Of Religious Communion Private and Public, Part 1
Of private Communion.
THE Apostle vvriteing to the Church at Colossus with much ioy for theyr stablenes in the grace of God receaved, reduceth the whole matter of that his‡Colos. 2. 5. reioyceing to two generall heads: Fayth, & Order. Of which two, fayth (though set after in place) is before, both in nature, tyme, & dignity: as makeing men in theyr persons severally fit for, & capable of that order, wherein they are ioyntly to be vnited.
Now from these two spring heads (as it were) thus distinguished, do …sue, & arise two sorts of externall religions actions, or exercises: which …e may not vnfitly, for distinction sake, call, Personall, & Church Actions. By personall actions I do vnderstand such as arise from, & are performed immediately by the personall fayth, & other graces of God, in the hearts of holy men. Of which sorte are, private prayer, thanksegiveing, & singing of Psalmes, Profession of fayth, & confession of sins, reading, or opening …he Scriptures, & hearing them so read, or opened, eyther in the family, or …s where, without any Church-power, or ministery comeing between. Of …he 2d: sorte are the receaving in, & casting out of members, the electing, … deposeing of officers, the vse of a publique ministery, & all communion …herewith. For which workes, howsoeverHebr. 1… 6. fayth, & other personall graces …e required that men in them may Please God, yet are not these graces suffi…int for the doeing of them, except withall there concur, & come between, Ch: state, & order: in, & by which, they are to be exercised, as by theyr most immediate, & proper cause: from which, by the rule of reason, they …re to have theyr denomination, & so to be called Church-Actions.
And that the actions of the first kynde, (& more particularly) private …rayer (of which I am specially to speak) may, & ought to be performed …y godly persons (though out of the order of a true visible Church) both …he†Math. … 8. 9. 10. & cap. 19 22. &c. Act. 10. … 23. 34. 35. Scriptures, & common reason teach: and that not onelyonly by them se…erally, & one by one, but ioyntly, & together also, as there is occasion: …hey being ioynt members of the mistical body of Christ by fayth, & ioynt…yRom. 8. 26. & cap 10 10 … pertakers of the same Spirit of adoption, & prayer; from which common …ayth, & vnion of the spirit dwelling in them, this communion ariseth, they …hereby being priveledged ioyntly to say, Our Father: as was also Practised1. Cor. …. 7. by Cornelius, & his holy family, though out of a true visible Church. Neythe… is it a matter worthy the proveing lawfull for a godly housband, & wife ioyntly to sanctify theyr meat, & drink by prayer, & thankesgiveing, & so… to beg together at Gods hands, or to give thankes for other good things vppon themselves, & theyrs, though they be out of the order of a tru… Church. Neyther indeed do the members of the visible Church perfor… private prayer, or the like exercises, whether severally, & by one, & one or ioyntly; by vertue of that theyr Church state, or with any referenc… vntounto it, but merely as a duety of the Christian person, or family: (which must be before the Christian Church as the parts before the whole:) & which they were also as well, & as much bound vntounto, though they were o… no visible Ch: at all: no more then was Cornelius, & his family, & friends which notwithstanding was his, & theyr fault.
These things thus premised, I come to the thing I aym at in thi… whole discourse, which is, that we, who professe a separation from the Engl: Nationall, Provinciall, Diocesan, & Parochiall Church, & Churches, in the wh… formall state, & order thereof, may notwithstanding lawfully communicate in private prayer, & other the like holy exercises (not performed in theyr Church Communion, nor by theyr Church power & ministery) with the godly amongst them (though remayning (of infirmity) members of the same Church, or Churches) excep… some other extraordinary bar come in the way, between them, & vsus.
And since the subiect, & ground of this Communion, is holy persons & the same so discerned mutually, & on both sydes, I think it needfull for the clearer passage of things, & better information of divers both adversaryes, & freinds (haveing greatly misinterpreted our wryteings, & testimony) here breifly to note down what our iudgment hath alwaye… been of the sincere fayth, & holines of many particular person in the asemblyes, notwithstanding our testimony agaynst the body of the same as semblyes, in theyr communion, order, & ordinances.
And first, our witnessing agaynst the Church of Engl: (so called) a Babilon, in her degree, both in respect of the confusion, as of persons good & bad, of all sortes. so of things Christian, & Antichristian, covering all… as also of that spirituall bondage, wherein the Lords people are kept vnde… the spirituall Lordship of the prelacy, there reigning, doth witnes for … agaynst all men, that we acknowledg the Lords people, & godly per sons there:‡K…v 15. 4. out of which they are thefore called by the voyce of the Lor… from heaven, to build vp themselves†1. Pet. 2. 5. as lively stones into a spirituall temple for th… Lord to dwell in: as were the Lors people of ould called out of Babilon C… vile, to build the materiall temple in Ierusalem, although as then was, … Es…. 1. & cap. 7.now is too slack obedience yealded to the Lords call herein.Neh. 2.
More particularly. Mr: H. Barrow in that his letter written a litle before his death, (& so the more advisedly, especially in that poynt, in which a snare was layd for his life) to an honourable Lady yet liveing, as he …cknowledgeth her in her person, to have been educated, & exercised in the …ayth, & fear of God, so professeth he further, that he gladly embraceth, & …eleeveth the common fayth receaved, & professed in the land as good, & sound: …hat he had reverend estimation of sundry, & good hope of many hundred thou…ands in the land, though he vtterly disliked the present constitution of the Church, &c.
VntoUnto which his testimony as the Authours of†Pag. 11 114. the Apology do assent, …o do they further professe theyr perswasion that of many the Lords people …n the Realm, belonging to the Lords election of grace, & pertakers of his mercy to …alvation in Christ, some are further called, & some still remayn in defection: fur…her instanceing in sundry Preists, & Fryars, that have been Martyrs of …esus, witnessing the truth they saw agaynst the Romish Anti-Christ & yet reteyn…ng theyr Popish functions, & communion with that Church, which stands subiect … the wrath of God: Both Mt: Barrow, & they accordingly in another …lace, commending the fayth of the Engl: Martyrs, & deeming them saved, notwithstanding the false Offices & great corruptions in the worship they exercised: & so professing the same iudgment of others in the realm, where the same precious …ayth in sincerity, & simplicity is found, (they neyther neglecting to search out the …ruth, nor despiseing it, when they see it) the mercy of God thorough theyr sincere …ayth to Iesus Christ, extending, & superabounding above all theyr sins seen, & …nseen.
Lastly Mr: Penry a litle before his exequution, acknowledgeth in …is Confession, that both of the teachers, & Professours of the assemblyes have so …mbraced the truth of doctrine in the land established, & professed, that the Lord … his infinite goodnes hath graunted them favour, to shew out wherein, in regard …f Gods election, he iudgeth them members of the body, whereof the sonne of God …esus Christ is the head: onelyonly herein praying the Lord to be mercifull vntounto them, … as vntounto himself in regard of his sins) that they are not ordered in that outward …rder, which Christ Iesus left in his Church, but instead thereof, &c.
All these, we see, as they rightly distinguish between fayth & order, (though even order also be a matter of*Kom. 1. 23. fayth, if it be not a matter of sin, & without …arrant from Gods word) so do they planly acknowledg the personall …ayth, & grace vntounto salvation in many though remayning (of ignorance, & infirmity) members of that Church agaynst whose constitution, order, & ordinances, they witnessed, divers of them, vntounto death: & not onelyonly …hat such people were there, in the generall, but also that they did so …steem, & iudg of many of them in particular. And surely if the Lords people be there, it is no difficult thing for the spiritual man, conversein… with them, to discern, & iudg ordinarily, which they bee. The spirit of God in one of his people will own it self in another of them though disfigure… with many faylings, especially in outward orders, & ordinances: &‡Iam. 2. 17. 18. fayt… (if it be not dead) may be seen by works, of him that hath a sprituall ey… thorough many infirmityes.Luce 6. …4. The tree, sayth Christ, is known by the fruits: … may the good trees truely planted by fayth into Christ, & haveing in the… the heavenly sap, & iuyce of his spirit (though growing for the present out of the Lords walled Orchard, the true visible Church, & in the wild… wildernes of the prophane assemblyes) ordinarily be known by the good fruits of fayth, & of the spirit evidently appearing in theyr persons. who… whilst the world can in all places so far discern, as to hate, despise, & persequute them, as none of hers, it were marvayl, if we should not discern them to be children of the same common Father with vsus, & so know, & acknowledg one another (though†1. Ioh. 3. 1 the world which knowes not him knew neyther o… both.) And passing this iudgment one vppon another mutually, though not by the rule of certaynty, which a man can have onelyonly of him self ordinarily, as onelyonly knowing his own heart, yet more then in hope, which extends it self to the apparently prophane, (for we are to hope that they wh… are not to day, may be to morrow) & even by that goulden rule of love or*1. Cor. 13. 5. 7. charity, which thinketh not evill, nor is suspitious, but beleeveth all things & taketh them in the best parte:‡1. Pet. 4. 8. covering (especially vnderunder the graces o… Gods spirit, where they appear, though in never so small a measure) a multitude of sins; we shall walk in love, after Christs example, & fulfill the law of Chris… Eph. 5. 2. Gal 6. 2. Mark. 4. 24.by bearing one another burthen: thereby also procureing the like mercifull measure to be meeted out to vsus agayn both by God, & men, in respect of our infirmityes.
Lastly if men were to iudg vsus (even whilst we abode in the assemblyes … ignorance, or infirmity) men fearing God, & sanctifyed in our persons, b… the profession, & appearance which we made: then are we also in equit… to make the same estimate of the persons of others, though abydeing i… the assemblyes, as we did, makeing the same manifestation, & appearance… (& it may be greater then) the most of vsus have done. And as we our selve… then haveing receaved of God the grace of sanctification in our measure & makeing manifestation thereof, accordeing to that, we had receaved; & being to be iudged by others accordeing to the manifestation we made did, & might iustly look, that they should deem vsus truely faythfull, & sanctifyed, though never so weakly: so are we to have agayn the like estimation of others accordeing to theyr measure receaved, & manifested: rem… bring alwayes that most equall rule of Christ our Lord, that whatsoever … would men should do vntounto vsus, even so to do to them, which is the Law, & the Prophets.
I will therefore conclude this poynt with a double exhortation: the former respecting vsus our selves, who have (by the mercy of God) with theMat. 7. 12. fayth of Christ, receaved his order, & ordinances: which is, that we please not our selves therein too much, as if in them, piety, & religion did chiefly consist: which was not the least calamity of the Lords people of ould, for which he also sharply reproved, & severely punished them: of which evill, & overvaluation of these things (housoever great in themselvs) we are in thePsal. 40 6. 7. 8. more daunger, considering our persequutions, & sufferings for them: but …hatas we believ these things are necessarily to be done, so we considerHeb. 10. Psal. … 16. 17. Ier. 7. 21. 22. Hos 6. Mic. 6. 7. 8. that other things are not onelyonly not to be left vndone, but to be done much more. The grace of fayth in Christ, & the fear of God, the continuall renueing of our repentance, with love, mercy, humility, & modesty, together with fervent prayer, & hearty thanksgiveing vntounto God, for his vnspeakcable goodnes, are the things wherein especially we must serv God: nourishing them in our own hearts, & so honoring them in others, wheresoever they appear to dwell. And if God wilbe known, & honoured in all his creatures, yea even in the sillyest worm that crawleth vppon the earth, how much more in the holy graces of his spirit vouchsafed to his elect; notwithstanding theyr faylings of infirmity, especially in outward ordinances. Which personall graces whilst too many have vndervalued in other men, & neglected in themselves, in comparison, God hath been provoked to suffer so many amongst vsus to fall, some into such personall sins, & evilles (notwithstanding theyr advantage in the Lords ordinances) as from which without these helpes) many thousands of them have been preserved: & …thers both from the conscience of Gods ordinances, & of the personall …leutyes of holines, & honesty; as is generally to be seen in such, as have made apostacy from theyr former profession with vsus.
The other exhortation I direct vntounto them about whom I deal: which is, …hat they content not themselves with that fayth, & grace in theyr persons, which they have receaved, reiecting, or neglecting vnderunder any praetext, or excuse whatsoever, the order, ordinances, & institutions of the L: Iesus: in, by …he vse whereof, theyr fayth should be nourished in it self, & manifested vntounto others: much more, that they continue not theyr submission to the contrary, which is of Anti-Christ: lest God (besydes greater evilles) punish them with yet greater confusion, & bondage therin: that, vnderunder which …hey are being such already, as (I suppose) I may truely affirm, that never Church in the world, in which so many excellent truthes were taught, stood …n such confusion both of persons, & things, & vnderunder such a bondage spiri…uall, as that of Engl: doth at this day.
Now before I come to prove the thing I aym at, I think it fit to satisfy the principall obiections, which I have taken knowledg of agaynst the thing, I entend.
And it will fust be demaunded of me, considering my iudgment of the parrish OBI.assemblyes, as Anti-Christian, & of sundry the practises there as idolatrous, & withall, what iudgments the Scriptures denounce agaynst such estates, & practises, how I can deem any the membres of such assemblyes, & so practiseing, as truely Christian? or how I can without pollution communicate with them, who are by the touching of so many vnclean both persons, & things, themselves made vnclean?
For answer. First, it is true, that vppon the true Church the Scriptures…NSW. do pronunce most excellent blessings; as they do also denounce fearfull curses vppon the false: as it is also true, that whatsoever is spoken of the whole body, the one, or other, ioyntly, belongs to ech member of eyther, severally: provided, that in both, things be in theyr right state, & order: which is, that there be none, but faythfull, & holy persons in the true Church, & none but vnholy, & prophane persons in the false: for none other should be, in the one, or other. But if now it come to passe otherwise, & that thorough the Churches want of Vigilancy or Zeal, & the partyes hypocrisy (which hath been alwayes, & is too too common) there be in the true Church vnfaythfull, & prophane persons, shall we say, that those pretiouse promises made to the true Church in which they wrongfully are, do apperteyn vntounto them, & vntounto theyr persons? & that they are elect of God, saynts by calling, & sanctifyed in Christ, to the hope of life, &c.? So if, on the contrary it come to passe, thorough her craft, & cruelty, & theyr own weaknes (which is too too common also) that godly, & faythfull persons be in the false Church where they should not be, shall we now lay vppon theyr persons all the curses, & condemnation, which the Scriptures denounce agaynst the estate of the false Church, & the superstitions thereof? were not this to iustify the wicked, because he is in the true Church: where he should not be? & to condemn the righteouse because he is in the false Church, where he should not be neyther? Or are not all godly wis… men in these, & the like disordered states of things, to have vse of Christian discretion for the putting of difference between person, & person notwithstanding theyr common Church state, & order, the wicked with the godly in the true Church, & vnderunder Christs ordinances, & the godly with the wicked in the false Church vnderunder the forgeryes of Anti-Christ? Otherwise our iudgment wilbe as confused, as is theyr estate. Neyther is it a more difficult thing for a spirituall, & vnpartiall ey to discern a godly man in a false Ch: where the falsenes ariseth not from the falsity of fayth, but … order, & ordinances, then to discern a wicked man in a true Church.
And this consideration had, may serv for answer to the cheif part of the obiection: which is also no more in effect, then hath been answered by the Authours of † the Apology, before me, in theyr defence agaynstPag 11 that vniust accusation layd vppon them by theyr adversaryes, that they affirmed the whole Realm to be drowned in confusion without assurance of salvation.
Theyr answer is, that there is difference to be put between PERSONS themselves, & between theyr ACTIONS or ESTATE otherwise. The person sometimes is blessed, when the action, or standing in an other behalf, may be such as is subiect to curse: &c. As on the contrary also, sometymes the person is subiect to curse, Qwhenas yet the action, or standing may be blessed in another respect. And both those parts of theyr distinction they prove by sundry instāces from the Scriptures. Some whereof I will here note down, adding also some others therevnto, for the confirmation of the first head of the distinction, which more directly concerns the present question, which is about godly persons performing of, or standing in some corrupt, & cursed actions, or estate otherwise. Thus were Simeon, & Levi, Gen. 49. 7. 28.both Blessed in theyr persons, & Cursed in theyr outragious fact agaynst the Shechemites: thus was the Canaa…itish woman, & her daughter both dogs, or whelpes, in respect of theyrMat. … 26. 27.… …ation, & people, & Children of Abraham in theyr persons: thus was* Peter both a faythfull, & beloved disciple, in his person, & yet in his counsayl to Christ, Sathan: thus were†Mat. 16. 1… 17. … the Corinth: both vnlevened, & holy, in …heyr persons, & levened, or impute in the lump of theyr communion, with …he incestuous man vncensured amongst them: as also the same Corinth:1. Cor. … 6. 7. …oth spirituall (though but‡Cap. … 1. 3. babes in Christ) & yet in respect of theyr strife, & divisions, not spirituall but carnall. Where the Apostle also noteth out the …riginall cause of these contraryetyes in, & about the same persons: & …ow it comes to passe, that one, & the same man doth works so contrary …ne to another, & so is subiect, in respect thereof, to two so contrary estimates, & Censures. The reason then is, because every regenerate man, in …his life, hath in him two men:• the ould man, not yet fully cast of; & the new …an, though prevayling, yet not perfitly put on, & renued: & these two (els …here called)*Eph. 4. 22. 23. 24. the flesh, & the spirit; contrary the one to the other, & lusting the one …gaynst the other. And so forceible is this lusting sin, & flesh in the best, as thatGal 5. 17. …t not onelyonly keeps them from knoweing much truth which they should …now, & from doeing much good which they would do, & from doeing …hat good they do, as they both should, & would; but also misleadeth them …nto sundry aberrations, & evils, (besydes theyr falles, into greater mischeifs, at tymes, out of which they are restored by particular repentance) & therin cōtinueth them to theyr dying day. The Apostle professeth of himself that he†1. Cor. 13. 12. knoweth but in parte: & how small a parte of his knowledg, is ours? The Prophet‡Psa. 19. 2. David teacheth, that no man can vnderstand his errours, & … prayes God to cleanse him from his secret sins. And amongst, & above those … all other kindes, the servants of God are still endaungered by the errours, & evilles of the tymes: whose corrupt customes do often eyther dim they… eyes, as a mist: or carry them along as a strong stream: or otherwise op… presse them with a thousand tyrannyes. Examples of this mischief we hav… too many in the Scriptures. In Abrahams, Iakobs, Davids, & many mo holy Patriarks, & Prophets, takeing at once more wives then one, contrary to the institution of mariage, which was, that^ … two (& not more) should be … flesh. Likewise in † Asa, Amasiah, & Azariah theyr faylings, in not takeing Gen 2. 4away the high places, though the H: Ghost give testimony of the vprightnes of theyr hearts, & works otherwise, in the sight of the Lord. Also in many of theMatt. 19. Ch: of Corinth: cotinueing theyr accustomed fellowship with their friends…. King. 5. 14. …. King. 4. 3 4 8 15. 3. …. & kindred in theyr superstitious feastings in the Idoll temples, in honour o… the Idols, to which they offered Lastly, we have a playn proof of this evil in the Apostles themselves, whom the common errour of the tymes that th… Messiah should be a great worldly prince, & exercise a temporary kingdom did so possesse, as that it could not be rooted out of them, by all that they had heard of Christ, & seen touching him; but that it still abode with them…erodot. … Clio. Cor. 8. …0. & cap. 10 3. 14 20 1. till the death of Christ, yea some while aster his resurrection. Which consideration as it must work in all the servants of the Lord a godly yealousy o… the customes of the tymes, that they be not captived in theyr evilles: s… must it also teach them, who by the mercy of God have escaped them, much moderatiō towards such (being otherwise godly) as are still too much abused by theyr craft, or vlolence.Cor. 6. 4. 15. 6 &c. lat 16. 2. & 20 1.
To apply this then to the present purpose. Considering the many excellent truthes taught in divers of the assemblyes, & that with so great fruit i… the knowledg, Zeal, & other personall graces of many; the constant sufferings of divers Martirs for the truthes there professed, agaynst that Antichrist of Rome; the knowledg we had of our selves in that estate; togetherMark 9. with the iudgment of other Churches abroad touching the Ch: of Engl: … …uke. 14. 1.it is called (though indeed ignorant of her estate, save in such general… heads of fayth, wherein we also assent vntounto her) as also the manifould afflictionsAct. 1. 6. vppon, & great offences (& those, many too iust) at such as hav… made separation, from that Church; it is no marvayl, that so many (thoug… otherwise learned & godly) by reason of the ignorance, & infirmity ye… cleaving to the best overmuch, are abused by the tymes for the succourin… of Antichrist in his declyneing age, for whose furtherance in his risein… (thorough the corruptions of tymes then) so many, howsoever otherwis… learned, & godly have (though vnwittingly) put to theyr hands, as a… men soundly mynded, if but a litle exercised in theyr wryteings, & the …oryes of the tymes, will confesse.
Now for the 2d parte of the obiection touching the idolatrous practi…es of the assemblyes, I do answer, that every idolatry makes not an idola…er any more then every ignorance, or other sin of ignorance, an ignorant, …r wicked person. To make an idolater there is requyred an idolatrous disposition which we may not lay to theyr charg, of whom we speak. Besy…es, by this ground we should chaleng, the reformed Churches generally …o be idolaters; for the most of them vse a stint form of prayer, lesse or …ore, though they be not bound vntounto it; & so consequently should ex…lude them from Gods kingdom: for no Idolater hath any inheritance in the Eph. 4.kingdom of heaven. And if any further obiect, that the Scriptures teach expresly, that they who‡Rev. 1… 4. ch. 1… 9. 10. partake of the sins of Babilon, shall receiv of her plagues: & that every man worshipping that beast, & his image, & receweing his mark in his forehead or in his hand, shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, &c. I answer …s before, that that estate, & those practises are indeed vnderunder that curse in …hemselves; & further also, that every person so walking (as I am perswa…ed every member of the Church of Engl: doth) is vnderunder that condem…ation without repentance: which repentance, as it must be particular for…ns known, so doth the Lord, in mercy, accept of the generall repentance of his servants, for theyr sins vnknown, & secret, & which they discern not to …e such: Otherwise no flesh could be saved. Lastly, as I cannot excuse them,Psal. 1… 12. …or they themselves from great sin in ioyning themselves with the prophane parrish assemblyes, with which God hath not ioyned them, & that …n the practise of theyr superstitions, especially in such a bondage spirituall …nder the prelacy, as makes them cease to be the Lords free people, & de…rives them of all power for the reformation of publique evilles eyther of …ersons, or things; so these being (as I hope) but theyr sins of infirmity, … by them vnseen, though we discern them, (as it may be, they also di…cern some evilles in vsus, which we see not in our selves) they no more dis…lv the bond of the spirit between theyr, & our persons, then they de…roy the work of the same spirit in themselves: neyther can these theyr …ns pollute me, if by the default of my place, or person I leav no means …awfull vnvsed, for theyr reformation: who if they eyther purposely …eglect to search out the truth, or vnfaythfully with-hould it in vnrigh…eousnes, for any fleshly fear, or other corrupt regarde, shall not for our …ore respective iudgment of them, or practise towards them, receav the …ore easy iudgment at the hands of the Lord in the day of the revelation …f the secrets of all hearts.
As he that hath hould of one member of the body is not separated from the body, OBI.nor any parte thereof, but hath hould of the whole body by the naturall coherence of the parts: so he that communicates with one member of the Ch: communicates, & ioyn… with the whole, & every member thereof by answerable coherence of the parts of that misticall body.
In communicateing with the godly there in private prayer, & the likeNSW. exercises, we do not communicate with them, as members of the Ch: but merely as Christians: private prayer being (as hath been shewed) no Ch: action at all, nor performed eyther by them, or vsus, by vertue of any Ch: state, or membership, or with any respect therevnto: but merely as by persons, made pertakers (by the grace of God) of the spirit of adoption, & prayer, mutually.…. 8. …. 26. 27
If we may thus communicate,OBI. with them in private, & they with vsus, why not also in publique?
It followeth not, that because I may pertake with godly men in things lawfull, & lawfully done, therefore in things vnlawfull in themselves, a… NSW.are many things; or vnlawfully done, as are all things in theyr publique communion. More particularly. In communicateing with the godly … publique (even in things good in thēselves) I pertake with all the prophane parrish also: the minister being the minister of the whole parrish, & (to speak as the truth is) the parrish preist: & so in his publique administration offering vp the soules, & bodyes, & the prayers withall, of the parrish Church, in the name of Christ; & therein, with a few clean, many vnclean beastes, vppon the Lords altar: whereas the private communion I entend, is restreyned to the godly onelyonly, though wicked persons be in the place. 2dly whereas in private I commicate onelyonly with the persons, & personall graces of holy men; in publique, I communicate with theyr Ch: state, & order, as also with the publique Ministery, & in, & with it, with the prelacy, whenc… it is: of which more hereafter. Neyther yet may we admit them into communiō of the publique ordinances with vsus, till they be actually members of a true, & lawfull publique body ecclesiasticall, or visible Church. As they are private Christian persons, so we may pertake with them in private Christian duetyes; but may not admit them to publique Church communio… (though never so holy persons) till they have a true, & lawfull Ch: state, & calling therevnto. And here that generall Rule hath place, that whatsoeve… is done by any person (though both he, & it in themselves never so holy) without a … calling, is sin vntounto him.
But with men vncircumcised, & which might not enter into the Temple, the Iewe… OBI. …ct. 11. 2 & 21.were forbidden all Communion by the law of God.
But they of whom we speak are not vnbaptised but such as with the outward baptism, (the same with our own) though both vnlawfully administred,ANSW have also receaved the inward baptism of the spirit: though they cannot have in that theyr estate, all the right ends, & vses of baptism. 2dly, … fynde not where the law of God so sayd: but rayther think it may be pro…ed, that the Circumcised Israelites comeing out of Egipt, had communion …n the wildernes, (though not in all things) with the vncircumcised bothExod. 38. …sraelites, & others. But admit the law so forebade. It must be considered,Num. … 4. …hat the matter of Peters trouble was, his goeing in to men vncircumcised, & …ating with them: & it will then appear, that there was a legall, & ceremo…iall restreint, & bondage, vnderunder which the Iewish Church was, as a childe … his non-age, from which the Ch: now as a man of fuller age, is free. AndGal. 4… 2. 3. 4. …y the Iewes not communicateing privately, or not eating with any vncir…umcised (if so by the law they were forbidden, & that it were not rayther tradition, as Calvin thinketh) & by theyr not admitting any such into …he Temple, which is evident, we are taught, not to communicate with, nor …o receav into the Ch: any vncircumcised in heart, so by vsus discerned: but …re not forbidden all private religious communion with vnbaptised per…ons (if appearing holy) much lesse, to goe in, & eat with them, no nor1 Cor. 27. …et to receav such neyther into the now Temple, the Church of God: into …hich indeed they must be receaved, before they can be baptized. And for …he Instance Act: 11. considering that Christ at his death had broken down …e partition wall, & in his flesh abolished the emnity of the law of commaundements, Eph. 2. 15.…anding in ordinances; & that Peter by his Apostolicall Commission was toMat. 2 29. …ach all natious; & how his opposites had heard that the Gentiles had receaved …e word, & there with the spirit, of God, it could be none but they of the Cir…mcision, that is such as being thēselves Circumcised, did think there could …e no grace without it (with which mischeif Sathan laboureth alwayes to ossesse the hearts of such as enioy Gods ordināces, as theyrs, on the other…de, who enioy them not, to vndervalew them) who would thus contend, …r quarrell with the Apostle of Christ, & the same, (to speak as the truthAct. 10 14. …) manifesting himself to be too † Iewishly affected, for that his practise. AndGal. 2. … 12. 14. …ethinks by the Lords charg vntounto Peter, not to call that prophane which God …ad purifyed Act: 10. 15. & with it, by Peters testimony afterwards v: 34 35. …hat they that fear God, & work righteousnes are accepted of God, whither circum…sed, or not circumcised, baptized, or not baptized, so there be no conempt of Gods ordinances, but onelyonly humayn fraylty hindering, as it was …ith Cornelius, in his not being Circumcised formerly; & so ought to be …ccepted of his people, so far as God accepteth of them: & that by Christes …xample in receaving the prayers of, & therein communic…ting with the faythfull ‡ Centurion (though out of the visible Ch: & vncircumcisedMath. 8 …. &c. personally, & privately, with whom he would not have communicated i… the temple, into which for order sake he might not have been admitted we also have warrant for communicateing with godly persons privately with whom for theyr disordered estate that way, we can have no lawful… publique communion.
But thus to acknowledg any in the assemblyes for our brethren, & pertakers of the5. OBI. same common grace, & f…yth with vsus, vntounto life, is to confirm them in theyr evill wayes & as if we should tell them, that to do more, or otherwise, then they doe, were in vayn.
This exception is vnworthy of any godly wise man, who hath learnANSW. aright eyther to worship God, or to converse with men. Exception migh… as iustly have been made agaynst the Apostles doctrine, & practise for‡Rom. 14 …. receaving, & applying vntounto the weak in things lawfull, for theyr edification, & gayning, & the discharg of his own duety: & as iustly might men have tou… … Cor. 9. …1.him, that he had taken a course to continue, & harden them in theyr sin… for that theyr weaknes was theyr sin. The equity of the Apostles doctrine & practise is generall, & directs all Gods people, at all tymes, towards all that are weak in the fayth any manner of way, as are those that fear God in th… assemblyes, (how strong soever otherwise) in respect of theyr Church state & ordinances.
The same Apostle wryteing to the Corinth: whom he was in the body o… his Epistle to reprove for many evilles amongst them, doth in the first plac… give them theyr due with the most, acknowledging them*1 Cor. 1 … 4. …. sanctifyed in Ch… Iesus, saynts by calling, enriched with the grace of God by Christ Iesus, in all vtter and & in all knowledg. The same māner of proceading also the Apostle Iohn vset… being directed by the same good spirit, towards‖Rev. 2. 1 … 34. v. 12 13. 14. v. 18. 19. 20. the Churches in Asia, vppo… the like occasion. And as theyr practises are (in theyr common equity) o… instructions, so doth both the law of love, & rule of reason direct vsus th… same course. When mē see vsus ready, to take knowledg, & in acknowledging of the good things in them, they will much more willingly listen to our in reproofes of theyr evilles, as deeming vsus equally, & loveingly affected towardes them: which good things, if on the contrary, we neglect, or vnde… value any manner of way, they will, & that iustly, be preiudiced agaynst vsus … vnequall, & looking at thē onelyonly with the left ey. Besydes, there are no A…guments so forceible eyther for admonition, or exhortation, to them th… have any spark of grace in them, as those, which are takē fromRom. 12 the mercyes God, whereof they are made pertakers. Neyther will any of Gods childre… indeed, make that vse, eyther of the knowledg, which themselves have, or a…knowledgment which others make of the grace of God in them, to be en… boldened thereby to go on in evill; (for this were to‡…ude v. …. turn the grace of God i… wantonnesse, which onelyonly the reprobates do) no more thē will a good childe, when he knowes by himself, or hears by others, that his father hath made sure his inheritance vntounto him, take thereby liberty to despise his commaundements, & no further to regard him: this were a bastardly practise, & from which a childe naturally disposed would abhor.
To conclude then; this our iudgment, & answerable practise, touching …he better sorte in the assemblyes, as faythfull persons, & vnderunder the assurance of salvation, is no hinderance to the further manifestation of theyr fayth in withdrawing theyr feet from every evill way, & the planting thē in the Lords house; but on the contrary, a reall exhortation, & provocation of them to keep safe that theyr precious†1. T… 1. 19. fayth in a good conscience in all things, as the passenger in the ship: & in the‡Mat… 28. 19. obedience of all Christs cōmaundements, to2. Pe… 10. make …heyr election more sure, to themselves, & so to‖1. … 2 12. work out theyr salvation with …ear, & trembling: alwayes provideing for themselves the Prophets assurance, which was that he should not be ashamed, when he had respect to all Gods commaundments. And this may serv not onelyonly for an answer to the obiection,6 O… but also for an argument for the thing intended.
But Christ hath left an order for the reformation of every †Math… 18. 1… 16. 17.BROTHER falling …nto SIN, which cannot be observed towards any of them; whom we cannot therefore …hus acknowledg, & communicate with accordeingly.
This indeed sheweth that they are without the order of Christ in his Ch… …n which they ought to be;ANSW but doth not therefore conclude them not to be …ur brethren, or Gods children, or that there is no bond of fayth, & the spi…it between theyr, & our persons. And by this ground we should not repute … godly person though actually separated, our brother, nor keep private cō munion with him: nor any at all with the reformed Ch:, or with any theyr members; with are too too much wanting in this order. But as we may cō municate with thousands in Engl: as with holy persons, in private exhorta…ions, & admonitions, so may we also in private prayer, though in neyther …he one, nor other publiquely, as hath formerly been shewed. And this I al…o conceav to have the force of another argument for the practise.
The L: Iesus hath promised so far to hear mens prayers, as they‡7. O… Math 18. 19. AGREE TOGETHER in the things they ASK: which cannot be between them, & vsus, seing they …re to pray for the prosperous estate of theyr Church Communion, governement, & Mi…istery, agaynst which we both pray, & witnes.
There are thousands in the assemblyes, who, (whatsoever thorough humaynANSW fraylty, theyr practise be) pray for little more, in effect, in the Ch: of Engl: then we do And 2dly though there be between them, & vsus some diffe…ences yet may the same be so carryed by Christian discretion, & moderatiō mutuall, as that our prayers be not interrupted. And though we must agree in the particulars, which we expresly pray for, yet if we may not ioyn in prayer with them, with whom we have particular differences, how shall we pray with almost any the members of the reformed Churches? yea what two Ch: or persons in the same Ch: should not at one tyme, or other refuse… prayer together? But divers inconveniences will (I doubt not) arise in thi… practise, as there do many in all our doeings: which we must therefore labour to prevent, or moderate by godly wisdom, & not abandon for the… things otherwise lawfull.
It this practise may be warranted with them, why not with sundry Papists also,OBI. & much more with many excommunicants out of the Church, for some particular sin?
The fayth of Rome, & so of Papists indeed, cannot by the word or GodANSW. be proved true iustifying fayth, nor the spirit receaved by that fayth, the spirit of prayer, which God hath promised to hear. But the fayth published in the name of the Ch: of Engl: & professed by many there personally, is to be esteemed such by the word of God. Neyther are we now come to a divers fayth, but to a divers order from that there prevayling: in submission wherevnto we think our selves bound to make further manifestation of our fayth, then there we did, or could do. And for excommunicates, there in this apparent difference, that whereas we are to apply our selves to the other, not yet come so far, what we may, for theyr further provocation, we are on the contrary to withdraw our selves from them, what we may fo… Cor. 3. ….theyr humbling, both in spirituall communion, & civill familiarity: theyr estate in the one, & other, putting a speciall barre between them, & vsus.
But this will endanger the bringing in of great confusion when one man will th… OBI.esteem of, & walk towards one, a 2 d another, & a 3 d wilbe otherwise mynded towards them both.
The very same might habe been obiected agaynst Pauls doctrine of applicationANSW. to the weak: & it might have been sayd; one will iudg this man but weak, another that man, but a 3d neyther of them, but both obstinate…m. 14. what confusion will here bee? So for our walking towards the members of the Dutch, & French Churches. Have we not administered publiquely t… Cor. 9. ….some of eyther, which vntounto some others of them we would not do? The same course we hould in our private walking. Yea do we not sundry tyme… fall into the same difficultyes in our publique communion, being divers… mynded in the receaving in, & casting out of members? In all which cases we must have vse of Christian discretion in our selves, & moderatio… one towards another: & must study not onelyonly how to effect that which our selves think best, but how to bear the contrary, with the least offence, … it be not intollerable.
And thus much for the obiections agaynst this practise: the Reasons1. ARG … iustify it, follow.
And. 1. (the former grounds being held, & more specially, that private …rayer is no Ch: action, nor done by any Ch: power, or order, but merely …ersonall) both Mr Bernards Argument, that we are taught by our Saviour Matth. … 6. Gal 3. 2… 1. Ioh. 1.…hrist, to ioyn in prayer, & to say OVR FATHER, with them whom we iudg the …hildren of God; as also Mr Amisses, that we may have visible communion with …em, whom we rightly discern to have communion with Christ, are of force, to wit …ccordeing to the limitations, & distinctions formerly made.
As all communion in actions presupposeth an vnion of persons, so doth2. ARG …ery vnion of persons necessarily draw with it communion in workes, as a …turall effect thereof. Which as it is true in Christ the head first, with who… merits,Ioh. 15. … 5. & grace no man can communicate, till by fayth he be vinted to … person, & with which all so vinted do necessarily partake: so is it in theTit. 1. 3. Philem. … Eph 4. … …embers mutually, who must first be knit together by that one fayth, & …e spirit, & so being vinted must preserv the vnity, & walk in the commu…n thereof. We are to walk in the common workes of humanity with …ery man, accordeing to that common bond: in the works of kindred, or …eindship, as with a friend, or kinsman: of common Christianity, with a …ristian: & so in the works of Ch: communion with the members of the … Church. As then God hath vnited vsus in our persons by fayth, & the …rit, vnderunder one head Christ, with many in the assemblyes, so are we also to … our selves in the exercises of those our personall graces, notwithstan…g the humayn infirmityes, especially about outward ordinances, appea…g in vsus, or them.
There was between them in the assemblyes who feared God, & vsus, be…e our separation a bond of the Spirit, & we might lawfully pray together3. ARG … lawfull things, personally. And hath our growth in the knowledg, & …edience of the will of God, dissolved that bond, they remayning the … they were, & it may be growing further also therein? Surely such is the …, & so great the strength of this bond of the spirit, to them who duely …nsider it, with that reverence, which is meet, as that many, & great in…mityes cannot break it. And by reason of it, & of many other so excel…t things there to be found, it deeply concerneth vsus to weigh with our …ves, in what respect, & how far we make our separation: that as we make … the good things there as snares to entangle our soules in the things …ich are evill, so that neyther for the evilles (vnavoydable in the publique …inances there) we throw away all at a venture, as some ill-advised do. … if two godly persons of them may lawfully pray together privately for …full things, why not we with eyther, or both of them? Do we loose any lawfull liberty in a common Christian duety, by breaking of our vnlawfull course, & standing? If not, then neyther can this course be iustly reproved, neyther should we debar our selves of our Christian liberty herein.…. 5. 1.
As we are not for infirmityes, & corruptions to refuse the fellowship… … ARG.a true Christian Ch: in things lawfull, but by all good means to endeavo… her reformation, whilst there is any hope: so neyther are we to refuse th… fellowship of a true Christian person (so appearing)▪ in things lawfull, … his infirmityes & corruptions, especially till he appear vntounto vsus obstinate, & irrecoverable therin.
Lastly, to repute them holy persons, & pertakers of the same pretiou… … ARG.fayth with our selves, as I have shewed before, we have alwayes done (not…withstanding theyr Ch: state) & yet not to ioyn with them in the person… workes of fayth (no extraordinary bar comeing between) seemeth a de…niall of that in deed, which in word is professed: & all one, (if not worse as if one mā should professe of another, that he held him his speciall freind but would neyther perform to him, nor receav from him any duety … speciall freindship: or that he deemed him a very honest man, but ye… would neyther trust him, nor have otherwise to deal with him for a far thing.
For conclusion then†Phil. 3. let vsus follow the counsayl of the Apostle, to pr… ceed by one rule, wherevnto we are come: vnderunder hope that God will further reve… the truth in those particulars vntounto them, who are otherwise mynded: as al… following his example, in becomeing all to all in the things which are law…full. And above all things let love abound in vsus, which will teach vsus (a… many other good lessons so this amongst the rest) not to cover the goo… …rov. 10. ….graces of God in men vnderunder theyr infirmityes, but contrarywise, theyr i…firmityes vnderunder the graces of Gods spirit in them.Pet. 4. 8
But lest this practise, & the grouds thereof be further streyned, the…entend, or then it will reach, I think it here meet to ad a few things, for th… iust, & lawfull bounding of it.