A03603:440
The pattern of perfection exhibited in Gods image on AdamThe paterne of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam
The pattern of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam: and Gods covenant made with him. Whereunto is added an exhortation, to redeem the time for recovering our losses in the premisses. And also some miscellanies, viz. I. The prayer of faith. II. A preparative to the Lords Supper. III. The character of a sound Christian, in 17. marks. By T.H.The paterne of perfection exhibited in Gods image on Adam: and Gods covenant made with him. Whereunto is added an exhortation, to redeem the time for recovering our losses in the premisses. And also some miscellanies, viz. I. The prayer of faith. II. A preparative to the Lords Supper. III. The character of a sound Christian, in 17. markes. By T.H.
London: printed by R. Young for R. Young, 1640
MISCELLANIES. › Section 2: II. A preparative to the Lords Supper.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Rule 3. The third Rule is this: Former unpreparedness ⟨p. 349⟩unto Gods service, and haply sometimes (to a mans own sense) unprofitableness under the Sacrament, in the receiving thereof, is not, should not be any sufficient hinderance to any faithful soul to come yet freely hereunto: for it skills not what a man hath been formerly, nor what his failings have been in former times at the duty, if now those be amended, and he be humbled for them, & strive against them, yea, and for the present doth address himself unto this duty. There cannot but be many failings in each mans performances; what then? if this sin might hinder, then other sins might hinder also: but no sin may hinder a man from coming to Christ; for it is a great sin not to believe ⟨p. 350⟩in the Lord, yet a mans former unbelief, as it must not keep him from coming to Christ; no more may it hinder him from coming to the Sacrament of the body & blood of Christ. Besides, shall unprofitableness and unpreparedness before, hinder, because it is a sin? that should rather make us take heed that we do not commit a sin in not coming to the Sacrament when we should; for if unpreparedness and unprofitableness hinders because it is a sin, then not coming when we should come, hinders because it argues a sinner.
Rule 3. The third Rule is this: Former unpreparednesse ⟨p. 349⟩unto Gods service, and haply sometimes (to a mans owne sense) unprofitablenesse under the Sacrament, in the receiving thereof, is not, should not bee any sufficient hinderance to any faithfull soule to come yet freely hereunto: for it skils not what a man hath beene formerly, nor what his failings have been in former times at the duty, if now those be amended, and hee be humbled for them, & strive against them, yea, and for the present doth addresse himselfe unto this duty. There cannot but be many failings in each mans performances; what then? if this sinne might hinder, then other sins might hinder also: but no sin may hinder a man from comming to Christ; for it is a great sin not to beleeve ⟨p. 350⟩in the Lord, yet a mans former unbeliefe, as it must not keepe him from comming to Christ; no more may it hinder him from comming to the Sacrament of the body & bloud of Christ. Besides, shall unprofitablenesse and unpreparednesse before, hinder, because it is a sinne? that should rather make us take heed that we doe not commit a sinne in not comming to the Sacrament when we should; for if unpreparednesse and unprofitableness hinders because it is a sin, then not comming when wee should come, hinders because it argues a sinner.