fathers bleſſing, becauſe he is undutiful in ⟨other⟩ things, and reſolves to continue ſo. This is ⟨juſt⟩ the cauſe of neglecting the duty God requires, ⟨and⟩ the bleſſings he offers to us in the Sacrament, ⟨becauſe⟩ we have made our ſelves incapable of ſo ⟨performing⟩ the one as to receive the other, and ⟨are⟩ reſolved to continue ſo. We will not do our ⟨duty⟩ in other things, and then plead that we are ⟨unfit⟩ and unworthy to do it in this particular of ⟨the⟩ Sacrament.
3. The proper inference and concluſion from a total want of due preparation for the Sacrament, is not to caſt off all thoughts of receiving ⟨of⟩ it, but immediately to ſet about the work of preparation, that ſo we may be fit to receive it. ⟨For⟩ if this be true, that they who are abſolutely unprepared ought not to receive the Sacrament, ⟨nor⟩ can do it with any benefit; nay by doing it ⟨in⟩ ſuch a manner render their condition much worſe, this is a moſt forcible argument to ⟨repentance⟩ and amendment of life. There is nothing reaſonable in this caſe, bur immediately to reſolve upon a better courſe, that ſo we may be meet ⟨partakers⟩ of thoſe holy Myſteries, and may no longer provoke God's wrath againſt us by the wilfull neglect of ſo great and neceſſary a duty of the Chriſtian Religion. And we do willfully neglect it, ſo long as we do willfully refuſe to fit and qualifie our ſelves for the due and worthy performance of it. Let us view the thing in a like caſe; A pardon is graciouſly offered to a rebel, he declines to accept it, and modeſtly excuſeth himſelf, becauſe he is not worthy of it. And why is he not worthy? Becauſe he reſolves to be a rebel, and then his pardon will do him no good, but be an aggravation of his Crime. Very true; and it will be no leſs an
