But the Communion service was not to be a season of sorrowing. This was not its purpose. As the Lord's disciples gather about His table, they are not to remember and lament their shortcomings. They are not to dwell upon their past religious experience, whether that experience has been elevating or depressing. They are not to recall the differences between them and their brethren. The preparatory service has embraced all this. The self-examination, the confession of sin, the reconciling of differences, has all been done. Now they come to meet with Christ. They are not to stand in the shadow of the cross, but in its saving light. They are to open the soul to the bright beams of the Sun of Righteousness. With hearts cleansed by Christ's most precious blood, in full consciousness of His presence, although unseen, they are to hear His words, "Peace I leave with you, My peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you." John 14:27.

Men den hellige nadvertjeneste skulle ikke være en sorgens stund. Dette var ikke formålet med den. Når Herrens disciple samles om hans bord, så skal de ikke mindes eller begræde deres fejl eller mangler. De skal ikke dvæle ved deres tidligere religiøse erfaringer, hvad enten disse erfaringer har været højnende eller nedslående. De skal ikke tænke tilbage på de uoverensstemmelser, der har været mellem dem og deres brødre. Den forberedende tjeneste har omfattet alt dette. Selvransagelsen, synsbekendelsen og bilæggelsen af uoverensstemmelser har alt sammen fundet sted. Nu kommer de for at mødes med Kristus. De skal ikke stå i korsets skygge, men inden for dets frelsende lys. De skal åbne deres sjæl for de klare stråler fra Retfærdighedens Sol. Med hjerter, der er renset i Kristi dyrebare blod og i fuld bevidsthed om hans nærhed, skønt han ikke ses, skal de høre hans ord: "Fred efterlader jeg jer, min fred giver jeg jer; jeg giver jer ikke, som verden giver." Joh. 14,27.