N01147:38
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.
And it is an Article in the Doctrine of the Church of England, that men who have not true Faith, do at the Lords Table Eat and Drink Condemnation to themselves. The Words of the Twenty-ninth Article are these, The Wicked and such as are void of a lively Faith, although' they do carnally and visibly press with their Teeth, (as S. Austin says) the Sacrament of the Body & Blood of Christ, yet in no wise are they partakers of Christ, but rather to their Condemnation do Eat and Drink, the Sign or Sacrament of so great a thing. In the Articles of Religion ⟨p. 8⟩in Ireland, Anno 1615, are the same words. And is it not strange, that when Protestants in England and in Ireland insert among the Articles of their Religion, that if men who have not a lively Faith partake of the Sacrament, they Eat and Drink Condemnation to themselves, a Minister in New England, shall say to those who have not a lively Faith, you need not fear any Condemnation for your coming to the Sacrament in your state of Unbelief? Moreover, the Apostles Words, in 1 Cor. II. 28. are contrary to the New Doctrine of the Sacraments being a Converting Ordinance, and that Unsanctified Men, notwithstanding they know their Unregeneracy, should venture to partake of it; Let a man Examine himself, and so let him Eat of that Bread, and Drink of that Cup. What must he Examine himself about? Is it not whether he has Grace in his Soul? And whether he is a person duly Qualified for so Sacred an Ordinance? If then upon Examination he finds that he has not any Gracious Qualifications, ought he to Eat of that Bread, & Drink of that Cup? Yea, (says Mr. S.) For 'tis not said, let him Examine whether he should eat or forbear; but the meaning is, That be should Examine what need he has of it. But does not the Apostle himself plainly enough tell ⟨p. 9⟩us, what he means by this Self-Examination? 2 Cor. 13. 5. Examine your self whether you be in the Faith: Prove your own selves, know you not your own Selves: how that Christ is in you, except you be reprobates? That is to say, Persons not approved of. In the continuation of Mr. Pools Annotations, the Judicious Dr. Collings, (for I am well assured that he Wrote the Annotations on the Epistles to the Corinthians, as well as on a very great part of the New-Testament besides) has a solid Interpretation of the Scripture now under consideration. His Words are these: