4. Self-examining is needful, because of that secret corru])tion in the heart, which will not be fimnd out without searching. There are in the heart jihivgendcc tenebrcB, Aug., hidden pollutions. It is with a Chris- tian, as with Josejih's brethren : when the steward accused them of having tlio cup, thev were veadv to swear they had not the
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cup in their sack, but upon search it was found there : little doth a Christian think what pride, atheism, undeanness is in his
heart till he scarclieth. Therefore, if there be such hidden wickedness, like a spring that runs under ground, we liad need exa- mine ourselves, that finding out our secret sin, MC may be humbled and repent. Hid- den sins, il' not searched out, defile the souk If corn lie long in the chaff, the cliaflF de- files the corn ; hidden sins lain long in, de- file our duties. Needful therefore it is, be- fore we come to the holy supper, to search out these hidden sins, as Israel searched for leaven before they came to the passover.
5. Self-examining is needful, because without it we may easily have a cheat put upon us, Jer. xvii. 9., " The heart is deceit- ful above all things." Many a man's heart will tell him, he is fit for the Lord's table. As when Christ asked the sons of Zebe<lee, Mat. XX. 22., " Are ye able to drink of the cup I shall drink of?' Can ye drink such a bloody cup of sufi'ering ? " They say un- to him, we are able." So the lieart will suggest to a man, he is fit to drink of the sacramental cup, he halh on the wedding- garment. Grande projvmhmi est homo, Aug. " Tl'.e heart is a grand impostor." It is like a cheating tradesman, which will ])ut one off with bad wares: the heart will put a man off with seeming grace, instead of saving. A toar or two shed is repentance; a few lazy desvres is faith ; blue and red flowers that grow among the corn, look like good flowers, lint they are but beautiful weeds. The foolish viigins' lamps looked as if they lad had oil in them, but they had none. , Therefore, to ]trevent a cheat, that we may not take false graee instead of true, we had need make a thorough, disquisition and search of our Isearts bcl'ore we come to the Lord's table.
G. Self-examining is needful, because of those false fears the o'odly are ant to nourish in their hearts, which make them go sad to the sacrament. As they who have no grace, for want of examining, presunie ; so they who have grace, for Avant of examin ing, are ready to despair. Many of Gwl's eliihlren look upon themselves through the black spectacles of l"i ar ; th(>y fear Christ is not formed in them, they fear they have no right to the promise ; and these fears in the heart cause tears in the eye ; whereas, would they but search and examine, they might
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find tliey liad grace. Are not tlieir liearts humbled for sin? and wliat is this hut the bruised reed? Do not they weep after the Lord ? and wliat are these tears but seeds of faith? Do tliey not thirst after Cln-ist in an ordinance ? what is this but the new creature crying for tlie breast ? Hero are,
you SCO, seeds of grace ; and, would Cliris- tians examine their hearts, tl»ey might see there is something of God in them, and so their false fears would he prevented, and they might approach with comfort to these iioly mysteries in the cucharist.
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Mark xiv. 22. Jesus took bread, §*c.
7. SELF-EXAMINING is needful, in respect of the danger in coming unworthi- ly without examination, 1 Cor. xi. 27., " He shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord." Par facit quasi C/iristian trvcidaret, Grotius. — /. e. God reckons with him as with a crucifier of the Lord Jesus. He doth not drink Christ's blood, but sheds it ; and so brings that curse upbn him, as the Jews, " his blood be upon us and our children." The virtue of Christ's blood, nothing more comfortable ; the guilt of it, nothing more formidable.