An Answer Made to an Open Challenge, Summary
Now Reader, take the ſum of my Sermon on that Text, and of his confuting diſcourſe.
1. THe Text is abſolute ſence in it ſelfe, and ſtands in no relation to the former Verſes: This Mr Boatman grants.
2. The Precept is without reſtriction: Holy things, Pearles, not this or that Pearle or holy thing.
3. All the Ordinances of God, eſpecially the Sacraments, are holy things betruſted to men to give out.
4. There is therefore no reaſon to reſtraine the ſenſe of this Text to this or that holy thing, but to underſtand it of all.
5. Yet the whole word of God, being but one piece, if any part of that licenſeth us to adminiſter ſome holy things to ſome dogs, we may do accordingly, notwithſtanding this Text.
6. The Sacrament of the Supper, being an holy thing, it will follow from this generall Precept that it muſt not be given to ſuch as the Scripture calls dogs or ſwine, except the Scripture elſewhere expreſly commands us the contrary.
7. To expound it of preaching the Goſpell, or admonition reſtrictively, is to ſpeak without any ground, and to limit where Scripture doth not.
8. Beſides, The Goſpell muſt be preached to dogs, viz. perſecutors, heathens &c. and dogs muſt be admoniſhed, 2 Theſ. 3.14, 15.
9. It is ridiculous to ſay, that we are here forbidden to preach to ſome, and admoniſh them, and yet not forbidden to give them the Sacrament, the latter following upon neceſſary conſequence.
10. The dog will trample upon this Ordinance as well as the other.
11. Here is therefore a generall prohibition, from which will follow by a neceſſary deduction, that the Sacrament muſt not be given to ſuch as the Scripture calls dogs: 1. It being an holy thing. 2. As much included here as any other. 3. No where elſe allowed to dogs. 4. Such an Ordinance as they will trample on.
Now what ſaies Mr Boatman?
1. This Text is wrung by the Noſe till bloud comes, and I will redeeme the Captive.
2. The utmoſt of the Holy Ghoſts meaning by holy things and pearles is divine truths, and admonitions.
3. To ſtretch the Text further is to preach untruth, nothing to purpoſe, &c.
4. Admonition and preaching are holy things.
5. We muſt take heed how we give them out to dogs.
6. For the proofe of the three firſt; you muſt take my word, or chuſe whether you will beleeve it or no. And for anſwering any Objections, he is not at leiſure.
Read and judge now how learnedly I am confuted. He came out like a man of war, but what hath he done?
The King of France with twenty thouſand men Came to the ſea, and ſo went back agen.
FINIS.
Reader, theſe Books following are Printed, and are to be ſold by Richard Tomlins at the Sun and Bible neare Pye Corner.
THe Generall Practice of Phyſick, Folio.
The Fortune Book in Fol. Engliſh.
Pleaſant Notes upon Don Quixot, Fol.
Mr Collings his Cordials firſt, ſecond, and third parts, quarto.
His Vindiciae Miniſterii quarto.
His Anſwer to Mr. Sheppard, quart.
His Anſwer to Fiſher and Hammond, quart.
Dr Holdſworth's twenty one Sermons, quart.
Euclids Elements in quart. Eng.
Hiſtory of ſeven Champions, quart.
Packet of Letters, quart.
Cupids Meſſengers, quart.
The Birth of mankind, or womens Book, quart.
The Perfect Phariſee under Monkiſh holineſſe, quart.
The falſe Jew, quart.
Mr Collings Five Leſſons for a Chriſtian to learn, oct.
His Faith and experience, octav.
Mr Wincolls Poems, octav.
Excellency of Chriſt, octav.
Eraſmus Colloquis, octav.
Wings and Libourns Urania Practica, octav.
Velitationes Polemicae, octav.
Perkins Catechiſme, octav.
Janua Linguarum, octav.
Brinſley's Cordelrus, Octav.
Watſons untaught Bridegroome, Twelves.
End of the text · John Collinges, An Answer Made to an Open Challenge (1654)