municant will undervalue this ordinance because of a frequent repetition, but rather prize it the more. Did the primitive Chriftians bring it into contempt by partaking every Lord's day? Nay, was not their esteem of it much higher than these who dispense or receive it only once in two years? I wish the words of our dying Saviour, and the acts of our general affembly, relative to this matter, were more adverted to by one and all of us (b.)-And in another place, he thus answers the queftion, Are we as much obliged to frequent communicating as the apofles and primitive Chriftians. were? Tho' they were in a much better frame. for it, as having had more recent and warm impreffions of the love and death of their redeemer conftantly upon their spirits than we have; yet certainly we are under as ftrong obligations to frequent partaking as the firft Chrif tians were for we have the fame Lord and Saviour that they had, and are under the fame obligations of love and gratitude to him. We have the fame need of the application of Chrift's blood, and a confirmed intereft in his meritorious death, that they had; and confequently the fame need of this memorial feast and fealing ordinance (i). And answering the queftion, Is not frequency apt to breed formality in this duty? he obferves, (1.) The fame thing may be alledged with refpect to other duties, which yet is no good argument for the unfrequent practice of them. (2.) This fault is nowife chargeable upon the holy ordinance and inftitution of Chrift,

(b) Willifon's preface to his Sacramental Catechisin, p.9. () Sacramental Catechifin, p. 86.

but

but upon the corruption and careleffnefs of our hearts, which we ought diligently to watch and ftrive against; endeavouring, in Chrift's strength, as often as we partake, so often to prepare for it. with all due care and folemnity (k).

Mr. Jonathan Edwards, of Northampton in New-England, in a book, intitled, Some thoughts concerning the prefent revival of religion, p. 214. of the Edinburgh edition, fays, "It feems plain, by "the fcripture, that the primitive Chriftians were "wont to celebrate this memorial of the fuffer

ings of their dear Redeemer every Lord's day; "and fo, I believe, it will be again in the "church of Chrift, in days that are approach"ing."

§ 7. VII. It is alledged, increasing the frequency. of communions, efpecially in the way propofed in the fynod's overture, will occafion a new and formidable feceffion.

But, as Mr. Randal has well observed, in a paper referred to, Section IV. §1. "Moft who

would leave a church on fo frivolous a pre❝tence, are in the feceffion already and proba"bly the present way of adminiftering the facra"ment may be one cause of it. Too nice a "picking of minifters at these times, taught the "people to defpife fome, whom now the beft "amongst us would willingly pull out of their

graves, if they could. The Seceffion is now "lefs formidable thro' their divifion." And the party of them who befriend the burgess oath, have, of late, expreffed fo much moderation and charity to the church of Scotland, in fome of their

(k) Sacramental Catechifm, p. 87.

printed

printed papers (!), that I cannot bring myself to think they would condemn an overture fo highly reafonable. When people fee that it is not laziness, but a fubjection to the authority of Christ, and regard to their edification, that make us defirous of more frequent communions, their prejudices will fubfide. And should it be otherwife, the affections of our people, valuable as they are, would be too dearly purchased, by dif regard to the commands of Jefus.

I

SECTION IV.

AM now to enquire, whether the fynod's overture is not the most proper, and leaft exceptionable_means to promote frequent communicating. I fhall not be ftiff in afferting this: but hitherto no better plan has been propofed,. that I know of. I chufe, in this part of the subject, to deliver my fentiments in the words of two worthy minifters, who have thought much on the question.

The one is Mr. Willifon of Dundee, preface to his Sacramental Catechifm, p. 12. "I con"fefs there is one thing amongst us, which is

a great obftruction to the frequent celebration "of this ordinance, viz. the great numbers of "minifters and preachers now used on fuch oc

cafións, which truly makes that folemn work a bufinefs of fuch outward toil and labour to the adminiftrators, as difcourages them fre

(See Mr. Hutton's Speech, p. 55. Mr. Ralph Erfkine's Review of Mr. Gib's Remarks, p. 17. and Synod Sermon, p. 32.

❝quently

quently to undertake it. So that till fome re"gulation be made in the aforefaid respect, I <defpair of feeing this holy ordinance difpenfed fo << frequently amongst us as it ought to be.

"In the days of old, there was lefs preaching at ❝ communions, but much power and life in them; "but in our days there is much preaching, but

little power. Not that I am against much "preaching at thefe occafions, where there is an "appetite among the hearers, and where plenty of minifters may be had, without laying

the neighbouring congregations defolate, or 66 proving any let to the frequency of this ordi "nance: but to make it a fanding order, that "there fhall be fo many preachings, whether "there be an appetite or no, or whatever in"conveniencies fhould follow, I apprehend can"not be fo eafily juftified. I acknowledge, about "the time of our late happy revolution, when “fo much preaching at communions began to be "a fettled practice, there were fuch vehement "defires among the people after the ordinances, "and lively preaching of the word, that had "been fo fcarce for so many years before, that "it was neceffary to gratify them, with much "preaching, at thefe folemn occafions; but it is "not to be expected, that these longings should "always continue. In the primitive times of σε christianity, when the difciples hearts flowed "with love to their lately crucified and afcend "ed Redeemer, they had fuch burning defires "after the ordinances, and preaching of the "gospel, that the apostle Paul, at the celebra❝tion of the Lord's Supper, Acts xx. 7. was "encouraged, to continue preaching with the

46 people

"people till midnight; yet none ever pled, that "the apostle's practice, on that occafion, should "be a standing rule for the church, in all time "coming."

The other is Mr. Randal of Inchture, in a written paper, where a plan much like that of our fynod is propofed. And as that paper firft engaged me to apply my thoughts to this important fubject, 1 fhall infert the greatest part of it. "Our prefent manner, fays he, of partaking "of the facrament, by employing three working days in attendance on preaching, on every "fuch occafion, renders the frequent partaking "of that ordinance inconvenient, if not im"poffible. For,

(1.) It is hard to bring our people to relifh a frequent adminiftration, if it muft de"prive them of fo many days of labour. And

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as industry and improvement increase, that "difficulty will increase alfo ; efspecially, as fome "concerned in these things, have not fo great "a refpect, as might be wifhed, for religious "inftitutions. But if all were willing to at"tend, there are not many feasons where, in "landward parishes, they can have leifure, efpe"cially as the lint improvement goes on, which "much shortens the leisure time in fummer.

(2.) Tho' minifters may not fpeak it out, "the expence, with which difpenfing the facrament frequently in our way would be attend"ed, will ever be an effectual ftop to it.

" (3.) Our prefent way is very inconvenient to every fingle minifter. As almost all have "the facrament once a year, each must assist five "or fix neighbours; and this hurries and hin

ders,