Fragment

(1 Cor. 11)
What is that claim of the Lord Jesus upon us, which most effectually subdues the will and touches the heart? It is the claim which His supreme and unchanging love brings home to us; a claim that is especially renewed as often as we are gathered in His name to show forth His death. Our ability to respond to that claim will be just in proportion to the power we get through the Spirit of entering into the joy of the Lord.
We should always remember that it was not by tradition from the disciples, nor from the record of the gospels, but by a direct revelation from the Lord in the glory, that Paul received his instructions about the Supper. Our call to this comes from the glory, and is a proof to us that Jesus is in the glory, and there still cares for us and watches over us. We are not to do it only as a command, not to keep it in remembrance of the appointment of the paschal supper; but in remembrance of His death and coming again..Jesus " gave thanks;" not I conceive as we do, for things temporally; not for having the table supplied by the providential care that supplies our every need; but there was a far deeper thought in His mind. He saw His death and what that would bring His disciples into. Death is nothing pleasant in itself: it is always terrible; but He saw what that would lead His disciples into; and " he gave thanks." My death is to become your life, your bond of union, your cause of rejoicing; and for this He gave thanks. And we have the blessed privilege of responding to the mind of Christ, in standing out for Him. " This do in remembrance of me."
Fragment
The very place which Christ holds, is inseparably connected with God's love to some one else. If He is the firstborn, it is among many brethren. Could any one of us have held such a place, our stress would have been upon the firstborn-/ am the firstborn. Not so with Christ. If He is the firstborn, it is to bring His brethren to God. What would all the pre-eminence be to Christ if it separated from God? Eve, in order to gain the pre-eminence, risked the loss of God; but Christ being from the Father was associated with the Father, and when seen pre-eminent in glory, it will be in full communion with God.
The delight of Christ is, to bring all the fullness of God's character to bear upon every little crevice in our hearts.
What is that which is most precious to Christ? That, through Him, God would make known to the " many sons" all the fullness of His heart, the riches of His grace.
How comforting, too, is this love of Christ's heart with reference to the poor Jews, who are becoming more and more the subjects of interest in all that is taking place on the earth.
Every trait in the divine character, everything which was morally glorious in God, shined out in Christ. As seen in Psa. 1 light in the midst of darkness, the Son of man gave the thorough indication of the character of God.
He would not be alone in the glory.
" He bringeth forth his fruit in the season." " I am the true vine; ye are the branches." Here is the full thought even with regard to God's earthly purposes. There is nothing before God, but one single Being, as the Root and the channel of all blessing. Observe, that the provision has been made for us, and it is always so; when mercy comes in, it is on the ground of that which is in us, not being that which God can like.
The peculiarity of the blessing connected with this Root is, that there is culture and success; unlike Luke 14, where all the culture so sadly ended in failure and disappointment. Success 1 " All things work together for good to them that love God." Is this truth fresh in our hearts with respect to God's dealings with us now? Each of us has some peculiar trial, some thorn in the flesh it may be, rankling and festering; but seen in the light of this truth, we may not, we cannot call this otherwise than " good."