AMONG the many worthy attempts that have been made to retrieve the piety and devotion of the primitive times, the promoting frequent communion has had no inconsiderable influence; and as this ancient practice recovers its true perfection, we may reasonably expect that the wonderful effects of it will appear in the lives and conversation of Christians. The duty itself seems at present much better understood than it was formerly, when many very unwary discourses upon the subject rather discouraged than excited men to the performance of it. The preparation was looked upon as so difficult and burdensome, and so great a perfection of piety required in the receivers, that all sincere beginners in religion were inclined to think that the sacred institution no ways related to them; and the men of business, though otherwise very serious, were of the opinion that so much more retirement was necessary than they could spare, that not being able to prepare themselves according to such schemes, they altogether laid aside the duty, and reserved the Holy Communion for their viaticum in their last hours; which, though an admirable means to settle and secure the pardon and peace of such penitent souls as have frequented the altar in the time of their health and vigour; yet, I am afraid, will but little avail those who have wilfully neglected it all along in life. Now, if Christians did but seriously consider, that the best preparation for celebrating the holy mysteries consisted in a constant care to govern their lives by the precepts of the Gospel; and that it was sufficient if they approached the Lord's table with honest and devout minds, heartily and sincerely resolving to amend their lives, and truly willing and desirous to use all means to become better; it is impossible, I say, if men's minds were possessed with this right notion of the matter, and that they really designed to be true to their Christian professions, but that they should embrace all opportunities of receiving the holy sacrament, and lament every reasonable cause of their absence as a great misfortune, because it is the best means to enable them to discharge their duty. And indeed the religion we live by, is the religion we must receive by; though the methods many men take upon these occasions tempt one to believe that they think there is a great difference between them. For my part, I could never discover any duty, supposing one instructed in the nature of this holy action, that a man was obliged to, before receiving the Holy Communion, that was not his duty, some time or other, though be forbore communicating. For the Holy Sacrament does not so much oblige us to new duties, as enable us to make good those obligations which the profession of Christianity has already laid upon us. They that are acquainted with ecclesiastical history know very well, that the Eucharist in the purest ages of the Church made a part of their daily public service; and when the devotion of Christians began to decline, they yet always upon the Lord's day celebrated the Christian sacrifice. Our second service at the altar seems defective without a conformable practice to antiquity in this point; and the holy exercises of the Lord's day appear to want their due Rubric after perfection without these eucharistical devotions. To this purpose our Church has encouraged a constant weekly communion, by permitting it to be celebrated where three or four persons are ready and willing to communicate; as being assured by our Saviour, that where two or three are gathered together in His Name, there He is Himself in the midst of them. And if the parochial minister should begin with such a small number, it is likely they would quickly increase; at least it will demonstrate his own zeal to shew forth the Lord's death, and may bring a blessing upon his parish, as well as upon the other labours of his holy function. In order to quicken the establishing of this primitive devotion, I cannot forbear suggesting an observation made by several of the reverend clergy, who have been zealous in this matter, viz. that where communions have been frequent, the number of communicants hath sensibly increased; which, I think, ought to be no small encouragement to have the holy mysteries celebrated in all parish churches every Lord's day; because this shews a great disposition in the laity to be brought to a sense of their duty, and consequently must animate the zeal of their pastors to give them such frequent opportunities of |