V.

We will now consider what farther is SERM. said in the catechism, with respect to each of them.

Of those who are baptized, we are told, there is required, Repentance, "whereby they forsake sin; and faith,

Before

whereby they stedfastly believe the pro"mises of God made to them in that sa"crament." The primitive church was extremely strict in this particular. Christianity was established, when persons grown to manhood offered themselves to baptism, no one was admitted till he could give proof of his sorrow for his past evil life, and till he could offer reasons for his faith in Christ; and it was afterwards expected, that he should shew his sincerity by his future virtuous and pious behaviour. But if this were the custom, and if faith and repentance are really necessary, it is a very natural question which follows, "Why "then are infants baptized, when by rea

SERM.

V.

son of their tender age they can give

proof of neither?" The answer is satistisfactory; their god-fathers and god-mothers promise both for them, and when they come to years of discretion, they themselves are bound to perform them; and for this plain reason, because the engagements, which have been made in their names, are so greatly for their good. And we accordingly find, that the custom universally prevails of taking on ourselves, at our confirmation, those vows, which were made by our sureties at our baptism.

It now remains that I consider the Lord's supper. There is a difficulty in the cate chism, with respect to this, which should not be passed over: we are told that the body and blood of Christ are "verily and

indeed taken, and received by the faith"ful." This expression sounds like the doctrine of the Papists; that the words which are said over the bread and wine by

the

V.

the priest, convert them into the real body SERM. and blood of Christ! but this certainly is not the sentiment of our church; by being verily and indeed taken, we may, and ought to understand only, that the benefits of our Redeemer's death are truly received by the faithful believer and worthy communicant alone. Of these benefits I have already spoken, and indeed they are so plainly expressed in the catechism, that it is unnecessary to dwell on them; the strengthen

ing and refreshing of our souls by the body

and blood of Christ, as our bodies are by

the bread and wine.' The subject is closed with a description of the requisites for the worthy partaking of this sacrament, which are said to be, Examination of ourselves, "whether we truly repent of our former "sins; a stedfast purpose to lead a new

46

66

life; a lively faith in God's mercy through "Christ; a thankful remembrance of his "death; and a charitable, benevolent dis"position towards all men."

SERM

V.

Now these are but the ordinary duties of a Christian; and though perhaps no man performs them in the perfect manner in which he ought, yet, without aiming at the performance of them, he is equally unfit for any other religious duty, as he is for receiving the sacrament; and if he resolves not to try to make himself more fit, he might as well cast off all religion whatever. The subject is of the utmost importance; I must be excused if, in dwelling on it a little, I repeat frequently the same arguments.* Unhappy errors prevail to too great a degree with respect to this ceremony, to the very great prejudice

* Arguments and persuasions to frequent communion were enforced by the author from the pulpit, in many sermons: these, in his life-time, he took occasion to throw together in a small pamphlet, which he published under the title of " A Familiar Treatise on the Sacrament."-And it is for this reason that the 'repeated arguments,' to which allusion is made above, are not re-printed in this work, as the writer himself had given them to the world in another form.

of

V.

of religion, and danger even of many SERM. well-disposed persons. Mankind were in

a fallen state, overwhelmed with ignorance and wickedness, when Jesus Christ came down from heaven to teach and to save them. His whole life was passed in the former of these employments, and he willingly encountered a most painful and ignominious death to compass the latter. It was just before he died, that he appointed to be observed, in perpetual remembrance of him, this participation of bread and wine: This bread (says he) represents my body; this wine represents my blood;

' when you eat and drink them, think of what I have undergone for you, and of the

great advantages which you have gained by

it: "Do this in remembrance of me." Now there is nothing mysterious in this; nothing more than what all may understand you are required to do a plain act, to shew your gratitude for the greatest in