The Quakers therefore are of opinion, when they consider the meaning of the sayings of Jesus Christ both with respect to the bread and to the wine, that he endeavoured again to turn the attention of his disciples from the type to the antitype; from the bread and wine to his own body and blood; from the paschal lamb that had been slain and eaten, to the lamb that was going to be sacrificed; and as the blood of the latter was, according to St. Matthew, for the remission of sins, to turn their attention from the ancient object of the celebration of the passover, or salvation from Egyptian bondage, to a new object, or the salvation of themselves and others by this new sacrifice of himself.

It is reported of him again by St. Luke, after he had distributed the bread and said, “this is my body which is given for you,” that he added, “this do in remembrance of me.”

These words the Quakers believe to have no reference to any new institution; but they contain a recommendation to his disciples to meet in a friendly manner, and break their bread together, in remembrance of their last supper with him, or if as Jews, they could not all at once leave off the custom of the passover, in which they had been born and educated as a religious ceremony, to celebrate it, as he had then modified and spiritualized it, with a new meaning.

If they relate to the breaking of their bread together, then they do not relate to any passover or sacramental eating, but only to that of their common meals; for all the passovers of Jesus Christ with his disciples were in future to be spiritual.  And in this sense the primitive Christians seem to have understood the words in question.  For in their religious zeal they sold all their goods, and, by means of the produce of their joint stock, they kept a common table, and lived together.  But in process of time, as this custom from various causes declined, they met at each other’s houses, or at their appointed places, to break their bread together, in memorial of the passover-supper.  This custom, it is remarkable, was denominated the custom of breaking of bread.  Nor could it have had any other name so proper, if the narration of St. Luke be true.  For the words “do this in remembrance of me,” relate solely, as he has placed them, to the breaking of the bread.  They were used after the distribution of the bread, but were not repeated after the giving of the cup.

If they relate, on the other hand, to the celebration of the passover, as it had been modified and spiritualized with a new meaning, then the interpretation of them will stand thus:  “As some of you, my disciples, for ye are all Jews, may not be able to get over all your prejudices at once, but may celebrate the passover again, and as it is the last time that I shall celebrate it with you, as a ceremonial, I desire you to do it in remembrance, or as a memorial of me.  I wish the celebration of it always to bring to your recollection