Our author next observes, that " a man can never act as a pastor, where he is not so much as a member; a man must be a member of a church before he can be a pastor of it, as we have seen." This is not only taking it for granted, that the administration of the ordinance, under consideration, is a pastoral act, (which remains to be proved,) but that it is a pastoral act confined to the pastor's particular flock; for if it is not a pastoral act, or though it should be found to be of that description, yet, if it be a general pastoral act, which the pastor is not restricted from performing as an act of ministerial kindness to a bereaved church, this observation has not the least force; and the allusion to a corporate body and its principal officer, already noticed, will also, on this ground, be found of no avail. Under this head, Col. iv. 12, and Rom. xii. 4, are quoted, but they will be found to have no reference to the subject. Indeed, the Doctor appears only to have quoted the former, to show, what we have no inclination to doubt, that Epaphras was a member of the church at Colosse; and the latter, to prove, what we firmly believe, that" all members have not the same office." It is next remarked, that, "As one that is not a member of a church cannot be an officer in it, as a pastor. of another church cannot be; then he has no office relation to it, nor has he any office power in it, and, therefore, cannot exercise in it any act of office power; and, VOL. VII. in consequence, cannot admi nister the Lord's supper in it, which is an act of office power.". The force of this reasoning lies in the last few words, which, as they contain an assertion, unsupported by scriptural authority, should be carefully examined, and cautiously received. What proof have we, that the administration of the Lord's supper is an act of office power? Our author does not adduce one scripture in support of his assertion. The administration of an ordinance, so remarkably simple in its appearance, and devotional in its nature, can hardly be called an act of power; and even if it were al lowed to be an act of pastoral power, there is no reason for limiting the pastor's perform ance of it to his own particu lar church. Exemplary piety, suitable gifts, and the invitation of a destitute church, seem to comprehend all that can be rea sonably required in the adminis trator. It is farther observed, "As well may he exercise other branches of his pastoral office as this; as well may he be a ruling elder, &c. and if he can act as a pastor in two churches, he may in ten, and twenty, and more, and so become a dio cesan bishop; yea, a universal bishop, or pastor, as the pope at Rome pretends to be, &c. And it is an affectation in some, to be thought of more moment and importance than they are, and to grasp at power and au thority, and to appear in a cha racter and figure which do not belong to them, if not something else, which tempts them to give into such an unwar- more than probable, that it is rantable practice." It is diffi- not affectation, nor a desire to cult, in controversy, to preserve grasp at power, nor a wish to that calmness of temper and appear in a character which determination of mind, that does not belong to them, that seem equally necessary to the induces them to accept the ininvestigation and support of vitation of a destitute church, truth. It is to be regretted, and preside at the table of the that a man, so justly celebrated, Lord; but a sincere regard for should have suffered himself the commands of Christ, a dehere to be a little extravagant.sire to be of use to the church To administer the ordinance of at large, and a readiness to the supper, to be a ruling elder, oblige the household of faith. to preside at church meetings, The Doctor then proposes and to exercise every part of the following questions:discipline, are certainly very "Should it be asked, as it may different things, not equally ex-be reasonably asked, by what pedient, nor convenient. When authority they do this thing? the Lord's supper is adminis- Who or what gives them this tered by another pastor, it is authority? What answer can because the church is of opi- be returned? Will they say, nion, that the administration of they have their authority from it is a pastoral act; or, at least, Christ?" To which he replies because the communicants pre-at considerable length. To folfer receiving it from the hands low him through his assertions, of a pastor. But this ministe-would be tedious and unnecesrial visit does not invest the sary; for many of the observakind pastor with any new au- tions that would be made, have thority, any more than my in-been anticipated in what has viting, in case of necessity, a friend to do the honours of my table, would invest him, or her, with any prerogative to govern in my family. An equal need does not exist for presiding at church meetings, and exercising discipline; therefore, we very rarely observe such invitations given. It may be doubted, whether it is quite consistent with that charity that "hopeth all things," &c. to question the motives of those worthy pastors, who can cheerfully administer the ordinance to another people. It is already been remarked. To the questions themselves, it may be briefly replied, that the authority is considered to be derived, primarily, from Christ; and, secondarily, from the destitute church that gives the invitation. Should it be said, the scriptures no where allow this authority, it is remarked, they no where prohibit it. The narratives of the commemoration of the Lord's supper are remarkably simple, and unaccompanied with those restrictions for which our author contends ;* and, if our Lord has not prohibited the Matt. xxvi. 26.-Mark, xiv. 22.—Luke, xxii. 19, and xiv. 30. Acts, xx. 7.-1 Cor. xi. 24, 25. 66 ex practice, and particularly point- | not flocks." This comment, in ed out the administrator, nor | its strict observance, would tereven hinted at such restrictions; minate all exchange of services, nor the apostles, who were tho- | and occasional ministratious. roughly acquainted with the And what is then to become of duties of a Christian pastor, that flock that has no overseer? and who were likely, in some Happy is that pastor, who, after of their epistles, to have given having conscientiously fed his such directions; it may be very own flock, can, in the exercise properly inquired, why any one of Christian love, extend his else should? The practice is services to the utmost of his evidently attended to upon the ability! same principle that induces Our author proceeds to apother pastors to assist in the or-ply 1 Pet. iv. 15, to those who dinance of baptism, and preach- differ from him in this practice. ing the word; and it quite agrees He says, "Such who take upon | with the benevolent and en- them to act in such a manner, larged spirit, which the recep- may be truly called busy bodies tion of the glorious gospel, un-in other men's matters, or bider the Holy Spirit's influence, shops in other dioceses." The is calculated to promote. It is exhortation of the apostle is therefore considered, that a | cellent; but does it follow, bechurch has the power of in- | cause Peter exhorts, “ Let none viting another pastor, rather of you suffer as a busy body," than that the dying love of the that administering the ordinance Saviour should not be comme- to another church, constitutes morated. The scriptures quoted such a character? Are those by Dr. Gill, under this head, who so act likely to suffer in appear to have no allusion to any respect? Far from it; they the subject, Acts, xiv. 23. are likely to participate of that There can be no doubt that the spiritual joy and satisfaction, elders were ordained for them, which such an act of kindness, and not others. Col. i. 7, that under the divine blessing, is Epaphras was a faithful minis- calculated to diffuse through ter for the church at Colosse, | the whole family of the church. particularly; but it does not. Nor can he be well called a follow, that his ministrations busy body, who merely accedes were confined to that church. | to a respectful invitation; espeActs, xx. 28.-1 Peter, v. 2.These exhortations to the elders, to feed the flocks over which the Holy Ghost had One should suppose, that the made them overseers, can hard- very nature of the engagement ly warrant our author's inference would shield from such an acfrom these passages; “ but not | cusation. No secular conall the flocks over which they | cerns are attended to, no imare not overseers; so other pertinent curiosity is indulged, elders were directed to feed the no presuming behaviour. The flock that was amongst them, service is composed of prayer, | cially as, by so doing, he cannot interfere with the duties of any other person. praise, and showing forth the death of the ascended Saviour; and the minister afterwards retires to his more immediate connection. no explicit instance of the prac tice, there is no implied prohi bition; and, certainly, a communicant, under such circumstances, need not fear drawing upon himself " the guilt of an unlawful administration." Under the former dispensation, the duties of the priesthood, with every particular relative to the rights and ceremonies of the church, were described with a minuteness that does not cha It is farther affirmed, " As well may a deacon, of one church, officiate as such in another." This does not appear, for there cannot exist an equal necessity; and, therefore, we have no examples of such a practice in the history of our churches. There are, gene-racterize the descriptions of the rally, several deacons in a New Testament ordinances, church; and the duties of that office are not, therefore, interrupted by the removal of an individual; and, where there is but one in a church, his loss is generally soon supplied by another election: and, independently of this fact, we know of no duties, the deacon of one church could be called upon to discharge in another. Finally, it is added, "No instance can be given of such a practice in the word of God. The instance of the apostle Paul's breaking bread to the disciples at Troas (supposing it to be understood of the ordinance of the supper) is no proof or example of such a practice, since he was an apostle." To which we may observe, there is no proof that he did it as an apostolic act. The precise circumstances of the church at Troas, we are unacquainted with. We are informed, Acts, xx. 7, that" when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them."There is a probability, that the disciples would have broken bread, although Paul had not visited Troas. What if there is and the duties of those who are to administer them. And who has a right to prescribe limits and regulations, when the Holy Spirit has been silent? From a dispassionate and serious view of the subject, there appear no reasons why we should hesitate in regarding the ordinance of the supper, even though we may be deprived of a pastor; nor does it seem greatly important, whether the administrator be a pastor, ór some eminent saint in the church. But let us not dismiss the subject, without considering the effects likely to result from disregarding it. Where this ordinance is discontinued, it will be seen, that the members consider themselves more at liberty to wan der. In a numerous church, it can hardly be expected to see all its members together; but the occasion when most are seen, is the delightful ordinance, when the Saviour's dying love is commemorated, as most exert themselves to attend.→ The neglect of any duty must have a serious effect on the mind; and it will be owing to irresistible grace, if the impor- that every church of Christ tance of the ordinance is not should, often and constantly, undervalued in consequence;" show forth the Lord's death," than it is that the affliction or ON SEARCHING and it may be feared, that our gracious Lord, who is jealous of his honour, may resent such inattention to his commands, and withdraw the smiles of his face. Its observance is particularly calculated to preserve and promote Christian love and friendship. Meditating on what Christ has done and suffered for his church, its members will be likely to forget those trifling differences, and misunder-larged and unprejudiced mind; standings, by which the great enemy of souls seldom fails to agitate, and, oftentimes, rend the church. Indeed, it has been remarked, that destitute churches have been kept together from no other apparent cause. "True dignity and nobleness of spirit, greatly consist in an en i open to conviction, willing to investigate the truth, to examine the evidence adduced in support of men's opinions, and to treat religious inquiries with candour, seriousness, and diligence. Such an ingenuous and Reader, search the scrip- teachable disposition comes tures. Accompany your read- from above. They who possess ings with prayer; and when it, will cautiously avoid a blind your heart is most filled" with credulity, an obstinate, bigotry, joy and peace in believing," and a heedless conceited infideexamine whether your objec- lity. They will receive the tions are strongest to receiving word of sober teachers with all this memorial of your Re-readiness of mind; and, knowdeemer's love, from the hands ing their need of divine instrucof him, who, though his ser- tion, they will daily search the vant, may not be your pastor. scriptures, to see whether things. Are your prejudices then so be so or not. They will gradually strong, and your scruples so rectify their mistakes, obtain sonumerous and powerful, as to lutions of their difficulties, find make you reluctant to take the answers to their objections, and bread and wine from the hands be led into a solid understandof a godly minister, though pas- ing and firm belief of the gostor of another church, or a pel. But nothing can be more pious deacon belonging to your ignoble and base, than bigotry own? and persecution; and many, who appeared devout in their way, have been most inveterate against the truth, and most active in stirring up others to oppose it." Fear, lest while you endeavour to avoid inconsistency, you should commit sin; lest, while you "strain at a gnat, you swallow a camel." Is it not undeniably much more evident, VOL. VII. Prac, Ob. on Acts, xvii, 10-13. 3 R |