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A77398 A brief and plain discussion of that question which of late hath troubled many tender consciences; namely, whether it be lawfull to receive the sacrament of the Lords Supper in those congregations where there is a mixture of some ignorant or prophane persons. 1652 (1652) Wing B4531; Thomason E678_27; ESTC R206806 11,973 16

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A brief and plain DISCVSSION Of that Question which of late hath troubled many tender CONSCIENCES NAMELY Whether it be lawfull to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper in those Congregations where there is a mixture of some Ignorant or Prophane Persons Tit. 1.15 To the pure all things are pure 1 Cor 11.28 Let a man therefore examine himself and so let him eat of this Bread and drink of this Cup. LONDON Printed for John Wright at the Kings Head in the Old-Baily 1652. Whether it bee lawfull to receive the Sacrament in those Congregations where there is a mixture of some that are Ignorant or Scandalous THat the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a most sacred Ordinance and ought to be used in a sacred manner that it ought not to be polluted by prophane persons and such as come altogether unworthily and unpreparedly all will easily grant That such as these ought to be kept back and not to be admitted yea that every one in his place and order according to that power which God hath given him ought to use his best endeavour to keep such back will not be denied by any that desire this holy ordinance may be preserved in its purity But if for want of right Discipline which is yet wanting in most Congregations of the Kingdome or want of right Excercise of this Discipline some Unvvorthy ones do thrust in and mix themselves with others in the use of this Ordinance whether it be lawfull for a worthy receiver to joyn himself with them is the question And this is such a thing as hath much troubled the minds of many piously affected who though they excedingly desire to partake of this Ordinance yet dare not do it where there is such a mixture That it is not unlawfull to receive the sacrament in such Congregations where there is a mixture of some that are Ignorant or Scandalous may appear by these reasons following Argu. 1. Whatsoever Duty we are called unto by a Clear command from the word we ought not to forbear the performance of it unless we have as clear a command to the contrary But we have a clear command to do this that is to receive the Lords Supper in remembrance of Christs death and hereby to shew forth the Lords death till he come c. No such clear command to call us from it when there is a mixture of Unworthy ones therefore we are bound not to forbear it If there be any such clear command to the contrary let it be shewed The Apostle when he delivers the doctrine of the Sacrament 1. Cor. 11 23. when he shews the danger of comming Unworthily and calls upon men to Examine themselves before they come v. 27.28 had fair occasion likewise to have shewed the danger of joyning with others that came unworthily yea it had been necessary for him to have done so when there were some of the Corinthians that had divisions and contentions among themselves v. 18. others that came drunken to the sacrament v. 21. others that despised the Church of God v. 22. yet he doth no where charge them not to joyn with these in the use of this Ordinance but onely enjoynes every man to examine himself and so to eat of the Bread and drink of the Cup. As for those places that are alleged by some to shew the unlawfulness of joining in mixt congregations in answer to them afterwards it shall be plainly demonstrated that all of them fall farre short of holding forth any such clear command for the Forbearance as those before-mentioned do for the Performance of the duty Argu. 2. If it be unlawfull for a worthy receiver to joyn with those that come unworthily it is because he doth some way com●unicate with them in their sin But he that comes rightly prepared doth no way communicate with the sin of the unprepared so he may lawfully come If the worthy receiver doth communicate with the sin of the unworthy it is either because he communicates with such in the outward action or in the inward affection For the inward affection he hath no communion with them that way at all the affections of the unworthy and worthy being altogether of a differing nature The one comes with a heart humbled for sin the other with a heart hardened in sin the one comes with a heart hungring after Christ and his righteousness the other without any sense of the need of him or any true desire after him The one comes with a serious purpose to forsake all sin the other with a purpose to continue in sin or at least without any serious or setled resolution to forsake all sin For the outward action wherein both do communicate that it is in it self good being the very thing which Christ himself requires namely to receive sacramentall Bread and Wine in remembrance of his death and passion and would be good in him that comes unworthily if his inward affections were right As the outward action of hearing the word and joining in prayer and calling upon God is good when done by a wicked man so is the outward action of receiving the Sacrament The evill that accompanies these actions is want of doing them in a right manner 2. In all actuall sins mans will is principium actionis the principall cause of the act how then can a man be guilty of that sin which another man commits wherin his wil hath no concurrence 3. If the worthy receiver should be accessory to the sin of the unworthy then the unworthy should pollute the Ordinance of God not only to himself but to others but this he doth not for To the pure all things are pure Tit. 1 15. Object But is there nothing else required to free us from being accessory to the scandalous evills of such as come unworthily to the sacrament but only self-preparation Answ Yet It is our duty to admonish such if their scandals be known to us and we have opportunity to do it Mat. 18.15 2. If they regard not our private admonition it is our duty to do it before one or two witnesses v. 16. 3. If they will not yet hear it is our duty to acquaint the church-officers with it if they be such as are fit and willing to yeeld any help v. 17. 4. If by none of these meanes unworthy ones can be kept back it is our duty to mourn and be humbled before God earnestly seeking for redress of this evil 1 Cor. 5.2 If we have used our best endeavour for performance of these things we shal not be involved in the guilt of such as come unworthily to the sacrament Arg. 3. If be it unlawfull to receive the Sacrament with those who come unworthily then it is unlawfull to do this with any such or with those whom we know to be such if with any such then we must not join in receiving with those Hypocrites from whom scarce any congregation is free If it be unlawfull only to receive with those whom we