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is —

I. A DUTY FOB ALL TIMES.

1. Examination is a duty of no quick dispatch; for it is to take a strict survey of all the passages of our life; to follow our thoughts, which have wings, and fly in and fly out; to number our actions, and weigh them all in the balance of the sanctuary; to anatomise our hearts, which are "deceitful above all things" (Jeremiah 17:9); to follow sin in all its labyrinths, to drive it out of the thicket of excuses, and by the light of Scripture to take a full view of ourselves.

2. The right performance of this duty requires great care and diligence, because we are our own greatest enemies, our own deceivers, parasites, and murderers.

3. Examination must not end in itself; but we must propose the true end, and draw all up to it; which is, to purge the conscience, to supply what is defective, to repair what is defaced, to beautify what is slurred, to complete what is imperfect; which is, to renew ourselves in the inward man. Therefore what is here to "examine," is in ver. 31 to "judge," ourselves. For what a vain work were it to examine a thief, if we do not judge him! We must try and examine our actions as the Levites did their sacrifices, and not offer them up if there be any blemish on them; that so we may "prove to ourselves what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2). Examination is but lost labour without amendment. A survey is the extremity of folly, if I see the faults in my spiritual building, and then let it fall to the ground.

II. A DUTY ESPECIALLY WHEN WE APPROACH THE LORD'S TABLE. Here thou dost as it were renew thy covenant, and here thou must renew thy examination.

1. Examine your repentance, therefore, whether it be true and unfeigned, whether it be moved and carried on by a true spring — hatred of sin and love of Christ: whether it be constant and universal.

2. "Examine yourselves whether you be in the faith" or no; "prove yourselves, whether Christ be in you" (2 Corinthians 13:5). Faith is the salt which seasoneth all our actions: nor will Christ admit us to His table without it, nor give Himself to those who do not believe in Him. Faith is the mouth of the soul, and with it we receive Christ. The faith, too, must be one which worketh by love, and that both towards God and towards our brethren. For these two are inseparable, and bear witness one to the other: my faith begetteth my charity, and my charity publisheth and declareth my faith. Let them therefore both meet and be united in our trial and preparation to this sacrament, which is a sacrament of union, not only of the Head with the members, but of the members one with another under one Head.

3. Let us "examine" ourselves, and "consider" Him that inviteth us (Hebrews 3:1). "Consider" Him —

(1)  As our High Priest.

(2)  As our Teacher.

(3)  As our King and Lord.Who hath most command over thee, the prince of this world, or this King?

(A. Farindon, B.D.)

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KJV: But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

WEB: But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread, and drink of the cup.