1 Cor. xi. 27, 29. Whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, umvorthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord .... For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
THE more excellent any thing is, the greater is the guilt contracted by the abuse of it. A contempt
of the law is not so bad as a contempt of the Gospel'*. An irreverent attendance on Divine ordinances is exceedingly sinful ; but to profane the Lord's supper is worse, inasmuch as that institution is more solemn and brings us nearer to God. Hence when St. Paul reproved the former, he spake mildly^; but when he reproved the latter, he spake with great severity.
I. What is it to eat the bread, and drink the cup of the Lord unworthily —
To understand this, we should inquire how the Corinthians behaved". The abuses of which they were guilty are impracticable now : nevertheless we may imitate them in our spirit and temper. Like them we shall eat and drink unworthily if we do it,
1. Ignorantly —
[The Corinthians did not discriminate between the com- mon and religious use of the consecrated elements. Many at this time also partake without discerning the Lord's body : they, not remembering his death, defeat the end for which the Supper of the Lord was instituted.]
2. Irreverently —
[The customs of our countr}^ do not admit of our meeting in the tumultuous way that was practised at Corinth^; but many are altogether as destitute of reverence and sacred awe. A light, worldly, impenitent heart, is unbecoming that solemnity: such a frame, if habitual, makes us partake un- worthily.]
3. Uncharitably —
[The rich did not impart of their provisions to the poor^. We also may be equally destitute of Christian love : we may be haughty, injurious, unforgiving, &c. Such a frame wholly unfits us for the Lord's table ^.]
4. Sensually —
[The Corinthians made it an occasion for intemperance and excess : though we cannot imitate them in this, we may
a Heb. X. 28, 29. ^ 1 Cor. xiv. 33, 40.
•= ver. 20 — 22. Their conduct seems at first sight to be absolutely inconsistent with a profession of Christianity. But, having been ac- customed to such behaviour in their feasts during their Gentile state, they were as yet too much addicted to their former habits.
'1 1 Cor. xi. 21. « 1 Cor. xi. 22, f Matt. v. 23, 24.