A preparative to marriage The sum whereof was spoken at a contract, and enlarged…A preparatiue to mariage The summe whereof was spoken at a contract, and inlarged…

There is a hearing, and a preparative ¹before hearing. There is a praying, and a preparative before praying. There is a receiving, ²and a preparative before receiving, which if it be wanting, the receiver receiveth uncomfortably, ⟨image 117⟩the prayer prayeth idly, the hearer heareth unfruitfully, like those which eat before hunger, and drink before thirst.

There is a hearing, and a preparatiue ¹before hearing. There is a praying, and a preparatiue before praying. There is a receyuing, ²and a preparatiue before receyuing, which if it be wanting, the receyuer receyueth vncomfortably, ⟨image 117⟩the prayer prayeth idlie, the hearer heareth vnfrutefully, like those which eate before hunger, and drinke before thirst.

1. 1Luk. 8. 18.
2. 2Eccle 4 17.

This preparative before hearing and praying, and receiving, doth signify, that there is a kind of physic in these three, for preparatives are ministered always before physic: and as the preparative which goeth before, maketh way to the physic, or else it would do no good, but hurt: so unless examination go before the Sacrament, we seal up the threatenings which are written against us, in stead of the promises which are made unto us, for the Sacrament is a seal, and therefore sealeth good or evil, as every other seal doth.