A Preparation to the Receiving of the Lords Supper, Chapter 8 – Chapter 9
CHAP. VIII. Of the continuance in triall, till we finde that we ſeeke for.
THe other duty propounded by the Apoſtle (but implicitly) is; That wee giuegive not ouer trying and ſearching of our ſelues, vntill we find theſe graces in vsus. For the Apoſtles requires of him that examineth himſelfe, That he eat of this bread, and drinke of this cup.
What? Is hee to doe this, whether in this ſearch and triall he ſhall finde any grace in himſelfe or no? To what end then ſhould a man make any ſuch triall? This caſe is cleare, that a man is not to receiue this Sacrament, except after triall he finde himſelfe to be in the ſtate of grace. But why doth not the Apoſtle, put in this caution and exception: Firſt, Becauſe hee would thereby teach all Chriſtians, ſo long to continue the triall and examination of themſelues, vntill they hauehave found in themſelues (in ſome degree) the graces aboue ſpecified: Secondly, To ſhew that a man hath not tried and examined himſelf, in that manner which the holy Ghoſt meaneth, vntill he hath found in himſelfe the graces aforeſaid.
Thirdly, To teach, that hee that hath this grace, but to ſearch ſeriouſly within himſelfe, ſhall in good time find theſe graces in himſelfe.
It is the preciſe promiſe of our Sauiour, Seek and you ſhall finde, Luke 11.5, 9.
What an incouragement then ought this to be vntounto eueryevery one of vsus, to rifle and ranſacke our owne ſoules, ſearching eueryevery corner of them, as one would ſearch for a Mine of gold, ſeeing we are ſure before hand to finde the graces wee ſeek for, and in and with them (which will bee of more worth to vsus then a thouſand worlds) a ſealed pardon of the forgiueneſſe of our ſinnes; Yea, ſure euidences and Indentures of a firme title to the kingdome of heauen. If a condemned man ſhould be certified, that if he did make diligent ſearch he ſhold with out faile finde the Kings pardon; or if a needy begger were informed, that if hee would ſeeke and ſearch narrowly in ſuch a place, he ſhould be ſure to finde ſuch treaſures of gold and ſiluer, as would make him a rich man as long as he liued; would any man pitty either the pouerty of the one, or the death of the other, if they ſhould refuſe in thoſe caſes to take paines to ſearch? Much leſſe are ſuch to bee pittied, that may find ſauing grace, if they wil ſeeke for it. Can there bee a greater ſigne of a man that deſpiſeth the grace of God, then in ſuch a caſe as this is, not to ſeek after it; when a man may bee ſure to hauehave it for the ſeeking after?
Here wee may note by the way, that the Apoſtle doth not onelyonly tie, the duty of Examination to the receiuing of this Sacrament; but alſo the receiuing of this Sacrament, to the dutie of Examination: Not that we ſhould neuer examine our ſelues, but before the receiuing of this Sacrament, or vponupon this occaſion onelyonly; but that doing it vponupon this occaſion, wee ſhould then after the doing of it receiue, & not forſake the Table of the Lord. So that theſe points following, are plainely taught vntounto vsus by the Apoſtle.
1 That the danger of receiuing vnwoorthily, muſt not withhold vsus from receiuing this Sacrament; but muſt make vsus ſo much the more ſtudious, to vſe the meanes of worthy receiuing the ſame. For the Apoſtle doth not ſay; Let a man therefore forbeare to receiue; but, Let a man therefore try and examine himſelfe, and ſo let him eat, &c. So that the more dangerous it is to receiue vnworthily, the more muſt wee indeauour to bee worthy Receiuers. And hence the Apoſtle inferres this duty, from the danger aforeſaid, as if hee ſhould ſay; EueryEvery Chriſtians ſtands bound to receiue this Sacramēt; yet ſeeing the danger of vnworthy receiuing is ſo great; our duty is the more carefully to ſtudy how we may be worthy Receiuers.
2 That all Chriſtians which are bound to receiue, are bound to make this triall before they receiue.
3 That after wee hauehave made this triall, it is a ſin not to receiue this Sacrament.
CHAP. IX. Of the curſe that followes, the neglect of the triall aforeſaid.
THus much of the duties, neceſſary to the worthy receiuing of this Sacrament.
The Apoſtle furthermore vrgeth, & preſſeth the Church of Corinth (and vsus in them) to this duty.
And this
1 In generall, by ſhewing the curſe that they incur, which without this Triall do eat vnworthily.
2 In ſpeciall, by ſhewing vvhat ſignes and tokens of that curſe, was amongſt the Corinthians themſelues.
The curſe he firſt propounds: and ſecondly affixeth the ſpecial ground and reaſon thereof.
The curſe propunded is this; That a man, not trying and examining himſelfe, eateth and drinketh vnworthily, and therein and thereby, eateth and drinketh his owne damnation: That is, in ſtead of receiuing any ſpirituall food, they receiue thereby (except the ſpeciall mercy of God preuent it) that which will be a bane & poyſon to their ſoules. The bread and wine receiued, ſhall be ſo farre from being to them the body & bloud of Chriſt, that it ſhall be vntounto them (as the ſop was to Iudas) a meanes, in and by which Sathan ſhall enter into them. They ſhall be ſo far from furthering their ſaluation thereby, that if they had no other ſinne, that ſhould be ſinne enough, to pull vponupon their heads eternall condemnation.
If God ſhould turne theſe Elements of bread and wine (being vnworworthily receiued) vntounto a bodily bane & poyſon vntounto vsus, would it not make vsus feare & tremble how we receiued them, and to try and examine our ſelues thorowly, before wee preſumed to receiue the ſame?
Surely, if vponupon our vnworthy receiuing, our bowels and entrailes ſhould bee in danger to rot within vsus; yet, if no more euil then that ſhold follow, it were nothing ſo fearefull a matter as this is, to eat and drinke our owne damnation. As therfore we hate and abhorre the damnation of our ſoules, wee ſhould hate and abhorre the vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament, and louelove & imbrace thoſe means, by which wee may become worthy receiuers thereof.
The ground of the curſe, is, becauſe ſuch doe not diſcerne the Body of Christ, that is, make no difference betweene that food, and thoſe dainties which God prepareth & offereth in this Sacrament, euen the precious Body and bloud of our Sauiour Chriſt, and other ordinary meats and drinkes, eating and deuouring the bread and wine, neuer looking after, nor regarding to eat and drinke the body and bloud of Chriſt exhibited thereby. What is this but to contemne Chriſt and his merits, and to offer a foule indignitie to God, that prepares this feaſt? And how can they but indanger themſelues to periſh eternally, that diſcerne not, nor looke not after that food, by which they ſhould liue eternally.