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In our Context here the Apostle Animadverts upon certain Abuses which the Corinthians pre••• the Sacred Supper of the Lord Jesus Christ withal. That Sacred Supper was too much discomposed among them, by means of another Supper, which they unwarrantably annexed or prefixed thereunto. There were indeed certain charitable Feasts, which in some of the primitive Ages and Places were used among Believers, together with the Eucharist. But I do not think these to be those Agapae, which the Apostolical Writings make mention of; those Agapae I rather take to be the entertainments provided for Strangers, at the cost of the Churches, in or near their usual meeting places, which are by some judged a laudable imitation of the Hospitals adjoined unto the Synagogues of the Jews: and thus we find Gaius deputed and employed by a Church for their Host of old. Much less do I look upon the Banquetings of the Corinthi••• before the Eucharist, which are blamed here ⟨p. 5⟩to be those Agapae. You must indulge me in an Opinion, however singular it may seem, that there was a Jewish party in the Church of Corinth which would not come to the Supper of the Lord without a Paschal Ante-Supper, wherein they ate and drank •••ly enough: thus they retained a Shadow of their Passover, and maintained a Relic of their Judaism. The Gentile party of the Church disallowed these proceedings, and would come Hungry, when the others came well nigh Drunken to the Eucharist; upon which ensued a confusion in their Church Assemblies, too disorderly for any time, but much more so, for a time when they were to attend such a Tremendous Mystery.

In our Context here the Apostle Animadverts upon certain Abuses which the Corinthians pre••• the Sacred Supper of the Lord Jesus Christ withal. That Sacred Supper was too much discomposed among them, by means of another Supper, which they unwarrantably annexed or prefixed thereunto. There were indeed certain charitable Feasts, which in some of the primitive Ages and Places were used among Believers, together with the Eucharist. But I do not think these to be those Agapae, which the Apostolical Writings make mention of; those Agapae I rather take to be the entertainments provided for Strangers, at the cost of the Churches, in or near their usual meeting places, which are by some judged a laudable imitation of the Hospitals adjoyned unto the Synagogues of the Jews: and thus we find Gaius deputed and employed by a Church for their Host of old. Much less do I look upon the Banquetings of the Corinthi before the Eucharist, which are blamed here