An Answer Made to an Open Challenge, Title page – Dedication
PROVOCATOR PROVOCATƲS. OR, An anſwer made to an open Challenge made by one M. Boatman in Peters Pariſ… …n Norwich, the 13th of December, 1654. in a Sermon preached there at a Faſt, in which Anſwer theſe Queſtions are ſpoke to.
1. Whether Juridicall Suſpenſion of ſome perſons from the Lords Supper be deducible from Scripture; the Affirmative is proved.
2. Whether Miniſteriall or Privative S…sp…nſion be juſtifiable; the Affirmative alſo is maintained.
3. Whether the Suſpenſion of the ignorant and ſcandalous, be a Phariſaicall Invention; A thing which wiſer Ages n…ver thought of, … Mr Boatman falſly affirmed. In oppoſition to which is proved, That it hath been the judgment and practice of the eminent Saints and ſervants of Chriſt, in all Ages, of all other Reformed Churches, and our Church in all times.
To the whole Diſcourſe is prefixed a Narrative Preface, giving account of the occaſion of this Tract, & containing the Notes of a part of Mr Boatmans Sermon preached Decemb. 13. with Animadverſions upon it; with the Authors Letter to him after the preaching of it, to let him know he would accept his challenge, and diſpute with him, and Mr Boatmans uncivill Letter, refuſing to diſpute.
There are ſubjoyned two Appendices: The firſt clearing up from Antiquity the ſeverall Orders of the Catechumeni and Poenitentes, which were in the Primitive Church ſuſpended, and not excommunicated, as is fully proved. The latter containes a Vindication of the firſt Argument upon the firſt Queſtion, from an impertinent Diſcourſe of Mr B…atmans in a Sermon, March 28. where you have the ſaid Sermon, and Animadverſions diſcovering the Magiſteriall vanity of his interpretation of Mat. 7.6 and the Author is vindicated from the charge of delivering untruth from that Text.
In the managing of the ſeverall Arguments, on the firſt and ſecond Queſtion, there is alſo full anſwer given, to what Eraſtus, Mr Prinne, or Mr Humfry have excepted to them.
By John Collings, B. D. & Preacher of the Goſpell in Norwich.
Sciendum enim, à ſanctis Patribus, ab hoc vel maximè conſtitutum, ut mortaliter peccantes, à Sacramentis Dominicis arceantur: ne indignè ea percipientes, vel majori reatu involvantur, ut Judas quem poſt panem temerè à Magiſtro ſuſceptum, Diabolus dicitur pleniùs invaſiſſe, ut crimen quod prius ſcelerata praemeditatione conceperat, jam ſceleratiſſimo conſummare… effectu, vel nè quod Apoſtolus de Corinthiis dicit, infirmitatem corporis & imbecillitatem, ipſam que mortem praeſumptores incurrant; & ut à communione ſuspenſi terrore ejus excluſionis, & quodam condemnationis Anathemate compellantur ſtudioſius paenitentiae medicamentum appetere; & avidius recuperandae ſalutis defideriis inhiare.
Walafridus Strabo, lib. de reb Eccleſ. cap. 17.
London, Printed for William Francklyng, Bookſeller in Norwich. 1654.
Collegium Jeſu Cantabrigienſi J700
To the Right Worll John Mann Eſq; Mayor of the City of Norwich.
Much Honoured Sir,
AS the Influence which that eminent place in this City, to which God hath called you, and the Engagements which your goodneſſe hath laid upon thoſe few Miniſters in it, who have laboured againſt great oppoſition, to promote an Eccleſiaſtick Reformation, have juſtly challenged our obſervance to you; ſo your eminent appearing, not only for it, but in it, accepting the Office of a Ruler in one of the Congregations of it, and your appearing for the reſtoring of that eminent ſervant of Chriſt to his Paſtorall charge there again, where theſe unhappy flames of our diviſion have kindled (wch by the piety and prudence of that Reverend man would have been prevented) hath challenged for you the more ſpeciall Dedication of this Tract. What you ſhall find in it, the Preface will tell you; And the Preface is that alone, which needs your Patronage, nor ſhould that ſtand in need of it, if ſome men had not the confidence to deny that the Sunne ſhines at noon-day, whether what is there related be truth or no, your ſelfe can in a great meaſure ſatisfie the Enquirer. For the ſubſtance of the Booke, when you have examined it, I ſhall be content you ſhould diſmiſſe it your protection, and ſhall my ſelfe attend the vindication of it from its adverſaries, who are ordinarily more clamorous then argumentative. If my paines may contribute any thing Sir to encourage your perſeverance in that good worke to which the Lord hath quickned you to put your hand, as it will be a great matter of encouragement and joy to all of us who are working for the Lord in the refining of Sion (while we are almoſt ſtifled with the droſſe which the corruption of former times hath begot) ſo it will be a great addition to your crown in the day of the Lord, and a great crown to him who is,
SIR, Your moſt humble and much obliged ſervant in the Lord Ieſus, J. COLLINGS. Chaphyfield houſe, April 19. 1654.