the Sâ—…ack Version Vatablus render it Recorded in the Scriptures which were given for our Instruction 2 Tim. 3.16 written by the immediate Dictates of the Spirit preserved by the gracious Providence of God in the Church from the injuries of Time Ignorance and Fraud through all Ages they have been kept with much greater care than any other Books Translated into all Languages retained both by Orthodox and Hereticks diligently observing and watching each other so that there could not possibly hapen any remarkable variation or alteration in them but that presently the whole world would have exclaimed against it Mans Nature is very prone to be medling with things beyond his Commission which has prov'd the very pest and bane of Christianity for notwithstanding that dreadful prohibition Rev. 22.18,19 of adding to or taking from his word is not Europe full of pernicious Additions and Subtractions in the Worship of God which are imposed as Magisterially as if enstampt with a Divine Character though in themselves no other than as Christ himself calls them the Traditions of men Matth. 15.3 It is a superlative and desperate piece of audacity for men to presume to mend any thing in the Worship of God for it supposes the All-wise Law giver capable of error and the attempter wiser than his Maker And if Soveraign Princes and Worldly States be so jealous of their Prerogatives and respective Rights that they will to the utmost hazard repel any Invader If men be displeased to have their Laws undervalued by the private Judgments of those who rather Interpret than obey them Chrysost in Rom. Hom. 2. If the Conquest of an Enemy against the Command of his General cost a Roman Gentleman his life though his own Father were the Judge Briston de Reg. Pers lib. 1. If the killing of a Lion contrary to the Laws of the Kings Hunting though to rescue the King himself cost a poor Persian his Head If the Architect that brought not the same but as he judged a fitter piece of Timber than he was commanded to a Roman Consul was rewarded with a bundle of Rods. If * Levit. 10.1,2 Nadab and Abihu came to a Tragical end for their prohibited service in offering not the same that was commanded but strange fire before the Lord what shall we say to such as mix their Inventions with the Sacred Institutions and Prescripts of the Great unerring Soveraign When the same person who is to perform the Obedience shall dare to appoint the Laws Implying a peremptory purpose of no further observance than may consist with the allowance of his own Judgment Whereas true Obedience must be grounded on the Majesty of that Power that Commands not on the Judgment of the Subject or benefit of the Prescript proposed not so much from the Quality of the things Commanded as from the Authority of him that Institutes Is not such a Practice an Invasion upon Christs Prerogative Do not such men make themselves as it were Joynt Authors of his Ordinances And may it not be truly said that whoever Practices any Institution otherwise than as was appointed by the Supreme Law-giver does not Honour the Ordinance but an Idol of his own making Mixtures are useful for two purposes viz. Either to slaken and abate some thing that is excessive or to supply something that is deficient and so all Heterogeneous mixtures do plainly intimate either a Viciousness to be Corrected or a Defect to be Supplyed Now it is no less than Blasphemy to charge either of these upon the Pure and Perfect Word of God and any Glosses that take away or diminish the force of it or human Traditions that argue any defect are equally dangerous and impious To stamp any thing of a humane Original with a Divine Character and father it upon God is one of the highest and most daring Presumptions the Pride of man can aspire unto and is provided against by special prohibitions and threatning Deut. 12.32 and 18.20 Jer. 26.2 Prov. 30.6 When that question shall be askt Who hath required this at your hands I doubt it will be no sufficient plea to say That if we have erred in any Punctilio's of Divine Truth it was for Peace and Unions sake c. For No motions of Peace are to be made or received with the loss of Truth Nor may the Laws Orders and Prescriptions of Christ be altered or varyed in any tittle upon any pretence whatsoever God having never given any such Prerogative to mankind as to be Arbitrators how he may be best and most decently Worshiped It is not to be questioned but all Protestants or any sober impartial Persons that bear any Reverence to the Divine Majesty and his holy Word will readily own these General Theories which are so self-evidencing that if any gainsay them he does at the same time strike at the Majesty Wisdom and Authority of GOD the most daring and desperate Enterprize in the World Now this being as it must be granted viz. That no part of Gods Law or Worship whether we respect the Manner or Form or the Matter and Substance thereof is to be altered without the express Order and Direction of GOD Himself It will lead us to a Sober Enquiry Whether the Opinion here examined be grounded upon the Law and Word of God To do which for Methods sake Chap. 1. We will state the Question Chap. 2. We will propose some Reasons why Unbaptised Persons may not be admitted to the Lords Supper Chap. 3. We will produce some Scripture-Demonstrations to evidence that such a Practice viz. so to admit them is not Evangelical Chap. 4. We will shew that it is against the Practice and Judgment of all Christians that have owned Ordinances for above Sixteen hundred Years Chap. 5. We will Answer Objections In the prosecution of which Heads we shall labour to sift out Truth Impartially propose our own Judgment candidly and plainly without the least Reflection upon or Prejudice to our Christian Brethren that dissent from us in this Point with whom and with all that can own the Name of the Lord Jesus according to his Gospel we desire to live in Brotherly Love and Christian Society and if we find our Brethren entertain any unsound Notion with respect to Gospel Truths we look upon it as our duty to endeavour to inform them of it in a meek and sober way and if we fail of success then to leave them to the Lord who in his own due Season will uncloud those Sacred Mysteries which yet are hidden to a great many We are not willing to be Censorious nor arrogate that wisdom to our selves as to think that we are wiser than others yet in all Modesty we may be bold to affirm that in the point here handled we have the Scriptures and the concurrence of * See Ch. 4. following all Christians from the beginning to this Age on our side whereas the opposite Opinion can chalenge but a few Favourites and is
A Sober Discourse OF RIGHT TO Church-Communion Wherein is proved by Scripture the Example of the Primitive Times and the Practice of All that have Professed the Christian Religion That no Vnbaptized person may be Regularly admitted to the Lords Supper By W. Kiffin a lover of Truth and Peace Act. 2.41 Then they that gladly received his Word were Baptized and the same day there were added to them about three thousand Souls Deut. 5.32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the Lord your God hath Commanded you you shal not turn aside to the right hand or to the left Col. 2.5 Joying and beholding your order and the stedfastness of your Faith in Christ London Printed by Geo. Larkin for Enoch Prosser at the Rose and Crown in Sweethings-Alley at the East End of the Royal Exchange 1681. TO THE Christian READER WHen it pleased God of his free Grace to cause me to make a serious inquiry after Jesus Christ and to give me some tast of his pardoning Love the sence of which did ingage my heart with desires to be obedient to his will in all things I used all indeavers both by Converse with such as were able and also by diligently searching the Scriptures with earnest desires of God that I might be directed in a right way of Worship and after some time concluded that the safest way was to follow the Footsteps of the Flock namely that Order laid down by Christ and his Apostles and Practised by the Primitive Christians in their times which I found to be that after Conversion they were Baptised added to the Church and Continued in the Apostles Doctrine Fellowship Breaking of Bread and Prayer according to which I thought my self bound to be Conformable and having continued in the Profession of the same for these forty years although through many Weaknesses and Fears Temptations and Sufferings yet not without some Witness from God of his gracious Acceptance and Strength to this very day The sence I have of my own Weakness and Inability would have been a Bar to me to appear in this Publick way did I not see a necessity lying upon me for the Truths-sake and the sakes of many by reason of some that have lately risen up to weaken if not make void that great Ordinance of Baptism by indeavouring to maintain that all persons that Believe although they never did nor do Practice the same may partake of the Ordinance of the Lords Supper and all other Gospel instituted Duties A Notion not only Contrary to the Primitive Pattern but the Constant Practice of all that ever professed the Christian Religion or that own the Scriptures to be the Rule of Faith and Practise and it would be a happiness to the Christian Religion if all that Profess the same did in other things agree as they do in this namely that none ought to be Partakers of the Lords Supper but such as have been Baptised those that differ in this matter from them would be found to be as few in Number as they are Weak in Argument and although I am well satisfied that the performance of all Duties and Ordinances will be of no value to any man further than Christ is injoyed in them the very Gospel it self Severed from Christ will prove the Administration of Death 2 Cor. 1.21 The Powerfulest Preaching and the clearest Discourse of the free Grace of God hath no Life in it unless the soul be led by the Spirit to Christ who is the Life of all Duties Knowledge of the Truth and Obedience to it in outward performances will as little save a mans soul as the Covenant of Works Yet every man that hath an interest in Christ is bound by the Word of God to be obedient to all his Commands It was the great Commendation of Zacharias and Elizabeth That they walked in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameless the Ordinance of Baptism is none of the least the very Foundation of Religion being comprehended in the Form thereof as appeareth at large by the Worthy and Learned Dr. Owen in his Book of the Divine Nature and Personality of the Holy Spirit pag. 50. viz. All things necessary to this purpose are comprised in the solemn form of our Initiation into Covenant with God Matth. 28.19 Our Lord Jesus Christ Commands his Apostles to Disciple all Nations Baptising them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Ghost this is the Foundation we lay of our Obedience and Profession which are to be regulated by this Initial ingagement pag. 51. No sence can be afixed unto these words but what doth unavoidably include his Personality we are alike Baptised into their Name equally submiting to their Authority and equally taking the Profession of their Name upon us Again By being Baptised into the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost we are Sacredly Initiated and Consecrated or Dedicated unto the Service and Worship of the Father Son and Holy Ghost this we take upon us in our Baptism herein lies the Foundation of all our Faith and Profession with that ingagement of our selves unto God which Constitutes our Christianity this is the pledge of our entrance into Covenant with God and of our giving up our selves unto him in the solemn Bond of Religion And concludes in pag. 52. If the Doctrine of a Trinity of Persons subsisting in the same undivided Essence be not taught and declar in these words we may justly despair of ever having any Divine Mystery manifested unto us I leave the Reader to peruse it at large If this Ordinance of Baptism be the Pledge of our Entrance into Covenant with God and of the giving up our selves unto him in the solemn Bond of Religion and we are hereby Dedicated unto the service of the Father Son and Holy Ghost then must it of necessity be the First Ordinance before that of the Lords Supper We may as well conclude a man may go into a House before he Enters and a man may be paid for his Goods and afterwards receive Earnest as any may lawfully partake of the Lords Supper before he is Baptized And if we are sacredly Initiated and Consecrated or Dedicated unto the Worship of the Father Son and Holy Ghost as that Text Matth. 28,19 sheweth we are and take this upon us in our Baptism and thereby owning the Spirit to be God equal with the Father and the Son as that Faith which is to be exercised by us in all other Ordinances than the admitâ—ing of persons to the Lords Supper and other Instituted Duties before they are Baptised doth greatly weaken this main Argument of the Spirits being God at least in the Practice of these Gospel Duties for from what Scripture will it be made appear that he is so to be owned in them if ye partake of them before or without being Baptised if this be laid as the Foundation of all our Faith and Profession which are to be built
upon in all our Profession if it be omited the structure must needs be weak we had need rather to have our Faith strengthened in the belief of so great and essential a Truth as the Divine Essence of the Spirit is by the use of all means appointed to that end Mr. Francis Cheynel in his Learned Treatise of the Divine Trinity Printed 1650. pag. 258. quotes it as the Judgment of Iraeneus Tertullian Athanasius Basil and others of the Ancients That the Principal Fundamentals of the Christian Faith is Contained in the Form of Baptism and founded on Matt. 28.19 And in page 185. tells us If any man in Athanasius 's time asked how many persons Subsist in the Godhead they were wont to send him to Jordan and there you may hear and see the blessed Trinity Matt. 3.16 in pag. 381. God the Holy Ghost is to be obey'd we are devoted to his Service in Baptism And pag. 430. In Baptism we Christians are devoted and Consecrated to the Belief Worship and Service of God the Father God the Son and God the Holy Ghost By which we may see what Esteem the Antients had of that Ordinance and great Reason there is for every Christian to be found in the Practice thereof seeing they are thereby Baptized into Father Son and Holy Ghost as the first Foundation of our visible Profession of Christ for as Repentance is the Visible initiating grace so Baptism is called the Baptism of Repentance as the first initiating Ordinance I have for the satisfaction of All indeavoured in the following Essay to clear this truth both from Scripture and Example as also to produce the Judgment of the Learned in all Ages As for our Modern Divines you have their own words set down faithfully by me and as for those who are more Ancient I have requested a Friend to Translate the same which I doubt not but is done Impartially And although I may expect to meet with Censures from some who will be ready to charge the Truth herein with Vncharitableness and to be of a dividing Nature yet I can with comfort and sincerity of heart in the Presence of God declare I have no other design but the preserving the Ordinances of Christ in their purity and Order as they are left unto us in the holy Scriptures of Truth and to warn the Churches To keep close to the Rule least they being found not to Worship the Lord according to his prescrib'd Order he make a Breach amongst them neither are you presented with any new Opinion but that which hath been the Judgment of all that have Professed the Christian Religion in all times so that what Censure any shall make upon it respects not us only but the servants of God of all Perswasions in all Ages and for my self as I have a witness in my own Conscience so I doubt not but I have the same also with those that know me that I have made it a great part of my Duty as I have had opportunity to persuade all Christians to Love and Peace to avoid judging and reproching each other under their differing Perswasions to turn their Heats and Passions which hath greatly abounded in our days one against another into Prayer and Supplication 〈◊〉 for another that although they differ in their Light it may not make any breach in their Love He that knows most of the mind of God knows but in part for who art thou that judgest another mans servant I shall trouble you no farther but leave the perusal of this small Essay to thy serious consideration Thine in the Service of Christ W. K. ERRATA PAge 7. line 23. read Waldenses p. 13. margent for supra r. frustra p. 18. l. 8. r. practisers p. 35. l. 20. r. dispensed p. 47. l. 19. dele of l. 24. for at r. until p. 57. l. 5. r. The Rule p. 70. l. 11. r. principles p. 75. margent l. 4. r. that they p. 83. l. 14. r. Suspiciens p. 85. l. 15. r. Catechumens p 86. l. 11. r. Yet the. l. 23. r. except p. 89. r. Baptism for p. 89. r. 87. for 92. r. 90. for 93. r. 91. for 96. r. 94. for 97. r. 95. where line 9. r. But. l. 11. r. Baptizing p. 97. l. 11. r. Initiation p. 108. l. 1. r. Judgment p. 109. l. 23. r. of Christ Commonly p. 110. l. 18. r. consequence for p. 211. r. 112. where l. 24. r. to joy in beholding last l. r. none p. 118. l. 16. dele others p. 132. l. 11. for first r. later p. 136. l. 19. dele to p. 140. l. 21. r. choice of l. 22. r. inforce p. 148. l. 10 for sheet r. street p. 153. l. 12. r. by the. p. 158. margent l. 9. dele one Law p. 144. last l. for But r. By. Litteral escapes and mispointings are left to the Candor of the Reader to Correct or Pardon THE PREFACE WHat was Praise-worthy in those Primitive Christians to whom the Apostle Paul writes 1. Cor. 11.2 Can be no Blemish but really a Duty in other Christians in after times to imitate his words are I praise you Brethren that ye remember me in all things and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them to you our Translation of the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greek Word rendring it Ordinances is excepted against by some Papists especially Gregory Martin reputed a great Linguist in the Rhemish Seminary who would have it Translated Traditions to countenance the Romish Opinion to which shall be opposed that the Greek Word signifies indeed Tradition that is in English a Delivery viz. of Doctrines Ordinances Instructions or Institutions 2. Thess 2.15 by those Evangelical Preachers to their Auditors which is nothing else but the Doctrine of the Gospel first Preached which is of the greatest and highest Authority and afterwards committed to writing by the Evangelists and Apostles as standing Records to future Ages so that any Traditions besides what is written are justly to be excepted against and in matters relating to Divine Worship to be esteem'd Apocryphal Because a Delivery of Transactions or Doctrines by Ancestors to Posterity by word of Mouth is liable to many mistakes and uncertainties by reason of the different constitutions and circumstances of men who frequently introduce that Authority to colour their Inventions or the product of their imaginary Fancies with respect to Divine Matters Though it is very apparent that such a Rule is not at all self-evidencing for it cannot prove it self nor is it Demonstrative for it has no certain Medium to Convince nor Universally True in all times and places because Reports vary every where neither is it Unerring being no where stampt with that Character and lastly not Plain for no doubting person can possibly examine all Traditions Now these are some of the properties of a General Rule to try Controversies by which being wanting in Oral Traditions the word cannot here be understood otherwise than by Ordinances or Institutions of the Gospel * So
c. you have frequent Precepts and Examples of it Act. 2.38 Act. 8.38 Act. 9.18 Act. 10.48 Act. 16.15,33 Act. 18.8 c. Neither do we find any one Ordinance of the New Testament so made use of by the Apostle to incite Christians to dye to sin and live to God as this Ordinance of Baptism being that which is signified thereby is called a Burial with Christ Rom. 6.4 A putting on of Christ Gal. 3.27 The signification of the washing away of our sins by the blood of Christ Act. 22.16 That having an interest in Christ and being buryed with him We may walk in newness of life c. Whereas besides the Institution of the Lords Supper by Jesus Christ instanced by the several Evangelists that Ordinance is but four times mentioned viz. Act. 2.42 Act. 20.7 1 Cor. 10.16 and 11.23 By all which it appears that the Ordinance of Baptism as it has the Precedency in point of Order so it is more frequently mentioned and more earnestly inculcated than the other therefore the Obligation to preserve it as Delivered by Christ and his Apostles is indispensable 4. In regard it is granted by such as hold the opinion here argued against that Baptism and the Supper c. are positive Institutions It will unavoidably follow tha◠all the Force and Authority they have upon the Conscience in point of Practice is to be derived from the plain express Law and Word of God which made them Ordinances from whence only we are to seek both a Warrant for and the Method and manner of Practising them The Direction given to Moses was See that thou make ALL things according to the PATTERN shewed thee in the Mount Heb. 8.5 Exod. 25.9 to 40. And no less exact are Christians to be in the Administration of Gospel Ordinances since to deviate from the express Rule is branded with the odious Title of Will-Worship and humane Tradition All Sound and Orthodox Writers with one mind agree and meer Reason teaches it that where a Rule and express Law is prescribed to men that very Prescription is an express prohibition of the contrary Act. 2.38 to 42. Here we have the Order of Gospel Administration not only Commanded but Practised First they Preached and such as were Converted were Baptized such as were Baptized walkt in Church-Fellowship c. Breaking of Bread and Prayers which being so express what necessity is there to be wise above what is written and to clamour for Precept or Example to prove that Baptism is a bar to Communion since we read every where where Gospel order is set down that all such as were received were first Baptized and not one instance in the whole Bible that any were received without it Nor is it rational to think that any were admitted to Church-Fellowship any other way unless we will say that these positive Precepts were calculated for some only and not for all Christians which is not only absurd but against the very Letter of the Scripture Matth. 28.19 Teach all Nations Baptizing them that is every individual that gladly receives the Word in every Nation Take Eat c. Drink ye all of it Matth. 26.26 c. That is every individual Member of the Church Which Interpretation must needs stand until the Maintainers of this new Opinion can assign to what sort of Christians these Divine Precepts are obligatory and to what sort they are not a thing impossible to be made out Which I shall shut up in the words of Mr. Coxe in his late Discourse of the Covenants page 131. In matters of Positive Right saith he we can have no warrant for our practice but from a Positive Precept for things of this kind fall not within the compass of Common Light or general Principles of Natural Religion but have their Original from a particular distinct and independent Will of the Law-giver And therefore Inferences built upon General Notions may soon lead us into mistakes about them if upon such inferences we Form a Rule to our selves of larger extent than the express words of the Institution do warrant Which as it is a sound and excellent Truth quite overthrows this practice of admitting Unbaptized persons to the Communion of the Lords Supper there being no positive Precept to warrant it Quere how consistent c. and therefore is queried how this their Opinion can be consistent or reconciled with these expressions To conclude The ends and uses of Baptism being 1. To represent to the Eye and Understanding by a visible sign or figure what hath been Preacht to the Ear and Heart 2. To witness Repentance Matth. 3.6,11 Act. 2.38 Mark 1.4 3. To evidence Regeneration called in allusion to it the washing of Regeneration Tit. 3.5 A being born of the Water and the Spirit John 3.5 4. A Symbol of our dying unto sin and living again to Christian newness of life Rom. 6.4 Col. 2.12 c. It is therefore an Ordinance of very great significancy and such as go about to lay it aside as this Opinion in its tendency and Consequence must needs do deserve no thanks from the Churches of Christ who have experienced much of the Lords presence in its Regular and Orderly Administration CHAP. III. Shews that this Practice of admitting Unbaptized Persons to the Lords Supper is against Scripture TO Demonstrate this Truth we shall add some further enforcements from that Text before-mentioned viz. 1 Cor. 11.2 Now I praise you Brethren that ye remember me in all things and keep the * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Syriack Mandatum a Command Institutum an Ordinance Rivet Praecepta mea tenetis and keep my Precepts Montanus Ordinances as I delivered them unto you The Apostle having in the foregoing Chapter verse 14. exhorted them to fly from Idolatry shewing the great danger of mixture in the Worship of God in verse 22. brings them to consider the danger Do we provoke the Lord to * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad iram vel ad aemulandi studium provoco To provoke to wrath or jealousie jealousie Are we stronger than he And ver 23. to prevent all mistakes sheweth that in things of an indifferent Nature there might be a lawful use of them provided therein all occasion of offence were avoided And elsewhere viz. Rom. 14. he Treats largely of the duty of Saints to bear one with another and not to with draw their Love and Affections from each other where the matter of difference lay only in such things as in themselves had no relation to the Worship of God In the beginning of this Chapter he exhorts them to be followers of him as he was of Christ by which he informs them that no mans Practise or Example ought to be any further followed than they follow Christ In the Text he commends them for their care in keeping the Ordinances of Christ pure both with respect to matter and form as appears by the Phrase as they were delivered unto you from whence we