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traditions of men: I can find nothing of this consecration of bread and wine in the new testament; nor does it appear that such a consecration, or consecrater were necessary to give a validity to the Lord's Supper. It is generally believed that for a time, the primitive christians communicated every day; and that is a sufficient proof to me that the ordinance did not require the presence of ministers; for I apprehend there were not such numbers as to be in every place where believers' were. Wherever a number of pious souls were met together, who were admitted as members of the church by baptism, no doubt but there were persons among them who could ask the divine benediction upon the ordinance, as they had the promise of their Saviour to be in the midst; and thus eat and drink in remembrance of their dying Lord, and did by faith discern their Saviour's body broken for them. No doubt but when ministers were present, they would take the lead in that, as well as other parts of worship; but I still call upon any man to prove from scripture that their presence was absolutely necessary to give validity to the ordinance. I say, let them prove it that can from the new testament. As for other legends, let them be called apostolical canons, or epistles, or writings of fathers, I think we should be careful how we set them up in opposition to the word of God,

SHOULD not care be taken who are admitted to that divine means? And can that be done without knowing the state of the communicants ? I apprehend not. This is yet attended unto in the church of Scotland; nay, and I believe in all the protestant churches abroad; yea something of the kind in the church of Rome, only, it is miserably perverted, by making it into an auricular confession, and the receiving the priestly absolution. There discipline is turned into a horrid abuse.

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BUT the right use should be maintained, and the abuse avoided. At any rate persons should have tolerable apprehensions of the thing; which cannot be expected without instruction and discipline, and they ought to be regular in their lives. Less 'than this cannot be dispensed with upon the principles of the word of God. To help in the former case a little, has been the design in the preceding discourse, what success it may have, the hearers, and time must make manifest.

LASTLY, As we shall ere long be judged ourselves, it becometh us to be very serious in divine things, and more especially in those solemnities in which we profess confidence in a dying Saviour, and likewise a vow for ourselves to be devoted unto him. Let a man, that is, every man, examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread,

and drink of that cup. Let these memorials of a bleeding Saviour, lead the sinner unto him, and confirm his faith in him daily; let it excite gratitude and thanks giving from day to day; so that he may do this in remembrance of his death and passion till he is raised from this dark abode to view, in the realms of unclouded bliss, his once crucified, but now exalted Saviour, world without end. Amen.

A.

SERMON

ON

KEEPING THE SABBATH;

Preached in Oldham-street Chapel, in Manchester, October 13, 1811.

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YE SHALL KEEP MY SABBATHS, AND REVERENCE MY

SANCTUARY: I AM THE LORD. Lev. xix. 30.

TO THE READER.

THE sacred day of the Lord being so much neglected, I thought it my duty to choose as public a time as I could, to urge the important duty upon my hearers; and therefore made choice of a Sabbath evening.

I fear the Christian Sabbath is too much neglected, even by many who profess religion, by making little jaunts to see their friends, or by giving way to do many trifling things which might as well be done on any other day. The Lord's Day ought to be filled up in the Lord's work; and let as little as possible be done in the way of dressing victuals, us is consistent with the circumstances of the family, and even to be more sparing at the table than on the week days, so that the mind may be better disposed for a much higher entertainment.

T. T.

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