N01147:83
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 English Liturgy requires the Minister to give Warning to the Congregation before the Sacrament is to be Administered, and that be should say to them, that it will be dangerous for them, if they presume to come unworthily. My Duty is to Exhort you to consider the Dignity of that holy Mystery, & the great Peril of Unworthy receiving; and so to search, and examine your own Consciences, and that not lightly, after the manner of Dissemblers with God, but so that you come holy, and clean to such an heavenly Feast, in the Marriage Garment required by God in the holy Scripture, and be received as worthy Partakers of that holy Table: Otherwise the receiving of that holy Communion does nothing else but increase your Damnation. Repent you of your Sins, else come not to that holy Table, lest after the holy Supper the Devil enter into you, as he did into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquity, and bring you to Destruction both of Body & Soul. Verily, this is holy & excellent Doctrine which those Pious Reformers taught the Nation. Just such Doctrine as this used to be Preached in New-England by those blessed Souls, who are now among the Spirits of Just men made Perfect; nor did any man dare to Preach it down, except one of late. Did those Reformers in England ⟨p. 55⟩teach, That men should not presume to come to the Lords Table without a Wedding Garment; and does a Minister in New England teach, That they may come without that Garment, & that it is no Presumption in them to do so? Do the Reformers say, You that truly Repent of Sin take the Holy Sacrament; and is there a Minister risen up in New-England, who says to his Congregation, yea, to all the Congregations throughout the Land, You that do not truly Repent of your Sins, come take this Holy Sacrament, you may lawfully do it, nay God commands you to do it, as much as he commanded the Children of Israel to Eat the Passover? Did the Reformers teach, That if Persons did come to the Sacrament without the Wedding Garment, they would increase their Damnation; and does a Minister in New-England say, it will probably be their Conversion, and not their Damnation? Did the Reformers instruct those that came to the Lords Table, first to Examine their Consciences, and that not lightly after the manner of Dissemblers with God;
The English Liturgy requires the Minister to give Warning to the Congregation before the Sacrament is to be Administred, and that be should say to them, that it will be dangerous for them, if they presume to come unworthily. My Duty is to Exhort you to consider the Dignity of that holy Mystery, & the great Peril of Unwortby receiving; and so to search, and examine your own Consciences, and that not lightly, after the manner of Dissemblers with God, but so that you come holy, and clean to such an heavenly Feast, in the Marriage Garment required by God in the holy Scripture, and be received as worthy Partakers of that holy Table: Otherwise the receiving of that holy Communion does nothing else but increase your Damnation. Repent you of your Sins, else come not to that holy Table, lest after the holy Supper the Devil enter into you, as he did into Judas, and fill you full of all iniquity, and bring you to Destruction both of Body & Soul. Verily, this is holy & excellent Doctrine which those Pious Reformers taught the Nation. Just such Doctrine as this used to be Preached in New-England by those blessed Souls, who are now among the Spirits of Just men made Perfect; nor did any man dare to Preach it down, except one of late. Did those Reformers in England