_Object._ 1. To what has been said concerning those that are to be excluded from this ordinance, it is objected, that it appears, that both good and bad have a right to it, from what our Saviour says in the parable of the wheat and the tares, in Mat. xiii. 29. both which are said to _grow together until the harvest_, when the reapers will be sent to _gather first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them, and the wheat into the barn_: So that hypocrites, and sincere Christians, are to continue together in the same church, and, consequently to partake of the same ordinances. _Answ._ To this it may be replied; this is not the sense of the parable; for our Saviour explains it otherwise, when he says in ver. 38. _The field is the world: the good seed are the children of the kingdom, but the tares are the children of the wicked one._ And from hence we may infer, that good and bad men are, through the forbearance of God, suffered to live together in the world; but it gives no countenance to this supposition, that the wicked ought to be joined with the godly as members of the same church: Not but that hypocrites may, and often do intrude themselves into the churches of Christ; yet since this is not known to them, they are not to blame for it, the heart of man being known to God alone; and the judgment that we are to pass concerning those who are admitted into church-fellowship, or to the Lord’s supper in particular, is to be founded on that credible profession which they make; in which, though it be possible for them to deceive others, yet the guilt and ill consequence thereof, will only affect themselves. _Object._ 2. It is further objected, that Judas was at the Lord’s supper when it was first instituted by our Saviour, though he knew him to be an hypocrite and a traitor, and that he would speedily execute what he had designed against his life; and if so, then all ought to be admitted to this ordinance. And the reason that is generally assigned why he was there at that time, is, because it is said, in Luke xxii. 14. _When the hour was come, he sat down, and his twelve apostles with him_; and afterwards we read, in ver. 19. that _he took bread and brake it_, &c. _and also the cup after supper_, &c. ver. 20. and then it is said, in ver. 21. _Behold the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table_. This is supposed, by some, to have been spoken by Christ when they were eating the Lord’s supper; from whence it may be concluded that Judas was there. _Answ._ But to this it may be replied; that it seems much more probable that he was not there when the Lord’s supper was administered though he joined with Christ and the other apostles in eating the passover; for we must consider,