Church of England which resolves it ORDAINED OF CHRIST to be AN EFFECTUAL SIGN of Grace and Gods good will toward us by which HE DOTH WORK INVISIBLY IN US and doth NOT ONLY QUICKEN but also strengthen and confirm our faith Hence Cardinal Cajetan in 1 Cor. 10. and Dr. Ames as well as Bellarmin in his Bellarminus Enervatus Tom. 3. c. 4. p. 43. conclude Haec autem est COMMUNIS THEOLOGORUM DOCTRINA Sacramenta CONFERRE GRATIAM vel FACIENDO UBI NON INVENIT FACTAM vel factam AUGENDO And that not only as Signa theorica ad signific andum tantum instituta sed practica ad signifiandum et EFFICIENDUM INSTITUTA as they there express themselves cap. 3. p. 29. To which Dr. Ames adds this as his own and all Protestants Opinions c. 3. p. 24. Nostrae sententia est SACRAMENTA OMNEM EFFICIENTIAM HABERE RESPECTU GRATIAE quam Signum practicum potest habere per ullam relationem non tamen efficere gratiam immediatè sed MEDIANTE SPIRITU DEI ET FIDE But of this more largely in answer to their last Objection against its converting power objection 6 Their 6. Objection is this h Mr. Drakes Boundary p. 163. An Answer to Susspension suspended p. 23 24. If the Lords Supper were a converting Ordinance then it should be administred to meer Heathens as well as the Gospel preached to them to convert them unto Christ But meer Heathens are not to be admitted to but debarred from it Therefore it is no converting Ordinance but confirming only Before I answer the Argument I must premise that there is a twofold Conversion mentioned in Scripture 1. Visible and external when i 1 Thess 1.8,9,10 Psal 22.17 Is 60.5 Acts 15.3.7.12.14.19 c. 2.41 c. 8.5 to 18. c. 6,7,8 c. 11.1.15 18. c. 18.10,11 c. 26.17 Rom. 10.14 to 21. c. 15.16.18 Eph. 2.11,12,13 c. c. 3.6 to 12. Gal. 3.1,2 c. 2.2.8 1 Cor. 12.2.28 Col. 1.26,27 1 Tim. 3.16 2 Tim. 1.10,11 c. 4.17 Mat. 28.19,20 Mar. 16.15 to 19. meer Heathens Infidels Jews Turks and Pagan Idolaters are converted from their Heatherism Idolatry Idols and Idol-Gods to the external profession only of the Gospel of Christ and visible worship service of the true and living God This kind of conversion not here controverted is originally wrought in an ordinary way only by the word preached or the sight of Miracles accompanying the word not by the Lords Supper Baptism or other publike Ordinances as the marginal Texts demonstrate 2. Invisible Spiritual k Rom. 2.28,29 1 Pet. 1.3,4 Rev. 2 17. Ezech. 36.26,27 Internal when unregenerate carnal Christians professing externally the Gospel of Christ and worshipping the only true God are effectually turned from all their sins lusts evil wayes works of darkness and the power of Satan to unfeigned repentance faith holiness newness of life love and obedience to God as well in their souls spirits as outward conversation doing works meet for repentance and what is lawfull and just both in the sight ef God and men Of which Conversion we read Ps 19.7 Ps 51.13 Isa 6.10 c. 59.20 Jer. 3.14 c. 25.5 c. 26.3 c. 31.18 c. 44.5 Lam. 3.40 c. 5.21 Ezech. 3.13 c. 14.6 c. 18.21.30.32 c. 33.11 to 20. Hos 12.6 c. 14.2 Joel 2.12,13 Jonah 3.8 Zech. 1.3 Mat. 13.15 c. 18.3 Mar. 4.12.20 John 12.40 Acts 28.27 c. 26.18,20 2 Cor. 3.16 Jam. 5 20. The first sort of these Conversions is peculiar only to meer Heathens and Idolaters never formerly professing the Gospel The second is proper to none but visible Christians living within the pale of the Church though I willingly acknowledge that meer Heathens upon the first preaching of the Gospel to them may be at the self same time both inwardly and outwardly converted unto God even before they are actually baptized or externally incorporated into the visible Church of Christ as is clear by Acts 2.37,38.41 c. 8.12 c. 10.44 c. c. 11.15,16,17,18 c. 13.47,48 c. 16.14,15.30 to 35. c. 26.18,19,20 1 Thess 1.9,10 This later Conversion of which we only dispute both may be and usuall is as properly as effectually wrought in the Souls of Christians by the Lords Supper where duly frequently constantly administred as by the word preached it being not only as apt to beget Saving faith and assurance as the naked word alone but in some respects more probable to effect them since l 1 Kings 10.6,7,8 Lu. 1.2 Acts 10.40,41 2 Pet. 1.16 Eye-witnesses Evidences are more perswasive and apter to beget belief assurance then Ear-witnesses and m Deut. 17.6 c. 19.17 Mat. 18.16 two witnesses than one alone and an Oath or Seal annexed to Promises Covenants more strong powerfull to assure resolve comfort work faith of adhaesion in our doubting spirits than naked Promises or Covenants without them Hebr. 6.17,18 Psal 89.3.33,34,35 Psal 110.4 This distinction premised I answer 1. That the sequel of the Major is false 1. Because the Lords Supper belongs not to meer unconverted Heathens and Idolaters being not instituted by Christ for such to convert them from Paganism to Christianity but only to baptized Christians and Members of the visible Church as is evident by Mat. 26.17 to 33. Mat. 14.12 to 28. Lu. 22.8 to 31. c. 24.30,31 Acts 2.41,42,46 c. 20.7.11 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.20 to the end even as the Passeover belonged to none who were uncircumcised but to the circumcised alone Exod. 12.43 to 50. and the Sacrament of Baptism was to be administred to no meer Pagans but only to such who embraced the Gospel first preached to them and professed their belief thereof before they weÌ„re actually baptized Mat. 28.19 Mat. 16.15,16 Acts 2.41,42 c. 8.12,13,36,37 c. 10.47,48 c. 16,14,15.31,32,33,34 Now the reason why neither the Lords Supper nor Baptism might be administred to meer Infidels before their embracing of the Gospel is not because they are no really converting Ordinances in the sense forementioned as I have proved the Lords Supper to be and the n See Bochellus Decr. Eccl. Gal. l. 2. Tit. 3. de Baptismo Jewels Reply to Harding p. 21. 27. 242 249 250 458. Ames Bellarm. Enervat Tom. 3. l. 1. c. 3. Fathers with others assert Baptism to be from Mat. 3.11 John 1.26 Rom. 6.34 Gal. 3.27 1 Pet. 3.21 Eph. 5. â—26 27 Tit. 3.5 but because they are badges of our Christianity to distinguish us from Pagans and all other false Religions the means signs Bonds of our actual incorporation and mystical union into the visible Church of Christ the Memorials of the death of Jesus Christ whereby we shew forth his death till be come and Evidences of our Christians Communion and mutual agreement in faith and brotherly Christian love one towards another as members of the selfsame body as 1 Cor. 10.16,17.21 c. 11.23,24,25,26 c. 12.12.13,14 the 25. 28 Articles of the Church of England the Harmony of Confessions Sect. 11 12 13 14 15. and all who have written of them define them to be 2ly Because there
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
Chron. 15.2 Ames 5.4,6 Isay 47.13 If you seek me early with the whole heart ye shall find me Seek the Lord and ye shall live I said unto the seed of Jacob seek ye me in vain With that of Heb. 5.8 The earth that drinketh in the rain that raineth oft upon it c. is blessed and Mat. 11.28 c. 28.15,16 forecited do all telate to our drawing near to God assembling together hungring thirsting after asking seeking knocking approaching coming to him watching at his gates remembring him in his waies seeking him and drinking in the rain of his Grace in the Lords Supper as well as in prayer fasting preaching reading meditating baptism or anie holy Ordinance else in particular Therefore we may must ought to expect Gods drawing near to us his presence with us our finding all Graces Benefits we ask seek knock thirst after entertainment by yea meeting with God finding of God Spiritual life to our Souls and all other blessings we need for our conversion edification or salvation in by and through the conscionable constant use of this discontinued Sacrament as well as in or by anie other Ordinance whatsoever and z Heb. 4.16 Jam. 1.5,6 we may boldly resort unto it in the concurrent strength of all these promises as to a Soul-converting Grace-begetting as well as Grace corroborating Ordinance let our Antagonists out of their own whimsical brains suggest what evasions they can to the contrarie Mr. Drake himself confessing in his Boundary p. 147. What the Word applied by one sense the Sacraments doth BY ALL SENSES he should have excepted smelling therefore it is a poweâ—full means of assurance and by consequence of conversion too by vertue of all these concurrent Promises 14. That prophecie and promise of Zech. 12.10,11 ch 13.1,2 I will powr upon the house of David c. the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him as one mourneth for his only Son and shall be in bitterness for him as one is in bitterness for his first-born c. applied particularly to our Saviours passion John 19.37 and to the Jews penitential monrning for crucifying him Acts 2.37 c. And in that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and for the Inhabitants of Jerusalem to wash in for sin and for uncleanness and I will cause the unclean Spirit to pass out of the Land c. seems more particularly and specifically to relate to the fountain of a Mat. 26.26,27 Lu. 23.19 1 Cor. 10.16 c. 11.23,24,25,26 Tit. 3.5,6 Rev. 1.5,6 Christs bloud of the New Testament shed for many for the remission of sins and the Communion of his bloud represented to us in the Lords Supper rhan to the word preached or anie other Ordinance except b 1 Pet. 3.21 Ephes 5.26,27 Baptism Therefore we may with much faith and confidence repair to it had we no other promise but this as to a regenerating Soul-humbling sin-clensing sanctifying Ordinance as well as a confirming 15. The Apostle affirms and our Opposites much insist on it in this Controversie That c 1 Cor. 11.27,29 those who eat and drink the Lords Supper unworthily eat and drink judgment and damnation to them selves not discerning the Lords bodie and are guilty of the bloud of the Lord Therefore d Synodus Galonis c. Bochellus Decret Eccles Gal. l. 2. Tit. 1. c. 33. p. 152. by the rule of contraries those who receive it worthily shall eat and drink salvation and mercie to themselves be made partakers of all the benefits of Christs bodie and bloud and absolved from all their sins and guiltiness it being just like the word preached a savour of life unto life as well as of death unto death 2 Cor. 2.15,16 Mar. 16.16 16. That of John 1.12,13 But as many as received him to them gave he privilege or right to become the sons of God even to them that believe on his Name which were born not of bloud nor of the will of the flesh but of God is applicable as well to our receiving of Christ in and by this Sacrament as by the word preached Christ being received in both alike by faith wrought at and by them and men born again by God instrumentally through the use of them Therefore they are both alike regenerating converting Ordinances 17. The Ministry Word Sacraments and all other Ordinances of the Gospel were instituted by Christ for the conversion quickning of those who were dead in trespasses and sins the perfecting of the Saints the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ That we may grow up in all things into him which is the head even Christ from whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to THE EFFECTUALL WORKING IN THE MEASURE OF EVERY PART maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love Yea those Ordinances of God which serve to increase or nourish saving faith and Graces do likewise work and beget them by the corporation of Gods Spirit as is evident by Ephes 2.1,5,6.13 to 21. c. 4.11 to 17. 1 Cor. 10.16,17 c. 12.14 to 31. c. 14.4,5,12,13,14.24,25,26 1 Thes 5.11 Acts 20.32 Col. 2.7,10,11,12,13 1 Cor. 3.9,10,11 Jude 20. 1 Pet. 2.2 to 8. compared together being express in point Therefore all Gospel Ordinances are Soul-converting Regenerating Grace-begetting Edifying as well as confirming yea to assert any Gospel Ordinance or Sacrament to be unconverting is a meer untheological if not atheistical Paradox and Contradiction in it self denying it to be anie Ordinance or Sacrament at all of Divine institution a vilifying e Heb. 10.29 trampling it under feet as an unholy thing yea a meer diabolical invention in the event though not in the intention of those who generally stile them so to bring it into contempt and neglect amongst the people as a meer useless ineffectual Institution which can neither mortifie their corruptions nor regenerate their Natures nor sanctifie their souls nor beget any spiritual life Grace within them and only serve to increase their damnation without prae-existent Grace which it cannot work within them as these Novellers dogmatize 18. I shall desire the Objectors and all Christians seriously to read over all the ends of instituting the Lords Supper by our Saviour expressed in the Practice of Piety so highly applauded by most men and there is scarce one of them but especially the 2 3 4 5 6 7. but will prove it to be a Soul-converting Ordinance working in us as well as being an assured pledge unto us a most near and effectual Communion with Christ whereby there floweth from Christs nature into our natures united to him the lively Spiris and breath of Grace which renueth us to