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ties is declared in the Communion Service. Ill-grounded TERROR on one side, and presumptuous CONTEMPT on the other, are causes of that neglect of the Sacrament which is every where visible.

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meant that your life should not disgrace your creed ; nor your practice be inconsistent with your profession. And we cannot but believe that Peccata surreptitia, SINS OF INFIRMITY (not indeed from their exemption from wickedness, but from God's abundant mercy), are com patible with this kind of worthiness, the worthinessof congruity. In this acceptation of the word "WORTHILY," we may receive the Sacrament worthily; that is, so fitted and prepared, as that our state shall bear some resemblance or congruity to the solemn service of sacramental Communion.

The third kind of Worthiness is, DIGNITAS DIGNATIONIS; the worthiness of acceptance; that low degree of worthiness which God for Christ's sake, VOUCHSAFES (dignatur) to accept in mercy and in pity to our infirmities. That man is worthy who is accepted as worthy, by the CONDESCENSION of the Supreme Being, not weighing our merits, but dispensing with rigid justice, and supplying our defects by his forgiveness or indulgence. If men should deem that worthy which is not so, or shall prize a pebble as a pearl, the thing so falsely estimated acquires no new value by their mistaken appre ciation, but if GOD VOUCHSAFE to esteem men worthy, then, as every thing is really such as it is accounted to

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Every minister of a parish may assure himself, that an ADDITION TO THE NUMBER OF COMMUNICANTS, is one of the most certain proofs of an increase of piety his parishioners, and of his success in the discharge of his ministerial office. When the religious principle is strong it will lead men to delight in the feast of piety and charity: but when such a banquet is offered in vain, it is an infallible indication of a lost or vitiated appetite.

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be by the great Disposer of all things, his VALUATIÓN gives a worth not inherent in them, but superadded and adscititious." I have blessed him, (saith Isaac of Jacob) yea and he shall be blessed*. So God has accounted certain persons worthy; YEA AND THEY SHALL BE WORTHY: They shall walk with me in white, as we read in the Book of Revelations, for they are wORTHY †.

Let us then bring with us, when we come to the Sacrament, the wORTHINESS of fitness and congruity and God of his goodness will reward us, by voluntarily bestowing upon us the DIGNITAS DIGNATIONIS, the WORTHINESS of ACCEPTANCE;"-that is, he will vouchsafe to make us WORTHY, by overlooking or pardoning our unworthiness."

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The papists were deemed highly culpable for denying the cup to the laity. May not those ministers incur. similar blame, who, in this Protestant country, deny both the cup and the bread to their parishioners; which in effect they do, when, upon this subject, they neglect to inform ignorance, or to stimulate indifference? When they suffer whole Parishes, and very po-" pulous Parishes, to neglect the Lord's Supper, except, perhaps, in a FEW INSTANCES, at Easter, Whitsuntide, and Christmas? There is reason to believe that throughout a very great part of this extensive empire, professing Christianity, not one in a hundred ever communicates: and yet the Church teaches that the Sacrament is generally necessary to SALVATION. Whoever wishes to revive the religious principle, should bestow particular pains in recommending to the people of his Parish frequent Communion.

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SECTION XXIX.

Of communicating internally, or spiritually, in private, in certain Cases of NE

CESSITY.

CIRCUMSTANCES may arise in which persons of great piety and devotion must wish to communicate with Christ, and their fellow-Christians; and yet be unavoidably prevented from doing it in the established manner, by the want of a church, a minister, the elements, or a convenient opportunity. Persons on their travels into foreign countries where a different persuasion prevails; in ships making long voyages; in prisons among enemies; in exile; in sudden sickness; in unforeseen accidents; in distress of mind requiring immediate relief, and at the approach of death, may desire the assistance of a pastor, and the sacramental ordinance of the Church, without the possibility of obtaining either in due time. Is there no way opened for these to procure satisfaction

satisfaction to their minds, if they are convinced that the participation of the Sacrament is necessary to their present peace and future welfare?

I venture to assure them, that in cases like these, and all others of absolute necessity, they may communicate SPIRITUALLY in solitude, with humble but reasonable confidence, that they shall derive the benefits of grace and pardon.

But because in cases of great importance my mind feels relieved by relying on the support and authority of others, I will quote the words of BISHOP TAYLOR on the subject:

"Such persons as these, if they duly prepare themselves, and earnestly desire that they could actually communicate, may place themselves upon their knees, and, building an altar in their heart, celebrate the death of Christ; and in holy desire, JOIN with all the congregations of the Christian world, who that day celebrate the Holy Communion; and they may serve (or promote) their devotion by the form of prayers and all actions eucharistical, changing only such circumstan

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