Word of God: I ſay we cannot well ⟨conceive⟩ how they who celebrated it ſo conſtantly, ⟨could⟩ allot any more time for ſolemn preparation ⟨for⟩ it, than they did for any other part of ⟨divine⟩ worſhip: And conſequently that the Apoſtle, ⟨when⟩ he bids the Corinthians examine themſelves, could mean no more than that conſidering ⟨the⟩ nature & ends of this inſtitution they ⟨ſhould⟩ come to it with great reverence; and reflecting upon their former miſcarriages in ⟨this⟩ matter, ſhould be carefull upon this admonition to avoid them for the future, and to ⟨amend⟩ what had been amiſs; which to do requires ⟨rather⟩ reſolution and care than any long time ⟨of⟩ preparation.
I ſpeak this, that devout perſons may not ⟨be⟩ intangled in an apprehenſion of a greater ⟨neceſſity⟩ than really there is of a long & ⟨ſolemn⟩ preparation every time they receive the Sacrament. The great neceſſity that lyes upon ⟨men is⟩ to live as becomes Chriſtians, and then they can never be abſolutely unprepared. Nay I think this to be a very good preparation; and I ſee ⟨not⟩ why men ſhould not be very well ſatisfied ⟨with⟩ it, unleſs they intend to make the ſame uſe ⟨of⟩ the Sacrament that many of the Papiſts do ⟨of⟩ Confeſſion and Abſolution, which is to quit ⟨with⟩ God once or twice a year, that ſo they may ⟨begin⟩ to ſin again upon a new ſcore.
But becauſe the Examination of our ſelves ⟨is⟩ a thing ſo very uſefull, and the time which ⟨men⟩ are wont to ſet apart for their preparation ⟨for⟩ the Sacrament is ſo advantageous an ⟨opportunity⟩ for the practice of it; therefore I cannot ⟨but⟩ very much commend thoſe who take this occaſion, to ſearch and try their ways, and to callthem-
