receive Christ, no not Heaven it self. Where∣upon many holy men say, that the Commu∣nion taken to day is a disposition for that to morrow.
Besides, that Councils, the Saints and Do∣ctors do assure us, that not being in Mortal Sin, is that necessary worthiness and disposition which is required for the Communion; we are not to go to it, as worthy, but as having need of it: we do not go to sanctifie Jesus Christ, but to be sanctified and healed by him, by the means of the Sacrament, as St. Ambrose tells us, — I who do continually sin, ought continually to re∣ceive the Medicine of this Sacrament against the pestilent Disease of Sin. (Ep. 208.)
Nor may a Christian be debarr'd the Com∣munion for the second reason, of greater reve∣rence, because 'tis contrary to St. Austin's Do∣ctrine, who says, (Ep. 26. de verb. Dom. Serm. 28.) that 'tis better to communicate through Devo∣tion, than let it alone through Reverence. Dio∣nysius Carthusianus says the same thing, 'Tis bet∣ter to communicate through Love, than abstain from it through Humility and Fear. (De Euch. cap. 5. sect. 6.) There is not more devotion, love and respect shewed to God by less frequent coming to the Sacrament: but rather he loves and fears God most, who, without mortal sin, and with a desire of his own spiritual advan∣tage, comes every day to it: and the delaying of it is not a greater disposedness nor veneration, but a manifest temptation.
By keeping away, they think to find better