And now to pass over to England, neither do I find Reason to think the Dissenters there in general are for Mr. STODDARD's Latitude. The Assembly of Divines pronounce all the Ungodly, as well as Ignorant, unworthy of the Lord's Table: direct to Preparation for it, by examining our selves of our being in Christ &c. And tho' they declare this Sacrament appointed for the Relief even of the weak and doubting Christian, who unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ; and having directed such a one to be wail his Unbelief and labour to have his Doubts resolved, they assert that so doing he may and ought to come to the Lord's Supper, to be further strengthened: yet I don't find any Appearance of a Hint, as if others who know themselves to be in a natural State, or are conscious of their being certainly graceless, may and ought to come to this Ordinance, that they may be converted. Nay, they expressly declare of ALL ungodly Persons, that while they remain such, they cannot without great Sin against Christ partake of those holy Mysteries.—As to particular Divines, I find Multitudes of 'em among the Dissenters, in later as well as former Times, expressing the same Sentiments: distinguishing between natural and instituted Duties, between initial and confirming Means, between special Ordinances and common: and declaring the Lord's Supper a Disciple-Privilege, peculiar to such as have Disciple-Properties, and admonishing as well the close Hypocrite, as the more gross, of the Sin and Danger of coming to it in his unregenerate State, impenitent and unbelieving. Thus, Mr. BOLTON, in his Discourse on the Wedding-Supper and the Wedding-Garment, warns the graceless not to come to the Lord's Supper; affirming, that an unsanctified Presence will be found as bad as a profane Absence.—Mr. BAXTER, in his five Disputations, has much that runs in the same Strain; so in his Reformed Liturgy, and in his Christian Concord, where we have his Brethren joining their Testimony with his.—Likewise Mr. CHARNOCK, in his Discourse of the Subjects of the Lord's Supper.—Mr. PALMER, in his Scripture-Rail to the Lord's Table—Mr. SAUNDERS, in his Anti Diatribe.—Mr. LANGLEY, in his Suspension reviewed.—Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. HENRY, Dr. EARLE, & others, in ⟨p. 6⟩their Books on the Lord's Supper.—Mr. SHOWER, in his Sacramental Discourses.—Mr. FLAVEL, in his Sermon on Gospel-Unity, and other Pieces.—Mr.
And now to pass over to England, neither do I find Reason to think the Dissenters there in general are for Mr. STODDARD's Latitude. The Assembly of Divines pronounce all the Ungodly, as well as Ignorant, unworthy of the Lord's Table: direct to Preparation for it, by examining our selves of our being in Christ &c. And tho' they declare this Sacrament appointed for the Relief even of the weak and doubting Christian, who unfeignedly desires to be found in Christ; and having directed such a one to be wail his Unbelief and labour to have his Doubts resolved, they assert that so doing he may and ought to come to the Lord's Supper, to be further strengthned: yet I don't find any Appearance of a Hint, as if others who know themselves to be in a natural State, or are conscious of their being certainly graceless, may and ought to come to this Ordinance, that they may be converted. Nay, they expresly declare of ALL ungodly Persons, that while they remain such, they cannot without great Sin against Christ partake of those holy Mysteries.—As to particular Divines, I find Multitudes of 'em among the Dissenters, in later as well as former Times, expressing the same Sentiments: distinguishing between natural and instituted Duties, between initial and confirming Means, between special Ordinances and common: and declaring the Lord's Supper a Disciple-Privilege, peculiar to such as have Disciple-Properties, and admonishing as well the close Hypocrite, as the more gross, of the Sin and Danger of coming to it in his unregenerate State, impenitent and unbelieving. Thus, Mr. BOLTON, in his Discourse on the Wedding-Supper and the Wedding-Garment, warns the graceless not to come to the Lord's Supper; affirming, that an unsanctify'd Presence will be found as bad as a profane Absence.—Mr. BAXTER, in his five Disputations, has much that runs in the same Strain; so in his Reformed Liturgy, and in his Christian Concord, where we have his Brethren joining their Testimony with his.—Likewise Mr. CHARNOCK, in his Discourse of the Subjects of the Lord's Supper.—Mr. PALMER, in his Scripture-Rail to the Lord's Table—Mr. SAUNDERS, in his Anti Diatribe.—Mr. LANGLEY, in his Suspension review'd.—Mr. DOOLITTLE, Mr. HENRY, Dr. EARLE, & others, in ⟨p. 6⟩their Books on the Lord's Supper.—Mr. SHOWER, in his Sacramental Discourses.—Mr. FLAVEL, in his Sermon on Gospel-Unity, and other Pieces.—Mr.
