"The old serpent [Satan] either takes men off from the use of means [of grace], or makes them miscarry in the use of them.
"He labours to take men off from duty, from praying and hearing [sermons], in order to discourage them; and, to do that, he has two artifices:
"He discourages them from duty by suggesting to them their unworthi-
ness; that they are not worthy to approach to God, or have any signals of His love and favour. They are sinful, and God is holy, how dare they presume to bring their impure offering to God? That we should see ourselves unworthy, is good, and argues humility; but to think we should not approach God because of unworthiness, is a conclusion of the devil's making. God says, 'Come, though unworthy.' By this temp-
tation, the devil takes many off from coming to the Lord's Table. 'Oh,' says he, 'this is a solemn ordinance, and requires much holiness: how dare you so unworthily come? You will eat and drink unworthily.' Thus, as Saul kept the people from eating honey, so the devil by this temptation, scares many from this ordinance, which is sweeter than honey and the honeycomb."
