Body. And thus much of those that neglect the Communion through an Evil Confcience.

2. THERE is another fort of Men that are Guilty of the fame Crime, but upon different Reasons (at least they pretend fo) fuch as pass for Fair and Just Men, but yet are so intangled with the Cares of the World, that they excuse their absence from the Sacrament, by pleading that they want time: As if they Lived in fome ftrange and unknown Country, where there are not any hours in the day.

NOW as to Matter of Fact, there is no queftion, but that Secular Concernments do hinder many from this and other Offi-* ces of Religion; upon which account, it is the prime Duty of a Chriftian to Dye unto the World; and fo much Chrift intimated, when dividing his Benedictions, he Bleffed those in the first place, who are Poor in Spirit, as you find by thofe Evangelifts who have recorded his Sermon on the Mount; and the Reason of it is told us, Matth. 6.24. because we cannot serve God and Mammon too: And we fee it by every days Experience, that the Love of Greatness and Riches, and the Inordinate Cares of this Life, are apt to outweigh all other Confiderations. But then if we speak de Jure, of the Reasonable

nefs

+

1. That

nefs and Sufficiency of their Excufes, who time after time refufe the Holy Sacrament, under a pretence, that they have not leifure to Prepare themselves for it; there are many Confiderations to be offered, which fhew, that this Plea will rather Condemn than Acquit them ; for Brevity fake, I fhall pitch upon these. this Plea is very much to be fufpected and queftion'd, whether it be real, or only a Pretext and a Cloak to cover their Difobedience. 2. But fuppofe, that they are Men of fome Ingenuity, who pretend variety or multiplicity of Bufinefs, Men that are Honeft and Conscientious in their Callings, but yet are carried away with an hurry of Affairs, and are troubled about many things, as was faid of Martha, Luke 10. 41. yet they fhould often call to mind the next words of our Saviour, that one thing is needful. It is not neceffary to be Rich, but 'tis neceffary to be Religious; and Worldly Matters must ever give place to things that are of an Heavenly and Spiritual Nature, 'when they ftand toge ther in Competition. Men were better do, as Crates the Theban did, part with all their Gold, than be void of that which is true Wisdom: And it is infinitely more defirable for them to be rid of those Riches which are a clog unto them, and hinder: D 2 them

them from going to Heaven,than upon their Death-Beds to be troubled with a fad remembrance, that they have been more faithful Drudges to their Familes, than Friends and Servants to God. 3. But I hope there are many good People who use the World, yet neither Abufe the World, nor themselves for the World's fake. I am fure, 'tis poffible to have our Converfation in Heaven, even while we live upon the Earth; and 'tis no difficult Matter for a Wife Man, to ferve God and himself too. Let him follow his Vocation diligently, let him deal Juftly, and fhew Mercy, and. walk Humbly, and Pray Daily, and with a good Confcience; and then in doing the works of his Calling, he doth in fome measure work out his Salvation too. For he Obeyeth God in labouring with his hands, and in working that which is good; and fo throughout the week, he doth in fome fort and degree fit and prepare himself against the Sacrament on the "Lord's day. I deny not, but Men should pare off fome portion of the fix days, and Confecrate it to a more folemn and strict Preparation. Yet this I fay, that the following of our Secular Business with Sobriety and Honefty, is far from being a juft hinderance, to keep him from attend. ing on this Ordinance. For let a Man

but.

but lead an Holy Life (and that he may do in any Calling that is but lawful) and the less time will be required for felf Examination. Let him but carry always the true Fear of God in his Heart, and the lefs fearful will he be of drawing near unto God in the Church; because he never departeth from him, though he be at home. An upright Converfation is a continual Prayer, and a conftant kind of Preparation; and fo Men may in fome measure fit themselves to be Communicants, even in their Shops and Warehouses. And yet certainly the Business of the day is not fo great nor urgent, but that any the most painful Tradefman may find some convenient time, to offer up to God the Morning, and Evening Sacrifice, both of Praife for the Enjoyment of his Mercies, and of Prayer for the Pardon of his own Sins. Now let him but enter upon his Affairs with Devotion, and mannage them with Integrity, and end them and the day with Piety.and Repentance for his Failings, and he may be fit to Communicate weekly if he will. And if any Man be fuch an Enemy to himself, as that he is careless in observing this Method, let him lay the blame not upon the Urgency of his Business, or want of time, but (where it fhould be laid upon

D 3

his

his want of true Zeal, and a right Chriftian Spirit. Yet it is not to be denied, but Men may have fome more extraordinary Troubles come in upon them at fome times, than at others. Such is the course of this world, that there are floods as well as ebbings of Business in every Employment. However, 4thly,. This is to be Confidered, that the most important Matters are rarely fo inftant and preffing, but Men can pick out fome lucid intervals, and fteal away from their Cares, either to fome by-Concernments that are not fo cumberfome, or to Recreations that are for their Refreshment. And how can Men pretend, that they have not time to fit themselves for the Sacrament, when they may dif patch the work in a less space, than that amounts to, which many times is vainly, and fometimes finfully employed? If fuch Men were fure to purchase an Estate, by the Prayers and Penances of a week, I am apt to think, none of them would pretend that they wanted time. Or, if an Office or Place were in danger to be loft, or a confiderable fumm of Mony like to be forfeited, unless the Sacrament be Receiv'd by fuch a day, 'tis likely that whatever Mens Business or Concernments are, they would be fure to keep their fides free from the lafh of the Law. And what's