from fuppofing that he is commemorating an historical event, only, by a pofitive infignificant rite, unattended with any appropriate advantage.

But after the understanding is prepared by a competent knowledge of the nature and end of the Sacrament, preparation of the heart will be proper, not only at the first time, but at all times of communion. A devout frame or difpofition of mind must be formed proper for the folemn occafion, fuitable to an act of worship, extraordinary in its nature, and intended to produce effects ftill more extraordinary.

Prayer and reflection are evidently the proper modes of raifing the devotional fentiments to a due degree of height and ardour: "Happy is that foul," fays Bifhop Taylor, "which comes to these fprings of falvation, as the hart to the water-brooks, panting and thirfting, longing and paffionate, weary of fin and hating vanity, and reaching out the heart and hands to Chrift."

The

The different modes of producing and increafing the happy difpofitions which render the facramental feaft an object of defire and delight, muft vary according to the different attainments, ages, moral conduct, and other circumftances, of different perfons. Books of devotion, fuch as "Companions to the Altar," and "Week's Preparations," may not be neceffary for learned profeffors of divinity, or perfons of good education and religious habits; but they may be very ferviceable to the husbandman from his plough, the weaver from his loom, the mariner from his cabin, the wife from her cradle, for all the industrious tribe, who are making themselves useful to the community, while they are labouring for a morfel of food, and have little leifure, but on the Sabbath-day, for attending to the Bread of Life. The beft advice that can be given to fuch perfons is, that they apply to their Minister to point out the proper book for the occafion, and to give them

the

the beft inftruction himfelf in private, as it is to be concluded he does in the pulpit. The fuperior orders will generally be well able to find out proper books for themselves, if they are seriously defirous of information.

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SECTION XXIV.

The Obligation to Frequency of Communion confidered.

WITH respect to frequency or infrequency of communion, the dictates of every man's heart, fuppofing him welldifpofed and competently informed, afford the best direction. "The law of the Church must be his leaft measure; the cuftom of the parish where he refides his usual measure; the spirit of devotion his certain meafure; but he who neglects it habitually does, by implication fay, that the Holy Sacrament is contemptible."

The obligation to frequency of Communion will appear from a due confideration of the design and end of the institution. It is intended to procure an UNION

• Bishop Taylor.

H

with the God of our Salvation; and that union procures as a neceffary, confequent, or concomitant effect, fanctification and pardon. We are baptifed but once, but we are to communicate, without limitation to the number of times, while life continues.

By Baptism we are united to the myftical body of Chrift, which is, his Church and fince Church-membership is not only an outward, but a public rather than a private thing, one fingle adminiftration of fuch rite is fufficient to make that union lafting *."

"But by the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we are united, as members, to the Spiritual body of Chrift, that is, his GRACE. This is an inward union, and lafts no longer than the right difpofition of the heart and affections fhall continue; and this, by reafon of our corrupt nature, and perpetual commerce with tith an evil world, being always impairing, it has always occafion to be ftrengthened

*Bishop Warburton.

and