine authority, thus set forth, the ancient Jewish worship, ordained by God of old time, has ceased; and the Old Testament or Covenant has given place to the New. Henceforth "the breaking of bread" takes the place of the Passover Feast, and all other sacrificial services; and the New Covenant made with all the world, through the Blood of Jesus, takes the place of the Old Covenant made with the one nation of the Jews through the blood of beasts. (Exod. xxiv. 8; Heb. viii. 6-13.) From this we learn that Holy Communion is the chief act of Christian worship, being ordained by Christ for Christians in place of the ancient acts of worship ordained for Jews. And in coming to Holy Communion we come in |