all this importunity obtain nothing at God's ⟨hand⟩: Like lazy beggers that are always ⟨complaining⟩ and always asking, but will not work, will do ⟨nothing⟩ to help themſelves, and better their ⟨condition⟩, and therefore are never like to move the ⟨pity⟩ and compaſſion of others. If we expect God's ⟨grace⟩ and aſſiſtance, we muſt work out our own ⟨ſalvation⟩ in the careful uſe of all theſe means which ⟨God⟩ hath appointed to that end. That ⟨excellent⟩ degree of goodneſs, which men would have ⟨to⟩ fit them for the Sacrament, is not to be had but ⟨by⟩ the uſe of it. And therefore it is a prepoſterous ⟨thing⟩ for men to inſiſt upon having the end before ⟨they⟩ will uſe the means that may further them in ⟨the⟩ obtaining of it.
2. The total want of a due preparation, not ⟨only⟩ in the degree, but in the main and ſubſtance ⟨of⟩ it, though it render us unfit at preſent to receive this Sacrament, yet does it by no means excuſe our neglect of it. One fault may draw on ⟨another⟩, but can never excuſe It. It is our great ⟨fault⟩ that we are wholly unprepared, and no ⟨man⟩ can claim any benefit by his fault, or plead ⟨it⟩ in excuſe or extenuation of this neglect. A ⟨total⟩ want of preparation and an abſolute unworthineſs is impenitency in an evil courſe, a ⟨reſolution⟩ to continue a bad mad, not to quit his luſts, ⟨and⟩ to break off that wicked courſe he hath lived ⟨in⟩: But is this any excuſe for the neglect of our ⟨duty⟩, that we will not fit our ſelves for the doing ⟨of⟩ it with benefit and advantage to our ſelves? A ⟨father⟩ commands his ſon to ask him bleſſing every ⟨day⟩, and is ready to give it him ; but ſo long as ⟨ge⟩ is undutiful to him in his other actions, and ⟨lives⟩ in open diſobedience, forbids him to come ⟨in⟩ his ſight. He excuſeth himſelf from aſking his
