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 ſo much, as to make ſure that the work be throughly done.

And I do on purpoſe ſpeak thus cautiouſly in this matter, becauſe ſome pious perſons do perhaps err on the ſtricter hand, & are a little ſuperſtitious on that ſide in much that unleſs they gain ſo much time to ſet a part for  ſolemn preparation, they will refrain from the Sacrament at that time, though otherwiſe they be habitually prepared: This I doubt not proceeds from a pious mind; but as the Apoſtle ſays in another caſe about the Sacrament, ''Shall  praiſe them in this? I praiſe them not''. For provided there be no wilfull neglect of due preparation, it is much better to come ſo prepared as we can, nay I think it is our duty ſo to to do, rather than to abſtain upon this punctilio. For when all is done, the beſt preparation for the Sacrament, is the general care and endeavour of a good life; and he that is thus prepared may receive at any time when opportunity is offered, though he had no particular foreſight of that opportunity. And I think in that caſe ſuch a one ſhall do much better to receive than to refrain, becauſe he is habitually prepared for the Sacrament, though he had no time to make ſuch actual preparation as he deſired: And if this were not allowable, how could Miniſters communicat with ſick perſons at all times, or perſwade others to do it many times upon very ſhort and ſudden warning?

And indeed we cannot imagine that the primitive Chriſtians, who received the Sacrament ſo frequently, that for ought appears to the contrary they Judged it as eſſential and neceſſary a part of their publick worſhip as any other part of it whatſoever, even as their Hymns & Prayers, and reading and interpreting of the

Word of God: I ſay we cannot well conceive how they who celebrated it ſo conſtantly, could allot any more time for ſolemn preparation for it, than they did for any other part of divine worſhip: And conſequently that the Apoſtle, when he bids the Corinthians examine themſelves, could mean no more than that conſidering the nature & ends of this inſtitution