The scandalous lives of many Communicants are a reproach to the Sacrament, and tempt others to Atheism. How odious is it, that those hands which have received the Sacred Elements, should take Bribes! That those eyes, which have been filled with tears at the Lords-Table, should afterwards be filled with Envy! That those teeth, which have eaten Holy Bread, should grind the faces of the Poor! That those lips, which have touched the Sacramental Cup, should salute an Harlot*! That that mouth which hath drunk Consecrated Wine, should be full of Oaths! That they who seem to deify Christ in the Eucharist, should vilify him in his Members! In a word, That such who pretend to eat Christ's Body, and drink his Blood at ⟨p. 106⟩Church, should eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence in their own houses! Prov. 4. 17. These are like the Italians I have read of, who at the Sacrament are so devout, as if they believed God to be in the bread; but in their lives are so profane, as if they believed not God to be in Heaven. Such as these are apt to make the World think that the Gospel is but a fancy, or religious Cheat. What shall I say of them? They do with Judas, receive the Devil in the Sop, and are no better than Crucifiers* of the Lord of Glory. As their •in is heinous, so their punishment will be proportionable, 1 Cor. 11. 29. They eat and drink damnation to themselves. If one of the Vestal Nuns who had vowed her self to Religion were deflowered, the Romans caused her to be buried alive*. Such as have a Sacramental vow upon them, yet afterwards deflower the Virginity of their souls by scandalous sins, God will bury them alive in the flames of Hell.
The scandalous lives of many Communicants are a reproach to the Sacrament, and tempt others to Atheism. How odious is it, that those hands which have received the Sacred Elements, should take Bribes! That those eyes, which have been fill'd with tears at the Lords-Table, should afterwards be filled with Envy! That those teeth, which have eaten Holy Bread, should grind the faces of the Poor! That those lips, which have touched the Sacramental Cup, should salute an Harlot*! That that mouth which hath drunk Consecrated Wine, should be full of Oaths! That they who seem to deisie Christ in the Eucharist, should vilifie him in his Members! In a word, That such who pretend to eat Christ's Body, and drink his Blood at ⟨p. 106⟩Church, should eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence in their own houses! Prov. 4. 17. These are like the Italians I have read of, who at the Sacrament are so devout, as if they believed God to be in the bread; but in their lives are so profane, as if they believed not God to be in Heaven. Such as these are apt to make the World think that the Gospel is but a fancy, or religious Cheat. What shall I say of them? They do with Judas, receive the Devil in the Sop, and are no better than Crucifiers* of the Lord of Glory. As their •in is hainous, so their punishment will be proportionable, 1 Cor. 11. 29. They eat and drink damnation to themselves. If one of the Vestal Nuns who had vowed her self to Religion were deflored, the Romans caused her to be buried alive*. Such as have a Sacramental vow upon them, yet afterwards deflore the Virginity of their souls byscandalous sins, God will bury them alive in the flames of Hell.
- *Sunt lotis mani bus, sed illotis operibus. Ber.
- *Conculcant Daminum, & sanguinem dulcissim• vi•is ducunt pollutum. Bern.
- *Plutarch.
