Book IV. of J E s u s C H R 1 s T. 31?

Damr.O'tion^ and keeps them back by millaken Notions of their Unwarthinefs and Danger. If he can thus pre- vail^ either for a total Negled: of this Sacrament^ or contrive that they fhall come fiill of Doubts and Dif* rcitisfad:ion^ he gains his Point. But be not ignorant of his Devices ^ Inform thy felf rightly of thy Duty, wherein Unworthinefs does truly confiftj that nothing but want of Sincerity and due Reverence can bring thee into hazard^ and then defpife his vain Attempts to difcompofe and evacuate thy good Intentions. Retort his wicked Craft back upon his own Mead^^iby being more vigilant^ more careful, morerefolved j but by no means omit this Duty, nor fuffer thy felf to be drawn off from that Communion, which is the Sovereign Anti- dote, thebeft Prefervative.againftSin and Temptation. If he labour to difguife his devilifh Arts, under the fpecious colour of Caution and Humility, and want of more perfeA Devotion j Lay afide thy unprofitable and difquieting Anxieties , and flee for Succour and Advice to fome godly Pallor. Let his Prudence di- rect thy doubting Steps, and unbofom thy felf freely to him • that by confefling thy Sins, and opening thy Cafe to the Phy fician of Souls, thou may'ft receive the Benefit of Ghoilly Counfel, and the Comfort of Ab- folution. Know, that no Sin can hurt thee, or ren- der thee an unworthy Receiver, when once confefs'd, and ferioufly repented of: And that, when this is done, all thy Doubts and Perplexities hinder the Grace of God, and check thy Improvement in Piety and De- votion. Let not any ordinary Trouble or Afflidion deter thee from coming to thy Lord for Relief; buc make the greater hafte to reconcile thy felf to God, and purge away thofe Offences, which may have pro- voked , and drawn down the Afiiidion upon thee.' Let not any Difference between thee and thy Brethren detain thee ,• for there is a fhort and ready way of removing this Obitrudion, by forgiving and Praying
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^14 €>f tl^e ginitatton Book IV?
for thofe who have grieved or injured thee ; and by reconciling thy felf, and asking Pardon of thofe whom thou hafl offended. And, if they ftill be fo perverfe, as not to be reconciled upon a due Submiflion ; Yet confider, that their Obftinacy and Wickednef§ ought to be no obftru6tion to the performance of thy Duty. Thou haft done thy partj and God will be fure to forgive and accept thy Perfon, though Men do not.
What benefit can a Man poffibly propofe to himfelf from the putting ofFExamination and Repentance, and forbearing to come to the Holy Communion r Moft certainly, when one isdifeafed, the greateft Wif- dprp is to get well again as foon as poffibly he can : To expel the Malignity, and difcharge the Venom immediately. Thus will the Cure be eafier, more ifpeedy, more fuccefsul. For every delay adds to the Piftemper, and gathers frefti and more obftinate Mat- ter, if you omic theprefent Opportunity upon One Pretence, Another and more prevailing may inter- pofe, and deprive you of the next. And thus by de- grees you will be wrought upon to excufe your felf again and again^ and by longer Abftinence become lefs fit, -as well as lefs willing, to return to your Duty, Whatever Burthen then you find upon your Mind, get guit of ir betimes j do not indulge your Sloth and Backv/ardnefs a Moment^ for there can never come any good of prolonging your Cares and Troubles^and niaking the common Hindra:nc^s of .Worldly Butinefs^ a Reafon for neglecting your great, your eternal In- tereft/ This is moft maniieil, and Experience will prove the truth of it, when it is too late ^ that the longer you defer Communicating, the lefs you will iind your felf difpofed to it, and a ftrange Carelefnefs and Difregard for holy Exercifes will infenfibly creep ppon your Mfnd^ and get a mighty head. But, which is' a molt lamentable thing to confider^ many loofe