The sermons of Master Henry Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…The sermons of Maister Henrie Smith gathered into one volume. Printed according to his…

Will ye know beside, what it is to be guilty of the body and blood of Christ? even as Judas was guilty for betraying him, and Pilate for delivering him,¹ and the Jews for crucifying him:² so they are guilty which receive ⟨p. 129⟩this Sacrament unworthily, as Pilate and Caiaphas and Judas were. If they be guilty of Christs death, they are guilty of their own death too; as if they had committed two murders: and therefore Paul saith after, that many of the Corinthians dyed,³ only for the unworthy receiving of this Sacrament. As the Word is the savour of death to them which receive it unworthily, so the Sacrament is the savour of death to them which receive it unworthily:⁴ it never goeth into their mouth, but they are traitors ipso facto, & may say to Hell, this day have I taken possession of thee,⁵ because I am guilty of Christs blood. Therefore it followeth immediately, Let a man examine himself before he eat of this bread, or drink of this wine: as if he should say, If he which receiveth this Sacrament unworthily, be guilty of Christs death, like Judas which hanged himself; if these signs be received to salvation or damnation, like the Word; the next lesson is, to examine your selves before you receive, lest you receive like the son of perdition,⁶ which swallowed the bread and the Devil together. Therefore, Let a man examine himself, and so let him eat: that is, let him examine first, and receive after: for if we should receive the bread of the earth reverently,⁷ how should ⟨p. 130⟩we receive the bread of heaven? When Jehonadab came to Jehu his chariot, he said, Is thy heart upright as my heart is toward thee?