Questions Preparatory, Text
QUESTIONS PREPARATORY TO The better, free, and more Chriſtian ADMINISTRATION OF THE Lords Supper.
Jer. 5. ver. 29, 30, 31.
Shall I not viſit for theſe things ſaith the LORD? Shall not my ſoul be avenged on ſuch a Nation as this? A wonderfull and horrible thing is committed in the land: The Prophets propheſy falſly, and the Priests bear rule by their means, and my people love to have it ſo, and what will ye do in the end thereof?
By E. F. Eſq.
LONDON, Printed for Edw: Blackmore at the Angel, and R. Lowndes at the White-Lyon in S. Pauls Church-yard, 1655.
Queſtions preparatory to the better, free, and more Chriſtian Adminiſtration of the Lords Supper.
WHether this be a good reaſon; Becauſe the Prieſts under the Law, did by GOD's command keep Lepers and uncleane perſons out of the Temple; aLevit. 13. v. 4. 46. & 2 Chron. 26. v. 20.Therefore the Miniſters under the Goſpel, may without Chriſts command keep and ſuſpend whom they themſelves judge unworthy Receivers from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper? Whether is ſuch judgment of the Miniſters infallible, and when was it given them? And whether is the Inſtitution, Function, Rule and Authority of Miniſters under the Goſpel, or ought it to be, equall or like unto that of the Prieſts under the Law?
Whether, when Chriſt by ſhedding His moſt precious blood hath utterly aboliſhed and taken away the very Office of Levites, Prieſts and Prieſthood it ſelf, bHebr. 7. v. 11, 12, 18. & 8. v. 13. & 9. v. 10.it be not deceitfull and unchriſtian to alleadge the practice of Levites and Jewiſh Prieſts as a guide for us under the Goſpel? And whether St Paul ſaith true, that he that ſubmitteth to a part of the Law is bound to keep the whole Law, renounceth the benefits of Chrict, and is fallen from grace? Galat. 5. v. 2, 3, 4.
Whether the power of binding and looſing was not given to the Church, cMatth. 16. v. 18, 19. compared with ch. 18. v. 17. 18.and not to any particular perſon or Church-Officer? And, whether Suſpenſion from the Sacrament be not a branch of that power? And if ſo; Then whether it be not a ſinfull uſurpation and an high preſumption for any man under the fictitious Title of Church-Officer (of which Title we reade not in the Scripture) to take upon him the Churches Authority of binding and looſing?
Whether this be a good conſequence; Becauſe the Church of Corinth, the Church of Epheſus, and other Churches did Excommunicate and caſt out of their Churches notorious ſcandalous Offenders and Hereticks; d1 Cor. 1. v. 2. comp with ch. 5. v. 1, 3, 4, 5. Rev. 2. v. 1, 2, 6.Therefore the Miniſter may Suſpend whom his conſcience pleaſeth from the Lords Supper?
Whether in the 1 Corinth. 11. v. 28. we ſhould not read thus; Let every man examine himſelf, and ſo let him go to the Miniſter and know of him whether he be fit to eat of this bread, and drink of this cup? And if ſo; Then whether the Aſſembly of Divines ought not to amend this Text?
Whether, if no example or precept of Scripture can be brought for the Miniſters power of Suſpending from the Sacrament, the conſcience of that Miniſter who exerciſeth this power be not ſecretly guided by ſome other Rule than the Word of GOD? And whether the true Rule be not pride, profit, and an ambitious deſire to exerciſe authority over their Brethren, which Chriſt hath forbidden? Matth. 20. v. 25, 26.
Whether it doth reaſonably follow; Becauſe GOD's renewing of Circumciſion in the time of Joſhua eJoſh. 5. v. 7., which Circumciſion had been long before Inſtituted by GOD himſelf, fGen 17. v. 10.was no Innovation in the Jewiſh Church; Therefore the bringing in of the Miniſters power of Suſpenſion from the Sacrament, which power Chriſt never ordained nor did the Churches of Chriſt ever approve or practice, is no Innovation in the Chriſtian Church?
Whether in Matth. 7. v 6. Chriſt ſpake not thoſe words to the people as well as to his Diſciples; gMatth 5. v 1, 2 & 7. v. 28, 29.and therefore Ye in the Text muſt be underſtood as ſpoken to all Chriſtians? And whether thoſe words are not thus to be expounded; Give ye not that which is holy unto dogs, that is, Offer not, teach ye not my Goſpel unto froward obſtinate men, who render themſelves unworthy of ſo great ſalvation; Neither caſt ye your pearls before ſwine, that is, Neither declare ye my precious and glorious Doctrines, bMatth. 13. v. 44, 35. comp. with v. 19.which ye have received, unto ſottiſh regardleſſe men, who delight in their iniquities; Leſt they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rent you, that is, Leſt they deſpiſe my Doctrines, and ſet themſelves to doe you all manner of miſchief? iVerbis & verberibus.And if ſo; Then whether ſuch Miniſters as limit the word Ye unto themſelves only, contrary to the expreſſe Text; kMatth. 7. v. 28, 29.and by that which is holy and your pearls will have meant the Sacrament of the Lords Supper; and by Dogs and Swine, unworthy Receivers, without Scripture-proofs and even contrary to reaſon, for that Sacrament was not inſtituted till neer two years after this Exhortation; lCompare the time of Chriſt's Sermon in the Mount, with John 6. v. 5. & 13. v. 1.be not impudent Wreſters of GOD's holy Word, falſe prophets, and deluders of the people?
Whether, when three Evangeliſts, recording the Inſtitution of the Lords Supper, do moſt expreſly teſtifie, that Christ then ſate at Table with his 12. Diſciples, amongſt whom particularly is named Judas Iſcariot; and that Chriſt gave the bread and cup to them all, and that they all did eat of the bread and drink of the cup; Nay, when Chriſt himſelf ſaith in the very time and act of celebration, Behold, the hand of him that betrayeth me is with me at the Table; mMatth. 26. v. 20, 25, 26, 27 Mark 14. v. 17, 18, 22, 23. Luke 22. v. 14. 19, 20, 21.are they not unworthy to be accounted Chriſts Miniſters, who ſhall openly queſtion and deny the truth of Judas his being there and his partaking of the Sacrament? Would not ſuch Miniſters for their own ends deny the whole Scriptures?
Whether did not Chriſt three ſeverall times to His Diſciples affirm, that one of them ſhould betray him: The Firſt was, as they were eating the Paſſeover; and is mentioned by S. Matthew and S. Mark, when the Diſciples one by one ſaid unto Chriſt, LORD, is it I? Unto which Chriſt replied in Generall terms, He it is that dippeth his hand with Me in the diſh: *Matth. 26. v. 21, 22, 23. Mark 14. v. 18, 19, …0.The Second time was, as they were celebrating His Supper; and is mentioned by S. Luke, when the Diſciples enquired onelyonly among themſelves, which of them it was that ſhould doe this thing? †Luke 22. v. 21, 23.The Third time was, after His Supper; and is mentioned by S. John, when (ſaith the Text) the Diſciples looked one on another, doubting of whom He ſpake, till at length Peter beckned to John, and John thereupon ſaid unto Chriſt, LORD, who is it? Unto which Chriſt replied in Speciall terms, He it is to whom I ſhall give a ſop when I have dipped it; and when He had dipped the ſop, He gave it to Judas Iſcariot. *John 13. v. 2, 21, 22, 24, 25, 26.And if ſo; Then whether ſuch Expoſitors doe not miſerably confound as well the Goſpel as themſelves, who diſtinguiſh not theſe times, †Diſtingue tempora tollitur dubium.but make them all one; and without warrant of Scripture talk of Chriſts Inſtitution of His Supper after the Sop given to Judas?
Whether to teach that the giving of the Sacrament to an unworthy Receiver is all one as to put a knife into a mans hand to cut his own throat, be not to reproach the Inſtitution of Chriſt and to make themſelves His Reformers? And whether to teach that the unworthy Receiver eateth and drinketh the Miniſters damnation, be not repugnant to S. Paul, who ſaith, that he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh his own damnation? 1 Cor. 11. v. 29.
Whether to call and adjudge thoſe to be Dogs, Swine, Hypocrites, Heathens, and unworthy Receivers, who ſubmit themſelves to Chriſt's Doctrine and Ordinances, who doe openly witneſſe to the world their true and earneſt repentance of their ſinnes, their love and charity with their neighbours, and their intention to lead a new life according to GOD's Commandements; be not a raſh, vain, uncharitable cenſure, neither agreeable to Scripture nor reaſon? And whether to term Infants, Fools, and Madmen, Dogs, can be warranted by Scripture? And whether to teach that Chriſt, as he was man, knew not that Judas was an Hypocrite; yet that the Suſpending Miniſters may diſcern an Hypocrite, be not to advance their knowledge above Chriſts? And whether ſuch doctrine be not blaſphemy?
Whether to call Miniſters Fathers, Paſtors, and Shepherds, be not Tropicall expreſſions? And whether may ſound and forcible Demonſtrations be deduced from Tropes and Figures? Whether is this a good reaſon; Becauſe it is the Duty of Fathers to require an accompt of their Children, and of Paſtors and Shepherds to know the ſtate of their flock; Therefore Miniſters may Suſpend whom their conſcience ſhall judge unfit, from the Lord's Supper? Whether are they Fathers and Shepherds to Chriſts Flock, who account His Children Dogs, and refuſe to give them the Food appointed by Chriſt?
Whether the Deſigne of theſe Suſpending Miniſters in preaching up the excellency, worth, and neceſſity of receiving the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and withall their power of keeping the unworthy from it, be not the higher to advance their perſons and authority amongſt the people? And whether the Miniſters Authoritative Examination of the Receiver, be not a Ground and Inlet to that tyrannicall-unchriſtian yoke of Popiſh Private Confeſsion?
Whether the Givers of the Sacrament ought not to be qualified as well as the Receivers? And whether they be fit Givers thereof, who apparently to the whole World are ſwollen up ready to burſt with avarice, pride, uncharitableneſſe; Who make it a light matter to wreſt GOD's Holy Word, and (when they pleaſe) to deny it; Who reject the teſtimony, practice, power and authority of the Holy Catholick Church, & by conſequence have renounced their very Creed; Who, if antient, are notoriouſly perjur'd in the manifold breach of their Miniſterial Oathes; and if Novices, they preach before they be ſent, unleſſe without Preſident of Scripture and contrary to the Practice of all Apoſtolick Churches, the Miniſters of ſix or eight Pariſhes, met together of their own heads, may lay on hands and devoutly Ordain, whom and as many as their Wiſdomes think fit? And by the ſame reaſon, why may not the Conſtables of ſix Pariſhes meet together, and there gravely elect a Conſtable for the ſeventh Pariſh, or for as many Pariſhes as their Wiſdomes pleaſe? Are Conſtables ſo elected Lawfull Conſtables? And are ſuch Miniſters as theſe Lawfull Miniſters? Whether are ſuch Miniſters as theſe fit Givers of Chriſts moſt Holy Sacrament? Let Conſcience, let Reaſon, let even Turks and Indians ſpeak.
Halelu-Jah.
End of the text · Edward Fisher, Questions Preparatory (1655)