A Defense of the Answer Made Unto Nine Questions, Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
Conſid. 5.
Reply. TO the firſt conſideration, If it bee repugnant to divine inſtitution to admit of approved Chriſtians lawfully baptized, walking in the faith, members of the viſible Churches, and partakers of Church priviledges amongſt us, to the Lords Supper, or their children to baptiſme, becauſe they bee not entered into Church-fellowſhip according to your order, then it is unlawfull though no ſuch evill conſequences are to bee feared, but if by accident ſome abuſe ſhould fall out, the evill is to bee prevented by all lawfull meanes, but the faithfull are not to be debarred utterly of the order of God, whereto they have right and title by his free grant and gracious inſtitution.
Anſw. Wee cannot but ſtill complaine of this liberty, which is taken in changing the termes of the queſtion, Firſt: that clauſe, Members of viſible Churches, is not in the po…ition, nor is it maintained by us in that ſenſe, neither doe wee limit Church-fellowſhip to our order, (as it is called) but acknowledge Churches defective in matters of order, (as was ſaid) in the anſwer: and therefore it is an apparent wrong to us and to the readers, ſo oft to put in ſuch things as are not in the controverſie.
Secondly, If it bee unlawfull by divine inſtitution, may not evill conſequences bee added, and if both hold, are not our reaſons the more ſtrong? What needeth then ſuch a Reply?
Thirdly, We have oft granted a remote right, but next and immediate we ſtill deny, and wee conceive no other order of God in his Churches to prevent ſuch evils, then by joyning to the inſtituted Churches of Chriſt▪
Reply. Seals may bee prophaned when the diſpenſers cannot helpe it: but here is no feare or danger of ſuch conſequences neceſſary to follow: for wee ſpeake not of all ſorts, at randome, but of Chriſtians profeſſing the faith intirely, lawfully baptized, knowne and approved to the wiſe and judicious viſible members of the Churches amongſt us ſufficiently known to you, or orderly recommended, &c.
Anſw. The feare and danger in this caſe is more then (ſo farre off) can eaſily bee diſcerned, though the limitations bee good in themſelves, yet the application of this deſcription in the firſt part of it would open a doore wider then many can imagine, for many ſuch (in the judgement even of the wiſeſt) comming into this ſtate of temptations prove farre otherwiſe, (even your ſelves being Judges, if you were here) wee ſuppoſe the experience of the diſcoveries God hath made in theſe late trials of England, amongſt forward profeſſors, will teach our brethren to conſider how many profeſſors may prove here. Yet ſecondly, if you add ſuch as retaining their memberſhip in your Churches, are recommended unto us by your Churches, or by known godly Miniſters, wee can then according to order receive them, and avoid the confuſion and inconveniences wee objected. Thirdly, if alſo it be taken into the deſcription, knowne and ſufficiently approved of our ſelves, then the doore is open to them to the communion of the Church and all the priviledges thereof, though they cannot ſettle in the place of their preſent abode, and this way of order would prevent the inconveniences: but if wee come to put a difference any other way, wee cannot avoid it but great offence will be given to many, and the inconveniences objected in ſome degree at leaſt will follow here with us, and it may be much more in ſome other places.
Reply. You profeſſe high reſpect to your brethren in Old England, but it ſeemes you judge them inſufficient to give you orderly teſtimony of the ſincerity of approved Chriſtians well known and living amongſt them, which two cannot well agree.
Anſw. This Poſition holds forth no ſuch judgement of the inſufficiency of our Brethren in the caſe, neither have we ſhewed it by rejecting ſuch orderly teſtimony that we know.
Reply. Wee ſpeake not of ſuch, who againſt light refuſe to profeſſe ſubjection to the Goſpell of Chriſt, or to joyne to ſome approved Church, &c.
Anſw. Neither doe wee impute that to all that joyne not unto us, but our meaning is, that under ſuch a deſcription of approved Chriſtians, we ſhall bee neceſſitated to admit of ſome, if not many ſuch.
Reply. No queſtion but many have been admitted by the Church, who in truth are much too light, and ſome refuſed, who are better deſerving then they that caſt them off.
Anſw. Bee it ſo, that through perſonall failings, and weakneſſe of diſcerning, it may and doe fall out ſometimes, yet this no way hinders, but that all lawfull meanes to prevent the ſame may and ought to be uſed, and this we may before the Lord profeſſe, that the purpoſe and deſire of our hearts are, as well to embrace the weakeſt humble Chriſtian, as to keepe out the proud Phariſee▪ and wee have ſeen a gracious preſence of Chriſt in his Churches, bleſſing our indeavours therein, whatſoever any diſcontented perſons returning back, may clamour to the contrary.