beare me witnes and acquite me before Gods tribunal it would auail me nothing at all So then whether we consider that euery mans estate is best knowne vnto himselfe or that euery man shall answere for his owne sinnes vnto God we conclude the necessity of this duety that if a man would haue 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 euery mole seemes a mountaine and euery 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 vnto 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 vnto 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 vnto which duty al are bound And so to giue testimony of our obedience we are likewise bound to giue an answer to all that shall aske vs not being ashamed of Christ or his word according to that of the Apostle Be ready alwayes to giue an answere to euery man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1. Pet. 3.15 and 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 euery 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 Loue 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 haue any comfort in the vse of this Sacrament wouldest thou not haue thy hearing reading praying receiuing and the like holy dueties holy I say in themselues layd vnto 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 âake and betimes learne to âudge thy selfe that thou bee âot iudged of the Lord. And thus much conserning âhe subiect of this examination and that is a mans selfe the duty followes which wee referre to another time ⸪ Let vs pray The Second Sermon 1. Cor. 11.28 Let a man therefore examine himselfe HITHERTO wee haue spoken of the necessity of Examination godly preparation that ought to be made of euery christian before hee come to the Lords Table as also of the Subiect of it Himselfe We are now in order to treat of the third circumstance that is the duty it selfe layde âowne in this word Examine Let â man therefore examine himselfe Heere is the duty that euery âhristian must performe that âomes to partake of this Sacrament and desires to be a fit guest âor the Lords Table he must first Examine himselfe There is no man that will vnâertake a businesse of any imâortance but hee makes some âind of preparation there-vnto âf it be but to goe to the market â a Faire or to his Meales how âuch more in a matter of this âature that so highly concernes âods glory and the saluation of âur own Soules we are not to go âbout this lightly and vnaduiâdly but with great care and due âxamination of our selues least â seeking Comfort in comming ânto this so holy an ordinance wee bring vpon our owne headâ swift damnation Most men fayle in the manner of performing most duties It is an vsuall and common practise of the most to fayle cheefely in the manner of performing of any duty vnto God by reason of that ignorance that is in them their vnderstandingâ being not inlightned and their iudgements informed in the truth And as in al other duties oâ Gods worship and seruice so especially in this Examination of themselues either in being ignorant wherein it consisteth of in performing the same according to the truth What examination is We are therefore to know that to examine our selues is to make a narrow and strict search into our owne hartâ not in a formal maner but substantially as a matter of the greateâ consequence importance that sâ âow we may vncouer and make âaked things that are secret and âidden and finde out how the âause stands betwixt God and vs what sins we are
regarded not the sacrifices of his owne worship and seruice when men did not performe them in an holy manner in Faith and Repentance And therfore the Lord exhorts them thus Esa 1.16 Wash you make you cleane take away the evill of your workes from before mine eyes Cease to doe evill learne to doe well c. This were the way to haue their Sacrifices accepted to breake off their sinnes by repentance without which the Lord accepteth of nothing that we do The truth is further manifested by the same prophet where he sayth that Hâ that killeth a Bullock Esa 66.3 is as if he slew â man He that sacrificeth a sheepe â as if he cut off a dogs necke He âhat offereth an oblation as if he ofâered swines flesh Now what is the âeason of this did not the Lord âequire these things at the peoâles hand did not his worship ând seruice consist in them I ânswer yes Yet for all that these âhings were abhomination vnto âhe Lord For in euery duetie âere is the Matter and the Manâer the Lord neuer regards the âatter of his seruice if men faile ãâã the Manner if they doe not âerforme the same in Faith Reâentance and Obedience And âherefore the Lord layes downe âe reason why their Sacrifices âere reiected viz. Because their âule delighted in their abhominatiâ They came vnto them in âeir sinnes which caused the Lord to hate both them their Sacrifice Vse 1 This serues to put the Ministers of the word in mind of their duty what doctrine it is that in a speciall maner they are to teach and to vrge vpon the consciences of the people euen the doctrin of the law in the first place and in a speciall manner that so men may bee brought vnto a sight of their sinnes and repentance for the same And surely in our dayes and times there is more neede of the Sonnes of Thunder then of Consolation inasmuch as sinne doth abound in euery place and congregation and that here bee so few that come truly to the sighâ of the same Vse 2 Oh then in the feare of God let vs try and examine our selueâ âeriously in this one poynt espeâially whether we find our harts âo be broken and wounded in vs âor sinne for the euils of our life âast desiring to walke more holiây for the time to come For this ãâã the end wherefore we come to âhis Supper of the Lord that we âight bee strengthened against âânne and bee knit vnto Christ ând so receiue the power of his âeath to kill sinne in vs and âight haue more power to âease God So that wee must try our Reâentance how wee find and feele âur hearts humbled for our maâifold sinnes and offences comâitted whether wee be grieued ãâã our soules for offending so âood and gracious a God wheââer we come to this Sacrament âith a hatred and detestation of all our former euill wayes and with a constant purpose to walke in newe Obedience in all thinges purposing to please him And when we haue partaked of this Sacrament we must then examine our hearts and see how we preuaile against our corruptions So that though we haue repentance before yet now wee must renewe our Repentance and labour to finde more poweâ and strength against sinne theâ before But if wee come in our oldâ sinnes in our ignorance blindnesse hardnesse of heart prophanenesse lying swearing vncleannesse c. it were better thaâ we neuer came at all we cannoâ looke euer to reape any benefiâ by this holy ordinance of God but in stead of a blessing shall bee sure to drawe downe from GOD some heauie iudgement Let vs not then come in our old sinnes as Iudas in his hypocrisie least we reape the rewarde of Iudas The Iewes had foure daies to âo prepare themselues and they must eate the Passeouer with vnâeauened bread and sower herbs Exo. 12. ây which Ceremony they were âaught to come in Repentance âith harts grieued for sinne and âo prepare themselues for so âreat a mystery And the Apostle âxhorteth vnto this duety when âe sayth Purge out the old leauen 1. Cor. 5.7 âat ye may be a new lump for Christ âur Passeouer is sacrificed for vs. And thus much for the third âart of our examination viz. Reâentance Loue. The fourth Interrogatory in this our examination is for our loue to man or reconciliation to our brethren This vertue as it is necessary at al times so especially at this time when we come to partake of this Sacrament which is a Supper of loue This is as needefull and necessary to the due receiuing of this sacrament as the former For whaâ were our knowledge if wee haâ the same in neuer so great a measure what were our faith or repentance if loue to our brethreâ be wanting we may well call thâ truth of them all into question iâ we find not our selues ready anâ willing to remit and forgiue oâ brethren their iniuries and trespasses committed against vs. This Sacrament is called thâ Communion to teach vs this duty how we ought to come vnto the same in loue we haue one God one Mediator and redeemer one Spirit one mother the church of God we be all members of one and the same misticall body and therefore when we come to this Supper we should come in loue That which our Sauiour saith of Sacrifices may very well bee saide of this Sacrament When âhou commest to the Alter Mat. 5.23.24 and âhere remembrest that thy brother âath ought against thee First bee âeconciled to thy brother and then âome and offer thy gift There must be first reconciliatioÌ to our brethren before the Lord will âccept of our Sacrifice or Serâice Nay more the Lord will âaue his owne seruice and worâhip to cease for a time till âhis reconciliation bee performed I will haue mercy and not Sacrifice Hos 6.6 sayth the Lord meaning indeede that men can neuer performe aright the dueties of the first Table vvhere they make no conscience of the dueties of the second Loue and seruices to man And hence it is that our Sauiour doth most diligently exhort his Disciples and in them all christians vnto this duty saying By this shall all men knowe that you are my Disciples Ioh. 13.35 if ye loue one another 1. Ioh. 3.14 And againe This is my commandement that ye loue one another 1. Ioh. 4.12 1. Ioh. 4 7. Our Sauiour makes this loue a badg or cognisance by the which wee are knowne to be his Disciples this assures vs ââât we are Gods children and that wee are translated from death to life And Heereby we know that God dwelleth in vs and his loue is perfect in vs. And Paul most earnestly exhorteth vnto this duty when he saith as the elect of God Col. 3.12 holy beloued put on tender mercy kindnes humblenesse of mind meekenes long-suffering forbearing one another forgiuing one another If any man
iudgement of affliction that is such stir vp the Lord to wrath as this Church of Corinâ did For whose vnreuerent paâ taking of this holy ordinancâ the Apostle saith in the verâ following that many were weaâ sicke and some of them taken away by death But as for the punishment of wicked and vngodly men it is certaine that such vnworthy receiuers eate and drinke ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã ãâã condemnation iudgement of eternall condemnation vnto themselues that is by that their vnreuerent and vnworthy receiuing of this so holy an ordinance they sinne highly against God which sinne of theirs shall bee punished with no lesse punishment then with eternall condemnation Before I enter into these parâiculers I will propound one inâtruction from the scope of the holy Ghost in this text and that â Seeing the Apostle hath beâore exhorted vnto that christian âuty of godly examination and preparation that euery christian ought to make before hee come to partake of this holy ordinance and now vseth such a reason to inforce the duety as is taken from Gods Iustice and Iudgments which for want thereof hee will execute and inflict vpon them Doct. 2 We learne that the consideration of Gods iudgements should make men performe holy duties in an holy manner The consideration of Gods iudgments shold make men perfourme holy duties holily And hence it is that it is very vsuall with the Lord by his seruants when hee hath exhorted vnto any one holy duety to annexe vnto the same some forcible reason to perswade therevnto This is cleare by the practice of Almighty God himselfe with our first parents Adam and Euah Gen. 2.18 who hauing giuen them but one Commandement to obserue hee vseth a reason to bind vnto obedience and that is taken from Gods Iustice The day thou eatest therof thou shalt die the death And thus doeth Almighty God deale with Cain Gen. 4. one of the Sonnes of Adam perswading him first to wel-doing to breake off his sinne by repentance euen that malice hee had conceiued against his innocent Brother But if that woulde not serue the Lord addes one reason more and that is taken from Gods iustice and vengeance which otherwise will bee sure to follow If thou do ill sinne lyeth at âhy doore And this is that one ây Reason that Moses doeth âse vnto the people of Israell That they should hearken vnto âhe voice of the Lord their God which if they would it shoulde then goe well with them and with their children after them If not what then It shall come to passe Deu. 28.15 16.17 c. if thou wilt not hearken vnto the voyce of the Lord thy God to obserue and to doe all his commaundements and his statutes which I command thee this day that all these curses shal come vpon thee and ouertake thee Cursed shalt thou bee in the Citie and cursed shalt thou be in the field Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store c. And this is the order that Dauid vseth in his exhortation vnto Salomon And thou Salomon my Sonne 2. Cro. 28.9 know thou the God of thy fathers and serue him with a perfect heart and with a willing minde And he adds a reason to inforce his exhortation and that is taken from Gods Iustice If thou forsake him hee will forsake thee and cast thee off for euer And what thing else did our Sauiour intende when hee bade Remember Lots wife Luk. 17.32 but to mooue all men to consider her sinne and her punishment that so fearing the one we might learne to take heed of the other And why doeth the Spirit of God in the Scriptures lay down so many examples before vs of Gods iustice and vengeance vppon the Angels which âept not their first estate 1. Cor. 10.6 11. 2. Pet. 2.4 Iude 6. Pro. 14.16 Vpon âhe worlde of vngodly men In âhe dayes of Noah Vpon the Citâies of Sodome and Gomorrah turâing them into ashes but to this ând that all men might feare And this is the reason why the âpostle heere doeth propounde âhe iudgements of God vpon the âorinths for that their vnreueâânt receiuing of this sacrament to this ende that all men that heare of the same might learne to feare and to come more reuerently and prepared there-vnto And great reason that the consideration of Gods iudgements shoulde worke this effect in vs For Reason 1 First because of the certainety of Gods iudgements and vengeance which otherwise will not be auoyded The Lord is euer the same God iust righteous vnchangeable in iudgment and the same sinnes doe euer procure the same iudgements Did the Lord strike the Corinths some with feeblenesse some with sicknesse and some with death because of their vnworthy receiuing of this Sacrament and shall wee thinke to escape It cannot be Their iudgements must we lay to heart and be warned by them Reason 2 Secondly the consideration of Gods iudgments should make vs come prepared vnto this ordinance because they are insufferable and intollerable Heb. 12. vlt. Our God is a consuming fire If man will not turne he wil whet his sword and make ready his bow and the sinner shall not escape This is cleared by the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrewes where he sayth Heb. 10.28 29. that If he that despised Moses Law dyed without mercy vnder two or three witnesses Of how much sorer punishment shall he be worthy which treadeth vnder foote the Sonne of God counteth the Bloud of the Newe Testament as an vnholy thing and so despites the spirit of grace Where hee shewes that Gods iudgements must needes be heauie vpon such as abuse this holy ordinance by comparing their sinne with those that despised Moses Law Vse 1 And surely this may serue to discouer the wonderful hardnes of their hearts For reprofe that are no whit mooued with Gods iudgements vpon others nor those fearefull threatenings that are dayly denounced against themselues nothing can terrifie them from sinning It fareth with such as with the Sonnes in law of Lot when Lot spake vnto them he seemed vnto them as if he had mocked They are ready still to skinne ouer the deadly woundes of their Soules with peace peace and secure themselues against the iudgment to come Poore soules their damnation doth not sleepe the Lord will one day visit for these things and pay and repay tribuâation anguish and sorrow vpon âhem when hee shall come to make good his threatnings and âccomplish his iudgements vpon them which will prooue so much the more intollerable by âow much the lesse they euer âeared them Vse 2 Secondly this may serue to âdmonish vs all in the feare of God For instruction that we doe not lightly eââeeme of Gods iudgements eiâher executed vpon others or âhreatened against our selues âut make this vse of them that âhey may inforce vs vnto good âueties and binde vs vnto obeâence I confesse that this ought âot to be the
vnworthily Eateing and drinking iudgement vnto themselues Let vs doe as the Disciples did say good Lord is it âl I haue now partaked of this Sacrament as I haue often done hereto-fore Is not that all may wicked men and Hypocrits doe the same and such as shall euerâastingly perish in the end It beâoues me to look vnto it that I goe beyond such in the performance of this duty least I âeape their reward one day oh his godly feare and care ought âo be in all the children of God âhen they come to be exercised âbout this duty that so they may âot performe the same formally as wicked men doe but in a holy and sanctified manner in Faith repentance and obedience that so the same may bee accepable vnto God Eateth and Drinketh his owne Damnation Doct. 5 Wee may yet further take notice of the miserable estate oâ wicked men Vnworthie communicants euen whilest they are perfourming of this duty of receiuing of the Lords Supper a dutie in it selfe commendable they sinne greuiously and hasteâ their own iudgement There is no ordinance of God so holy but wicked men abuse it to their owne condemnation yet herein fill vp the measure of their sinneâ and hasten their finall condemnation The Doctrine is There is noe ordinance oâ God so holy but wicked meâ may abuse it to their owne condemnation As this Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a heauenly banquet vnto the hungry and thirstie soule that groanes vnder the burthen of sinne and desires to be eased refreshed So wicked men instead of receiuing any spiriturall foode they receiue except the speciall mercy of God preuent them that which will be the bane and poyson of their Soules Gen. 4. Cain sinned not onely ân slaying his innocent brother âut in offering his sacrifice This â cleare by the inditement which Christ brings against the old âorld They Eate and Drank Mat. 24.38 Marâed and were giuen in Marriage âll which were things lawfull in âemselues yet became sinnes ânto them that liued in that âme and tended to hasten their âestruction for they onely minded their pleasure therein theiâ hearts being set vppon carnaâ lusts they gaue themselues wholy to satisfie their sinfull desires and so fell vppon those things good in themselues withouâ feare without prayer or thankâ giuing vnto God as if they werâ no way beholden vnto the Lorâ for them And this is furtheâ cleared by that of Salomon Hee thaâ turneth away his eares from heare ring the Lawe Pro. 28.9 euen his prayers shaâ be abomination The meaning iâ that the very best duty that wicked man can performe thaâ liues in sin and wants faith thaâ shoulde season all his actions iâ Gods worship and seruice aâ not better then abominatioâ vnto the Lord. And the like iâ alledged by our blessed Sauiouâ against those filthy Sodomits thaâ They bought they sould Luk. 17.28 they planâed they builded Things in themselues lawfull but now they become so many sins vnto them inasmuch as they abused them they bought and sold with coâetuous desires They builded âot for necessitie sake but to âhewe their pride vanitie And thus it fares with wicked men in âhis sacrament They cannot but âbuse it to their own perdition And the Bread and Wine which âhey receiue shal be so farre from being vnto them the body and blood of Christ vnto their saluaâion As it shall rather be as the âop vnto Iudas a meanes in and ây the which sathan shal enter into âuch vnto their condemnation The reasons are cleare First because wicked men are âgnorant how to vse the ordinances of God aright and stand vpon the matter of them not regarding the manner I shal not neede to presse this reason farther in regard of the affinitie iâ hath with the former doctrine Reason 2 Secondly though some doe know that the manner of Godâ seruice as the matter is to be regarded Yet their wils are sâ froward that they neuer sâ themselues arighâ about the duâ performance of any like thoâ stubborne Iewes which sayde wâ will not heare nor obey Nay the walke on stubbornely againâ the Lord and against his word and notwithstanding their iudgments be often conuicted the themselues therein constraine to consent vnto this truth Yâ their rebellious wils not beinâ sanctified leade them away from all obedience Whose condemnation doth not sleepe Reason 3 A third reason may bee that of Paul to Titus where hee doth manifest this truth more clearely when he saith Tit. 1.15 that To the pure ââe all things pure But vnto the wicked is nothing pure but euen their minds and consciences are defiled They are like vnto a cold stomacke that turnes the best foode into putrifaction and corruption the most holy things of God are defiled by such and âurne in the end vnto their vtâer ruine and destruction Vse 1 This serues in the first place âo discouer vnto vs the miserable state of wicked and vngodly âen whose sinnes increase dayây not onely by their open and âorrible crimes that breake out ãâã their liues to the great dishonour of God But euen in thâ performance of Good duties their hearing of the word theiâ praying receiuing of the Sacrament c. The Lord make these thinges turne to the vtteâ ruin and Destruction of wicked men Oh then how doe wicked men increase their sins dayly and multiply their iniquities iâ asmuch as their best duties arâ sinfull and cal down iudgement vpon them And if to doe gooâ things in an euill manner bee sâ farefull a sinne what wil one daâ become of those that haue donâ euill things in a worse manneâ to be layd to their charge likâwise Let such consider this thinâ well betimes before they be pâ into the reall possession of thâ iudgement which waytes and aâtends vpon them Vse 2 And last of all let this serue for our instruction to teach vs to feare and aboue all thinges to looke that we performe holy duties in an holy manner least wee incur the iudgement that is here threatned For if when wee haue beene at the Lordes Table and haue receiued this Sacrament vnworthily we had but only lost so much labour this were too much that wee should so much dally with God in his ordinance But alas that were nothing to this to eate and drinke to damnation If God should punish vs after this manner to turne the Bread and Wine that we receiue in this Sacrament vnworthily ânto a bodily poyson woulde it not make vs to feare and tremble âow we receiue them were wee âo perswaded that for want of a godly preparation it would bee our last Bread that euer wee should eate and would turne to the bane of our bodies Oh my brethren the Lord hath threatned the vnworthy receiuer not with a bodily death for this sinne of his but with a spirituall and eternall death euen with the death both of body and Soule for euer and shal not this moue