Page images
PDF
EPUB

SERM.

CXXX.

[Heb. 7.

25.]

[John 6. 56.]

upon the pardon of all my sins, as there sealed and delivered to me, and receive it any otherwise than upon my knees? I dare not, I cannot do it. And they that can, have too much cause to suspect that they do not discern the Lord's body, and therefore cannot receive it worthily. Be sure our receiving the blessed body and blood of Christ, as the Catholic Church always did, in an humble and adoring posture, is both an argument and excitement of our faith in Him: by it we demonstrate to the world and our own consciences, that we discern the Lord's body, and believe Him to be really present with us: and by it we excite and stir up both ourselves and others to act, and exercise our faith more steadfastly upon Him, in that by our adoring of Him we actually acknowledge Him to be God as well as man; and therefore an all-sufficient Saviour, "Who is able to save to the utmost all that come unto God by Him;" and by consequence One Whom we have all reason in the world to believe and trust on.

And then, lastly, when we have thus spiritually eaten the flesh of Christ, and drunk His blood, then we are firmly to believe, and rest fully satisfied in our minds, that according to His Own words, Christ now dwelleth in us, and we in Him; that Christ is one with us, and we with Him: and, therefore, that God hath now sealed to us the pardon of all our sins, and will enable us for the future, by His Own Spirit, to walk in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our life; which faith we are still to exercise all the while that others are receiving; adoring that Infinite Goodness that is so free and ready to communicate Itself to such unworthy creatures as we are.

And when all have received, with the same humble confidence we address ourselves to our Heavenly Father, as now reconciled to us in His Own Son, in that Divine form of prayer which He Himself, Whose body and blood we have now received, was pleased to compose, and require us to use upon all occasions. After which having added another prayer proper for this great and solemn occasion, we join together in saying or singing that incomparable hymn, "Glory be to God on high," &c.; the first part whereof was sung by the quire of Heaven at our Lord's

nativity, and the rest added by the Primitive, if not by the Apostolical Church, it being the most ancient hymn that we know was ever used both by the Greek and Latin Churches all along; and if ever we be fit to praise God in so seraphic a manner, it must needs be at this time, now that Christ dwelleth in our hearts by faith, and so assists us in the doing of it. But for the performing it aright, it is necessary to keep our minds all the while intent and fixed upon the great God and our blessed Saviour, to whom we speak in a peculiar manner, and with the eye of faith to look upon Him as there present with us, and observing how earnestly we beseech Him, the "Lamb of God Which taketh away the sins of the world, to have mercy upon us;" and how heartily we adore and magnify His sanctity, His authority over all things, and His, together with His Holy Spirit's, infinite height in the glory of God the Father.

After all which duly performed, having prayed for God's acceptance of what we have done, and for His blessing upon us, we are accordingly dismissed, as well as may be, with the "peace of God which passeth all understanding" and with "the blessing of God Almighty the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost," which will certainly be and remain with those who thus receive the holy Sacrament always.

Thus we now see how we may and ought to receive the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper worthily. Blessed, and thrice happy are they that do it, and that do it often for the oftener we do it, the more expert we shall be at it, and the more benefit and comfort we shall receive from it. It is very difficult, if not impossible, for them who do it only now and then, ever to do it as they ought: and therefore it is no wonder they are never the better for it; it is rather a wonder if they be not much the worse. It is by frequent acts that habits are produced: it is by often eating and drinking of this spiritual food, that we learn to do it so as to digest and convert it into proper nourishment for our souls, that they may grow thereby; which the primitive Christians, and the Apostles themselves, were so sensible of, that they made this a necessary and essential part of all their public devotions; at least, they never reckoned that they kept the Lord's Day aright in remembrance of His resurrection,

CXXX.

SERM. unless they had been at His Table, to do this in remembrance of His death and passion. And could this Primitive, this Apostolical practice be once revived amongst us, our Church would soon put on a new face, and appear as excellent in its members as it is in its constitution; for by this means we should soon arrive at that degree of grace and virtue, as to be and live as becometh Christians indeed; that is, the most holy, most righteous, and most excellent persons upon earth, such as the primitive Christians were, and such as we must be, if ever we desire to go to Heaven.

What, therefore, if the laws of the land do not absolutely require all men to communicate oftener than thrice a-year? The only reason why they require it at all is, that all people may thereby manifest themselves to profess the Christian religion established in the nation: for no human laws can look any farther; and yet even for that, it is judged necessary, and therefore commanded, that all persons should communicate at least thrice a-year; and all Priests and Deacons in cathedral and collegiate churches, every Sunday at least; which if they neglect to do, they are looked upon as no Christians, and therefore are cast out of the Church. But if so much be necessary to the very outward profession of our most holy religion, what shall we think of the practice of it? Certainly nothing less is required to that, by the laws of Christ and His Church, than to communicate as often as we can possibly find an opportunity; and to make one where we find none, by requesting, and if need be, by requiring the minister of the parish where we live, to administer it to us: who neither in law nor conscience can refuse it, when requested by a sufficient number of communi

cants.

I shall say no more, but that I never expect to see our Church settled upon the lasting foundations of peace and piety, till the holy Communion is oftener celebrated and received than for some years past it hath been used to be; and am sure, that if people were but sensible of the advantage it would be to them, they would need no other arguments to persuade them to the frequent receiving of it. For we should soon find, as many have done already, by experience, that this is the great means appointed by our blessed Sa

viour, whereby to communicate Himself, and all the merits of His death and passion, to us; insomuch that by a due and frequent receiving of this holy Sacrament, our souls would be as much strengthened and refreshed by the body and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by bread and wine; and we should receive such constant supplies of grace and virtue from Him, whereby we should be enabled not only to avoid the sins and follies of this lower world, but always to live above it, and to have "our conversation in Heaven." In short, by our frequent conversing with our blessed Lord 20.] at His Table here below, we shall be always fit and ready to go to Him, and converse with Him in His Kingdom above, where we shall have no more need of Sacraments, but shall see Him face to face, and praise and adore Him for ever

more.

"The peace of God which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts in the knowledge and love of God, and of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord: and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongst you, and remain with you always. Amen."

SERMON CXXXI.

THE GOSPEL UNPROFITABLE ONLY THROUGH UNBELIEF.

SERM.
CXXXI.

HEB. iv. 2.

For unto us was the Gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with Faith in them that heard it.

He that duly considers the excellency of the Gospel, what clear discoveries it makes of God's will and man's duty, what an exact pattern and example of all true piety and virtue it sets before us in the Life of Christ, what promises and overtures of grace and assistance it makes to all that truly believe in it; and what strong assurances it gives us, that if we do what we can, God will be well pleased with what we do, and in Christ accept of our sincerity instead of perfection, and crown our weak endeavours with nothing less than eternal glory; so that they that are truly holy in time shall be perfectly happy for ever: I say, he that seriously considers these things, may justly conclude, that wheresoever the Gospel is preached, it must needs work a thorough reformation in them that hear it, so as to prevail upon them to devote themselves wholly to the service of the Living God, and to the sincere performance of all such virtuous and good works as He requireth of them; and, by consequence, that all they which enjoy the Gospel, should not only be good, but the very best of men, far exceeding all others in a sincere, universal, and constant obedience to all the laws and commands of God.

« PreviousContinue »