The reason is, because it is
a certain death to him,
and an increase of his misery,
if he shall so profane the
Body and Blood of Christ,
as to take it into so unholy
a breast, where Satan reigns,
and Sin is principal, and
the Spirit is extingxiished,
and Christ loves not to
enter, because He is not
Buffered to inhabit. But
when he professes Repent-
ance, and does such acts of
it as his present condition
permits, he is to be pre-
sumed to intend heartily
what he professes solemnly ;
and the Minister is only the



judge of outward act, and
by that only he is to take
information concerning the
inward. But whether he
be so or no, or, if he be,
whether that be timely,
and effectual and sufficient
toward the pardon of sinf
before God, is another con-
sideration, of which we may
conjecture here, but we
shall know it at DoomVDay.
The Spiritual man is to
do his ministry by the
Rules of Christ, and as the
customs of the Church ap-
point him, and after the
manner of men : the event
is in the hands of Qod,
and is to be expected not
directly and wholly ac-
cording to his ministry,
but to the former life, or
the timely internal repent--
ance^ and amendment, of
which I have already given
accounts. These ministries
are acts of order and great
assistances, but the sum of
affairs does not rely upon
them. And if any man
puts his whole Repentance
upon this time, or all his
hopes upon these minis*
tries, he will find them and
himself to fail.
