within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my judgements and do them all in the future tense This Covenant then being all in the future conveying a New heart New Spirit new clensing sanctification and obedience where they were not before The Lords Supper being the Seal of this Covenant by their own concessions must certainly be in Gods original intention and divine institution rather a Grace-conveying Faith-ingendring Soul-converting Ordinance where it found no prae-existent Grace than a bare confirming ordinance to corroborate and increase true Grace only where it was formerly wrought by other Ordinances wherefore they must either renounce this Covenant of future Grace or this Sacrament to be a Seal therof or else abjure this second foundation of their Error objection 3 Their 3. Ground depending on the two precedent is this That those have no right to nor interest in the Covenant of Grace who have no prae-existent saving Grace and faith within them Therefore to administer the Lords Supper to such is but to set a Seal to a blank which cannot work any saving Grace or conversion in them I answer That this Position an Oracle of their own forging not of Gods inditing is as false as God is true For 1. There are two sorts of Promises or Covenants of Grace conteined in the Scriptures 1. Of working begetting in or giving conferring a New heart spirit and all necessary saving Graces to those who never had them 2ly Of confirming encreasing renewing perpetuating Graces when and where they are already began commonly thus distinguished Promises of Grace and Promises to Grace The first of these Promises and Covenants being general universal indefinite were made to men not only before their calling and conversion but before their very births and being in the world witness Gods Covenant Promises made to the seed of Abraham and for the calling conversion salvation of the Gentiles many hundred years before their fulfilling recorded at large Gen. 17.1 to 17. Acts 2.38,39 Hos 1.10 c. 2.23 Rom. 9.25,26 c. 11.26.30,31.15 c. 15.8 to 24. Isa 52.15 Eph. 2.1,2,5,11 to 24. Isa 42.1.6 c. 60.3,4,5 c. 62.2.11,12 c. 66.19,20,21 Psal 72.4 to 18. Yea the promises and new Covenant forementioned of which our Antagonists affirm the Lords Supper to be a Seal were made to such who had no saving Grace no new heart spirit or sanctification at all in them but were desperately sinfull graceless rebellious and dead in sins and trespasses when made unto them as is evident by Jer. 31.31,33,34 c. 32.37 to 44. Ezech. 11.18,19,20 c. 36.25,26,27 Heb. 8.6 to 13. c. 10.16,17 Therefore if these Promises and Covenants of Grace were made to such by God himself the Seals of the Covenant and these Promises must also by necessary consequence belong of right unto them since the accessory alwayes follows the principal and the Seals the Covenants to which they are annexed even as those who have a right to any human Charters Deeds Feofments Covenants Obligations have a right unto the Seals as well as to the parchment and writing 2ly Circumcision n Rom. 4.11 the Seal of the Covenant of the righteousnese of faith and Covenant God made with Abraham and his seed belonged equally to all Abrahams posterity whether regenerate or unregenerate circumcised or uncircumcised in heart to Ishmael as well as to Isaac whereupon EVERY MANCHILD whatsoever of the seed of Abraham or born in their Houses was throughout their generations to be circumcised on the 8. day under pain of being cut off from his people for breaking of Gods Covenant in case of omission or neglect Gen. 17.10 to 15.23.36,37 c. 21.4 c. 34.15.17.22.24 Exod. 12.48 Josh 5.2 to 10. If then Circumcision the Seal of the first Covenant belonged equally to all the Israelites by Gods own institution though most of them were uncircumcised in heart yea Enemies to God by their wicked works Jer. 9.25,26 Rom. 2.28,29 Gal. 5.6 1 Cor. 10.1,2,5,6,7 Rom. 10.21 then why not the Lords Supper being by themselves stiled the Seal of the New Testament and second Covenant to all visible Church-members who externally profess the Gospel though uncircumcised in heart and unregenerate 3ly Most of our Antagonists herein especially o Mr. Rutherford Due right of Presbyteries c. 4. Sect. 5. Mr. Marshals Defence of Infant Baptism Mr. Baxter Mr. Hall of Infant Baptism Presbyterians confess and assert in print that Baptism succeeding Circumcision under the Gospel which they likewise stile a Seal of the Covenant of Grace belongs equally to the infants of all visible baptized Christians be they never so ignorant scandalous impious unregenerate carnal or actually excommunicated from the Church for their wickedness and that upon the account of their parents external right of Church membership and profession of Christianity Yea p Acts 8,12,13.21,22,23,36 to 40. c. 10.47,48 c. 16.15.33 Simon Magus and others of ripe years upon their bare profession and external belief of the Gospel were baptized by the very Apostles though continuing still in the gall of bitterness and bond of iniquity as well as the Eunuch Cornelius the Jaylor and other real Converts the Apostles commission given them by Christ himself being this Mat. 28.19 Mar. 16.15 Go ye into all the world and teach all Nations and preach the Gospel to EVERY CREATURE BAPTIZING THEM in the name of the Father Son and holy Ghost c. By vertue whereof they were to baptize all Nations and every creature to whom they preached if they only externally imbraced the Gospel preached If then the Seal of Baptism belongs universally to all infants of Christian parents and all who externally receive the Gospel preached then why not the Seal of the Lords Supper since the Apostles and Primitive Christians admitted all they baptized yea Infants as well as others to the one as well as to the other Acts 2.44,46 Bishop Jewels Reply to Harding p. 103. 4ly All circumcised Persons whatsoever and the whole Congregation of Israel whether believers or unbelievers carnal or spiritual children of God or of Belial were peremptorily enjoined by God duly to eat and celebrate the Passeover under pain of being cut off from their people and did all accordingly celebrate it none being suspended from it for any moral but only for ceremonial uncleanness Exod. 12.3,4.44,47,48,50 Josh 5.6,8,10 2 Chron. 30.5.13 to 17. c. 35.1.17,18 Ezr. 6.19,20,21,22 1 Cor. 10.1,2,3,4 If then all Circumcised persons whatsoever and the whole Congregation of Israel that were presenr received this Sacramental seal of the Passeover under the Law without secluding any of them from it for ignorance scandal or unregeneracie Then by like reason and consequence all baptized Christians ought to receive the Sacramental Seal of the Lords Supper without secluding any but such who are actually excommunicated from all other Ordinances and Church communion for ignorance scandal unregeneracie or want of saving Graces since Christ himself at its very institution admitted all unto it who were admitted to the
Passeover yea Judas himself though a Devil Traytor Murderer Thief Son of perdition Cast-away Mat. 26.14 to 30. Mar. 14.14 to 26. Luke 22.8 to 23. John 18.2,3 c. 28. c. 6.70,71 Acts 1.16 to 21. John 17.12 1 Cor. 11.23,24,25 The rather because the Apostle 1 Cor. 10.1,2,3,4,5 from this president That ALL our Fathers were under the cloud and ALL passed through the Sea and were ALL baptized under Moses and did ALL eat the same spiritual meat and did ALL drink the same spiritual drink for they drank of the rock that followed them and that rock was Christ Though with many of them God was not well pleased c. Inferrs the universality of all Christians right to and actual duty in Communicating together at the Lords Supper ver 16 17. The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one bread and one body for we are ALL partakers of that one bread To which he subjoyns Chap. 12. 13. For by one Spirit we are ALL baptized into one body whether we be Jews or Gentiles tiles whether bond or free and have been ALL maae to drink into one spirit By which texts it is undeniable that whoever is admitted a visible Member into the mystical Bodie or Church of Christ hath a proper right and interest not only to all the Covenants and Promises of the Gospel but likewise to Baptism and the Lords Supper which our Opposites stile the Seals of the Gospel and ought freely constantly to be admitted thereunto as all the Israelites and seed of Abraham under the Law had a right interest and were all freely admitted to Circumcision the Passeover Manna the water in the Wilderness which were but Types of Christ and the same in substance with the Sacraments under the Gospel 3. Hence it inevitably follows that these Sacraments were all administred only as Grace-conveying Soul-converting ordinances to those who were unregenerate wanted saving Grace since they could not possibly be sealing and confirming Ordinances unto them in our Antagonists sence or language 4ly That the administring of Circumcision the Passeover Baptifm Lords Supper to such who have no saving faith Graces prae-existent in them is no setting of a Seal to a Blank as these New Dogmatists and Lord Keepers of the Great Seals of Heaven who refuse to set or distribute these Seals where God hath prescribed them as more wise holy carefull of their profanation and Nullity than God himself absurdly affirm who must now either renounce this their Cuckoes song they so oft inculcate or else blasphemously charge God himself our Saviour Jesus Christ the Patriarks Priests Prophets under the Old Testament the Apostles Ministers Primitive Churches under the new with folly error mistake in setting all these sacred seals as they term them to meer blanks and affirm all his Covenants Promises to be but Blanks the truth whereof are alwayes sealed ratified by these Seals when ever administred though to unregenerate graceless persons they being Seals onely to the promises Covenants of God by divine institution as they all acknowledge who stile them Seals not to the persons of those to whom they are exhibited or at leastwise but conditional not absolute Seals to their persons not graces sealing only damnation to them if they receive them unworthily without any gracious effect and salvation grace life eternal to them only when they receive them worthily as the q Mat. 16.16 2 Cor. 2.14,15,16 Gospel preached doth 1 Cor. 11.25 to 30. This absurdity because I have at large refuted in my Suspension suspended p. 20 21 22 23 24. and Mr. Marshal in his Defence of Infant Baptism p. 117 118. Mr. John Humfrey in his Rejoynder to Mr. Drake p. 170. to 202. and Mr. Morrice in his Diatribe have acutely answered I shall here no further prosecute being in plain English as pure Nonsense in Divinity as it would be in Law for any Ignoramus to assert that when ever the Great Seal of England or any other is affixed to the Charters Commissions Writs Grants Feoffments Bonds Covenants Pardons of unregenerate persons they are set only unto blanks of no validity because they are not affixed to their persons Graces as well as these to their Writings objection 4 Their 4. Argument or Ground to prove the Lords Supper no Grace-effecting Soul-converting Ordinance is this The Lords Supper necessarily pre-requireth faith and repentance in all resorting to it because without these they eat and drink their own damnation Therefore it is no Soul-converting Grace-producing but only a Confirming Ordinance belonging to the regenerate alone This Objection being answered at large by my self Mr. Humfrey and Mr. Morrice I shall only retort That the hearing of the word reading prayer fasting Baptism are all unprofitable unacceptable to God and work deserve damnation only without faith and repentance as well as the Lords Supper witnes Heb. 4.2 2 Cor. 2.15,16 Mar. 16.15,16 1 Pet. 2.1 to 9. Heb. 11.4.6 Jam. 1.5 c. 5.15 Pro. 15.8 c. 28.9 Isa 1.10 to 20. chap. 66.3 Jer. 6.19,20 c. 7.21,22,23,24 Amos 5.21 to 27. Will the Objectors then conclude from thence Ergo then all prae-require true faith repentance and unregeneracy and are no Soul-converting Grace-engendring but only confirming ordinances belonging solely to real converted Saints not to any unregenerate persons No verily For as these Ordinances require not alwayes prae-require faith and repentance to make them acceptable to God and effectual to men r See Suspenfion suspended p. 35 36 37 38. so they likewise work and convey by the concurrence of Gods spirit that faith repentance Grace which is requisite to make them acceptable and effectual Isa 55.3 Gal. 3.2 Rom. 1,16,17 c. 10.13 to 19. Acts 2.37,38 c. 10.44 to 48. c. 9.11,17,18,40,41 c. 16.14,15 c. 26.17,18 John 5.21,24,25,26 Eph. 2.1 to 22. 1 Tim. 3.16 Jonah 5.3 John 2.22 c. 4.39,41 c. 7.31 c. 8.30,31,32 c. 10.41,42 c. 20.29 Acts 8.12 c. 18.8.27 c. 28.24 1 John 5.13 1 Cor. 14.24,25 And so doth the Lords Supper likewise as I shall prove anon objection 5 5. Their 5. Allegation against the converting Grace-engendring power of the Lords Supper is this * An Answer to Suspension suspended p. 24 25 26 27. That there is no one president in Scripture to prove it a Soul converting Grace-producing Ordinance Therefore it is not such I answer 1. There is no express text or president in Scripture to prove it a Seal a sealing or confirming Ordinance yet they dogmatically conclude it such as a principle not once to be questioned or disputed 2. There is no one Text president in Gods word to prove warrant the power of Ministers Presbyteries Classes Triers to examin the Lives knowledge faith Graces fitnes worthiness of Communicants before they be admitted to the Lords Supper their secluding any Churchmembers from it for ignorance scandal unpreparedness or any other incapacity not excluding them alike from all other Ordinances their peremptory refusal to administer
Church of England which resolves it ORDAINED OF CHRIST to be AN EFFECTUAL SIGN of Grace and Gods good will toward us by which HE DOTH WORK INVISIBLY IN US and doth NOT ONLY QUICKEN but also strengthen and confirm our faith Hence Cardinal Cajetan in 1 Cor. 10. and Dr. Ames as well as Bellarmin in his Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 3. c. 4. p. 43. conclude Haec autem est COMMUNIS THEOLOGORUM DOCTRINA Sacramenta CONFERRE GRATIAM vel FACIENDO UBI NON INVENIT FACTAM vel factam AUGENDO And that not only as Signa theorica ad signific andum tantum instituta sed practica ad signifiandum et EFFICIENDUM INSTITUTA as they there express themselves cap. 3. p. 29. To which Dr. Ames adds this as his own and all Protestants Opinions c. 3. p. 24. Nostrae sententia est SACRAMENTA OMNEM EFFICIENTIAM HABERE RESPECTU GRATIAE quam Signum practicum potest habere per ullam relationem non tamen efficere gratiam immediatè sed MEDIANTE SPIRITU DEI ET FIDE But of this more largely in answer to their last Objection against its converting power objection 6 Their 6. Objection is this h Mr. Drakes Boundary p. 163. An Answer to Susspension suspended p. 23 24. If the Lords Supper were a converting Ordinance then it should be administred to meer Heathens as well as the Gospel preached to them to convert them unto Christ But meer Heathens are not to be admitted to but debarred from it Therefore it is no converting Ordinance but confirming only Before I answer the Argument I must premise that there is a twofold Conversion mentioned in Scripture 1. Visible and external when i 1 Thess 1.8,9,10 Psal 22.17 Is 60.5 Acts 15.3.7.12.14.19 c. 2.41 c. 8.5 to 18. c. 6,7,8 c. 11.1.15 18. c. 18.10,11 c. 26.17 Rom. 10.14 to 21. c. 15.16.18 Eph. 2.11,12,13 c. c. 3.6 to 12. Gal. 3.1,2 c. 2.2.8 1 Cor. 12.2.28 Col. 1.26,27 1 Tim. 3.16 2 Tim. 1.10,11 c. 4.17 Mat. 28.19,20 Mar. 16.15 to 19. meer Heathens Infidels Jews Turks and Pagan Idolaters are converted from their Heatherism Idolatry Idols and Idol-Gods to the external profession only of the Gospel of Christ and visible worship service of the true and living God This kind of conversion not here controverted is originally wrought in an ordinary way only by the word preached or the sight of Miracles accompanying the word not by the Lords Supper Baptism or other publike Ordinances as the marginal Texts demonstrate 2. Invisible Spiritual k Rom. 2.28,29 1 Pet. 1.3,4 Rev. 2 17. Ezech. 36.26,27 Internal when unregenerate carnal Christians professing externally the Gospel of Christ and worshipping the only true God are effectually turned from all their sins lusts evil wayes works of darkness and the power of Satan to unfeigned repentance faith holiness newness of life love and obedience to God as well in their souls spirits as outward conversation doing works meet for repentance and what is lawfull and just both in the sight ef God and men Of which Conversion we read Ps 19.7 Ps 51.13 Isa 6.10 c. 59.20 Jer. 3.14 c. 25.5 c. 26.3 c. 31.18 c. 44.5 Lam. 3.40 c. 5.21 Ezech. 3.13 c. 14.6 c. 18.21.30.32 c. 33.11 to 20. Hos 12.6 c. 14.2 Joel 2.12,13 Jonah 3.8 Zech. 1.3 Mat. 13.15 c. 18.3 Mar. 4.12.20 John 12.40 Acts 28.27 c. 26.18,20 2 Cor. 3.16 Jam. 5 20. The first sort of these Conversions is peculiar only to meer Heathens and Idolaters never formerly professing the Gospel The second is proper to none but visible Christians living within the pale of the Church though I willingly acknowledge that meer Heathens upon the first preaching of the Gospel to them may be at the self same time both inwardly and outwardly converted unto God even before they are actually baptized or externally incorporated into the visible Church of Christ as is clear by Acts 2.37,38.41 c. 8.12 c. 10.44 c. c. 11.15,16,17,18 c. 13.47,48 c. 16.14,15.30 to 35. c. 26.18,19,20 1 Thess 1.9,10 This later Conversion of which we only dispute both may be and usuall is as properly as effectually wrought in the Souls of Christians by the Lords Supper where duly frequently constantly administred as by the word preached it being not only as apt to beget Saving faith and assurance as the naked word alone but in some respects more probable to effect them since l 1 Kings 10.6,7,8 Lu. 1.2 Acts 10.40,41 2 Pet. 1.16 Eye-witnesses Evidences are more perswasive and apter to beget belief assurance then Ear-witnesses and m Deut. 17.6 c. 19.17 Mat. 18.16 two witnesses than one alone and an Oath or Seal annexed to Promises Covenants more strong powerfull to assure resolve comfort work faith of adhaesion in our doubting spirits than naked Promises or Covenants without them Hebr. 6.17,18 Psal 89.3.33,34,35 Psal 110.4 This distinction premised I answer 1. That the sequel of the Major is false 1. Because the Lords Supper belongs not to meer unconverted Heathens and Idolaters being not instituted by Christ for such to convert them from Paganism to Christianity but only to baptized Christians and Members of the visible Church as is evident by Mat. 26.17 to 33. Mat. 14.12 to 28. Lu. 22.8 to 31. c. 24.30,31 Acts 2.41,42,46 c. 20.7.11 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.20 to the end even as the Passeover belonged to none who were uncircumcised but to the circumcised alone Exod. 12.43 to 50. and the Sacrament of Baptism was to be administred to no meer Pagans but only to such who embraced the Gospel first preached to them and professed their belief thereof before they weÌ„re actually baptized Mat. 28.19 Mat. 16.15,16 Acts 2.41,42 c. 8.12,13,36,37 c. 10.47,48 c. 16,14,15.31,32,33,34 Now the reason why neither the Lords Supper nor Baptism might be administred to meer Infidels before their embracing of the Gospel is not because they are no really converting Ordinances in the sense forementioned as I have proved the Lords Supper to be and the n See Bochellus Decr. Eccl. Gal. l. 2. Tit. 3. de Baptismo Jewels Reply to Harding p. 21. 27. 242 249 250 458. Ames Bellarm. Enervat Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 3. Fathers with others assert Baptism to be from Mat. 3.11 John 1.26 Rom. 6.34 Gal. 3.27 1 Pet. 3.21 Eph. 5. â—26 27 Tit. 3.5 but because they are badges of our Christianity to distinguish us from Pagans and all other false Religions the means signs Bonds of our actual incorporation and mystical union into the visible Church of Christ the Memorials of the death of Jesus Christ whereby we shew forth his death till be come and Evidences of our Christians Communion and mutual agreement in faith and brotherly Christian love one towards another as members of the selfsame body as 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.23,24,25,26 c. 12.12.13,14 the 25. 28 Articles of the Church of England the Harmony of Confessions Sect. 11 12 13 14 15. and all who have written of them define them to be 2ly Because there