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Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness
Practical truths tending to promote the power of godliness: wherein several important duties, are urged, and the evil of divers common sins, is evinced; delivered in sundry sermons. / By Increase Mather, teacher of a church at Boston in New-England. ; [Ten lines of Scripture texts]
printed by Samuel Green upon assignment of Samuel Sewall, 1682
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
3. The Lords Supper is not only a Sacrament of the New-Testament (as hath been evinced) but the last Sacrament thereof, There are only two Sacraments of the New-Testament, viz. Baptism and the Lords Supper: We read in the Gospel, that when Christ was crucified, one of the Soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water, Joh. 19. 34. so there is the Sacrament of Water and of Blood. Thus some interpret that difficult Scripture, 1 Job. 5. 8. There are three that bear witness on Earth, the Spirit, Water, i. e. Baptism, and Blood, i. e. the Lords Supper, and these three agree in one. The Lord by his spirit in his word also, by the Sacraments of the New-Testament, declareth and testifieth that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, there are those three witnesses which agree in one as concurring in their Testimony concerning Christs person and coming. Baptism is an Evangelical Sacrament as well as the Lords Supper, but that is the first, and this the last Sacrament of the Gospel. And thence none ought to partake thereof, but such as have been first Baptized. As in respect of the Sacraments of the Old-Testament, none but such as were circumcised might be admitted to the Passover, Exod. 12.48. thus we read concerning the three thousand converts, they were first Baptised, and then received into fellowship, in breaking of bread, &c. Act. 2.41,42. Hence also the Lords Supper is a ⟨p. 132⟩very solemn Ordinance, and ought to be much regarded by those that would approve themselves like Christians. It is the last Sacrament that ever was instituted, or that ever shall be, whilst the World endureth. It was Instituted at the last Supper that ever Christ did eat with his Disciples, just before his death; for the next day his blood was shed upon the Cross; so that the Lord Christ hath bequeathed this Ordinance, as a dying Legacy and Memorial unto his Church. Therefore it ought to be observed with great Religion.
3. The Lords Supper is not only a Sacrament of the New-Testament (as hath been evinced) but the last Sacrament thereof, There are only two Sacraments of the New-Testament, viz. Baptisme and the Lords Supper: We read in the Gospel, that when Christ was crucified, one of the Souldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came thereout blood and water,