long, for this usually brings on heavy spiritual drowsiness.
Alas, some lukewarm undisciplined persons do willingly delay confessing their sins, and defer the holy communion, lest they should be engaged to keep a stricter watch over themselves.
5. O how poor and mean is their love, how weak their devotion, who so easily put off the holy communion!
How happy is he and how acceptable to God, who so ordereth his life, and in such purity keepeth his conscience, that he is prepared and well-disposed to communicate even every day, if it were in his power, and if it might be done not to be seen of men.
If a person do abstain out of humility, or by reason of some lawful cause preventing him, he is to be commended so far as it ariseth from a feeling of reverence.
But if a spiritual drowsiness have crept over him he must bestir himself, and do what lieth in him, and the Lord will assist his desire, for the good will he hath thereto, which is what God doth chiefly respect.
6. But when any lawful hindrance doth happen, he will yet always have a good will and a pious intention to communicate, and so shall he reap the fruit of the sacrament.
For any devout person may every day, yea, every hour, profitably and without let draw near to Christ in spiritual communion.
And yet on certain days, and at times appointed,
