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them from going to Heaven,than upon their
Death-Beds to be troubled with a fad re-
membrance, that they have been more
faithful Drudges to their Familes, than
Friends and Servants to God. 3. But I hope
there are many good People who use the
World, yet neither Abuse the World, nor
themselves for the World's fake.
I am
fure, 'tis poffible to have our Converfation
in Heaven, even while we live upon the
Earth; and 'tis no difficult Matter for a
Wife Man, to serve God and himself too.
Let him follow his Vocation diligently,
let him deal Justly, and fhew Mercy, and
walk Humbly, and Pray Daily, and with
a good Confcience; and then in doing
the works of his Calling, he doth in some
measure work out his Salvation too. For
he Obeyeth God in labouring with his
hands, and in working that which is
good; and fo throughout the week, he
doth in fome fort and degree fit and pre-
pare himself against the Sacrament on the
Lord's day. I deny not, but Men should
pare off fome portion of the fix days, and
Confecrate it to a more folemn and strict
Preparation. Yet this I fay, that the
following of our Secular Business with So-
briety and Honefty, is far from being a
just hinderance, to keep him from attend
ing on this Ordinance. For let a Man

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but lead an Holy Life (and that he may do in any Calling that is but lawful) and the less time will be required for self Examination. Let him but carry always the true Fear of God in his Heart, and the lefs fearful will he be of drawing near unto God in the Church, because he never departeth from him, though he be at home. An upright Converfation is a continual Prayer, and a conftant kind of Preparation; and fo Men may in fome measure fit themselves to be Communicants, even in their Shops and Warehouses. And yet certainly the Business of the day is not fo great nor urgent, but that any the most painful Tradefman may find some convenient time, to offer up to God the Morning and Evening Sacrifice, both of Praise for the Enjoyment of his Mercies, and of Prayer for the Pardon of his own Sins. Now let him but enter upon his Affairs with Devotion, and mannage them with Integrity, and end them and the day with Piety and Repentance for his Failings, and he may be fit to Communicate weekly if he will. And if any Man be fuch an Enemy to himself, as that he is careless in observing this Method, let him lay the blame not upon the Urgency of his Bufinefs, or want of time, but (where it should be laid) upon

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his want of true Zeal, and a right Chriftian Spirit. Yet it is not to be denied, but Men may have fome more extraordi nary Troubles come in upon them at fome times, than at others. Such is the course of this world, that there are floods as well as ebbings of Business in every Employment.. However, 4thly, This is to be Confidered, that the most important Matters are rarely fo inftant and preffing, but Men can pick out fome lucid intervals, and steal away from their Cares, either to fome by-Concernments that are not fo cumber fome, or to Recreations that are for their Refreshment. And how can Men pretend, that they have not time to fit themselves for the Sacrament, when they may dif patch the work in a lefs fpace, than that amounts to, which many times is vainly, and sometimes finfully employed? If such Men were fure to purchase an Estate, by the Prayers and Penances of a week, I am apt to think, none of them would pretend that they wanted time. Or if an Office or Place were in danger to be loft, or a confiderable fumm of Mony like to be forfeited, unless the Sacrament be Re ceiv'd by fuch a day, 'tis likely that whatever Mens Business or Concernments are, they would be fure to keep their fides free from the lash of the Law. And

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what's the Reason, that Penal Statutes are fo carefully obferved, while at other times the Commands of Chrift are fo eafily paft over, but that Men generally have not that tender regard of their Souls, as they have of their Purfes, and of their Secular Intereft?

3. BUT befides thefe, there is a third fort of Perfons, whofe Excufes are a little to be Confidered too; many Serious, Religious, and Devout Chriftians, I doubt not, who have both Hearts to come to the Communion, and time enough for Preparation, but yet are troubled with Scruples and Fears, left they fhould not come prepared fufficiently, notwithstanding their Pious Endeavours; and fo rather chufe to refrain, though it be with much reluctancy and regret. Thefe Fears and Scruples, I now fpeak of, do moftly, if not altogether, proceed from wrong Notions and Apprehenfions concerning this Mystery. Because they are told, that be fore they Receive, they must Examine themselves, whether they be in a State of Grace; and that after they have Re ceived, they must be careful continually to persevere in that State; hence it cometh to pass, that they are very mistrustful of themselves, and very fearful of the worst. Perhaps the remembrance of fome Sin that

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that is paft, doth yet run in their minds, though they be truly Penitent for it; and withal the Sense of their Natural Weakness makes them doubtful for the future, lest they should Tranfgrefs again notwithstanding their watchfulness; and the apprehenfions of what is past, and of what may follow, difquiets their Confciences; and thinking to Err on the Right Hand, they refolve to keep their feet from the Table of the Lord, left they fhould take a step towards the brink of Deftruction.

NOW, to rectifie the mistakes of these, it is to be obferved, That no more is required of any (in point of Practice) for the due Receiving of this Sacrament, than what is required of us all by the Tenor of the New Covenant; for here we do renew our Covenant with God, and engage our felves afresh, but upon the former Terms that were undertaken at our Baptifm: So that what that Covenant doth contain, that we are bound now to make good. Now the Conditions of the New Covenant are these in fhort, viz. Faith in Christ, accompanied with Repentance from all dead Works. And if Men bewail their Sins heartily, and resolve to be circumfpect for the time to come, not allowing themselves in any thing that is Evil, but forfaking all fin

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