The commemorative rite which is recalled at our Communion season was manifestly instituted by Jesus out of consideration for man. Its gain is wholly for humanity and the true celebration must therefore be individual, subjective, spiritual. Like the habit of prayer, and the keeping of the Sabbath it anticipates, and must become a state of consciousness, an abiding spiritual attitude.
To adhere to the thought that the spiritual grace of the communion is in any sense dependent upon a material expression, that the earthly incidents of the feast,—the bread and the wine,—are essential thereto, would be to identify the Word of Life with the decaying parchment upon which it is written.
Here, as in every other path of Christian privilege continued ascent ultimately frees us from every lingering sense of dependence upon human statement or symbol. Concessions to traditional thought are no longer demanded as we advance in divine understanding, and taste the new wine of Spirit in our Father's kingdom.
