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HISTORY AND MYSTERY

OF

(THOSE CALLED)

THE SACRAMENTS

SHEWING

THEM TO BE JEWISH INSTITUTIONS
AND NOT ORDINANCES, APPOINTED BY CHRIST,
TO BE OBSERVED IN HIS CHURCH.

BY JACOB POST.

LONDON:

CHARLES GILPIN, 5, BISHOPSGATE WITHOUT;

AND

AYLOTT AND JONES, PATERNOSTER ROW.

1846.

1370.

PREFACE.

The following observations on those called the Sacraments of water Baptism, and the Supper of bread and wine, are offered for the candid consideration of the reader, as the Author's apology for declining the use of them. The critical scholar will, no doubt perceive, much in the following pages, which betray a lack of elegant literature, as well as an ignorance of the art of book-making.

Whilst acknowledging these deficiencies, the consequence of a plain eleemosynary education, the writer has been sincerely desirous of stating facts according to the evidence of historic truth, and has endeavoured to express his own sentiments in plain English language, so that no one need be at a loss to understand his mean

ing; beyond this, he claims no indulgence, but submits his opinion to the test of Holy Scripture, and to the honest, unprejudiced inquirer after the mind of Christ, as unfolded therein.

Whilst claiming for the conscientious nonritualist, a place in the universal church of Christ, the writer feels, at the same time, in perfect charity with that large majority of Christian professors, who deem it needful for them to observe the outward rites, called Sacraments, under one or other, of the various forms now in use.

It is however, some consolation to him, in his singularity of opinion, to remember, that TRUTH and her followers, were always a small minority in the world, and that, to his own Master, and not to public opinion, he must stand or fall in the Great day of account.

Islington, 1846.

J. P.

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.

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THE term sacrament appears to have been borrowed from heathen Rome, and was transferred into the christian church in the dark ages of superstition. The word sacrament, is nowhere to be found in the inspired writings, indeed, its origin is adverse to the peaceable principles of christianity, for it was a name formerly given to the military oath administered to those who entered the Roman legions. Inconsistent as is the term (on the ground of its origin) with the doctrines promulgated by the “Prince of Peace," the writer's controversy is not now, regarding the appellation; but, with the assumed obligation, that all who claim to be called christians, must be baptised with water, and partake of bread and wine as an act of devotion.

When bishops and priests, and many other orders of ecclesiastics, had multiplied among men, the pope called a council on church affairs of the most eminent amongst them, which met at Trent, a city of Germany, and had its several sittings between the years 1545

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