Minister.] ' I am indeed of the opinion, that the want of right un- derstanding this scripture, has been a stumbling-block to many, and so I shall endeavour briefly to explain it. The apostle here truly re- presents, and very much aggravates the danger of unworthy receiving this holy sacrament : but he does not deter the Corinthians from it, because they had sometimes come to it without due reverence ; but exhorts them to amend what had been amiss, and to come better pre- pared and disposed for the future. And therefore after that terrible declaration, that " Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink tliis cup of the Lord," &c. He does not add, therefore let Christians take heed of coming to the Lord's table ; but let them come prepared, and with due reverence; not as to a common meal, but to a solemn par- ticipation of the body and blood of Christ : " But let him examine himself; and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." For if this be a good reason to abstain from this ordinance, fur fear of per- forming it in an undue manner ; then a wicked man may as well lay aside all other holy duties, as prayer, hearing, and reading the word of God, for fear of the unworthy use of them ; since, 7 he 'prayer of Vol. VL G g
468 A FAMILIAR COXFEHENCE BETWEEN
the wkl-ed, (tliat is, one that resolves to continue so) is an abomina- tion to the Lord. And Christ says, Tale heed how you hear. And the apostle says, that those who will not believe the gospel, it is the savour of death to them : That is, it is deadly and damnable to such persons. Now there is as much reason for men to give over praying, or attending the word of God, as not to receive the sacrament ; since he that prays unworthily, that is, without spiritual benefit and advantage, is guilty of great contempt of God, and Jesus Christ, and aggravates his own damnation ; as well as he, who, by partaking of the LordVsupper unworthily, eats and drinks his own judgment. And when the apostle adds, " But let a man examine himself; and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup :" It seems clear, by the occasions and circumstances of his discourse, that he does not intend we should examine our state of grace, whether we are true believers or no, and sincerely resolved to continue so ; but he speaks of the actual fitness and worthiness of the Corinthians at that time, when they came to receive the Lord's supper. And therefore, ver. 20. he sharply reproves their irreverent and unsuitable carriage at the Lord's table ^ they coming thereunto disorderly, one before another. It was the custom of Christians then, to meet at the feast of charity, in which they did communicate with great sobriety and temperance ; and when that was ended, they celebrated the Lord's supper. Now, among the Corinthians, this order was broken : The rich met, and excluded the poor from this common feast ; and after an irregular feast, (one after another eating his own supper as he came,) they went to the sacrament in great disorder : One was hungry, having eaten nothing at all ; others had drank and eat intemperately ; and the poor were despised and neglected. This the apostle condemns as a great profanation of that solemn institution, for behaving themselves with as little reverence, as if it were a common supper, or feast : And this he calls, not discerning the Lord^s body : making no difference between the sacrament and a common meal ; which contemptuous carriage, he calls eating and drinMng unworthily : for which he pro- nounceth them guilty of' the body and blood of Christ ; by which he tells them, they did incur the judgment of God, which he calls eating and drinking their own judgment ; for so the word signifies in the Greek, and not eternal condemnation. It is meant of some temporal judgment and chastisement, in order to the preventing of eternal damnation : Which is evident from what follows : " He that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh judgment to himself.'' And then he says, " For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.'' That is, for this irreverence of theirs, God sent among them several diseases, of which many had died. And then he adds, " For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged." That is, if we would censure and examine ourselves, so aS to be more careful for the future, we should escape the judgment J God in these temporal punishments. " But when we are judged,
A StmiStF.R AND A DOUBTING CirltlSTtAN. 460
xve are cliastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world." That is, when by neglecting thus to judge ourselves, we provoke God to judge us; he inflicts these temporal judgments upon us, to prevent our eternal damnation.
Christian.] Sir, I am much obliged to you for the satisfaction you have given me in these weighty points, referring to the Lord's supper: And now, though in a deep sense of my great unworthiness, yet with humble confidence in my dear Redeemer, who graciously invites all that are heavi/ laden to come unto him ; I do intend, by the blessing of God, to address myself to the Lord's table the next Lord's day ; humbly beseeching the assistance of your prayers, that I may not come without the wedding-garment ; but may be so qualified, as to obtain those glorious privileges and blessings, which are there repre- sented and sealed to every worthy communicant.
tTPON ROMANS V. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1.
6. W HEN we were destitute of strength, Ourselves to help or save,
Christ for ungodUness, at length, His life a ransom gave,
7. For one that's righteous, we would grudge
To lay our life at stake ; And for a good man, it were much Such an exchange to make.
8. But God his matchless love commends
In that Christ Jesus dies For us, when we were not his friends, But wretched enemies.
9. Much more, being justified, and free
Thro' his own blood, from sin ; From wrath to come we sav'd shall be, Ev'n by the life of him.
10. For if, when enemies, for us
Christ's death did end the strife ; Much more, when reconciled thus, He'll save us by his life-
11. Yea, more than so, we triumph now In God with one accord, Having receiv'd atonement through Christ Jesus our own Lord.
Wherefore to him, who is the first
Begotten of the dead, Who over earthly princes must
Be supreme Lord and Head : Ev'n unto him who lov'd us so,
To wash us in his blood. And make us kings and priests unto
His Father and his God : To him dominion therefore.
By us be given, when This present world shall be no more ;
To which we say, Amen.
PERSONAL REFORMATION,
NECESSITY OF CONVERSION:
The true Methods of making all men happy in this world, and in the world to come.
SeasoncMy discoursed^ and earnestly pressed upon this licentious age.
To all such as are most immediately and particularly concerned in the following treatise, of what rank or quality soever they be.