tion, a command and doctrine of men which will soon perish in the using. FIFTH ENQUIRY. CONCERNING THE LORD'S SUPPER. - Enquirer.-WHAT is meant by the Lord's Supper in the new testament ? Christian. It is an appointment of Christ, for his followers to show forth his death till he comes; consisting of broken bread and wine. We are told when he appointed it, Matt. xxvi. 26, 27, 28, 29, "And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, and said, take, eat; this is my body. And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, drink ye all of this. For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins." Enquirer. Have the apostles written any thing concerning the Lord's Supper ? Christian.-Yes, Paul has mentioned it. 1 Cor. xi. 23, 24, 25, 26, “For I have received of the Lord, that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night, in which he was betrayed, took bread; and when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, take, eat; this is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, this cup is the new testament in my blood, this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew forth the Lord's death 'till he come." Enquirer. Is there any place in the. new testament, which proves that the churches in the time of the apostles did attend to this Supper? Christian. Yes, there are several accounts of it, Acts ii. 46, " And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart." Acts xx. 7, " And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached to them." Enquirer.-Who ought to attend to this command ? Christian.-None but believers in Christ who love him and keep his commandments. SIXTH ENQUIRY. CONCERNING THE OFFICERS IN CHRIST'S CHURCH, Enquirer.-WHAT officers hasChrist appointed in his church? Christian.-At the first building of the church there were in it, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors, and Teachers, these were in office for the good of the whole. Paul says, Eph. iv. 11, "And he gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers." At the present, there are no apostles, nor prophets in the church. Evangelists and pastors are still in the church. The evangelists are men called to travel and preach, pastors are called to labor more particularly in the church; each of these are called to preach and baptize. Besides these, there is an office which respects the temporal affairs of the church, these are called Deacons, or church treasurers. 1 Tim. iii. 8, "Likewise must the DEACONS be grave, not double tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, and let these also first be proved, then let them use the office of a DEACON, being found blameless.” Enquirer.-Where is the first account of these affairs ? Christian.-In Acts vi. 1, 2, 3, 5, the occasion of their being appointed was this, the poor widows in the church were neglected of their daily administration, and the apostles thinking it wrong to leave preaching to attend to these things, appointed seven men to attend to such business, that they might attend wholly to preaching the word. Besides these officers there are others who are called to improve in the church by exhortation, prayer, helping, and governing according to the rule given them by Christ the head of the church. Enquirer.-In what manner are these officers appointed in the church? Christian.-The account of their being appointed or ordained, and the manner in which it is to be done, is recorded in the New Testament. Paul says Titusi. 5, "For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldst set in order the things that are wanting, and ORDAIN elders, in every city, as I have appointed thee." Acts xiv. 23. "And when they had ORDAINED them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord on whom they believed." Whenever a man is appointed to preach, he is then ordained. Enquirer.-Who ordained the officers in the first church? Christian.--The apostles were ordained by Christ; Mark iii. 14, " And he ORDAINED twelve, that they should be with. him, and that he might send them forth to preach," John xv. 16, "Ye have, not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ORDAINED you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain." Matthias was ordained by the church, Acts i. 23, "One must be ORDAINED to be a witness with us of his resurrection." Bar |