This therefore being the ground of the exhortation, let us come to the words, ' Let a man therefore examine himself.' He that eateth unworthily procureth great hurt unto himself, therefore examine yourselves ; as if he should say, Wouldst thou know how to come worthily ? Examine thine own heart, and see whether all things are well within ; whether thou mayest put God's seal to the grace that thou findest in thyself.
I will open it as plain as I can, ' Let a man therefore examine himself,' &c. The question is here, How a man cometh to the Lord's table wor- thily ? The apostle saith he cometh worthily if he examiueth himself; whence, in the first place, w^e observe this doctrine, tJiat the Lord hath appointed the sacrament of the siq)})er, not as the sacrament of baptism, once to he adniinistered, and never after, but he hath appointed it to be received often.
The reason is apparent : it is sufficient for a man once to be born. Now baptism is the sacrament of our spiritual regeneration ; therefore but once to be administered. But it is not sufficient for a man to make one dinner and no more, but we must daily eat and get strength. Now this sacrament of the supper, signifying not our new birth, but our proceeding, our strength, and obedience, is therefore, as a means to increase strength, often to be received. As he that hath a weak stomach will eat his meat often, and little at once ; so we, having found our great want and weakness, must often receive this sacrament. Well ! so often as we come, the apostle biddetli us to examine ourselves, if we would be good guests. Examine ! Why ? Saith the apostle to these Corinthians in another place, 2 Cor. xiii. 5, ' Try your- selves, w^hether ye be in the faith or not,' &c. Thou comest to have God's seal put unto the communion thou hast wuth him. Well ! then God con- tenteth not himself with once examination for all ; but he calleth Christians unto this duty often. This is worthy to be considered. There are many who in the beginning of their conversion can take some pains to sift and ransack their own hearts, to bring them unto the sight of sin. They can consider the fearful estate of sinners when they go out of the world. It may be also that they find some beginnings of repentance. Now, because this goeth against their hearts, this often examination, they would therefore post off' all thus, to their first conversion. Once I have found the grace of repentance ; God is unchangeable ; whom he loveth once, those he loveth for ever. Now the Lord, knowing it to be dangerous for us to pitch upon this ground, doth therefore call upon us to try our title. There are many * That is, 'property.' — G. f Qu. 'whereon"? — G.
THE RIGHT RECEIVING. G3
comers in the heart of man ; it is hardly sounded ; it is full of hypocrisy ; and he is wonderful ready to deceive his own heart. In regard whereof, seeing it is so deceitful, we must not content ourselves with once humiliation and repentance, nor suppose every light motion to be God's Spirit, but we must, as often as we eat of this bread and drink of this wine (and as any occasion is given us), try and examine ourselves, and labour to make our election sure. And if we consider the flattering of our own hearts, together with the delusion of Satan, this will be found needful. The greatest hypo- crite will have a good conceit of himself, and will be ready to say with the proud Pharisee, ' I thank God I am not as other men are, an adulterer, extortioner,' &c., Luke xviii. 11. Thus he blesseth himself in his heart; and if then there be but any light motion, any common gift of God's Spirit in his heart, the devil is ready to persuade him that he is in heaven, and that all things are well with him. Now for a man to content himself with being once enlightened (with having once some tokens of God's favour come towards him) it is very dangerous. Consider this. God's children in the beginning of their conversion, their faith is weak, — small as a grain of mus- tard seed, which, though small, yet in time gi'oweth great, — like the flax not always smoking. The hypocrite will shew a greater measure of profession in the sight of man than a true Christian, insomuch as a man would think he should never come to that perfection which they seem to have attained who perish with their holiness ; for he groweth fast, and is quickly down again ; soon ripe, soon rotten, like unto the corn which groweth upon the house-top ; whereas the child of God goeth on fair and softly, soft and sure, and doth constantly proceed, in renewing the work of faith and repentance. Use. Let this move us unto this duty, that ice often examine ourselves. because, besides our old debts (those sins we committed before our calling), we multiply new sins, and do every day run upon a new score ; for do we not know that sin is odious unto almighty God ? Why ? Consider it is worse for thee to continue in rebellion against God, than for a stranger who kuoweth him not. A man that is dead, what works can be expected from him but dead works ? But the Lord having translated thee from that death, looks to have new fruit ; and for thee to bring forth sour gi-apes, this should trouble and grieve thee exceedingly. And this is especially to be observed of them who come unto the Lord's table. It becometh them to examine themselves, whereby they may be rightly entertained. It is much to be bewailed that this sacrament is in such small account, that men come unto it they know not how, so unpreparedly, that I am persuaded if they were to sit at the king's table, they would come with more preparation. Haman boasted of Ahasuerus his honour he had done unto him, and what was that ? He accounted it a great honour that he was called to the ban- quet of a king, Esther v. 9 ; and shall we not account it a greater favour that the King of kings doth invite us to his table ? Shall we come with such unwashed hands hither ? Remember that the ground is holy ; put ofl;' thy shoes when thou comest to this sacrament. You shall see therefore how the Lord was angry with his people when they did not respect but disgraced his sacrament, Exod. iv. 24. Moses was sent to redeem the Israelites. He being employed in this service, and being great in the favour of God, it came to pass by the way in the inn, the Lord met him, and would have kiUed him. A man would think that he with whom God was but even now so familiar had committed some gi'eat ofience, that God should kill him. And what was it ? But because he did neglect the Lord's sacrament. Ay, though Zipporah called him a bloody husband, because