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Lorsqua la docufflant ast trop grand pour *tra raproduit an un saul clich*. il ast film* A partir da I'angla supAriaur gaucha. da gauche* droite. et de haut en bes. en prenent le nombre d'images n*cessaire. Les diagrammes suivsnts lilustrant la m*thoda. 1 2 •- ■( ■ "I ■Si I 6 32X \ . ' «4<<^ xL' biMiS..iJ.^^t "\'.. ^-s. R] Pc PH J It" '\. ■!■ A. 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. <*. >*- ^^-^^"^^ Quebec: POINTED AT THB '< MORNING OHRONIOLE " OFFICE MouMTAiN Hill, Lowbb ToWw. ^ ■m T / _ — I /.. ;'■•." \ tt':' ',-. «r i - 1 ,:'- ' i ■ \ ■ \ • » . «\ g ^fefc ■ / f^*^ ' ki*a Jrtiii'3ab^ii& ^ 1^ ■iJW ISrtT ^!*SSS V't&I^L^^tu^^fei^-Hf'b.&d&Wt^* ^S' /.. 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. I ■ ('S') ;,_^.-_.. v^mm^!^ Ji^- 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- i i.:^m..- ^ *' ■ W 1 • 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 / r f 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 ; -«»■; ^ V y^«^ ■ *i:^V- .' . '.■..-■('■. ^ ■ ,■■.-■. 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 ■■^^ ,?.!' mm-^i \ott"'^^ t-^« y.t. nffi- rcf our me, »d, are,.*. Ifol ir-" ' ■" - ■ ■ ■ ■•■ , - :• ,,:9: :■ :; 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.*' t^' a ^ ^:: ■■' -■" 10^ 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 , ^^^!,% •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# f 12 \ if/ r 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