Page:Preparation sermon, before receiving the Holy sacrament.pdf/2

 body and blood, having an irreverent, irreligious, unworthy and unſuitable carriage of heart, is guilty of a great crime, as reflecting not on the elements themſelves, but vilipending that which they repreſent. And, To aggravate it, he calls it the bread and cup of the Lord. Tho' it were but common bread and wine, to use it unworthily were a crime; but it is the bread and wine of the Lord, inſtituted by him for his glory and our ſalvation; and therefore it is a far greater crime to uſe it unworthily. This unworthineſs reſpects not the perſon of the receiver ſo much as the manner of his receiving: the apoſtle ſpeaks not of a worthineſs of the perſon, but a worthineſs of the action; for he ſays not, Whatſoever unworthy perſon eats, &c for then he had excluded every man, for we are all unworthy. Moreover, the apoſtle words it thus, to be a caveat even to believers, and regenerate as well as natural perſons, that people do not partake of the Lord's super either in an unworthy ſtate or unworthy frame. So he inſinuates that even regenerate pervons may communicate unworthily, which here does note the want of a right goſpel frame and diſpoſition of ſoul:

2. The guilt of this ſin; ſhall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord; i. e. ſhall either be guilty of an egregious profanation and contempt of Chriſts body, ſeeing any abuse of the king's picture is reckoned an abuſe of himſelf; or they ſhall be ranked in with the Jews who actually crucified him, pierced his body, and ſhed his blood.

Hence we obſerve, That unworthy communicating is a ſin of great guilt and hazard. And therefore in further discourſing on this ſubject, we ſhall endeavour to ſhow,

I. What we are to underſtand by unworthy communicating.

II. Wherein conſiſts the guilt and danger of it.