—Communion—The difference between Christian and Church Fellowship, and between Communion and its Symbols; embracing a Review of the arguments of the Rev. Robert Hall, and Rev. Baptist W. Noel, in favour of Mixed Communion. By G. F. Curtis, A. M. [pp. 557-574]

Close Communion.
In these words, Paul lays down certain indisputable principles,
concerning the natural body.
1. That the multitude of its -members does not destroy its
nity, nor their relation to it as a whole.
'2. That their union with the body is the foundation of all
the value, beauty and excellence of the members in their respective places.
3. That the efficiency of the members consists in their
united co-operation, as parts of a common whole-that there
should be no schism in the body.
4. That firom their union with the body, there result, by a
divine constitution, a communion of interests, a sympathy of
feeling, and a reciprocation of benefits-that the members
should have the same care one for another, and whether one
member suffer all the members suffer with it, or one member
be honored, all the members rejoice with it.
"The use of this similitude Paul declares to be an illustration of the unity of the church, and of the intimate communion of believers. ANow ye are the body of Christ and members in particular.
"It is true that the apostle turns his argument directly
against the contentions in the Corinthian church, about the
superiority or inferiority of public offices and spiritual gifts;
and it is also true that the principles of his argument are
general, and equally applicable to every thing which tends to
cherish among Christians a party feeling, at the expense of
weakening the sense of their union; or of interrupting their
communion as members of the body of Christ; are never intended to be so applied. Moreover, the apostle himself extended his argument to matters, which without affecting the
substance of our faith, hope, or duty, do yet produce great
diversity of opinion and habit, and has shown that they ought
not to infringe on Christian union; nor consequently upon
the expression of it in Christian communion.
"Finally, the apostle opposes the spirit of ecclesiastical faction to the spirit of Christian love. This heavenly grace is
above prophecies, tongues, knowledge, the faith of miracles,
the most magnificent alms, the very zeal of martyrdom. Now
tais lo\-va. the only cure for the gangrene of party t, ife-the
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