Vindication of a Free Admission Unto the Lords Supper, Title page – To the reader
An humble VINDICATION Of a Free ADMISSION Unto the Lords-Supper.
PUBLISHED For the eaſe, ſupport, and ſatisfaction of tender Conſciences (otherwiſe remedileſs) in our mixt Congregations.
As it was delivered at two Sermons upon the occaſion of this ſolemnity, in the weekly labours of Iohn Humfrey, Maſter of Arts, and Miniſter of Froome in SOMERSETSHIRE.
The Second Edition.
A Priest is taken from among men, and ordayned for men in things pertaining to God, who can reaſonably bear with the ignorant, and them that are out of the way, for that himſelf alſo is compaſſed with infirmity.
Heb. 5 1, 2.
London, Printed for E. Blackmore, at the Angel in Pauls Church-yard, 1652.
ERRATA.
Page 9. line 6. for ſin, read in, page 24. line 26. read Let ſome of our other ſide. page 74. line 20. for most, read more.
To the Reader.
Courteous Reader,
HAving (by good providence) had ſome gleanings of this enſuing diſcourſe, as it was delivered by the worthy Author in own Congregation, and conferring my notes with an honoured Christian, I found ſuch ſupport and contentment to my own conſcience in the ſympathy of his approbation, that made me very importunate to have them perfected; and having at length obtained a compleat copy, I could not but humbly think it an engagement, much conducing to the glory of God, to get this precious light, left under a buſhell in a private auditory, to be ſet up publikely in a candlestick of the Church, that the ſpirits of many others might be thereby diſclouded from the like ſcruples, that moſt ſadly hinder the bleſſed enjoyment of this Ordinance of Christ.
The worke needs not the commendation of another, having in it ſome exquiſite notions, and ſelf excellency enough, to commend it and its compiler; and although it must expect ſeverall cenſures (which is the common fate of the beſt works) according to the variety of mens humours in theſe times, yet I am perſwaded by experience, to an impartiall and diſengaged judgment, peruſing it with a ſingle eye, it will afford aboundant comfort and ſatisfaction, it being weighty, ſpirituall, and ingenuous, and a piece wherein (if I may uſe the word of one more learnedly able to judge of it) Mr. Humfrey has comprized the moſt materiall things that can be ſaid in this buſineſs, as rationally and conciſely as any beſide him.
As it has pleaſed God therefore (pious Reader) to make me inſtrumentall that ever this came to thy ſight, let me beſeech theſe two reaſonable requeſts of the. Firſt, That thou wilt paſſe no cenſure upon the Book or Writer, before thou haſt read all over, weighing the whole parts together, and examined them ſeriouſly by the unerring rule of the word of God. Secondly, Having ſo done, that thou wilt not ſuffer thy ſelf to be ſwayed from judging according to the truth, by any earthly reſpect whatſoever; and then I doubt not, but the Lord will ſuitably poure thee out a double bleſsing in the reading; of eſtabliſhment for thy judgment, and of peace for thy conſcience, which is the end of publiſhing this worke, and hearty prayer of the oc…ſioner of it.
I. C.