There is a great difference between coming unworthily and being unworthy to come. The pharisee and publican were both unworthy; but the pharisee alone went unworthily to the temple. The halt and the lame and the blind, who were gathered out from the streets of the city, were all unworthy of the marriage supper; but the man without the wedding garment was the only one who sat down unworthily. So the noblest saint that ever joined in heaven’s happy hymn, was utterly unworthy of the blessed feast of his Redeemer’s love, and could best appreciate the heart-stirring language of our Liturgy,—“We are not worthy so much as to gather up the crumbs under thy table;” but the careless man, who knows nothing of the broken heart, who is living in strife, and does not discern the Lord’s body, he is the person that comes unworthily. If this be your character, stay not to the communion, but go home and repent. But if, on the other hand, you know your sin, and hate it; if you know your Saviour, and long to love him; if you are looking to him as your only hope of life eternal; then, as a guilty sinner redeemed by blood, remain, believe, rejoice, obey; and may the God of all grace fill your heart with overflowing peace!
Just as I am—without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me,
And that thou bid’st me come to thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—and waiting not
To rid my soul of one dark blot,
To thee, whose blood can cleanse each spot,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—though tossed about
With many a conflict—many a doubt;
“Fightings within, and fears without,”
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—poor, wretched, blind,
Sight, riches, healing of the mind,
Yea, all I need in thee to find,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am—thy love unknown
Has broken every barrier down;
Now to be thine, yea, thine alone,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Macintosh, Printer, Great New-street, London.
FOOTNOTES
[4] The sixth chapter of St. John is not mentioned in the list, because, although it contains a description of the inward and spiritual grace, of which the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper is a sign and mean, it cannot refer to the sacrament itself; for that was not appointed when the words were spoken; and the persons our Lord was addressing were unconverted and unbaptized Jews, who were following him simply for the loaves and fishes. It would, indeed, have been unintelligible, had he said to such characters, at such a time, “Except ye receive the sacrament, ye have no life in you.” The passage refers, therefore, to the spiritual grace, and not to the outward sign—to the feeding upon our blessed Lord by faith, and not to the act of communion in the sacrament.