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aith. That these views of the mode of operation of the sacraments, are sustained by many of our ablest divines, is evinced by the following extracts from their works. _Dr. Mosheim_, one of the greatest ornaments of the Lutheran Church, expressly affirms, "Those who possess _faith_ have the benefits of Christ sealed and confirmed to them. Let it therefore be remarked, that _faith is necessary to the salutary fruit and effect of the sacraments_, though not required as necessary to their essence (namely, as valid outward ordinances.") [Note 22] The distinguished _Dr. Reinhard_ says, "We attribute to the sacraments a really beneficial influence in effecting our salvation, only in as far as they are used in accordance with their design. This is a necessary inference from the nature of a ceremony (or rite) in general, which can only then be of any service, when it excites _those views and feelings_, which it is designed to produce." Here this illustrious divine evidently implies that the sacraments exert their influence by promoting certain views and feelings, and that these are the _immediate_ causes of the beneficial results, such as pardon and salvation: consequently the sacraments are mediate, but not immediate conditions of pardon. One extract more, taken from the "Biblical Theology" of the venerable _Dr. Knapp_, of Halle, edited by _Dr. Guericke_, may suffice: "The power and influence of these several religious ordinances or sacraments, is _not physical_ and _mechanical_, and also _not magical_, or operating by enchantment (or charm.) Nor does the mere external rite exert any influence. On the contrary, they stand in the most intimate connexion with the doctrines themselves, which they represent, and never exert any influence without them. Therefore they can by themselves exert no influence in the case of a person who has no knowledge and lively conviction of the doctrines which they represent. But the truths which are thereby represented to the senses, and are to be appropriated to ourselves, operate precisely in the same way, or the Holy Spirit works through them on the hearts of men, in exactly the same way as these truths are wont to act apart, (from the sacraments,) when they are heard, read or meditated on by any person; only, that in the case of the sacraments, these truths are not communicated by words, but in a different way presented to the senses. All that we have said (Part. I., Art. 8) on the influences
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