who has never read or thought of the Sacrament, till the moment when it is administered, be supposed to possess this knowledge, and to have this sense? Is he not likely, if he come unprepared, to err either on the side of carelessness or of superstition? His life and conversation may be good, and so far all is well; but he will require knowledge or information on the meaning and end of the Communion. The most adventurous among those who degrade the Sacrament, will not assert that instruction is improper previous to the first reception of the Sacrament. It is now more than ever proper, that the Communicant may be prevented from supposing that he is commemorating an historical event only, by a positive insignificant 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 disposition of mind must be formed proper for the solemn occasion, suitable to an act of worship, extraordinary in its nature, and intended to produce effects still more extraordinary.

Prayer and reflection are evidently the proper modes of raising the devotional sentiments to a due degree of height and ardour; "Happy is that soul," says Bishop Taylor," which comes to these

springs of salvation, as the hart to the water-brooks, panting and thirsting, longing and passionate, weary of sin and hating vanity, and reaching out the heart and hands to Christ."

The different modes of producing and increasing the happy dispositions which render the sacramental feast an object of desire and delight, must vary according to the different attainments, ages, moral conduct, and other circumstances, of different persons. Books of devotion, such as "Companions to the Altar," and "Week's Preparations," may not be necessary for learned professors of divinity, or persons of good education and religious habits; but they may be very serviceable 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 morsel of food, and have little leisure, but on the Sabbath-day, for attending to the Bread of Life. The best advice that can be given to such persons is, that they apply to their Minister to point out the proper book for the occasion, and to give them instruction himself in private, as it is to be concluded he does in the pulpit. The superior orders will generally be well able to find out proper books for themselves, if they are seriously desirous of information.

SECTION XXI.

The Obligatian to Frequency of Communion considered.

WITH respect to frequency or infrequency of communion, the dictates of every man's heart, sup posing him well-disposed and competently informed, afford the best direction. "The law of the Church must be his least measure; the custom of the parish where he resides his usual measure; the spirit of devotion his certain measure; but he who neglects it habitually, does, by implication, say that the Holy Sacrament is contemptible*."

The obligation to frequency of Communion will appear from a due consideration of the design and end of the institution. It is intended to procure an union with the God of our salvation; and that union procures as a necessary, consequent, or concomitant effect, sanctification and pardon. We are baptized but once, but we are to communicate, without limitation to the number of times, while life continues.

By Baptism we are united to the mystical body of Christ, which is, his Church; and since Churchmembership is not only an outward, but a public rather than a private thing, one single administra

*Bishop Taylor.

tion of such rite is sufficient to make that union lasting."

"But by the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper we are united, as members, to the spiritual body of Christ, that is, his grace. This is an inward union, and lasts no longer than the right disposition of the heart and affections shall continue; and this, by reason of our corrupt nature, and perpetual commerce with an evil world, being always impairing, it has always occasion to be strengthened and renewed. This is the office of the Holy Spirit; whose gracious influence more peculiarly sanctifies that holy season, the season of communion. Hence the use and necessity of frequent communion, intimated in the words of the institution, " Do this in remembrance of me," which imply the continuing to receive his benefaction, which is conveyed to us, from time to time, and " as often as we shew forth the Lord's death till he come." So true is the account given of this sacred rite in the articles of our Church: "That the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is not only a badge or token of a Christian man's profession, but rather a certain and sure witness and effectual sign of grace, and God's goodwill towards us; by which he doth work invisibly in us; and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and confirm our faith in himt."

*Bishop Warburton.

+ Article XXV.

This Sacrament, being then a Sacrament of spiritual nutrition, is to be repeated so long as we continue in this sublunary state and subject to spiritual infirmity, disease, and famine. Spiritual death must be the consequence, in such a state, if we refuse sustenance.

If, indeed, any man be confident, that the grace which he received at his last celebration of the Eucharist is not impaired, and that he has not committed sin, since the forgiveness he then obtained, he may, perhaps, have reason to think the repetition of the Sacrament is to him not absolutely necessary. But who can possess such confidence without presumption? If we say that we have no sin, and feel no decay of grace, while we continue in a corrupt world, and carry in our bosoms a natural propensity to error and to vice, we probably deceive ourselves, or wish to deceive others by hypocrisy. "A man, one would think, cannot too often commemorate our Lord and his passion, nor too often return him devout thanks and praises; nor too often repeat his resolutions of amendment ; nor too often renew his solemn engagements; nor too often receive pardon of sins, and fresh succours of divine grace."

But prudence and discretion have a proper place here, as well as in every thing in which human be

* Waterland.