1. Proposition.
That it is the Will of Jesus Christ, that no grosly ignorant, or scandalous person, should come to the Sacrament.
1. No grosly ignorant person, because the Scripture saith, that a man must first examine himself, and so eat of that bread, and drink of that cup; and it likewise saith, that he that will come to the Sacrament must be one that discerneth the Lords body; otherwise he eats and drinks damnation to himself; and it adds, that we are to do this in remembrance of Christ, and thereby to shew forth the Lords death till he come. And therefore a man that is grosly ignorant, and is not able to examine himself, nor to discern the Lords body, nor to remember Christ; nor understands what it is to shew forth the Lords death, ought not to come to the Sacrament, no more then a baptized Infant, who is therefore not to partake of this Ordinance, because of his want of knowledge.
2. No scandalous person: This is evidenced from the words of the Apostle, Let a man examine himself, & so let him eat, &c. from which words we gather two things:
1. That he that would come to the Sacrament, must examine himself; which examination ought to be according to the nature of the Ordinance of the Lords Supper, viz.
1. In general; whether he be worthy to come, or no; (not with a worthinesse of merit, but of Evangelical suitablenesse.)
2. In particular:
1. Whether he have true Faith in Christ, without which, he cannot worthily eat this bread, and drink this cup.
2. Whether he truly repent for sin, and from sin. For he that comes in any sin unrepented of, comes unclean, and so pollutes the ordinance.
3. Whether he be [76]truly united by love to Jesus Christ, and his members; without which, he cannot enjoy communion with them in that ordinance.