vain janglings backbitings and strangenes among the Christians 13. It occasioneth the World to reproach us 14. It holdeth staggering consciences in doubt of the right way of the Lord. 15. It giveth Occasion to many to turn aside to most dangerous heresies 16. It abuseth the holy Scriptures It wresteth Gods ordinances out of their place 17. It is a Prop to Antichrist 18. Shall I add It is not that which greatly prevailed to bring down these judgments which at present we feel and groan under I will dare to say it was the cause thereof Tenthly and Lastly Bear with one word farther What greater contempt can be thrown upon the Saints then for their Brethren to cast them off or to debar them Church communion Think you not that the World may groundly say Some great iniquity lyes hid in the skirts of your Brethren when in truth the transgression is yet your own But I say what can the Church do more to the sinner or open prophane Civil commerce you will have with the worst and what more have you with these Perhaps you will say we can pray and Preach with these and hold them Christians Saints and Godly Well but let me ask you one word farther Do you believe that of very conscience they cannot consent as you to that of Water baptism And that if they had light therein they would as willingly do it as you Why then as I have shewed you our refusal to hold communion with them is without a ground from the word of God But can you commit your Soul to their Ministry and joyne with them in Prayer and yet not count them meet for other Gospel pâ—iviledges I would know by what Scripture you do it Perhaps you will say I commit not my Sou to their Ministry only hear them occasionally for tryall If this be all the respect thou hast for them and their Ministry thou mayest have as much for the worst that pisseth against the Wall But if thou canst hear them as Gods Ministers and sit under their Ministry as Gods ordinance then shew me where God hath such a Gospel Ministry as that the persons Ministring may not though desiring it be admitted with you to the closest communion of Saints But if thou sitest under their Ministry for fleshly politick ends thou hearest the word like an Atheist and art thy self while thou judgest thy Brother in the practise of the worst of men But I say where do you find this peicemeal communion with men that profess Faith and Holyness as you and separation from the World If you object that my Principles lead me to have communion with all I answer with all as afore described if they will have communion with me Object Then you may have communion with the members of Antichrist Answ. If there be a visible Saint yet remaining in that Church let him come to us and we will have communion with him Quest What! Though he yet stand a member of that sinfull number and profess himself one of them Answ. You suppose an impossibility For it cannot be that at the same time a man should visibly stand a member of two bodys diametrically opposite one to another Wherefore it must be supposed that he who professeth himself a member of a Church of Christ must forthwith nay before forsake the Antichristian one The which if he refuseth to do it is evident he doth not sincerely desire to have fellowship with the Saints But he saith he cannot see that that company to which you stand opposite and conclude Antichristian is indeed the Antichristian Church If so he cannot desire to joyn with another if he know them to be professedly and directly opposite I hold therefore to what I said at first That if there be any Saints in the Antichristian Church my heart and the door of our Congregation is open to receive them into closest fellowship with us Object But how if they yet retain some Antichristian principles Answ. If they be such as eat out the bowels of a Church so soon as they are detected he must be either be kept out while out or cast out if in For it must be the prudence of every community to preserve its own unity with peace and truth The which the Churches of Christ may do and yet as I have shewed already receive such persons as differ upon the point of Water-baptism For the doing or not doing of that neither maketh nor marreth the bowels or foundation of Church communion Object But this is receiving for opinion sake as before you said of us Answ. No We receive him for the sake of Christ and grace and for our mutual edification in the Faith and that we respect not opinions I mean in lesser matters 't is evident for things wherein we differ are no breach of communion among us We let every man have his own Faith in such things to himself before God I now come to a short Application I Keep a strict separation I pray you from communion with the open prophane and let no man use his liberty in Church relation as an occasion to the flesh but in Love serve one another Looking diligently least any root of bitterness any poisonfull herb Deut. 29.18 springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled And let those that before were reasons for my separation be motives to you maintain the like and remember that when men have said what they can for a sinfull mixture in the worship of God the arm of the Lord is made bare against it 2. In the midst of your zeal for the Lord remember that the visible Saint is his and is priviledged in all those spiritual things that you have in the word and live in the practise of and that he is to partake thereof according to his light therein Quarrel not with him about things that are circumstantial but receive him in the Lord as becometh Saints if he will not have communion with you the neglect is his not yours But saith the open prophane Why cannot we be reckoned Saints also We have been Christened we go to Church we take the Communion Poor People This will not do for so long as in Life and Conversation you appear to be open prophane we cannot unless we sin receive you into our fellowship For by your ungodly lives you shew that you know not Christ and while you are such by the word you are reputed but Beasts Now then judge your selves if it be not a strange community that consisteth of men and Beasts Let Beasts be with the Beasts you know your selves do so you receive not your Horse nor your Hog to your Table you put them in a room by themselves Besides I have shewed you before that for many reasons we cannot have communion with you 1. The Church of God must be Holy Lev. 11.44 chap 19 2. chap. 20.7 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Isa. 26.2 Psa. 128.20 Ezek. 43.12 chap. 44. 9. Isa. 52.11 2. The example of the Churches of Christ before hath been a community of visible Saints Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 Eph. 1.1 2. Col. 1.1 1 Thes. 1.1 2. 2 Thes. 1.1 Poor carnal man there are many other reasons urged in this little book that shew why we cannot have communion with thee Not that we refuse of pride or stoutness or because we scorn you as men No we pity you and pray to God for you and could if you were converted with joy receive you to fellowship with us Did you never read in Daniel That Iron is not mixed with miry Clay Dan. 2.43 No more can the Saints with you in the worship of God and fellowship of the Gospel When those you read of in the fourth of Ezra attempted to joyn in Temple work with the children of the captivity what said the children of Judah you have nothing to do with us to build an house to the Lord our God but we our selves together will build unto the Lord God of Israel c. Ezra 4 1 2 3. I return now to those that are visible Saints by Calling that stand at a distance one from another upon the accounts before specifyed Brethren Close Close Be one as the Father and Christ is one 1. This the way to convince the World that you are Christs and the Subjects of one Lord whereas the contrary makes them doubt it Joh. 13.34 35. Joh. 17.23 2. This is the way to increase Love that Grace so much desired by some and so little enjoyned by others 2 Cor. 7.14 15. 3. This is the way to favour and taste the Spirit of God in each others experience for which if you find it in truth you cannot but bless if you be Saints the name our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 1.2 3 4. 4. This is the way to increase knowledge or to see more in the word of God for that may be known by two that is not seen by one Isa. 52.8 5. This is the way to remove secret jealousies and murmurings one against the other yea this is the way to prevent much sin and greatly to frustrate that design of hell Prov. 6.16 17 18 19. 6. This is the way to bring them out of the World into fellowship that now stand off from our Gospel priviledges for the sake of our vain janglings 7. This is the way to make Antichrist shake totter and tumble Isa 11.13 14. 8. This is the way to leave Babylon as an habitation for Divels only and to make it an hold for soul Spirits and a cage only for every unclean and hatefull bird 9. This is the way to hasten the work of Christs Kingdom in the World and to forward his coming to the eternal judgment 10. And this is the way to obtain much of that Well done Good and Faithfull Servant when you stand before his face I beseech you Brethren suffer the word of exhortation for I have written a Letter unto you in few words Heb 13.22 FINIS Of justification Of Râ—pentance Of Love Saul was in Antioch before but being brought into suspicion by false Apostles he had need of a new commendation The Strongest may sometimes be out of the way
is not a visible Saint Now he that is visibly or openly prophane cannot be then a visible Saint for he that is a visible Saint must profess faith and repentance and consequently holyness of life And with none else dare I communicate First Because God himself hath so strictly put the difference both by word and deed For from the beginning he did not only put a difference between the Seed of the woman and the children of the wicked onely the instinct of grace and change of the mind as his own but did cast out from his presence the father of all the ungodly even cursed Cain when he shewed himself open prophane and banished him to go into the Land of the Runnagate or Vagabond where from Gods face and so the priviledges of the communion of Saints he was ever after hid Gen. 3.15 chap. 4 9 10.14 15 16. Besides when after this through the policy of Satan the children of Cain and the seed of Seth did commix themselves in worship and by that means had corrupted the way of God what followed but first God judged it wickedness raised up Noah to preach against it and after that because they would not be reclaimed he brought the floud upon the whole world of these ungodly and saved onely Noah alive because he had kept himself righteous Gen. 6.1 2 v. 3.11 1â— 13. Here I could inlarge abundantly and add many more instances of alike nature but I am here onely for a truth upon things Secondly Because it is so often commanded in the Scriptures That all the congregation should be holy I am the Lord your God ye shall therefore sanctifie your selves and ye shall be holy for I am holy Ye shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy Sanctifie your selves therefore and be ye holy for I am the Lord your God Besides 1. The Gates of the temple were to be shut against all other Open ye the gates that the righteous nation that keepeth the truth may enter in This Gate of the Lord into which the righteous shall enter Thus saith the Lord no stranger uncircumcised in heart or uncircumcised in flesh shall enter into my sanctuary of any stranger which is amongst the children of Israel 2. Because the things of worship are holy Be ye holy that bear the vessels of the Lord. 3. Because all the limits and bounds of communion are holy This is the law of the house upon the top of the mountain the whole limit thereof shall be most holy Behold this is the Law of the house Lev. 11.44 chap. 19.2 chap. 20.7 1 Pet. 1.15 16. Esa. 26.2 Psa. 128.20 Eze. 43.12 chap. 44.9 Esa. 52.11 Thirdly I dare not have communion with them Because the example of new testament churches before us have been a community of visible Saints Paul to the Romanes writes thus To all that are at Rome beloved of God called to be Saints And to the rest of the Churches thus Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints To the Saints that are at Ephesus and to the faithfull in Christ Jesus To all the Saints that are at Philippi with the Bishops and Deacons To the Saints and faithfull brethren which are at Colosse To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ c. Thus you see under what denomination those persons went of old who were counted worthy to be members of a visible Church of Christ. Rom. 1 7. 1 Cor. 1 2. Eph. 1.1 Col. 1.2 Phil 1.1 1 Thes. 1.1 Besides the members of such Churches go under such characters as these 1. The called of Christ Jesus Rom. 1.6 2. Men that have drank into the spirit of Jesus Christ. 1 Cor. 12.13 3. Persons in whom was God the Father Eph. 4 6. 4. They were all made partakers of the joy of the Gospell Phil. 1 7. 5. Persons that were circumcised inwardly Col. 2.11 6. Persons that turned to God from Idols to serve the living and true God 1 Thes. 1.4 7. Those that were the body of Christ and members in particulars that is those that were visibly such because they made profession of faith of holyness of repentance of love to Christ and of self denyal at their receiving into fellowship Fourthly I dare not hold communion with the open prophane 1. Because it is promised to the Church that she shall dwell by her self that is as she is a Church and spiritual Lo the people shall dwell a-alone and shall not be reckoned among the nations Num. 23 9. 2. Because this is their priviledge But ye are a chosen generation a royall priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Pet. 1.9 10 3. Because this is the fruit of the death of Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem as from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works Tit. 3.14 4. Because this is the Commandment Save your selves from the untoward generation Act 2 40 5. Because with such it is not possible we should have true and spiritual communion Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness And what communion hath light with darkness And what concord hath Christ with Belial Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidell Or what agreement hath the temple of God with Idols For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore Come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you and I will be a Father unto you saith the Lord Almighty 2 Cor. 6 14 18. Fifthly I dare not hold communion with the open prophane 1. Because this would be plowing with on Ox and an Ass together heavenly things suit best for communion in heavenly matters Deut 22.10 2. It subjecteth not the nature of our discipline which is not forced but free in a professed subjection to the will and commandment of Christ others being excluded by God's own prohibition Levit. 1.3 Rom. 6.17 2 Cor. 8 12. chap. 9 7.13 chap. 8.5 Paul also when he exhorteth Timothy to follow after righteousness Faith Charity Peace c. which are the bowels of Church communion he saith do it with those that call on the name of the Lord out of a pure heart 2 Tim. 2 22. Sithly In a word to hold communion with the open prophane is most pernicious and destructive 1 'T was the wicked multitude that fell a lusting and that tempted Christ in the desert Num. 11.4 2 It was the prophane heathen of whom Israel learned to worship Idols They were mingled among the heathen and learned their works
himself for attempting to make his child a member without it Note again that as it admitteth of none to membership without it so as I said the very act of circumcising them without the addition of another Church act gave them a being of membership with that very Church by whom they were circumcised Exo. 4.24 25 26. But none of this can be said of Baptism First there is none debarred or threatned to be cutoff from the Church if they be not first baptized Secondly neither doth it give to the person baptized a being of membership with this or that Church by whose members he hath been baptized John gathered no particular Church yet was he the first and great baptizer with water he preached Christ to come and baptized with the baptism of repentance and left his Disciples to be gathered by him Acts 19.3 4 5. And to him shall the gathering of the people be Gen 49.10 Besides after Christs ascension Phillip baptized the Eunuch but made him by that no member of any particular Church We onely read that Phillip was caught away from him and that the Eunuch saw him no more but went on his way rejoycing to his Masters and countrey of Ethiopia Acts 8.35.40 Neither was Cornelius made a member of the Church at Jerusalem by his being baptized at Peters commandment at Caesarea Acts 10. chap. 11. Neither were they that were converted at Antioch by them that were scattered from the Church at Jerusalem by their baptism if they were baptized at all joyned to the Church at Jerusalem Acts 11.19 No they were after gathered and imbodyed among themselves by other Church acts Acts 16. What shall I say Into what particular Church was Lydia baptized by Paul or those first converts at Philippi Yea even in the second of the Acts Baptizing and adding to the Church appear to be acts distinct but if Baptism were the initiating ordinance then was he that we Baptized made a member made a member of a particular Church by the very Act of water baptism Neither ought any by Gods ordinance to have Baptized any but with respect to the admitting them by that Act to a being of membership in this particular Church For if it be the initiating ordinance it entereth them into the Church What Church Into a visible Church Now there is no Church visible but that which is particular The Universal being utterly invisible and known to none but God The person then that is baptized stands by that a member of no Church at all neither of the visible nor yet of the invisible A visible Saint he is but not made so by Baptism for he must be a visible Saint before else he ought not to be baptized Acts 8.37 Acts 9.17 Acts 16.33 Take it again Baptism makes thee no member of the Church neither particular nor universall neither doth it make thee a visible Saint It therefore gives thee neither right to nor being of membership at all Quest. But why then were they Baptized Answ. That their own Faith by that figure might be strengthened in the death and resurrection of Christ. And that themselves might see that they have professed themselves dead and buryed and risen with him to newness of life It did not seal to the Church that they were so their satisfaction as to that arose from better arguments but taught the party himself that he ought so to be Farther It confirmed to his own conscience the forgiveness of sins if by unfeigned faith he laid hold upon Jesus Christ. Col. 2.12 Rom. 6.3 4. Gal. 3.26 1 Cor. 15.29 Acts 2.38 Acts 22.16 1 Pet. 3.21 Now then if Baptism be not the initiating ordinance we must seek for entring some other way by some other appointment of Christ unless we will say that without rule without order and without an appointment of Christ we may enter into his visible Kingdom The Church under the Law had their initiating and entering ordinance it must therefore be unless we should think that Moses was more punctual and exact then Christ but that also our Lord hath his entering appointment Now that which by Christ is made the door of enterance into the Church by that we may doubtless enter and seeing Baptism is not that ordinance we ought not to seek to enter thereby but may with good conscience enter without it Quest. But by what rule then would you gather persons into church-Church-communion Answ. Even by that rule by which they are discovered to the Church to be visible Saints and willing to be gathered into their body and fellowship By that word of God therefore by which their Faith experience and conversation being examined is found Good by that the Church should receive them into fellowship with them Marke Not as they practise things that are circumstantial but as their faith is commended by a word of faith and their conversation by a moral precept Wherefore that is observable that after Paul had declared himself sound of faith he falls down to the body of the Law Receive us saith he we have wronged no man we have corrupted no man we have defrauded no man he saith not I am baptized but I have wronged no man c. 2 Cor. 5.18 19 20 21. chap. 7.2 And if Churches after the confession of faith made more use of the ten commandments to judge of the fitness of persons by they might not exceed by this seeming strictness christian tenderness towards them they receive to communion I will say therefore that by the word of faith and of good works moral duties Gospellized we ought to judge of the fitness of members by by which we ought also to receive them to fellowship Eor he that in these things proveth sound he hath the antitype of circumsion which was before the entering ordinance For he is not a Jew which is one outwardly neither is that circumsion which is outward in the flesh But he is a Jew which is one inwardly and circumcision is that of the heart in the spirit whose praise is not of men but of God Rom. 2.28 29. Phil. 3.1.2 3 4. Now a confession of this by word and life makes this inward circumsion visible When you know him therefore to be thus circumcised you ought to admit him to the Lords passover he if any hath a share not onely in Church communion but a visible right to the Kingdom of Heaven Again For the Kingdom of God or our Service to Christ consisteth not in meats or drinks but in righteousness peace and joy in the holy Ghost And he that in these things serveth Christ is accepted of God and approved of men Rom. 14 18. Deut. 23.47 By which word righteousness he meaneth as Iames doth the royal Law the perfect Law which is the moral precept Evangelized or delivered to us by the hand of Christ. James 2.8 9. The Law was given twice on Sinai The last time it was given with a proclamation of grace and mercy of God and of the pardon of sins
faith and holyness in us are the delightfull objects of this love Psa. 119.47 127.159 Psa. 5 11 and 69.36 and 1â—9 132 and 101.6 For it imbraceth with delight and complacency but as it discerneth the image of God and of Christ in the Soul his presence in the ministery and a suitableness in our worship to the word and mind of Christ. Psa. 26.8 and 27.4 and 84.1 4. 1 Thes. 5.13 Phil. 1.3 7. Eph. 4.32 Love also hath a blessed faculty and heavenly in bearing and suffering afflictions putting up wrongs overlooking the infirmities of the brethren and in serving in all Christian offices the necessities of the Saints Charity suffereth long and is kind charity envyeth not charity vaunteth not it self is not puffed up doth not behave it self unseemly seeketh not her own is not easily provoked thinketh no evil rejoyceth not in iniquity but rejoyceth in the truth heareth all things believeth all things hopeth all things endureth all things charity never faileth 1 Cor 13. 1 Pet. 4.8 Gal. 5.13 In a word it designeth a holy conversation in this world that God and Christ and the word of may be glorified thereby 2 Cor. 11.10 11 12 1 Pet. 1.12 chap. 3.16 Of the Scriptures TOuching which word of God I thus believe and confess 1. That all the holy scriptures are the words of God All scriptures is given by inspiration of God For the prophecy of the scripture came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God speak as they were moved by the holy Ghost 2 Tim. 3 16. 2 Pet. 1.21 2 I believe that the holy scriptures of themselves without the addition of humane inventions are able to make the man of God perfect in all things and throughly to furnish him unto all good works They are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith in Jesus Christ and to thee in all other things that either respect the worship of God or thy walking before all men 2 Tim. 3.14.17 2 Pet. 1.19 20 21. 3. I believe the great end why God committed the Scriptures to writing was that we might be instructed to Christ taught how to believe encouraged to patience and hope for the grace that is to be brought unto us at the revelation of Jesus Christ also that we might understand what is sin and how to avoid the commission thereof Joh. 20.31 1 Joh. 5 13. Rom. 15.4 Concerning the works of men said David by the word of thy lips I have kept me from the pathes of the destroyer Through thy precepts I get understanding therefore I hate every false way I have hid thy word in my heart that I might not sin against thee Psa. 17.4 and 119.104 v. 11. 4. I believe that they cannot be broken but will certainly be fulfilled in all the prophecies threatnings and promises either to the salvation or damnation of men They are like that flying roll that will go over all the earth to cut off and curse In them is contained also the blessing they preach to us also the way of salvation Take heed therefore lest that come upon you which is written in the prophets Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish For I work a work in your dayes a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you Gal 3.8 Acts 13.40 41. Joh. 10 35. chap. 12.37.41 chap. 3.17 18 19. Zach. 5.2.3 4. 5. I believe Jesus Christ by the word of the scriptures will judge all men at the day of doom For that is the book of the Law of the Lord according to Pauls Gospel Joh. 12.41 49. Rom 2.16 6 I believe that this God made the world and all things that are therein for in Six dayes the Lord made Heaven and Earth the Sea and all that in them is also that after the time of the making thereof be disposed of it to the children of men with a preserve thereof for the children of God that should in all ages be born thereunto When the most high divided to the nations their inheritance when he separated the Sons of Adam he set the bounds of the people according to the number of the children of Israel for as he made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell upon the face of the earth so he hath determined the times before appointed and the bounds of their habitation Acts 17 24 Exo 24 19 Deu 32 8 Acts 17 26. Of Magistracy I believe that Magistracy is Gods ordinance which he hath appointed for the government of the whole world And that it is a judgment of God to be without those ministers of God which he hath ordained to put wickedness to shame Judg 18.7 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power resisteth the ordinance of God and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation For rulers are not a terror to good works but to the evil Wilt thou not then be afraid of the power do that which is Good and thou shalt have praise of the same For he is the minister of God to thee for good But if thou do that which is evill be afraid for he beareth not the sword in vain For he is the minister of God a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil Wherefore ye must needs be subject not onely for wrath but also for conscience sake For this cause pay ye tribute also for they are Gods ministers attending continually unto this very thing Rom. 13. Many are the mercyes we receive by a well qualified Magistrate and if any shall at any time be otherwise inclined let us shew ovr christianity in a patient suffering for well doing what it shall please God to inflict by them A reason of my Practise in Worship HAving thus made confession of my Faith I now come to shew you my practise in Worship with the reasons thereof The which I shall have occasion to touch under two distinct heads 1 With whom I dare not hold communion 2. With whom I dare Only first Note that by the word Communion I mean fellowship in the things of the Kingdom of Christ or that which is commonly called Church communion the Communion of Saints For in civil affairs and in things of this World that are honest I am not altogether tyed up from the fornicators thereof Cor. 5 9 10 Wherefore in my following discourse understand me in the first sense Now Then I dare not have communion with them that profess not faith and holiness or that are not visible Saints by calling but note that by this assertion I meddle not with the elect but as he is a visible Saint by calling neither do I exclude the secret Hypocrite if he be hid from me by visible Saint ship Wherefore I dare not have communion with men from a single supposition that they may be elect neither dare I exclude the other from a single supposing that he may be a secret Hypocrite I meddle not here with these things I onely exclude him that
and served their Idols which were a snare to them Psa. 106.25 26 27 3 It is the mingled people that God hath threatned to plague with those deadly punishments of his with which he hath threatned to punish Babylon it self saying When a sword is upon her Glyars her mighty her chariots and treasures a sword also shall be upon the mingled people that are in the middest of her And no marvail for 1 Mixed communion polluteth the ordinances of God Say to the rebells saith the Lord God Let it suffice you of all your abominations that you have brought into my san uary strangers uncircumcised in heart and uncircumcised in flesh to be in my sanctuary to pollute it even my house when ye offered my bread and the fat and the blood And they have broken my Covenant because of all their abominations Eze. 44.6 7 8. 2. It violateth the law her priests have violated my Law and prophaned my holy things how they have put no difference between the holy and prophane neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean Eze. 22.6 3 It prophaneth the holyness of God Judah hath dealt treacherously and an abomination is committed in Israel and Jerusalem For Judah hath prophaned the holyness of thâ— Lord which he loved and hath married the daughter of a strange God Mal. 2 11. 4. It defileth the truly Gracious Know ye not that a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump Look diligently therefore lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you and thereby many be defiled 1 Cor. 5 6 Heb. 12 15 16. Lastly To conclude as I said before it provoketh God to punish with severe judgments And therefore heed well 1. As I said before The drowning of the whole world was occasioned by the sons of God commixing themselves with the daughters of men and the corruption of worship that followed thereupon Gen. 6 and 7 chapters 2 He sent a plague upon the children of Israel for joyning themselves unto the people of Moab and for following their abominations in worship And let no man think that now I have altered the state of the question for it is all one with the Church to Communicate with the prophane and to sacrifice and offer their gifts to the Divel the reason is because such have by their sin forsaken the protection of heaven and are given up to their own heart-lusts and left to be overcome of the wicked to whom they have joyned their selves Num 25 1 2 3 4 5. Jos 22 17 Deut 32 16 19 Psa. 106 30 40 Deut 12 Deut 7 1 2 6 Neh 1â— 26. Joyn not your selves saith God to the wicked neither in religion nor marriages for they will turn away thy son from following me that they may serve other Gods so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you and destroy thee suddainly Did not Solomon King of Israel sin by these things ye among many nations was there no King like him who was beloved of his God Hear how Paul handleth the point This I say saith he That the things which the Gentiles or openly prophane sacrifice they sacrifice to Devils and not to God And I would not that you should have fellowship with Divels Ye cannot drink of the Cup of the Lord and the cup of Divels Ye cannot be partakers of the table of the Lord of the table of Divels Do we provoke the Lord to jealousie Are we stronger then he 1 Cor. 10 21 22 23. I conclude that therefore it is an evil a dangerous thing to hold church-Church-communion with the open prophane and ungodly It polluteth his ordinances It violateth his Law It prophaneth his holyness It defileth his people and provoketh the Lord to severe and terrible judgments Object But we can prove in all ages there have been the open prophane in the Church of God Answ. In many ages indeed it hath been so but marke they appeared not such when first they were received unto Communion neither was they with Gods liking as such to be retained among them but in order to their admonition repentance and amendment of life of which if they failed God presently threatned the Church and either cut them off from the Church as he did the Idolaters Fornicators murmurers Tempters Sabbath-breakers with Korah Dathan Achan and others or else cut of them with the Church and all as he served the ten tribes at one time and the two tribes at another My God shall cast them away because they did not hearken to him and they shall be wanderers among the nations Exod 1â— 48. 2 Cor. 6 1 Cor. 5.4 5 10.12 13. Exo. 32 25. Numb 25. 1 9. chap. 21. 5â—6 chap. 1.4 37. chap. 16. chap. 15 32 36. Josh 72 Kin. 17. Ezek. 22. chap 23. Hos 9.17 Neh 13.1 2 3 I might here greatly enlarge but I only intend brevity yet let me tell you that when Nehemiah understood by the book of the Law of the Lord that the Ammonite and the Moabite should not come into the congregation of God they separated from Israel all the mixed multitude Many have pleaded for the prophane that they should abide in the Church of God but such have not considered that Gods wrath at all times hath with great indignation hath been shewed against such offenders and their conceits Indeed they like not for to plead for them under that notion but rather as Korah and his company All the congregation is holy every one of them Num. 16 3. But it maketh no matter by what name they are called if by their deeds they shew themselves openly wicked for names and notions sanctify not the heart and nature they make not vertues of vice neither can it save such advocates from the heavy curse both of God and Men. The righteous men they shall judge them after the manner of adulteresses and after the manner of women that shed-blood because they are adulteresses and blood is in their hands Pro. 17.15 chap. 24 24. Eze. 23.45 Thus have I shewed you with whom I dare not have communion And now to shew you with whom I dare But in order thereto I desire you first to take notice That touching shaddowish or figurative ordinances I believe that Christ hath ordained but two in his Church viz. Water baptism and the Supper of the Lord both which are of excellent use to the Church in this world they being to us representations of the death and resurrection of Christ and are as God shall make them helps to our faith therein But I count them not the fundamentals of our Christianity nor grounds or rule to communion with Saints servants they are and our mystical Ministers to teach and instruct us in the most weighty matters of the Kingdom of God I therefore here declare my reverent esteem of them yet dare not remove them as some do from the place and end where by God they are set and appointed nor ascribe unto them more then they were ordered to
have in their first and primitive institution T is possible to commit Idolatry even with Gods own appointments But I pass this and come to the thing propounded Secondly then I dare have communion Church communion with those that are visible Saints by calling with those that by the word of the Gospell have been brought over to faith and holyness And it maketh no matter to me what their life was heretofore if they now be washed if they be sanctified if they â—e justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 6.9 10 11. Now in order to the discovery of this faith and holyness and so to fellowship in Church communion I hold it requisite that a faithful relation be made thereof by the party thus to be received yea if need be by witnesses also for the satisfaction of the church that she may receive in faith and judgment such as best shall suit her holy profession Acts 9.26 27 28. 1 Cor. 16.10 2 Cor. 8.23 Observe it these Texts do respect extraordinary officers and yet see that in order to their reception by the Church there was made to them a faithfull relation of the faith and holyness of these very persons For no man may intrude himself upon or thrust himself upon or thrust himself into a Church of Christ without the Church have first the knowledge and liking of the person to be received If otherwise there is a door opened for all the hereticks in the world yea for Divels also if they appear in humane shapes But Paul shews you the manner of receiving by pleading after some disgrace thrown upon him by the false Apostles for his own admission of his companions Receive us saith he we have wronged no man we have defrauded no man we have corrupted no man and so concerning Timothy If Timothy come saith he see that he may be with you without fear for he worketh the work of the Lord as I also do 2 Cor. 7.2 1 Cor 16 10. Also when Paul supposed that Titus might be suspected by some see how he pleades for him If any do enquire of Titus he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you or our brethren be enquired of they are the messengers of the Churches and the glory of Christ. 2 Cor. 8.23 Phaebe also when she was to be received by the Church at Rome see how he speaketh in her behalf I commend unto you Phaebe our sister which is a servant of the Church which is at Ceuchrea that ye receive her in the Lord as becometh Saints and that you assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you for she hath been a succourer of many and of my self also Rom. 16.1 2 Yea when the Apostles and brethren sent their Epistles from Jerusalem to Antioch under what characters do those go that were the messengers to them It seemed good unto the holy Ghost and to us to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Saul men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ c. Acts 15.25 26 27. Now though the occasion upon which these commendations were written were not simply or onely in order to Church relation but also for other causes yet because the persons concerned were of the Churches to be received as faithfull and such who would partake of Church priviledges with them they have therefore their faith and faithfulness relate to the Churches as those that were particularly imbodyed there Besides Timothy and Titus being extrordinary officers stood as members and officers in every Church where they were received Likewise Barnabas and Saul Judas and Silas abode as members and officers there where they were sent 'T was requisite therefore that the Letters of recommendation should be in substance the same with that relation that ought to be made to the Church by or for the person that is to be imbodyed there But to return I dare have communion church-Church-communion with those that are visible Saints by calling Quest. But by what rule would you receive him into fellowship with your selves Answ Even by a discovery of their faith and holyness and their declaration of willingness to subject themselves to the laws and government of Christ in his Church Quest. But do you not count that by water-baptism and not otherwise that being the initiating and entering ordinance they ought to be received into felowship Answ. No But tarry and take my sense with my word For herein lyes the mistake To think that because in time past Baptism was administred upon conversion that therefore it is the initiating and entring ordinance into Church-communion when by the word no such thing is testifyed of it Besides that it is not so will be manifest if we consider the nature and power of such an ordinance That ordinance then that is the initiating or entering ordinance as before Doth give to them that partake thereof aright to and a being of membership with that particular Church by which it is administred I say a right to and a being of membership without the addition of another Church-Act This is evident by the Law of circumcision which was the initiating Law of old For by the administration of that very ordinance the partaker thereof was forthwith member of that congregation without the addition of another Church-act Gen. 17. This is declared in its first institution and therefore it is called the token of the Covenant The token or sign of righteousness of Abrahams Faith and of the visible membership of those that joyned themselves to the Church with him the very inlet into Church-communion that gave a being of membership among them And thus Moses himself expounds it Every Man-servant saith he that is bought with money when thou hast circumcised him he shall eat of the passover without the addition of another Church-act to impower him there unto his circumcision hath already given him a being there and so a right to and priviledge in the blessing of Church-relation A Forreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof because not circumcised but when a stranger that sojourneth with thee will keep the Passover to the Lord let all his males be circumcised and then let him come near and keep it for then he is one of the Church and he shall be as one born in the Laad for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof Exo. 12.43 45 46 47 48 49. Neither could any other thing according to the Law of Circumcision give the devoutest person that breathed a being of membership with them He that is born in thine house he that is bought with thy money must needs be circumcised the uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not câ—rcumcised that Soul shall becut off from his people Gen. 17.13 14. Note then that that which is the initiating ordinance admitteth none into church-Church-communion but those that first partake thereof The Angel sought to kill Moses
Secondly and observe it One Spirit one Hope one Lord one Faith one Baptism not of Water for by one Spirit are we all Baptized into one body one God and Father of all who is above all and through all and in you all is a sufficient rule for us to hold communion by also to endeavour the maintaining that communion and to keep it in unity within the bond of peace against all attempts what soever Eph. 4.1 6. 1 Cor. 12.16 Thirdly I am bold therefore to have communion with such Heb. 6.2 Because they also have the doctrin of Baptisms I say the doctrins of them For here you must note I distinguish between the doctrin and practise of Water-baptism The Doctrin being that which by the outward sign is presented to us or which by the outward circumstance of the act is preached to the believer viz. The death of Christ My death with Christ also his resurrection from the Dead and mine with him to newness of life This is the doctrin which Baptism preacheth or that which by the outward action is signifyed to the believing receiver Now I say he that believeth in Jesus Christ that richer and better then that viz. is dead to sin and that lives to God by him he hath the heart power and doctrine of Baptism all then that he wanteth is but the sign the shadow or the outward circumstance thereof Nor yet is that despised but forborn for want of light The best of Baptisms he hath he is Baptized by that one spirit he hath the heart of Water-baptism he wanteth only the outward shew which if he had would not prove him a truly visible Saint it would not tell me he had grace in his heart It is no Characteristical note to another of my Sonship with God Indeed 't is a sign to the person Baptized and an help to his own Faith he should know by that circumstance that he hath received remission of sins if his Faith be as true as his being Baptized is felt by him But if for want of light he partake not of that sign his Faith can see it in other things exceeding great and precious promises Yea as I also have hinted already if he appear not a Brother before he appeareth not a Brother by that And those that shall content themselves to make that the note of visible Church-membership I doubt make things not much better the note of their sonship with God Fourthly I am bold to hold communion with visible Saints as afore because God hath communion with them whose example in the case we are streightly commanded to follow Receive you one another as Christ Jesus hath received you saith Paul to the glory of God Rom. 15.1 6. Yea though they be Saints o opinions contrary to you though it goeth against the mind of them that are strong We that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves What infirmityes Those that are natural are incident to all they are infirmityes then that are sinfull that cause a man for want of light to erre in circumstantials And the reason upon which he ground this admonition is that Christ pleased not himself but as it is written the reproaches of them that reproached thee have fallen upon me You say to have communion with such weak brethren reproacheth your opinions and practise Grant it your dulness and deadness and imperfections also reproach the holyness of God If you say no for Christ hath born our sins The answer is still the same Their sins also are fallen upon Christ He then that hath taken away thy sins from before the throne of God hath taken away their shortness in conformity to an outward circumstance in religion Both your infirmityes are fallen upon Christ yea if notwithstanding thy great sins thou standest by Christ compleat before the Throne of God why may not thy Brother notwithstanding his little ones stand compleat before thee in the Church Vain man Think not by the streightness of thine order in outward and bodily conformity to outward and shadowish circumstances that thy peace is maintained with God for peace with God is by Faith in the blood of his cross who hath born the reproaches of you both Wherefore he that hath communion with God for Christs sake is as good and as worthy of the communion of Saints as thy self He erreth in a circumstance thou errest in a substance who must bear these errors Upon whom must these reproaches fall Phil. 1.10 Some of the things of God that are excellent have not been approved by some of the Saints What then Must these for this be cast out of the Church No these reproaches by which the wisedom of heaven is reproached have falâ—en upon me saith Christ. But to return God hath received him Christ hath received him therefore do you receive him There is more solidity in this argument then if all the Churches of God had received him This receiving then because it is set an example to the Church is such as must needs be visible to them and it best described by that word which discovereth the visible Saint Who so therefore you can by the word judge a visible Saint one that walketh with God you may judge by the self same word that God hath received him Now him that God receiveth and holdeth communion with him you should receive and hold communion with Will any say we cannot believe that God hath received any but such as are Baptized I will not suppose a Brother so stupifyed and therefore to that I will not answer Receive him to the Glory of God To the Glory of God is put in on purpose to shew what dishonour they bring to God who despise to have communion with them who yet they know have communion with God For how doth this man or that Church glorify God or count the wisdom and holyness of heaven beyond them when they refuse communion with them concerning whom they are by the word convinced that they have communion with God Now the God of patience and consolation grant you to be like minded one towards another according to Christ Jesus Rom. 15.5 By this word Patience Paul insinuateth how many imperfections the choycest Christians do mingle their best performances with And by this of consolation how readily God overlooks passeth by them and comforteth you notwithstanding Now that this mind should be in Christians one to another is manifest bcause Paul praies that it might be so But this is an heavenly gift and therefore must be fetched from thence But let the patience of God and the willingness of Christ to bear the reproaches of the weak and the consolations that they have in God notwithstanding moderate your passions and put you upon prayer to be minded like Jesus Christ. Fifthly Because a failure in such a circumstatce as Water doth not unchristian us This must needs be granted not onely from what was said before but for that thousands
flow is carnall and thy actions discoveries of childishness But doubtless when these contentions were among the Corinthians and one man vilifyed that another might be promoted a lift with a carnall Brother was thought great wisedom to widen the breach But why should he be rebuked that said he was for Christ because he was for him in opposition to his holy Apostles Hence he saith Is Christ divided or separate from his servants Note therefore that these divisions are deserted by the persons the divisions were made about Neither Paul nor Apollo nor Cephas nor Christ is here Let the cry be never so loud Christ order the rule the command or the like Carnality is but the bottom and they are but babes that do it their zeal is but a puffe 1 Cor 4.6 And observe it the great division at Corinth was helped forward by Water-baptism This the Apostle intimates by Were ye Baptized in the name of Paul Ah Brethren Carnall Christians with outward circumstances will if they be let alone make sad work in the Churches of Christ against the spiritual growth of the same But I thank God saith Paul that I Baptized none of you c. Not but that it was then an ordinance of God but they abused it in making parties thereby I Baptized none of you but Crispus and Gaius and the houshold of Stephanus men of note among the Brethren men of good judgement and reverenced by the rest they can tell you I intended not to make a party to my self thereby Besides I know not whether I Baptized any other By this negligent relating who were Baptized by him he sheweth that he made no such matter of Baptism as some in these dayes do nay that he made no matter at all thereof with respect to Church-communion for if he did not heed who himself had Baptized he much less heeded who were Baptized by others but if Baptism had been the initiating or entering ordinance and so appointed of God no doubt he had made more conscience thereof then so lightly to pass it over For Christ sent me not to Baptize but to Preach the Gospel The Gospel then may be effectually preached and yet Baptism neither administred nor mentioned The Gospel being good tidings to sinners upon the account of free grace through Christ but Baptism with things of like nature are dutyes injoyned such a people who received the Gospel before I speak not this because I would teach men to break the least of the Commandments of God but to perswade my brethren of the Baptized way not to hold too much thereupon not to make it an essential of the Gospel of Christ nor yet of communion of Saints He sent me not to Baptize These words are spoken with holy indignation against them that abuse this ordinance of Christ. So when he speaketh of the Ministers themselves which also they had abused in his speaking he as it were trampleth upon them as if they were nothing at all Who then is Paul and who is Apollo He that planteth is not any thing neither is he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 1 Cor. 3.5 7. Yet for all this the Ministers and their ministry are a glorious appointment of God in the World Baptisme also is a holy ordinance but when Sathan abuseth it and wrencheth it out of its place making that which was ordained of God for the edification of believers the only weapon to break in pieces the love the unity the concord of Saints then what is Baptism then neither is Baptism any thing And this is no new doctrine For God by the mouth of his Prophets of old cryed out against his own institutions when abused by his people To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices to me saith the Lord I am full of burnt offerings of rams and the fat of fed Beasts I delight not in the blood of Bullocks or of Lambs or of he Goats When you come to appear before me Who hath required these things at your hands to tread my Courts Bring no more vain oblations incense is an abominatien to me The new Moons and the Sabbaths and the calling of assemblyes I cannot away with it is iniquiâ—y even the solemn meeting Your new Moons and your appointed Feasts my Soul hateth they are a trouble to me my Soul hateth I am even weary to bear them Isa. 1.11 12 13 14. And yet all these were his own appointments But why then did he thus abhor them Because they retained the evil of their doings and used them as they did other of his appointments viz. For strife and debate and to strike with the fist of wickedness chap. 58.4 Wherefore when that of God that is great is overweighed by that which is small it is the wisedom of them that see it to put load to the other end of the scale untill the things thus abused poise in their own place But to pass this and proceed Ninthly If we shall reject visible Saints by calling Saints that have communion with God that have received the Law at the hand of Christ that are of holy conversation among men they desiring to have communion with us as much as in us lyeth we take from them their very priviledge and the blessings to which they are born of God For Paul saith not only to the gathered Church at Corinth but to all scattered Saints that in every place call upon the name of the Lord That Jesus Christ is theirs That Paul and Apollo and the World and Life and Death and all things are theirs because they are Christs and Christ is Gods But saith he let no man glory in men such as Paul and Cephas though these were excellent because this priviledge comes to you upon another bottom even by Faith of Jesus Christ. Drink you all of this is intailed to Faith not Baptism Nay Baptized persons may yet be excluded this when he that discerneth the Lords body hath right and priviledge to it 1 Cor. 11.28 29. But to exclude Christians from Church communion and to debar them their Heaven-born priviledges for the want of that which yet God never made a wall of division between us 1. This looks too like a spirit of persecution Job 19.25 26 27 28. 2. It respecteth more a form then the spirit and power of Godliness 2 Tim. 3.5 3. This is to make Laws where God hath made none and to be wise above what is written contrary to Gods word and our own principles 4. It is a directing of the Spirit of God 5. It bindeth all mens Faith and light to mine opinion 6. It taketh away the Childrens Bread 7. It withholdeth from them the increase of Faith 8. It tendeth to harden the hearts of the wicked 9. It tendeth to make wicked the Hearts of weak Christians 10 It setteth open a door to all temptations 11. It tempteth the Divel to fâ—l upon those that are alone and have none tâ— help them 12. It is the Nursery of all