after a folemn verbal declaration of the contrary, more aggravated than after an action that is only conftrued to imply that declaration? fince a perfon may fay, that he could eat and drink in remembrance of Chrift, and recollect, with gratitude and pleasure, what he had done for mankind, without making any promife, at that particular time, of living as becomes a chriftian? It is no where expressly faid in the fcriptures, that we do make fuch a promise at that particular time; and the only mention that is made of communicating unworthily is in a cafe where the guilt is not faid to have confifted in the infincerity of any declaration, but in the improper and indecent manner in which the rite was performed. we to make 10. Admitting that the above mentioned promise is always implied, ought any difference with respect to the qualifications of the persons who may be permitted or encouraged to join in prayer, and in the celebration of the Lord's fupper? The primitive christians made no difference in these cases. 11. Since 11. Since we pray, or are exhorted to pray, much more frequently than we communicate, fhould not the warnings againft the guilt of infincerity in the former cafe be more frequent and more earnest than in the latter? 12. If the preceding queftions be anfwered in the affirmative, is it not evident that those persons, who join in prayer, in which they profess obedience to the gospel, and yet dare not receive the Lord's fupper, are influenced by principles that are juftly called fuperftitious? Is not the custom of folemn prepara13. tion, previous to receiving the Lord's fupper, a proof that it has been placed in too high a rank of importance, with refpect to prayer, and other religious exercises? 14. Is not the opinion of the unfitness of a perfon, who has preached and prayed in public many years (but who has not been ordained) to adminifter either bap tifm or the Lord's fupper, a proof of the exiftence existence of fome fuperftitious notion concerning the facraments? 15. Is not the unwillingness of many Diffenters to receive the bread and wine except from the hands of the minister himself, and sometimes of their own minifter, a confirmation of the fame charge of fuperftition? 16. Is not the custom of requiring an account of a perfon's experience in religion, before he be admitted to communicate, when the fame person is admitted to pray in public, a proof of the fame fuperftition? 17. Is it not for the interest of truth, of christianity, and of virtue, that these fuperftitious notions be traced to their fource, and exploded? For my own part I am fully perfuaded, that all this fuperftition had the fame fource with almost every other corruption of christian doctrine and difcipline, having been introduced by converts from other religions; religions; and that though a great part of this, as well as of other abuses, is now rectified, a great deal yet remains to be done; and I doubt not but, by one instrument or other, Chrift will at length thoroughly purge his floor of them all, and that all the chaff, hay and stubble, that have been built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, will be utterly confumed. You, Sir, think that my treatise on the Lord's fupper has a very dangerous tendency in a practical view, pref. p. 7. and, thinking in that manner, you do well to caution your readers against it. On the I think that the tendency of my contrary, treatise is to restore to its primitive purity and use, an institution calculated to unite christians together under Christ their common head; and I meant to affift in throwing down that fuperftitious barrier, which, in a great measure, forbids its being approached, or made ufe of at all. As my views, I am confcious, are upright, and I believe juft, I hope I shall not |