The Catechizing of Families, Chapter 19
CHAP. XIX. The Communion of Saints.
Qu. 1. HOw is this Article joyned to the former?
A. As it belongs to our Belief in the Holy Ghost, it tells us the effect of his Sanctification.: And as it belongs to our belief of the holy catholick Church, it tells us the end of Church Relation, that Saints may live in a holy Communion.
Q. 2. What is it to be a Saint?
A. To be separated from a common and unclean Conversation unto God, and to be absolutely devoted to him, to Love, serve and trust him, and hope for his Salvation.
Q. 3. Are all Saints that are members of the catholick Church?
A. Yes, by Profession, if not in sincerity: All that are sincere and living members of the Church are really devoted to God by Heart-consent: and the rest are devoted by Baptism and outward Profession, and are Hypocrites, pretending falsly to be real Saints.a1 Cor. 1. 1, 2. Rom. 1. 7. & 12. 15. & 15. 25, 26, 31. 1 Cor. 14. 33. & 16. 1, 15.
Q. 4. Why then doth the Church of Rome Canonize some few, and call them Saints, if all Christians be Saints?
A. By [Saints] they mean [extraordinary Saints]: But their appropriating the Name to such, much tendeth to delude the People, as if they might be saved though they be not Saints†2 Cor. 1. 1. Eph. 1. 1. & 5. 3. & 6. 18. Phil. 1. 1. Col. 1. 2. Heb. 13. 24. Act. 4..
Q. 5. What is meant by the Communion of Saints?
A. Such a frame and practice of Heart and Life towards one another as supposeth Union, such as is between the Members of the Body.
Q. 6. Wherein doth this Communion consist?
A. 1. In their common Love to God, Faith in Christ and Sanctification by the Spirit. 2. In their Love to one another as themselves.bCol. 1. 4. 1 Pet. 1. 22. 3. In their care for one anothers welfare, and endeavour to promote it, as their own:cHeb. 13. 2, 3. 1 Tim. 6 18. and when Love makes all their goods so far common to all Christians within their converse, as that they do to their power supply their wants in the order and measure that Gods Providence and their Relations and Acquaintance direct them; preferring the relief of others necessities, before their own superfluity or fulness. 4. In their joyning as with one Mind and Soul and Mouth in Gods publick Worship, and that in the holy Order under their respective Pastors, which Christ by his Spirit in the Apostles hath instituted†1 Cor. 10. 16. 2 Cor. 6. 14. Heb. 10. 22, 24. Ioh. 13. 34, 35. 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13..
Q. 7. Why is our joyning in the Lords Supper called our Communion?
A. Because it is a special Symbol, Badge and Expression of it instituted by Christ, to signifie our Communion with him and one another.
Q. 8. Is that to be only a Communion of Saints?
A. Yes, that in a special manner is appropriated to Saints: Other parts of Communion (as eating together, relieving each other, duties of Relation, &c.) are so far to be used towards Unbelievers, that they are not so meet to be the distinguishing Symbols of Christians: But the two Sacraments, Baptism for Entrance, and the Lords Supper for continuance of Communion, Christ hath purposely appointed for such Badges or Signs of his People as separate from the World.dMat. 26. 26. 1 Cor. 11. 21, 22, 24, &c. Act. 20. 7. 1 Cor. 10. 16. Act. 2. 42, 46.
Q. 9. By what Order are others to be kept from Church-communion?
A. Christ hath instituted the Office of the Sacred Ministry for this end, that when they have made Disciples to him, they may be entrusted with the Keyes of his Church, that is, especially the Administration of these Sacraments, first judging who is fit to be entred by Baptism, and then who is fit for continued Communion.eMat. 16. 19. & 24. 45, 46. 1 Cor. 4. 1, 2. Act. 20. 20, 28. 1 Thes. 5. 12, 13. Heb. 13. 7, 17, 24.
Q. 10. May not the Pastors by this means become Church-Tyrants?
A. We must not put down all Government for fear of Tyranny; else Kingdoms, Armies, Colledges, Schools, must be all dissolved as well as Churches: some body must be trusted with this Power; and who is fitter than they who are called to it as their Office, and therefore supposed best qualified for it.
Q. 11. What if none were trusted with it, and Sacraments left free to all?
A. Then Sacraments would be no Sacraments, and the Church would be no Church: If any man or woman that would, might baptize whom and when they would, they might baptize Turks and Heathens, and that over and over, who come in Scorn; and they might baptize without a Profession of true Faith; or upon a false Profession. And if every man might give the Lords Supper to another, it might be brought into Alehouses and Taverns in merrymerit, or as a Charm, or every Infidel or Enemy might in scorn profane it: Do you think that if Baptism and the Lords Supper were thus administred, that they would be any Symbols or Badges of Christianity, or of a Church, or any means of mens Salvation? No Christians ever dreamt of such Profanation.
Q. 12. But why may not the Pastors themselves give them to all that will?
A. Either you would have themf1 Cor. 5. 2 Thes. 3. Tit. 3. 10. 2▪ Cor. 6. 16, 17. 1 Cor. 1. 1, 2. & 2 Cor. 1. 1. Eph. 1. 1, 2. forced to do so, or to do it freely. If forced, they are no Judges who is fit; And who then shall be Judge? If the Magistrate, you make him a Pastor; and oblige him to teach, examine, hear and try all the Peoples Knowledge, Faith and Lives, which will find them work enough: And this is not to depose the Ministers power, but to put it on another that hath more already than he can do: And a Pastor then that delivereth the Sacrament to every one that the Magistrate bids him, shall be a Slave and not a free performer of the acts of his own Office, unless that Magistrate try and judge, and the Minister be but a Deacon that must give account for no more, than the bare delivering it. But if it be the Receivers of Baptism, or the Lords Supper, that shall be Judges, and may force the Pastor to give it them, I have shewed you already the profanation will make it no Sacrament, nor Church.
And if Pastors that are Judges shall freely give them to all, they will be the Profaners, and such Ministration will confound the Church and the World.
Q. 13. I do not mean that they should give them to Heathens, but to all that profess the Christian Faith.
A. Therefore they: must judge whether they profess the Christian Faith or not: And whether they speak as Parrots, or understand what they say And withall, Christian Love, and a Christian Life must be professed as well as Christian Faith.
Q. 14. What are the Terms on which they must receive Men to Communion?
A. They must Baptize them and their Infants, who with competent understanding, and seeming seriousness, profess a Practical belief in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, and consent to that Covenant, as expounded in the Creed, Lords Prayer, and Ten Commandments. And they must admit all to Communion in the Lords Supper, who continue in that Profession, and nullifie it not by proved Apostasie or inconsistent Profession or Practice.gMat. 28. 19. Rev. 22. 17▪
Q. 15. May not Hypocrites make such Professions, that are no Saints?
A. Yes: and God only is the Judge of Hearts, not detected by proved contrary Words or Deeds: And these are Saints by Profession.
Q. 16. But it is on pretence of being the Iudge of Church Communion, that the Pope hath got his Power over the Christian World.
A. And if Tyrants by false pretences claim the Dominions of other Princes, or of Mens Families, we must not therefore Depose our King, or …athers.
Q. 17. But how shall we know what Pastors they be that have this Power of the Keyes, and judging of mens fitness for Communion?
A. All Pastors as such have Power, as all Physicians have in judging of their Patients, and all School-masters of their Scholars. But great difference there is, Who shall Correct Mens injurious Administrations: Whether the Magistrace do it himself; or whether a Bishop over many Pastors do it; or many Pastors in a Synod do it, is no such great matter as will warrant the sad Contentions that have been about it, so it be done: Or if none of these do it, a People intollerably injured may right themselves by deserting such an injurious Pastor. But the Pastors must not be disabled, and the work undone, on pretense of restraining them from misdoing it.hPhil. 1. 15, 16, 17, 18.
Q. 18. What is the need and benefit of this Pastoral Discipline?
A. 1. The Honour of Christ, who by so wonderful an Incarnation, &c. came to save his People from their Sins, must be preserved; which is profaned i… his Church be not a Communion of Saints.iTit. 2. 14. Eph. 1. 22, 23. & 5. 25, 26, 27, 28, 29. Col. 1. 18, 24. Eph. 4. 14, 16.
2. The difference between Heaven and Hell is so great, that God will have a visible difference between the Way to each, and between the probable Heirs of each. The Church is the Nursery for Heaven, and the Womb of Eternal happiness. And Dogs and Swine are no Heirs for Heaven.
3. It's necessary to the comfort of Believers.
4. And for the conviction and humbling of the Unbelievers and Ungodly.
Q. 19. What further Use should we make of this Article▪
A. 1. All Christians must carefully see that they be not Hypocrites, but Saints indeed, that they be mee… for the Communion of Saints.
2. All that administer Holy things, and Gove… Churches, should carefully see that they be a Communion of Saints, and not a Swine-stye: Not as the common World, but as the Garden of Christ: That they promote and encourage Holiness, and take heed … Cherishing Impiety.
3. We must all be much against both that Usurp… tion, and that neglect of necessary Discipline, and differencing Saints from wicked Men, which hath corrupted most of the Churches in the World.kMat. 22. 21, 22. & 13, 39, 41. & 7. 21, 22. Luk. 13. 27.
Q. 20. But when experience assureth us, that f… Christians can bear Church Discipline, should it be us… when it will do hurt?
A. It is so tender and yet so necessary a Discipline which Christ hath appointed, that he is unfit for the Communion of Saints, who will not endure it. It is not to touch his Purse or Body: It is not to cast any Man out of the Church for small Infirmities: No, nor for gross sin, that repenteth of it and forsakes it: It is not to call him Magisterially, to submit to the Pastors unproved accusation or assertions: But it is with the Spirit of Meekness and Fatherly Love to convince a Sinner, and draw him to Repentance, proving from God's Word, lMat. 18. 21, 22. Luk. 17. 3. 2 Cor. 2. 7, 10. 7. 8. Ioh. 20. 23.that the thing is a Sin, and proving him guilty of it, and telling him the evil and danger of it, and the necessity of Repentance and Confession and amendment. And if he be stubborn, not making unnecessary hast, but praying for his Repentance, and waiting a competent Time, and joyfully absolving him upon his Repentance: and if he continue impenitent, only declaring him unfit for Church Communion, and requiring the Church accordingly to avoid him, and binding him to answer it at the Bar of God; if he repent not.mMark 3. 6. Luke 13. 3, 5. & 17. 3. Act. 2. 37, 38. & 3. 19. Luke 24. 47. Iam. 5. 16. 1 Ioh. 1. 9. Prov. 28. 13. Act. 19.
Q. 21. But Men will not submit to publick Confession: may not Auricular private Confession to the Priest serve turn?
A. In case the Sin be private, a private Confession may serve: But when it is known, the Repentance must be known, or else it attaineth not the Ends of it's appointment: And the Papists Auricular Confession in such Cases, is but a trick to delude the Church, and to keep up a Party in it of wicked Men, that will not submit to the Discipline of Christ: It pretendeth strictness, but it is to avoid the displeasure of those that are too proud to stoop to open Confession. Le… such be never so many, they are not to be kept in the Church on such Terms: He that hath openly sinned against Christ and scandalized the Church, and dishonoured his Profession, and will by no conviction and intreaty be brought to open Confession (in an evide… case) doth cast himself out of the Communion of Saints, and must be declared such by the Pastors.