| Question | What is required to the worthy receiving of the Lord’s supper? |
|---|---|
| Answer | It is required of them that would worthily partake of the Lord's supper, that they examine themselves of their knowledge to discern the Lord’s body, 1 of their faith to feed upon him, 2 of their repentance, 3 love, 4 and new obedience, 5 lest coming unworthily they eat and drink judgment to themselves. 6 |
The Baptist Catechism Set to Music
Benjamin Beddome’s Exposition
Is previous examination necessary to a right participation of this ordinance?
Yes.
Let a man examine himself, and so let him
1 Corinthians 11:28
Should we examine our hearts?
Yes.
I commune with mine own heart,
Psalm 77:6
And our ways?
Yes.
I thought on my ways,
Psalm 119:59
Should we do this impartially?
Yes.
Thus saith the Lord, deceive not yourselves,
Jeremiah 37:9
And diligently?
Yes.
My spirit made diligent search,
Psalm 77:6
And sedately?
Yes.
They sat down to examine the matter,
Ezra 10:16
And when scruples arise should we desire God’s assistance?
Yes.
Examine me, O Lord, and prove me,
Psalm 26:2
Should we examine concerning our knowledge?
Yes.
Know ye what I have done to you?
John 13:12
And without this do we partake unworthily?
Yes.
Not discerning the Lord’s body,
1 Corinthians 11:29
Should we also inquire into our faith in Jesus Christ?
Yes.
Examine yourselves whether ye be in the faith,
2 Corinthians 13:5
And our love to God and one another?
Yes.
For without charity we are nothing,
1 Corinthians 13:2
And our repentance?
Yes.
For the sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit,
Psalm 51:17
And our new obedience?
Yes.
Let us keep the feast, not with the leaven of malice and wickedness,
1 Corinthians 5:8
Must this sacrament be received with great reverence?
Yes.
In thy fear will I worship towards thy holy temple,
Psalm 5:7
And with warm affections?
Yes.
We will remember thy love more than wine,
Song of Solomon 1:4
And with goodly sorrow?
Yes.
The passover was to be eaten with bitter herbs,
Exodus 12:8
And with an holy indifference to the world?
Yes.
Ye shall eat with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand,
Exodus 12:11
And with spiritual joy and gladness?
Yes.
They did eat their meat with gladness, praising God,
Acts 2:46–47
Should we now renew our engagements to God?
Yes.
Thy vows are upon me,
Psalm 56:12
And should we afterwards remember and discharge them?
Yes.
Pay that which thou hast vowed,
Ecclesiastes 5:4
Do the carnal and unregenerate receive this ordinance unworthily?
Yes.
What hast thou to do to take my covenant in thy mouth, seeing thou hatest instruction,
Psalm 50:16–17
And the wrathful and uncharitable?
Yes.
When ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; this is not to eat the Lord’s supper,
1 Corinthians 11:18, 20
And those who partake of it as a common meal?
Yes.
Have ye not houses to eat and to drink in?
1 Corinthians 11:22
And who use it as a qualification for civil offices?
Yes.
For they say that the table of the Lord is contemptible,
Malachi 1:7
Do such offer a great affront to Christ?
Yes.
They are guilty of the body and blood of the Lord,
1 Corinthians 11:27
And a great injury to themselves?
Yes.
For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep,
1 Corinthians 11:30
And do all these things make self-examination the more necessary?
Yes.
For if we would judge ourselves we should not be judged,
1 Corinthians 11:31
The Westminster Larger Catechism
| Question | How do they that worthily communicate in the Lord's supper feed upon the body and blood of Christ therein? |
|---|---|
| Answer | As the body and blood of Christ are not corporally or carnally present in, with, or under the bread and wine in the Lord's supper, 1 and yet are spiritually present to the faith of the receiver, no less truly and really than the elements themselves are to their outward senses; 2 so they that worthily communicate in the sacrament of the Lord's supper, do therein feed upon the body and blood of Christ, not after a corporal and carnal, but in a spiritual manner; yet truly and really, 3 while by faith they receive and apply unto themselves Christ crucified, and all the benefits of his death. 4 |
| Question | How are they that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper to prepare themselves before they come unto it? |
|---|---|
| Answer | They that receive the sacrament of the Lord's supper are, before they come, to prepare themselves thereunto, by examining themselves 1 of their being in Christ, 2 of their sins and wants; 3 of the truth and measure of their knowledge, 4 faith, 5 repentance; 6 love to God and the brethren, 7 charity to all men, 8 forgiving those that have done them wrong; 9 of their desires after Christ, 10 and of their new obedience; 11 and by renewing the exercise of these graces, 12 by serious meditation, 13 and fervent prayer. 14 |
| Question | May one who doubteth of his being in Christ, or of his due preparation, come to the Lord's supper? |
|---|---|
| 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; 1 and in God's account hath it, if he be duly affected with the apprehension of the want of it, 2 and unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ, 3 and to depart from iniquity: 4 in which case (because promises are made, and this sacrament is appointed, for the relief even of weak and doubting Christians) 5 he is to bewail his unbelief, 6 and labor to have his doubts resolved; 7 and, so doing, he may and ought to come to the Lord's supper, that he may be further strengthened. 8 |
| Question | What is the duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord's supper? |
|---|---|
| Answer | The duty of Christians, after they have received the sacrament of the Lord's supper, is seriously to consider how they have behaved themselves therein, and with what success; 1 if they find quickening and comfort, to bless God for it, 2 beg the continuance of it, 3 watch against relapses, 4 fulfil their vows, 5 and encourage themselves to a frequent attendance on that ordinance: 6 but if they find no present benefit, more exactly to review their preparation to, and carriage at, the sacrament; 7 in both which, if they can approve themselves to God and their own consciences, they are to wait for the fruit of it in due time: 8 but, if they see they have failed in either, they are to be humbled, 9 and to attend upon it afterwards with more care and diligence. 10 |