Approaching the Lord’s supper with special care

 Posted at Reformation Scotland:

As the special day approaches, every care is taken that every detail is sorted. You check yourself frequently in the mirror and you want honest answers from trusted friends. James Durham thinks that for the believer, going to meet the Lord Jesus in the ordinance of the Lord’s supper should involve the same kind of careful inspection and attention to how you are looking and behaving. In the following updated excerpt Durham outlines how the Lord’s supper is such a special ordinance, and reminds us of the necessity of searching and checking ourselves ahead of participating.

A major, very comprehensive and indispensably necessary duty is called for from all who would worthily partake of the ordinance of the Lord’s Supper, and that is self-examination.

The apostle has perceived many faults and failings in the Corinthians, and much unsuitableness as to their participating in the Lord’s Supper. So he announces that in future anyone who wants to come to the Lord’s Table rightly must “examine themselves, and so eat.”

At the same time, knowing well that this is a difficult exercise, and that there is naturally a great deal of averseness to it in people’s hearts, he underlines his exhortation with this reason, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself.” There is a most unique and gracious presence of the Lord Christ in the sacrament of His supper, and therefore the person who does not go about it rightly puts a great disrespect on Him, and indeed even vilifies Him who is present in this way in that ordinance.

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