Christs Last Supper, Sermon 1
1. Cor. 11.28.29.
28 Let a man therefore examine himſelfe, and ſo let him eate of this bread, and drinke of this cup.
29 For he that eateth and drinketh vnworthily, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation, becauſe hee diſcerneth not the Lords body.
VPONUPON occaſion of ſome abuſe committed by the Corinthians, about the receiuing of the Sacrament, the Apoſtle deliuers vntounto them the firſt inſtitution of this Sacrament of the Lords Supper. For as one ſayth well; Where thinges are reduced to the firſt inſtitution, Tertul. Vbi ad primum veritatem diuertuntur, &c.all humane error then ceaſeth.
Concerning the inſtitution of the Lords Supper, Paul ſets down ſundry poynts.
The order of the Apoſtle in this Chapter.Firſt, the Author of it, namely Ieſus Chriſt himſelfe, the eternal Sonne of God, and bleſſed Sauiour of the worlde, for none elſe hath authority to ſet on the ſeale but hee that makes the couenant.
V. 23.Secondly, the Apoſtle notes the time when it was ordained, euen the very night before hee was betrayed; whereby our Sauiour Chriſt woulde teach his Church and people, that nowe there was an end to be put vntounto the Paſſouer, and that this Sacrament of his bleſſed body and bloud was to come in ſtead therof: as alſo to teſtifie that his wonderful care of his poore Church and choſen people; that immediately before his death and bitter paſſion, he was ſo mindefull and carefull of their comfort, as that notwithſtanding his time was but ſhort, and that his apprehenſion drew neare, hee ſeemeth to neglect himſelfe; and the preparation he was to make for his owne ſuffering, and prouides for the comfort and wel-fare of his Church.
Concerning the inſtitution,Chriſts order in the firſt inſtitution of the Sacrament. it is ſayd; Firſt, that he tooke the bread into his bleſſed hands; to ſhewe vntounto vsus, that the bread is now ſet apart from a common vſe, to a holy and religious vſe,1 He takes the bread and wine. to bee the Sacrament of Chriſts body, and ſo the wine of his bloud, v. 23.
2. He bleſſeth them.Secondly, he bleſſed them; as Chriſt did open the inſtitution of this Sacrament amongſt his diſciples,v. 24. with the nature and quality of the ſame, to what end and purpoſe it was ordained, he teacheth them likewiſe the right and holy vſe of it, by bleſſing it by prayer and thankeſgiuing to his Father. For theſe are eſſential parts of the Sacrament; the opening of the inſtitution by the miniſtery of the word, prayer to the bleſſing of the elements, direction in the vſe of this holy ordinance, and thankeſgiuing vntounto God.
3. He breakes the bread, & poureth out the wineThirdly, after hee had thus conſecrated the elements, and bleſſed them, and ſet them apart for this holy vſe, hee breakes the bread, and poures out the wine, which accordingly muſt be imitated of the miniſters of the word, that ſo by the breaking of the bread and powring out the wine, the people may be put in minde of the breaking of the body, and powring out of the blood of Chriſt.
Fourthly, Chriſt deliuers it vntounto the Diſciples ſaying,4 Hee giues them Take eate &c. Shewing that as the communicant doth take the bread and wine with his bodyly hand, ſo hee muſt reach out fayth the hand of the ſoule, and lay holde on Chriſt. And ſo ſpiritually eate his fleſh and drinke his blood, applying the merits of his death and paſſion vntounto his owne ſoule in particuler.
Fiftly and laſtly,5 Hee ſhews the end of all, viz. to ſhew forth his death. Chriſt laies downe the ende likewiſe why this bleſſed Sacrament of his was ordayned, namely to Shew forth his death, and to keepe in remembrance that his bitter paſſion vntounto the end of the world: that ſo often as we come to this Sacrament, wee ſhoulde freſhly call to mind the bitter death & paſſion of our Lord Ieſus Chriſt. What & how cruell tortures & torments he ſuffered for our ſakes, that ſo we might be brought to the true ſight of our ſinne, which in no one thing more can appeare then in the ſufferings of Chriſt, which were indeede the very Nayles and Speare that put him to death: and might be brought to bee more thankefull for ſo great a worke of mercy ſhewed vntounto poore Sinners. Theſe things touching the inſtitution it ſelfe of this holy Sacrament, the Apoſtle hath handled in the former part of this chapter.
Now the Apoſtle hauing ſet downe the true inſtitution of the Lords Supper,The occaſion of this Scripture. and alſo the ende of it. He doth heere labor to prepare the Corinthians and in them all Chriſtians, to the right vſe of this holy Sacrament. And teacheth that as the benefits is wonderfull great, if they come to this holy ordinance in a holy manner, prepared as they ought to be, as meete gueſts for ſo holy a banquet. So is the danger great if wee come to the ſame vnworthyly, and vnprepared; ſuch ſhall be ſo farre from receiuing a bleſſing, as that rather they ſhall prouoke the Lord to plague them with ſome heauie iudgement, or puniſhment, temporall heere, to bring them to the ſight of their ſinnes, and to true repentance for the ſame, if not then with eternall condemnation in the life to come. And therefore our bleſſed Apoſtle here is the more earneſt in this poynt to perſwade al Chriſtians to take heede how they come to ſo holy an ordinance.
This text conſiſts of two parts.
The text deuided.Firſt a precept or commandement. Let eueryevery man therefore Examine himſelfe, v. 28.
Secondly a reaſon to inforce the dutie. v. 29.
For hee that eateth and drinketh vnworthyly &c.
In the firſt of theſe we hauehave 2. things
1. A preparation.
2. A participation.
In the preparation we are to obſerue
1. The Neceſſitie of the preparation.
2. The Subiect of it, a Mans owne ſelfe.
3. The duty it ſelfe. Examination.
And firſt for the Neceſſitie of this preparation and examination of our ſelues,1 A Preparation. before wee pertake of this holy Sacrament, it appeares in the words of the precept, Let a man examine himſelfe.
The word Let, may ſeeme in our Engliſh phraſe to be a thing leaft as indifferent, to be done or not to be done. Let a man if hee will examin himſelf. But it is not indeede ſo indifferent a thing neither is it leaſt as a thing arbritrary, but propounded as a precept, and implies the neceſſitie of obedience thereto, and ſo not a matter of indifferency,foreign the word it ſelfe in the originall, it ſeemes to import ſo much, for it is vſed in the imperatiue moode and implies a dutie as if the holy Ghoſt ſhould hauehave ſaid doe thou examine thy ſelfe. And ſo the phraſe runnes as in the Princes Lawes and act of Parliament Be it enacted, ſo that it is a flat precept or commandement implying a neceſſitie of obedience: that if any looke to reape any good or benefit by the vſe of this Sacrament, he muſt Examine himſelfe.
Reaſons ſhewing the neceſſitie of examination.And that the neceſſitie of this duty may the more clearely appeare, wee are to conſider the reaſon which may mooue vsus to this examination and godly preparation, and the reaſons are theſe.
Firſt of all Gods Commandement, then the which what may be more effectuall to perſwade vsus to this duty, the Lord hath commanded it,1 It is Gods Commandement. & muſt be obeyed in this as in al other his Commandements: it is not leaft as a thing indifferent for a man to examine himſelfe, or not to examine himſelfe, to come, or not to come. But it is a dutie impoſed vponupon all to examine themſelues, now then ſeeing it is the Lords commandement, and hee hath power ouer his Church to commaund, it is our duty to obey. And as he that ſweareth, or killeth, or breaketh any of the commaundements of almightie God, is in danger of Gods wrath. So is hee that doth willingly and wilfully breake this commaundement of God.
Secondly, the Lord hath promiſed to bleſſe it,2 The Lord hath promiſed to bleſſe it. as a ſpeciall meanes of good vntounto our ſoules, ſo as if wee come fitted and prepared in a holy manner in faith, repentance, louelove, reuerence, and and obedience, and ſeeke to ſanctifie the Lord in his ordinance, wee ſhall then finde and feele to our endeleſſe comfort; the ſweeteneſſe and comfort of this Sacrament. The Lord hath promiſed to bleſſe his owne ordinance, and will bee found of them that ſeeke him, in the conſcionable vſe of the meanes hee hath appoynted.
3 The reuerence wee owe to theſe holy things, doth require it.Thirdly the reuerence we owe vntounto theſe holy things, may mooue vsus to this duty to examine our hearts, and to prepare our ſelues, for if when wee come to the table of an earthly Prince or ruler,Pro. 23.1. wee will conſider diligently what is ſet before vsus, and be ſo carefull vntounto our ſelues that we doe nothing vnbeſeeming ſo great a preſence, Oh how much more carefull ought wee to be, to prepare our ſelues when wee come to the Lords Table, who is Lord of heauen and earth, with whome we are there preſent and and with whome we ſit.
And indeede this table repreſents the kingdome of heauen,The Lords Table, repreſents the kingdome of heauen. and as wee ſit heere with our bodies, ſo ought wee to ſet our hearts there in the company of God the Father, Sonne, and holy Ghoſt, with the moſt bleſſed Saints and Angels: we are therefore to come prepared.
Did Ioſeph ſhaue himſelfe and chang his rayment,Gen. 41.14 when he was to come before Pharaoh an earthly king and ſinfull man, and ſhall not wee when we come before the king of glory and Prince of power, much more out of our ſinful luſts, chang our former conditions, and be cloathed with the robes of Chriſt our righteouſneſſe? Did the people of the Iewes in a ſolemne maner prepare themſelues vntounto the Paſseouer, Exod. 12. 2. Chro. 35.as that the Prieſts were to ſanctifie themſelues, and to prepare the people before they came there-vntounto, which Paſſouer was but a ſigne of this Sacrament, and ſhall we dare to come careleſſely, vnreuerently, in our old ſinnes, without faith, repentance, and louelove, vntounto this Sacrament of the Lords Supper, which is the ſubſtance?
We vſe greate care about our common meat, we will hauehave our diſhes, cups, and platters cleane and ſcoured, and our hands and face waſhed before we eate; and ſhall wee not much more cleanſe our heartes,Iames 4. and prepare our ſelues to the receiuing of theſe holy Myſteries, that we receiue them not into vncleane hearts, and polluted ſoules: Oh the daunger is great to ſuch an vnworthy receiuer!
Sancta Sanctis ſayth a Father, holy things belong to holy men. And the very heathen themſelues in their Sacrifices, when they went about them, and the dueties of their falſe religion to their gods, they euer proclaimed and cryed out before, procul híc eſte prophani: Depart away from hence ye prophane. And in the Primitiue Church it was the practice of the faithfull at this time, when they were about to adminiſter this holy Sacrament, to ſay Who are here? The practiſe of the Primitiue Church.and the anſwer was made, None but good and honeſt men and women. As if none but good and honeſt men and women ſhould partake of ſuch a holy thing.
And this was the charge that Almighty God gaue vntounto Moſes and Aaron, Exo. 12.48. Leuit. 7.20.that no vncircumciſed perſon ſhould be admitted to partake of the Paſſouer; and the very Leuites were to prepare themſelues before they came vntounto it, yet all this was but for the figure & type of this Sacrament, how much more ought wee to prepare our ſelues when we come to the ſubſtance; for no vnclean perſon muſt dare to touch or come neare theſe holy things.
Paul would not ſuffer an vncleane perſon in the Church: much leſſe may ſuch be admitted to partake of the moſt excellent priueledge of the Church.4. The benefit and profit by ſo doing doth bind vsus to this duty.
Fourthly, we muſt examine our ſelues, and prepare our hearts, in regard of the great benefite and profite that by ſo doing we ſhall receiue:Mat. 9.20. For if the woman in the Goſpell, that did but touch the hem of Chriſts garment, was healed of her infirmity, and brought ſuch a benefite vntounto her that had faith; what benefite ſhall the true beleeuer receiue, who in this Sacrament doth feede on Chriſt? Surely the benefite and profite that wee, ſhall reape heere-hence will be wondrous great: for
Firſt,The benefit that comes by due receiuing. This Sacrament wil be a ſpeciall prop to ſtay our weake faith, euen as a weake and impotent man leaneth vponupon his ſtaffe and is ſupported and ſtayed vp by the ſame;It is a prop to the weak euen ſo a weake faith is vnderpropped and releeued by the reuerent vſe of this Sacrament.
Becauſe Chriſt Ieſus is now offered more effectually and perticulerly to his hart & ſoule,Gal. 3.1. now is Chriſt crucyfied a freſh, and more liuely repreſented and ſet forth before his eyes, yea as the Church cryeth out,Cant. 2.5. Oh ſtay mee with the flagons of wine, and comfort me with apples. It is that which miniſtreth ſinguler comfort to a poore diſtreſſed ſoule.
Secondly this ſacrament doth in regard of God ſeale vntounto vsus Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe,It ſeales vp vntounto vsus Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe. Ioh. 6.35. yea it doth aſſure the true beleeuer of the ſweete promiſes of life and of mercy, that Chriſt with all the merits of his death & obedience, belongs vntounto vsus in perticular▪ yt euen as verily as we eate the bread and drinke the wine which turne to the nouriſhment of our bodies, to comfort and refreſh the ſame. So are our ſoules by faith much more nouriſhed and refreſhed by the merits & obedi…nce of Ieſus Chriſt,Ioh. 6.35. which is the …pirituall foode of our ſoules.
Thirdly, this Sacrament ſer…eth to quicken a man and to …ut ſpirituall life into his ſoule,It quickens to all good duties. …o all good duties of thankefullneſſe and obedience to God and man. For when a man comes …nce to conſider Gods infinit mercy in giuing his Sonne to …eath, and Chriſts wonderfull …oue in ſuffering of death. It will make a heart if there be any louelove …f God at all ſhed into it, fearefull …o offend God, who hath bene …o good and gracious a father …nto him, ſeeking him vp,Luke. 15.4 when …e was loſt and gone aſtray, and …uickning him that was Dead in Treſpaſſes and Sinnes. Ephe. 2.1.And laye … darkeneſſe and in the ſhadow of death. And ſo likewiſe will it make a man moſt carefull and willing to pleaſe God, to be louing and merciful vntounto men▪ becauſe now in this ſacramen… we come to renew our couenan… with God, to ſeale to it afreſh that ſo euer after wee might be… the more careful to keepe it, theſ… and many more are the ſweet… benefits that we ſhall receiue, b… comming prepared to this holy ordinance.
5 The hurt and danger which otherwiſe wil inſue, doth ſhew the neceſſity of the ſame.The fift and laſt reaſon to perſwade vsus to this duty of preparation, may bee taken from th… great hurt and danger which fo… want thereof will follow. Fo… beſides the loſſe of the benefit, there is a fearefull iudgement threatned to the vnworthy receiuer, namely ſuch a one becomes guilty of the body & blood of Chriſt▪ It is not the loſſe of a mans labour that is all, but the fearefull puniſhment which wil fall vponupon ſuch, ſhould terrifie all, ſuch eate and drinke their owne iudgement, ſuch doe no better then mock God to his face, becauſe they will ſeeme to make a couenant with God, that God ſhall be their God, and that they will be his people, but when they ſhould ſeale this couenant, as eueryevery Chriſtian doth in this Sacrament that coms prepared therevnto, they will not bee brought to that. This is nothing elſe but to dally with God, for a man to prouoke his maker. Let not ſuch be deceiued, God will not bee mocked, if wee doe not ſanctifie our ſelues, and ſanctifie the Lord in our hearts in a holy and godly preparation, when we come to this his ordināce that ſo we may reape ſome benefit and comfort by it to our owne ſaluation: let vsus aſſure our ſelues the Lord will bee ſanctified of vsus, and wee ſhall ſerue his iuſtice for abuſing ſo holy and excellent an ordinance to our owne condemnation.
In all which reſpects let vsus learne to make more conſcience of this duty, to prepare our harts, and to examine our ſelues before wee come, that ſo wee may be fit gheſts and meete partakers of this holy banquet.
Wee will now make ſome further vſe of this Doctrine to our ſelues.
The vſe of the Doctrine.Firſt, then ſeeing that examination, and preparation, is ſo neceſſary a thing, as that without it, none may dare to come to the Lords Table. This may ſerue to Vſe. 1 admoniſh the Miniſters of the word,Teacheth Miniſters their duty, to prepare men for the Lords Table. in a neceſſary duty that belongs vntounto their places, namely that they labour to helpe the poore people of God, in furthering them, inſtructing them, and that in priuate as publike, and in vſing all other holy helpes and meanes, as preaching,Note. priuate conference, catichiſing &c. that ſo they may fit them for the Lords Table, and bring them to ſome competent meaſure of knowledge fit for this holy duty.
This was the charge the Lord giues to the Leuites, 2. Cor. 35.6that they ſhould ſanctifie themſelues and prepare the people, The Lord lays this duty vponupon them, they are called to that place, that they might inſtruct the ſimple. Their lips muſt preſerue knowledge, and the people muſt heare the lawe at their mouth. Mal. 2.7.They muſt bee wary and carefull that they admit none of thoſe, whome the Lord doth not admit, ſuch as cannot examine themſelues, whether they bee old or yong, rich or poore,Mat. 7.6. for if they do, what were it but to giuegive holy thinges to Dogs, and pearles to Swine. Which wee are ſtraightly commaunded of our Sauiour not to doe.
Vſe 2 Secondly, ſeeing no man muſt preſume to come to this Sacrament of the Lords Supper, without a ſerious examination and preparation of himſelfe.Shewes what manner of perſons may not be admitted there-vntounto. This ſerues to ſhewe what manner of perſons may not bee admitted there-vntounto, namely, ſuch as for want of skil and knowledg… in the worde, cannot examine themſelues, and prepare themſelues in ſom good meaſure, yt ſo they may be meete partakers of this holy myſtery.Children. And ſuch are Children, who in regard of the tendernes of their yeares, cannot examin and prepare themſelues, they know not what it is to eate Chriſt ſpiritually, and the like may be ſayde of Mad men,Mad men. Ideots. Ideots, &c. yea and ſuch who thogh they be of ripe yeares, and hauehave the vſe of reaſon, and doe vnderſtand the doctrine of mans redemption, yet if their liues declare that they are vain and prophane, ſuch as are contemners of God and godlineſſe,Note ſuch as are prophaners of the Lords Saboth, drunkards, ſwearers, vncleane perſons, or ſuch in whom appeares not the worke of mortification and ſanctification, ſuch cannot be intereſſed into this Sacrament. None muſt dare to partake of this holy ordinance of God, but onelyonly ſuch as for knowledge can, and for conſcience doe Examine and prepare themſelues therevnto.
Vſe 3 Thirdly and laſtly, ſeeing it is Gods commaundement,Is for triall of our eſtates. that none come to this Sacrament, but onelyonly ſuch as can and do examine and prepare themſelues there-vntounto. Let this ſerue then to admoniſh vsus all in the feare of God, to enter into our ſelues, to try our owne hearts and Soules, Whether we be in the faith, 2. Cor. 13.5or not: how wee are fitted and prepared to come to ſo holy a banqvet: let vsus deſcend into our owne hearts; aske thy heart this queſtion, whether it be purged of ſinne, of ignorance, malice, vncleanneſſe, &c?
And let this examination bee done in a ſerious maner:Ier. 17.9. For the heart of man is deceiptfull aboue all things. Call to mind thy life that is paſt, examine it by Gods law, and by his word, whether it hath becommed the goſpel of Chriſt, whether it bee truely humbled, wounded, and bruiſed for ſinne, ſince by thy ſins thou haſt grieued the good ſpirit of God, and whether thou hungereſt and thirſteſt after Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe, deſireſt to be eaſed of that burden of ſinne and corruption, that hangeth on ſo faſt, and that preſſeth downe. Heb. 12.1.And if vponupon examination, thou findeſt this to be thy caſe, be not any whit diſcouraged for thy wants, or too much caſt downe for thy ſinnes. I will ſay vntounto thee, as ſometime the Diſciples ſayde vntounto blinde Bartimeus; Luk. 19. Mat. 11.28.Behold, Chriſt calleth thee: For ſo ſayth Chriſt: Come vntounto me, all ye that trauaile and are heauy laden, and I will refreſh you. Heere is the Phyſitian that is able to heale thee, and heere is a medicine for thy ſicke heart, this Sacrament wil miniſter comfort vntounto thy ſorrowfull ſoule.
But if on the contrary part, vponupon this examination, thou findeſt thy heart to be fraught with ſin, with blindneſſe, ignorance, contempt of God and godlineſſe, pride, drunkenneſſe, malice, &c. oh deceiue not thy owne ſoule any longer, but know, that thou canſt not receiue this Sacrament to thy good and to thy comfort, but with great hazzard to prouoke the Lord to wrath, to puniſh thee with both temporall and eternall iudgements, with vtter confuſion, and eternall condemnation.
And thus much for the neceſſitie of this preparation: wee are now to ſpeake of the ſubiect of this preparation, and that is a Mans ſelfe.
Let a man therefore examin himſelfe.
The Apoſtle here giues a ſpeciall command,The ſubiect of Examination. that eueryevery one ſhould narrowly try and examin Himſelfe; that is, that eueryevery man enter into his owne heart and conſcience, and examine himſelfe, how it fareth betwixt God and his ſoule, whether or no hee find his conſcience to be at peace with God. q. d. marke and behold in what eſtate you ſtand, what is the condition of your owne conſciences, whether they excuſe or accuſe, for if our owne hearts condemn vsus, God is greater then our hearts, and will much more condemne vsus.
Doct. EueryEvery man muſt bee moſt diligent to know his owne eſtate.Now in that our Apoſtle biddeth vsus not to try one another, or our neighbours to try vsus, but eueryevery man to try Himſelfe, we are taught this poynt of holy inſtruction; That our principall and ſpeciall care and diligence muſt bee in knowing our ſelues, and labouring to diſcern of our own eſtates, how it fareth betwixte God and our ſoules.Lam. 3.40 He bids not our neighbour to try vsus, or we to try our neighbor, but eueryevery man to try himſelfe. Examine your own hearts vponupon your bed, Pſal. 4.4.ſayth Dauid. This is that holy direction that Paul giues vntounto the godly Corinths. 2. Cor. 13.15.Proue your ſelues whether ye be in the faith, know ye not that Chriſt Ieſus is in you except ye be reprobates. And to this agreeth that exhortation of the ſame Apoſtle to the Galathians: Let eueryevery man …roue his own work, Gal. 6.4.that he may hauehave …oy in himſelfe. And this duety be…ongs vntounto all, from the higheſt vntounto the loweſt, be a man neuer …o holy, wiſe, learned, mighty, &c …et before he muſt dare to come …o this Sacrament, this is the du…y that is to be performed by him …e muſt Examine himſelfe. And …reat reaſon:
Reaſon 1 For, firſt, none can be ſo cer…ine of the eſtate of a mans hart …nd conſcience,EueryEvery man is beſt acquainted with his owne eſtate. as a mans owne …elfe. It is true, the Apoſtle here …oeth not exclude others from …e tryall of vsus; It is lawfull for the Paſtor to try vsus, and we muſt be ready to giuegive an account of our faith,Miniſters not exempted from taking tryall of vsus. 1. Pet. 3.15. and that hope that is in vsus, whenſoeuer we ſhall be required. But other men can neuer ſo ſearch our harts as we our ſelues may; No man knoweth ſo much by me as I know by my ſelfe. No man can be ſo certaine of the eſtate of the heart, and condition of the conſcience of an othe… man, as he himſelfe may. Thou mayeſt obtaine a good report amongſt men,Note well. thy Miniſter may approoue of thee, thinke thee a meet Communicant, louelove thee and delight in thy fellowſhip and ſociety, yet mayeſt thou be… a ſecret hypocrite, and periſh fo… all thy glorious profeſſion in the end. When mens outward behauiour ſeemes to bee ſober and godly, we are bound in conſcience to iudge charitably of ſuch, and to thinke well of them; but this is not all, it ſtands eueryevery Chriſtian ſoule in hand to approue himſelf to God, as to men, for it is hee that ſearcheth the heart, and tryeth the reines:Pſal. 7.9 1. Chro. 28.9. Hee ſeeth where man cannot diſcern, and before him al things are naked. In which reſpect, wee conclude, that there is none ſo meete to try the ſpirit of man, to ſearch the heart, and to proue the conſcience of man, as is man himſelfe.
Reaſon 2 Another Reaſon to ſhewe the neceſſity of this dutie,EueryEvery man ſhall anſwer for his own ſinnes. Eze. 18. may bee this: Becauſe eueryevery man muſt anſwere for his owne ſinne; and The Soule that ſinneth ſhall die the death. And heere vntounto agreeth that of the Apoſtle;2. Cor. 5 10 We muſt all appeare before the iudgement ſeate of Chriſt, Rom. 14.that every man may receiue the things which are done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or euill. A man ſtands and falls to his owne Conſcience. It all the worlde ſhould condemne mee, and account me wicked, if I hauehave peace in my Soule, and my owne Conſcience doth acquite me, I may hauehave peace. The world can iudg but by ye outward appearance, it is the Lord that knoweth the heart.1. Sam. 1.13 Eli was deceiued in Hannah, who in the bitterneſſe of her ſoule mourned before the Lord, and he iudged her no better then drunke; euen ſo, if all the worlde ſhould iuſtifie me, if my own conſcience did not beare me witnes, and acquite me before Gods tribunal, it would auail me nothing at all. So then whether we conſider that eueryevery mans eſtate is beſt knowne vntounto himſelfe, or that eueryevery man ſhall anſwere for his owne ſinnes vntounto God, we conclude the neceſſity of this duety, that if a man would hauehave comfort in comming to this ſacrament, and come prepared as hee ought, this duty is to be performed by him, he muſt examin himſelfe.
Vſe 1 This ſerues to reproue many in theſe dayes and times wherin we liue,For reprofe that are very forwarde and buſie in prying into other men, purſuing them with their examinations, and that through a glaſſie ſpectacle, wherein eueryevery mole ſeemes a mountaine, and eueryevery more a beame; heerein they are Eagle eyed, and quicke ſighted, but in the meane time, doe vtterly neglect themſelues and thoſe great corruptions and maine deformities that are in themſelues, and breake out in their liues, they cannot behold. But what are they that for the moſt part are ſo forward to prye into the faults of their brethren, but ſuch as ſeldome or neuer behold their owne deformities. But who art thou that iudgeſt another mans ſeruant, Rom. 14.4.ſeeing he ſtandeth or falleth to his maſter. The Lorde hath commaunded thee to Examine thy ſelfe, hee doth not require that thou ſhouldſt ſo ſtrictly examin the wayes of thy brother▪ the Lord hath reſerued that to himſelfe. Let ſuch remember our Sauiour his checke to Peter for his buſie inquiſition concerning Iohn:Ioh. 21.22. What is that to thee? follow thou me. We are carefully to heede our owne wayes, and our owne walking: It is no wiſedome to neglect our ſelues, and to bee ignorant of our owne eſtates, and to bee ſo curious in prying into other mens wayes.
Queſt. But may we not examin others at all?
Anſw. Men are to be conſidered two wayes, either as publike, or as priuate perſons.
Publike perſons may & ought to examine others; and thus Miniſters in a ſpeciall manner are bound to take tryall of the eſtate of the flocke that is committed vntounto them; the Lord himſelfe doth will it ſo, when he ſayth: The Prieſts lips ſhal preſerue knowledg, Mal. 2.7.& the people ſhal ſeek the law at his mouth. And ſo are Parents, & Maſters of families bound vntounto the ſame duty, to examin the children and families; for their relation to their congregations and families, makes them publike perſons, and bindes them to this dutie.
But now for a priuate perſon, he ought not ſo to do, vnleſſe by way of conference, ſo to helpe to confirme and ſtrengthen their brethren,Luk. 22.32 vntounto which duty al are bound: And ſo to giuegive teſtimony of our obedience, we are likewiſe bound to giuegive an anſwer to all that ſhall aske vsus, not being aſhamed of Chriſt or his word, according to that of the Apoſtle Be ready alwayes to giuegive an anſwere to eueryevery man that asketh you a reaſon of the hope that is in you, 1. Pet. 3.15and that with meekneſse and reuerence.
Vſe 2 Secondly, ſeeing this duety is ſo needefull and neceſſary,For inſtruction. it ſhal be our wiſdome to put the ſame in execution, that eueryevery one doe ſearch and examine his owne wayes, who will bee ſo faithfull to thee in this duety as thy ſelfe? How can hee bee faithfull to another, that is careleſſe of himſelfe? LoueLove euer begins with a mans ſelfe.Simile. If a mans houſe bee on fire with his neighbours, will a man be ſo careful of his neighbours, as to neglect his owne? I trow not. Oh my brethren, our ſoules are ſet on fire with ſinne, why then ſhould any man ſo neglect himſelfe, and the welfare of his owne ſoule, and ſeeme to bee ſo mindefull of another mans? of ſuch a one it may bee truely ſayd, that he doth little mind the eternall good of either. It is no poynt of good husbandry for a man to acquaint himſelfe with the nature of other mens grounds, goods or chattels, and in the meane time, to be altogether ignorant of his owne. Bee diligent to know the ſtate of thy owne flocke, ſayth Salomon▪ hee giues not the like charge in any place concerning our neighbours.
So then, wouldſt thou hauehave any comfort in the vſe of this Sacrament, wouldeſt thou not hauehave thy hearing, reading, praying, receiuing, and the like holy dueties, holy I ſay in themſelues, layd vntounto thy charge, and put in the ſcore amongſt the bedrole of thy ſinnes, againſt the day of reckoning? learne then betimes to make more conſcience of this duety of examining thy ſelfe, ſee what leades thee to the performance of them, whether thou doeſt them in faith, repentance, and obedience, or for cuſtome …ake, and betimes learne to …udge thy ſelfe, that thou bee …ot iudged of the Lord.
And thus much conſerning …he ſubiect of this examination and that is a mans ſelfe, the duty followes, which wee referre to another time. ⸪
Let vsus pray.