4. What doth it avail to delay thy confession for a long time, or to put off the holy communion?
Purge thyself with speed, spit out the venom presently, make haste to take this remedy, and thou shalt find it to be better with thee, than if thou hadst deferred it for a long time.
If thou lettest it alone to-day for this cause, perhaps to-morrow a greater will fall out, and so thou mayest be hindered a long time from communion, and become more unfit:
With all possible speed shake off this heaviness and sloth, for it is to no purpose to continue long in disquiet, to pass a long time in trouble, and for these daily impediments to withdraw thyself from the divine mysteries.
Yea, it is very hurtful to defer the communion long; for this usually causeth a great lukewarmness and numbness.
Alas! some tepid and dissolute people are willing to put off their confession, and desire that their communion should be deferred, lest they should be obliged thereby to keep a stricter watch over themselves.
5 Ah! how little is their love of God, how weak is their devotion who so easily put by the sacred communion?
How happy is he, and acceptable to God, who so liveth, and keepeth his conscience in such purity, as to be ready and well disposed to communicate every day, if it were permitted, and he might do it without note.
If sometimes a person abstains out of humility, or by reason of some lawful impediment, he is to be commended for his reverence.