The Gospel Feast
I. From the beginning the greatest rite of religion has been a feast; the partaking of God's bounties, in the way of nature, has been consecrated to a more immediate communion with God Himself.
II. In order to make this feasting still more solemn, it had been usual at all times to precede it by a direct act of religion by a prayer, or blessing, or sacrifice, or by the presence of a priest, which implied it. Such seems to have been the common notion of communion with God all the world over, however gained, viz., that we arrive at the possession of His invisible gifts by participation in His visible; that there was some mysterious connection between the seen and the unseen; and that, by setting aside the choicest of His earthly bounties, as a specimen and representative of the whole, presenting it to Him for His blessing, and then taking, eating, and appropriating it, we had the best hope of getting those unknown and indefinite gifts which human nature needs.
III. The descriptions in the Old Testament of the perfect state of religious privilege, viz., that of the Gospel state which was to come, are continually made under the image of a feast a feast of some special and choice goods of this world, corn, wine, and the like goods of this world chosen from the mass as a specimen of all, as types and means of seeking, and means of obtaining, the unknown spiritual blessings which "eye hath not seen nor ear heard." May we not regard this feast in a cold, heartless way; keep at a distance from fear, when we should rejoice. May the spirit of the unprofitable servant never be ours, who looked on his lord as a hard master rather than as a gracious benefactor. May we not be of those who went, one to his farm, another to his merchandise, when they were called to the wedding. Nor let us be of those who come in a formal, mechanical way, as a mere matter of obligation without reverence, without awe, without wonder, without love. Nor let us fall into the sin of those who complained that they have nothing to gather but the manna, wearying of God's gifts. But let us come in faith and hope, and let us say to ourselves, "May this be the beginning to us of everlasting bliss."
Plain Sermons by Contributors to "Tracts for the Times,"vol. v., p. 103.
References: John 6:5. F. W. Macdonald, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxiv., p. 40; W. Bullock, Church of England Pulpit,vol. i., p. 265.John 6:5-14. Homiletic Quarterly,vol. i., p. 471; W. Hub-bard, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xx., p. 107; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. v., p. 227. John 6:6. Spurgeon, Sermons,vol. xxvii., No. 1605; H. Goodwin, Church of England Pulpit,vol. ix., p. 133.