Take eat; this is my body; and drink ye all of it, for this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. Matthew 26:26.
This supper, as Luther observes, requires nothing of us but gives every thing freely; we bring nothing with us, but receive every thing there; we are not to prepare and adorn ourselves; but rather to come naked, poor, and miserable. For why do we go to the sacrament? but that we may learn truly to believe that Christ died for our sins. This is the greatest art and principal part of Christianity, the entire work of God, which humbles us most, but at the same time affords the greatest peace and strength. Some may vainly imagine to have learnt this well enough, but real Christians must make it their particular study to learn this lesson better every day.
Lord! how divine thy comforts are.
How heavenly is the place.
Where Jesus spreads the sacred feast
Of his redeeming grace!
There the rich bounties of our God
And sweetest glory shine:
There Jesus says, that I am his,
And my beloved’s mine.
What shall we pay our heavenly King
For grace so vast as this?
He brings our pardon to our eyes,
And seals it with a kiss.