In this manner we may see clearly enough how this ancient
ordinance got its footing among the early Christians, and this single
expectation of a speedy reappearance of a temporal Messiah, which
kept its influence even over so spiritual a man as St. Paul, would
naturally tend to preserve the use of the rite when once established.
We arrive then at this conclusion, _first_, that it does not
appear, from a careful examination of the account of the Last Supper
in the Evangelists, that it was designed by Jesus to be perpetual;
_secondly_, that it does not appear that the opinion of St. Paul, all
things considered, ought to alter our opinion derived from the
evangelists.
One general remark before quitting this branch of the subject.
We ought to be cautious in taking even the best ascertained opinions
and practices of the primitive church, for our own. If it could be
satisfactorily shown that they esteemed it authorized and to be
transmitted forever, that does not settle the question for us. We
know how inveterately they were attached to their Jewish prejudices,
and how often even the influence of Christ failed to enlarge their
views.
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