THE

PIOUS COMMUNICANT.

Lecture XII.

ON THE PREPARATION OF THE HEART, WHICH IS NECESSARY, IN ORDER TO A PROFITABLE APPROACH TO THE TABLE OF THE LORD.

MUCH of the profit and bleffing to be derived from the use of the holy facrament of the Lord's Supper, depends on a due preparation for an attendance upon it. With that preparation many pious fouls have but little acquaintance; we therefore conceived it would be of ufe in this lecture to attempt to throw light on a subject of such importance to the Christian in every period of the life of faith. Let it, however, be previously remarked, that we propose not to discuss this point in the most extenfive manner, as much has already been written upon it; neither fhall we enter upon the three principles of felfexamination laid down in the Heidelbergh catechism, and mentioned also in the form of administration of that ordinance; but we fhall immediately address ourfelves to those who are partakers of the life of grace in their fouls, with a view to give them fome direc

tions how they must conduct themselves in preparing for an approach to the table of the Lord; which will be acceptable to God and profitable to their own fouls. To this end, we fhall,

1. Shew the neceffity there is for believers to prepare for commemorating the dying love of Christ in the facrament.

2. Point out fome of the obftacles which prevent Chriftians from engaging in fuch preparation, and attempt to remove them out of the way.

3.

We fhall endeavour to fhew, in what consists a due preparation for the Lord's fupper, and give fome directions concerning it.

4. We fhall attempt to remove the difficulties which might be raised from any thing which may be advanced in the course of this lecture.

FIRST, We remark that a preparation of heart is NECESSARY, previous to coming to the table of the Lord; and that for the following reafons:

1. Although we may be real Chriftians; although we be, in truth, in covenant with God, and partakers of faith, yet ftill it is certain, whilft we are upon earth we are and we continue finful: although we may have engaged to be for God, and for his fervice, yet an hundred things may intervene to draw off our minds from a service and employ fo reasonable and delightful in its nature.-The heart of man is as a weight of lead, which is always inclined naturally to defcend to the earth, and there is a neceffity that it be conftantly drawn upwards to heaven: hence it is no uncommon thing that an eftrangement takes place between God and the foul. Now fhall we hold more

intimate communion with God, by means of this feal of the covenant what is more neceffary, as we have to do with a holy God, than that we seriously reflec

and confider in what particulars we have finned against him, and also how far we have flrayed from God; and further, that we confefs our backflidings, left they cause the Eternal to hide his face from us.

2. Is a preparation of heart neceffary, in order to affift us in the discharge of the principal duties of Christianity? in like manner it is requifite that our hearts be prepared to meet the Eternal in this holy ordinance; for in the facrament of the fupper, God appears as the God of the covenant, who will hold the most intimate fellowship with his people here the eye of faith beholds the Lord Jefus offering himfelf with all the riches of his all-fufficiency to his redeemed here he exhibits of anew his willingness, as the bridegroom, to espouse them as his bride, to himfelf, and to bestow upon them all his treasures.-Ifthen they approach to him in this ordinance, certainly it is reasonable that they, on their fide, be satisfied; that they are willing and inclined to give themselves over to the Lord, in the covenant; and how can they be convinced that this is the cafe but by a pious and faithful examination of their hearts, as in the immediate prefence of God himself?

3. Is it not necessary to have the heart prepared to approach the fupper, when we confider that the Lord Jefus, the great Mafter of the feaft, is himself prefent, to survey with his omnifcient eye, which tries the hearts and the reins, the guests who are feated around his board, whether they are arrayed with the true wedding garment, and whether they have approached with fuitable exercises? Ought not the conviction that Jefus was present, excite in the foul an anxiety, an ardent defire to be in fuch a frame as would be acceptable and pleafing to him?

4. To have the heart prepared, is a duty which is

often enjoined upon us in the word of God. Job xi. 13, If thou prepare thine heart, and stretch out thin hands toward him.-Paul addreffes the Corinthians, faying, 2 Cor. xiii. 5, Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith; prove your ownfelves; and this in a particular manner will he have them to do with refpect to the Lord's Supper; 1 Cor. xi. 28; Let a man examine himself, and fo let him eat of that bread and drink of that cup.

5. To have the heart prepared when we wait upon God at the Redeemer's table, is attended with peculiar advantages to the people of God. When believers have been engaged in preparing to meet their God, previous to the adminiftration of the ordinance, they have in their fweet experience generally found that God has been prefent with them in a remarkable manner, manifefting his love, and, as it were, faying, "As ye have been taking me for your covenant God, and in fecret have declared that ye are my people, fo I will betroth you unto me for ever, in righteousness and judgment, in faithfulness and in loving kindness, and declare that I will be your God; and as a further teftimony of this, I now put the feal into your hands." But if, on the other hand, they at any time have approached without due preparation, and in a careless manner, what reafon have they had of complaining of their deadness, and of their want of zeal and affection.

6. Preparation for the Lord's Supper has been practised among Chriftians in the former ages of the church, and they were peculiarly attentive to this part of duty. It is true, in the times of the apostles this was not fo neceffary; for it appears that then the zeal and ardour of Chriftians were fo great, and their walk fo tender and circumfpcct, that they were always in a

Situation to commemorate Jesus' dying love; therefore the table was every week spread, and on every returning Sabbath believers ate and drank in remembrance of him but no fooner did this zeal begin to cool in the church, than particular seasons for prepa ration for the ordinance were fet apart; and previous to the administration of this facrament, the practice of delivering fermons applicable to the occafion was firft introduced.

Our SECOND fubject was to point out and to attempt to remove fome of the obstacles which hinder the people of God in preparing to meet with their Redeemer at the holy fupper.

1. There is no greater obstacle in their way, nor any thing hinders the progrefs of believers in making a fuitable preparation than this, that they feek, by every mean, to put off from time to time commencing this important business: "at fome future period," say they, "we will begin to prepare; it is yet time enough:" although the ministers of the gofpel, with a view that they might prepare to meet their God, have already for fome weeks given public notice of the time of the administration of the ordinance, yet they fay, "we cannot undertake it now, but in the following week we will certainly begin."-It arrives; they again postpone it from day to day; they have many avocations; they cannot think of doing it in the midst of their preffing cares; the confequence is, that it often happens that they have not left for preparing, perhaps not a fingle day, yes, perhaps not even a single hour. Would to God that his people would learn to confider this habitual procraftination as a fecret artifice of Satan; that they would be continually upon their guard againft his temptations, Vol. II.

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