CHAPTER IV.

INFLUENCE UPON HEALTH, OF SOME OF THE RITES, SACRAMENTS AND CEREMONIES OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

I do not include in this section, Rites, Sacraments or Ceremonies, prevailing in other religions than the Christian. I wish the work to be of practical utility, and therefore shall confine myself mostly to remarks applicable to customs prevalent in the country where it will circulate.

Numerous ceremonies have prevailed in the Christian Church, but most if not all of them have given rise to much disputation and controversy, both as to the proper manner of celebrating them, and also as to their institution by Christ and his apostles, and their authority for the observance of them. The Roman Catholic and Greek churches agree as to the doctrine of the Sacraments, which they say are seven-to wit ;-Baptism Confirmation, Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders and Marriage. The Protestants in general acknowledge but two sacraments-Baptism and the Lord's Supper. Luther and Melancthon at first ranked Penance or absolution as a sacrament, but afterwards considered it only as a preparation for the Lord's Supper. The Quakers and some other Christian sects, consider the sacraments as of little importance, and not binding

upon Christians. Of these sacraments, the Lord's Supand Baptism have very generally been celebrated in Christian churches, and these two, I propose first to

per

examine.

Of the Lord's Supper.

As this is celebrated in many places, I suppose there is no objection to it, on account of any injurious effect upon the health, i. e. when the ceremony is short and does not interfere with the usual meals of the day, and when the bread and wine, or whatever else is used, is of good quality and taken in small quantity. But as it is not always so celebrated, it is therefore important to examine the subject a little in detail.

In the first place, it appears to me that it will be proper to inquire what has been, and are, the various methods of celebrating this ceremony; secondly, to learn what command or directions for it, are furnished by the Divine author of our religion; and lastly to show in what respect it affects the health.

First, then,-what has been the history of this sacrament, as it is called? According to Ecclesiastical historians, the celebration of the Lord's Supper was at first accompanied by hospitable meetings, called agapæ or love-feasts; every Christian, according to his circumstances, bringing portions of wine and bread, and other things, as oblations to the Lord: in this, then, there was a resemblance to customs previously existing among the Jews. But in order to have a clear idea of the manner it was celebrated in the earliest times of Christianity, it is necessary to read attentively, the accounts given of it by the earliest fathers. The following full and authen

tic detail from the first Apology for the Christians of Justin Martyr, enables us to learn how it was celebrated in his time. He lived about 150 years after Christ.

"On the day which is called Sunday, all, whether dwelling in the towns or in the villages, hold meetings; and the memoirs of the apostles, and the writings of the prophets, are read, as much as the time will permit ; then, the reader closing, the president, in a speech, exhorts and excites to an imitation of those excellent examples; then we all rise, and pour forth united prayers; and when we close our prayer, as was before said, bread is brought forward, and wine, and water; and the President utters prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people respond, by saying amen; and a distribution and participation of the things blessed, takes place to each one present, and to those absent, it is sent by the Deacons. And those who are prosperous and willing, give what they choose, each according to his own pleasure; and what is collected, is deposited with the President; and he carefully relieves the orphans and widows, and those who from sickness or other causes are needy, and also those in prison, and the strangers that are residing with us, and in short, all that have need of help. We all commonly hold our assemblies on Sunday, because it is the first day, on which God converted the darkness and matter, and framed the world; and Jesus Christ, our Saviour, on the same day, arose from the dead."

From this it seems that the Lord's Supper was at first celebrated every Sunday, and it appears to me, was like an ordinary meal among friends, devoted to some common cause in which they all felt much engaged. It is certain that wine was not always used clear, as wine and

water are spoken of, and portions of wine and water were sent to the sick, from the table, and I believe also to infants in a subsequent age, for very early, this rite was deemed essential to salvation. Some further light is thrown on this subject by the same authority-Justin Martyr, in his account of the manner of receiving new converts into the churches, about the year 150. As the account is important in other respects, and as I may have occasion again to refer to it, I will quote the whole of it. It is contained in his (so called) second Apology.

"In what manner we dedicate ourselves to God, after being renewed by Christ, we will now explain; lest, by omitting this, we should seem to dissemble in our statement. Those who believe and are persuaded, that the things we teach and inculcate are true, and who possess ability thus to live, are directed to pray with fasting, and to ask of God the forgiveness of their former sins; we also fasting and praying with them. Then we conduct them to a place where there is water; and they are regenerated [baptized]; for they receive a washing with water, in the name of the Father of all, the Lord God, and of our Saviour, Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Spirit. For Christ said, Except ye be regenerated, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven." "This washing is likewise called illumination; because the minds of those who have learned these things, are enlightened. And whoever is enlightened, is washed in the name of Jesus Christ, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate; and in the name of the Holy Spirit, who by the prophets, foretold all that relates to Christ." "And after thus washing the convinced and consenting person, we conduct him to where the brethren, as we call them, are assembled; and there offer our united suppli