Animadversions Upon Antisynodalia Americana, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Concerning the fourth Propoſition.
Propoſ. 4. THeſe adult perſons are not therefore to be admitted to full Communion, meerly becauſe they are, and continue Members, without ſuch further Qualifications as the Word of God requireth thereunto.
Our Brethren granting this Propoſition, yet in reference to the fifth Propoſition, are pleaſed by way of Prevention to ſtate this Queſtion; viz. Whether there are, or ſhould be in the Church, ſuch perſons as have publickly and perſonally Covenanted, that are not in full Communion? The Negative they prove:
Reaſ. 1. Becauſe publick and perſonal Covenanting is the formality of a Church-member; ſuch have all the conſtituent cauſes, and ſo all the conſequences of the Form, and all the priviledges of that Subject, which in this caſe is full Communion. Hence the Form introduced, and the Covenant perſonally owned, doth neceſſarily imply all the priviledges belonging…th reunto.
Anſ. Every Publick and Perſonal Covenanting is not the Form of Church-memberſhip. The Covenant was oft renewed, publickly owned, or Entred into, by ſuch as were Members of the Church before; as in Deut. 29. and other Scriptures, doth appear. And this is the caſe of theſe in queſtion, who were in Covenant with God and his Church, and had the Seal of Baptiſm ſet thereto before, Geneſ. 17.7. 1 Cor. 12.13. and therefore this Owning of the Covenant, is onelyonly a manifeſtation of their continuance in it. And hence this is not the Form of their Memberſhip, but a Duty of their Covenant, and doth not in it ſelf fit them for full Communion, except withall they hold out ſuch Qualifications as the Word of God r…quireth thereunto. A Youth that hath the conſt…tuent cauſes of a Man, Soul and Body, with ſome Underſtanding and Reaſon, is not thereby capable of all Priviledges of a man; as, To Marry, Give good Aſſurances of Lands, and the like. An adult perſon received into the Church by perſonal Covenant, is not fit for the Lords Supper meerly becauſe he hath Covenanted, for except he hath ſuitable qualifications, he will Eat judgement to himſelf.
Reaſ. 2. Becauſe thoſe that were admitted by perſonal Covenant in the Primitive Church, continued in full Communion, Acts 2.41.
Anſ. There is not the ſame reaſon; for they were admitted in adult age, and alſo indued with eminent Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt: Theſe being admitted in Infancy, do onelyonly by Owning the Covenant, manif…ſt their continuance therein. The Indians newly converted, and holding forth ſo much Faith and Repentance as may admit them into the Church and Baptiſm, might yet need further Preparation to the Lords Supper, not having ſuch eminent gifts.
Reaſ. 3. Becauſe this Doctrine preſuppoſeth, that what Knowledge, Faith and Repentance is required in adult perſons coming to Baptiſm, is not ſufficient to the Lords Supper.
Anſ. This Doctrine doth not ſuppoſe it; for it ſpeaketh onelyonly of ſuch adult perſons as were Baptized in infancy, not to be Baptized in adult age. It ſuppoſeth onelyonly that perſons Baptized in infancy, and continuing in the Covenant, and viſible Church, may yet be unable to Examine themſelves, and diſcern the Lords Body. And hence the Reaſons which here follow, touch not this caſe. And it is well if ſome of them do not argue Againſt the Baptizing of In…ants; or, That Infants Baptized may partake of the Lords Supper.