A. 4. We must examine ourselves before the sacrament, in respect of the difficulty of self-examining work. Difficulty raiseth a noble spirit. Self-examining is difficult, \st. Because it is an inward work, it lies most with the heart. External acts of de- votion are easy ; to lift up the eye, — to bow the knee. — to road over a few prayers, — this is JUS easy as for the papists to tell over a few beads ; but to examinj' a man's self, — to take the heart, as a watch, all in pieces, — to make a scripture-tiial of our fitness for the Lord's supper, — this is not easy. Reflexive acts are hardest ; the eye cannot see itself but by a glass ; we must have the glass of the word and conscience to see our own hearts; it is easy to spy the faults of others, but it is hard to find out our own. 2d. Self-examination is difficult, in regard of self-love. As ignorance blinds, so self- love flatters ; what Solom<»n saith of love, Prov. X. 12., " Love covereth all sins," is most true of self-love : a man looking upon
the best of himself; and he Avho hath a good opinion of himself doth not suspect himself; and not suspecting himself, he is not for- ward to examine himself. The work there- fore of self-examination being so difficult, it requires the more impartiality and indus- try ; difficulty should be a spur to diligence.
A. 5. We must examine ourselves befoi'e we come, because of the beneficial ness of self-examination. The benefit is groat winch way soever things turn: if, upon ex- amination, we find that we have no ijrace in truth, then the mistake is discovered, and the danger prevetited ; if we find that we have grace, we may take the comfort of it. He, who upon search, finds that he hath the mininmm girod sit, — the least degree of grace, — he is like one that hath found his box of evidences, he is an happy man, he is a fit guest at the Lord's table, he is heir to all the promises, he is as sure to go to heaven as if he were in heaven already. These are the reasons why we must exa- mine ourselves before we approach to the Lord's table.
Quest. 5. JJ7iat must we examine ?
Ans. \. Our sins. 2. Our graces.
First, Our sins. Search if any dead fly might spoil this sweet ointment. When we come to the sacrament, we slK)uld do as the Jews did before the passover; they searched for leaven, and having found it did burn it. — 1. Let us search for the leaven of |)ride; this sours our holy things ; we are born uith a s|)iritual t}ni])any. Will an humble Christ be received into a proud
himself in the glass of self-love — that flat- heart? Pride keej)s Chri^t out. Inlus eais^
tering glass — his virtues appear greater than teus prohibit alieumn. Piide swells the heart,
they are, and his sins lesser. Self-love aiid Christ cannot come into the heart if it
makes a man rather excuse himself than be ftill already. To a proud man Christ's
examine himself ; self-love makes one think blood hath no virtue; 'tis like dioscordium
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put into a dead man's mouth, wliicli losetli its virtue. Let us search for this leaven of pride, and cast it away. — 2. Let us search for the leaven of avarice. The Lord's sup- per is a spiritual mystery ; it represents Christ's body and blood ; what should an earthly heart do here? The earth puts out the fire ; earthliness quencheth the fire of holy love. The earth is elcmentum gravissi- mum, — it cannot ascend. A soul belimed with earth cannot ascend to heavenly coj^i- tations. Col. iii. 5., " Covetousness which is idolatry." Will Christ come into that heart where there is an idol ? Search for this le.aven before you come to this ordi- nance. How can an earthly heart converse with that God which is a spirit ? Can a clod of earth kiss the sun ? — 3. Search for the leaven of hypocrisy, Luke xii. L, " Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hy- pocrisy." Aquinas describes it shnulatio virlutis ; — hyj)ocrisy is a counterfeiting of virtue. The hypocrite is a living pageant, be only makes a shew of religion ; lie gives God his knee, but no heart; and God gives him bread and wine in the sacrament, but no Christ. Oh let us search for this leaven of hypocrisy and burn it !
Secondly, We must examine our graces. 1 shall instance only in one, our knowledge.
\. Whether we have knowledge.
2. Whether it be rightly qualified.