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 ON THE DUTY OF RECEIVING THiE 
 
 HOLY COMMUNION, 
 
 Preached at the Cathedr.'.l, Quebec, y 
 . ' December 11th, 1859, 
 
 BY the 
 
 REE. GEO. VERNON HOUSMM, Mi., 
 
 Assistant Ministei' of the Cathedral, and 
 
 Chaplain to 
 
 the Lord Bishop of 
 Quebec. 
 
 Published at the request of the. Church 
 
 Wardens. 
 
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 Quebec: 
 
 POINTED AT THB '< MORNING OHRONIOLE " OFFICE 
 
 MouMTAiN Hill, Lowbb ToWw. 
 
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 JOHN F/., 63, 
 
 " Jems said unto them. Verily , vttUy, I say unit 
 you, except ye eat the flesh of the Son 
 man and drink His blood, ye have no Irn 
 
 tn you. 
 
 >» 
 
 There were many words spoken by ouir blessed 
 Lord which were so novel in their charact^ and 
 so deeply spiritual in their meaning, thai they 
 were immediately rejected by the majdtity of 
 those who heard them.^ The Jews Wjpre still 
 living under the rule of the ceremonial law, and 
 saw npt how all the observances of the/Old Tes- 
 tament dispensation pointed to and k^ their 
 fulfilment, in the person of Christ. Thefmi} was 
 upon their hearty even as it is now. Not tfet this 
 adherence to the religion of their forefathers and 
 theiir consequent rejection of the arguments and 
 entreaties made by Christ was a justification of 
 their conduct. Their want of c^indour in exa- 
 mining the . claims of the Mesf^iah and their 
 continued perversion of all that had been written 
 in the Scriptures, left them without excuse,-and 
 they shall stand hereafter in the presence of their 
 Judge, condenmed by that very evidence which 
 they once spumed and rejected. " The word 
 which Jesus spoke tinto th&m, the same shall 
 judge them at the last day.'j Christ would have 
 gathered them even as a hen doth her chickens 
 under her wings but they Avould not. 
 
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 Now, if the Jew will stand hereafter incxcnn- 
 able, what shall we say of that vast multituch- 
 who, living under the greater privileges oi 
 the Gospel dispensation, still disregard itM 
 claims? We have not, thanks be to God, to 
 deal, at the present day, with many individuals 
 who dare to reject the terms of the Bible,, or to 
 deny their obligations to the' Great Head of the 
 Church, but we have that which it is as diffipuli 
 to combat, viz., the indifference and lukewpm- 
 ness of those who prpfess and call themselves 
 christians, wlio readily acknowledge their beliei 
 in the principles, of Christianity, and who show 
 much outward compliance with it§, form^, and 
 yet manifest no desire to advance beyond that 
 point which the world has, as it were, prescribed 
 and sanctioned, as reasonable and expedient. 
 Human opinionis, alas ! the standard to which to<» 
 many conform their practice, without considering , 
 the requirements of God's holy word: and they 
 shelter themselves in a fancied but false security, 
 because so many are found to be, satisfied with 
 the same imperfect obedience. " - 
 
 No christian duty is more systematically set 
 at naught by a large portion of professing mem- 
 bers of Christ's flock, than that of receiving the 
 jHoly Communion, and yet no duty is more 
 positively and strictly enjoined. Let me then 
 my brethren, bring this important subject under 
 your consideration, with the eanjest hope, that 
 those of you who have hitherto neglected this 
 sacred ortiinance, may be led 4o consider your 
 obligation to God, atid may cheerfully acquiesce 
 in those repeated invitations which bid you cdm- 
 mettforate the dying love of your Redeemer. 
 
 That it is a solemn duty for eveVy member of 
 Christ's Church to partake of the Holy Com- 
 munion no one can reasonably deny. The\ 
 
:'^f 
 
 (tommand stands forth in propilnent terms in tlie 
 Sacred volume, and if "obedience « to the divine" 
 requirements be a generally acknowledged prin- 
 <uple, how can we presume to say that com-f 
 pljance in° this particular can be left to the option 
 of man? In the duties which. God has enjoined 
 there can be noplace for man's opinion. Chris- 
 tianity is not a system founded upon human 
 leasoriing, but it embraces principles which have 
 <;manated from God alone, and which therefortv 
 are stamped with tlje impress of truth and holi* 
 ness..,i Moreover we must acknowledge that 
 every command which has been given, has for 
 its end the benefit of fallen man — so tliat when 
 we find any duty recommended we must be; 
 convinced that it is dictated by a mind, supremti 
 in wisdom, and boundless in love, and that if 
 we would consult our own interest we must 
 comply with it chberfully and without constraint. 
 Man is a creature formed for the highest enjoy- 
 ment and the most perfect holiness, and although 
 the image of God was partially obHterated by the 
 i'iiW of our first parents,^ yet the means . for our 
 restoration are^|pple and clear. There arc; . 
 however, certsi^onditions upon which we are 
 U) receive the benefits of Redemption, and one is' 
 obedience to the divine laws. When rules then 
 ;ire laid down in the word of inspiration, men 
 ure not at liberty to disregard them, and should 
 any presume to set at naught the counsels of the 
 Most High, such conduct is most reprehensible, 
 jmd will inevitably bring down the heavy wrath 
 of Him who ha|h said, " Vengence, is mine, I 
 will recompense saith'the Lord." But although 
 man is called upon to yield obedience to all that 
 God has commanded, and the duty ofparticipat- 
 ing in the Holy Communion forms no exception, 
 yet numbers, as I have observed, " separate them- 
 
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 selves from their brethren who come to teed on tfte 
 banquet of that most heavenly food," attd by thin 
 manifest dereliction of duty, do great ii^ury unto 
 God and provoke Him tcj just displeasure. 
 
 Now, if there be this backwardness in 'ap- 
 proaching God, in this His appoipt^ way, \v6 
 taay reasonably enquire, what Vxcu^s arcj 
 oAered, what pleas are brought forward, as at all 
 justifying or palliating such unfclisonable con- 
 duct. For assuredly each 'nWnter must bt: 
 actuated by «ome reason, and tlmt too of suffi. 
 cjent weight,^ to silence the voic«t of.co^ience, 
 and to justify the cotirse pursued. 
 ; There, are, it is true, a vast number of profess- 
 ing christians who ought not in fheir presenr statu 
 to approach'the Lord's table. Of some, the ge- 
 neral conduct is so totally at variance with the 
 tenor of God's word, that their presence, would 
 bring upon themselves increased condemnation, 
 aind at the sam^ time be ♦ highly detrimental to 
 the interests of Christ's Church. The courts of 
 God's house are trodden by men of every variety 
 of character, and sometimes the open and noto- 
 rious violator of the .moral law, will, to quiet hh 
 conscience arid to maintain his position in society, 
 be a frequent, if nqt. regular, attendant upon the 
 services of the Sanctuary.— In such a case, 
 attendance at the Lord's Table would be a profa- 
 nation of that sacred rite^ and the unhappy 
 individual would bring down' upon himself "a 
 curse and not a blesilng." 
 . B4t it is not to notorious offenders against the 
 laws of GUxland of mui, that I wish to address 
 myseM". I would rather speak to that class of 
 perscn^s who, if we may judge from exte^al 
 appearances, are surely fitted to partake of the 
 ^emblems of Christ's body broken and blood shed. 
 Amongst thqsci who apparently* come under this 
 
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 denomination, there may be some who do 
 cherish unholy desires, impure thoughts and 
 ^ uncharitable leeljngs. To such 1 would say 
 "wherefore do ye not repent and amend?" 
 There are others however who are deterred by 
 conscientious scnipleif, and^who from a sense of " 
 deep humility, ^think that tfceir abseneb -from the 
 
 \- . -4I«ly Communion isv a light ^matter compared 
 with the posibiiity of being unaccepted guissts at 
 \ that sacred feast. And no doubt this is an arti- 
 fice of Satan by which he too success^lly hinders^ 
 the people of the Lord from participating in ar/*^ 
 ordinance which is expressly designed for "the- 
 strehgthening and refreshing of their souls." Jn ^ 
 this way it is that many languish in their spiritusd 
 
 Y career and feel oftentimes surprised that ther^ is^ 
 
 / ^&o little real vitality in their religion, and thatthey ^ 
 make so little progress towards that state of per- - 
 fection which all should seek to attain. And 
 can this indeed be a^ matter of surprise ? Surely^ 
 
 ^ v^not. The body,-we are aware, needs continual 
 nourishpient and support, and how absurd and . 
 useleSs^would it be, to look for the development 
 of physical strength and energy, where suitable 
 aiid sufficient food was withheld. And can we . 
 wonder that the spiritual facilities should be 
 retarded by Jhe absence of such food as God 
 . Hiniself has provided for our benefit, and which 
 He has commanded us to use foKrOur growth in 
 grace ? Moreover, my brethren, can you not see 
 ^hpw formal and insincere must be that petition- 
 .which you daily offer up with .your lips, and 
 especially wh^' you assemble witl^in the walls "" 
 of God's JHouse, "Give us this day our daily 
 '" bread," if when that bre^ is provided yonrefuse 
 to^put forth your hand and take it; and how 
 utterly at variance is your conduct with this 
 acknowledgment oif yotur wtots ! Oh ! consider ; 
 
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 then what provision God has made for yo^ 
 necessities; and while you feel your n^ed and 
 jfTe so lovingly called and bidden by God Himself 
 to this s|Lcred l^nquet, refuse not to come thereto* 
 But <|^me may still say, I acknowledge the 
 
 ' truth am reasonableness of all that is advanced, 
 and yet the sense of unworthiness which has 
 hitherto restrained me in approaching ^66d in 
 this sacred ordinance, is n6t diminished, and my 
 apprehensions still compel me to absent n^yself. 
 Admitting that this is a valid plea,'»nMw^pt 
 the same argument be brought forward as War-^ 
 ranting the withholding of all communion with 
 God? Whi^ I would ask, is worthy to approach 
 God in prayer? Who is worthy to invoke the 
 outpouring of the Holy Spirit and to look for His 
 coi^lhu^ presence ?^ Who is worthy to tread the 
 
 -^ourtst^ the Lord's House? Surely the mpst 
 sincere l^liever is ever ready to acknowledge hiif 
 unworthiness, and yet he engages with faithi in 
 all the means of grace, with the humble yet well 
 grounded hope that God for Christ's sake will 
 give more than either he desires or deserves; 
 Humility then— -yea a sense of the most .utter 
 unworthii^ess — -is needed from all those wha a 
 
 proach the Lord's Table. The who^ 8(^pf^£^^-^ . 
 expressive of the self abasement of tbQ,8#«^i^iV4 
 come to communicate*-— And any fe'i§Kngs1iori'**sy*^'^ 
 
 * The followlof qaotatioDB ftom the Oomnmn Serrice inffi- 
 eiently pnvTe this :•— 
 
 ^ ** Almighty Ciod, Father of onr Lord Jesas Ohrigt, Maker c f 
 aH ibings, Judge of all men : we acknowledge and ^ewail onr 
 ^aatfold sfni and' wickedness, which we, from time to time, 
 mott grieroMlf hare committed bj thought, word anlJbied, 
 a|(ainit thy pltine Majeity, Provoking most jaiUj thy IflNttb 
 and ind|gttati««i against ns. We do earnest^ repent and are ^ 
 beartiT sanj for these onr misdoings : the remembrance of' "^ 
 f hem is grievoni nnto as, the bnrden of them is intolerable." 
 
 ,4iii 
 
 ** We do not pMsnme to Mme to this th j Table C^ Mereifel 
 
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 of this wpuld evidently be unbecoming in thosp 
 who come as suppliants and without any desert 
 or merit, to seek the highest blessings which 
 God can bestow upon his creatures. 
 
 Surely then there must be something more than 
 a serise of unworthiness which operates in hin- 
 dering ihany sincere Christians from obeying 
 their Lord's dying command.. My brethren, the 
 error lies, I believe in confounding the terms 
 unworthy receivers n.nJL receiving unworthily. 
 As I have observed, allQbcptable communicants 
 are unworthVj-^eceivers, they cannot be other- 
 wise, — the Word of Gro4 Represents no man as 
 worthy o{ drsine blessings, and no man entertain- 
 ing a due sense (fiffiis spiritual condition, would 
 presume to represent individual worthiness, 
 as constituting a claim upoifi God's goodness: 
 So that those who are waiting until they shall 
 become worthy, are indeed looking for thlat . 
 peculiar spiritual condition, which must in reality 
 ever be beyond their reach in this world ; and if 
 they should, indeed, at any time, consider 
 themselves to have • attained unto this elevated 
 position, this supposition would lead them into 
 that condemnation which they were so anxious 
 to avoid — " Whosoever exalteth himself shall b<^ 
 abased, and he that humiblftth himself shall he- 
 , exalted." Rather thjn than discourage a feeling 
 of unworthiness in your approach to the Table of 
 the Lord, I would bid you cherish it as one most ' 
 commendable in the sight of God, and being 
 destitute of which, you will certainly shut your- 
 
 Lord, trn8tlog4n our own righteonsness, but in thy m&nifold 
 und unrest mercies. We are not worthy lo much m to gather 
 up the cramfas under thy Table." 
 
 " Although we be unworthy through our manifold sine to 
 offbr unto thee anT lacrifioe, yet we beseech thee to accept 
 this our boanden auty and serTiee : not weighirg our merits 
 but pardoning our offtneei thi^agh Jens Christ our Lord.*' 
 
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 selves out from heavenly blessings in ihis worH 
 and become inconsequence nn& 5p^X „i 
 those joys which are reserved herelCfor th^ 
 faithful: forthussaith the Lord 'MoXma^im 
 r look, even to him that is poor and of a cZ^e 
 spirit and trembleth at my word." """n**" 
 
 But there is a manifest and imDortant Hiffi. 
 rence between this miworthiness "^^1^ of 
 
 rt'2;'"ffi"r "•^'-'"'"^ <«<» the L&l 
 
 oi me l^rds Supper unwortHily. The SQth 
 foifh .iV ^^1 *^^ *"«*■ "8 be void of a lively 
 
 ment of the I^Jtui-^^S^^CrfctT^^ 
 wise arejhey partakers of Christ: WtK t^ 
 
 baorament of so great a think." ^ 
 
 receS"''.i!I'"ir?^?;P*'''="''' »''«♦ wiworthUy 
 receiving the Holy Communion, is an pv« 
 
 expressly stated as appurtaining to «tte ^fcfe^ 
 
 Those then who acknowledae that l^sJTrt. 
 "J^k^^"" »?!. conditionfwoJ^^ t-deedT 
 «wjortAtf« receiving « the SacrameL of tte 
 Body and Blood of Christ." frherefor^ 
 
 Gpd,a*n hilld^Vo/sClrer of HTsfc "^ 
 adulterer or live inmX': enw KC 
 other critae, repent you of your sU o? else 
 oEholv s'"' '°'y "^"^ '««' « A",akln| 
 
 ;^y"ri^:|."''*« y- '^ destrLtfbol'^J 
 
 teafhel''?L7Sj"' u" .f"" ,'"""' <"^ Chureh 
 leacnes that those who « truly repent jof th«ir 
 
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 •ins and are in love and chanty with theiV neigh- 
 bours and intend to lead a new life," are jlftedto 
 receive the Holy Communion with tenefit to their 
 **^oul8: she on the other hand expite^sly w^rat* 
 *Vhe wicked" and those who are destitute of 
 ** a lively faith," Aotto come to that sacred feast; 
 / ibr should they persist in doing so they would be 
 V unworthily partakhig of the emblems of Christ*« 
 death, and would tiiereby inevitably bringdown 
 iipon themselves the heavy condemnation of the 
 Almighty. \ • 
 
 When then I wouM urge you, my brethren, to 
 consider the imperative command ol* the Saviour 
 bidding you to communicate, I would charitably 
 hope, as I have ahready int^aled, that you arc 
 not such open and systematic violaters of GodV 
 laws, as would certainly justify your absence, but 
 that you are endeavouring (God being your 
 helpen to live such a life, as shall make you ac- 
 cepted at the last great day of account. If thi«» 
 surmise be correct, then, I would ask, are you not 
 separating from your brethren who come to feed 
 on the banquet of that mosl heavenly food on 
 insufficient grounds ? And do you not see that 
 the . unv^orthiness which jrou have hitherto 
 offered as a plea," is not in reality a reason- 
 able or valid excuse ? And consider furtber 
 that God has provided this Sacrament to be »*noi 
 only a badge or token of christian profession 
 but rather a certain sure witness and effectual 
 sign of grace and God's good will towards us, by 
 the which He doth work invisibly in us, and 
 doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and 
 confirm our faith in Him " 
 
 If then God has Himself appointed an ordinance 
 by which we are t(y|ecure the blessings of Re- 
 demption, surely yti^nttst be depriving 'yoursel- 
 ves of those gracious benefits if you disobey HJ# 
 
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 commandl and you are assiSealy norjfwu^ in 
 
 "ccordanc^^wilh the terras of that Go^^fl wSie? 
 
 you proiess to Sejight in, and Zch God 
 
 n Hi,< mercy has so fully reveale/to i,s, fo.' 
 
 , herein .t ,s declared " Exce|,t ye e4 the lie. h o ' 
 
 llfein yol-"""'^ '^""'' «'» '>'''°d, ye have Z 
 
 TiKrei,, yet another argument which is brous^ht 
 lorward by many sincere christians in exK^nu- • 
 l.on, ifnot.n justification, of their negl,.ct of tut ' 
 si.ered ordmance; it is this,-ithey "affirm 
 a ter the reception of the Hol^ Com^muS thf 
 nay poss.b y fall into the. sins which hitliBrto 
 have so easdy beset tiiem, and that to avoid thil' 
 <:ont.ngeney they will wait to a more « convenient; 
 .season" To suppose that any man can be placedi 
 beyond the reach of temptation, or attain f post 
 non from which he can never decline, is to ?ook 
 lor more than th^ Scriptures warrLit us in 
 expecting. All that we can do is diligent l 
 to apply ours, ves to the use of those safe^i^ds 
 wiich are wilhm our reach.and it is only when 
 v.e thus act that we can hope to escape from the 
 =.s.^anltsofh,m, who, with inveterate malice is 
 *ver ready to eftect the ruin of our souls He 
 then ^yho comes in kith to the Holy Communion 
 is lacing to himself the whole armour of God Tnd 
 .u that spiritual strength which he , thereby / 
 «Oj,>ures, he will go forth into the world, and Z 
 ^.bie to combat successfully with the grea^ / 
 ■nemies of his saK;ation. To act otherwise is to 
 ; ive batan the a^dvantage, and many have no 
 doubt deplored with heartfelt sorrow their show 
 <,omings and misdoings, who might have received 
 ihat ■ strength they needed, by a regular and ' 
 > devout attendance at the Lord's Table : 
 
 One_ word let me say to those who declare (hat 
 With the pressure of worldly business, they ia^. 
 
 - 4.^ 
 
 /• 
 
;;i*- 
 
 u?^ in 
 vviiicii : 
 
 ^'•, Ibj- 
 t^sli or . 
 ■ve tio ^f 
 
 iiot consclcntrously and consisfently participate 
 in so solemn, and sacred a rite. 
 
 If this be the case you are evidently pnttlnc^ 
 worldly claims before the claims of God — -you are 
 substituting the ^iches of earth,.fbr the riches of 
 Heaven, aid has not our blessed Lord, witli 
 solernn eari^estness, asked the important question, 
 
 What i^ a man profited if he shall gain the ^yhoU• 
 vorld and lose his own soul, or what shrill a man 
 give in exchange for his soul?" Such excuses, ^ 
 be it remembered, are not so easily accepted * 
 and allowed before God, and those who make 
 Ihem will hereafter be counted unworthy of the 
 Heavenly feast, when the Saints in glory shall ait 
 down to the marriage supper of the Lainb. 
 
 Urging then, as I would do upon you all, the 
 necessity of complying with the Saviour's dying 
 command "Do this in remembranqe of me," 
 let me briejfly, in conclusion, remind you of the 
 frame of mind iii which you should approach the 
 Lord's Table. , 
 
 If we regard this Service as commemorative ' 
 of what our Saviour effected for us by HTIs (Jeath 
 upon the cross, surely we should, be filled with 
 heartfelt gratitude for such amazing mercies. 
 And if we thus " remember the exceeding great 
 love of our Master and only Saviour, thus dying 
 for us," are we not irristably reminded of our 
 naturally, lost condition on account of sin ? In 
 our approach, therefore,' to the Lord's Table, we 
 must confess our sins unto God, and being 
 bowed down with a sense of unworthiness, and 
 at the same time manifesting the most, sincere 
 repentence we shall cry out in heartfelt sincerity 
 "God be merciful to me a sinner." But while- 
 this abject feeling leads us as humble suppliants 
 to the throne of grace, we must also have a lively 
 faith in God's mercy through Christ. "By 
 
 

 h 
 
 the merits and death of Jesus ri.Wo# ' :* 
 through feith in Hi, blL°» ^o hu^f^.Z'* 
 hevin^y look for "i^igglon^oMsins Mdsji 
 "her benefits of His passion." C '^ ,t 
 blessings we receive merely for The ^scn. 
 The strength which.we thus aequire.-'he'^wZ; 
 which IS thus imparted tons, will enable if L 
 persevere in the good and the'right waj^ so ?hlT 
 havingobtamed forgiveness for tBipast^d^ac, 
 for the fotnre, we shall be able, like the S 
 P'lS E°n»ch to«go on „nr Wa/r^ o«=S." 
 May this subject, my brethren, s^ engafe vour 
 
 »eripu8 consideration, that you maybe iTOioh, 
 
 from time to time in this Sivine oi^inZe ind 
 
 escape the condemnation which is eS'ed°n 
 
 hose solemn words of our text "ExcepTve c« 
 
 S.t''n^![:il%°!;?*--<'''™''«oot