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A45132 An humble vindication of a free admission unto the Lords-Supper published for the ease, support, and satisfaction of tender consciences (otherwise remediles) in our mixt congregations / as it was delivered at two sermons upon the occasion of this solemnity in the weekely labours of John Humfrey. Humfrey, John, 1621-1719. 1651 (1651) Wing H3681; ESTC R28938 33,828 97

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Faith Rep. But doe We not hereby make our selves one with the wicked with whom we joyne and can we have Communion with Christ and Beliall Answ We doe and must be one with all that joyn in the same profession that is we are one or one body as Members of the same visible Church in its outward capacity freely administring the Ordinances whereof we are to partake but we are not one with them in their evill courses wee disclame them wholly in the impiety of their conversation So that wee have communion herein onely with Christ and have noting to doe with Beliall For I would not have any so grosly think that a joyning with a wicked mans person is having communion with Beliall but accompanying him in his evill wayes Communio malorum non maculat Quēquam participatione Sacramentorum sayes Austine sed consentione factorum If the Corinthians were alive and you joyned with them in going to their Idols this were indeed a communion with Beliall but if you only joyn'd with them in comming to the Lords Table you should partake of Christ alone as the Godly of them then did and as we ought to doe I will go with the wickedst man alive to the Church but I must leave him at the Ale-house We may joyn with any to doe good as to worship God in his Ordinance but we cannot that is we may not joyne with any in the least evill we cannot serve God and the Devill But you will say further Doe wee not professe the wicked with whom we joyne not onely to be one of us but one of Christ and partakers of his death and how can we doe so I answer very well The visible Church is the Body of Christ As Christ said Every branch in me that beareth not fruit Io. 15.2 As Peter sayes There are some that deny the Lord that bought them 2. Pet. 2.1 As Paul sayes There are some that are sanctified with the bloud of the Covenant which they trample upon Heb. 10.29 with Heb. 2.9 2 Cor. 5.14 So say I of all ungodly professors They are such branches in Christ redeemed and sanctified in the same sense as the Scriptures mean in these places that is in regard of a visible esteem whereby they externally partake of the Ordinances of Christ and so are reckoned as Members of him Let such places be laid it little more to heart and when you have made the Orthodox interpretation the Question will be even done and we shall be no longer afraid of a free Admission when we must affirme that there is an historicall visible faith that gives an outward Church-right unto the Elements as a true saving Faith that gives interest to the effectual grace of the Sacraments Even as the branches have some union with the root that bring forth only Leaves though they partake not of that vitall Sap that sends forth fruit also Object 4. The seale is set to a Blanck if All be admitted Answ Unto this which hath troubled many I answer not presently by the distinction of an Outward and Inward an Absolute and Conditional sealing But I desire a right understanding of this Notion how the Sacrament is a Seale I have alwayes thought here lyes generally peoples mistake they take it to be a Seale unto their Faith and if there be no true faith it is set they think unto a blank and this breedes a miserable fear to whom it is deliver'd Let us know therefore that the Sacraments are not properly Seales unto our Faith how do we conceive Faith such a thing as must have Gods Seale put to it God doth not attest our Faith but the truth of his own promises But they are Seals properly of the Covenant A Covenant is a thing must be sealed and the maker is to attest it thereby Indeed they may be said to be Seales of our Faith as Divines speak consecutivè by a consequence of speech because as Seals confirme a thing so Faith is confirmed and strengthened by receiving but they are not Formaliter formally in a true proper sense Seales unto any thing but the Covenant or representations of the effectuall Seal the blood of Christ by which it being ratified with God the Lord declares it by the Gospell unto the administration whereof the Sacaments are set to signifie the undoubted truth of it as Seales we say and Signes shewing us As the bread and wine is broken powred out and offer'd with the other actions so surely hath Christs body bin broken his bloud shed that all that believe in him according to this Covenant should have grace and salvation by him The expression is borrowed from Row 4.11 where Circumcision is said a Seale not simply of Abrahams Faith but of the righteousnesse of his Faith or of righteousnesse I take it through Faith Phil 3.9 that he should be the Father of them that believe which thing sealed to is the very tenor of the Covenant Now let Circumcision be received on Isaac the Child of promise or on Ishmael that must be cast out it is the same Seal of Abrahams Covenant Let the Sacrament be offer'd to the Godly or to the Hypocrite it is the same Seale of God declaring the truth of his Covenant which stands most sure and all the unbelief in the World cannot make it of no effect Even as a Proclamation of pardon as we instanced before unto Rebels comes with the Broad Seale to those that refuse it and yet it is no lesse a true Seale and set to a true writing than if they did all come in and embrace it so that if it want its due effect on the Receiver it may be said if you will to be set upon a Blank where Seales are set but not to a Blank seeing the Lord hath set it to the truth of his Word or grace of his Gospell Rep. But were it not absurd for a man to set his seal when there hath been no agreement and transactions before So do unregenerate men who come to the Sacrament without that solemne giving up the Soule to God as be ought who enters Covenant with him Answ I grant with sorrow there are too many of us come absurdly and but wickedly when wee forget to doe that we ought The Lord forgive us but though in the reciprocall action as it is to be a seal as is said of mans part the receiver fails in his solemne mutuall engagements according to the Covenant whereof he is to repent yet as for the Minister or Church who offer it as a seal on Gods part there is a true seale to a true Copy and nothing out of Order The Sacraments therefore may be considered in their nature and in their use In their nature I take them to be Gods seals only as primarily signifying his grace and shewing forth Christ though in the use and effect they are to be mans too as secondarily he is reciprocally to believe and engage himself unto God Sacramenta nostra accipimus ex