with any perfon; we have not yet repented of all our fins, but, as to these at least, are ftill impenitent. So that where once repentance of all our fins is, there is, or may be in us, every thing else which God requires at this feast, to fit us worthily to partake thereof.

Thus is every true penitent fit to eat at the table of his Lord, and to be a worthy communicant. And therefore when any perfons do from their hearts repent them of all their fins, and are fully purposed to lead new lives thenceforwards; let them not be afraid to come to the holy facrament, for they are truly fuch as God accounts worthy of it. If they have not parted with their fins indeed, but live ftill in them, and are ready to repeat them on the next occafion; they will come unworthily whilst they are in that ftate, and will not receive the benefits intended to them thereby. But if they have broken loose from their fins, and have been acted by the fear of God, and led new lives for fome time; and are still putting out more endeavours, and praying for more grace to do this yet more perfectly; They are the perfons whom God calls to

this feast, and may justly expect to receive an hearty welcome at it.

Nay, if their return to God has been fo late, as that they have not yet had time fufficient for well doing, but only for holy purpofing that they will do well as often as they fhall have occafion: Yet, if out of a ferious conviction of the deteftableness of every finful courfe, they are fully refolved to leave it; and after a due confideration of every part of their duty, they are fully, and without all referve refolved to practise it; there is no doubt but that this will and purpofe, before the time and opportunities for practice come, will render them welcome guefts, and worthy to communicate.

If any perfons then have already left their fins, and do not willingly allow themselves in any of them; if they have been striving long against them, and are daily gaining ground, and making a more perfect conqueft thereof: Nay, if they, who fince their return to God, have not had time to perform all this, are yet fully and deliberately purposed, and without all reserve resolved within themfeves fo to do ;-They are the perfons, whom God invites to this feaft; they are worthy to come to it, and will be fure to

meet

meet with a kind and hearty entertainment there. God and they are fully agreed in their own thoughts, and the terms of re→ conciliation betwixt them are confented to on both fides. For he proclaims mercy upon répentance, and they thankfully accept it; he offers to return into favour with every finner that will amend his faults, and they are glad of the joyful news, and fully refolve an end to fuch their faults. And fince they are both agreed upon the thing, what fhould hinder them from coming to the holy facrament, which he has appointed for this very end, that therein they may give their express confent to this agreement, and mutually make this declaration?

Thus is every man, who has left his fins, and begun to lead a new life; or who is fully purposed in his own mind, and absolutely intendeth so to do ;-a welcome guest at this feaft, and worthy to communicate: So that no apprehenfions of unworthiness ought to put him by it.

And as for thofe, who neither have left all their fins, nor are determined in their own hearts, and wholly bent to leave them; they are plainly impenitent, and thereupon moft unworthy to communicate. But then, THIRDLY,

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THIRDLY, That impenitence which unfits them for the holy facrament, is no excufe at all for the neglect of it.

Impenitence will excufe a man in no act, but is itself a very great aggravation of the fame. It is no extenuating plea, but a damning fault; fo that no man must ever hope to escape the eafier, after he has omitted any duty, by giving that as the reafon for it. When God calls us to the facrament, to promise him that we will amend our faults, and lead new lives thenceforward; if we return answer, that we come not, because we are impenitent; that is as much as to fay, we come not as he bids, because we will not; which is certainly a very odd kind of plea for any offence, and can never render his cafe better, but much the worse, that uses it.

As for those then, who keep away because they are impenitent; they are left without all plea, and have no excuse at all to make, for their not coming to the holy facrament. The only thing that can stand them in ftead, either as to it, or to any thing else, is their repentance and amendment; which they will not delay, if they confider

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confider in how great need they stand thereof. For,

FOURTHLY; Impenitent perfons, who are unworthy of the holy facrament, if they underftand the danger and mifery of their state, can by no means continue therein, but muft forthwith repent and amend, and then this bindrance is gone, and they may worthily approach to it.

If they understand the danger and mifery of their fate, I fay, they cannot continue in it. For fo long as they remain impenitent in many, or in any one known fin, they are not only unfit to receive the facrament, but also to say their prayers, to give thanks, or to have any thing to do with God in any other part of religious worship and service. They are fhut out from all benefits of religion, they have no falvation by Christ, nor any hopes of heaven. If they happen to die fuddenly whilft they are in this state, or are called away before the work of reformation is finished, they will go to hell, there to be tormented with the infupportable anguish of a wounded confcience, and unfatisfied appetites, and a raging fire, and