Church-ordered Communion 4. The fourth is that which doth declare a Christians duty to be duly edifying some Church of Christ by his personal presence Prayers and paines as 't is clearly manifest by what is written in 1 Cor. 14.1 Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts but rather that ye may prophesie And verse 12. Seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church So Eph. 2. verse the 19 20 21 22. Ye are fellow-Citizens with the Saints built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone in whom all building is fitly framed and growth together unto an holy Temple In whom ye are also builded togethe for an habitation of God through the Spirit So 1 Pet. 2 5. Ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And Jud. 20. Building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the holy Spirit Are they in a capacity to conform to these commands who do not close with and conjoyn in the Church-covenant You know that they are farre from being Church-edifiers who are Church defamers much more Church-despisers which I trust you are not or at leastwise you should abhor to be 5. The fifth is that which exhorts and necessitates a Christian to be informing the Church in their solemn Meetings of the obstinacy of an offending Church Member in order to that memorable instruction Mâ—t. 18 17. But if he shall neglect to hear them then tell it to the Church Can any be commissioned to be a witnesse as upon Oath against wrongfull walking who is himself an Alien or an unworthy and unwarrantable walker 6. The sixth is that which fairely and fully institutes Christs Covenant-servants to be spirituall Judges of such souls as are either to be excommunicated from Church-consociation or else to be absolved from Church-excommunication as it appeares by what is extent Psal 149 8. To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with sletters So 1 Cor 5.12 Do you not judge them that are within So 2 Cor. 10.6 Having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled c. And Chap. 2.6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment Is' t possible that such a person should be in a capacity to partake of such high honour as hath not a nail or Name in Christs house no more then Sanballat the Horonite or Tobiah the Ammonite noted with a black coal in Neh. 2.19.20 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian heard it the laught us to scorn and despised us c. 7. The seventh is that which goades and spurres faithfull Parents to offer their Infants to fellowship with the Church in the first Seal of the Covenant of Grace which doth seal their grafting into Christ as it appeares by many memorable prescriptions and Praedictions as Cant. 1.8 Feed thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepherds So Chap. 47. Thy teeth are like a flock of Sheep whereof every one brings forth twinnes And Chap. the 6. 5 The same words So Isaiah the 49.22 They shall bring thy Sons in their arms any thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders And Chap. 59 21. My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed Mark 10.14 15. But Jesus said Suffer little Children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of God And Act. 15.10 Now certain arose saying That 't was needfull to circumcise But Peter said unto them Why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the Disciples Note that Children of eight daies old are here called Disciples of Christ and 't is granted by all that Disciples of Christ may be baptized Are not the Infants of Believers to be accounted believing Infants seeing he stiles them so who spake as never man spake Is there not a passive as well as an active Faith Iâ— not the first before the second in all Christs Flock yea in young Infants as well as in old folks Hath he not told and taught you that 't is by such a Faith as is in Believers Infants which is a passive Faith that the Kingdom of God is received If it be a truth that the least Child is a rational creature as well as the eldest man though not in respect of the act or exercise yet in regard of the habit and root of reason which is a reasonable Spirit Is' t not as true that the least child of the Covenant of Grace is to be acknowledged a Christian and a gracious child although not for or from any act or exercise of grace of Christianity yet for and from the root and ground thereof which is the gracious spirit of Christ If he emboldneth to bring such Babes to himself who dares withhold them from him Or are they in a capacity to present their seed to the Church who absent themselves from the same 8. The eighth is that which helps feeble and forgetfull Saints to encrease in heavenly-mindednesse and in holinesse by eating often of Christ body by Faith at the Love-Feast of the Lords-Supper which is the Seal that Seals their growth in grace to which end 't is ordained to be used and observed Luk. 22.19 And he took the bread and gave thankes and brake it and gave unto them saying This is my body which was given for you this do in remembrance of me Likewise also the Cup saying This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you So Joh. 6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye have no life in you And 1 Cor. 11. the 24 25 26 verses After the same manner he took the Cup saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do yet as often as ye drink it So verse 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup c. Can such persons be deemed fit guests at such Church-Feasts which have not admittance and abode in Church-fellowship And how can the eat often at the Lords Table who do not eat once in a year or in their life time 9. The ninth is that which interests Christs Members in voting about sending of Church-Messengers and in writing of Church-Letters which in such cases ought to be conformed unto by all conformable Christians as most evidently appears by what way practised Act. 13.22 23. Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the WHOLE Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch and wrote Letters after this manner c. So 2 Cor. 3.1 Need we as others Epistles of commendation Can one be a chuser of Church-Messengers that is not himself chosen to be a Church-member Or hath he a vote in
he said Come and see my zeal for the Lord. But in Hos 1.4 't is counted cruelty I will avenge the blood of Jezrel upon the House of Jehu or that provoking to vertue which was expressed by Judas and such as he in Mat. 7.22 Many will say Lord Lord have we not in thy Name cast out Devils and by thy Name done many great works c. In short 't is such an abhominable Sacrifice as is the shedding of mans blood if the blessed God be worthy to be believed in what he saith in Isaiah 1.15 When ye make many Prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood And Chap. 66.3 He that kills an Ox is as if he he slew a man he that sacrifizeth a Lamb as if he cut off a dogs neck he that offers an oblation as if he offered swines blood he that burneth Incense as if he blesseth an Idoll Yea they have chose their own waies and their soul delights in their abominations As 't is a truth that none dare deny that separation from prophane sinners though professing Saints is such a service for the MATTER of it as Christ doth command as 't is to be seen by what is already shewn So 't is no falshood to affirm That such a separation for the MANNER thereof is not a Christian or commendable separation â—f it be not carried on according to Scripture Precepts or Patterns as 't is most clear by what is expressly required by the Almighty himself in several places as Act 7.44 Heb. 8.5 See that thou do all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the Mount And 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order And wast never observed by any of you that though Vzza and Vzziah did observe a right ORDINANCE in the carriage of the Ark and offering of Incense yet the one was destroyed and the other disgrac't and degraded for the meer miscarriage that was manifested thereabouts in not observing a right ORDER as all may see in that terrible-treble Looking glass that is left for Church-Ministers for Court-Magistrates and for Church Members to look upon in 1 Chron. 15.13 The Lord our God made a breach upon us because we sought him not after the due order And 2. Chron. 26.16 But when Vzziah was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction for he transgrest against the Lord his God and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incense on the Alter of Incense So Chap 30.18 20. For a multitude of the people even many of Ephraim and Manasseth Izzâ—char and Zebulon had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the Passover otherwisâ— then 't was written But Hezekiah prayeâ— for them saying The good Lord pardon every one And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people Or can it be but confest and acknowledged by all of you that the only Orthodox Order in making of seperation from Church-Communion is That it may not be till after the first and second Admonition be administred and that by such 〈◊〉 power as is superior to to the party offending except you disapprove which God forbid of what Christ doth prescribe Mat. 18.15 16 17. If thy Brothers shaâ—â— trespasse against thee go and tell him his faulâ— between thee and him alone and if he heâ—â— thee thou hast gain'd him So Joh. 8.17 'T is also written in your Law that the Testimony of two witnesses is true So 2 Cor. 13.1 In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be establâ—shed And Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject And for the Assumption which is the second part of the Argument which by your Questions you seem to urge 't is utterly destitute of any proof whether you mean the whole body of the Congregational Church whereof ye are Members and which was for a long time owned as by others so especially by your selves to be one of those reformed Churches of Christendome which in Scripture-language are called Queens as in Cant. 6.8 There are threescore Queens and fourscore Concubins and Virgins without number And therefore know it and that not so much from the Pen of a dying man as from the Spirit of the living God That no Queen or such a Church is by deffamation or any other way to be defiled by any person upon pain of dreadfull destruction to the defiler witnesse what is on Record on that account 1 Cor. 3.17 If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are That is to say the Church of Corinth Or whether you would be understood by your writing to point at some of the particular Members of that Political body 't is very apparent I think that orderly proof of any disorderly practice among them was never yet produced Is it not rational and regular that they should have a fair and open tryal together with a clear conviction that the accused ones are barren branches Joh. 15. and 26 Twice dead trees Jud. 12. Rotten Members Gal. 5.12 Choaking thornes Mat. 13.22 Or wallowing swine 2 Pet. 2.22 before they can with any good grounds good conscience or according to Christ be disfranchized of their Citizens freedome deprived of their Church-Priviledges much lesse dismembred from the body supplanted from the Vineyard rooted from the Field drived from the Fold and Flock to which they do relate and belong least of all is the whole Body Field or Fold to be deserted but boâ—h the one and the other is to be participated with in what is of good report and faithfully and frequently provok't to what is good by all such of their fellow members as would not be esteemed wilfull villifiers of Christs blood disobeyers of his directions despisers and despiters of his holy Spirit From all which the good Lord deliver us least otherwise we might perish with the Apostates which you read are indicted arrained and threatned to be executed in Heb. Chap. 10 25 26 27 28 29 verses Not forsaking the assembling our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching for if we sinne wilfully after that we have receiv'd the knowledge of the truth there remaines no more Sacrifice but a certain direfull looking for of vengeance and fiery indignation which devoures the Adversaries Of how much more sore punishment suppose ye shalle he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight to the Spirit of grace Therefore the Conclusion which is the last part of the Argument which was urg'd concerning Church-members qualification and Communion concludes nothing more then this one thing viz That the charity of some old and sundry young Professors of Christianity is so little that 't is scarce visible to ordinary eyes
that setling and confirming Seal the Lords Supper unto themselves before they be set and seated in the Lords House and have it regularly with the allowance and by the hands of the Stewards of his House whose Office it is to give their fellow-servants their several Portions in due seasons For I presuppose that ye dare not say That any ought to administer these Mysterious things save only they that are solemnly call'd thereunto as was Aaron Heb. 5.4 3. The third is that which promiseth a princely prizing of Christians as Christians and acceptance to ones person and performances although he were the Off-spring of infamous Ancestors as 't is apparent by what is prophesied Isaiah 56.4 5 6 verses Let not the son of the stranger which is joyned to the Lord say The Lord hath seperated me utterly from his people nor let the Eunuch say Behold I am a dry tree For thus saith the Lord to the Eunuches that keep my Sabboths and chuse the thing that pleaseth me and take hold on my Covenant even unto them will I give a Name better then the Name of Sons and Daughters and make them joyfull in the House of Prayer c. If joyfull admittance and acceptance be a priviledge that pertains to all those persons that take hold on Christ who is the Surety of the better Covenant by making and keeping it with God and marching to the holy Mountain of his Meeting-House as is expressly mentioned in Ezek. 20 37. And I will cause you to passe under the rod and I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant And the 40 verse I will chuse you out from among the Rebels in the high Mountain of Israel saith the Lord God then shall the House of Israel and all the Land serve me there will I accept them What then but disacknowledgement disregard and exclusion from coming within Christs gates can be the expectation of those persons that have so long neglected Christs House or else have behaved themselves badly there What else can they think to have then non-acceptance of their persons and performances What other complement can their eares expect to hear from Christs most sacred mouth then a Verily verily I know you not Mat. 25.11 What other Ceremony can they imagine they shall be received with then a Depart from me ye cursed Mat. 25.41 And what greater acceptance can they look for at the Servants hands then that which they had of the Master Surely Christs retinue and attendance may not respect those whom their Lord and Master doth disrespect 4. The fourth is that which assureth Prosperity of the soul and a flourishing estate whereof the antient Saints did use to sing in the Psalm for the Sabboth Psal 92.12 13. The righteous shall flourish like a Palme Tree and shall grow like a Cedar in Lebanon Such as be planted in the House of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God Have the forsakers of Gods House and Gospel-Institutions any grounded hope that they shall graciously flourish Who need to fear their flourishing if not such forsakers Who for such acts are esteemed inveterate enemies as Psal 74.4 5 6 7 8. Thine Adversaries rore in the midst of thy Congregation and set up banners for signes But now they break down the Carved work thereof with axes and hammers They have cast thy Sanctuary into the fire and rast it to the ground and have destil'd thy dwelling place and said Let us destroy them altogether they have burn't all the Sinagogues of God in the Land And Psal 83.2 Let us take to our selves the Houses of God in possession Yea also for their unwillingnesse to be ruled by Christs Institutions are to be openly slain before Christs own eyes as is most evident in Luke 19.27 Moreover those mine enaemies that would not that I should reign over them bring them hither and slâ—y them before me 5. The fifth is that which warrants purifying of souls from slavish feare dread of death and is as Flaggons of Wine of consolation to conscientious walkers in Christ Church-waies as is promised in Isaiah 25.6 And in this mountain to wit the Church shall the Lord of Hosts make unto all people a Feast of fat things a Feast of Wines on the Lees of fat things full of marrow of Wine on the Lees well refined He will destroy in this Mountain the face of the covering cast over all people and the veil that is spread over all Nations and swallow up death in victory So Heb. 12.18 For ye are not come into the Mount that might be touched and that burned with fire nor unto blacknesse darknesse and tempest So terrible was the sight that Moses said I was exceedingly afraid and quak't But we are come to mount Zion and unto the City of the living God the heavenly Jerusalem and an innumerable company of Angels To the generall Assembly and Church of the first born which are written in Heaven and to God the Judge of all and to the spirits of just men made perfect And to Jesus Christ the Mediatour of the New Covenant and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things then that of Abel Is' t probable that they shall partake of such a peculiar mercy of God who will not appear in the open Mount of publique Means of Grace Is this Wine or any part of all this provision promised to or prepared for persons that will not be perswaded to wait at the door-posts of the House of Wisdome Do we dare to believe that they have as yet attain'd unto either blessed bolduesse or any other endlesse benefit by the sprinkling of the blood of Christ who do not endeavour nor desire to Covenant with or conform to the obedient members of the Church of the first born 6. The sixth is that which assures a Christian that he hath a claim to an admirable Apellation or New Name Isa 62.2 And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousnesse and all Kings thy glory And thou shalt be called by a new Name Thou shalt also be a Crown of glory in the hand of the Lord and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God It shall be no more said unto thee Forsaken nor to thy Land Desolate but thou shalt be called Hepzibah and thy Land Beulah for the Lord delights in thee So Rev. 3.12 Him that overcomes will I make a Pillar in the Temple of my God and he shall go no more out And I will write upon him the Name of my God and the Name of the City of my God which is the New Jerusalem which cometh down out of Heaven and I will write upon him a New Name Can any have an approved Interest in Christs Name or Nature that care not by converting and confirming grace to be knit to Christ himselef and his Congregational Church in a Conjugell Covenant Without conversie they will be made known to be vile and notoriously vitious Citizens who have no Name in any visible City as