NOTE-We are very much opposed by some, in that we eat a meal before Communion. They tell us that we cat the Jewish Passover. I deny the assertion; for it is certain, that the meal which we partake of upon such occasions, differs widely from the Jewish Passover. It is the least of our intention to eat or celebrate the Jewish Passover. At the time that Christ ate the Supper with his disciples, he observed unto them, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." I ask the question, what did Christ allude to when he said unto them, if ye know these things? He certainly could not have had only Feet Washing in view, seeing that he saith things. It is highly probable that he spoke with reference not only to Feet Washing, but also the supper, &c. Now Feet Washing and the Supper, though observed literally, have nevertheless a spiritual meaning, that is, thay are typical of certain things, and of great service to the believer. For instance-Feet Washing represents a cleansing, or Washing, from sin. The Supper is an emblem of the marriage supper of the Lamb. Now let us view the order to be observed in celebrating these institutions. Feet Washing is observed before Supper, that the believer thereby may be taught to know, that in order that he may be one of that number that shall be admitted to the Supper of the Lemb, he must, in this time, before the period arrives in which the heavenly Supper shall be partaken of, prepare himself by having on the wedding garment of righteousness; he has no time to delay in this matter; he knoweth not the time of the coming of the bridegroom. The Supper follows Feet Washing, because the cleansing and qualification of the guests or virgins must take place or precede the heavenly Supper. Christ compares the same to a natural wedding, as you can read in the 25th chapter of Mathew You know it is natural for a bride, and also

the guest, to prepare themselves before the wedding takes place. It would be out of season, or too late, to do it when the wedding is celebrated. The Supper, or Lord's Supper, is partaken of at night, to remind the believer that it will be in the evening of this world that our Lord Jesus Christ, the heavenly bridegroom, will make his appearance, and also celebrate the heavenly Supper with his saints. This meal is called a Supper, because it is an emblem of the last dispensation of light and happiness, and also of rest, which the Lord shall confer upon the children of men-as you know it is natural for men to retire to rest after supper. For example, the Law may be compared to breakfast, the Gospel to a dinner, and the Millenium to a supper. Yes, we may with the greatest propriety compare these three states to three meals, and the names of those natural meals which we partake of in the course of the day, may also with propriety be given to those spiritual meals which I have applied to the Law, Gospel, and Mellenium, or heavenly state.

Dear reader, you must see the great necessity of observing those institutions as they have been appointed; for a deviation from this rule will frustrate the design of what the Saviour had in view in giving these institutions to his church.

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CHAPTER XVI.

ANOINTING THE SICK WITH OIL IN THE NAME OF THE LORD.

THIS is a performance which has become almost extinct in this our day; and oh, what a pity! seeing that it is connected with such great promises. Our beloved brother and apostle James hath written thus upon this subject: "Is any sick among you, let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the nare of the Lord: and the prayer of faith shall save the sick and the Lord shall raise him up, and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him." James v. 14, 15. And when our Lord sent the seventy disciples it was a part of their commission to perform this holy, work, as we can read in Mark iv. 13: "And they cast out many devils, and anointed with oil many that were sick, and healed them." Now, this is the privilege of the afflicted sons and daughters of men ; and if they do not embrace this opportunity, it is their own fault. Now, all those who desire to have this holy work performed upon them ought to be perfectly reconciled unto the will of God-in particular as it respects their recovery from a bed of affliction. Yes, they ought to make a complete surrender of themselves into the hands of the Lord; and it is the bounden duty of the children of God to visit the sick and administer to their relief as far as lieth in their power; and it is the privilege of the sick, as we have already remarked, to call or send for the elders of the church; and if it is their desire to be anointed with oil, let two of the elders, in the fear of Almighty God, perform this holy work, by applying oil (sweet oil is generally used) to the head of the sick, in

the name of the Lord; after which, the elders will lay their hands upon the top of one another on the head of the sick, and then supplicate a throne of mercy, calling upon the name of God, through Jesus Christ, to forgive and pardon the sins of the sick, &c.; and the prayer of faith shall be heard.

verse.

CHAPTER XVII.

HOSPITALITY AND ALMS -GIVING.

THAT it is the bounden duty of the church to provide for her poor members, is a truth plainly revealed in the word of God. Christ said unto his disciples, "For ye have the poor always with you, but me ye have not always." Mat. xxvi. 11. By reading the preceding verses, the reader can know what gave rise to the above A certain woman, out of great regard and affection for Christ, poured an alabaster box of very precious ointment upon his head, whilst he sat at meat. The disciples viewed this conduct of her's with indignation; they considered it an expense to no purpose. They said that the ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor; but Christ very much approved of the woman's conduct, and told his disciples that they always have the poor with them, but that they had not always him; from which they could infer, that it was their privilege-yea, bounden duty, to embrace every opportunity to administer unto the necessities of the poor; and they should do it cheerfully, and not depend upon others to do it for them. The apostle Paul, in his first letter to the Corinthians, xvi. 1-3, directs the churches how to proceed in this very important business: "Now, concerning the collection for the saints, as I have