y at particular holy

Paris. 1512. (Compare Melancthon's L Leips. 1556.)" Hence there was a trau Bingham has proved, apostles, that children also ought to be bice was administered whom the divine mysteries were entrust. VI. § IX. L. X. c. contaminations of sin were really foun

be removed by water and the Spirit. that this testimony of Origen derive: circumstance that he was descended well as from the fact that he posses quaintance with the christian chure tries.

VII. No ancient author ever being an innovation.-It can by r. celebrated passage of Tertullian mo, c. 18), that the custom took mark of Teller (sup. cit. p. 25 so near the age of the apostles, against the practice, if it had i conclusive. Otherwise, we si the same passage, that the ba also been deferred previously not been hastened until his tit. administering baptism, not on re de causa) to all persons customary in the christian

7's Supper.

h our Lord instituted, commanded that this be celebrated (1). It participation of bread ration (4) of his death

2IONS.

nick nature of the Holy Sup11), that the design of the first was to confirm the prediction St. Matth. 26: 26-28.1 But the narrative of Matthew, that

laments that “the age of inject in view, and certainly inpardon of sins," (Quid feus as a command of God (1 Cor. peccatorum?) And herdinance should in future be rewas a recent custom, bu For, in Matth. 26: 28, Christ reEast of the New Covenant, or as a

1 "Itaque et ecclesia al dare baptismum. Shant rum commendat

cati, quae p

Henkii Lineamenta &c, p. 199—216. ungen und Gebräuchen, S. 142 &c.

e a memorial unto you. Comp. § 112. eally the paschal supper, and not an ordiJesus was engaged, is proved in Gabler's 1,1 in opposition to the contrary opinion of

ntly of these circumstances, the command of pake on the authority of the Lord Jesus, is christian; and the apostle commands that the or the Supper of the Lord, shall be repeated unhe world. In 1 Cor. 10:21, Paul calls this orLord's Table," тoαлεšα voiον, and in 11: 20, Supper," xvolaxov deiлvov; and Tertullian de,"convivium dominicum."2 That it is to be cele, is enjoined in 1 Cor. 11: 26, doaxis "as often ” and drink &c. 10: 16--21. Acts 2: 42, they continfastly in the breaking of bread &c. Comp. § 109. Ill. r. 11: 26, shew forth the Lord's death till he come. v. e § 10. Ill. 6.

Ordinarily it ought to be celebrated publicly.--The naf the Holy Supper is such as to dictate its celebration in congregation of christians, as being most consistent with its ign. 1 Cor. 11: 20-34.3 This celebration under these cirnstances, accords best with the fact of its being a public

1 Vol. 13. p. 472-484. and Paulus' Comment. on the New Testament, Pt. III. p. 535.

2 L. II. ad uxorem, comp. Ernesti Theses Dogm. P. II. Thes. XXII. 3 Boehmer's Dissert. quart. Jur. Eccles. Antiq. ad Plinium secundum.

[BK. IV.

conmemoration 1 of the death of Christ as the principal blessing of the New Covenant; and is, at the same time, best adapted to cement our union with that church, which professes to worship Jesus as her Redeemer, $108. But it by no means follows, that the private celebration of this ordinance is, under all circumstances, to be discountenanced; if the design of the person desiring it be a correct one. 1 Cor. 11:22. Reinhard's Dogm. p. 603. For, even in this case also, there is a public profession made before the minister of the Gospel who administers the ordinance, and the friends who are usually present; and it may be regarded as a public profession, inasmuch as the fact that the ordinance has been celebrated by a particular individual, becomes publicly known. Herder remarks, “Did not Christ say, Where two or three of you are gathered together, I will be with you?-Friends and family constitute a communion.-Remember that Christ himself was the father of a family, when he instituted the ordinance-that family consisted of his friends." Sup. cit. p. 164 &c.

III. The participation of both wine and bread are necessayo this ordinance.-1 Cor. 11: 26, for as often as ye eat this read and drink this cup. v. 27, whosoever shall eat this bread d drink this cup. v. 28, so let him eat of this bread and drink Tais cup. v. 29. 10: 16, the cup-the bread. v. 21, the cup e Lord-the Lord's table. See on this subject Spittler's of the cup in the Eucharist.

the subjects of this ordinance.-The public admin

Ox. 11: 26, xarayyɛhɛtɛ. Compare Ex. 13: 8, where it is comThe circumstances of the deliverance from Egypt, should be the children at the feast of the Passover. Buxtorf remarks 2. Chald. p. 1295), that the prayerbook of the Jews contains a ...de feast of the passover or Haggada, which they are in a ou the first night of the feast. See Engelken Comment. verbis Pauli, 1 Cor. 11: 26 deprompto.

istration of the Holy Supper, may cherish the recollection of the death of Christ, even in the minds of those who do not partake of the ordinance themselves.1 And even those who are not sincere in the reception of this ordinance, and who do not partake of it with the design of perpetuating the memory of Jesus, still cooperate, though unintentionally, in accomplishing this object.2 But the omniscient Lord, whose memory is celebrated, cannot regard with approbation those communicants, who approach his table in a thoughtless manner,3 without reflection on the importance of the ordinance, or the proper manner of receiving it, and who do not really appreciate the blessing of the Saviour's death, though they publicly profess to do so. On the other hand, the Lord knoweth them that are his; he can well discriminate between him who approaches the sacred board with a thankful and reverent heart, and those whose admission to the table is, just like their reception into the church, an evil which cannot be remedied. 2 Tim. 2: 19. Luke 22: 19-21. The Saviour suffered Judas to be present, at the institution of the Holy supper. According to the custom of the Jews, no one was permitted to withdraw, until the Paschal supper was finished: and therefore it cannot be inferred from John 13: 30,4 that Judas had previously retired.

It is evident from the nature of the Holy Supper, that, like the Paschal supper of old, it was not intended for children. And as this ordinance, unlike that of baptism, is not intended indiscriminately for all without regard to age; it is proper that the Holy supper should be withheld even from those children who are entering on the years of reflection, until they are able

11 Cor. 11: 26. Exod. 12: 26. 13: 8. comp. Ill. 2.

2 Melanchthonis Loci theol. p. 454. p. 149. ed. Francof. et. Witteberg, 1690.

31 Cor. 11: 28, 31.

4 Michaelis' Dogmatik, p. 539.

Chemnitzii Loci theol. Pt. III.

commemoration1 of the death of Christ as the prin
of the New Covenant; and is, at the same time.
to cement our union with that church, which pro
ship Jesus as her Redeemer, 108. But it b
lows, that the private celebration of this ordina
circumstances, to be discountenanced; if the
son desiring it be a correct one. 1 Cor. 11:
Dogm. p. 603. For, even in this case also
profession made before the minister of the (
isters the ordinance, and the friends who
and it may be regarded as a public profess
fact that the ordinance has been celebrat
dividual, becomes publicly known.
not Christ say, Where two or three of y
er, I will be with you ?-Friends and f
munion. Remember that Christ him
family, when he instituted the ordinan
of his friends." Sup. cit. p. 164 &c.

III. The participation of both
ry to this ordinance.-1 Cor. 11: 20
bread and drink this cup. v. 27, w]
and drink this cup. v. 28, so let hi
of this cup. v. 29. 10: 16, the cu
of the Lord-the Lord's table.
history of the cup in the Euchari

IV. Of the subjects of this

H

bration.

in

upper 27, 29), are nce (1) and rance of the re of this or

leasing (3) and e glorified Reis life for them. the laws of exe26: 26, 28. Mark -this is my blood"Swine (5) are the Dody and my blood." accordant either with 7), which Paul deLord (1 Cor. 11: 23); Paul himself, according of Christ's words, record