The Middle Things, To the reader – Colophon
Chriſtian Reader,
IT is the deſire of ſome precious men, That I ſhould reviſe that Queſtion about joyning with the wicked in the Supper of the Lord, page 260. For my own part, I am fully ſatisfied, that the minde of God is clearly delivered in it; and yet leſt any may think that I am ſingular in this, I have lately conſ…lted with thoſe Divines, to whom high (if not higheſt) reſpect is given in the Controverſies of this nature; viz. Mr. Rutherford, and Mr. Gelaſpi, to whom I may joyn the late Aſſembly of Divines convened at Westminſter; and if you would know their opinions, conſult but the Authors, as I have cited them, where you may finde them at large. The Queſtion is, Whether admitting of, or joyning with ſcandalous perſons in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and not endeavoring to keep them back whilst ſuch, be ſin in the admitters and joyners? and how may it appear? It is anſwered affirmatively:—1. That it is ſin:—
1. In the admitters, Mat. 7.6. See Rutherford, Divine right of Church Government, page 254. and ſee Gelaſpi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 548, 549, 550, 551.
2. In the joyners, 1 Cor. 5.11. 2 Theſſ. 3.6. See Rutherford, Divine right of Church-Government, page 238, 240, 250, 268, 356, 357. and ſee Gelaſpi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 424, 427, 428, 429, 339. 2. This appears to be ſin:—
1. In the admitters, by theſe grounds.
1. Becauſe of the command to keep unclean perſons from holy things, Numb. 5.2.—9.6, 7. 2 Chron. 23.19. See Rutherford, Divine right of Church-Government, page 241, 242. ſee Gelaspi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 96, 97, 98.
2. Becauſe of Chriſts caſting out the man that came without his wedding garment, Mat. 22.11. ſee Gelaſpi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 510.
3. Becauſe of the practice of the Apoſtles, who caſt out the ſcandalous from the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 5.3, 4, 5. ſee Ruth. Divine right of Church-Government, page 238, 240, 268, 346. Gelaſpi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 239. and for 1 Tim. 1.20. ſee Rutherford, Divine right of Church-Government, page 354, 355. Gelaſpi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 189.
2. In the joyners, by theſe grounds:
1. Becauſe they are forbidden expreſly to joyn with ſuch, 2 Theſſ. 3.14. Ruth. p. 250, 360. Gelaſpi, p. 281, 282.
2. Becauſe ſcandalous perſons ought to be cenſured, and ſo to be eſteemed of the joyners as heathens and publicans, Mat. 18.17. Ruth. p. 303, 306. 223, 233. Gelaſp. p. 295, 296, 351, 361, 364.
3. In both admitters and joyners, by theſe grounds:
1. Becauſe God hath forbidden us to eat with ſuch, 1 Cor. 5.11. 2 Theſſ. 3.6. Ruth. p. 238, 240, 250, 268, 356, 357. Gelaſp. p. 424, 427, 428, 429, 339.
2. Becauſe by joyning with ſuch in the Lords Supper, their ſin would become ours, 1 Cor. 5.6, 7. Gal. 5.9, 10. Ruth. p. 238, 239, 240, 339, 345, 349, 373. Gelaſp. p. 116, 117. 286.
3. Becauſe the Ordinance of the Lords Supper is defiled thereby, which we underſtand not ſimply in it ſelf, but in ſome ſort; (i.) It is defiled to them who are ſcandalous, and to them who joyn with ſuch whom they know to be ſcandalous: And this appears:—
1. In that the Temple, which had a Sacramental ſignification of Chriſt, was polluted by the coming of prophane perſons into it, Ezek. 23.38, 39. Ruth. p. 452, 453, 496. Gelaſp. p. 546, 547.
2. In that the ſacrifices of old were defiled by prophane perſons, Hag. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. Ruth. p. 272, 347, 348. Gelaſp. p. 547.
3. In that the prophane are as ſwine which trample the pearls under their feet. Matth. 7.6. Ruth. p. 254, 255, 638. Gelaſp. p. 548, 549. It is confeſſed that the word is a pearl, and yet the prophane may hear the word, and in ſtead of defiling it (if the Lord ſee good) be converted by it, Iſa. 2.3, 4.—11.4, 5, 6, 7. but the Lords Supper is ſuch a pearl, as they can make no uſe of it, but pollute it to their own deſtruction; no more then dogs and ſwine can make uſe of pearls to feed, but onelyonly to trample on them: The Lords Supper is ſuch a thing as is ordained onelyonly for thoſe that have ſaving grace, and not for dogs.
I hope theſe two witneſſes (if they be throughly peruſed) will ſatisfie the ſcrupulous: But beſides thoſe two worthy Pillars, our own Aſſembly of Divines affirm this truth; who grounding the ſuſpenſion of ſcandalous ſinners from the Sacrament, though not yet caſt out of the Church, they gave in theſe proofs: 1. Becauſe the Ordinance it ſelf muſt not be prophaned. 2. Becauſe we are charged to withdraw from thoſe who walk diſorderly. 3. Becauſe of the great ſin and danger both to him that comes unworthily, and alſo to the whole Church: The Scriptures from which the Aſſembly did prove all this, were Matth. 7.6. 2 Theſſ. 3.6, 14, 15. 1 Cor. 11.27. to the end; compared with Jude, v. 23. 1 Tim. 5.22. ſee Gelaſpi, Aarons Rod bloſſoming, page 339. I have no more to ſay, but the Lord lead us into all truth, and give us grace to walk humbly and obediently to every truth revealed: And as many as be perfect, Ph…l. 3.15, 16.let them be thus minded; and if any be otherwiſe minded, God ſhall reveal it in his due time: Nevertheleſs, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the ſame rule, let us minde the ſame thing.
Thine in Chriſt, ISAAC AMBROSE. E muſaeo meo, Octob. 1649.
Soli Deo Gloria.
THis Treatiſe (…a…led Med…, or The Middle things) as a very uſeful Collection in theſe times of ſo much ſtragling from ſound Doctrine Licenſe to the Preſs,
Charles Herle.
ERRATA.
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End of the text · Isaac Ambrose, The Middle Things (1650)