Worthy Communicant
Jeremy Taylor's *The Worthy Communicant* emerged from the liturgical chaos of mid-seventeenth-century England, when decades of Puritan rule had disrupted traditional Anglican sacramental practice. Writing in 1660 as the monarchy and episcopal church were restored, Taylor addressed a generation that had grown up with infrequent communion and widespread confusion about the Eucharist's meaning and proper reception. His treatise sought to restore both theological clarity and devotional richness to what he considered the central act of Christian worship.
Taylor constructs his argument through careful attention to both the nature of the sacrament and the disposition of the communicant. He begins by establishing the Eucharist as God's supreme gift of grace, then methodically examines what constitutes worthy reception. Rather than demanding impossible perfection, Taylor argues for sincere repentance, faith, and charity as the essential qualifications. He provides detailed guidance for examination of conscience, confession, and the cultivation of proper reverence, while warning against both scrupulous anxiety and careless presumption. Throughout, he weaves together patristic theology, Anglican formularies, and pastoral wisdom to create a comprehensive manual for sacramental preparation and participation.
The work became a cornerstone of Anglican eucharistic theology and devotion, influencing centuries of communicant preparation. Taylor's balanced approach—avoiding both Roman Catholic emphasis on priestly mediation and Puritan minimalism about sacramental efficacy—helped establish a distinctly Anglican sacramental piety that emphasized both divine grace and human cooperation. His practical guidance for self-examination and spiritual preparation proved enduringly valuable across denominational lines.
Who should read this: Clergy and serious lay practitioners seeking to deepen their understanding of communion preparation and sacramental theology. Those interested in the development of Anglican thought or seventeenth-century devotional literature will find Taylor's elegant prose and theological sophistication rewarding, though readers expecting contemporary accessibility may find the work demanding.