As we read in the Scriptures, that "on the first-day of the week the disciples came together to break bread;" and as the records show that it was the invariable custom of the early Christians to commemorate the death of Christ on every first-day of the week, we conceive that this order should be carefully maintained and attended to by all the [83] churches now. We regard it as the great and special object of the Lord's-day meeting thus to commemorate the love of Christ, but it is usual to add prayer, exhortation, teaching, &c., for mutual edification. Since pious and learned men of various parties have often deplored the departure of the modern churches from this ancient order of things, and have labored to restore the weekly observance of the Lord's Supper, we may justly regard the practice as sanctioned by the best authority, and its propriety placed beyond the reach of controversy.

      From among those who have borne testimony upon this subject, I would adduce John Brown, of Haddington, who wrote a treatise upon it, in which he strongly advocated weekly communion. William King, also, Archbishop of Dublin, speaks as follows: "It is manifest that if it be not our own faults, we may have opportunity every Lord's day when we meet together, and, therefore, that church is guilty of laying aside the command, whose order and worship doth not require and provide for this practice." Dr. Scott, in his commentary on Acts xx. 7, says: "Breaking of bread, or commemorating the death of Christ in the Eucharist, was one chief end of their assembling: this ordinance seems to have been constantly administered every Lord's day." Dr. Mason, of New York, asserts that, "Communion every Lord's day was universal, and was preserved [84] in the Greek church till the seventh century."¹ Calvin complains of the neglect of this practice: "It ought to have been," says he, "far otherwise. Every week, at least, the table of the Lord should have been spread for Christian assemblies, and the promises declared, by which, partaking of it, we might be spiritually fed."² John Wesley urged the same practice. In his letter to America, he says: "I also advise the elders to administer the supper of the Lord on every Lord's day."

      Such, then, is the universal usage with us. We recognise, also, the importance of Sunday-schools and Bible classes for the instruction of the young; and of wholly consecrating the Lord's day to the above purposes, as well as to private reading of the Scriptures and religious devotion.

[PORR 83-85]