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When communicants assemble to commemorate the love of Christ, many forget the new commandment, of "love one another" and give not to his brother, the the right hand of fellowship; but shut him out, with, "Sir, you cannot sit down here." Gal. ii. 9. Not so our Lord; his invitation is ever ready.-"Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely."

The Sacrament may be considered as a sort of Protestant absolution, not divested of self-love; as all ceremonies have a tendency to withdraw the heart from Jesus, and give self-satisfaction. Differences arise, congregations separate: the Church that Christ has ordained of peace and love, its principle is lost in human ceremonies, traditions, and formalities.

As for such objections, as, "I never can believe, God would permit his people, his own beloved people, to be in such an error:" it stands upon equality with this objection: "I hardly can believe, if this ordinance were ordained of God, he would permit his child to receive these elements, and before the time of rest become intoxicated, or swear, and take that holy name in vain, he had outwardly professed to honour at the altar a few hours previously!" "In vain ye do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men." Be it allowed, the abuse of what is good, is no argumen against its use; yet the number of unbelieving communicants greatly exceed the faithful followers of Jesus. The unconverted receiving the Supper must be abomi

nation in the sight of God; and his children eat him not in elements. "Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world; why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (touch not, taste not, handle not: which all are to perish with the using) after the commandments and doctrines of men ?" See Isai. i. 14; and Amos, v. 21.

If the enquiry be made-What end is expected by setting aside the Supper?—It will be the breaking down a barrier of division between believer and believer, that now causes a cruel separation; and of more closely uniting brother to brother, so fulfilling "The message, that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another." Our Lord has promised the Comforter he does not come, and cannot come, where division reigns, Peace being his legacy to his peaceful followers and to believe and love is the perfect bond of union between God and our brother.

"Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind" that the foregoing evidence accords with Scripture Truth, before he departs from even the tradition of his Fathers; although it is only an established

custom.

Now, Lord, if this subject be of Satan's device and not according to the Word, and the Truth-bring it to nothing let none suffer by it; but if it be according to thy word, set up thy light in the heart of every reader, to their real comfort, and exalt to Glory thy own

Great Name, for ever and ever, world without end,

Amen.

"Whatsoever doth make manifest is light."

STRANGLING.

"BUT flesh with the life thereof, which is the blood thereof, shall you not eat." Gen. ix. 4.

"It shall be a perpetual statute for your generations throughout all your dwellings, that ye eat neither fat nor blood." Lev. iii. 17.

"Moreover, ye shall eat no manner of blood, whether it be of fowl or of beast, in any of your dwellings." Lev. vii. 26, &c.

"And whatsoever man there be of the children of Israel, or of the strangers that sojourn among you, which hunteth or catcheth any beast or fowl that may be eaten; he shall even pour out the blood thereof, and cover it with dust. For it is the life of all flesh, the blood of it is for the life thereof: therefore I said unto the children of Israel, Ye shall eat the blood of no manner of flesh: for the life of all flesh is the blood thereof: whosoever eateth it shall be cut off." Lev. xvii. 13, 14.

"Only be sure that thou eat not the blood: for the blood is the life, and thou mayest not eat the life with the flesh. Thou shalt not eat it thou shalt pour it

upon the earth as water. Thou shalt not eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when thou shalt do that which is right in the sight of the LORD." Deu. xii. 23, 24, 25.

When referring to the law, Moses says, "Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; but with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God; and also with him that is not here with us this day." Deu. xxix. 14, 15.

Thus far the law; which the Apostles, Elders, and whole church afterwards confirmed-commanding the Gentiles to "abstain from blood, and from things strangled, &c. from which if ye keep yourselves ye shall do well." Acts, xv. 20-29.

"Wherefore say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God; Ye eat with the blood, and lift up your eyes towards your idols, and shed blood: and shall ye possess the land?" See Ezek. xxii. 26; xxxiii. 25.

Consider how greatly now is the word of God neglected and violated by strangling poultry; which should be killed by pouring out the blood—" so shall ye prosper"-remembering "when we have done all, we are unprofitable servants."

Let no man deceive himself by saying, "We are not under the law, but under grace:"-true, the deeds of the law will not justify; for it is only "the blood of Jesus Christ that cleanseth from all sin,"-and here lies the power of the command! Slain beasts under the Mosaic

dispensation were of no avail without the slain, or "broken heart:" Paul was afraid some would make void the law, and therefore says, "Yea we establish the law;" because he knew "what God doeth he doeth for ever." Amen! Does not God "wait that he may be gracious," when he says, "Neither will I any more remove the foot of Israel from out of the land which I have appointed for your fathers; so that they will take heed to do all that I have commanded them, according to the whole law and the statutes and the ordinances by the hand of Moses." Chron. xxxiii. 8.

How many take shelter under this text, Mark, vii. 15: "There is nothing from without a man, that entering into him can defile him: but the things which come out of him, those are they that defile the man." It is as full a truth as any other Scripture-food cannot defile a sinner. The sin is disobedience :-The command is, "Thou shalt not eat it :" and, "If ye love me, keep my commandments." Saul was commanded to "smite the Amalekites;" his disobedient, hypocritical evasion lost him his kingdom, subsequently his life, and possibly his soul! And for this text sake, swine's flesh is eaten ; yet the command is, "Of their flesh shall ye not eat: and their carcases shall ye not touch, (not taste it,) it is unclean unto you;" (unwholesome.) Acquaintance with Scripture would teach us, even in a foreign land, what may be eaten or refused; and did the people live by Scripture rule, there would have been no cause to lament the al

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