A treatise concerning the Lords Supper

W. I pray to God I may not: But speak unto my doubt.

S. You may perform duty from a principle of Love, when it is not from a sense of love: when a natural conscience is the principle, it puts you upon the duty, but gives you no strength to perform the duty, but the Spirit of God doth both. Natural Conscience is satisfied, if the duty be done: But you are not satisfied, except God be enjoyed in the duty▪ Natural Conscience puts on to duty in time of temporal, or for fear of eternal punishments, but you pray, &c. That you may please God, have communion with him, and be delivered from the filth and power of sin: when natural conscience only is the principle; a Duty i• done with much backwardness of Heart. Conscience hales and drags the Sinner to his knees; but you love it, and delight in Duty, or •re grieved if you do not. When natural Conscience only is the principle, if a man can get an excuse which will silence Conscience, the Duty with gladness is omitted; but if you are kept (though by lawful cause) from a Duty, it is some grief and trouble to your Soul, and nothing but what is weighty, and judged by you to be a Duty also, shall divert you from the Ordinances of God. Are you not yet satisfied, in this, tha• you may go unto the Lords Supper.

S. You may perform duty from a p•inciple of Love, when it is not from a sense of love: when a natural conscience is the principle, it puts you upon the duty, but gives you no strength to perform the duty, but the Spirit of God doth both. Natural Conscience is satisfied, if the duty be done: But you are not satisfied, except God be enjoyed in the duty▪ Natural Conscience puts on to duty in time of temporal, or for fear of eternal punishments, but you pray, &c. That you may please God, have communion with him, and be delivered from the filth and power of sin: when natural conscience only is the p•inciple; a Duty i done with much backwardness of Heart. Conscience hales and draggs the Sinner to his knees; but you love it, and delight in Duty, or re grieved if you do not. When natural Conscience only is the principle, if a man can get an excuse which will silence Conscience, the Duty with gladness is omitted; but if you are kept (though by lawful cause) from a Duty, it is some grief and trouble to your Soul, and nothing but what is weighty, and judged by you to be a Duty also, shall divert you from the Ordinances of God. Are you not yet satisfied, in this, tha you may go unto the Lords Supper.