The Celebration of the Lord’s Supper
Note: The Bible never calls the Lord's Supper a "seal" of grace. it is a "sign" of God's grace, but not a "seal." Please keep that in mind when reading the below. Nor is the church a building, a sense in which the word is improperly used below.
The person who has prepared himself in the aforesaid manner, must not sleep too long in the morning, lest time slip away and he were to come in a hurried frame of heart. He must also not arise extraordinarily early, lest he be dull, sleepy, or exhausted during the hearing of the sermon and the administration of the Lord’s Supper, for an exhausted body inhibits the motions of the soul. He ought to arrive in church punctually with clean and appropriate clothing; that is, without either a careless or proud appearance. If someone is poor and has no other clothing except his daily garments, and if even this is very plain, let him not refrain from attending, for the Lord looks upon the heart rather than on the clothing. The godly will not despise him for it, and what the others think does not matter; the dogs and the swine are themselves to refrain from the use of that which is holy.
When you leave your home and walk the streets to church, let your heart distance itself from the world, as Abraham went out of Ur, Lot went out of Sodom, and Israel went out of Egypt. Leave all worldly thoughts, desires, and concerns at home, and walk away from them. Walk the street with the heart of a stranger who is hastening to heaven, the fatherland—and as you go, pray, long, and yearn for the Lord.
Upon entering the church let a holy reverence arise in your soul, considering that God, the angels, and the children of God are present there. As you enter, pray, “O send out Thy light and Thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto Thy holy hill, and to Thy tabernacles. Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise Thee, O God my God” (Psa. 43:3–4). Quietly take your seat, and let attentiveness, reverence, and dignity manifest themselves upon your countenance and by your deportment. On the one hand refrain from looking around idly, and on the other hand, from affectedly allowing your head to hang, distorting your mouth, gesturing with your hands, lifting your eyes with affectation, heaving loud sighs which are audible to others, and leaning then in this and then in that direction, etc. How abhorrent is such affected behavior! It is abominable to the godly and ungodly alike, and it renders godliness suspect and despicable—and even if there is no subtle hypocrisy, such ought to know that it is so perceived. “Wisdom is before him that hath understanding” (Prov. 17:24).
During the reading of God’s Word, singing, prayer, and preaching, join in with the congregation and unitedly engage in singing, prayer, and listening; let your heart be focused thereon. This is not the time to strive for special frames relative to the Lord’s Supper, for then you may lose the one as well as the other. “Take heed therefore how ye hear” (Luke 8:18).
As you arise to go to the holy table, arise as if you were a bride about to be married, doing so in response to the voice of the Bridegroom Jesus, calling out, “Rise up, My love, My fair one, and come away” (Song of Sol. 2:10); “Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price” (Isa. 55:1). Moreover, arise with a desire to be near to your Bridegroom Jesus. “I will now turn aside, and see this great sight” (Ex. 3:3). It is inappropriate to quake and to tremble at this moment, as if you were being drawn there with reluctance—love and desire are appropriate at this time.
While going to the table—if there is some time—reflect upon the pathway and the various aspects of Christ’s suffering. Else, maintain a quiet, introverted disposition and pursue those thoughts and motions which the Lord impresses upon you, or reflect upon the leading of the Holy Ghost, accompanied with ejaculatory prayers to be led by Him, saying, “Thy Spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness” (Psa. 143:10). You may also think by yourself how the Lord Jesus, being accompanied by holy angels, so to speak, takes you by the hand and leads you to the table. “She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework: with gladness and rejoicing shall they be brought” (Psa. 45:14–15); “Even by the springs of water shall He guide them” (Isa. 49:10).
While sitting at the table, consider yourself as being seated in the brightness of an open heaven, shedding forth its light upon the table and all seated guests—and thus also upon you. Consider yourself to be in the presence of God your heavenly Father, and Christ your Bridegroom. Sink away in your insignificance and let a childlike awe and reverence arise in your soul, while saying, “Surely the LORD is in this place.… This is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven” (Gen. 28:16–17). Be observant and do not fear, for the Lord has determined to bestow much grace upon you in Christ. Remain steadfast in the faith, and glorify God in His grace and Christ for the perfection of His atonement.
While eating and drinking, be consciously active by faith.
(1) Partake as being invited by the Bridegroom who says, “Eat, O friends; drink, yea, drink abundantly, O beloved” (Song of Sol. 5:1).
(2) Do not focus on the external signs only, for you know that they cannot feed your soul. Also, let not your heart turn from them in order to receive Jesus immediately, that is, by faith only—such activity is to transpire outside of the Lord’s Supper. Rather, in a conscious and feeling manner, unite the sign with the matter signified, and behold in them the breaking of the body of Christ and the shedding of His blood, and with that, His love and the efficacy of His suffering unto the forgiveness of your sins. Note these signs as a seal and pledge given to you by the Lord Jesus to assure you that His atonement is for you and that His love is toward you—and that this will forever remain true.
(3) Neither expect a miracle here nor an extraordinary measure of elevation, light, or ecstatic joy. If the Lord gives you this, enjoy this good thing while it may be your portion. Be it known, however, that it is the common way to exercise faith, and to assure you by means of these signs—as being seals and pledges—that as certainly as you eat that bread and drink that wine, so certain is it that Christ has died for you and loves you; thus strive to attain peace in your conscience by faith.
(4) Keep your soul in a steadfast, thoughtful, and expectant frame—a frame wherein faith is in exercise. Thus, if you are conscious of the sincerity of your heart and your objective in coming, refrain from instability and fearfulness, be it due to sudden thoughts which enter, fear of eating and drinking judgment to one’s self, darkness suddenly coming upon you, or your inability to keep your thoughts together and being, so to speak, without thoughts. Such frames will prevent a fruitful partaking.
(5) While eating and drinking, apply Christ to yourself, unite yourself to Him in truth, with steadfastness, and in love. Ascend to the immutability of the covenant, which has now been sealed to you, saying, “My beloved is mine, and I am His” (Song of Sol. 2:16).
Upon departing,
(1) say within your heart, “My Jesus will keep His word; with that I am satisfied. He will neither leave me nor forsake me and He will finish all things for me. He will preserve me, keep His eye upon me, lead me by His counsel, and afterwards take me into glory. I put my trust in His power and wisdom.”
(2) Enliven your desire to remain near to Jesus; since this is not possible, however, leave your heart there and entrust it to Him.
(3) Comfort yourself with His return on the Day of Judgment, and look for this day with great anticipation, for then you may be with Him eternally in body and soul.
(4) Depart from the table as being sent forth by Jesus to show forth His death and fullness of salvation to the world, and to finish that work which the Lord has given you to do.
I have presented each of these matters to you individually to motivate you to come to the Lord’s Supper in a proper frame. Do not trouble yourself, however, to practice these matters in such an order. The soul must at such a time have freedom and the Holy Spirit operates at such times in divers manners. Rather, by reading or rereading what has been stated before, you will engender a habitual tendency in the soul, and you will become more fit to engage yourself by way of such a frame. “Happy is that people, that is in such a case” (Psa. 144:15); “Blessed is the man whom Thou choosest, and causest to approach unto Thee, that he may dwell in Thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of Thy house, even of Thy holy temple” (Psa. 65:4). Blessed is he who may thus be led into the inner chambers of the gospel, who may say, “To see Thy power and Thy glory, so as I have seen Thee in the sanctuary. Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise Thee” (Psa. 63:2–3).
The excerpt above is from Wilhelmus a Brakel's 4 volume systematic theology called The Christian's Reasonable Service, which has been made available in an indexed form online.
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