QUALIFICATIONS OF COMMUNICANTS. "What is required of them who come to the Lord's Supper," is thus briefly stated in ries. This is your merit, this your fortitude, this your crown! not to move about in the church in fair and consecrated vestments. But thou wilt say, Whence can I know what is in this or that man? I speak not of those whom we know not, but of those whom we know. Listen yet to something fearful and horrible, which I will say: It is not so bad to he possessed by a devil, as to be like them, of whom S. Paul says, that they tread under foot the Son of God, and change the Blood of the Covenant into an unclean thing, and do despite to the spirit of grace.' Wherefore, he is far worse than one possest, who knowing himself to be defiled, and without penitence, approaches. They that be possest, in that they are tormented of the devil, are blameless, and will never be punished with torment for that; but they who approach unworthily the Holy Mysteries shall be given over to everlasting torments. Therefore we repel at once all those whom we know to be approaching unworthily. Let none be admitted to communicate, unless he be of the disciples: let none with a heart defiled, like Judas, receive the bread, lest he suffer a like fate with him. It is the Body of Christ; and this multitude of the congregation too is His Body. Give diligent heed, then, O priest, when thou servest in the mysteries, that thou anger not the Lord by being careless to purify this body; that thou give not a whetted sword instead of bread. But if any one of obstinacy and madness approach this table, repel him; fear not: fear God, not man. If thou fearest man, thou shalt be despised even by that very man whom thou fearest; but if thou fearest God, then shalt thou be honoured of men also. But if thou darest not thyself to repel him, inform me: I will not suffer such presumption. I will sooner lay down my life, than give any one the Lord's Body unworthily; I will rather have my own blood poured out, than suffer any to communicate of that most the Catechism :-" To examine themselves whether they repent them truly of their former sins, steadfastly purposing to lead a new life; have a lively faith in God's mercy through Christ, with a thankful remembrance of His death; and be in charity with all men." These requisites are repeated in the Communion Service, where those who possess them are pronounced to be "meet partakers of the Holy Mysteries,” and invited to "take the Holy Sacrament to their comfort." TINTENTION OF THE CHURCH. The Anglican Church is very anxious that pure Blood, except he be worthy. If any one who is de filed approach, and ye know it not, then there will be no fault of yours, if so be that ye have used diligent care to prevent it. I have been speaking of notorious and open sinners; whom if we correct, God will bye and bye reveal to us them also that we know not: but if we admit open sinners without penitence, what reason will there be that God should discover to us the others? All this I say, not to the end that we should only refuse to admit or expel sinners, but that we should amend them, and bring them back into the right way, and be watchful and diligent for the good of all: for thus we shall both gain God's mercy upon ourselves, and find a greater number of those who may worthily communicate. And so for our own diligent care of others, we shall receive a great reward."— S. Chrysostom, Serm. lxxxiii, on Matt. |