Half-hour studies at the Cross

Front matter

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Cliap.....„„_, Copyright No.

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

Preface

IN the churches of the Current Reformation the Lord's Supper is given a central place in the Lord's day worship. Representing, as it does, the death of Christ for the sins of the world, — a fundamental fact in the Christian faith, — it is altogether proper that it should have this prominence in the public worship of Christ's disciples. The testimony of the Acts of Apostles, together with the corroborative evidence of contemporary profane history, leaves little room for doubt that the church of the first century observed this memorial institution every first day of the week, and that such observance was a chief reason for the Lord's day assembly. Its proper observance may be made a great stimulus to piety and to personal consecration to Christ's service. But, in the absence of any preparation of mind or heart for its observance, and without the presence, often, of anyone who has given special (5)

6 preface^

thought to the institution and its deep spiritual significance, it may easily become the merest formality, and utterly fail to accomplish the purpose for which it was instituted. To offer some assistance in the way of preventing such degeneration of a divine ordinance is the purpose of this series of brief studies at the cross. The author has often been impressed with the many-sidedness of the ordinance — the different phases of truth illustrated and enforced by it — and in this series of devotional studies he has aimed to present some reflectrons which have been awakened in his own mind, and gome lessons which have been impressed on him by the observance of this sacred ordinance. If these shall serve to promote a deeper reverence in the house of God, and a more worthy, because more thoughtful, participation of the Lord's Supper, the author's purpose in the publication of this little volume will have been accomplished.

J. H. G.

Rose Hill, St. Louis, \ Oct, 1, 1895. J