A02990:245
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest…
A friendly trial of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulness of a stinted liturgy and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keys: tending to satisfy the doubtful, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.A friendly triall of the grounds tending to separation in a plain and modest dispute touching the lawfulnesse of a stinted liturgie and set form of prayer, Communion in mixed assemblies, and the primitive subject and first receptacle of the power of the Keyes: tending to satisfie the doubtfull, recall the wandering, and to strengthen the weak: by John Ball.
Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the University of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640Cambridge: printed by Roger Daniel printer to the Universitie of Cambridge for Edward Brewster, 1640
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
CHAP. X. It is lawful to communicate in a mixed congregation where ignorant and profane persons be admitted to the sacrament.
CHAP. X. It is lawfull to communicate in a mixt congregation where ignorant and prophane persons be admitted to the sacrament.
This is made an exception against communicating in our assemblies, that we are a mixed congregation, and that ignorant and profane persons are admitted unto the Lords table. To try the weight of this reason the better, we must remember that sinners which may come into question, are either secret, that is, not of public note, though one or other, perhaps the minister himself, may know them in their course scandalous, or else notorious, such as are commonly defamed and known for evil, by evidence of fact and course, if not juridicé. The first sort sin in coming profanely unto the Lords ordinances, and they pollute the holy things of God unto their own destruction, if they come without repentance and purpose of amendment:1 But they are not to be repelled, if they offer themselves, because though one know them to have sinned thus and thus,2 it is unknown to others, and so the sin is private and not openly known. Christ knew Judas his fetches, yet he suffered him: and though ⟨p. 188⟩his treason was hidden and there were no witnesses of his intendment, yet his theft was acted, and not purposed onely. De secretis non judicat ecclesia: Et privata scelera non habent vindictam. When it is not notorious and manifest that such a man hath lost his right to the sacrament,3 it ought not to be denied unto him in the face of the congregation: otherwise liberty should be granted to wicked ministers to punish with this punishment whomsoever they please. The law of God in all ecclesiastical and civil punishments requireth either confession by the party of the fault which is committed, or else proof by witnesses. Augustine, tom. 9. lib. De medicin. poen. cap. 3. is clear of this opinion, Nos à communion quenquam prohibere non possumus, nisi aut spontè confessum, aut in aliquo judicio ecclesiastico vel seculari nominatum atque convictum; as he is cited by the glosse ad