A PORTION FOR ALL

November 18, 1947

#30

Beloved Congregation:

THIS time I wish to write some things regarding the preparation for Holy Communion. Since ancient times it has been the custom in the church to have an examination sermon or preparatory sermon preceding the celebration of the Supper. The ancients said: “Sacred things must be performed in a sacred manner.” In the service of God in particular it is fitting that we should be filled with holy awe, reverence and prudence. The Lord requires of us in his Word, “Be ye holy for I am holy.” When Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, thoughtlessly and rashly offered strange fire before the Lord (Lev. 10:2) there went out fire from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. The Lord will be sanctified in all those who approach to Him. We see a representation of this in the public worship of ancient times. No unclean person might enter the temple. In Amos 4:12 the prophet by Divine appointment cries out to Israel: “Prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”

It was the same way in olden times when the Passover was celebrated under the ceremonial dispensation. And in the days of the New Testament Paul writes to the church at Corinth: “But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.” After Paul’s departure the church of Corinth had declined and degenerated so far, and corruption was so great, that many came to the Lord’s Table unprepared and without duly examining themselves, thus bringing the wrath of God upon the congregation.

Every human being of whatever state he may be, whether rich or poor, whether of high or low degree, must examine himself in regard to the great eternity, but also as regards Holy Communion.

The words “test” and “examine” are derived from the actions of the goldsmith, who tests the precious metal on the touchstone or examines it in the crucible to determine its quality and to see if it contains any impure or foreign elements.

Examining or trying is an action frequently ascribed to the Lord with regard to mankind. “His eyelids try the children of men.” He tries the reins and the hearts. Job was tried by the grievous suffering which came upon him; and Abraham, by the command to offer Isaac. Israel was tried at the waters of Meribah.

Men are also said to examine or try with regard to God as well as to his neighbor. To Israel the Lord calls to mind that their fathers tried (proved) him in the wilderness. Joseph tried his brethren when they came to buy corn in Egypt.

Paul has reference here to self-examination. As a faithful servant of Jesus Christ he requires not only. that we attentively examine and survey our state and conduct, but also, after this examination, that we put ourselves in a proper state of mind and approve ourselves with an eye to the celebration of the Lord’s Supper. This means, and we must take it in this sense, that we do it in such a way that we can give an account to ourselves regarding our actions in this respect.

We ourselves, then, must enter into the crucible; our own heart and life must be put to the test. The Lord commands us in His Word to examine ourselves carefully, very carefully. Never, no never can the great import and significance of eternity weigh too heavily upon our hearts. If we had two souls we could risk one, but such is not the case.

Each of us will have our hands full examining our own heart; we need not go to others or listen for others. Of course, if we do so in the proper sense of the word nothing can be said, but otherwise it is wicked. Our evil nature is so inclined to place ourselves above the other man and to judge and condemn. This is not the work of the Spirit; on the contrary, the Spirit causes us to look to ourselves. Truly, above all things it is so necessary that we become consciously accountable and answerable to the most High God, and that we end up at the feet of God as one who knows nothing, David confessed: “I have sinned and done evil in thy sight.” Again and again we must be taught by the Spirit of God to see the disease of our own heart. The devil is lying in wait every moment to draw our hearts away from everything conducive to our everlasting peace. O, if he can draw even our thought away from God he will not stop from doing so. O, that trifling away of our precious time! The psalmist Moses prayed:

“Teach us now our days to measure
And to wisdom turn our thought.”

It is fearful to put into practice that which Cain at one time said to the Lord: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” When God fells a person to the earth, he becomes concerned about himself, but also about his fellow men.

Grace is not communicable; we cannot impart it to each other, but we can desire it for each other. If we possess grace in even the smallest measure, our hearts desire would be to draw all men with us.

But, with reference to the Lord’s Supper, the work of preparation is a personal matter. Our Form for Holy Communion tells us so clearly and plainly in what respects we are to examine ourselves. The page is about full again, so I shall have to defer writing about this until another time, the Lord willing.

Congregation, it is my heart’s desire that we may come to a proper understanding of the seriousness of these matters, and that God may graciously impress it upon our hearts, for Christ’s sake. Children, do remember your Creator in the days of your youth! Boys and girls, I hope these things will become matters of great importance to you. O, do let my advice be acceptable to you! God bless also those few words to the hearts of all of you.

Your well-wishing minister,

—Rev. W. C. Lamain

November 25, 1947

#31

Beloved Congregation:

Since I was not able to write more fully about the duty of preparing to partake of the Lord’s Supper in my previous letter, I will this time prayerfully write a little about the three parts according to which we are to examine ourselves.

The Form for the administration of the Lord’s Supper speaks very plainly of them, also Lord’s Day 30 of our Heidelberg Catechism. The first part is — That everyone consider by himself, his sins, to the end that he may abhor and humble himself before God.

The second part — whether we believe the faithful promise of God that all our sins are forgiven us only for Christ’s sake.

The third part — whether we henceforth purpose to show true thankfulness to God in our whole lives and to walk uprightly before Him.

Or if we state it more briefly — The true communicant lst, abhors himself, 2nd, believes in Christ, 3rd, pursues after sanctification. Hence if one is truly to commemorate the death of the Lord he must obviously be really conscious of his sins, and that he is worthy of death and condemnation, he must weep and mourn because of these things, and deeply humble himself before God. The Lord indeed also says in His Word: “Only acknowledge thine iniquity, that thou hast transgressed against the Lord thy God.”

The Spirit of God convinces the elect sinner of sin, righteousness and judgment, and such a sinner ultimately bows into the dust before God. They are all made to sincerely sorrow after God, because they have insulted and provoked Him to wrath by their sins. They have done that which is evil in the eyes of the Lord, which causes them to weep bitterly by night and day. They loathe themselves in dust and ashes, and this true selfabhorrence is the fruit of the discovering light of the Holy Spirit. They also have an aversion to all sin and a love to all righteousness.

The publican stood in the back part of the temple but the Pharisee in the fore part. The Pharisee did see the publican but the publican did not see the Pharisee. He saw no one but himself in his state of deep misery and wretchedness, accompanied with a view of the righteouness and holiness of God. He saw the long record of his guilt and sins and was so ashamed that he did not dare to raise his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast and cried: “O God be merciful to me a sinner.” O what sorrow filled his heart! This sorrow is evident in God’s people because He hasshed His love abroad in their hearts. Without the manifestation of the love of God there can never be sorrow for sin, consequently if grieving for sin and a sorrow after God are not known, Christ and His infinitely sufficient righteousness cannot be indispensable to a person.

With God’s true people sin begins to weigh as a burden too heavy to bear. They seek atonement for their sins in the blood of Christ. The true communicant therefore believes in Christ.

Faith is a gift of God, and a man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven. Besides, there is no one with whom we are so totally unacquainted and who is so hidden from us as Christ.

Now then, what conclusion must you make concerning yourself?

Let us for a moment return to the publican in Luke 18. How wretched this man felt! Sinful and ungodly and self-condemned! He was oppressed and troubled on all sides. O must he die and then appear before God; what will the outcome be? Does God permit him to perish in despair? No, there is still a way out, salvation is still possible. In what way ? “O God be merciful to me a sinner.” God may yet grant him grace. The devil obscures grace, but the Spirit of God displays the fulness of grace. The Spirit of God glorifies Christ in the heart of a lost sinner, but he also bestows grace by which the soul, totally helpless in itself, flees to that Christ.

For God’s true people, bare scripture passages or stanzas from the psalms accompanied with emotional agitations do not suffice, but they need Christ. He is the way, the truth and the life. Through Him alone God can be reconciled and pacified toward them. The centurion testified on the one hand, “Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof,” and on the other, “Speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed.” He acknowledged Christ to be the Son of God who possessed all power and dominion, and the Lord Jesus said of this man: “I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.” And by as much as our knowledge of self and of God increases during our lives, by just so much will our souls bow more deeply before God. Just think of Abraham the father of the faithful.

God does not intend that we should become important but that we should become insignificant in our own estimation. Yes, by the the more abundant shedding of the light of the Spirit of God upon us and a fuller realization of what has become of us in the fall of Adam we shall the more feel the need of a knowledge of Christ, and to be washed, purified and sanctified in His blood. The Lord has preserved a poor and afflicted people, which shall trust in the Name of the Lord.

How fortunate for us when the Spirit of God constantly contends with us and turns us away from everything so that we may take refuge by faith to this precious Mediator, in whom all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are hidden. How precious and valuable are the exercises of faith.

But friends, I must close and hope to continue again the next time, the Lord willing.

Sincere greetings to all of you from your minister,

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