Augustine saith That he was stirred up to come to Christ by reading a Heathen book written by Cicero called Hortensius Thus he saith That heathen Book changed my mind and turned my prayer O Lord unto thee Among OTHER CAUSES THE SACRAMENTS SERVE SPECIALLY TO DIRECT AND TO AID OUR FAITH For they are as i Aug. cont Faustum l. 19. c. 16. Saint Augustine called them VISIBLE WORDS and Seals and Testimonies of the Gospel k Defence of the Apology part 2. c. 7. divis 1. p. 150. For the word of God is the substance and life of all Sacraments and without the same all Sacraments whatsoever are no Sacraments c. All which abundantly evidence the Sacraments to be Grace-begetting Faith-quickning Soul-converting Life-conveying Ordinances having promises and the word annexed to them as well as preaching and that this is the express Doctrine of the Church of England though now contradicted by a Generation of Novellers upon meer whimsies Crochets of their own out of Self-interest and respects What other Protestant Divines have asserted to the same effect you may read at large in My Suspension Suspended p. 28. to 35. and in Mr. Morrice his laborious Diatribe p. 29. c. The Lords Supper therefore being a Sacrament must thereupon consequently be a Soul-converting Grace-producing Regenerating Ordinance instituted for this verie end as well as the word preached and have promises of Grace annexed to it as all these resolve 3ly All the Objectors and l See Jewels Defence of the Apology c. 10. divis 1. p. 205 c. others unanimouslie assert That the Lords Supper is a Seal of the New Testament and Covenant of Grace the tenor whereof is thus expressed both in the Old and New Testament Jer. 31.31,32 c. 32.38,39,40 Ezech. 11.19,20 c. 36.25 to 31. Heb. 8.6 to 13. c. 10.16,17 After those dayes saith the Lord I will put my Laws into their minds and in their hearts will I write them Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you and you shall be clean from all your filthiness and from all our Idols will I cleanse you A new heart also will I give you and a New spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stonie heart out of your flesh and give you an heart of flesh and I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to walk in my statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements and do them and I will be your God and ye shall be my people And I will give you one heart and one way that you may fear me for ever for the good of you and your children after you And I will make an everlasting Covenant with you that I will not turn away my face from doing you good but I will put my fear into your hearts and ye shall not depart from me And I will rejoyce over you to do you good And I will also save you from all your uncleanness c. Then shall you remember your own wayes and your doings that were not good and you shall loath your selves in your own sight for your iniquities and for your abominations and you shall all know me from the greatest unto the least for I will forgive your Iniquities and will remember your sins no more If then the Lords Supper be a Seal annexed to all these Covenants and Promises of Grace all in the Future Tense made to such who were unregenerate void of Grace and the spirit of God having old stonie hearts and wanting new as I have formerly touched it must needs be a regenerating Grace-conveying Soul-converting Ordinance by divine institution by effecting and putting them into actual execution at this Sacrament and these Promises must be all annexed to it as Writings Covenants are to their Seals as well as their Seals to them Hence Dr. Ames thus taxeth Bellarmin Tom. 3. c. 1. q. 3. De Promissione Sacramentorum Male disjungit quae sunt conjungenda promissionem de efficacia Sacramenti et promissionem praecedentem à Sacramento obsignandam Nam promissio illa pertinet ad institutionem ut causa efficiens Sacramenti obsignatio ipsa est efficacia promissa Promissionem etiam obsignandam sua natura antecedere Sacramentum ex eo liquet quod foedus antecedit cujus Sacramentum ita et signum ut inde foederis nomen sortiatur Gen. 17. The Objectors therefore must either renounce the Lords Supper to be the Seal of these promises and Covenants as they positively define it or abjure this objection that there are no promises of Conversion or begetting saving Grace and Regeneration made unto it as there are to the preaching of the word 4ly Our Lord Jesus Christ in the very institution of his Supper m Mat. 26.26,27 Mar. 14 22,23 Lu. 22.19,20 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.23 to 30. Took bread blessed brake and gave it to his Disciples saying Take eat this is my bodie which is given for you this do in remembrance of me After which he took the Cup and gave thanks and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my bloud of THE NEW TESAMENT or Covenant as one Or◠This Cup IS THE NEW TESTAMENT IN MY BLOUD thereupon twice stiled The BLOUD OF THE COVENANT and of the EVERLASTING COVENANT Heb. 10.29 c. 13.20 as another Evangelist records it WHICH IS SHED FOR YOU and FOR MANY FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS this do ye as oft as ye drink it INREMEMBRANCE OF ME. For as oft as ye eat this bread and drink this Cup YE DO SHEW or shew ye THE LORDS DEATH TIL HE COME From which words of institution compared with Hebr. 13.20 Now the God of Peace which brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus that great shepherd of the sheep BY THE BLOUD OF THE EVERLASTING COVENANT represented communicated and spiritually received applied by everie worthie Communicant in and by the Lords Supper MAKE YOV PERFECT in every good work TO DO HIS WILL WORKING IN YOU THAT WHICH IS WELL-PLEASING IN HIS SIGHT THROUGH JESVS CHRIST It is most apparent that the Lords Supper was specially instituted blessed by Christ himself not only to commemorate and represent but also really effectually to communicate and convey to all worthie receivers all the benefits of his death bloud merits to make them perfect in everie good work to do his will to work in them that is well pleasing in Gods sight through Jesus Christ and that the New Testament or Covenant is thereby ratified applied made effectual to and upon their Souls in the remission of sins and all its forementioned branches 5ly The Scriptures resolve That n Rom. 5.9 we are justified by the bloud of Christ That o Eph. 1.5 we have redemption through his bloud That p Eph. 2.13,14 those who were afar off are made nigh by his bloud c. That q Col. 1.20 he hath made peace and reconciliation between his Father and us by the bloud of his Cross
THE LORDS SUPPER BRIEFLY VINDICATED AND Clearly demonstrated by Scripture and other Authorities to be a GRACE-BEGETTING SOUL-CONVERTING as well as confirming ORDINANCE against all false vain absurd irreligious Cavils Objections Whimsies Delusions of those Novellists who have lately contradicted it both in Press and Pulpit here satisfactorily refuted retorted dissipated By William Prynne of Swainswick Esquire a Bencher of Lincolns Inne 1 Cor. 10.16 The Cup of blessing which we bless is it not the Communion of the Bloud of Christ The Bread which we break is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ Synodus Senonensis 1528. apud Laur. Bochellum Decret Eccles Gallicanae l. 2. Tit. 1. c. 34. p. 153. Quis autem Vivificum esse neget Eucharistiae Sacramentum quod tam apertis testimoniis Scripturae comprobatur Calix enim Benedictionis cui benedicimus nonne Communicatio Sanguinis Christi est c. Quibus luce clarius constat Eucharistiae Sacramentum Gratiam conferre LONDON Printed and are to be sold by Edward Thomas in Green Arbor 1658 To the Reader CHristian Reader I here present thee with a Brief yet full Satisfactory Vindication and clear Demonstrations from Scripture and other Authorities That the Lords Supper is not only a meer confirming but likewise a Grace-begetting Soul-converting Ordinance Wherein I have truly propounded satisfactorily refuted retorted and I hope for ever dissipated all the false vain absurd irreligious Objections Cavils Whimsies Delusions of those Novellists who have lately contradicted it both in Press and Pulpit and upon this false Account most irreligiously if not antichristianly refused to administer it to their people for sundry years together and that by a secret Combination to carry on their own Self-interests against the very Interest and Institution of our Lord Jesus Christ The Occasion of penning this Publication was a late Act-Question and a Sermon which I heard this last Vacation The principal motive exciting me thereunto was this sad Observation That though sundry Ministers in most parts of England have most audaciously frequently earnestly in their Pulpits and Publications decried impugned the Grace-ingendring Soul-inlivening power of the Lords Supper and other Sacraments against the sacred Scipture the resolutions of Fathers Councils Schoolmen Protestant Divines the Articles Chief Writers of our Church and the Directory it self to justifie their debarring the people from it year after year yet few or none of our Ministers of a contrary judgement Mr. Humfryes with some one or two more excepted have dared openl to refute write or preach against this their most dangerous spreading Error and disusage of this Sacrament grounded on it to reclaim them from it or undeceive their seduced Auditors Readers such being their general luke warmness or rather key-coldness in this common cause for fear of discontenting those their over-rigid Presbyterian and Independent Brethren or impairing that now Classical Jurisdiction which they have long attempted to erect oft suspending their Parishioners from the Lords Supper at their pleasures that unless some Lay-men as John Timson Mr. Morrice and my Self had publikely opposed refuted them in printed Discourses having no command of their Pulpits this their Anti-Sacramental absurd impious Paradox had passed for Orthodox truth without controll and totally deprived the people in all or most places both of the frequent use of the Lords Supper and of their Christian liberty and free access thereto in any place unless they first submitted their necks to a Classical examination both of their knowledge lives and saving Graces or new-modelled themselves into an Independent or Anabaptistical congregation Which mischiefs though our Books through Gods blessing on them have in a great measure prevented yea converted some quite silenced others of the Opposite party yet such is their obstinacy such their unchristian uncharitable deportment towards us that the generality of the Presbyterial and Independent Ministers secretly backbite maligne and some of them openly revile us for our pains as crossing their self-designs though they cannot refute nor deny those Truths we have defended out of meer zeal to Gods Glory Christs Sacraments and the peoples Christian liberty Conversion Edification Consolation Salvation Now the Lord convince them all throughly of and convert them from this their sin error by his effectual blessing on our former Labors and particularly on this Brief Vindication from which if thou shalt receive any Spiritual benefit or satisfaction in the points therein debated give God the whole Glory of it and me only a share in thy daily Prayers William Prynne Swainswick 24 August 1657. The LORDS SUPPER a Grace-begetting Soul-converting Ordinance MEeting lately with a Printed Question in the Country professedly asserting in the publike Schools of my Quondam nursing Mother the famous University of Oxford the last Act there held The Sacrament of the Lords Supper to be no Grace-engendring Soul-converting but only a confirming Ordinance or prae-existent Grace And having soon after heard the same with much confidence vehemently affirmed in the Pulpit of an eminent City where the Inhabitants upon this mistake have for divers whole years been deprived by their Minister of the inestimable Soul-refreshing Benefits of this heavenly banquet to their greatest grief I thereupon conceived my self obliged in point of Conscience Duty both to God and Men having formerly oppugned this a Mat. 16.6.12 Pharisaical spreading leven both in its rise and progress to apply a fresh Emplaster to so dangerous a Gangraena and new prodigious Error which the Anabaptists and Independents strenuously assert on the one hand to withdraw the people from our mixt Parochial Congregations to their select Separated Conventicles consisting only of the most refined sublimated Saints as they deem themselves and the over-rigid Presbyterians cry up on the other hand to lure the people to submit their necks consciences to their new Presbyterial Tryals and Suspensions from this Sacrament till adjudged worthy by their Classical Sentences to receive it which these different politick b Psal 58.5 Charmers hope to effect by this late-invented false Charm so frequently sounded by them in all places into the ears of their Auditors for these by ends alone not out of any real love to truth or their peoples Spiritual welfare without opposition This absurd irreligious Paradox I have heretofore at large refuted by Scriptures Reasons Experience Fathers Councils School-men Protestant Divines of our own and other reformed Churches and by the Homilies Articles of the Church of England ratified by Parliament and the Subscriptions of all our Ministers to them in my Vindication of 4. Serious Questions printed 1645. p. 39. to 48. my Suspension suspended published 1646. p. 18. to 39. and briefly touched in my Seasonable Vindication p. 28 29. Since which I have herein been seconded by Mr. John Humfrey in his acute and solid Rejoynder to Mr. Drake printed 1654. p. 216. to 241. in his Second Vindication of Free-admission to the Lords Supper 1656. p. 32. c. and by that learned Gentleman Mr.
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
this Sacrament to whole Parishes Cities for sundry year their denying it to visible Saints for fear others should crowd into it if administred or their gathering new selected Conventicles out of old parcchial Congregations Yet the Objectors affirm all these to be of divine institution agreeable to the will mind of Jesus Christ which they must have onely by special revelation having no Scripture proof at all to clear it 3ly There is no direct president in Scripture to prove reading of the Scripture Meditation Fasting Prayer Singing of Psalms repetition of Sermons family duties converting Grace-infusing Ordinances yet there is sufficient Ground in and abnndance of Historical Examples out of Scripture to prove them to be such 4ly There is no express president in sacred writ for the baptism of Infants born of Christian Parents but only by way of necessary consequence The like may be said of the Lords day Sabbath Payment of Tithes under the Gospel Preparation Sermons for the Lords Supper and some other particulars Will they therefore conclude them not to be divine necessary Soul-converting and to be cast quite aside for so many years as some have laid by the Sacrament of the Lords Supper as no converting Ordinance 5ly Though there be no express example in Scripture of any particular person originally converted to God by the Lords Supper yet there are many Texts to prove it a converting Grace-conveying Ordinance and many Authorities presidents in all ages asserting manifesting it to be such Mr. ſ Rejoynder to Mr. Drake p. 239 240. Humfrey hath recorded one memorable example of late under Mr. Richard Fairclough his hand and I doubt not but hundreds more might be produced from the testimonies experiences of other Ministers and private Christians 6. t Divine Right of Church-Government p. 523 524. Mr. Rutherford Dr. Drake Mr. Saunders and other Opponents confess in print and others of the Opponents in their Pulpit Discourses That the Grace of faith and true conversion unto God may be and some times actually are wrought at the Sacrament of the Lords Supper being forced by arguments and experiences thereunto But then to rob this Ordinance both of the efficacie and Honor of the Work they subjoyn 1. That though faith and conversion are and may be wrought at this Sacrament yet they are not produced by it but only by the word prayer and other concomitants that attend it 2. That this effect is very rare extraordinary and meerly accidental as when faith and conversion are sometimes wrought by afflictions temptations sickness or other casualties But they are not effected by it as by a proper ordinary means or instrument ordained and blessed by Christ to work such effects as the word preached is To which I answer 1. That if some have and others may have saving faith and real conversion wrought in them at the Lords Supper then with what face can they deny it to be a Soul-converting Grace-procreating Ordinance 2ly With what Hearts consciences can they then seclude any unex communicated unregenerate Churchmembers from it or refuse to administer it frequently to their parishioners every moneth or oftner there being not only a peradventure or possibility but likewise a great probability that they may be converted at or by it as well as others when preaching catechising prayer with other publike Ordinances will not effectually work upon them u Acts 20.20,21,27,28 2 Tim. 4,2,3 Ezech. 2.3 to 9. Rom. 10.21 If they must preach the word of God constantly frequently in season and out of season to all their people though dull stupid obstinate refractory carnal sensual devillish and very unlikely to be wrought upon x 1 Cor. 9.16,17 because it is their duty and there is y 2 Tim. 2.24,25,26 Acts 26,17,18 2 Cor. 2.15,16 Acts 16.14 c. 28.24 a possibility a probability that some of them at last in Gods due time may be really converted and saved by it though the z Rom. 10.16.21 Mar. 16.15,16 Rom. 11.7,8,9,10 Mat. 10.14,15 c,11 21,22,23,24 John 15.22 greatest part of them be thereby hardned their condemnation aggravated and made more intollerable than that of Sodom and Gomorrah then why should they not as constantly as frequently administer the Lords Supper to them because some of them may possibly may probably be really reclaimed from their sins converted renewed saved by it though the major part do thereby aggravate their sins judgements and a 1 Cor. 11.27.29 eat drink damnation through their own defaults 3ly May not the Objectors and others of our Ministers justly fear that their discouraging debarring their people from this Sacrament sundry years together where they might and should have been instructed exhorted comforted counselled edified and at which by Gods grace they possibly probably might have been effectually wrought upon and converted hath been the principal cause of their continued ignorance prophaneness contempt of unprofitableness unfruitfulness under other Ordinances and that so few of them have been really converted That their asserting it to be no Grace-begetting Soul-converting Ordinance both in Press and Pulpit hath been one great reason why so few have repaired to and been really converted by it of late seeing they are neither invited nor yet admitted to it as a probable lively instrument of begetting saving faith and conversion in them And shall not then the b Ezech. 33.8,9 Acts 20.26,27,28 bloud loss of their peoples Souls be exacted by God and Christ at their hands for depriving them of this effectual probable means of their conversion salvation which they should have frequently administred to them by Christs own cōmand It is the duty of all careful conscientious Physicians of mens Souls as well as bodies to use all c 1 Cor. 10.16,17.20,21,23 Acts 20.18,19,20,21,26,27 2 Tim. 2.25,26 c. 4.2.3.4.5 possible all probable means to effect their patients cures and preserve their lives from death and when one medicament will not prevail with them to use another or unite many of them together to work their cure Since then some nay many have in all ages been converted by and at the Lords Supper it is no less than a Soul-murdering crime in them wilfully to deprive their people of or debarr them sundry years from this Soveraign Balm Medicine they earnestly desire Which through Gods blessing might both effectually convert and save their Souls and for want whereof they still lie dead yea die in their sins and trespasses notwithstanding all their preaching to them 4. There is joy in heaven in the presence of God and his Angels over one sinner that repenteth and is converted Luke 15.7.10 If but one or two sinners then in an age have been converted and brought to repentance at or by the Lords Supper should not this engage all Ministers frequently to administer it even to unconverted Sinners because possibly some one of them may be converted by it and so cause joy in heaven before the Angels as well as bring glory to God and this his
Ordinance upon earth Yea will not this wilfull debarring their people from this their Monthly food and physick bring perpetual horror lamentation upon many Ministers in Hell and seclude them from eternal joies in Heaven if any one soul under their charge shall perish starve miscarry for want of this spiritual food and cordial 5. It is Gods own resolution precept Rom. 14.15 If thy brother be grieved with thy meat now walkest thou not according to Charity Destroy not him with thy meat for whom Christ died Are there not many thousands of people now justly grieved with their Ministers for denying them this their spiritual meat physick year after year which they daily monthly cry for at their hands yet cannot receive it and do not they then as much as in them is destroy and starve those for whom Christ died by denying that Spiritual Balm that Soul-saving repast of the body bloud and death of our Lord Jesus which should save them from perishing and feed preserve their bodies and Souls unto eternal life Yea do they not herein deal most tyrannically unchristianly inhumanly unconscionably with their people not walking according to the rule of charity d Mat. 24.45,46 Lu. 12.42 c. And can they then expect the blessing of that just and faithfull Servant whom the Lord hath made ruler over his houshold to give them their portion of meat in due season when as they detain this chief portion of spiritual food and heavenly Supper from them against his precept Or can they escape that cutting assunder and portion with unbelievers Christ there threatens to that evil Servant who injured his fellow Servants and deprived them of their due portion of food I fear they can doe neither unless they repent of this Soul-starving cruelty Thus much in answer only to their concession That some are and may be converted at or by the Lords Supper I shall now reply to their evasions 1. How can these pretending omniscients positively determine that such who have been converted at the Lords Supper were not converted by it but by the word or prayers which accompanied it Since the Spirit breatheth where when and in by what ordinance he listeth and they cannot tell by what way he works especially in others hearts whose persons and means of conversion they are ignorant of John 3.8 2ly The Word of Benediction Consecration Institution used at the Lords Supper is an essential part of it without which it neither is nor can be a Sacrament as e Accedat verbum ad elementum fit Sacramentum August Tract 80. in Joh. Origen in Mat. c. 15. Bishop Jewels Defence of the Apology c. 11. divis 1. p. 211. See Ames Bellarm Enervat Tom. 3. lib. 1. cap. 2. Augustine yea all Divines both Protestants and Papists accord Therefore to divide them one from another as distinct when God hath joyned them together as inseparable to make up one intire Sacrament and to attribute conversion to the word of benediction consecration or institution only but not to the Elements and intire Ordinance is as great an absurdity as to affirm that the Ministers tongue only consecrates and his hands distribute the Sacramental Elements but not the Minister himself that the Communicants mouths onely eat and drink the bread and wine at the Lords Supper not their persons or thar the Uses of Sermons convert the Auditors not the Doctrines Motives or intire Sermons 3ly This Sacrament is both a f Tho. Beacons Catechism f. 422 456. Bishop Jewels Defence of the Apology p 349. visible and audible word or Sermon representing the unspeakable love of God and Christ in dying for our sins in a most emphatical manner both to our eyes ears and by them unto our hearts and minds at once by the Word and Elements combined together to work more powerfully vigorously convincingly affectionately upon mens Souls to win attract and unite them for ever unto God in by and through Jesus Christ and the powerfull influence of his Spirit cooperating with the Word and Sacred Elements in this Sacrament Therefore the Conversion Grace wrought at or by it must be attributed to the incire Ordinance as well as the confirmation and augmentation of Graces formerly began which they may as probably assert is wrought only by the word prayer and concomitants of the Lords Supper not by the Elements or Sacrament it self as that conversion at this Sacrament is wrought only by them 4. All the self-examination preparation which precedes the Lords Supper all the Benedictions Prayers Instructions Exhortations Admonitions Praises Meditations Soliloquies Vowes Resolutions of Newness of life and better Obedience that accompany it are g Ames Bellarm Enervat Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 2. The Practice of Piety Rogers of the Sacrament but parts and appurtenances of this holy duty and Ordinance relating wholly to it Therefore the real Grace and conversion wrought at or by it by any part of the duties that either necessarily precede accompanie or follow it may and must be ascribed to this Sacrament as the instrumental cause not to the word prayer or any other Ordinance alone which necessarily attends it as the Victorie is chiefly ascribed to the General who commands in chief not to the private Soldiers who win the battel under him 5ly That this effect of Saving Grace and conversion is rarely wrought at or by the Lords Supper is now a most certain truth because the Lords Supper is so rarely administred yea quite cast aside for divers years in many places and not used resorted to as a converting Ordinance where and when administred And if the word were now as seldom preached as the Lords Supper is administred few or none would or could be converted by it But when the Lords Supper was daily weekly or monethly administred as in the Apostles times the Primitive Church and former daies then many were ordinarily frequently converted by it as well as confirmed whereas not one Soul hath been either converted or confirmed by being debarred from it for divers years together but many hindred from conversion edification confirmation and qui e destroied 6ly Very few have been converted by the word preached since this Sacrament hath been discontinued and decried as we find by sad experience The raritie therefore of Converts at and by this Sacrament proceeds only from the infrequencie and disusage of it as a Converting faith-engendring Ordinance not from its indisposition or incongruity to work both faith and conversion 7ly That the Lords Supper effects grace and conversion only extraordinarily and by accident as temptations afflictions sicknesses c. do not as a proper instrument or means ordained blessed by God for such effects is a most absurd unchristian untheological erronious if not blafphemous assertion contrarie to Scripture Antiquity the current of all Divines Protestants or Papists forein or domestick and the very Directory it self which stiles it A MEANS OF GRACE as well as the Word and to the 26. Article of the
grace is o 2 Cor. 5.14,15,19,20,21 c. 7.1 Rom. 5.5.6,7,8,10,21 John 3.16 c. 6.44 c. 10.11.15 c. 15.13 Gal. 2.20 c. 3.1 Eph. 5.2.25,26 c. 1.6,7 c. 2.4 to 20. 1 Pet. 1.3.8.18,19 Rom. 14.7,8,9 1 John 1.1.2,7 c. 2.2 c. 3.16 c. 4.9,10,11 Rev. 1.5 â—… 5.9,10 1 Tim. 1.15 Isay 53.4 to 12. Acts 2.22 to 40. set forth and recorded in sacred Writ as the most powerfull attractive perswasive overcoming constraining Argument motive consideration of all other to work true conversion in mens hearts to turn them from all their sinful courses unto God to allure attract unite espouse marry their souls for ever unto Christ to inflame ravish theÌ„ with his surpassing love Now it must be granted by all that the Sacrament of the Lords Supper is a part of this Gospel of Christ which is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth since instituted recorded commanded by Christ in the Gospel being likewise both an audible visible sensible Gospel as the Fathers with others usually stile it Moreover it most lively powerfully flexanimously graphically represents holds forth yea preacheth to our eyes ears taste and by them unto our minds hearts souls spirits the câ—ucifixion death passion of our Saviour and his transcendent love in dying for our sins the most powerful attractive perswasive overcoming conuraining argument motive considera ion of all others in the Gospel to work true conversion in mens hearts to p Acts 26.17,18 turn them from theÌ„ power of Sin Satan unto God to allure attract q Hos 2.19,20,23 espouse unite receivers souls for ever unto Christ to inflame ravish them with his transcendent love and cause them r 2 Cor. 5.15 from hence forth no longer to live unto themselvs but unto him which died for them and rose again Therefore all must of necessity grant it to be the power of God unto Salvation a most effectual Å¿ Eodem modo justificant verbum Dei et Sacramenta ae que enim tribuitur Justificatio verbo Sacramentis Ames Bellarm Enervat Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 3. p. 36. justifying a Soul-converting Faith-engendring Faih-increasing Ordinance as well as the Gospel preached yea a powerfull means of working that belief and saving faith in the souls of those who in obedience to Christs command constantly resort unto it which is required in worthie Communicants to make both it and the Gospel too the power of God to their Salvation even as the Gospel read heard preached begets that faith or belief which God requires to make it saving und converting Rom. 10.14,15,17 In Brief There is not any means of or motive to faith or conversion in the Gospel preached which is not included in the Lords Supper and pressed with the selfsame yea greater force and advantage upon mens Souls in this Sacrament both by the prayers confessions meditations exhortations that accompanie it by the very breaking of the bread powring out of the wine with other Sacramental actions then they are or can be in any Sermon t Bellarm. Enervat Tom. 3. c. 1. p. 9. Non debent hic inter se comparari verbum et Sacramentum ut realiter à verbo distinctum sed verbum nudum verbum Sacramento vestitum Hoc autem majus et efficacius dici potest quoad nos quia plenius pluribus sensibus test atur et magis accommodatur ad animos nostros efficiendos So Dr. Ames in answer to Bellarmines Objection Nihil fingi potest majus aut efficacius verbo Dei Therefore orr Opposites must either grant the Lords Supper a Soul-converting Faith-begetting Ordinance as well as preaching or disclaim preaching to be such and cast that aside too as unconverting as they have most impiously done this Sacrament for sundry years in too many places 11ly The principal end of instituting the Lords Supper * 1 Cor. 11.25,26 was to shew forth the power efficacie principal ends fruits effects of our Saviours death till he come not only in bare representation but by practical efficacious operations and applieations for the spiritual benefit conversion consolation of the receivers souls Now what are the ends fruits effects of our Saviours death therein held forth is evident by these Gospel Texts Isay 53.5 1 Cor. 15.3 1 Pet. 2.24 He was wounded for our transgressions he was btuised for our iniquities he died for our sins the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes are we healed Who his own self bare sins in his own bodie on the tree that we being dead to sin should live unto righteousness Luke 1.74 75. That we being delivered from the hands of our Enemies should serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all the daies of our life 1 Thes 5.9,10,11 For God hath not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another Rom. 4.25 c. 5.8,9,10 Who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification But God commendeth his love unto us that whiles we were yet sinners Christ died for us much more then being now justified by his bloud we shall be saved from wrath by him For if when we were Enemies we were reconciled unto God by the death of his Son much more being reconciled we shall be saved by his life Rom. 6.1 to 11. Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound God forbid How shall we that are dead to sin live any longer therein Know ye not that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death Therfore we are buried with him in baptism that like as Christ was raised up from the dead even so we also should walk in newness of life For if we have been planted together in the likness of his death we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection knowing this that our old man is crucified with him that the bodie of sinne might be destroied that henceforth we should not serve-sin Now if we be dead with Christ we believe that we shall also live with him knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more death hath no more dominion over him c. Likewise reckon ye also your selves to be dead indeed unto sin but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal bodies that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof c. Rom. 11.7,8,9 For none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself For whether we live we live unto the Lord or whether we die we die unto the Lord whether we live therefore or die we are the Lords For TO THIS END Christ both died and rose and revived that he might be Lord both of quick and dead Gal. 2.19.20 I am dead to the Law that I might live unto God I
a spiritual life and so sanctifieth our minds wills and affections that we daily grow more and more conformable to the image of Christ who bestoweth upon us in the use of this Sacrament ALL SAVING GRACE NECESSARY TO ATTAIN ETERNAL LIFE as is therein more at large expressed And it concludes the 6. end of the Lords Supper thus The leaves of this tree heal the Nations of believers and it yields EVERY MONTH a new manner of fruit WHICH NOURISHETH THEM TO EVERLASTING LIFE Oh BLESSED ARE THEY WHO OFTEN EAT OF THIS SACRAMENT AT LEAST ONCE EVERY MONETH tast a new of this renewing fruit which Christ hath prepared for us at his Table TO HEAL OUR INFIRMITIES and to confirm our belief of life everlasting How Sacrilegiously impious and injurious then are those Ministers to their peoples souls who for sundrie years together deprive them of deterr debarr them from this Sacrament this tree of life which they should receive everie Moneth at least both as a Converting and confirming Ordinance And how unhappy are those people who live under such perverse and obstinate Ministers who will neither suffer them to be converted or confirmed by it and cast it quite aside 19ly The Objectors have no Scripture text disproving the Lords Supper to be a Soul-converting nor yet affirming it to be only a Grace-confirming Ordinance Therefore this distinction not being founded in Gods word nor extant in any Father any ancient Writers or School-men must be exploded as a New upstart Fancy and Delusion Like the new-fangled words Really Corporally Substantially never used by any one of the Old Fathers invented by the Papists for which our learned f Reply to Harding Art 5. p. 238. Jewel justly taxeth them to maintain their Absurditie or Transubstantiation which first introduced that g Bochellus Decret Eccl. Gal. l. 3. Tit. 1. c. 70 72 73 93 105 106 107. prae-examination or Confession to the Priest and Suspension from the Lords Supper which some would bring in again into our Churches by this New Distinction and Nonsence Expression of setting a Seal to a Blank which they couple together with it like whelps of the same litter I shall therefore now desire adjure our Antagonists in this Controversie and other Ministers no longer to delude themselves or others with such fond absurd erronious distinctions uncouth expressions and fallacious Arguments against the Soul-converting Grace-begetting efficacie of the Lords Supper nor to bring a perpetual scandalous impious blasphemous false report upon it by denying it both in Press and Pulpit to be either iustituted by Christ or made use of by the Spirit as a proper instrumental means to work conversion faith repentance or other saving Graces originally in mens Souls but utterly to renounce and publikely to retract them upon this fresh conviction and trial by the word of God which hath h Rev. 2.2 found them not to have been Apostles in these particulars as they formerly deemed themselves but Lyars and Impostors as I hope their own Judgements Consciences will upon their serious perusal of the Premises effectually convince them In which condition if they shall still wilfully persist without reformation and upon these or other new brain-sick Notions obstinately continue as too manie Ministers rather out of Confederacie than Conscience have done most sacrilegiously to rob their people year after year of this blessed Sacrament which they should at least monthly administer to them for the more effectual conversion sanctification consolation edification and the generation corroboration nutrition augmentation of all saving Graces in their souls not only to the apparent hindering of their conversion edification spiritual growth in Grace but also to the verie murdering starving i Rom. 14.15 1 Cor. 8.11,12 destroying of their most precious souls as much as in them is administring it neither as a converting Ordinance to those they deem unregenerate nor as an instructing Ordinance to the ignorant nor as a reforming Ordinance to the vicious nor as a comforting and corroborating Ordinance to those they deem truly gracious though they importunately crave it at their hands they may justly fear expect for this their impiouâ— injurious seclusion of their flocks as k So they stile them from Mat. 7.6 Dogs from the Lords Table against his express command and the practice of the Apostles Primitive and Protestant Churches in all former ages to be for ever secluded by Christ himself out of the New Jerusalem and to receive their portion amongst those l Rev. 22.15 Dogs Murderers Sorcerers Lovers and Makers of Lyes who shall never be admitted into heaven Yea to have this fatal doom denounced against them by Christs own mouth at the great day of Judgement m Mat. 25.41,42,45,46 Depart from me ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devil and his Angels For I was an hungry and ye GAVE NE NO MEAT I was thirsty and ye GAVE ME NO DRINK no not at my own sacred Table against my express command Verily I say unto you in so much as ye did it not TO ONE OF THESE ye did it not to me And then shall ye go away into everlasting punishment I beseech you sadly to ruminate upon this Text Doom and what else I have here presented to you for your conviction conversion from this Soul murdering Cruelty Injustice to your people and selves too and the Lord give you unfeigned repentance and n 2 Tim. 2.7 understanding in all things that so you may speedily recant reform whatever you have written spoken preached or done amiss in relation to this blessed Ordinance and your peoples Spiritual welfare by the inestimable benefits therof detained from them for so manie years It was the sad lamentation of the Prophet Jeremy Lam. 1.11 4.4,5 All her people sigh they seek bread to relieve their Soul The tongue of the sucking child cleaveth to the roof of his mouth for thirst the young children ask bread and no man breaketh it unto them They that did feed delicately are desolate in the street See O Lord and consider And is not this the sadder complaint lamentation of many whole parishes and some Cities in England who for sundrie years last past have been deprived of the Sacramental bread and wine in the Lords own Supper for the spiritual conversion consolation of their Souls by their uncharitable obstinate domineering Ministers though frequently pressed with praiers sighs tears to break and distribute it unto them and oft contesting with them for detaining from them this spititual bread and sweet bloud of life to their gasping Souls And will not there be a See O Lord and consider with a witness for this Soul-murdering Tyranny since the Apostle resolves * 1 Câ—r 8,11,12 When ye sin so against the brethren and wound their weak consciences ye sin against Christ and cause the weak brother to perish for whom Christ died I shall admonish such Ministers in the Apostles words to the Elders of Ephesus Acts 20.28
Take heed therefore unto your selves and to all the flocks over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud even with his pretious bodie and bloud at his Table according to his own command Do this as oft as ye do it in remembrance of me shew ye forth the Lords death till he come 1 Cor. 11.24,25,26 Lest else he repute you amongst the number of those GRIEVOUS WOLVES not sparing the flock and men speaking perverse things to draw away disciples after them prophecied of in these later times Acts 20.29,30 not those good Shepherds who came to give life to their sheep and that they might have it more abundantly than before John 10.10 To close up this Controversie Not only sound o Problemâ—… Theolog. locus 77. Sect. 7. Aretius asserts Deus alià s ante Coenam alià s post alias IN ILLA CONVERTIT AD VERAM PAENITENTIAM Which p Harm Evangel in Lu c. 1. Chemnitius thus seconds Deus Spiritu suo Per Verbum ET SACRAMENTA FIDEM IN NOBIS EFFICIT qua Christum recipimus per quem regeneramur And r Tom. 4. l. 2. c. 4. Sect. 16. P. 31. Chamier thus thirds Quicquid movet intellectum ad assentiendum veritati divinae GENERAT FOVET QUE FIDEM At SACRAMENTA movent intellectum ad assentiendum veritati divinae Ergo c. But even Å¿ Divine Right of Church government p. 523 524. Mr. Rutherford himself one of the first broachers of this Controversie thus prints Mr. Prynne might have spared his pains That the Lords Supper is a Converting Ordinance WE GRANT IT TO BE A CONVERTING QUICKNING AND LIVELY APPLICATORY ORDINANCE though he adds a But how c. to it And Mr. Drake the fiercest Champion against it not only grants that faith and conversion may sometimes be wrought at the Sacrament if not by it but further asserts t Boundarie p. 160 161 c That scandalous persons yea HE ATHENS to whom u Mat. 26.26.27 2 Cor. 10.16,17,21 c. 11.23 to 30. Acts 2.41.46 c. 8.36,37,38 it belongs not before their admission into the visible Church may be present at the Lords Supper and all the Sacramental actions with a great deal of profit and there attain THE FRUIT OF THE VISIBLE AND AUDIBLE WORD BY BARE PRESENCE yet not admitted to receive it upon any terms When as x Bell. Ener Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 4 p. 45. Dr. Ames will inform him Sacramenta propriè consistunt in eorum usu ita ut Sacramentum non sit Sacramentum nisi in ejus perceptione Sacramentali and y Reply to Harding p. 365. c. Bishop Jewel z Catechism f. 426 427. Thomas Beacon with the 25. Article of the Church of England instruct him that this is a meer Popish whimsy Seeing then the Lords Supper is granted on all hands to be a converting quickning lively applicatory Ordinance that some may possibly be really converted at or by it and that ignorant scandalous persons nay Heathens may receive a great deal of profit by it and the fruits thereof by their bare presence at it if Mr. Drakes Divinity be Orthodox and without all peradventure the souls faith Graces of all regenerate Christians may be much more comforted edified confirmed strengthned increased by its frequent reception but not so much as one soul converted confirmed edified comforted yet thousands destroied starved dejected by its disusage or rare administration And since the faith of the strongest Christians as a Instit c. 16. Sect. 3. Mr. Calvin b Defence of the Apology part 2. ch â— div 2. p. 154. Bishop Jewel c Catecâ—… f. 425 426 461 462 463 Beacon and others write is so small and weak that it needs the help of outward Sacraments and unless it be propped up on every side and maintained by them and all other Ordinances it wâ—ll presently be shaken waver and likely to fall Let this now at last prevail with all our hard-hearted Ministers immediately to lay aside all combinations self-interests and by-respects whatsoever which have induced them to discontinue the use of the Lords Supper for sundry years and for time to come engage them with conscience diligence most frequently constantly to administer it to all their Congregations without suspending any but excommunicated persons secluded from all other Ordinances from its reception to exhort all their people to a consciencious due frequent participation of it according to the practice of the Primitive Church and Christians d â— Tho. Beaâ—… Catechism p. 462 463. My Suspension suspended p. 24 25. My Seasonable Vindication p. 5. to 31. who communicated every day week or moneth at least and to invite them to it not only as to a meer confirming but as to a most effectual powerfull Soul-converting Grace-engendring Ordinance by Christs own institution as I trust I have here demonstrated it to be beyond all future Contradiction out of meer zeal to truth Gods glorie this Sacraments due ends honor and salvation of peoples Souls so long debarred from it against all Lawes of God and Man And if any of our Ministers whatsoever whether Presbyterial Independent Anabaptistical or other shall henceforth peremptorily refuse to do their pastoral duties herein I trust all those who now bear the Name of Civil Magistrates Judges Justices upon their peoples just complaints will by those Legal means I have e A Legal Resolution of 2. Important Quaerics A New Discovery of Bomish Emissaries a Seasonable Vindication elsewhere insisted on most zealously and resolutely compell them to a constant frequent administration of this Sacrament to all theit unexcommunicated Churchmembers who humbly desire it at their hands or else eject them out of their Benefices as Scandalous to our Region disturbers of our Churches Peace domineering Tyrants over their peoples consciences Enemies to the conversion edification consolation of their precious Souls renouncers of one Chief part of their Ministerial function and professed Apostates both from the Doctrine Practice of Christ his Apostles the Primitive Fathers Churches Christians the Church of England and all true Churches Ministers of Christ throughout the world in former ages out of meer self-ends and interest having now no real or pretended grounds of conscience left them to palliate or excuse their obstinacy in this their Antichristian and Anti-Sacramental practice In the mean time that which was the usual publike Prayer used at all our Communions by the prescription of our Old Book of Common Prayer never so necessary to be revived as now shall be my private Prayer for these refractorie Non-communicating Ministers and all others Give grace O heavenly Father to all Bishops Pastors and Curates that they may both by their life and Doctrine set forth thy true and lively word and RIGHTLY AND DULY ADMINISTER THY HOLY SACRAMENTS Amen ERRATA PAge 15. l. 3. then r. they p. 45. l. 26. auriti p. 47. l. 27. r. parts l. 37. r. and votes p. 48. l. 18. Mat. 5. r. 13. p. 55. l. 2. or r. of FINIS