feffeth to repent, and promiseth to lead a new life thenceforward; and when he folemnly declares he is thus refolved, it is hard for another perfon, who cannot fee into his foul, to say he is not, but is still impenitent. Tho' all good men therefore may be free in judging of themselves, yet ought they to be very wary how they pafs a judgment on the unworthiness of others. They must not be forward to pronounce of it, because it is hard for them to know it; so that when they give sentence against their brethren in this point, it is ventrously done, and they are liable to be deceived therein.

Befides; When fome others, who, as they have great cause to think, are unworthy, do receive the holy facrament; yet ought not that to hinder them from receiving it too. Our business should not be, to move queftions and difputes about the preparedness of others, but to be careful duly to prepare our felves; and when once we are fitly qualified for it, we ought to come whether they be fo or no. Their unworthinefs will have all its effect upon themselves, but will not hinder our acceptance, nor ought to put us by, from doing both our bleffed Saviour, and

our

our own fouls this fervice. For one man shall not bear another's, but every one his own burden,

A

IVth THING, which keeps back several from the holy facrament, tho' both in duty to their Saviour, and in tenderness to their own fouls, they are most strictly bound to frequent the fame, is, because therein they are to promise concerning every fin which they find themfelves guilty of, that they will no more commit it; and this promise they dare not make, because they fear they shall not keep it.

Now as for these persons, they would do well to confider, that if this be a fufficient hindrance, to keep them from this ordinance, it is equally fo to keep them from prayers too, nay from the whole chriftian profeffion. For God will not hear their prayers for the pardon of any fin, till they repent of it, and refolve within themselves, and make him faithful promises, that they will never more commit the fame. And in order to be admitted into the fellowship of Chrift's church, men are firft to renounce the devil and all his works, and promise to keep God's holy will and commandments. If we

ftick at these promises, then we must scruple faying our prayers, and bid adieu to all religion.

But more particularly, to those who are afraid of the holy facrament upon this account, I have these two things to offer:

1. Promife this amendment, and keep it, and then the doubt is anfwered.

2. Tho' after fome time they should forget themfelves, and break it in fome inftances, yet ftill they have the benefit of repentance afterwards.

1. I would advise them to promife this amendment, and to keep it, and the doubt is anfwered. When the objection against promifing, is only the danger of performing, when they both can, and ought to perform it; it is an objection that lies only against themselves, in a fufpicion that they will be wanting to their own bounden duty and fervice. And that is better removed, by their own care faithfully to discharge it, than by any thing that can be faid. They ought to perform it, and if they will, by God's grace they may do it; and therefore let them be careful to do that, and this difficulty is at 'an end.

They

They ought, Ifay, to perform this amendment, which they promife to almighty God, to leave every fin which they have formerly committed. God will not forgive us any wilful offences, whilft we perfift impenitent, and continue to repeat them; but requires firft, on our part, that we forfake and amend the fame. It is no indifferent matter, that is left to our own choice, whether we will leave our fins or no; but the thing muft of neceffity be done, if ever we hope to appease God, or to go to heaven. So that we must not be lefs forward to promife, for that is our duty; but more careful to perform.

And as they ought to perform this amendment, which they promise to almighty God, fo by his grace they may perform it, if they will, and have a mind fo to do. When at this feast, they say they will never commit this or that fin any more, according as God has required, they say not that they will never be furprized into it, but that they will never act it wilfully, that is, when they fee it, and are aware of it; or, if at any time they do fall into it again, that they will not persist therein, but amend it; repentance

always

always going along, and being implied from the beginning to the end of the gospel And this, by God's help, they

covenant.

all may do, if they make it their serious bufinefs, and lay out their utmost care and pains upon it. For when a man's confcience tells him, that the thing is finful which he is about to act, or at least he could readily fee it, if he would direct his eye thereto; he need not go on therewith unless he will, but if he please, may instantly turn away from it. This, I fay, he may do; for if he will not be wanting to himself, God will not be wanting to him therein, but enable him effectually to abftain from the same, when he truly endeavours fo to do.

And fince by God's grace they may perform this amendment if they will, and ought to perform it, if ever they hope he should accept them; let them but be careful fo to do, and then this hindrance will give them no more trouble, but be quite removed. They will have no cause to be flow to promife, what they will be thus honeftly careful to perform.

2. Tho' afterwards, they should forget themselves, and break this promife in fome inStance;