Jeremiah 51:51

In this account, the faces of the Lord’s people were covered with shame, for it was a terrible thing that men should intrude into the Holy Place reserved for the priests alone. Everywhere about us we see similar cause for sorrow. How many ungodly men are now studying with the intention of entering into the ministry!

What a crying sin is that solemn lie by which our whole population is nominally considered part of a National Church! How fearful it is that ordinances should be pressed upon the unconverted, and that among the more enlightened churches of our land there should be such laxity of discipline. If the thousands who will read this portion all take this matter before the Lord Jesus today, He will interfere and avert the evil which otherwise will come upon His Church.

To adulterate the Church is to pollute a well, to pour water upon fire, to sow a fertile field with stones. May we all have grace to maintain, each in our own way, the purity of the Church as an assembly of believers, and not a nation, nor an unsaved community of unconverted men.

Our zeal must, however, begin at home. Let us examine ourselves as to our right to eat at the Lord’s Table. Let us see to it that we have on our wedding garment, so that we ourselves are not intruders in the Lord’s sanctuaries.

Many are called, but few are chosen; the way is narrow, and the gate is strait. O for grace to come to Jesus rightly, with the faith of God’s elect! He who struck Uzzah for touching the ark is very jealous of His two ordinances: as a true believer, I may approach them freely, but as an alien, I must not touch them, lest I die.

Heart-searching is the duty of all who are baptized or come to the Lord’s Table. “Search me, O God, and know my way, try me and know my heart.”