Here we may receive peace and satisfaction' in our minds.—This is one of the precious legacies Christ has left to all his followers; and it is here in this ordinance paid, or secured to be paid, to all those that are ready and willing to receive it: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you;" such a peace as the world can neither give nor take away. This is the repose of the soul in God, our reconciliation to ourselves, arising from the sense of our reconciliation to God, the conscience being thus fully purged from dead works, which not only defile, but disturb and disquiet us. When the "Spirit is poured out on high, then the work of righteousness is peace, and the effect of righteousness, quietness and assurance for ever." The guilt of sin lays the foundation of trouble and uneasiness; where that is removed by pardoning mercy, there is ground for peace: but there must be a further act of the divine grace to put us in the actual possession of that peace; when he who alone can open the ear to comfort, as well as discipline, makes us to hear joy and gladness, then the storm ceases, and there is a calm. The mind that was disturbed with the dread of God's wrath, is quieted with the tokens of his favour and love.

This we should have in our eye at the Lord's table: here I am waiting to hear what God the Lord will speak, and hoping that he, who speaks peace to his people and to his saints, will speak that peace to me, who make it the top of my ambition to answer the character, and have the lot, of his people and saints. This peace we may* here expect to receive for two reasons:

Because this ordinance is a seal of the promise of peace; in it God assures us that his thoughts towards us are thoughts of peace, and then ours towards ourselves may be so. We are here among his people, whom he has promised to bless with peace, and we may apply that promise to ourselves, plead it, and humbly claim the benefit of it. This is that rest to the soul which our Master has promised to all those that come to him, and take his yoke upon them; and this promise, among the rest, is here ratified, as yea and amen in Christ.

The covenant of grace is indeed a covenant of peace, in the ever-blessed soil of which "light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart." And this covenant of peace is that which eternal truth hath said, shall never be removed, but shall stand firm as a rock, when the "everlasting mountains shall melt" like wax, and the "perpetual hills shall bow." Has God so far consulted my present repose, as well as my future bliss, that he has provided not only for the satisfaction of his own justice, but for the satisfaction of my conscience; and shall I indulge my own disturbance, and refuse to be comforted? No; welcome the promised peace, the calm so long wished for, the desired haven of a troubled spirit, tossed with tempest. Come, my soul, and take possession of this Canaan; by faith enter into this rest, and let not thine own unbelief exclude thee. If the God of peace himself speak peace, though with a still small voice, let that silence the most noisy and clamorous objections of doubts and fears; and, if he give quietness, let not them make trouble.

Because this ordinance is an instituted means of obtaining the peace promised. As the sacrifice was ordained to make atonement for the soul, so the feast upon the sacrifice was intended for the satisfaction of the soul concerning the atonement made, to remove that amazement and terror which arose from the consciousness of guilt. This ordinance is a feast appointed for that purpose. God doth here not only assure us of the truth of his promise to us, but gives us an opportunity of solemnizing our engagements to him, and sealing ourselves to be his, which is appointed not to satisfy him, (he that knows all things knows if we love him,) but to satisfy ourselves, that, thus taking hold of the hope set before us, we may have strong consolation. The blood of Christ is in this ordinance sprinkled upon the conscience, to pacify that, having been already sprinkled upon the mercy-seat, to make atonement there, so making the comers thereunto perfect.

When the Lord Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection, the first word he said to them was, "Peace be unto you;" and he saith the same to us in this ordinance, Peace be unto this house, peace to this heart. But the disciples of Christ, like those that are apt to be terrified "and affrighted, supposing that they have seen a spirit," or apparition, fearing that it is but all a delusion, it is too good news to be true; what have they to do with peace, think they, while their corruptions, follies, and infirmities are so many? But Christ, by this sacrament, checks those fears; as there, "Why are ye troubled; and why do thoughts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet!" There is that in the marks of the nails, which is sufficient to stop the mouth of unbelief, and to heal the wounds of a broken and contrite spirit. There is merit enough in Christ, though in us there is nothing but meanness and unworthiness. Such considerations this ordinance offers, as have often been found effectual, by the grace of God, to create the fruit of the lips, peace, and to restore comfort to the mourners. In it Christ saith again, "Peace be unto you," as he did unto the disciples. And sometimes a mighty power has gone along with that word to lay a storm, as it did with that, (Mark 3:9) "Peace, be still;" so that the soul so calmed, so quieted, has gone away, and said with wonder, "What manner of man is this, for even the winds and the seas obey him!"

—The Communicant's Companion