3. The Results of Self-Examination
Thomas Houston
If the result of self-examination appears discouraging, then those who propose to observe the Lord’s Supper must come just as they are, according to the call of the gospel, to God through Christ, the Mediator. Their first duty is to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation, and they should seek the Holy Spirit to work in them saving faith and true repentance. They certainly have the warrant to embrace the invitation and promise, and to receive Christ as the Prophet, Priest and King in the covenant, and as the Author of eternal salvation to them that obey Him. He ever holds out the gracious encouragement: “Him that cometh to Me, I will in no wise cast out” (Jn 6:37); “Turn you at My reproof; behold, I will pour out My Spirit unto you; I will make known My words unto you” (Prov 1:23).
Yet even when believers examine themselves prayerfully, they may at times not find comfort and encouragement in going to the Lord’s table. Through constitutional temperament, from the power of indwelling sin, and from the temptations of Satan, their views may be clouded, and the evidences of a gracious state and frame may not be clear. Believers themselves are at times the children of light walking in darkness. Their immediate duty in this case is to come anew to Christ, as they came at first. They should “trust in the name of the Lord, and stay upon [their] God” (Is 50:10). They should “go unto the altar of God, unto God, [their] exceeding joy”, and reasoning with their own hearts because of fears and discouragements, they should exercise believing confidence and hope. “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted within me? Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God” (Ps 43:4,5).
The duty and privilege of those who, after self-examination, are yet downcast and discouraged is comprehensively stated in the Larger Catechism: “May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord’s Supper?” (Q 172). Answer: “One who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation to the sacrament of the Lord’s Supper, may have true interest in Christ, though he be not yet assured thereof; and in God’s account hath it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, and to depart from iniquity, in which case (because promises are made, and the sacrament is
1The final article in this series, taken, with editing, from Houston’s volume, The Lord’s Supper. The previous article, last month, described self-examination.
appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians), he is to bewail his unbelief, and labour to have his doubts resolved; and so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord’s Supper, that he may be further strengthened”. To consider those judicious statements properly and to comply readily with this eminently wise counsel may, under God’s teaching, go far to remove the darkness and fears of doubting believers and bring them to comfortable communion in the Lord’s Supper.
After self-examination, we should approach the sacrament in the renewed exercise of holy graces, with much fervent prayer. Coming to an ordinance that is designed to exhibit the great object which the graces of the Spirit rest upon, it is fitting that they should be excited into lively exercise in the actual preparation for observing it. The virgins that go forth to meet the Bridegroom are not only required to have the oil of grace in their vessels, but also to have lamps trimmed, if they would be admitted to the wedding. Called to the feast of love, we should be able to say, “Stay me with flagons, comfort me with apples; for I am sick of love” (Song 2:5).
Importunate prayer is the chief expression of grace in the heart, the great evidence of the vigour of spiritual life, and the appointed way of enjoying all blessing. The whole way of approach to the Supper is opened to us by the pouring out of the Spirit of grace and supplication. Thus we look upon Him whom we have pierced and mourn. Communion with God is maintained by offering petitions for spiritual blessings, receiving answers and returning praises for benefits received. The Lord, when instituting the Supper, set apart the elements and performed the whole service by prayer; and at the close He offered the grand priestly prayer for all His true disciples – designed to be the sample of His continual and prevailing intercession. It is only in a prayerful spirit, pouring out our hearts to God, that we can come with acceptance before Him. Only by intermingling devout petitions with all the exercises at the communion table, and committing the whole service to God for a blessing, may we expect to enjoy the high privileges which the ordinance is designed to confer.
Pray earnestly for the sanctification of all your troubles to your eternal good; an unsanctified comfort never did any man good, and a sanctified trouble never did any man hurt. Be more earnest therefore with God rather to have your troubles sanctified than prevented, to get the blessing than to avoid the smart of them; if they cannot be turned away from you, pray they may be turned to your salvation.
Be more thankful to shun sin than to get yourself clear of trouble; it is sad to walk in darkness but worse to lie under guilt.
Faith is the hand by which Christ is received, but knowledge is the eye by which that hand is directed.
John Flavel