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The
word Sacrament comes from the Latin word Sacramentum, used
in connection with the Roman army when a man enlisted, who
pledged himself to obedience of every command of his officers.
It eliminated him from all responsibility when obeying orders.
Such is not the nature of a Sacrament in the visible Church
of Christ in the present day.
A
Sacrament is a mystery to all who have not been initiated
into the meaning of the word. The word is used as a means
by which God can communicate with man; this is necessary because
God is a Spirit, and we are flesh, hence the use of Sacraments.
They are in common use in every day life, but not under this
name. A mother whose little one has passed into the beyond
treasures some little garment it had used, by which she is
kept in touch with the little one. The flag connects the soldier
with his country, etc.
Sacraments
are not arbitrary Divine enactments; they are simply means
of intercourse between God and man. In the Temple worship
some vessels were cleansed by passing them through the fire,
others were cleansed with water; it was water that was used
in relationship with man when the Temple worship ceased.
The
Christ died for our sins in our stead; faith in this work
of the Christ for us was signified by baptism, when we yielded
ourselves to God's plan of salvation. "Know ye not, that
as many as are baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into
His death; therefore we are buried with Him by baptism, that
like as Christ was raised from the dead, by the glory of the
Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. Baptism
is the visible sign of an inward grace given unto us, ordained
by Christ Himself as a means whereby we receive the same and
a pledge to assure us thereof."
In
like manner was the Lord's Supper ordained. Our Saviour and
His disciples were about to be parted; they were eating their
last supper together. He took Bread and brake it, and gave
it to the disciples to eat in remembrance of His presence
with them in memory, though absent in the flesh. Likewise,
He took the Cup and gave it to them after drinking some of
it; they were all to drink of it in remembrance of Him who
was absent. The Church of England Communion Service emphatically
lays emphasis on receiving these elements in memory of Him
and His work for them. The whole Service is free from any
thought of transubstantiation or even of consubstantiation.
This is emphatically laid down in the Rubric at the end of
the Communion for the Sick; the words are these: " If
any man, either by reason of the extremity of sickness, or
want of warning in due time to the curate, or for lack of
company to receive with him, or by any other just impediment,
do not receive the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood, the
curate shall instruct him, that if he do truly repent him
of his sins, and steadfastly believe that Jesus Christ hath
suffered death upon the Cross for him, and shed His Blood
for his redemption, earnestly remembering the benefits he
hath thereby and giving him hearty thanks therefore, he doth
eat and drink the Body and Blood of Our Saviour Christ profitably
to his soul's health, although he do not receive the Sacrament
with his mouth."
It
is greatly to be feared that this instruction is not imparted
as often as it might; it would altogether do away with the
"reservation of this Sacrament for the Sick," which
is strictly forbidden in other Rubrics.
One
more point to be noticed is this. Our Blessed Saviour, shortly
before His departure from His disciples, told them it was
expedient for Him to go away, because if He did not go away
the Comforter or Holy Spirit would not come to them. When
He came to them He would instruct them and bring to their
mind all things He had told them.
If
Our Saviour's body ascended into heaven, it could not be on
the earth at the same time; if by any means His bodily presence
were in the Sacrament the Holy Spirit would be withdrawn from
the earth, in which case we would be without both guidance
and instruction.
The
instruction laid down in the Prayer Book of the Church of
England is sufficient for all purposes that were intended
by Our Saviour; they were simply means by which He who was
a Spirit might communicate with His believing children on
earth, during His absence from us.
"A
Sacrament is an outward and visible sign of an inward and
spiritual grace, given unto us, ordained by Christ Himself,
as a means whereby we receive the same and a pledge to assure
us thereof.“ AMEN. |
