The law unsealed

The first is, The Word and Sacraments are of o•• Nature, and are polluted or made use of, one and the same way; only the difference is in this, That the one usually is doctrinally wronged, the other disciplina•ily. 2▪ Because that, unwarrantable admission of others is not the Communicators▪ but the Ministers sin, therefore it cannot wrong them more then want of preparation in others who come. 3▪ Any others sin cannot loosen me from my Obligation in a duty: now it is the duty of every one, a• to examine themselves, so being prepared by suitable self-examination, to eat, 1 Corinth. 11. verse 28. and yet in that Church of Corinth, many did sinfully approach to the Lords Table: Now though the Command requiring self-examination, will not warrant Rulers not to examine, yet it will warrant private Communicants to endeavour rightly to go about that duty themselves, and not to be much anxious what others do, as if other mens carriage were the ground of our approaching to the Lords Table. 4. It is notwithstanding a Sacrament without any mixture of mens corrupt additions, and so the neglecting of it, is the neglecting of a Sacrament. 5. If scandalous Receivers did corrupt it to others, then a corrupt Minister could never celebrate a Sacrament; which would contradict the Lords way i• appointing such sometimes to dispense his Mysteries both i• the Old and New Testament; and if the Ministers corruption pollute not the Ordinance, much less will the scandal of any others. 6. The practise of the Lords People in receiving Sacrament• this way, both before Christs Incarnation, and since, proveth it. 7. It would be a great and inextricable snare to Consciences, if the fruit of their communicating depended not only on their own preparing themselves, but also on the Ministers and joint-Receivers; if their not preparation or failing in it, brought guilt on us, it were impossible that ever we could with clearness receive the Sacrament.

The first is, The Word and Sacraments are of o•• Nature, and are pollud or made use of, one and the same way; onely the difference is in this, That the one usually is doctrinally wronged, the other disciplinaily. 2 Because that, unwarrantable admission of others is not the Communicators but the Ministers sin, therefore it cannot wrong them more then want of preparation in others who come. 3 Any others sin cannot loosen me from my Obligation in a duty: now it is the duty of every one, a to examine themselves, so being prepared by suitable self-examination, to eat,