Page:The rock of wisdom.djvu/105

 while he continues to do the things that God forbids him. Math 19: 6. "Now the coming of Christ was in order to destroy all these abominations, manifest to all the world like lightning, and wheresoever he shall come, thither shall all mankind be gathered to him, as eagles are gathered about a dead body, and wo be to those who never eat of his flesh and drink of his blood;" that is, in a spiritual sense. Luke 22: 19. "And he took bread and gave thanks, and brake it and gave it unto them, saying, This is my body which was gave for you, do this in remembrance of me." He does not say this is the figure of my body, but this is my body. Neither does he say in this or with this, is my body, but absolutely, this is my body, which plainly implies transubstantiation.—Drink ye all of this. This was spoken to the twelve apostles, who were then all present, and they all drank of it.—Mark 14: 23. But it no ways follows from these words spoken to the apostles, that all the faithful are here commanded to drink of the cup, any more than that all the faithful are commanded to consecrate, offer and administer this sacrament; because Christ on the same occasion, and as I may say, with the same breath, bid the apostles do so in these words, "do this in remembrance of me."—As the Old Testament was dedicated with the blood of victims by Moses in these words, this is the blood of the New Testament. Heb. 9: 20. So here is the dedication and institution of the New Testament, in the blood of Christ, here mystically shed. By these words, this is the blood of the New Testament—fruit of the vine—these words, by the account of St. Luke 22d chap. 18th verse, were not spoken of as the sacramental cup, but of the wine that was drank with the Paschal Lamb, though the sacramental cup might also be called the fruit of the vine, because it was consecrated from wine and retained the likeness and ail the accidents or qualities of wine. A blessed institution, indeed, and the power he gave, unto his apostles commission, and to their successors, the bishops and pastors of Christ's church, he received from his father all power in heaven and in earth and in virtue of this power he sends them even as his father sent them to teach not a few individuals, but all nations, and instruct them in all truths, and that he will assist them effectually in the