It would fill many Pages, to recite the many Passages, in the Writings of the Reformers, which countenance the Churches of New-England in their Way of a stricter Selection. Two shall supersede all the Rest; The One shall be of a Lutheran. 'Tis Gerhard, who says, That not all Christians are to be admitted to the Holy Supper, but according to 'Paul's Rule, they that Examine themselves, discern the Lord's Body and show forth the Lord's Death: All those therefore are excluded, who either will not, or cannot Examine themselves. The other shall be of a Calvinist; Beza 'tis, who says, That no one is to be admitted unto the Lord's Supper, except he has one way or other, so given an Account of his Faith, as that the Pastor may probably gather, not only that he was born in the Church, but that he is indeed a Christian. And there are many Passages in the Confessions of the Protestant Churches abroad, which declare for a special Selection of those whom they ⟨p. 83⟩admit unto the Table of the Lord. The Churches of New-England, have hitherto been thus persuaded; And as the famous Ursinus and Paraeus have taught them to make this Distinction; Great is the Difference between Baptism and the Supper; For Baptism is a Sacrament of Entrance, and Reception into the Church; but the Supper is a Sacrament of continuance in the Church, or a Confirmation of the Reception made before; And Regeneration by the Holy Spirit and Faith, or an Inclination unto Faith and Repentance sufficeth unto Baptism; but in the Supper, it required that they show forth the Lord's Death, and Examine themselves, whether they have Faith and Repentance; Thus a famous Divine of their own, Mr. Thomas Hooker, has thus expressed their Sense; Baptism is the Entrance into Christ's Family; There is much more to be looked at, to make a Person capable of the Supper of the Lord; A Man must be able to Examine himself; He must not only have Grace, but growth of Grace, — so much — as to search his own Heart; and he must be able to Discern the Lord's Body. If it should be imagined, That I do the part of an Advocate, rather than of an Historian, in this Paragraph, Satisfaction may be had from Reading the Fourth of the Seven famous Propositions, concluded by a Synod of our Churches;
It would fill many Pages, to recite the many Passages, in the Writings of the Reformers, which countenance the Churches of New-England in their Way of a stricter Selection. Two shall supersede all the Rest; The One shall be of a Lutheran. 'Tis Gerhard, who says, That not all Christians are to be admitted to the Holy Supper, but according to 'Paul's Rule, they that Examine themselves, discern the Lord's Body and shew forth the Lord's Death: All those therefore are excluded, who either will not, or cannot Examine themselves. The other shall be of a Calvinist; Beza 'tis, who says, That no one is to be admitted unto the Lord's Supper, except he has one way or other, so given an Account of his Faith, as that the Pastor may probably gather, not only that he was born in the Church, but that he is indeed a Christian. And there are many Passages in the Confessions of the Protestant Churches abroad, which declare for a special Selection of those whom they ⟨p. 83⟩admit unto the Table of the Lord. The Churches of New-England, have hitherto been thus perswaded; And as the famous Ursinus and Paraeus have taught them to make this Distinction; Great is the Difference between Baptism and the Supper; For Baptism is a Sacrament of Entrance, and Reception into the Church; but the Supper is a Sacrament of continuance in the Church, or a Confirmation of the Reception made before; And Regeneration by the Holy Spirit and Faith, or an Inclination unto Faith and Repentance sufficeth unto Baptism; but in the Supper, it required that they shew forth the Lord's Death, and Examine themselves, whether they have Faith and Repentance; Thus a famous Divine of their own, Mr. Thomas Hooker, has thus expressed their Sense; Baptism is the Entrance into Christ's Family; There is much more to be looked at, to make a Person capable of the Supper of the Lord; A Man must be able to Examine himself; He must not only have Grace, but growth of Grace, — so much — as to search his own Heart; and he must be able to Discern the Lord's Body. If it should be imagined, That I do the part of an Advocate, rather than of an Historian, in this Paragraph, Satisfaction may be had from Reading the Fourth of the Seven famous Propositions, concluded by a Synod of our Churches;
