The nonconformists plea for peace, or, An account of their judgment in certain things…

XIII. The Liturgy saith, that [No man should come to the holy Communion but with a full trust in God's mercy, and a quiet Conscience.] To which we must declare Assent, Approbation and Consent.

2. The sense of these words remaineth dubious, whether it speak de necessitate praecepti, v•l medii: Some think that the meaning is, that it is the Duty of all that come to the Communion, to have a full trust, and a quiet Conscience: Others think that the meaning is only, that all should seek these: Others think that that meaning is, that they should not come without them. Their reasons are, 1. From the plain signification of the words: [No man should come but with, &c.] which must differ from [They that come ought to be such] 2. Because the necessit as praecepti may be affirmed of perfect obedience since our use of reason: It is every mans duty not to sin at all: And it is ⟨p. 182⟩every mans duty to believe, and love God, not only sincerely, but with a stronger Faith and Love; and its every mans duty to seek after perfection: And yet no man will say that we should not come to the Communion, but with high degrees of grace, or with perfection. 3. And the words are not that they should seek it, but that they should not come without it.

2. The sense of these words remaineth dubious, whether it speak de necessitate praecepti, v•l medii: Some think that the meaning is, that it is the Duty of all that come to the Communion, to have a full trust, and a quiet Conscience: Others think that the meaning is only, that all should seek these: Others think that tht meaning is, that they should not come without them. Their reasons are, 1. From the plain signification of the words: [No man should come but with, &c.] which must differ from [They that come ought to be such] 2. Because the necessit as praecepti may be affirmed of perfect obedience since our use of reason: It is every mans duty not to sin at all: And it is ⟨p. 182⟩