of him the true paschal Lamb and bread of life.* 1 Cor. xi. 23. For I received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread; 24. And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take eat; this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it; in remembrance of me. 26. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the the Lord's death till he come. 104th Q.-What further reason is there to conclude, that our Lord's injunction respecting the bread and wine is not to be understood as of universal obligation? A.-The following reason may be assigned: the apostle John informs us that after the Supper was ended, our blessed Lord washed his disciples' feet, and commanded them to follow his example and wash each others feet; yet this command, though more strongly enforced than the other, is not * That_the injunction was not designed to extend beyond the disciples who were of the circumcision, (though others might unite in the practice,) appears most probable from the time being limited, or at least so understood by the apostle Paul, to the coming of Christ; which may, consistently with the opinion of the best commentators on the sacred writings, advert to his coming to end completely the Jewish polity by the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple. considered by christians in general as obligatory at the present day. John xiii. 4. He [Jesus] riseth from supper; and laid aside his garments, and took a towel and girded himself. 5. After that, he poureth water into a bason, and began to wash the disciples' feet, and to wipe them with the towel wherewith he was girded. 6. Then cometh he to Simon Peter: and Peter saith unto him, Lord,dost thou wash my feet? 7. Jesus answered and said unto him, What I do thou knowest not now ; but thou shalt know hereafter. 8. Peter saith unto him, Thou shalt never wash my feet. Jesus answered him, If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me. 12. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? 2. 13. Ye call me Master and Lord and ye say well; for so I am. 14. If I then also your Lord and Master, have washed your feet, ye ought to wash one anothers feet. 15. For I have given you an example, that ye should do as I have done to you. 105th Q.-Why is it not obligatory? A.-Because as our Saviour's former command referred to a Jewish rite, now superseded, so this referred to an Eastern custom that does not prevail in the West; and therefore though his immediate followers whom he addressed might literally obey his command, the spirit of it is all that is considered obligatory to the Christian church, namely, a readiness to do the most humble offices of love for our brethren. 106th Q.-Did not this act of our Lord also convey further instruction? A.-It evidently did. From the words of our Lord to Peter," If I wash thee not, thou hast no part with me," it appears that he designed to impress upon his disciples the necessity of the inward washing of regeneration; which cleanses the soul from the pollution of sin, and fits it for communion with him. See the Proof to the 104th Answer. 107th Q.-Is there not a Supper of our Lord mentioned in the Scriptures, of which christians partake, and by which they have communion with him? A.-There is; our Saviour adverted to it when he ate the Jewish Passover with his disciples, as well as on other occasions. By it the soul partakes of the bread of life which comes down from heaven, and of the new wine of the kingdom, which nourish the soul up unto eternal life or in other words, the supper is an inward and spiritual participation of the body and blood of Christ; for as the outward body cannot subsist without material food, so neither can the divine life subsist in the soul without spiritual food. Matt xxvi. 29. But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. John vi. 33. The bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34. Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35. And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me, shall never thirst. 51. I am the living bread, which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give, is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 53. Verily, verily I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54. Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55. For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56. He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. Rev. iii. 20. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. 22. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. FINIS |
