The opening of Master Prynnes new book, called A vindication: or, light breaking out from a cloud of differences, or late controversies. Wherein are inferences upon the Vindication, and antiqueres to the queres; and by that, the way a little cleared to a further discovery of truth in a church-order, by a conference or discourse. / By John Saltmarsh, preacher at Brasteed in Kent. Published according to order.

Vindication, fol. 42.

That because we behold Christs death and passion more vi∣sibly represented to our eyes and hearts in the Sacrament, and remission of sins more sensibly applied to us, then in any other Ordinances; therefore it is certainly the most powerful Or∣dinance of all others to regenerate and convert; with many Scriptures to prove conversion by representation.

Inference.

We may infer, That because the Lord hath instituted his signe of bread and wine in the Supper to his own end; therefore it will serve to any end: That we can prove of our own ima∣gining, upon certain rational conclusions from Scripture or rea∣son, without particular Scriptures authorizing or appointing it to such an end; and therefore all these grounds, consequen∣ces, and notions which are formed upon a likelihood and proba∣bility, are nothing to prove any direct use of the Sacrament to such an end, without, as I have said, a special Word, Precept, or Practice, or just Consequence from Scriptures, directed to such a proof; for else there is scarce any thing but we may reason in∣to a notion of likelihood: but faith must have better grounds, and not of private interpretation; and the Scriptures that are alleadged, must not be to prove that things of lively represen∣tation may most affect the soul, and have done so; but that these Scriptures are plainly or powerfully directed by the Spirit of God to prove the very Institution of the supper to that end;

which none of those Scriptures prove that are alleadged in fol. 42.