Necessity of Receiving Holy Communion with a Resolution of Doubts, Title page – Dedication
A TREATISE OF THE Neceſſity and Frequency of Receiving the Holy Communion. With a Reſolution of Doubts about it. In Three DISCOURSES begun upon Whit-Sunday in the Cathedral Church of Peterburgh. To preſs the obſervation of the Fourth Rubrick after the Communion Office.
By SYMON PATRICK, D. D. Dean of Peterburgh, and One of Hi… Majeſties Chaplains in Ordinary.
LONDON, Printed by J. M. for R. Royſton, Book-ſeller to His moſt Sacred Majeſty, at the Angel in Amen-Corner, MDCLXXXV.
IVth Rubrick after the Communion.
And in Cathedral and Collegiate Churches and Colleges, where there are many Prieſts and Deacons, they ſhall all receive the Communion with the Prieſt, every Sunday, at the leaſt, except they have a reaſonable cauſe to the contrary.
To the Moſt Reverend FATHER in GOD WILLIAM By Divine Providence Lord Archbiſhop OF CANTERBURY, HIS GRACE, Primate of all ENGLAND, and Metropolitan, one of His Majeſtie's moſt Honourable PRIVY-COUNCIL, &c.
May it pleaſe your Grace,
HAving endeavoured, with ſome ſucceſs, to reſtore the Weekly Communions,in that Church to which I relate, and hoping for greater, by publiſhing theſe Diſcourſes, which I made there upon that occaſion; I take the boldneſs to ſend them abroad, under your Grace's Protection: that if they can do any good, all that ſhall receive it may underſtand unto whom, under God, they principally owe it, and ſtand obliged to acknowledge it.
For it was by your Grace's Fatherly Care, that I was put in mind of this great Duty, and exhorted to put it in practice: which produced theſe Meditations,wherein I have preſſed it upon others. Who will be ſtirred up, I truſt, by this means, to bleſs God for ſetting over them ſuch a Faithful Paſtor, as, by taking care to have this Sacred Food provided continually for them, ſeeks their increaſe in true Religion, and their nouriſhment with all goodneſs.
They are very blind who do not ſee this to be a ſingular bleſſing; and very hard, whoſe hearts are not affected therewith: eſpecially at ſuch a time as this, when Religion calls for all the ſupports we are able to lend it; and teaches us, it deſires no better, no other than it ſelf, if we will but uphold it in our hearts.
Of which I beſeech the Lord of all power and might, the giver of all good things, to make every one of us ſo deeply ſenſible; that we may be no longer negligent in the principal office of it: but, in ſome meaſure, return unto that Firſt love towards our bleſſed Lord and Saviour; from which we, as well as other Chriſtian People, have long ſince ſhamefully faln.
And may the ſame Good God, who put this thing into your Grace's heart, be pleaſed to bleſs and proſperall your pious deſignments: and prolong your dayes, which are ſpent in the ſtudy of the publick good, to ſee the ancient Devotion, and Vertue too, not only bud again in this Church, but flouriſh alſo, and bring forth fruit in ſuch abundance; that it may be the joy of all its Friends, the terror of all its Enemies; and, as the Prophet ſpeaks of Jeruſalem, a Praiſe in the Earth.
Then will this that your Grace hath done, be ſpoken of with Praiſe; and Poſterity will call you Bleſſed. Nay, to have but deſignedand attempted this, whatſoever the iſſue be, is ſo praiſe-worthy; that it will make your Name no leſs honoured in future Generations, than that great Devotion, which we ſee combines in you with eminent Learning, that deep Humility, which cohabits with the higheſt Dignity, makes your Self to be reverenced in this.
With which Reverence, if the Confidence I take, in making this ſmall Preſent to your Grace, ſeem inconſiſtent, I comfort my ſelf with the long experience I have had; that the beſt men are not always the hardeſt to pleaſe, but ever the eaſieſt to forgive: As I doubt not your Grace will the preſumption of this Addreſs, from,
7th Sunday after Trinity, 1684. May it pleaſe your Grace, Your Grace's Moſt humble and Moſt obedient Servant, Symon Patrick.