A Preparation to the Receiving of the Lords Supper, Chapter 7
CHAP. VII. Of the Perſons that are to make this triall.
HItherto of the triall it ſelfe.
The Perſons that are to make this triall, are our ſelues, vponupon our ſelues: Let a man therefore (ſaith the Apoſtle) examine himſelfe. The reaſon whereof is euident: for it is not poſſible, that another man ſhould by triall finde out, what is in our hearts and conſciences. For though another ſhould vſe neuer ſo many experiments, and trie neuer ſo many concluſions vponupon vsus; yet may we through our hypocriſie, & cunning diſſimulation couſen and delude him, thogh he were the wiſeſt man, and ſeuereſt inquiſitor in the world; Yea, our owne hearts are ſo full of fraud and guile, that if in this triall & examination of our ſelues, we doe not proceed by a ſound & ſincere rule, our ſelues ſhall exceedingly couſen our ſelues; & we ſhall conceit, that that grace is in our hearts, which was neuer in them indeed and truth.
Doth not experience teach vsus, That ſome perſons hauehave made great ſhewes of pietie, and more then an ordinary profeſſion thereof, inſomuch that they hauehave ſeemed, not only to others, (but out of doubt, euen to themſelues) to burne in zeale, to ſome ſpeciall Truths, and cauſes of Chriſt, who yet afterwards hauehave prooued deteſtable Apoſtates, and bloudy & deſperate perſecutors of that in others, which themſelues hauehave profeſſed?
The Lord ſeldom leaues his Church without ſome notorious example or other of this kinde; that wee might the more narrowly try & examine the ſinceritie of our hearts, and take heed we be not deceiued with ſhewes & ſemblances of grace, in ſtead of ſubſtances.
This trial of our ſelues, doth not exclude the triall which others (as farre as they are able) are to make of vsus, eſpecially our Gouernours, Teachers, and Inſtructors, ſuch as hauehave the Cure & charge of our ſoules: but it rather ſtrengthneth & confirmeth the ſame. For they who in ſingleneſſe of heart ſhall once ſet themſelues to this work, ſhall finde it of that difficultie, that they will be glad of any furtherance and direction that they can get. For thoſe Trials and Examinations, that others vſe to make of vsus, are but helpes and directions, how wee may (in the beſt maner) try & examine our ſelues. Thoſe therefore, who are ſo ready to conclude from hence, that others hauehave nothing to doe to examine them, becauſe they are here required to examine themſelues: might as well conclude, that no body elſe is to care for, or doe good to them; becauſe they are to care for, prouide for, and do good for themſelues.
But the truth is, ſuch perſons as are not willing that others ſhould examine them, do neuer purpoſe to examine themſelues; but are guiltie to themſelues of Ignorance and Graceleſneſſe, and affect the ſame: And therefore had rather liue and rot therein, then diſcouer it to others, thogh they might hauehave helpe thereby. Indeed, if this were the end of ſuch trialls, to finde out the defects, wants and infirmities of our brethren, to the end that they may be drawne forth to puniſhment, or that wee might hauehave matter of contempt or diriſion againſt them, it were ſomewhat to except againſt it. But ſeeing the vſe and intent thereof, is to finde out what ſpirituall grace the Examinant wanteth, to the end that the beſt meanes might be vſed to ſupply the ſame: Is it not ſtrange, that any ſhould bee found vnwilling to ſubmit vntounto the ſame? much more to iudge it an iniury and wrong? If a rich man ſhould come to a poore man, and in louelove and pitty examine him of his eſtate, deſiring to make knowne vntounto him what hee wants: whether money, corne, or other prouiſion for himſelfe, his wife and children, promiſing to ſupply the ſame: Were he not a ſtrange man, if being in extreame want, himſelfe, wife and children ready to ſtarue with hunger, he ſhould murmure and grudge at this rich man, and aske what he had to do to examine him? Verily, thus it is with many poore ignorant ſoules amongſt vsus: the more they ſtand in neede of ſpirituall reliefe, the leſſe they can indure to bee examined of their pouertie and nakednes, by thoſe who are deſirous, to helpe & relieue them the beſt they can.
But wee may note hence.
1 That this is not ſufficient to make a worthy Receiuer, That vponupon triall & examination made by others, hee bee found worthy. A man by wiſe and politicke carriage, may ſo demeane himſelf that (euen the beſt) and holieſt, and learnedſt after that they hauehave ſifted him to the vttermoſt, ſhall finde no iuſt matter of exceptiō againſt him. And many beare this minde, that if they can ſo behaue themſelues, as no man elſe can accuſe them, though they bee guilty to their own conſcience of neuer ſo many corruptions; that then they are worthy enough of Chriſt, and this Sacrament, and all other prerogatiues of Chriſtians. But the Apoſtle teacheth vsus heere, neuer to iudge our ſelues tried enough, but when wee are approued to our owne ſoules and conſciences. For the ſtricteſt Inquiſitors, may free and acquit vsus, when our owne conſciences hauehave a thouſand capitall crimes to arraigne, conuict, & condemne vsus of. Let vsus not therefore, in the matter of our owne worthineſſe, ſo much rely vponupon the iudgement of others, though it were of the beſt in the world, as of our owne conſciences, which are better able to iudge of our owne inward eſtate, then all the world beſides. But moſt iudge thēſelues chriſtians worthy enough, if no man elſe bee able to lay any ſpeciall vnworthineſſe to their charge. But then the Apoſtle would hauehave ſent vsus to others, (and not to our ſelues) to bee tried and examined.
2 This dutie of trying and examining a mans ſelfe, is of vſe to the beſt of Chriſtians: for many times none feele in themſelues more want of graces then they doe, none are more deiected with the ſenſe and feeling of their defects, then they are: And many times they thinke they want thoſe graces moſt, with which their ſoules are moſt richly adorned.
And thus much of the firſt dutie, which the Apoſtle propounds as a ſpeciall meanes, to preuent the profaning of this Sacrament.