The Searchers for Schism Searched, Treatise · Answer 22
Anſwer.
1. You know we ſay and do intend by Chriſt… Doctrine, thoſe ſix Principles mentioned Heb. 6. and that whoever agrees with us in Fundamentals, we can have Communion with, provided their Converſation be according to the Goſpel.
2. We refuſe communion with thoſe th… take ſome Oaths, becauſe Chriſt doth forbid ſuch ſwearing, Mat. 5.34. Jam. 5.12. and alſo becauſe ſuch as take them, abjure their obedience to Chriſt, and ſwear obedience to th… Doctrines and Commandments of men.
3. We refuſe communion about mixt Marriages, becauſe they are forbid both in the Ol… and New Teſtament: The Church of Pergam… muſt not have them among them that hold ſuc… Doctrine.
4. We know of none that refuſe communic… about waſhing of Feet.
5. We refuſe communion with thoſe that a… under laying on of hands, if they have communion with thoſe that are not under laying on … hands; becauſe it is diſorder and confuſion, an… alſo a tranſgreſſion againſt the Doctrine … Chriſt.
6. We do not refuſe communion in matte… of Apparel, otherwiſe than is ſaid in the Anſwer to the fourth Queſtion.
7. There is ſufficient ground to deal with ſuch Members as will eat Blood, and things ſtrangled, to the trouble and offence of their fellow-Brethren, Act. 15.29. & 21.25. for we would have you to know that Members of Churches may hold that in their Judgments and Practice, and that in their Lives, though they are under all the firſt Principles of the Oracles of God, that may deſerve the cenſure of the Church, and yet the Church not adopt them firſt Rudiments of Chriſtianity; for we have no Fundamentals adopted by us, nor do we own more than thoſe Heb. 6. for all this taunting Talk of yours: And yet we ſhall ſay, That there is good reaſon why we ſhould differ with thoſe that deny the Doctrine of the Trinity, and that Chriſt is the ſecond Perſon in it, God of one ſubſtance with the Father; yea, and refuſe communion with them that ſay he is a crea…ed Being, and was not, nor had no being, before he was conceived in the Womb of the Virgin Mary; and indeed this wicked and abſurd opinion did get Proſelytes, and found opportunity to make a Schiſm in the Body of Chriſt.
8. Your memory fails you, as well as you ſay you can remember; for we can better know and remember that before we came under laying on of hands, we did eſteem it a Foundation-Principle, and ſubmitted to it, as to one; but did indeed keep and continue with you for ſome time, preaching, diſputing, and perſwading you to obey the Lord Jeſus, (but other communion we had none) until many of you were hardened, and believed not; but ſpake evil of this way before the multitude; then we departed, and ſeparated the Diſciples.
9. There is none, by our Arguments we have to ſeparate from you, can ſeparate from us; becauſe we ſtill continue, through the grace of God, in the Doctrine of Chriſt; nor ſay things are of the Doctrine of Chriſt, that are not. Nor do we, by what means we take to defend that Truth which you oppoſe, put Weapons into the hands of any to divide Churches; but the means you take to reſiſt the Truth, will furniſh thoſe that liſt to make uſe of them wi… Weapons to fill the Church with Error and Si… till it becomes as filthy as Rome it ſelf.
10. Therefore though you would argue u… falſly into great inconveniencies, we may be …ui… it upon your ſelves from what you maintain … and argue thus: If communion may be hel… with them that diſown the practice of laying on of hands, then with them that diſown anothe… Principle of the Doctrine of Chriſt, and ſo … third, and them that adore two Gods, the tru… God and a dumb Idol; ſinful Marriages; th… Chriſt is a meer created man, and onelyonly a Go… made, as Moſes and David was; and ſinful ſwearing: Then may we not break communion, though all Rome's traſh and filth ſhould be brought in. And where will this kind of reaſoning run you at laſt?
Here ends their Queſtions grounded upon their ſecond Hypotheſis: The third follows, with our Anſwers to them.