why do not you seize every opportunity of increasing your strength? In a word, considering this as a command of God, he that does not communicate as often as he can, has no piety: considering it as a mercy, he that does not communicate as often as he can, has no wisdom.

6. These two considerations will yield a full answer to all the common objections which have been made against constant communion: indeed to all that ever were or can be made. In truth, nothing can be objected against it, but upon supposition, that this particular time, either the communion will be no mercy, or I am not commanded to receive it. Nay, should we grant it would be no mercy, that is not enough: for still the other reason would hold: whether it does you any good or none, you are to obey the command of God.

7. However, let us see the particular excuses which men commonly make for not obeying it. The most common is, " I am unworthy; and he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself. Therefore I dare not communicate, lest I should eat and drink my own damnation."

The case is this. God offers you one of the greatest mercies on this side heaven, and commands you to accept it. Why do not you accept this mercy, in obedience to his command? You say, "I am unworthy to receive it." And what then? You are unworthy to receive any mercy from God. But is that a reason for refusing all mercy? God offers you a pardon for all your sins. You are unworthy of it, it is sure, and he knows it: but since he is pleased to offer it nevertheless, will not you accept of it? He offers to deliver your soul from death. You are unworthy to live. But will you therefore refuse life? He offers to endue your soul with new strength: because you are unworthy of it, will you deny to take it? What can God himself do for us farther, if we refuse his mercy, because we are unworthy of it?

8. But suppose this were no mercy to us, (to suppose which is indeed giving God the lie; saying, That is not

good for man, which he purposely ordered for his good:) still I ask, Why do not you obey God's command? He says, "Do this." Why do you not? You answer, "I am unworthy to do it." What! Unworthy to obey God? Unworthy to do what God bids you do? Unworthy to obey God's command? What do you mean by this? That those who are unworthy to obey God, ought not to obey him? Who told you so? If he were even an angel from heaven, let him be accursed." If you think God himself has told you by St. Paul, let us hear his words. They are these, "He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself."

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Why this is quite another thing. Here is not a word said of being unworthy to eat and drink. Indeed he does speak of eating and drinking unworthily: but that is quite a different thing: so he has told us himself. In this very chapter we are told that by eating and drinking unworthily is meant, Taking the holy sacrament in such a rude and disorderly way, that one was hungry, and another drunken. But what is that to you? Is there any danger of your doing so? Of your eating and drinking thus unworthily? However unworthy you are to communicate, there is no fear of your communicating thus. Therefore whatever the punishment is of doing it thus unworthily, it does not concern you. You have no more reason from this text to disobey God, than if there was no such text in the Bible. If you speak of “eating and drinking unworthily" in the sense St. Paul uses the words, you may as well say, "I dare not communicate for fear the Church should fall," as for fear I should eat and drink unworthily.

damnation on yourself by Fear it not, for eating and

9. If then you fear bringing this, you fear where no fear is. drinking unworthily; for that in St. Paul's sense, ye cannot do. But I will tell you for what you shall fear damnation: for not eating and drinking at all: for not obeying your Maker and Redeemer: for disobeying his plain command: for thus setting at nought both his mercy and authority. Fear ye this: For hear what his Apostle saith, "Whoso

ever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, is guilty of all," James ii. 10.

10. We see then how weak the objection is, "I dare not receive, because I am unworthy." Nor is it any stronger, though the reason why you think yourself unworthy is, that you have lately fallen into sin. It is true, our Church forbids those "who have done any grievous crime," to receive it without repentance. But all that follows from this is, That we should repent before we come; not that we should neglect to come at all.

To say therefore, that "a man may turn his back upon the Altar, because he has lately fallen into sin that he may impose this penance upon himself," is talking without any warrant from Scripture. For where does the Bible teach, to atone for breaking one commandment of God, by breaking another? What advice is this, "commit a new act of disobedience, and God will more easily forgive the past!"

11. Others there are, who to excuse their disobedience, plead, that they are unworthy in another sense: that they "cannot live up to it: they cannot pretend to lead so holy a life, as constantly communicating would oblige them to do." Put this into plain words. I ask, why do not you accept the mercy which God commands you to accept? You answer, "Because I cannot live up to the profession I must make when I receive it." Then it is plain you ought never to receive it all. For it is no more lawful to promise once what you know you cannot perform, than to promise it a thousand times. You know too, that it is one and the same promise, whether you make it every year or every day. You promise to do just as much, whether you promise ever so often or ever so seldom.

If therefore you cannot live up to the profession they make who communicate once a week, neither can you come up to the profession they make, who communicate once a year. But cannot you indeed? Then it had been good

* The Lord's Supper.

for you that you had never been born. For all that you profess at the Lord's-table, you must both profess and keep, or you cannot be saved. For you profess nothing there but this, That you will diligently keep his commandments. And cannot you keep up to this profession? Then you cannot enter into life.

12. Think then what you say, before you say, "You cannot live up to what is required of constant communicants." This is no more than is required of any communicants, yea, of every one that has a soul to be saved. So that to say, "You cannot live up to this," is neither better nor worse than renouncing Christianity. It is, in effect, renouncing your baptism, wherein you solemnly promised to keep all his commandments. You now fly from that profession. You wilfully break one of his commandments, and then to excuse yourself, say you cannot keep his commandments! Then you cannot expect to receive the promises, which are made only to those that keep them.

13. What has been said on this pretence against constant communion, is applicable to those who say the same thing in other words, "We dare not do it because it requires so perfect an obedience afterwards, as we cannot promise to perform." Nay, it requires neither more nor less perfect obedience, than you promised in your baptism. You then undertook to keep the commandments of God by his help : and you promise no more when you communicate.

14. A second objection which is often made against constant communion, is the having so much business, as will not allow time for such a preparation as is necessary thereto. I answer, All the preparation that is absolutely necessary, is contained in those words, "Repent you truly of your sins past; have faith in Christ our Saviour." (And observe, that word is not taken in its highest sense,) "Amend your lives, and be in charity with all men: so shall ye ye be meet partakers of these holy mysteries." All who are thus prepared, may draw near without fear, and receive the sacrament to their comfort. Now what business can hinder you from being thus prepared? From repenting

of your past sins? From believing that Christ died to save sinners? From mending your lives, and being in charity with all men? No business can hinder you from this, unless it be such as hinders you from being in a state of salvation. If you resolve and design to follow Christ, you are fit to approach the Lord's-table. If you do not design this, you are only fit for the table and company of devils.

15. No business, therefore, can hinder any man from having that preparation which alone is necessary, unless it be such as unprepares him for heaven, as puts him out of a state of salvation. Indeed every prudent man will, when he has time, examine himself, before he receives the Lord's-Supper. Whether he repent him truly of his former sins, whether he believe the promises of God, whether he fully design to walk in his ways, and be in charity with all men? In this, and in private prayer, he will doubtless spend all the time he conveniently can. But what is this to you who have not time? What excuse is this, for not obeying God? He commands you to come, and prepare yourself by prayer, if you have time; if you have not, however come. Make not reverence to God's command, a pretence for breaking it. Do not rebel against him, for fear of offending him. Whatever you do, or leave undone besides, be sure to do what God bids you do. Examining yourself, and using private prayer, especially before the Lord's-Supper, is good. But, behold! To obey is better than self-examination, and to hearken, than the prayer of an angel.ca Somal

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16. A third objection against constant communion is, That it abates our reverence for the sacrament. Suppose it did? What then? Will you thence conclude, that you are not to receive it constantly? This does not follow. God commands you, "Do this." You may do it now, but will not: and to excuse yourself say, "If I do it so often, it will abate the reverence with which I do it now." Suppose it did has God ever told you, That when the obeying his command abates your reverence to it, then you may disobey it? If he has, you are guiltless: if not, what you say is VOL. X.

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