The Ancient Way of Completing Church Members, To the reader 4 – Table of contents
TO THE Berean READERS.
TRuth is ſo pretious a thing, eſpecially that which refers to our information, for the better regulating of our affairs to the glory of God, that both it, and the feet of them that bring it ſhould be beautiful in our eys, and welcome to us. Many truths of this concernment, if not of their own nature, for that of godlineſſe, as appears by the many controverſies about it, is without controverſie a great Myſtery: Yet either by reaſon of our dim-ſightedneſs, being not able to ſee afar off, nor to penetrate into the depth and bottome of them, or by reaſon of the abuſive traditions, and corrupt gloſſes with which for many ages they have been clouded and overcaſt, both which do exceedingly hinder our underſtanding of them. I ſay upon theſe and ſuch like accounts, many truths ſeem not to be ſo clear, but that they ſtill need a further clearing.
Among others, ſuch as relate to Church Diſcipline and order, have for a long time been under debate, and not without ſome conſiderable advantage, though I humbly conceive we have not attained ſo far as to be already perfect.
It remains therefore that we would preſs forward, and not be ſo paſſionately fond of our own prepoſſeſt conceptions, as not to have the patience to conſider what may be offered to us, eſpecially, by ſuch as are well-wiſhers to Sion, and deſirous to ſee the Goſpel-Temple in its beauty.
If any perſons are ſpirited to ſearch after further Knowledg in theſe affairs, to dig for it as for hid treaſure, and when they have found a vein of golden Ore, to refine and ſtamp it for us, we ſhould be in readineſs to receive the truth in the Love of it, and to pay it the tribute and homage of obedience, for the ſake of the God of truth, whoſe image and ſuperſcription it bears.
What great and profitable pains my much honoured Friend the Reverend Author of the enſuing Exercitation, hath taken in this one particular preſented to conſideration, and with what Curiouſneſſe, without curioſity? with what (as the Apoſtle) Craft, without fraud? with what Pompe, without pride? with what Learning, without oſtentation? with what Brevity, without obſcurity? In a word, with how ſweet a Religious ingenuity, and to what noble ends, he hath laid, managed and finiſht this admirable plot, you will beſt perceive by the view and peruſal of it? and though my opinion be of very little ſignification yet I cannot forbear to ſay, That as to the ſubſtance and main of the deſign, I judge it to be of ſo conſiderable an importance, that I do not ſee how it can be neglected without a very great prejudice to Church-Communion; to ſay no more. Haply ſome may be ſo nice as to be offended with the name, and diſlike Confirmation for fear of Biſhoping, as if that old faſhiond-garment had but a peece of new-nam'd cloth put to it, and dreſt up in another mode; if it were ſo, can no good come out of Nazareth? Bonus odor veritatis ex re qualibet.
But if any are under ſuch a fear, I think I may aſſure them that they are more afraid than hurt, yea, afraid where no fear is, as they will quickly find, if they but pleaſe to come and ſee.
As for you Noble Bereans, I ſhall detain you no longer, but to pray you that according to your wonted gentleneſſe and Ingenuity, you would conſider of what is ſaid, and to ſearch the Scriptures to ſee whether theſe things are ſo.
Now the God of truth give us a right underſtanding of all truth, that we may Know and believe, love and live the truth as it is in and from Jeſus, who is the way, the truth, and the life. Vincat veritas, let truth go on conquering and to conquer; which is the hearty praier of the Authors much obliged, and ambitious to be his and every mans humble Servant in the ſervice of Chriſt Jeſus our Lord, who died for our Sins, and Roſe again for our Juſtification.
RALPH VENNING.
The Contents to be Prefixt.
1. THe ſeveral acceptations of Impoſition of hands p. 2
2 The condition of Catechumens p. 8
3 The ſeveral ſteps whereby they proceeded unto full Memberſhip p. 11. ad 23
4 How Confirmation did perfect Chuch-memberſhip p. 16
5 Infant Baptized completed by Confirmation p. 23
6 Confirmation proved
1 By Scripture p. 27
2 By teſtimony of the Fathers p. 31
3 By Councils p. 35
4 By the judgment and practice of the Waldenſes p. 37
5 By the judgment of the Reformed Divines p. 40
7 Romiſh corruptions in Confirmation enumerated and removed p. 43
8 Ten inferences drawn from the premiſes p. 52
9 The manner how Confirmation is to be uſed p. 62
10 The duties of miniſters for the recovery of Confirmation p. 69. where
1 The duty of Catechizing is handled, as to the matter and manner of its performance p. 74
2 Directions are ſet down by way of quere for the practice of Confirmation p. 93
11 The duty of people in order to the facilitating of this work p. 100, where
1 Some objections againſt this courſe are anſwered p. 103
2 The duties of parents and maſters of families are ſet down p. 117
12 Encouragements to this duty drawn
1 From the benefit that will hence enſue
1 To Miniſters p. 129
2 To domeſtick governours p. 134
3 To the perſons confirmed p. 141
4 To the Church p. 148
5 To the ignorant and profane p. 156
2 From the glory that will hence redound to God p. 160