Necessity of Receiving Holy Communion with a Resolution of Doubts, Conclusion
Concluſion.
THus, I hope, I have cleared the way to the Table of the Lord, ſo that there is no obſtacle left in it, to hinder your chearful approach unto it; if you have any will to partake of it. And the conſideration, of what I have repreſented in my Firſt Diſcourſe, hath, I truſt, formed ſuch a will in you: as the ſecond cannot but diſpoſe all thoſe who ſeriouſly weigh it, to have a will to do it frequently.
Unto which I ſhall preſs you by theſe two Arguments, and ſo conclude.
I. The firſt is the great concern we have made ſhow of about our Religion, and the fearswe have pretended, leſt we ſhould be ſo unhappy as to loſe it. If we be in good earneſt concerned for it, why then, I beſeech you, do we not take care to keep it, by being truly Religious? Is there any reaſon to think, that they are troubled with fears of loſing one half of the Communion, who can be content with none at all? Or with what Conſcience do they find fault with the Church of Rome for taking away the Cup from the People; when they themſelves live as if the whole Sacrament were unneceſſary?
It is a falſe zeal, which declaims againſt the Prieſts receiving alone; and doth not bring men to receive with him, when they may: but ſuffers him ſtill to remain at the Altar, with a very ſmall Company.
In theſe things we accuſe and reproach our ſelves; demonſtrating we are not led by Religion, but by humour, Worldly Intereſt or Faction. For no man can be thought to be truly ſolicitous for the preſervation of Religion; when he makes no uſe of it, nor receives any benefit by it. Cannot he live without the name, who lives without the thing?
It we be unſeignedly deſirous to maintain the eſtate of Religion here eſtabliſhed; let us ſeriouſly comply with its Inſtitutions; and ſerve God duly in all its Offices: being afraid of this above all other things, leſt God ſhould therefore remove our Candleſtick out of its place, becauſe we will not walk in the light thereof; therefore deprive us of the opportunities of the HolyCommunion, becauſe we have no liſt to Communicate.
Unto which duty let us ſtir up our ſelves, that it may ſtir us up to all other. For what other way do we know like this; nay, what other way but this, for our preſervation.
II. That's the ſecond thing; We of the Church of England profeſs to depend wholly upon Heaven, in the uſe of ſpiritual Weapons alone, for our protection in times of danger: diſclaiming the Lawfulneſs of taking up Arms to reſiſt the Supreme Power, upon the account of Religion. Are we not ſtrangely forgetful then, if we accuſtom not our ſelves to the uſe of theſe ſpiritual means, for our ſafety and ſecurity: eſpecially this, of which I may ſay, as David of the Sword of Goliah, there is none like it?
What account can we give of ſuch foul neglect of him, unto whom we ſay every day, there is none that fighteth for us, but only thou, O God? Is not this to expoſe our ſelves to be a prey unto our Enemies, if ever they have as much power, as will to devour us? For we openly declare, by not ſeeking aid continually from above, in that way wherein we are more likely to obtain it, that we depend upon nothing at all; but are the moſt defenceleſs of all Mankind.
So they would have thought, in ancient dayes; when they look'd upon thoſe, as left unarmed and naked, who were not fortified with the protection of the body and blood of Christ. Which are the words of St. Cyprian who argues thus (in his 57. Epiſtle) ſince the Euchariſt is made on purpoſe, that it may be a defence and ſafeguard, unto thoſe who receive it; let us arm thoſe whom we would have to be ſafe againſt the Adverſary (ſpeaking of the fight of affliction they were to encounter) with the munition of the Lords plenteous fullneſs. For how can we teach, or provoke them to ſhed their blood for the Confeſſion of his Name; if entring the Combate we deny them the blood of Chriſt? Or how ſhall we make them fit for the Cup of Martyrdom, if we admit them not firſt to drink in the Church, the Cup of the Lord?
Conſider, I beſeech you, how we in this Church profeſs to lean only upon the hope of his heavenly grace: which is ſo neceſſary for us, that we acknowledge in anotherCollect, that the Church cannot continue in ſafety without his ſuccour; and therefore pray him, to preſerve it by his help and goodneſs. Shall we not then ſeek this ſuccour moſt ſolicitouſly? ſhall we not implore this Heavenly Grace, with ardent cries; eſpecially in this powerful way of prevailing with him, by repreſenting to him, what Chriſt hath done and ſuffered for his Church, which he purchaſed with his own moſt pretious blood? We abandon all care of our ſelves, when we thus forſake the only help we have to reſt upon. Nay, it is to contradict our Prayers; when we ſay we have no other Hope, and yet do not flee to him, our refuge and ſtrength, a very preſent help in trouble. It is, at leaſt, a vain and ſenſleſs leaning on him, which makes us neglect him;and lay aſide, the principal ſupport which he hath left us, for our incouragement and comfort in all our diſtreſſes.
If we really depend on him alone; we had need apply our ſelves unto him, with warmth of affection, and great diligence. If we rely on his help and goodneſs, let us take care to pleaſe him in all things: that ſo we may obtain the favour, either to have the evils turned away from us which we have deſerved; or to be fortified againſt them with ſuch a pious conſtancy, that they may be ſtedfaſtly indured.
If we do not thus ſtudy to approve our ſelves his faithful Servants, we fooliſhly confide in him; againſt his own expreſs Declarations, that he will not patronize us in Irreligion, and contempt of his Authority.
But if we faithfully obey him; then we ſurely trusting in his Defence, need not fear the power of any Adverſaries: but reſt aſſured, that he will keep his Church and Houſhold continually in his true Religion; that they who do lean only upon the hope of his heavenly grace, may evermore be defended by his mighty power, through Jeſus Chriſt our Lord. Amen.
FINIS.
Books Written by the Reverend Dr Patrick, and ſold by Richard Royſton.
THE Chriſtian Sacrifice: A Treatiſe ſhewing the Neceſſity, End, and Manner of Receiving the Holy Communion: together with ſutable Prayers and Meditations for every Month in the Year; and for the Principal Feſtivals in Memory of our Bleſſed Saviour: The Sixth Edition.
The Devout Chriſtian inſtructed how to pray and give thanks to God: or a Book of Devotion for Families, and particular perſons, in moſt of the concerns of Humane Life. The Fifth Edition in Twelves.
An Advice to a Friend. The Fourth Edition, in Twelves.
Jeſus and the Reſurrection juſtified by Witneſſes in Heaven and in Earth. In two Parts, in Octavo.
The Book of Job Paraphraſed, in Octavo, New.
The Book of Pſalms, In two Parts, Paraphraſed, in Octavo.
The Proverbs of Solomon Paraphraſed, with the Arguments of each Chapter, which ſupply the place of Commenting.
A Paraphraſe upon the Books of Eccleſiaſtes, and the Song of Solomon. With Arguments to each Chapter, and Annotations thereupon, in Octavo, New.
The truth of Chriſtian Religion, in Octavo, New.
The Glorious Epiphany, with the devout Chriſtians love to it, in Octavo.
A Book for Beginners, or, a Help to young Communicants; that they may be fitted for the Holy Communion, and receive it with profit, The Sixth Edition.
The Works of Dr Hammond, in Four large Volumes, viz.
Vol. I. A Collection of Diſcourſes chiefly Practical.
Vol. II. A Collection of Diſcourſes in Defence of the Church of England, 1. Againſt the Romaniſts. 2. Againſt other Adverſaries.
Vol. III. A Paraphraſe and Annotations upon all the Books of the New Teſtament.
Vol. IV.
A Paraphraſe and Annotations upon the Books of the Pſalms.
A Paraphraſe and Annotations upon [the ten firſt Chapters of] the Proverbs, MS.
Thirty one Sermons Preach'd upon ſeveral Occaſions. With an Appendix to Vol. 2.
End of the text · Simon Patrick, Necessity of Receiving Holy Communion with a Resolution of Doubts (1685)