sponding rite of circumcision, was ever, by Divine appointment, connected with the office of a priest.

The only other rite, which they anywhere tell us they were commanded to enjoin, was the Lord's supper. And nothing can be more simple, or foreign from the pomp of priestly rites, than this institution, as it is presented to us in the New Testament. The repeated references which are made to it, not only exclude altogether the notion of a priest and a sacrifice, but they do not even suppose the existence of any authoritative official administration. It was delivered to the disciples, in their incorporation as a church, to observe; not to those who sustained office in the church to administer. That at its celebration, the officers of the church would preside and superintend its arrangements, would become a matter of course, and be essential to its being discharged in all respects decently and in order. But then, the duty of its observance is not so much connected with their ministerial work, as with the responsibility of the whole church over which the Holy Ghost had made them overseers. The obligation to set forth Christ crucified in the preaching of the word, rests upon the ministers of the church; the obligation to show forth the Lord's death till he come, in the observance of the supper,

rests upon the members of which each individual church is composed, and appears to be one interesting and important part of the design contemplated by their Lord and Master, in their incorporation.

The First Epistle to the Corinthians is inscribed "unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.” Connect thiskeeping in view the persons to whom the epistle is addressed-with the declaration which is given in the eleventh chapter: “For I have received, of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread: and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament my blood; this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come."*

in

In exact accordance with this passage will

* Verses 23-26.

be found the references to the Lord's supper which are contained in the Acts of the Apostles. It is invariably represented as a rite observed by the disciples; never, as officially administered to them. "Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread."* A distinction between the two rites, in the mode of participation, is here clearly marked. Baptism was administered to them; the bread of the Lord's supper was broken by them. Of the former they were the recipients; the celebration of the latter was their united and cheerful performance. At that bright opening of the Christian era, when the stupendous facts of redemption were fresh in every individual's personal recollection ;-when impending civil commotions loosened men's minds from their worldly occupations, and rendered precarious their continuance in their earthly possessions; when the exciting influence of miraculous occurrences was daily felt; -when apostolic simplicity and fervour breathed in the ministry of the word;-when copious effusions of grace came on the disciples

*Acts ii. 41, 42.

D

with refreshing influence from the presence of the Lord; their minds were so occupied and absorbed by spiritual things, that every day was a day of holy and joyful celebration; and the house of every believer furnished a table, at which some portion of the church could assemble, and enjoy the cup of blessing in the communion of the blood of Christ, and break bread in token of their communion in the body of Christ. "And fear came upon every soul; and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common, and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."*

There is another reference to the Lord's supper given, in connexion with a visit which the Apostle Paul made to the church at Troas. He waited at this place until the first day of the week, because then, in pursuance of their usual custom, the disciples came together to break

*Acts ii. 43, 47.

But

bread. If any peculiar importance had been attached, at this period of the church, to the official administration of the elements of the Lord's supper; it would surely, in some way or other, have been indicated on this occasion when the ministry of an Apostle is described in connexion with its celebration. But what is the plain fact of the case? His participating with the disciples in the supper is not omitted by the inspired narrator. Had it been, each individual might have derived his own inference, varying with the theory upon the general subject which he had previously received. it is recorded, and in the same terms which are employed to characterize the ordinary celebration by the disciples themselves. They "came together to break bread;" and, "when he was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed. Whatever distinctions he possessed in office and gifts, at the supper of the Lord he stood not apart from the disciples as more holy or privileged than they, but was among them as one of themselves; practically recognizing the relation which they sustained to him as his brethren; members of one family,and united, by the same spiritual ties, to one common and glorious Head.

*Acts xx. 11.