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lord_n	blood_n	body_n	bread_n	35,000	5	8.1520	4	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A88870	The bramble berry: or, A briefe discourse touching participating in mixt assemblies at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, wherein is most full and cleare satisfaction given to every weak and doubting Christian, both by testimony out of Gods Word, and many invincible reasons and arguments for that purpose, grounded upon the same, wherein is first principally discussed and resolved these three maine questions following: I. Whether the Congregationall assemblies in England be true churches of Jesus Christ, yea or no? 2. Whether it be lawfull to participate at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper among carnall and prophane men? 3. Whether the admitting of ungodly men to the table of the Lord be sufficient warrant for ministers to desist the publike administration of the Sacrament, or for particular members to decline it, or separate themselves? Secondarily, briefe and satisfactory answers given to all the principall places of Scripture alleadged to maintaine a separation from our church assemblies, besides their arguments and allegations sufficiently resolved: set forth for the benefit of the tender conscience. By W. L. a faithfull petitioner and carefull practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God.	W. L., a faithful petitioner and careful practitioner for the peace and welfare of the church and people of God.	1643 (1643)	Wing L84; Thomason E56_8; ESTC R413	53,887	63

one godly man of this soule nourishment it is true our Saviour Christ saith Cast not Pearles before Swine nor holy things to Dogs Matth 7.6 that is spoken as well of the doctrine of the Gospell as of the Sacrament yea and more properly Christian exhortations admonitions and reproofes are there meant as appeares by the following words Lest they turne againe and all to rent you or lest they spurne at and reject your reproofes admonitions and you also This also is of the same importance Reject him that is an heretique Tit. 3.10 after the first and second admonis●ion both places import thus much that if wicked men would with patience and meekenesse receive and heare the word of God with Christian admonitions c. and not resist and reject them they might receive the benefit of them and though they might be yet uncapable of the Sacrament that which I infer from that place of Scripture is that it hath no relation at all to the Sacrament more then to other holy ordinances Secondly that though we ought not to give holy things to dogs nor Pearles to Swine yet holy persons those to whom such precious mercies belong ought not to be denyed them although the first inference should bee denied concerning the relation of that place of Matthew to the Sacrament yet no reasonable man can deny the latter 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. 1 Cor. 11.28 1 Cor 11.26 Matth. 26.26 27 28. 3ly Consider the command of our Saviour Christ for the performance of this duty Doe this in remembrance of me and so also we have an Apostolicke injunction for it Let a man examine himselfe and so let him eate of this bread and drinke of this cup also consider the use and end of its institution for as oft as yee eate of this bread and drinke of this cup yee show the Lords death till he come so also drinke ye all of it for this is my blood of the new Testament that is shed for many for the remission of sinnes and in the same place concerning the bread he saith Take eate this is my body c. Fourthly wee have the example as of all Gods people in all ages partaking in mixt assemblies so of Gods Priests and Ministers in all times yea in the Apostolike Churches of Corinth Galatia the seven Churches of Asia the Church of the Jewes under the Law yea also in our owne Congregations since the reformation of the Sacrament of the Lords Supper hath beene received in mixt assemblies as hath beene already largely proved and if Gods people have received it in mixt assemblies by consequence Gods Priests and Ministers have delivered it in mixt assemblies indeed God blames the Priests under the Law for admitting people uncircumcised to his holy ordinances but never for giving holy things to holy persons or to any that were in externall Communion with them though doubtlesse many of them were vitious in their lives Saint Paul doth not say if the incestuous person or those drunkards or Schismatiques that were in the Church of Corinth were not cast out that they should cease the publike administrations no not a word to that purpose but use all lawfull meanes in our power to purge abuses of this nature out of the Church but especially out of our owne hearts Let every man examine himselfe and so let him eate c. Fiftly godly Ministers give occasion to carnall men to despise the worke of reformation while they see even those that seeme to be most forward that way different in their practises some desisting the administration some continuing it See say they what manner of reformation these men would have they differ so among themselves they know not what they would have so hinder the worke of reformation and scandall the wayes of God by their divisions among themselves and give great advantage to the adversaries of our Religion Sixtly as it is better for Gods sheepe to feed upon pasture where some weeds grow rather then starve for want of food so it is better for Gods shepheards to suffer some weeds to grow in the sheeps Pasture if they cannot prevent it then to starve their flocke yea and as it is better for the sheepe to feed among goates rather then starve so it is better the shepheards should suffer goates to feed upon the sheeps pasture though it should poyson them then for the sheepe to be kept from it it being as I said out of their power to reforme it 7. Consider there is neither command in Scripture nor example of any Priest under the Law or Minister or Pastor under the Gospell that upon this or any such ground did lay aside the administration of publike Ordinances especially the Sacrament of the Lords Supper But we see it is expresly commanded to be observed and enjoyned Gods people to frequent and if Gods people ought not to forsake the Assembly or the Ordinances or turne their backes upon them from any such ground much lesse ought the Ministers who by their absence give a cessation to the Ordinances deprive Gods people of the benefit and use of them for whose sakes they were as I said principally ordained Object Gods Ministers doe but desist the administration a while till it please God to open a doore of enlargement that power may bee put into their hands to cast out offenders and to have a people congregated according to God Answ Wee all ought to labour and indeavour this way both by prayer and all other lawfull meanes to forward this worke of reformation but I know no warrant any Minister of God hath upon any such ground to deny either Gods people or themselves the benefit of this Ordinance they may as well desist all other publike administrations upon one and the same ground suppose divers honest men were confined to a place where they could not bee without the company of ungodly men and that there were a keeper appointed to looke to them to give them that by which their lives and comforts are preserved and maintained what would we thinke of that keeper that would refuse to administer such things as are of absolute necessitie to preserve them in health till they come as it were out of prison to have their tables spread in their owne houses and families out of such wicked company not knowing when the time of their confinement would end surely we would conclude him an ignorant or idle fellow that would rather suffer them to starve in keeping their allowance from them then giving it them in an untoward way or among theeves and robbers and as foolish would they be found that upon such grounds refuse to receive their nourishment even so though Gods people bee constrained either to partake with wicked men at the Lords table or lose the benefit of it I hould it a very weake argument that the presence of wicked men should debarre them of it surely the necessity Gods people have of it the right they have

there be many such prophane wretches that thrust themselves into the Assemblies yet the Lord hath his number of chosen ones that both professe and practise obedience to the Gospel for whose sake the Ordinances are continued and the presence of God in them so that the uneven walking of wicked men doth neither take away the benefit of the Ordinances from the godly nor give a nullity to the Church 5. This also is that that will leave them one day without excuse that they sinned in a Land of uprightnesse in the middest of so much light and of enjoyment of so much means and also aggravate their sin that they have presumptuously laid claime to the Ordinances of God and have beene negligent and carelesse to walke sutable hereby they in the Sacrament eate and drinke to their owne damnation and become guilty of the body and bloud of the Lord Christ in trampling his sacred bloud under their feete and crucifying to themselves the Lord of life Object The Church of the Jewes was a true Church and so the Church of Corinth and the rest named they were a people in Covenant with God rightly constituted and there was never a nationall Church since the Jewes were rejected Mr Bal●●●●● ●rounds o● Sep pag. 1●● Ans Religion ever since the fal is all one in substance thogh different in the dispensation and the Church one and the same though different in its manner of government and measure of its gifts fitted to the severall ages thereof the mysteries are varied according to the times but the faith whereby we live is the same in all ages and as God is unchangeable so is the Covenant unchangeable that excepted which was peculiar to the manner of dispensation the confederates and members of the Church one and the same by Gods approbation and so the common nature and essence of all true Churches and essentiall constitution from the beginning to the end of the world In all ages of the Church the members thereof ought to be holy and Saints or they shall not be approved by God Psal 50.5.16 they are Saints who have made a Covenant with God by way of Sacrifice the wicked have nothing to doe with the Covenant the end of the calling of the Church is holinesse to the glory of God at all times and is true in all ages Gen 4.26 Luke 20.26 Mat. 5.16 1 Pet. 2.12 Acts 2.47 And they which are unanswerable to this end or cleane contrary affected they are not called into Covenant or communion with God if in one age of a Church the Scripture ascribe not holinesse to a people for some few sake if the rest be unholy and prophane it ascribes it not to them in any age If in one state of the Church uncleane persons doe pollute Lev. 14.46 4● Hag. 2.12.13 14. 1 Cor. 5 6 7 and unhallow cleane persons and things as a little Leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe this must hold true in every age in its proportion And therefore if ignorant unwise impenitent uncircumcised in hear● and life rebellious and stiffenecked in course and conversation might be in externall Covenant with God and in that respect a separate and holy chosen people with whom the people of God might hold externall communion in the Ordinances of worship then it is lawfull for Christians to partake in the Ordinances of Gods worship though scandalous livers be admitted with whom in partaking we have onely externall communion for if the scandalous were in Covenant in the Jewish Church they may be so now if communion with the wicked defile now it defiled then Lev. 19.17 if the godly might communicate then because they could not cast them out even so may they now if the faithfull be bound now to reprove their delinquent brother and not suffer sinne to rest upon him the same duty concerned them in former times If the Sacraments be now available and of use according to Covenant and promise which God hath made to the faithfull and their seede and no otherwise Gen. 17 7.2●.4 as indeed the Sacraments are all one in the common nature so are they in their use onely available to the children of the Covenant at all times If it be contrary to the maine ends for which the Lord calleth and gathereth a Church and preserveth it upon the earth that wicked and ungodly should be received into Covenant or permitted to continue in the externall society of the faithfull Jer. 5.31 Jer. 9.2.3 Esa 57.3 1.4 it was unlawfull in the Jewish Church as well as now in Christian Churches And therefore if the Church of the Jewes notwithstanding all that hath beene said were the true Church of God when it was corrupt in doctrine manners officers ordinances of worship when the teachers were dumb Dogges Jer. 11.14 Esa 50.1 Jer. 3.11.2.13.11 blinde guides the Prophets prophesied lies the Priests received gifts and the people rebellious adulterous oppressours an assembly of rebels when the Priesthood was bought and sold the Temple defiled the Law corrupted with false glosses and made voyde with sinfull Traditions when errour heresie idolatry oppression stubbornnesse and all manner of sinne was rise among them If for all this they continued the Lords visible flocke and the Lord owned them for his people and the Prophets and faithfull held externall communion with them in the Ordinances of God then the Covenant of God is not disanulled with his people nor the Church unchurched though ignorant profane persons are tolerated in the Assembly nor the godly defiled because scandalous persons are suffered to communicate Besides I would faine know what may be said of the Church of the Jewes in defence of it under the Law that may not in a more ample and large sense be spoken in justification of the Christian Assemblies under the Gospel First for the Covenant made betweene God and them chusing them from other nations to place his name among them and making Covenant with them to be their God and they his people all was upon condition of faith and obedience and this Covenant was made with them onely but the Covenant under the Gospel betweene God and his people is of a farre larger extent reaching to all Nations neither is his presence limited to any one particular place or people as then it was Esa 55.1.2 3 4 5.7 Joel 2.32 John 4.20 21 22 23 24. nor his worship consists of so many burdensome Rites and Ceremonies and legall performances the dispensation of the Covenants and of the worship of God differ but the condition is all one made and built upon faith and obedience as then it was though they by faith saw the Lord Christ yet to come in types figures and shadowes we behold him in his word by faith already come having finished the worke of our redemption and now abides in the Heavens to make intercession for his people God cals people now to him by the Word and by the Spirit

have no right to the Ordinances 3. Mourne for the abominations and corruptions in the Church and wrastle earnestly with godly prayers for reformation but desist not thy duty though Ministers be corrupt and many people prophane at the Sacrament doe thou prepare thy owne heart and receive to thy comfort for know thus much there never yet was any v●●ible Church of God upon earth that was without its corruptions in Doctrine in manners in officers in members as hath beene sufficiently showed concerning the Church of the Jewes Corinth Galatia and the seven Churches of Asia yet I never read of any toleration to separate from them or that they ceased to be true Churches by reason of the corruptions in them 1. Our Saviour Christ departed not from the publike Assemblies of the Jewes Luke 2. for he was circumcised and so admitted a member of the Assemblies Luke 2 22. 2. His Mother was purified and he presented and an offering given for him as for other children Luke 2.40 3. When he came to age he was content to heare them he was found amongst them in the Temple where there was also prayer and preaching every Sabbath day Acts 16.13.14 4. He observed their Feast of Passeover and his Disciples eate it amongst them as Divines give it forth from the 26. Matth. 2.3 and John 2.23 however he observed it as they did 5. He was baptized among them publikely Matth. 3.13.15 Marke 1.9 6. He allowed his Disciples to doe as he had done Matth. 23.12 exhorting them to heare their Doctrine viz. the Scribes and Pharisees thogh they should not follow their practise because they had the Word of God taught among them though their lives were unanswerable so that he tolerates none to separate neither by his Doctrine or example Salvation saith he is of the Jewes John 4.24 that is the Word of salvation is with them or salvation is had among them by the meanes of grace with them So also see Pauls example Notwithstanding the Church of Corinth was so exceedingly corrupt both in Doctrine and Discipline as hath beene said formerly yet he gives no toleration to separate but rather showes in such cases what Gods people should doe out of whose power it was and is to reforme abuses in the Church viz. private Christians 1. Showes them their errour in admitting unworthy receivers 2. The danger of unworthy receiving and how farre it extended to their owne destruction and condemnation besides those temporall diseases and sicknesses brought also upon such disorderly Communicants 3. Showes them the right institution of it 4. The cure and remedy of this malady that it might not be hurtfull to the whole Church Let every man therefore examine himselfe looke to his owne heart and so let him eate c. not Let any one separate if that had beene the way surely he would have said there is an incestuous person not cast out there are schismes strifes and contentions there are drunkards c. in the Church men of strange opinions come not among them nor partake of the Sacrament with them lest you eate and drinke damnation to your soules no no such matter such there are among you saith he but every one of you examine your owne soules prove your selves that you be not of the number of them and so eate and so drinke to your comfort though the other eate and drinke damnation to themselves And further stirres them up to the duty 1. By showing them what he delivered to them he received from Christ 2. That it was their duty so to doe for thereby they kept a a continuall remembrance of Christ and shewed forth the death of the Lord till he come one of the maine ends of the institution of this Sacrament See the example of Gods people in former ages The sin of Elies sons was very great as great as any Ministers can be and as publike they were impudent lying with women before the doore of the Tabernacle they prophaned the Sacrifices yet the people of God came accustomarily to Shilo where they did administer to performe their duty notwithstanding the wickednesse of the Priests as Elkanah and Hannah at Jerusalem the Church was wonderfully corrupted both in Priest and people yet the faithfull in it that mourned not separated Ezek. 9 4. are taken speciall notice of so in our Saviours time he gives them no toleration to separate from the Church of the Jewes but to hear them joyn with them Mat. 23.12 and if any man can give me any example of any member either under the Law or in Christ or the Apostles time that did separate from the publike Assemblies of Gods worship o● had any warrant so to doe out of the word of God notwithstanding the great corruptions that hath beene proved to be in Churches in all ages then I should thinke they speake something to the purpose true indeed for Jewes to separate from Infidels and the Heathen Nations and Idolatrous practise and so for Christians under the Gospel so to doe is justifiable and both commanded by God and expected to be done but for one Jew to separate from the publike Assemblies of Gods worship from other Jewes or one Christian from the publike Ordinances and worship of God from the rest this I never read of But to speake more fully to this purpose I will 1. answer those Arguments given in to maintaine a separation from our publike Assemblies as they were given unto me in the controverting of this point 2. I will show the lawfulnesse of joyning in our mixt Assemblies 3. The unlawfulnesse to separate 4. Give satisfaction in some measure to those places of Scripture that are brought in defence of that opinion 5. Give caution to keepe off aspersion or prejudice that may be cast upon me or any of my judgement in this point Their first Argument is this They that see the Lord Christ crucified are guilty of the body and bloud of Christ but Gods people at the Sacrament see the Lord Christ crucified by wicked men therefore they are guilty of the body and bloud of Christ Answ This Argument is false in every part of it For 1. Men may see the Lord Christ crucified and not be guilty of the body and bloud of Christ for it is the very maine end and use of the Lords Supper to behold Christ crucified and to show the Lords death till he come in a speciall manner 2. If all that see Christ crucified should be guilty of his death and of his body and bloud then Mary the mother of Christ and his disciples and friends that saw him despightfully used by the Jewes when he was haled and nailed to the Crosse who were heartily gr●eved at it and would if they could have prevented it were guilty o● the body and bloud of Christ and all that saw Judas betray Christ by the same reason were guilty of betraying him also even the Disciples themselves 3. Know no godly man can

be guilty of the body and bloud of Christ as every ungodly man is for no man in the state of grace and salvation c. yet they hold that Gods people can be guilty seeing Christ crucified by wicked men at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper are guilty c. Their Argument should therefore have runne thus They that either crucifie Christ or joyne with them that doe crucifie him are guilty of the body and bloud of Christ But wicked men at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper doe crucifie Christ and Gods people in comming to the Sacrament with them doe joyne with them therefore they are both guilty of the body and bloud of Christ This Argument for the major and minor 1 Cor. 11.27.29 may be granted with some caution but the assumption is false for grant that wicked men in the Sacrament doe crucifie the Lord Christ it is onely to themselves and they are themselves guilty of the body and bloud of Christ wee may grant also that those that joyne with them doe also crucifie Christ and so become guilty of c. but with this exception or caution following There is a twofold joyning with wicked men And both these wayes 1. With their persons 1. Voluntarily 2. Accidentally or Occasionally 2. In their actions 1. Voluntarily 2. Accidentally or Occasionally A man may come in the company of a wicked man and yet not joyne with him if accidentally a man by reason of his businesse in his generall or particular calling or the like nay a man may voluntarily be in the company of a wicked man being lawfully called to it as in common and publike meetings either concerning Church or Common-wealth and yet not guilty of his evill actions that which makes a man guilty of another mans actions is approving them consenting to them voluntary joyning in the action with them not every comming into their company and being with them accidentally or occasionally as for example a wicked man and a godly man come to heare the Word it is both their duties so to doe if the wicked man shall purposely come to insnare the Minister to cut a Purse to doe some other mischiefe if the godly man have no such end or intent if he show his dislike of it exhort him and reprove him for it and use all lawfull wayes and meanes to reclaime him How can he be guilty of joyning with him so in the Sacrament it is the duty of the godly man to receive the Sacrament upon due preparation if wicked men will thrust themselves in to that sacred Ordinance without preparation he that comes as he ought showing his dislike of this abuse labouring by seasonable exhortation or reproofe or information to reforme the abuse and in case authority doe not reforme it if he mourne for it and pray against it how can this man be said to joyne with that wicked man Nay the one eates and drinkes the body and bloud of Christ to salvation the other crucifies Christ afresh to his owne damnation therefore I conclude that Argument thus that which a man utterly dislikes condemnes is humbled for prayes against labours to reforme to the utmost of his ability cannot be accounted that mans guilt but Gods people c. doe utterly dislike c. the sinfull approachings of wicked men to the Lords Table mourne for it pray against it therefore c. the sinnes of another man must not make me decline my duty but it is my duty to prepare examine and receive the Sacrament therefore the sinnes of wicked men comming to it is no reason for me to decline or separate from it the principall part of the duty lies in selfe-examination 1 Cor. 11.28 not so much in examination of others Object Gods people doe not doe their duty herein true peradventure they pray against it and are humbled for it but they doe not their best indeavour by reproofe exhortation and information either to reclaime such or to have them cast out Answ So farre as they fall short of their duty herein they sinne but if they should totally neglect this duty of exhorting reproving praying against mourning for c. which it is impossible for any godly man to doe yet this would not warrant them to separate for this were but the adding one sinne to another Againe suppose the party offending be not capable of admonition or will not reforme then you will say we must tell it to the Church now suppose the guides Temporall and Ecclesiasticall to whom the matter must be brought be so corrupt that they would countenance the offendor and punish the complainant establish the disorder rather then redresse it What shall the innocent then doe must he complaine to his undoing or leave his standing in the Church as unlawfull because he cannot doe the duties which God calleth for at his hands the Shepheards of Israel were many times blinde ignorant vitious robbers hirelings vaine persons so the Scribes and Pharisees if the Disciples or the faithfull should have sought to them for Reformation of abuses in the Church what could have beene expected 1 Cor. 3.10 2 Cor. 11.13 Gal. 1.6 the Corinthian Pastors we know built hay and stubble upon the foundation Paul had laid amongst them were false Apostles deceitfull workers in Galatia the Pastors troubled the Church with corrupt Doctrine in the seven Churches of Asia all the Angels were reprehended and so our Bishops Ministers and Magistrates were all so corrupted that no man durst complaine of abuses in the Church nay nor himselfe with safety discharge his owne duty what should the faithfull doe depart from the Ordinances of grace while God is pleased to dwell among them or neglect the duty God hath called them to and so partake in other mens sinnes the Congregation it selfe divided or remisse the greatest part the worst so that the best cannot be held among them truth cannot take place such division and dissention was in the Church of Corinth that the house of Cloe was constrained to complaine to the Apostle most of them so puffed up in the case of the incestuous person that it had beene vaine for the better sort to have sought the casting him out had not the Apostle sharply reproved them their abusive comming to the Lords Table was generall so that the better sort might grieve at it but could not reforme it in this case the faithfull cannot tell the Church for that it is divided 1 Cor. 1.11 1 Cor. 5.1.2 and as in our times the greatest part holding the worst side depart they must not for the Lord is in the Church and Ordinances and they must not leave them till the Lord forsakes them what remaines then but that with mercifull affections they dislike reprove and correct as much as in them lieth what they finde amisse what they cannot amend indure and suffer patiently and in loving sort lament and bewaile till God doe correct and amend it or make way for their inlargement and

a true man and have a palsie hand Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Cor. 6.15 Ephes 5 30. or a rotten finger and the way to preserve life is to cut off the dead rotten member not to cut off the sound if there should be any of that other opinion I should as the proverbe saith count him a good Chirurgion but a very bad Physitian Mat. 13.24 25. Fifthly to a field wherein is Cockle as well as corne Tares as well as Wheate And though some hold that this parable hath relation to the whole world and by Kingdome of heaven is meant the Gospell of the kingdome yet it may as rightly be applyed to the condition of the visible Church which shall consist of Tares as well as Wheate to the end of the world Yet take it which way ye will see the Lord of the Harvest is very carefull to preserve the Wheate and therefore would not have the Tares medled withall till harvest not that I would so apply it as that prophane men in the Church should not be dealt withal but to this purpose to let men know the way to preserve a Church is not by plucking up the godly or the Wheate but rather to roote out the Tares the weedes the ungodly and let the good Corne stand and grow till harvest to be gathered into Gods barne Sixthly The Ordinances in the Church as the Word and Sacraments and Prayer are compared to the Wedding Feast to which a man should bring his wedding garment when in that Parable of the marriage of the Kings Sonne the King came in he never reproved them that sat● at table that had on these Wedding garments but him that had none takes him and casts him out the rest were not shut from the table because they sate with him that had not on his garment nor reproved for it he sinned and he onely suffered so consequently the beleeving prepared Communicant shall not be blamed for the unbeleeving and impenitent but his sin shall be upon his owne head And as the sinnes of wicked men and their presence at the Sacrament cannot hinder the godly from eating the flesh and drinking the blood of Christ spiritually by faith so they can no way hinder the beleever from life and salvation Joh. 6.54 by this their spirituall feeding upon Christ Whosoever eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood shall not perish but have everlasting life Tenthly It will appeare it is unlawfull to separate from our visible and publicke a semblies because the Lord continues his presence among us Let no man be more holy than God For so long as the Word and Sacraments are continued and the visible signes of Gods gracious presence making the meanes effectuall to convert and build up in the wayes of God as the Lord be praised wee have sufficient proofe dayly of we may conclude it is utterly unlawfull to separate They themselves that do separate do confesse they had their conversion in our assemblies and their beginnings of grace though some of them evade it and say not by the meanes in the Church of England but by reading and private conference and the like but we have daily sufficient and good testimony of the benefit received by the Ordinances and meanes of grace continued in our publique assemblies I hope every godly heart among us hath large testimony of the daily heate life and comfort that is found in them we finde that prophesie in the 42 of Isaiah and the 16. verse fulfilled to us and so Isaiah 29.18 where the Lord by the Prophet foretells what he would doe for his people under the Gospell he would bring the blinde by a way they knew not that he would make darkenesse light before them and crooked things straight so in that 29. Chapter In that day shall the deafe heare the words of the booke and the eyes of the blinde shall see out of obscurity and out of darkenesse c. And truely the proofe of the efficacy of the meanes of grace in our publique assemblies hath received the witnesse of many hundreds who have suffered persecution for it and have many of them sealed it with their dearest blood who doubtlesse are now enjoying the blessed fruites of their sufferings for the name profession and Gospel of Christ none of all which Martyrs did ever account in the Church of England the Ordinances of God Idolatrous or Antichristian or till it did wholly apostate and as it now stands it was in Kings Edwards time Iohn 9.25.32 What better witnesse can there be than experience or how is the tree knowne but by its fruites this perswaded the blinde man of the truth of Christs Doctrine even the miracle that he wrought upon him Surely saith he God heares not sinners and I am sure I once was blinde and I now see as I hope many of us in our assemblies can say whose eyes the Lord hath opened and whose hearts the Lord hath changed Let the Separation raile upon our Ordinances Ministers and Assemblies as much as the Scribes and Pharisees against Christ and his Apostles and Disciples and labour to seduce men as they would have done the blinde man whose eyes he had opened I say let them do what they will to reproach us we may truely say once we were blind and we now see and we are sure the Lord hath opened our Eyes by this contemptible meanes and as by vertue of Christs prayer the clay and spittle became effectuall so by vertue of the Spirit of God and the Intercession of Jesus Christ for his poore Saints the meanes of grace becomes effectuall both to convert and to confirme and establish to eternall life By workes Saint James saith faith is made manifest or perfect Jam. 2.22 and so our Saviour saith The workes which I doe testifie of me and as the miracles and great workes of Christ ought to have convinced the Jewes that he was Christ so the many yeares large and plenteous fruite reaped by the publique administrations of the Ordinances in our publique assemblies ought to be sufficient to convince all gainesayers that deny the truth and lawfulnesse of them for surely were not the presence and power of God in the Ordinances they would become dead and fruitlesse 11. If a man were desirous to separate and that it were lawfull where is the Word of God the Gospell of Jesus Christ more fully clearely truely and powerfully preached than in our publique assemblies and in many places the Sacraments as duely and reverently administred And I am confident there are as few false-hearted professors in the Church of England considering the proportion as in the most exact assembly of separation by Professors are meant not onely such as are in externall Communion but such as seem in a more speciall manner to performe godlinesse and of these for uprightnesse they may set forth to most exact assemblies c. of separation 12. Consider Salvation is to be had in the Church of England by the meanes of