"The most gracious and glorious Redeemer of Mankind": Tillotson on receiving the Holy Sacrament at Christmastide

In a collection of Christmastide sermons on the Incarnation by John Tillotson, then Dean of Canterbury, later Archbishop of Canterbury, preached in the Church of St. Lawrence Jewry in 1679 and 1680, we find references to the significance of receiving the Holy Sacrament during the festive season. Although Tillotson's sacramental theology here is clearly 'low', his words testify to both the rich piety associated with reception of Holy Communion at Christmas and how this flowed from the salvific nature of the Incarnation.

Blessed God and Saviour of Mankind! What shall we render to thee for such mighty love, for such inestimable benefits as thou hast purchas'd for us and art ready to confer upon us? What shall we say to thee, O thou preserver and lover of Souls, so often as we approach thy H. Table, there to commemorate this mighty love of thine to us, and to partake of those invaluable blessings which by thy precious bloodshedding thou hast obtained for us? So often as we there remember, that thou wast pleased to assume our mortal Nature, on purpose to live amongst us for our instruction, and for our example, and to lay down thy life for the redemption of our Souls and for the expiation of our Sins; and to take part of flesh and blood that thou mightst shed it for our sakes: What affections should these thoughts raise in us? What Vows and resolutions should they engage us in, of perpetual love and gratitude, and obedience to thee the most gracious and most glorious Redeemer of Mankind? (Sermon I)

And what Sacrifices of Praise and Thanksgiving should we also offer up to this gracious and most merciful Redeemer of ours, the everlasting Son of the Father, who debased himself so infinitely for our sakes, and when he took upon Him to deliver Man did not abhor the Virgin's womb: Who was contented to be born so obscurely and to live all his life in a poor and persecuted condition; and was pleased both to undergo and to overcome the sharpness of Death, that he might open the Kingdom of Heaven to all Believers?

Every time we have occasion to meditate upon this, especially when we are communicating at his H. Table and receiving the blessed Symbols and Pledges of his precious Death and Passion: How should our Hearts burn within us and leap for Joy? How should the remembrance of it revive and raise our Spirits, and put us into an Ecstasy of Love and Gratitude to this great Friend and Lover of Souls: And with the B. Mother of our Lord, how should our Souls, upon that blessed occasion, magnify the Lord, and our Spirits rejoice in God our Saviour? (Sermon IV)

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