Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1869-05-07
prr FEET WASHING .

.,3kS sE t.''vs5,,s..s q tls, ~,
miEM J .esspefS LESSON for 1taundy
- nnH4ttsMay1ba Yr,dp1s) the days on
''Gioh thisissue of our paper is dated,
contains an account of an act of our
lord in connection withethe last Sup
per, whichsHaS give tiss sonls apeopts
trouble. Csrfaln7seGs take AS the
appointment of an ordinance parta-
king Of the nature of sacrament,
and racgntto bs psSpetpally observed
as a rits Of the Christian Church.
They, aeeosdinglys preach and 1prae-
tice fee8wAsGing as q Religions 5cere-
mony. Dthsrs not qaiteTrepafeds to
60 so far, are yet in doubt, and do
not feel at, ease, with reference. to it
A few remafks on the subject may
therefore be proper.
Feet Wasfing, as private and do.
mestie Observance, as a. mark Of res,
pect and welcome to guests coming
under ones roof is of long standing,
and the first of perpetual obligation,
both by the law of nature and reli-
giobs In ancient D visi-
tor came to abide in 9house, 1t was
the common law OF hospitality for
the host to provide water, and to have
his guests feet washed. It was the
way of giving comfort and welcome.
An omission Of this was considered
rude and uncivil. Hence, the Saw
our, in Luke z: IA, says, to the dis
credit Of one in whose house He was,
II entered into thino house, thou
gavest me no water for my feet" 1t
was therefore no new thing for the
master Of house to wash the feet of
his guests, as Jesus did in this instance.
Ordinarily this act of hospitality
fell to the servants to perform; and
in the case before us, the doing of
this service by the Saviour connects
directly with certain disputes among
the disciples as to who should be
greatest, and who should take the
servants place. When He came in
toSthis house, it was not exactly as
tie gnest 3of the proprietor, and the
common attentions to guests bad not
been extended to Him or His disci-
pies. The household were them
selves occupied with the Paschal feast
and the Saviour and His company had
only asked the privilege Of using an
upper4room in which to eat the Pas
soyer. No servant was there to wash
their feet, and the performances Of
this service would necessarily devolve
upon some one Of their own company,
If to be at all observed. But who
should do it wes the question.
"There was a strife among them,
which should be greatest" Luke 22:
"A. Neither was willing to acknowl-
adgo himself so much below the rest
rs to volunteer to take this slaves
Office. Peter. was too dignifed to
wash Johns feet, and John thought
it beneath him to. wash Peters feet.
suoh offices belonged to servants and
slaves, and they were to be apostles
and princes in the new economy.
The solemn services therefore began,
and progressed until near their end,
whilst this: customary washing was
left undone, because each Of the dis.
eiples was too stiff and punctilious in
his own behalf to do it for the rest,
And it was to shame and settle this
miserable higgling about dignity and
pre-eminence, aud to show that this
was not His spirit, nor that of His
religion, that the Lord and Master
himself silently set about this menial
ofioe. What neither would do for
tho other, the blessed Son Of God con,
descended to do for all
The manner in which He proceed
cd with this washing also bears, ID
each feature, the indication that this
Was what the Saviour intended.
There was . deliberation about it,
and, suolt 3 formal and complete going
pver from the place of the master to
che plaes ef. the servant, Do to strike
and impress &oaf deeply E:ia this al.
section. The guests reoline, he riseth
up. The guests are is full dress !. He
lays aside His outer garments, pro.
epres q towel, gisds Himself with itl
asa Yssryant would be girdsd, takes ! |
bsdn, pours water into ii, carries is|
20 one disciple, kneels, at his feet, be
gins to wsah thossa feet, and, .Wbent
vsshed, wipes them with his towel |
The narrative seems 70 linger on each
parttoular, &as II saok4 III SUCCESSION
wss meant to arrest special attentions. !
The mannerin which the apostle telisf
y shows him 70 be still thrilling up.1
DIR The effect , Of the transaction. |
How die i Fsbuks, and condemn. and
shAas Aks pstty S6nSsiits and ideas Of
self cpuseQHsnos which bad .possess;on |
81 1essA Aisdiplsss sacb sansexaJb
Aol suak, hang, SttshSh a.abmSpt,
and under sueh circumstances. we