564 THE LORD'S SUPPER, AT NOON OR EVENING. the first administration thereof, are instituted ceremonies ; and how many of them are mere natural circumstances, which seem to be rather accidental than essential at the first celebration of this ordinance. First, The time. 1. On Thursday. 2. The thirteenth or fourteenth day of the month. 3. In the evening. 4. After supper, Secondly, the place, 1. A City. 2. An upper-room. 3. A large room. 4. Afurnished room, as in Mark xiv. 15, 16. a large up- per-room,furnished, tc. Thirdly, The elements, 1. Bread, per- Imps one loaf, as 1 Cor. v. 19. 2. Wine whether red or white, we know not. Fourthly, The actions. 1. Blessing the Bread and the wine distinctly and apart. 2. Breaking the bread. 3. Distributing. 4. Receiving. 5. Singing a hymn. Fifthly, The posture of thebody, viz. sitting with their legs behind them, lean- ingupon the table with the left elbow, of which see Pool's Anno- tations ; Mat. xxvi. 20, &c. Sixthly, The words spoken, viz. Take, eat ; this is my body. Drink ye all of it, this is my blood of the New Testament, which is shedformany for the remission of sins, which are expressed in several varieties, by the several evangelists, and by the apostle Paul ; and therefore the sand precise form of words cannot be necessary. It is evident to the reason of every reader, that some things among' the fore - mentioned particulars.are necessary to the essence or substance of the ordinance itself. 1. The elements ; there must be bread and wine; but whe- ther it is absolutely necessary, that it should be bread made of wheat, and wine made of the juice of the grape, may afford a doubt and scruple. Why not barley or oaten bread, and wine of the juice of currants, be sufficient, especially in such regions, or suchpoor villages, where wheat and grapes are notfound, nor hardly to be procured ? 2. There must be also the action of blessing the bread and wine, or giving thanks before this sacred feast, and praying for a blessing on it : This was done by our Saviour distinctly twice, that is, bothbefore partaking of the bread, and of the cup. But is a distinct blessing of each element necessary whensoever we celebrate this ordinance? I own I like it best, because it seems as if it were singular and peculiar to this ordinance, and was not done at common meals : But I would not say, it is absolutely ne- cessary at every administration, and that those who bless the bread and wine together do any thing unlawful. 3. There seems to be a necessity of breaking the bread, to signify that the body of our Saviour was broken for our sins; this is my bodywhich is brokenfor you. Yet it may be queried, whether dividing the bread by cutting may not be lawful and proper. For 1. As breaking bread was the usual way of
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=