4 Obs: That that Sacrament ⟨p. 8⟩which was appointed by Christ, not only as a seal of communion with him, but of believers amongst themselves, was now abused, through the many schisms and divisions that were amongst them, and made an occasion of discord and strife; and is not this sadly to be laid to our hearts, that there are more breaches and rents about this ordinance, which yet is for communion, then any po nt in religion; how many doctrinal controversies, how many disciplinary controversies, all tending to break love and union, by the symbols ⟨p. 9⟩and seals of union, what dispute about the order, about the communicants, about the benefits, the Sacraments being by some made Idols, as in Popery, which caused a learned man to wish the word Sacrament had bin laid aside, people conceiving some hidden virtue in the bread and wine by that name; and by others despised, as by those who s•y they are above ordinances, when yet we are to do this in remembrance of Christ, till his coming, if we were sure Christ were to come the next day, yet we might receive this ordinance immediately before. ⟨p. 10⟩The Socinians & Remonstran•s do debase them; The latter say, the whole doctrine of the reformed Church about the Sacraments, is nobis valde suspecta, is greatly suspected of falsehood by us; and the former say, its only a commemoration of Christs death, so that there is no grace or benefit anew received; ev•• say they, as in the com•••oration of the Angels Passover in the Paschal Lamb, there was no new deliverance vouchsafed: but the very institution of such Elements, bread and wine, argue they a•e spiritual Alimony to the true receiver, only ⟨p. 11⟩these sad divisions hinder the blessed fruit thereof.
4 Obs: That that Sacrament ⟨p. 8⟩which was appointed by Christ, not only as a seale of communion with him, but of believers amongst themselves, was now abused, through the many schismes and divisions that were amongst them, and made an occasion of discord and strife; and is not this sadly to be laid to our hearts, that there are more breaches and rents about this ordinance, which yet is for communion, then any po nt in religion; how many doctrinall controversies, how many disciplinary controversies, all tending to break love and union, by the symboles ⟨p. 9⟩and seales of union, what dispute about the order, about the communicants, about the benefits, the Sacraments being by some made Idols, as in Popery, which caused a learned man to wish the word Sacrament had bin laid aside, people cōceiving some hidden vertue in the bread and wine by that name; and by othe•s despised, as by those who s•y they are above ordinances, when yet we are to doe this in remembrance of Christ, till his coming, if we were sure Christ were to come the next day, yet we might receive this ordinance immediatly before. ⟨p. 10⟩The Socinians & Remonstran•s doe debase them; The latter say, the whole doctrine of the reformed Church about the Sacraments, is nobis valde suspecta, is greatly suspect•d of falshood by us; and the former say, its only a commemoration of Christs death, so that there is no grace or benefit anew received; ev•• say they, as in the com•••oration of the Angels Passover in the Pa•chall Lamb, there was no new deliverance vouchsafed: but the very institution of such Elements, bread and wine, argue they a•e spirituall Alimony to the true receiver, onely ⟨p. 11⟩these sad divisions hinder the blessed fruit thereof.
