to their own works, as I fhould have done, if I had examined them, or pretended to examine them myself. A Free X A Free Addrefs, &c. My Chriftian Brethren, Bferving that very few, in proportion to the largeness of many of our focieties, attend the Lord's fupper, I cannot help thinking that the neglect is owing to fome general mistake concerning the proper nature and defign of the inftitution; and I am willing to hope, that a plain and serious address on the subject, may be a means of correcting the mistake, and induce you to reform this practice. I beg, therefore, your candid attention, while, with no more freedom than one christian may always take with another, I endeavour to obviate the prejudices you may may poffibly have entertained relating to this fubject. And I rejoice, that many of the focieties to whom I am addreffing myself, have distinguished themselves by their generous freedom in inquiring into the abuses and corruptions which have crept into christianity, and by encouraging their minifters to fhow them the way in fuch neceffary examinations. Without any farther introduction, I fhall briefly lay before you an account of the nature and defign of the Lord's fupper, as it be collected from the evangelifts, may and from St. Paul; and, after this, I fhall point out some of the gross abuses which have been introduced into this institution; and, at the fame time, give you the best account I can collect of the causes and manner of their introduction. SECTION SECTION I. Of the nature and defign of the Lord's Supper. To give you the more entire fatisfaction upon this fubject, I fhall fairly recite to you every thing that I find in the New Teftament relating to it, even with the repetitions of the different evangelifts. This will not take up much room, and as I fhall, alfo, endeavour to take in every other confideration that can throw light upon the fubject, you will by this means fee, that nothing is overlooked or concealed from you. Matthew, the firft of the evangelifts, and who was an eye-witness of what he relates, fays, ch. xxvi, ver. 26, that as our Saviour and his apoftles were eating the laft paffover, Jefus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to his difciples; faying, Take, eat: this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave · `it to them; faying, Drink ye all of it; for this is my blood of the New Teflament, which is fhed for many, for the remiffion of fins. i. e. Let this wine bring to your remembrance my death and fufferings. As this event completes the fcheme by which finful men are to be reformed, and restored to the divine favour; my blood may be faid, (in allufion to the facrifices under the law) to be fhed for the remiffion of fins. But I fay unto you, I will not drink henceforth of the fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom. And when they had fung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. Mark, who was not an eye-witness, but had his relation from those who were prefent at the transaction; though, it is probable, he had not feen the gospel of Matthew*, yet gives an account of this inftitution, which is, very nearly, the fame with his, chapter xiv, verse 22. And as * When the first edition of this treatife was publifhed, I had not feen Dr. Lardner's hiftory of the writers of the New Tefiament. they |