The Golden Mean, Case 5
Caſe. 5.
But is not adminiſtring the Sacrament to ſuch as be unregenerate, Mat. 7.6.a giving holy things to Dogs, &c. Contrary to Chriſt's flat command? Sol. No… at all in our Saviours ſence; This place I know is much urged, and that by many learned and godly men, and I know it is ſufficiently anſwer'd, by many no leſſe learned and godly, eſpecially by M. Jeanes, and alſo by M. Blake: yet give me leave to fay ſomething in this particular, becauſe it works much with a great many. I confeſſe I cannot chuſe but wonder to ſee this place ſo wreſted by wiſe and worthy men, as if it afforded Argumentum palmarium, not conſidering either the abſurdity, or inconſequence of their arguing.
Firſt, the abſurdity is evident, becauſe taking it for a general propoſition, as they do, and ſo including the holy things of the Sacrament among the reſt, it makes full as much, if not more, againſt preaching to ſuch as they call Doggs, and Swine, and whom they would exclude, eo nomine, from the Sacrament, when notwithſtanding they preach the holy things of the Goſpel to the ſelf-ſame Doggs, yea and caſt thoſe pearls before thoſe ſame Swine; eſpecially when they contend for excommunicate perſons, not to be excluded the Congregation. Therefore the Propoſition cannot bee general, in their ſenſe of Doggs, but ſo as to make flat againſt themſelves. The truth is, preaching, reproving and admoniſhing are moſtly meant by thoſe holy things and pearls, which our Saviour ſpeaks of; as M. Perkins and many others give the ſenſe of the place.
But now, if you take Doggs and Swine in Chriſt's own ſenſe (who muſt needs be the beſt expoſitor of his own meaning) for ſuch as will rent you, and trample upon thoſe pearls which you give them; ſee then the inconſequence of their inference: Thoſe whom they would exclude from theſe holy things and precious pearls in this Sacrament, never offer to rent or tear thoſe that adminiſter them; but the contrary, they are ready to rent thoſe that refuſe adminiſtring to them, though not with their teeth, yet with their tongues, as many can teſtifie. And as for trampling theſe pearls under their feet, they are ſo far from it, as that they prize this above moſt other Ordinances, and have uſed to come more reverently to it, than to any Ordinance whatſoever; carrying themſelvs worſe by far towards the Word preached, which as yet they are allowed to enjoy.
Moreover, let them take Doggs for whomſoever they will, provided they have this quality here mentioned by our Saviour, to be ready to rent thoſe that would give them this holy Supper, and there need be no controverſie in this caſe; for if they ſhould but offer ſuch an affront for adminiſtring theſe things unto them, we would not offer to give them; indeed we ſhould not need to trouble our ſelvs about them in this reſpect, becauſe they would not come to this Ordinance at all, as many now ſinfully refuſe, who hold us and our Miniſtrie Antichriſtian, and ſurely we are not ſo Popiſhly affected, as to carry it to their houſes, or carry it about, and call upon them to adore it; as the Papiſts do their Hoſt, or Breaden god, which they call the Sacrament of the Altar.
Object. But ſome will ſay, Is not this Childrens bread, and therefore not to be given to Doggs, according to the ſaying of our Saviour, Mat. 15.26.
Anſw. 'Tis moſt true, it is indeed Childrens bread, and therefore not to be given unto Doggs: But who are Children in that ſpeech of our Saviour? Even all thoſe that are of the Viſible Church, in oppoſition to thoſe that were not; for this Woman of whom he ſpake was a Gentile, and not a Proſelite; and the Jews in thoſe daies were onelyonly of the Church, and ſo Children, how wicked ſoever; which is likewiſe manifeſt by Chriſt's foregoing words, ver. 24. I am not ſent, but to the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael: mark, even the loſt ſheep of the houſe of Iſrael, as well as thoſe that were already found, are reckoned there to be the ſame with the Children: And conſequently Doggs, according to Chriſts meaning, muſt needs ſignifie there, ſuch as were not of the Viſible Church, or uncircumciſed; and ſo likewiſe thoſe are children among us, who are received into the Viſible Church, and Baptized, and have right unto Childrens bread, and cannot be counted Doggs in our Saviours ſenſe there, but onelyonly Infidels and unbaptized are to be accounted ſuch, and not to receive this Sacrament in ſtatu quo.