and doubtless with reverence of their crucified Lord. FA. What is the meaning of the word Passover? Mo. I think that Anna can inform us. AN. The Israelites were commanded to sprinkle the blood of the lamb on the two side posts, and on the upper door post of the houses wherein they eat it, and God promised them, that the blood should be a token upon their houses, and that he would pass over them, when he went through the land to smite the first-born of the Egyptians. Mo. Another very important view is, that the ceremonies and sacrifices of the Jewish ritual, were all typical of the Messiah, who was to come, designed to keep constantly in remembrance this great event, whereby salvation from sin was purchased for mankind; but after Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us," in whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace," all types and shadows were abrogated, as being no longer necessary. Lu. Are friends the only religious society who have declined taking bread and wine as a religious ceremony? FA. I recollect one other in the early ages of Christianity, the Paulicians, who underwent much persecution, on account of their religion, but of whom the historian bears this testimony: "A confession of simple worship and blameless manners, is extorted from their enemies." ED. There is no mention made of wine in the institution of the Passover; how came it to be used? FA. As the Passover, in the age following its institution, was not to be killed or eaten in any other place, than where the Lord chose to place his name, which was afterwards at Jerusalem, it was suspended for a time. The Jews, however, retained the festival of unleavened bread, wherever they dwelt. At the last feast, in process of time, they added the use of wine to the use of bread. The introduction of the wine was followed by the introduction of new customs. The lord, or master of the feast, used to break the bread, and say, "Blessed be thou, O Lord! who givest us the fruits of the earth." He used to take the cup which held the wine, and say, "Blessed be thou, O Lord! who givest us the fruit of the vine." When the Jews were fixed at Jerusalem, they revived the celebration of the Passover, and as the feast of unleavened bread was connected with it, they added the customs of the latter, and blended the eating of the lamb, and the use of bread and wine with their several accompaniments of consecration, into one ceremony. Bread and wine had therefore long been in use, as constituent parts of the Passover supper, when Jesus Christ took upon himself as the master of his own family of disciples, to celebrate it. Mo. Here is an extract which explains the views of George Fox on the subjects we have been discussing, and the Society of Friends accord with them. Will Lucy read it for us? Lu. The subjects of water-baptism and the Lord's supper, as it is called, claimed his serious consideration, the result of which was, that they were no longer necessary appendages to the church of Christ, though they might have been used for a season, in condescension to the weakness of the early believers, many of whom being of the Jewish nation, were much attached to those things which were connected with their legal ceremonies. The mind of this enlightened man, however, saw them to be like those carnal ordinances, which were imposed only for a season, and he not only laid aside the use of them, but endeavoured to draw the minds of his hearers to that inward and spiritual grace, of which the latter is declared, by its very advocates, to be only a sign ; and whilst incapable of communicating the substance of true religion, these ceremonies are often a means of inducing those who use them, to rest in the shadow. The disuse of them, therefore, appeared to him most consistent with the spirituality of the Gospel dispensation. I |