The Communicant's Companion (continued)
sacrament in the church of Corinth, prescribes this great duty as necessary to the due management of it, and a preservative against sharing in the guilt of such corruptions. "But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup." He that desires the Lord's Supper, desires a good work; but let these also first be proved, let them prove their own selves, and so let them come; so, upon that condition, and with that preparation; as, "I will wash my hands in innocency, so will I compass thine altar." In this method we must proceed.
"Let a man examine himself." The word signifies either to prove, or to approve, and appoints such an approbation of ourselves, as is the result of a strict and close probation; and such a probation of ourselves as issues in a comfortable approbation according to the tenor of the new covenant. It is so to prove ourselves, as to approve ourselves to God in our integrity. "Lord, thou knowest all things, thou knowest that I love thee;" so as to appeal to God's inquiry, "Examine me, O Lord, and prove me."
To examine ourselves is to discourse with our own hearts; it is to converse with ourselves; a very rational, needful, and improving piece of conversation. When we go about this work we must retire from the world, "sit alone, and keep silence;" we must retire into our own bosoms, and consider ourselves, reflect upon ourselves, inquire concerning ourselves, enter into a solemn conference with our own souls, and be anxious concerning their state. Those who are ignorant and cannot do this, or careless and secure, and will not do it, are unmeet for this ordinance.
I shall illustrate this by some similitudes.
1. We must examine ourselves, as metal is examined by the touchstone whether it be right or counterfeit. We have a show of religion; but are we what we seem to be? Are we current coin, or only washed over, as "a