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be difcouraged by any fuch fears. If, after a ferious repentance, a man should be prevailed upon to return to his former wickedness, in as high or a higher degree than before; yet, even in this case, we cannot conclude that fuch a perfon is for ever excluded by God from all poffibility of pardon and reconciliation. On the contrary, we must confider how highly the mercy of God is set forth and magnified, even towards the greatest finners, upon their true repentance; that he has no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live (d) that he is long-fuffering to us ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all fhould come to repentance (e): that though our fins be as Scarlet, or as red as crimfan, yet God is ready upon our repentance to make them as white as wool, or Snow (f).

From thefe and many fuch passages of scripture, we may gather, that if the most profligate and relapfed finner does, even after a long time, come at laft to fuch a fenfe of his own condition, as tho roughly to turn from the wickedness that he hath com mitted, and live the remainder of his days in the practice of virtue and good works, doing that which is lawful and right, even such a perfon as this shall fave his foul alive (g).

(d) Ezek. xxxiii. 11. i. 18.

(e) 2 Pet. iii. (g) Ezek. xviii. 27.

(f) Ifai.

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At the fame time it must be obvious to common fense, that the greater a man's fins have been, and the oftener he has relapsed into them, the deeper his forrow and repentance must be. But to make our fear a pretence for keeping ourselves back from this ordinance of God, is in fact to neglect the means of repentance; and to render ourselves criminal in a greater degree, for fear we should be Lo in a leffer.

SECT. III.

Excufe on account of duty or business, answered.

Some men pretend, that they are fo continually engaged and taken up with bufinefs, that they have not time to prepare themselves for the holy communion ; and therefore do not come to it. Thefe must know, that this duty or business is either lawful or unlawful. If it be fuch as cannot be followed with a good confcience,, it must be re nounced in any cafe: if it be lawful and commanded, and engages us in nothing which is difhoneft; fuch bufinefs as this is fo far from unqualifying a man, that it rather renders him the more fit to receive the holy communion. For as idleness is itself a fin, and the mother, or at least the nu: se of all manner of wickedness, fo honeft and lawful. bufinefs

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business is a duty in which every man is obliged to be diligent (h).

But fome fay their time is fo wholly taken up, that they have not leifure for the performance of those folemn devotions which are neceffary in order to their due preparation.

Such may be the condition of fome, as not to have fo much as a place of retirement for their private devotions, as in the cafe of private foldiers in a camp, and fuch like. But it is a mistake which fome well-meaning men entertain, that they must not venture to receive the holy communion, except they fay fo many prayers, and spend so many hours in retirement and meditation for fome days immediately before the celebration of it.

Where a man indeed is at his own command, and master of his own time, he is much to be commended, if upon fuch an occafion he fpends more hours than at other times, in private prayers, reading, and meditation, that he may trim his lamp before he goes to meet the bridegroom; and cleanse and adorn his wedding garment, before he comes to the marriage feaft. But where the public fervice of a man's country, or the private neceffities of himself or his family, engage him in fo much business, as that he has not fuch leifure for retirement; if, in the midst of his affairs, he takes care to have God (b) 1 Theff. iv. 11.

Eph. iv. 28.

in his thoughts, and often to lift up his heart to him by private ejaculations; if he has neither chamber nor closet, garden nor field to withdraw himself into; if he ferioufly retires into his own thoughts, he may well hope for acceptance. A man may do this in any place, upon his bed, at midnight, and even in the midst of the greatest croud in the day-time; he may there enquire into his paft fins, and renew his refolutions of amendment; and if all this proceeds from an honest and wellmeaning heart, truly and affectionately difpofed to the fervice of God, and the practice of piety, no doubt but he will be as well accepted by God, as those who have better opportunities for fuch performances.

SECT. IV.

Excufe on account of ignorance, answered.

Some apprehend that they are not fit to come, because they are ignorant, and not well instructed in the principles of their religion.

If a man be ignorant of those things which are ordinarily neceffary to the falvation of every Chrif tian, it is evidently not fit that he should come to the holy communion, until fuch time as he is better inftructed. But fuch inftruction as this is so eafy to be had amongst us, that it must be every man's

own

own fault if he wants it. How eafy is it for every man, who either reads the fcripture, or hears it read, fufficiently to learn all the great and necessary things of the Christian religion? As for example, That God created all things:

That Jefus Chrift is the Son of God:

That the fame Chrift came into the world, and took our nature upon him, to fuffer for our redemption:

That after he had fuffered, he rose again from the dead, and afcended into heaven, where he remains for ever in the glory and majefty of God, making interceffion for us:

That he shall come again at the end of the world to judge both the living and the dead (who shall at that time be raised again) and to sentence every man, either to everlafting happiness, or eternal mifery:

That every Chriftian is to be admitted into the church by baptifm:

That it is his duty to live foberly, righteously, and godly, in this prefent world :

That it is by the affiftance of the Holy Ghost,. who is the giver of spiritual life unto us, that we are alone enabled to perform these duties:

Laftly, that in remembrance of the death and paffion of our Saviour Jefus Chrift, we are commanded

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