(1.) That the passover and the Lord’s supper were celebrated, one immediately after the other, at the same table, or sitting; therefore the hand of Judas might be with Christ on the table, in the former, though not in the latter: So that, though these words, _the hand of him that betrayeth me, is with me on the table_, are inserted after the account of both these ordinances being concluded; yet we have ground to suppose, they were spoken while they were eating the passover, when Judas was present. (2.) It appears yet more probable that he was not present at the Lord’s supper, from the account which John gives of this matter, in chap. xiii. 21. wherein our Saviour tells them, that _one of them should betray him_: and, in ver. 26. he discovers that he meant Judas, by giving him the sop; and in ver. 30. it is said, that _having received the sop, he went immediately out_. Now it is certain there was no sop in the Lord’s supper, as there was in the passover, inasmuch as there was no flesh therein: Therefore Judas went out when they were eating the passover, before they began to partake of the Lord’s supper; being, as we may reasonably suppose, in a rage that his hypocrisy should be detected, and he marked out as a traitor, who was, before this, reckoned as good a man as any of them: Therefore we have not sufficient ground from hence to conclude, that wicked men ought to be admitted to partake of the Lord’s supper. _Object._ 3. For Christians to exclude any from the Lord’s supper, would argue a great deal of pride, or vain-glorious boasting, and it is, as it were, to say to them who are excluded, “Stand off, for we are holier than you.” _Answ._ 1. A believer may with thankfulness, acknowledge the distinguishing grace of God vouchsafed to him, and not to others; and, at the same time, bless him, that he has given him a right to the privilege of his house, which all are not admitted to partake of, without doing this in a boasting way; he may say with the apostle in 1 Cor. xv. 10. _By the grace of God I am what I am_; and yet at the same time, deal faithfully with those who are destitute of this grace; he may bless God for the right which he hopes he has to this ordinance, and yet it is not his duty to admit them to it who have no right. 2. It is one thing not to admit persons who are unqualified to this ordinance, and another thing to despise them upon this account. Our business is not to reproach them, but to treat them with meekness; if peradventure God may give them repentance to the acknowledgment of the truth, that hereby they may appear to have a right to it. _Object._ 4. If wicked men are to be excluded from one ordinance which Christ has instituted in his church, they may, for the same reason be excluded from all; and so they may as well be debarred the privilege of hearing the word, and joining with the church in public prayer.