⟨aggravation⟩ that he refuſeth it for ſuch a reaſon, ⟨and⟩ under a pretence of modeſty does the moſt ⟨imprudent⟩ thing in the world. This is juſt the caſe; and in this caſe there is but one thing reaſonable to be done, & that is, for a man to make ⟨himſelf⟩ capable of the benefit as ſoon as he can, ⟨and⟩ thankfully to accept of it: But to excuſe ⟨himſelf⟩ from accepting of the benefit offered, ⟨becauſe⟩ he is not worthy of it, nor fit for it. nor ⟨ever⟩ intends to be ſo, is as if a man ſhould deſire ⟨to⟩ be excuſed from being happy, becauſe he is ⟨reſolved⟩ to play the fool and to be miſerable. ⟨So that⟩ whether our want of preparation be total, ⟨or⟩ only to ſome degree, it is every way ⟨unreaſonable⟩. If it be in the degree only, it ought not ⟨to⟩ hinder us from receiving the Sacrament; If ⟨it be⟩ total, it ought to put us immediatly upon ⟨removing⟩ the impediment, by making ſuch ⟨preparation⟩ as is neceſſary to the due and worthy ⟨receiving⟩ of it. And this brings me to the
⟨IV.⟩ Fourth and laſt thing I propoſed, viz. What ⟨preparation⟩ of our ſelves is neceſſary in order to ⟨the⟩ worthy receiving of this Sacrament. Which I ⟨told⟩ you would give me occaſion to explain the ⟨Apoſtle's⟩ meaning in the laſt part of the Text, But ⟨let⟩ a man examine himſelf, and ſo let him eat of that ⟨bread⟩ and drink of that cup. I think it very clear ⟨from⟩ the occaſion & circumſtances of the Apoſtle's ⟨diſcourſe⟩ concerning the Sacrament, that he does ⟨not⟩ intend the examination of our ſtate, whether ⟨we⟩ be Chriſtians or nor, and ſincerely reſolved to ⟨continue⟩ ſo; and conſequently that he does not ⟨here⟩ ſpeak of our habitual preparation by the ⟨reſolution⟩ of a good life. This he takes for granted, ⟨that⟩ they were Chriſtians and reſolved to continue ⟨and⟩ perſevere in their Chriſtian profeſſion; But
C
he
