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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.

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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.

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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\

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(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-

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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

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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 ;

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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

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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.*'

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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#

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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