A26957:65
Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B
Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B. ; to which is added suitable meditations before, in, and after receiving ; with divine hymns in common tunes, fitted for public congregations or private families.Monthly preparations for the Holy Communion by R.B. ; to which is added suitable meditations before, in, and after receiving ; with divine hymns in common tunes, fitted for publick congregations or private families.
London: printed for Tho. Parkhurst, 1696
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Quest. 5. May an ungodly Man receive ⟨p. 21⟩this Sacrament, who knoweth not himself to be ungodly?
Answ. No; For he ought to know it; and his sinful ignorance of his own condition, will not make his sin to be his duty; nor excuse his other faults before God.
Quest. 6. Must a sincere Christian receive, that is uncertain of his sincerity, and in continual doubting?
Answ. Two preparations are necessary to this Sacrament; the general preparation, which is a state of Grace, and this the doubting Christian hath; and the particular preparation, which consisteth in his present actual fitness: And all the question is of this. And to know this, you must further distinguish, between immediate duty and more remote; and between the degrees of doubtfulness in Christians. 1. The nearest immediate duty of the doubting Christian is, to use the means to have his doubts resolved, till te know his case; and then his next duty is, to receive the Sacrament; and both these still remain his duty, to be performed in this order: And if he say, I cannot be resolved, ⟨p. 22⟩