The guard of the tree of life, or, A sacramental discourse showing a Christians…The guard of the tree of life, or, A sacramental discourse shewing a Christians…

Thus you see God commands it, and therefore, &c.¹

1. 1Impü Petram lambunt, sed indè nec mel, nec oleum sugunt, &c. Ambr. Ser. de coena.

2. Reason. Because otherwise we get no good by this Ordinance, no good of Comfort, nor none of Grace. If indeed the Sacraments did ex opere operato, confer ⟨p. 106⟩Grace; or if that this Sacrament were an Instrument for the begetting of Grace in graceless hearts, then might you get good, though you came unpreparedly. The word, it is set up for that end, to be the instrument of regeneration; and therefore, though you come unpreparedly thither, yet you may be wrought upon there. ^*Many that have come to the Word with purpose to scoff, to taunt, to deride, nay, to ensnare and accuse, who yet have been wrought on there, and sent away other men. Were the Sacraments set up for such an end, to beget grace, where there is no grace, then might you get good, though you come unpreparedly and unsanctifiedly thither; but as I have told you, it was never set up for such an end: here its true, habenti dabitur, to him that hath shall be given; he ⟨p. 107⟩that hath grace shall in the exercise improve his graces, but he that comes graceless hither, goes graceless away, nay, worse then he came, which is the next Reason.

2. Reason. Because otherwise wee get no good by this Ordinance, no good of Comfort, nor none of Grace. If indeed the Sacraments did ex opere operato, confer ⟨p. 106⟩