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in this laſt Age by the unwarry diſcourſes of ſome, concerning the nature of this Sacrament, and the danger of receiving it unworthily, ſuch doubts and fears have been raiſed in the minds of men as utterly to deterr many, and in a great meaſure to diſcourage almoſt the generality of Chriſtians from the uſe of it; to the great prejudice and danger of mens souls, and the viſible abatement of piety by the groſs neglect of ſo excellent a means of our grouth and improvment in it; and to the mighty ſcandal of our Religion, by the general diſuſe and contempt of ſo plain and ſolemn an Inſtitution of our bleſſed Lord and Saviour.
Therefore I ſhal take occaſion as briefly & clearly as I can to treat of theſe Four points.
Apoſtle ſignifies when he
aith, that I Cor. II. 26. by eating this bread, and drinking this cup, we do ſhew the Lord's death till
he come.
Secondly, Of the Obligation that lyes upon all Chriſtians to a frequent obſervance of this Inſtitution; this is ſignified in that expreſſion of the Apoſtle, as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup; Which expreſſion conſidered and compared together with the practice of the Primitive Church, does imply an obligation upon Chriſtians to the frequent receiving of this Sacrament.
Thirdly , I ſhal endeavour to ſatisfie the Objections and Scruples, which have been raiſed in the minds of men; and particularly of many devout and ſincere Chriſtians, to their great discouragement from their receiving this Sacrament, at leaſt ſo frequently as they oughtː Which Objections are chiefly grounded upon what the Apoſtle ſays, Wherefore whoſoever ſhal eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily, is guilty of the body and blood of the Lord: and doth eat and drink damnation to himſelf.
Fourthly, What Preparation of our ſelves is neceſſary in order to our worthy receiving of this Sacrament: which will give me occaſion to explain the Apoſtle's meaning in theſe words Ver. 28. But let a man examine himſelf, andſo
