N01147:51
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.
I then in the second Place argue thus, They that are not duly Qualified to be Members of Particular Gospel Churches, are not fit to be admitted to the Lords Supper. This will be readily yielded, so that it is needless to spend time in the Proof of it. I will not deny but that persons may be admitted to Baptism on the account of their being of the Visible Church, which many are, tho' not in Fellowship with any Particular Church. This was the Judgment of our Famous Dr. Owen; as himself assured me, in Letters I had from him Forty Years ago, and I remember that in one of his Printed Books he affirms it. And that he is so far from confining Baptism to a particular Church, as that he does believe that no Member of a particular Church was ever regularly Baptised, because Baptism precedes Admission into a particular Church. Professing Believers and their Seed ⟨p. 21⟩have right to Baptism, whether they are of any particular Church or no, on the account of their Relation to the Catholic Visible Church. Certain it is, that the Apostles Baptised many who were not joined to any particular Church, as I have (k)else where many years ago more fully declared. But the Lords Supper may not be Administered to any, who are not Members of some particular Instituted Church: Nor indeed to them, except in a Church Assembly, 1 Cor. 11. 20. Papists allow the Dispensation of this Ordinance unlimited. They approve of Private Masses, supposing the Priest and one more to be enough for Administering the Eucharist. Episcopal Divines also allow of Private Communion. But Dr. Goodwin (l)has Solidly, and Learnedly discovered the Error of that Practice. I proceed to Assume, Unsanctified Persons are not fit to be Admitted Members in Particular Churches. None but such as are (so far as men exercising a due Charity are able to judge) Sincere Converts, or True Believers on Christ, ought to be received into tho Churches. Rough Stones were not laid in Solomons Temple, but such as were hewen, ⟨p. 22⟩and prepared, 1 King. 6. 7