A Short and Plain Instruction for the Better Understanding of the Lord's Supper... - Bishop Thomas Wilson

(title continues) "...With the Necessary Preparation Required For the Benefit of Young Communicants, and of Such as Have Not Well Considered This Holy Ordinance. To Which is Annexed, The Office of the Holy Communion, With Proper Helps and Directions For Joining in Every Part Thereof With Understanding and Profit."
Published by the Society For Promoting Christian Knowledge: Northumberland Avenue, Charing Cross, London.
First written 1734. First published 1807.

This (physically) little book with the massive title has been sitting on my shelf at home for ages, and at times I've picked it up, curious to have a read, but then haven't gotten into it. Recently, Ezekiel came across it, and pulled it down from the shelf. Because it is an older and perhaps more fragile book than some, I moved it to my bedside table to keep it safe, and in the process, finally got into it. 

I'm glad I did.

Bishop Wilson writes in an old-fashioned style, occasionally seeming like his faith might be a little 'harsher' or more legalistic than mine, but I always find that reading theology from a different culture or time period challenges me in ways that only reading my own culture doesn't. 

For example, Bishop Wilson writes at one point about our obligation to tend to our own faith, rather than just looking to always serve others. In this pursuit, he states: "As to the duty I owe to myself - I am convinced that my first and great concern ought to be, to take care of my own soul. I do therefore steadfastly purpose to lead a serious life, as one under the sentence of death ought to do... To this end, I resolve to keep a watch over myself, that I may avoid all such company, such pleasures and diversions, as may make me lose the remembrance of death, and the account I must give... And forasmuch as a life of idleness and luxury is hateful to God, I will strive to do my duty in the state of life to which His providence has placed me, not flattering myself that I do no evil, when I do no good in my generation..." (pages 33-34). 

Although the wordiness of this quote may make it a little hard to wrap the head around, there is a real challenge in realising that 'doing no evil in our generation' does NOT mean that we are 'doing GOOD in our generation.' Wilson's challenge to strip away 'diversions', company and even 'pleasures' that can distract us from our duty is one that too many of our generation (often including myself) forget.

Another insight includes thoughts on the cost of sin: "Concerning the nature and greatness of this sin, we are to judge of it by the greatness of the punishment inflicted upon them and their posterity. For God, being infinitely just and holy, could not inflict a punishment greater than their sin deserved." (page 4).

The first half of the book is thoughts like this that help to prepare the 'communicant' to receive communion. The second half is an order of events and reading for a communion service, including not only what the minister should say and read, but how the congregant could reflect on proceedings, either out loud or in their heart. The font in this section gets very small (as side effect of a book that is smaller than my phone in physical size) but should not be skipped over. One challenge in this section, concerning our attitude towards giving, is quoted from another bishop, Bishop Beveridge: "Let us proportion our alms to our ability, lest we provoke God to proportion His blessings to our alms." (page 83).

Overall, a challenging and thought provoking little theological work that should be read reflectfully.

Well worth it.

Completed 16 April 2025.

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