In 1833, Mercer brought a Baptist newspaper, The Christian Index, to Washington to "stir his Washington flock and all Georgia Baptisits to action for missions and education" and it was printed here for many years. Mercer also compiled and printed The Cluster, the first Baptist hymnal in Georgia.
During the year Jesse Mercer wrote "Resemblances and Differences between Church authority, and that of an Association" and "Essay on the Lord's Supper."
Being an Attempt to Run the Analogy
Between It and the Passover
By Jesse MercerWashington, Ga.
Printed at the News Office
1833
A Paraphrase on the Lord's Supper
1 Cor. 5:7, 8. Purge out therefore. The old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrifice for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.
It is agreed by all the Expositors, I have been able to examine, that the Apostle, by the feast in the text, meant the Lord's Supper. Then it must be clear to the slightest observer, that his design, in bringing it up in analogy with the paschal sacrifice, was to inforce [sic] and preserve purity by a reference to the order & restrictions of that divine ordinance.
The church at Corinth had corrupted herself by the toleration by the toleration of the grocest [sic] immoralities, and profaned the supper of the Lord by the admission of the most scandalous and unworthy persons. In order, not only to reprove & correct these errors at Corinth, but also to enforce on all the churches the chaste observance of this gospel feast, the Apostles in the text brought to bear on it, all the rites and restrictive requisitions of the feast of the Passover. Let us therefore, trace the analogy, and see what instructions it will afford us, on this very interesting and important rite.
1. The Passover is a divine Institute. Exodus 12:8, 10. And in verse 11, is enjoined under the imposing style of "The Lord's passover." In verve 24, it is commanded thus, "And ye shall observe this thing for an ordinance to thee and thy sons forever." And moreover, they were required to instruct their children to look at it as "the sacrifice of the Lord's passover."
So the Lord's supper is of divine appointment. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ instituted it under very solemn and deeply interesting circumstances; and enjoined its observance on his disciples in a very tender and engaging manner. See Math. 26:26-28. Mark 14:22, 23. Luke 22:19, 20.
The Apostle in 1 Cor. 11:23-26, rehearses the whole matter and declares that "he received it of the Lord." Hence he calls it "the cup of the Lord -- the table of the Lord and the Lord's Supper." It therefore commands our most solemn regard and prompt attention.
2. The passover was instituted on that merciful scheme, which God devised for the salvation of his people in Egypt; wherein a lamb, of particular description, was slain, its blood used as a sign of mercy, and its flesh for a feast of joy. The command runs thus -- "And the whole assembly of the congregation of Israel shall kill it in the evening. And they shall take the blood and strike it on the two side-posts, and on the upper door post of the houses wherein they shall eat it -- and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt." Thus under the peaceful sign of the blood-stained door-posts they feasted in safety, on the flesh of the roasted lamb, while the ten-fold vengeance of God had fulfilled his wrath, in breaking the strength and humbling the pride and glory of Egypt.
So the Lord's Supper is founded on "Christ our Passover sacrificed for us; as the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world!" Though God has determined in awful justice, that "he will render to every soul of man that doeth evil (and all have sinned) indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish," in the day of Judgment; yet he has revealed a scheme of glorious grace, wherein, he has set forth his only begotten son, to be a propitiation, through faith in his blood, all that believe shall be redeemed and receive forgiveness of sins; and be saved from wrath through him. Thus, all the redeemed are safe and happy under the blood-stained banner, which waves in victorious triumph over them, while their enemies, and the enemies of their God, are perishing in fiery wrath and endless perdition!
3. The Passover was a commemorative Institution. It was enjoined on the children of Israel, by a perpetual ordinance, as a remembrancer of the kindness of God towards them in delivering them from Egyptian bondage, and to show his wonders to their children; that after generations might love and praise his name. Thus it is commanded Exo. 12:14. "And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep is a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance forever. Verse 25. And it shall come to pass, when ye be come into the land, which the Lord will give you, according as he hath promised, that ye shall keep his service. 26. And when your children shall say unto you, what mean by this service? 27. That ye shall say, it is the sacrifice of the Lord's passover, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when he smote the Egyptians and delivered their houses." And in 13:3, it is repeated -- "And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the Lord brought you out -- 5. And it shall be when the Lord shall bring thee into the land, which he sware unto thy fathers to give it thee, that thou shalt keep this service in this month. 8. And thou shalt shew they son in that day, saying this is done because of that which the Lord did unto me when I came forth out of Egypt. 9. And it shall be for a memorial in thy mouth, for with a strong hand hath the Lord brought thee out of Egypt. 10. Thou shalt therefore keep this ordinance in his season from year to year." Thus is was observed a perpetual memorial -- see Deut. 16:1-3. 2 Chron. 35:6, 12.
The Georgia Baptist Association of churches met at Rehoboth Baptist Church in Wilkes County on October 11, 12, 14 following the end of the church year. This church elected as messengers to that meeting the members shown as labels below.
The church letter reported members gained by baptism: 0, gained by letter: 9, lost by dismissal: 2, lost by exclusion: 0 , lost by death: 0, and total remaining: 56.
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