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 ...

Question V. Whether the injured person be bound to offer peace? Or may he let it alone, and worthi∣ly communicate, if the offending party does not seek it?

To the Question, whether of the parties must begin the peace? I answer, that both are bound. For although he that did the injury is bound in conscience and justice to go to him whom he hath injured, and he is not a true penitent if he does not; and he must not for his part be accepted to the Communion; of which I am to give account in the Chapter of repentance; yet because we are now upon the title of Charity, I am to add, that if the Criminal does not come;* 1.1 the offended person must offer peace; he must go or send to him. If others begin the quarrel, do thou begin the peace, said Seneca. For sometimes the offender desires pardon, but dares not ask it: he begs it by interpretation

and tacite desire; consult therefore with his mode∣sty, his infirmity, and his shame. He is more bound to do it than thou art, yet thou canst better do it than he can. It is not alwaies safe for him: it is never unsafe for thee. It may be an extream shame to him; it is ever honourable to thee: it may be sometimes to his loss; it is alwaies thy gain: for this was the resolution of Hesiod's Riddle,* 1.2 Half is more than the whole; A dinner of herbs with peace is better than a stalled Oxe with contention; and therefore upon all accounts it is for thy advantage to make the offer.

I add also, it is thy duty. I do not say, that in justice thou art bound; but in charity thou art, and in obedience to thy Lord.* 1.3 If thy Brother offend thee, go and tell him. Go thou, saies Christ. For by so doing we imitate God, whom though we have so often, so infinitely offended, yet he thought thoughts of peace, and sent to us Embassadors of peace * 1.4, and Ministers of reconci∣liation. When Pompey and Mar∣cus Crassus were to quit their Consulships, Cueius Aurelius, I know not upon what account, ran into the Forum, and cried out, that Jupiter appear∣ing to him in his dream commanded that they should be reconciled before they were discharged by the people: which when the people also required, Pompey stirred not but Crassus did; he reached out his hand to his Collegue, saying, I do nothing un∣worthy of my self, O Romans, If I first offer peace to Pomp••y, whom you honoured with the title of Great before he was a Man, and with a Triumph before he was a Senator. We cannot want better arguments of peacefulness: It is no shame to thee

to offer peace to thy offending Brother, when thy God did so to thee, who was greatly provoked by thee, and could as greatly have been revenged; and it is no disparagement that thou shouldest desire the reconcilement with him for whom Christ became a Sacrifice, and to whom he offers, as he does to thee, the Communion of his body and bloud. * Thou art (I say) bound in charity to thy Brothers soul, whose repentance thou canst easily invite by thy kind offer, and thou makest his return easie, thou takest away his objection and temptation, thou securest thy own right better, and art invested in the greatest glory of mankind; thou doest the work of God, and the work of thy own soul; thou carriest pardon, and ease and mercy with thee; and who would not run and strive to be first in car∣rying a pardon, and bringing messages of peace and joyfulness?

Consider therefore that death divides with you every minute; you quarrel in the morning, and it may be you shall dye at night; run quickly and be reconciled for fear you anger last longer than your life. It was a pretty victory which Euclid got of his angry Brother, who being highly dis∣pleased, cried out, Let me perish if I be not re∣venged:* 1.5 But he answered, And let me perish if I do no not make you kind, and quickly to forget your anger. That gentle answer did it, and they were friends presently, and for ever after. It is a shame if we be out done by Heathens, and espe∣cially in that grace, which is the ornament and jewel of our Religion, that is, in forgiving our enemies, in appeasing anger, in doing good for evil, in returning prayers for cursings,

and gentle usages for rude treat∣ments: this is the glory of Chri∣stianity * 1.6, as Christianity is the glory of the world. I end this with the advice of St. Bernard: let every man who desires to come worthily to the Sacrament of peace, the communion of Christs body; for the wrong that he does be ready to ask pardon, and for the wrong that he receives be ready to give pardon, and so Christs members will be in peace.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Dissentio ab aliis, à te recon∣ciliatio incipiat. Senec.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉
• * 1.3

  Mat. 18.15.
• * 1.4

  Cogitans cogitationes pa∣cis Deus prior nos accessit & legatos ministrosque re∣conciliationis ad nos desti∣navit. S. Gregor.
• * 1.5

  Dispere∣am, si non persuase∣ro.
• * 1.6

  Christi sanguis de cruce clamans pacem loquitur, & reconciliationem; quin idem sanguis quoniam à nobis bibitur, si mod•• dignè bibitur, clamat in corpori∣bus nostris verba pacifica. S. Cyprian.