Directions for a Godly Life, Chapter 4
CHAP. IIII. The Neceſſity of preparation.
HE which deſires to receiue at the Lords Table in a right manner, muſt make conſcience of three duties, which are neceſſarily to be performed.
1 A diligent Preparation before.
2 A ſeaſonable Meditation in the time of receiuing.
3 A religious practiſe after the ſame in our liues and converſations.
In the firſt (as before in the matter of receiving) we muſt take notice of a thinges. Firſt, The Neceſſity. 2. The right manner of Preparation.
The Neceſſity will plainely appeare, if wee conſider theſe 2. things. 1. In whoſe preſence it is, that wee are to receiue. 2. The danger which we bring on our ſelues by not being prepared.
As for the firſt, we are to ſit, and feede in the preſence of the Lord himſelfe. Now if any, even the beſt of vsus, ſhould bee invited by a King to his Princely table, hee would bee carefull to preſent himſelfe (if he reverence his preſence) in the beſt manner that hee could, putting on then eſpecially (if he hauehave any better than other) his beſt apparell, & diſpoſing all thinges in the moſt decent order, that ſo he might be the better accepted: if ſo; with what feare and reverence ſhould wee then approach vntounto the Table of this King of Kinges, when hee inviteth vsus? who ſtands there ready attended with his Angels to behold thoſe, which preſent themſelues; & will ſoone eſpie out that man, who ſhall dare to approach before him, not having on his wedding garment; and what can ſuch expect, but, with the man in the Goſpell, a caſting out into vtter darkeneſſe? Matth. 22.12. Neither muſt wee thinke to deceiue the Lord with an hypocriticall out-ſide; for hee looketh not to the outward geſture onelyonly, but to the invvard parts of the ſoule: it is not ſo much a cleane hand or curious attire vvhichwhich maketh vsus accepted of God, as a pure heart and a cleanſed ſoule, adorned vvith faith & repentance; vvee may for a time deceiue mortall men, ſuch as our ſelues: but when the ſecrets of our hearts ſhall be made manifeſt, then ſhall our hypocriſie, as well as our negligence, bee laid open to our deſtruction. Let vsus therefore humble our ſelues before God, and prepare our ſelues aright, that we may eſcape the danger which will otherwiſe fall vponupon vsus; which is the ſecond thing to bee conſidered in the Neceſsity of preparation. The danger of not being prepared is particularly ſet forth vntounto vsus by conſidering the offence, which wee herein commit, and the reward thereof.
If we come vnprepared, and ſo receiue vnworthily, our offence is no leſſe than to bee guilty of the Body and Blood of Chriſt. as Saint Paul ſaith. 1. Cor. 11.27. that is, wee offer ſpeciall diſgrace and indignity vntounto Chriſt, in not receiving him with that reverēce which we ought: which offence, as it is in it ſelfe very hainous ſo it drawes on vsus a fearefull puniſhment; for the Prophet Ieremiah hath pronounced him accurſed which doth the worke of the Lord deceitfully: Ierem. 48.10. and if it be ſo in other things, which are of leſſe moment, what can we expect for the abuſing of this ſo weighty a matter? The Apoſtle ſetteth downe at full the fearefulnes hereof; when he ſaith. 1. Cor. 11.29. that he, which eateth and drinketh vnworthily, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation: than vvhichwhich vvhat can bee more terrible? neither is the Scripture ſilent in ſhevving vsus the judgements of God vponupon ſuch offenders; as vvee may plainely ſee, both in the Old Teſtament, in the ſuddaine death of Vzza for raſh touching of the Arke; and alſo in the Nevv, in the binding hand & foote for want of the wedding garment. Wherefore let the danger hereof moue vsus to a carefull preparation, before vvee preſume to come vntounto the Lords Table. But ſome may ſay; I perſvvade my ſelfe, that I can by no meanes bee vvorthy to receiue this Sacrament, and hovv then can I receiue vvorthily? it is true, if vvee truely conſider our ovvne vnvvorthines and the excellency of this Sacrament, vvee cannot by any meanes become vvorthy thereof: but this muſt bee our comfort, that hee is truely vvorthy vvhom God in mercy acccepteth as vvorthy; and ſo hee vvill vsus, if vvee come vntounto him in humility & reverence. Let vsus therefore, according to the Apoſtles rule, firſt trie & examine our ſelues, and then eate of this Supper: vvhichwhich that vvee may the better doe, vvee ought in the next place to take notice of the right manner of preparation.