The Communicant's Companion
Supper: Do we freely and cheerfully consent to that covenant, not merely through the constraint of natural conscience, but because it is a covenant highly reasonable in itself, and unspeakably advantageous to us? Am I willing to make this surrender of myself unto the Lord? Am I freely willing, not because I cannot help it, but because I cannot better dispose of myself?
We must examine ourselves as Joshua examined the people, whether they would choose to serve the Lord or not; and the product of the inquiry must be a fixed resolution, like theirs, "Nay, but we will serve the Lord."
6. We must examine ourselves, as a way-faring man is examined concerning his business. Our trifling hearts have need to be examined as vagrants, whence they come, whither they go, and what they would have.
We are coming to a great ordinance, and are concerned to inquire what is our end in coming? What brings us thither? Is it only custom or company that draws us to this duty? or is it a spiritual appetite to the dainties of heaven? Our hearts must be catechized, as Elijah was: "What dost thou here, Elijah?" That we may give a good account to God of the sincerity of our intentions in our approaches to him, we ought, before we come, to call ourselves to an account concerning them.
More particularly, to examine ourselves, is to put serious questions to ourselves, and to our own hearts; and to prosecute them till a full and true answer be given to them. These six questions (among others,) are good for each of us to put to ourselves in our preparation to the Lord's Supper, both at our admission, and in our after approaches to it: "What am I? What have I done? What am I doing? What progress do I make? What do I want? and, What shall I resolve to do?"
I. Inquire, What am I?—It needs no inquiry, but it calls for serious consideration, that I am a reasonable creature, lower than the angels, higher than the brutes, capable of knowing, serving, and glorifying God in this world, and of seeing and enjoying him in a better. I am made for my Creator, and am accountable to him. God grant I have not such a noble and excellent being in vain! But here this question has another meaning. All the children of men, by the fall of the first Adam, are become sinners; some of the children of men, by the grace of the second Adam, are become saints: some remain in a state of nature, others are brought into a state of grace: some are sanctified, others unsanctified. This is a distinction which divides all mankind, and which will last when all other divisions and subdivisions shall be no more: for according to this will the everlasting state be determined. Now, when I ask, What am I? the meaning is, To which of these two do I belong? Am I in the favor of God, or under his wrath and curse? Am I a servant of God, or a slave to the world and the flesh? Look forward and ask, Whither am I going? To heaven or hell? If I should die this night, (and I am not sure to live till tomorrow,) whither would death bring me? Where would death lodge me? In endless light, or in utter darkness?
Am I in the narrow way that leads to life, or in the broad way that leads to destruction? I am called a Christian, but am I a Christian, indeed? Have I a nature answerable to the name? It highly concerns us all to be strict and impartial in this inquiry. What will it avail us to deceive ourselves? God cannot be imposed upon, though men may. It is undoubtedly true, if we be not saints on earth, we shall never be saints in heaven. It is not a small thing about which I am now persuading thee to inquire: no, it is thy life, thy precious life, the life of thy soul, thine eternal life, which depends upon it.
Multitudes have been deceived in this matter, whose way seemed right, but the end of it proved the ways of death; and after they had long flattered themselves in their own eyes, they perished at last, with a lie in their right