N01147:110
A dissertation, wherein the strange doctrine lately published in a sermon, the tendency of…
A dissertation, wherein the strange doctrine lately published in a sermon, the tendency of which, is, to encourage unsanctified persons (while such) to approach the holy table of the Lord, is examined and confuted. With an appendix, showing what Scripture ground there is to hope, that within a very few years there will be a glorious reformation of the church throughout the world. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]A dissertation, wherein the strange doctrine lately published in a sermon, the tendency of which, is, to encourage unsanctified persons (while such) to approach the holy table of the Lord, is examined and confuted. With an appendix, shewing what Scripture ground there is to hope, that within a very few years there will be a glorious reformation of the church throughout the world. / By I. Mather, D.D. ; [Six lines of Scripture texts]
Boston: printed by B. Green for Benj. Eliot, 1708
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
The Jews if after they had searched for Leaven within their Houses, could find none, they were to Eat the Passover. So if Christians upon Self-Examination, cannot find that they are in a State of Hypocrisy, which is Leaven, 1 Cor. 5. 8. they ought to come to the Lords Table. Every man ought to judge of himself according to what he is really. If he is Regenerate he ought to judge so of himself: If he judgeth otherwise, he sins & wrongs himself. This will not Justify his forbearing the ⟨p. 85⟩Sacrament: (w)For one sin will not excuse another. One Thing more in Mr. S. Sermon I cannot but take notice of: In pleading for the Admission of Unsanctified men to the holy Table of the Lord; he argues, That the Worship of God must be carried on, & that there is a great Scarcity of Godly men, it may be there may be but two or three, sometimes in a Parish, & that no Country does neglect this Ordinance as we in New-England do, that in our own Nation at home, so in Scotland, Holland, Denmark, Sweedland, Germany, France, they do generally Celebrate the memorial of Christs Death. Thus he Writes, Page 15, 16, 26. But would he bring the Churches in New-England back to the Imperfect Reformation in other Lands, and so deprive us of our Glory for ever? As for Scotland, it was before showed, that they use great Strictness in Examining their Communicants, before they are admitted to the Lords Table: In the account of the Ecclesiastical Government there, Printed in the Year 1696. We are told, that Persons admitted to the Lords Supper, are interrogated whether they have seriously considered the engagements which are upon them by their Baptism: And whether they Worship God in Secret as well as in their ⟨p. 86⟩Families, &c. As for the Protestants in Frances although' their Practice has been as large as what Mr. S. pleads for, nevertheless, the Doctrine of their Eminent Divines has been otherwise. Beza, (x)has taught them, that none should be admitted to the Lords Table except they give such an account of their Faith, as that their Pastor may probably gather, that they are real Christians. The like is to be said concerning the Divines in Holland, as is to be seen in the Writings of Voetius, & Zepperus, and Dr. Hornbeck,