They were very intense about it indeed! If memory serves the earliest Methodists would have communion tokens which you’d have to show to be admitted to communion services.
That sounds right. The expectation was being in a class or band plus attendance at society meetings. I’m sure I have more in a book somewhere on my shelf. I remember Randy Maddox, Wesley scholar, saying that based on John Wesley’s diaries he was probably receiving communion on average every 4 days
Thomas Cranmer advocated for daily celebration of the Lord's Supper.
"And to be confirmed this his sacrifice unto all his faithful people, and to confirm their faith and hope of eternal salvation in the same, he hath ordained a perpetual memory of his said sacrifice, **daily** to be used in the Church to his perpetual laud and praise, and to **our singular comfort and consolation**; that is to say, **the celebration of his holy supper**, wherein he doth not cease to give himself with all his benefits, to all those that duly receive the same Supper according to his blessed ordinance" (The True & Catholic Doctrine of the Lord's Supper)
I do not think that frequency is the issue, in fact I've found considerably more reverence and respect for the Eucharist on my 3 years at an Episcopal parish than I ever saw as a Baptist celebrating every 3-4 months. The solution is also not subjective experience or moralism. Worthy reception is the repentant accepting Christ's invitation as George Herbert so eloquently taught us in his "Love bade me welcome", receiving with humility as Cranmer taught us with the Prayer of Humble Access, and eating with the double mouth of Faith as Vermigli taught. As far as people receiving unworthily our Rector's need to remember that it is their responsibility as pastors to deny those who are "in open, unrepentant sin which causes immediate scandal to the Congregation" to paraphrase the 1662 rubrics, but also we need to remember St Paul's words "let a man examine himself."
To reiterate, frequent Communion is not the problem, catechesis and pastoral responsibility and discipline are the problems.
I know early Methodists were advocates of more frequent communion. Makes me wonder what kind of preparation they did!
They were very intense about it indeed! If memory serves the earliest Methodists would have communion tokens which you’d have to show to be admitted to communion services.
That sounds right. The expectation was being in a class or band plus attendance at society meetings. I’m sure I have more in a book somewhere on my shelf. I remember Randy Maddox, Wesley scholar, saying that based on John Wesley’s diaries he was probably receiving communion on average every 4 days
Thomas Cranmer advocated for daily celebration of the Lord's Supper.
"And to be confirmed this his sacrifice unto all his faithful people, and to confirm their faith and hope of eternal salvation in the same, he hath ordained a perpetual memory of his said sacrifice, **daily** to be used in the Church to his perpetual laud and praise, and to **our singular comfort and consolation**; that is to say, **the celebration of his holy supper**, wherein he doth not cease to give himself with all his benefits, to all those that duly receive the same Supper according to his blessed ordinance" (The True & Catholic Doctrine of the Lord's Supper)
I do not think that frequency is the issue, in fact I've found considerably more reverence and respect for the Eucharist on my 3 years at an Episcopal parish than I ever saw as a Baptist celebrating every 3-4 months. The solution is also not subjective experience or moralism. Worthy reception is the repentant accepting Christ's invitation as George Herbert so eloquently taught us in his "Love bade me welcome", receiving with humility as Cranmer taught us with the Prayer of Humble Access, and eating with the double mouth of Faith as Vermigli taught. As far as people receiving unworthily our Rector's need to remember that it is their responsibility as pastors to deny those who are "in open, unrepentant sin which causes immediate scandal to the Congregation" to paraphrase the 1662 rubrics, but also we need to remember St Paul's words "let a man examine himself."
To reiterate, frequent Communion is not the problem, catechesis and pastoral responsibility and discipline are the problems.
I am very interested in hearing about your Communion Prep finds. Keep us posted! 🙏