hich they are
enabled to keep up this union, and to maintain the sense of its
reality from age to age. When our Blessed Lord spoke in the synagogue
at Capernaum respecting the Bread of Life, He used these words,
"Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the Flesh of the Son of
Man, and drink His Blood, ye have no life in you;" and then He added,
"He that eateth My Flesh, and drinketh My Blood, dwelleth in Me, and I
in Him" (S. John vi. 53, 56). His hearers had no idea about what He
meant by His Flesh and Blood. But in instituting the Holy Sacrament of
the Lord's Supper, He explained the words Himself. For "He took bread,
and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to His disciples, and said,
This is My Body; and He took the cup, saying, This is My Blood" (S.
Matt. xxvi. 26-28). And consequently S. Paul, referring to this Holy
Sacrament, appealed to the Corinthians to remember the bond of union
with God, and with one another, in which they were joining, saying,
"The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the Communion of the
Blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the Communion of
the Body of Christ? For we being many are one Bread and one Body, for
we are all partakers of that one Bread" (1 Cor. x. 16, 17). And,
therefore, we conclude that this Holy Sacrament is the bond of union,
ordained by our Lord Himself, to maintain outwardly and visibly, as
well as inwardly and spiritually, "The Communion of Saints" with God
and with one another. And this is clearly expressed by the name "Holy
Communion" by which we commonly speak of this Holy Sacrament.

Does any one ask, What is "The Communion of Saints?" The answer is
clear. It is the Communion or fellowship which Christians enjoy with
God, and therefore with one another, whether in this world or in
Paradise. And the Sacrament of the Holy Communion is the ordained
means whereby this union is maintained by the Saints on earth.

It is a sad but manifest fact, that it is in the power of men to
"frustrate the grace of God" (Gal. ii. 21), and to make His good-will
concerning them to be of none effect. So that whilst all who are
called to enter the Kingdom of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ are
called to enjoy the blessings which He has gained for us, the
multitude make little or no use of His gifts. But all who will, may by
His grace be assured of sharing in all the benefits of His Sacrifice.
"If we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship