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 To draw to a concluſion of this matter; ſuch groundleſs fears and jealouſies as theſe may be a ſign of a good meaning, but they are certainly a ſign of an injudicious mind. For if we ſtand upon theſe Scruples, no man perhaps was ever ſo worthily prepared to draw near to God in any duty

of Religion, but there was ſtill ſome defect or other in the diſpoſition of his mind, and the degree of his preparation. But it we prepare our ſelves as we can, this is all that God expects. And for our fears of falling into ſin afterwards, there is this plain anſwer to be given to it; that the danger of falling into ſin is not prevented by neglecting the Sacrament, but encreaſed; becauſe a powerfull and probable means of preſerving men from ſin is neglected. And why ſhould not every ſincere Chriſtian, by the receiving of this Sacrament, and renewing his Covenant with God, rather hope to be confirmed in goodneſs, and to receive further aſſiſtances of God's grace and holy Spirit, to ſtrengthen him againſt ſin, and to enable him to ſubdue it; than trouble himſelf with fears, which are either without ground, or if they are not, are no ſufficient reaſon to keep any man from the Sacrament? We cannot ſurely entertain ſo unworthy a thought of God, and our bleſſed Saviour, as to imagine that he did inſtitute the Sacrament, not for the furtherance of our Salvation, but as a ſnare, and an occaſion of our ruine and damnation. This were to pervert the gracious deſign of God, and to turn the cup of Salvation into a cup of deadly poiſon to the ſouls of men.

All then that can reaſonably be inferred from the danger of unworthy receiving is, that upon this conſideration men ſhould be quickned to come to the Sacrament with a due preparation of mind, and ſo much the more to fortifie their reſolutions of living ſutably to that holy Covenant, which they ſolemnly renew every me they receive this holy Sacrament. This conſideration ought to convince us of the abſolute neceſſity of a good life, but not to deter us from the uſe of any means which may contribute to make us good. Therefore (as a learned Divine ſays very well) this Sacrament can be neglected by none but thoſe that