SERMON VII.

Excuses for absenting from the holy facrament.

[From KETTLEWELL on the Sacrament.]

MATT. XXII. 2, 3.

The kingdom of heaven is like unto a certain King, which made a marriage for his fon, And fent forth his fervants to call them that were bidden to the wedding; and they would

not come.

T

HE worthy receiving of the holy

facrament, is a duty, which our bleffed Lord has strictly enjoined; and from which we may hope to reap' very great benefits. It might well be expected therefore, that all who would do fervice, either to their Saviour, or to themselves, fhould readily join therein, whenfoever an opportunity is offered for the fame. And so, it is probable, all who pretend to ferious religion would were it not that they have fome exceptions

;

in their own minds against it, which till they are removed, make all difcourfes of the duty, or usefulness of this holy feast, to fall without effect, and perfuade them, that however neceffary or advisable it may be to others, yet it is not fo to them, who have fo juft an hindrance to excufe or discourage them from being present at it.

To give therefore this duty as faft hold upon our confciences as may be, I shall at this time endeavour to remove feveral of those hindrances, and to take off such pleas, as are ufually offered to excufe, and keep men back from complying with it.

And those which I fhall principally treat of, are these four:

I. Men are fometimes hindred from the facrament, because they think it is a prefumption in us to approach unto it; and therefore, fay they, an humble man should abstain from it.

II. Because many good people are feldom or never feen at it, and therefore they may be good too (they think), and have good company, if they keep away from it.

III. Because others perhaps, who are unworthy of it, are admitted to join in it. And,

IV. Because therein they are to promife concerning every fin which they find themselves guilty of, that they will no more commit it ; and this promife fome dare not make, because they fear they shall not keep it.

These are fuch things as do sometimes hinder perfons from partaking in this holy ordinance; but indeed they ought in no cafe to be their hindrance, from doing their Saviour and their own fouls this fervice; as will more fully appear in treating of the particulars. And,

I. ONE thing which hinders fome perfons from coming to this holy feaft, is, because it looks like an high prefumption in us to approach thereunto, and therefore they think an humble man ought in all modesty to abstain from it.

But to fatisfy this plea, we need only to observe, that it can be no prefumption to come when we are called, and to do what we are bidden. If we should intrude of our own accord, and come uninvited, we might be too bold indeed, and very rudely arrogant. But when we are particularly fent to, and called to come, efpecially if there be, as in this case there is, great earnestness and importunity

portunity in the invitation, it is the part of an humble man to comply therewith, and he is not guilty of the leaft fhew of arrogance or presumption in so doing. There is civility fhewn fometimes in accepting, as well as in offering kindnesses; and it is but reasonable to receive what God would have us; yea, indeed, to accept any thing from any other of our fuperiors. So that in all civility, we were bound to come, had we nothing more than a friendly invitation.

But befides that, God hath exprefsly injoined, and peremptorily required it of us : So that now we must approach to this holy table, not only out of civility and respect, but also out of obedience to his holy commandment. And true humility is no hindrance, but the greatest furtherance in the world to fuch a fervice; it being not the pårt of a prefumptuous, but of a truly humble man, to do what he is bidden, and to please those whom he is bound in duty to obey.

It is no prefumption then to come to the holy facrament when we are called, and to do what we are bidden.

But it is a very great boldness and pre

VOL. III.

I

fumption

fumption to stay away, and leave what he bids us do undone. He is no proud man, who accepts a kindness when it is offered, and he is earnestly invited to it; but he may fhew pride and haughtiness enough, who flights and defpifes it. And he is no bold man that does what he is commanded; but he fhews boldness and prefumes indeed, that dares venture to tranfgrefs it. There are no men fo bold and prefumptuous with God, as they who will act what he forbids, and refuse to do what he injoins them. So that it is truly an high prefumption to stay away when he has exprefly charged us, both upon our duty, and our love for him, to join in the holy communion.

As for those then, who are hindred from the holy facrament, by the fear of being too bold and prefumptuous with almighty God, in coming to a fcaft which hath fuch height of privilege and honour in it; they are hindred without any juft ground, and kept back by that which ought not to hinder them. For it is no prefumption, but the part of humble men, to come when they are called, and to do what they are bidden;. but it is a very great boldness and prefumption,