ficient sacrifice, whereby God the Father is rendered favourable and propitious to us miserable sinners.

In this vale of tears, afflictions and calamities are often the lot of the best of men. Now where shall we find comfort under these difficulties, or strength to contend with them, but from that provision that is administered at God's table; from those sufferings which our Saviour endured for us, and no ways deserved Himself? For who can complain of affliction in any kind, that considers what necessary correctives they are of our follies, what noble improvements of our virtues, and what a testimony they are of our love and affection to the blessed Jesus, when borne with patience and submission; and that withal remembers, that his Lord and Master was made perfect through sufferings? Besides, from this divine nourishment we receive such comfortable impressions as make the troubles of this life lose their sting; and it supplies us with such inward delights as surpass all expression, and which are only felt by those that frequently make the experiment.

This is the most proper method to make our bodies temples of the Holy Ghost, and the most effectual means to fit and prepare our souls for the eternal enjoyment of God.

Fifthly, I shall shew the particular care the

Church of England has taken to prevent the profanation of these holy mysteries.

Such is the wise discipline of our holy mother, the Church of England, that both by her rubrics and canons she trains us up by gradual steps from our infancy, to a worthy participation of this Christian sacrifice: for in our baptism she requires sponsors, who shall stipulate for us, and give security for our Christian education in the doctrines of Christianity, and in the communion of the Catholic Church; they being engaged not only to instruct us in all the necessary points of faith, but are charged to take care, when we are fit, that we be brought to the bishop for confirmation. This is an additional security to that duty which nature and Christianity has laid upon parents, and a happy provision in case of their mortality. And not the sureties only, but the parish-priest or curate is particularly enjoined to " catechise,

Exhort, at the end of public bap

tism.

Can. lix. Ix. and Ixi.

to instruct, to examine the youth, and the common people, in the principles of the Christian religion, according to the Church Catechism;" which Catechism is an excellent abridgment of all those things which are necessary to be believed and practised, in order to the welfare of our souls. And farther, the Church requires that none be presented to the

Rubric after the Cate

chism.

bishop for confirmation till they can give an account of their faith, of which the minister who is to present them is to be the judge; and not even then to be confirmed unless the bishop approves of them, which supposes some trial and examination on his part. To all this she prudently adds this important rule, "That

Rubric after confirmation

none be admitted to the holy communion until such time as he be confirmed, or be ready and desirous to be confirmed:" the great reason whereof is, that she may be satisfied that those who promised by their sureties in baptism do renew and confirm the contract then made; and that they will evermore endeavour themselves faithfully to observe such things, as by their own confession they have assented unto. And still, to preserve the dignity of the holy sacrament, her ministers are obliged, according to the direction of the ancient canons, Can. xxvi. as well as our own, to admit " no notorious offenders, or declared schismatics," to the participation of it. That this method may be more effectual, and that no unqualified person may surreptitiously intrude, Can. xxviii. strangers from other parishes are not to be received to the holy communion;" and as many as intend to be partakers of it, shall "signify their names to the

xxvii.

66

Read the

rubric before the commu

nion.

curate at least some time the day before;" that notorious ill livers may be admonished of their faults; and that such as live in malice and hatred, and are at variance with one another, may be reconciled, and give proofs of their repentance, before they presume to come and offer their gifts. When warning is given for the celebration of the holy communion, the whole congregation is put in mind of their duty by a pathetical exhortation. And if any have such a sense of their sins that they cannot quiet their own consciences, they are advised to consult their spiritual guides, and to open their grief, that they may receive ghostly counsel and advice, with the benefit of absolution. And even in the beginning of the communion-service, the priest that officiates lays before the communicants the danger of unworthy receiving, and invites only such to approach as have the requisite qualifications. So that if pious education, if the solemn ratifying our baptismal vow, if conference with our spiritual guides, if a particular prohibition of notorious offenders, and the earnest exhortations of our pastors, can secure these holy mysteries from being abused, it must be owned our Church has taken sufficient care to prevent it. Let them only consider, who neglect the observance of such admirable rules, how they will be able to

answer it at the great day; and how far they are guilty of those profanations, which they might prevent by a due discharge of what the Church requires from them, and which they are under such strict obligations to observe : and how far they give occasion by their neglect to those schisms, which are made upon the pretence of the scandalous practices of that kind.

Upon this subject I cannot forbear recommending to the reverend clergy, with great submission, the advice of St. Chrysostom, which he gives in his 83d homily on the 26th chapter of St. Matthew's gospel; whose episcopal character, as well as the great opinion the Christian world had of his great parts and eminent piety, makes him very fit to be listened to in this particular; for he does not more earnestly press the duty, than he does plainly assert the authority of the sacerdotal power to effect it. “Let no Judas," saith he, "no lover of money, be present at this table. He that is not Christ's disciple, let him depart from it. Let no inhumane, no cruel person, no uncompassionate man, or who is impure, come hither. I speak this to you that administer, as well as to you who partake; for it is necessary I speak these things to you, that you may take great care, and use your utmost diligence to distribute.