⟨Sacrament:⟩ He finds no other fault with them ⟨at⟩ preſent in this matter, though any other ſort ⟨of⟩ irreverence will proportionably expoſe men ⟨to⟩ the like puniſhment. He ſays nothing here of ⟨their⟩ habitual preparation, by the ſincere ⟨purpoſe⟩ and reſolution of a good life, anſwerable to ⟨the⟩ rules of the Chriſtian Religion; this we may ⟨suppoſe⟩ he took for granted. However, it ⟨concerns⟩ the Sacrament to more than it does Prayer ⟨or⟩ any other religious Duty. Not but that it is very ⟨true,⟩ that none but thoſe who do heartily embrace ⟨the⟩ Chriſtian Religion, and are ſincerely reſolved ⟨to⟩ frame their lives according to the holy rules ⟨and⟩ precepts of it, are fit to communicat in this ⟨ſolemn⟩ acknowledgment and profeſſion of at. So ⟨that⟩ it is a practice very much to be countenanced ⟨and⟩ encouraged, becauſe it is of great uſe, for ⟨Chriſtians⟩ by way of preparation foe the Sacrament to examine themſelves in a larger ſenſe than ⟨in⟩ all probability the Apoſtle here intended; I mean, to examine our paſt lives and the actions ⟨of⟩ them, in order to a ſincere repentance of all ⟨our⟩ errours and miſcarriages, and to fix us in the ⟨ſteady⟩ purpoſe and reſolution of a better life; particularly, when we expect to have the forgiveneſs of our ſins ſealed to us, we ſhould lay aſide all ⟨enmity⟩ and thoughts of revenge and heartily forgive thoſe that have offended us, and put in practice that univerſal love and charity which is repreſented to us by this holy Communion. And to ⟨this⟩ purpoſe we are earneſtly exhorted in the publick office of the Communion by way of due preparation and diſpoſition for it, to repent as ⟨truely⟩ of our ſins paſt, to amend our lives, and to be in perfect charity with all men, that ſo we may be meet partakers of those holy myſteries.
And
