IN order to enjoy and retain spiritual vitality, freshness, fervor, and power, we require to be kept in living contact with Christ Himself, and this can be done only as our minds are freshly nourished by the Holy Ghost with the truths of the Holy Scriptures.
If we study the Word with prayer, faith, and dependence, and get the knowledge of Christ in His person, life, death, Headship, and glory, we shall have the elements of vitality and freshness within our reach; but in the Lord’s Supper we are brought very solemnly in contact with Christ in His death, and thereby the desires and affections are drawn forth towards Him in a manner and with an intensity of fervor and spiritual enjoyment that will lead to the happy and spontaneous outflow of thanksgiving, adoration, and praise.
If the open meeting of the Apostolic Church, with the Lord’s Supper as its center, were restored, it would be the best means for conserving a revived Christianity, and deepening the fervor and spirituality of the saints. Young Christians would be mightily helped if they found themselves every Lord’s Day in the midst of an assembly of believers, where the one object before them was Christ Himself in His dying love.
In order to give those who are young in the divine life an inkling of the worship-meeting of primitive times, we have drawn the following plain principles from the Word of God, and we believe they are such as they will never need to unlearn, for they are things which are undoubtedly according to the Scriptures: —
1. That the coming together of believers every Lord’s Day, for partaking of the Lord’s Supper, and for praising, thanking, and worshipping God, should hold a prominent place in the assembly. The full, proper worship of the Church of God is found in Scripture connected with remembering the Lord’s death (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7); 1 Cor. 11:17-3417Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse. 18For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it. 19For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you. 20When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. 21For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23For I have 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: 24And 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. 25After 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. 26For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. 27Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 29For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body. 30For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep. 31For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged. 32But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world. 33Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. 34And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come. (1 Corinthians 11:17‑34); Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)).
2. That faith in the Lord Jesus forms the only ground for being at the Lord’s table; and while all believers should be there, due precaution should be taken to keep back the unconverted — and even Christians who are not walking in holiness, as Christians ought (1 Cor. 5).
3. That, as the Lord’s Supper is a disciples’ feast, and not a sacrifice, there is no place for any one acting as priest, either as to offering sacrifice or mediating for others. Christ Himself presided at the institution of the Supper, and there is not a line in Scripture informing us that He has given up that place, or to warrant any one to presume to occupy it. When assembled “to His name” as His saints are now, while in bodily presence He is absent, faith hears His voice saying, “There am I in the midst of them;” take it and divide it amongst yourselves; “‘I am your Master, all ye are brethren.”’ “Let all things be done unto edifying” (1 Cor. 14:2626How is it then, brethren? when ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying. (1 Corinthians 14:26)).
4. That, as we read of the Pentecostal saints, that they (1) continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine; and (2) fellowship; and (3) in breaking of bread; and (4) in prayers (Acts 2:4242And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. (Acts 2:42)) —Christians who are not abiding in all these four elements of Christian profession lay themselves open to the charge of not walking in truth, and hence to the action of brotherly admonition; and they should be dealt with lovingly and faithfully, for the glory of Christ and their own good; and none but believers, and believers assembling regularly at the Lord’s table, are fit persons to take any part in the worship of God in the assemblies of His saints.
5. That the gathering at the Lord’s table is not an assembling of Christians for the sake of one another, but for the Lord Jesus, to confess Christ, show forth His death, have their hearts filled with Him, and “worship the Father in spirit and in truth.” It is to Christ only, and not to Christians, we are gathered, and where He is in the true holiest, and not to any earthly Zion; and our great aim should be to have Christ uppermost in all our hearts, and not to be thinking of ourselves or of one another; far less judging whether this one or that one ought to be present at the table. (That should be done and settled beforehand.)
6. That, although there should be freedom of action for the Holy Ghost using whom He will in doing anything at the Lord’s table, yet the table is not a place for confession of sins, supplication for mercies, or for preaching or teaching; but for worship, thanksgiving, adoration, and praise, and all the teaching that would seem proper on such an occasion, is that which would unfold simply to the eye of faith the person and work of Christ, the graces and glories, the death and dying love of our adorable Lord Jesus. Man should be hidden; Christ alone appear. We want to be occupied with Him alone at His table, and not with our own edification; and all that would lead on our hearts to praise Him more would be in place; all else, even though precious truth, would generally be found to be an intrusion at the Lord’s table. Christ is our exclusive Center of gathering — Christ our one object when at His table. We come together to meet with Him who says, “Where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.” The worship of God, presented by a “holy priesthood, who offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:55Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 2:5)), is the great thing there, though, as a result, nourishment is granted to the saints for growing up into Christ in all things (Eph. 4:11-1411And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:11‑14)).
7. In coming to the Lord’s table, and there breaking with others that “one loaf,” we manifest our membership in “the body of Christ,” we by no means witness to our own special association (as if the Lord’s table were the table of a party with some distinctive name), but to the general truth of the oneness of the body of Christ; and our association in the breaking of bread is the outward expression of this blessed reality. Meeting thus, saints assemble on ground that admits of all believers, gathered to Christ alone, being there; and if they are not, they could not then say that any human barriers had been erected to prevent them.
There is no membership but of Christ, for “we are members of His body” (Eph. 5:3030For we are members of his body, of his flesh, and of his bones. (Ephesians 5:30))— “ members of Christ” (1 Cor. 6:1515Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. (1 Corinthians 6:15)); and the Holy Scriptures speak of no other membership, unless it be that which springs out of this — “members one of another” (Eph. 4:2525Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbor: for we are members one of another. (Ephesians 4:25)); and, therefore, there can be no human membership of anything on earth as a term of communion at the Lord’s table; but saints assemble simply on the ground of being constituents of a unity already formed, and existing — “the unity of the Spirit” (Eph. 4:33Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. (Ephesians 4:3)) — and all Christ’s members are free to come together for the breaking of bread; only they must satisfy the assembly that they are Christ’s; for although grace gathers us to Christ, holiness must be preserved; for the Church is an “habitation of God in the Spirit” (Eph. 2:2222In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. (Ephesians 2:22)); and to admit of evil were a denial of Christ in His person and of the whole work accomplished in His death, as well as of the presence of the Holy Ghost. The Lord Jesus is the “Holy One!” and “let him that nameth the name of the Lord depart from iniquity” (2 Tim. 2:1919Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. (2 Timothy 2:19)).
It will, therefore, appear clear that the unsaved, however religious, and obviously those who are frequenting theaters, races, circuses, operas, dancing’s, public-houses, or making companions of the ungodly, or who are living loosely in any way, are excluded by the Holy Ghost in the Holy Scriptures from the fellowship of the Church of God (2 Cor. 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18)).
All God’s children in any given place, if walking in holiness, ought to be present together at the Lord’s table every Lord’s Day, and none but children of God should be at the table, although unsaved persons may be present in the place of meeting as spectators and hearers (1 Cor. 14:14-1814For if I pray in an unknown tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. 15What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also. 16Else when thou shalt bless with the spirit, how shall he that occupieth the room of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks, seeing he understandeth not what thou sayest? 17For thou verily givest thanks well, but the other is not edified. 18I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all: (1 Corinthians 14:14‑18)).
The present object of Christ’s death is not fully attained, unless we COME TOGETHER “on the first day of the week to break bread” (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)), for He died “that He should gather together in one the children of God” (John 11:5252And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad. (John 11:52)). Coming together for breaking of bread, worship, and mutual edification, is mentioned seven times in 1 Corinthians 11:17,18, 20, 33, 34, 14:23, 26.
Reading the Bible at home, or hearing a lecture or sermon, as a substitute for the worship of the Church is unscriptural. “Not forsaking the assembling of yourselves together, as the manner of some is” (Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)).
The revival of God’s work is carried forward to its proper goal only when it leads us to worship Him in accordance with His own principles (as we have indicated them in the foregoing propositions); for His provisions of grace are surely not intended to terminate with the blessing of the creature, but to lead to the glory of the Creator and the exaltation of the all-glorious name of our Saviour-God. The great awakening at Pentecost resulted in an incorporative unity, for “all that believed were together,” “and they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:42-4442And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. 44And all that believed were together, and had all things common; (Acts 2:42‑44)); and an awakening that is really of the Lord, and that will continue, will always lead, if not interfered with, to a similar issue.
In the apostles’ time the young converts were not sent back either to the heathen temples or the Jewish synagogues, to be exposed to the idolatrous teaching and influence of the priests of heathenism, or to the Judaizing teaching and influence of the scribes and rabbis of Judaism; but, as divinely called out saints, they were diligently gathered together in an assembly by themselves as soon as they were converted; and —being all live coals — when collected into one, they made a bright warm fire, which gave spiritual light and heat to one another and to the world around them; and from this holy divine society of the one “Church of the living God,” as their center and home, they went out, in the power of the Holy Ghost, to spread the knowledge of the saving name of Jesus; and they were marvelously blessed in the conversion of souls.
The great open meeting of all believers for true and Spirit-led worship, mutual edification, and the observance of the Lord’s Supper, having fallen into desuetude throughout Christendom, we plead for its restoration in the name of our dishonored Lord, and on behalf of His much injured saints. Meetings for evangelists preaching the gospel to the world, and meetings for true and Spirit-taught ministers teaching the saints, are right; but it is wrong to omit the great scriptural meeting of apostolic times, the assembling of the Church, as such, “on the first day of the week,” for the breaking of bread and the worship of God.
We are happy to find an attempt being made at present towards having an open meeting among believers on all other days save the Lord’s Day but it seems strange to stop it on that day, seeing that the great open meeting of Christianity, according to Scripture, is the assembling of the saints “ON THE FIRST DAY of the week” for the breaking of bread and the worship of God; and no human substitute for it will nourish and perpetuate the spiritual vitality of the children of God. Let all believers, renouncing sectarian practices and human expediency, and acting in the spirit of “love to all saints,” and on the ground of the divine principle of being “members of Christ,” “come together” for worship on the divine footing of being of the “one body” of Christ, and they will verify His promise — “there am I in the midst of them.”
Our meaning will be made plain if you bring our modern (so-called) churches face to face with the First Epistle to the Corinthians, for they will there see an assembling of the saints in the unity and freedom of the communion of the Holy Ghost which finds no counterpart within their limits.
The testimony in our days is sadly out of proportion to the blessing. Many souls have been converted; but how few are gathered to the name of Jesus outside of everything that He does not own or allow.
Every saved soul should be there in proof of his love and faithfulness to Christ. It is not Christian like to take His benefits and not think of His glory. “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?” (Luke 17:1717And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? (Luke 17:17)). “These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David.... Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept My word, and hast not denied My name” (Rev. 3:7, 87And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (Revelation 3:7‑8)).
“Christ is the center of worship in heaven!
Christ the rejected One here amongst men,
None other name of salvation is given;
Sound it, believers, again and again!
Christ is the Sacrifice I Christ is the Altar!
Christ is the mercy-seat sprinkled with blood!
Come, ye desponding ones, fear not nor falter,
Christ is our Peace in the presence of God.
Christ is the victim divinely appointed,
Spotless, accepted, attested by fire;
Christ our Melchisedec, robed and anointed,
Royal and priestly His seamless attire.
One only Sacrifice, one only Altar,
One only mercy-seat God doth allow;
Dream not, O man! His decretal to alter,
Sealed with the blood of the Holiest now.
One only Offering God hath appointed—
Stretching His hand, He withheld not the knife!
One only Priest He hath crown’d and anointed:
Jesus! the Way, and the Truth, and the Life
Jesus the center of worship in heaven!
Jesus! despised and rejected of men!
None other name of salvation is given—
Worthy is Jesus, the Lamb that was slain!
The Late WILLIAN REID