of Religion, but there was ſtill ſome defect or ⟨other⟩ in the diſpoſition of his mind, and the ⟨degree⟩ of his preparation. But it we prepare ⟨our⟩ ſelves as we can, this is all that God expects. ⟨And⟩ for our fears of falling into ſin afterwards, ⟨there is⟩ this plain anſwer to be given to it; that the ⟨danger⟩ of falling into ſin is not prevented by neglecting the Sacrament, but encreaſed; ⟨becauſe⟩ a powerfull and probable means of preſerving ⟨men⟩ from ſin is neglected. And why ſhould not ⟨every⟩ ſincere Chriſtian, by the receiving of this Sacrament, and renewing his Covenant with God, ⟨rather⟩ hope to be confirmed in goodneſs, and to receive further aſſiſtances of God's grace and ⟨holy⟩ Spirit, to ſtrengthen him againſt ſin, and to ⟨enable⟩ him to ſubdue it; than trouble himſelf with ⟨fears,⟩ which are either without ground, or if they ⟨are⟩ not, are no ſufficient reaſon to keep any man ⟨from⟩ the Sacrament? We cannot ſurely entertain ſo unworthy a thought of God, and our bleſſed Saviour, as to imagine that he did inſtitute the Sacrament, not for the furtherance of our Salvation, but as ⟨a⟩ ſnare, and an occaſion of our ruine and damnation. This were to pervert the gracious deſign ⟨of⟩ God, and to turn the cup of Salvation into a cup of deadly poiſon to the ſouls of men.
All then that can reaſonably be inferred from the danger of unworthy receiving is, that upon this conſideration men ſhould be quickned to come to the Sacrament with a due preparation of mind, and ſo much the more to fortifie their reſolutions of living ſutably to that holy Covenant, which they ſolemnly renew every me they receive this holy Sacrament. This conſideration ought to convince us of the abſolute neceſſity of a good life, but not to deter us from the uſe of any meanswhich
