The worthy communicant, or, A discourse of the nature, effects, and blessings consequent to the worthy receiving of the Lords Supper and of all the duties required in order to a worthy preparation : together with the cases of conscience occurring in the duty of him that ministers, and of him that communicates : to which are added, devotions fitted to every part of the ministration / by Jeremy Taylor ...

SECT. I.

THE second great Instrument of preparation to the blessed Sacra∣ment, is Charity: for though this be involved in faith, as in its cause and moral principle, yet we are to consider it in the proper effects al∣so of it, in its exercise and operations relative to the Mysteries. For they that speak distinctly, and give proprieties of employment to the two Sacra∣ments, by that which is most signal and eminent in them both respectively, call Baptism the Sacrament of Faith, and the Eucharist the Sacrament of Cha∣rity; that is, Faith in Baptism enters upon the work of a good life; and in the holy Eucharist it is actually productive of that Charity, which at first was designed and undertaken.

For Charity is that fire from heaven, which un∣lesse it does enkindle the Sacrifice, God will never accept it for an atonement. This God declared to

us by his Laws given to the sons of Israel and Aa∣ron. The Sacrifice that was Gods portion was to be eaten and consumed by himself, and therefore to be devoured by the holy fire that came down from heaven: And this was imitated by the Persi∣ans, who worshipped the fire, and thought what the fire devoured, their god had plainly eaten.* 1.1 So Maximus Ty∣rius tells of them, that bringing their Sacrifices, they were wont to say, O Fire our Lord, eat this meat. And Pindar * 1.2 in his Olympiaes tells of the Rhodians, that when they brought a Sacri∣fice to Jupiter, and had by chance forgotten to bring their fire, he accepting of their good intentions, and pitying their forgetfulnesse, rained down upon them a golden shower from a yellow cloud; that is, a shower of fire came and con∣sumed their sacrifice. Now this is the great emblem of Charity:* 1.3 the flame consumes the feasters Sacrifice, and makes it a divine nutriment; our Charity it purifies the Oblation, and makes their Prayers accepted,

* 1.4The Tables of the Lord, like the Delian Altars, must not be defiled with blood and death, with an∣ger and revenge, with wrath and indignation: and this is to be in all senses of duty and ministration an unbloody Sacrifi••e. The blood of the Crosse was ••he last that was to have been shed. The Laws can shed more, but nothing else. For by remem∣bring and representing the effusion of blood, not

by shedding it, our expiation is now perfected and compleat: but nothing hinders it more than the spirit of war and death; not only by the emissions of the hand, or the apertures of a wound, but by the murder of the tongue, and the cruelties of the heart, or by an unpeaceable disposition.

It was love that first made Societies, and love that must continue our Communions: and God who made all things by his power, does preserve them by his love; and by union and society of parts every creature is preserved. When a little w••ter is spilt from a full Vessel, and falls into its e∣nemy dust, it curles it self into a drop, and so stands equally armed in every point of the circle, divi∣ding the Forces of the enemy, that by that little union it may stand as long as it can; but if it be dissolved into flatnesse, it is changed into the nature and possession of the dust.* 1.5 War is one of Gods greatest plagues; and therefore when God in this holy Sacrament pours forth the greatest effusion of his love, peace in all capacities, and in all dimensi∣ons, and to all purposes, he will not endure that they should come to these love-feasts * 1.6 who are unkind to their brethren, quarrelsom with their neighbours, implacable to their enemies, apt to contentions, hard to be reconciled, soon angry, scarcely appeased. These are dogs, and must not come within the holy place, where God who is the Congregating Father, and Christ the great minister of peace,* 1.7 and the holy spirit of love are pre∣sent in mysterious Symbols and most gracious Com∣munications.

For although it be true that God loves us first, yet he will not continue to love us, or proceed in the methods of his kindnesse, unlesse we become like unto him and love. For by our love and charity he will pardon us, and he will comfort us, and he will judge us, and he will save us; and it can never be well with us till love that governs heaven it self be the Prince of all our actions and our passions. * 1.8 By this we know we are transla∣ted from death to life, by our love unto our brethren: That's the testimonial of our comfort. I was hungry and ye fed me: I was hungry and ye fed me not: These are the Tables of our fi••al judg∣ment. If ye love me, keep my Commandments: That's the measure of our obedience. In that ye have done kindnesse to one of these little ones, ye have done it unto me: That is the installing of the Saints in their Thrones of Glory. If thou bringest a gift to the altar, leave it there; go and be recon∣ciled to thy brother: That's the great instrument of our being accepted. No man can love God and hate his brother: That's the rule of our examinati∣on in this particular. This is a new Commandment, that ye love one another: There's th•• great precept of the Gospel. This is an old Commandment, that ye love one another: There is the very Law of Nature. And to sum up all; Love is the fulfilling of the Law; that's the excellency and perfection of a man; and there is the expectation of all reward, and the doing all our du••y, and the sanctificati∣on of every action, and the spirit of life: It is the heart and the fire and the salt of every Sa∣crifice; it is the crown of every Communion. And all this mysterious excellency is perfectly represented by that divine exhortation made by

Saint Paul; Purge out therefore the old leaven,* 1.9 that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our Passeover is sacrificed for us. Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of MALICE and wick∣ednesse, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Now concerning this grace, if we will inquire after it in order to a worthy receiving the holy Communion, we must inquire after the effects and offices of Charity; and by the good we do, or are ready to do, take an account of our selves in this particular. The offices and general duties are three. 1. Doing good. 2. Speaking good, and, 3. ••orgiving evil.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉,〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.Od. 7.
• * 1.3

  Epulantes adludit flamma.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Diaconi solebant enunciare in Synaxi.
• * 1.5

  Scelera dissident. Seneca.
• * 1.6

  Facinus saevum & atrox inter pocula atque epulas, ubi libare Diis dapes, ubi be∣nè precari mos esset, ad spe∣ctaculum scorti procacis in sinu Consulis rec••bantis, mactatam humanam victi∣mam esse, & cruore men∣sam respersam. Sic Valeri∣us Antiates apud Livium, lib. 39.
• * 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Dionys. Areop.
• * 1.8

  Cum no∣stros ani∣mos amor quo coe∣lum regi∣tur, regit. Boeth. con∣sol. Philos.
• * 1.9

  1 Cor. 5.7, 8.