be as carnal as they. A want of spirituality and affiance in Christ makes our service carnal ; nor can such a service be acceptable to Him who will be worshipped in spirit and in truth.]
To attend at the Lord's table in such a manner is no slight or venial offence.
11. The consequence of so doing —
The consequences mentioned in the text respect,
1. The guilt we contract —
[They were " guilty of the body and blood of our Lord" who crucified him, as they are also who apostatize from his truths. They too are involved in the same guilt who partake unworthily of the Lord's supper : they manifest a contempt of his sacrifice**. What a dreadful iniquity is this ! How careful should we be to abstain from the commission of it !]
2. The punishment we incur —
[The word " damnation " imports temporal judgment '. Eternal damnation is by no means a necessary consequence of this sin*': yet if it be unrepented of, no doubt this punishment will follow; and we may expect some spiritual or temporal judgments for it here. We should therefore examine ourselves well before we attend the table of the Lord*.]
Address —
1. Those who urge this as an excuse for neglecting the Lord's supper —
[There are many who under this pretext cover their own unwillingness to yield themselves up to God ; but God will not admit their vain excuses. The habitual neglect of their duty ensures the punishment which they desire to avoid. Let all then devote themselves to the Lord in the use of all his insti- tuted ordinances.]
2. Those who are really kept away by a fear of incurring this punishment —
[Many are kept from the table by a sense of their own unworthiness. But to be unworthy, and to partake unworthily,
8 Heb. vi. 6. ^ Heb. x. 29.
' The Apostle explains his meaning in the following verse ; " for, for this cause," &c. and he tells us that it was a chastisement inflicted to keep them from eternal condemnation, ver. 32.
'^ Matt. x'ii. 31. ' ver. 28.
1980.1 PREPARATION BEFORE THE LORd's SUPPPER. 295
are very different things™ : yet if we have partaken unworthily in past times, let us humble ourselves for it; and then may we come again with joy : this has been the experi-ence of many", and may be ours also.]
"" A rebel against a mild and merciful prince is unworthy of par- don : but if he receive with gratitude the pardon offered him, and re- turn to his allegiance, he receives it wordiily. Thus we are unworthy of the smallest mercies, and much more of the children's bread : but if we receive this bread with humility, gratitude, and an increasing devotedness of heart to God, we receive it as we ought, that is, ivorthili/.
" 2 Chron. xxx. 15 — 23.