A30136:130
A confession of my faith and a reason of my practice
A confession of my faith and a reason of my practice, or, With who, and who not, I can hold church-fellowship, or the communion of saints
London: printed for Francis Smith, 1672
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Answ. No; But tarry, and take my sense with my word. For herein lies the mistake, To think that because in time past, Baptism was administered upon conversion, that therefore it is the initiating, and entering ordinance into Church-communion: when by the word no such thing is testified of it. Besides, that it is not so, will be manifest, if we consider the nature, ⟨p. 71⟩and power of such an ordinance.
Answ. No; But tarry, and take my sense with my word. For herein lyes the mistake, To think that because in time past, Baptism was administred upon conversion, that therefore it is the initiating, and entring ordinance into Church-communion: when by the word no such thing is testifyed of it. Besides, that it is not so, will be manifest, if we consider the nature, ⟨p. 71⟩and power of such an ordinance.
That ordinance then, that is the initiating or entering ordinance as before, Doth give to them that partake thereof, aright to; and a being of membership, with that particular Church, by which it is administered. I say; a right to, and a being of membership, without the addition of another Church-Act. This is evident by the Law of circumcision, which was the initiating Law of old; For by the administration of that very ordinance, the partaker thereof was forthwith member of that congregation, without the addition of another Church-act. Gen. 17. This is declared in its first institution, and therefore it is called the token of the Covenant: The token or sign of righteousness of Abraham's Faith, and of the visible membership of those that joined themselves to the Church with him; the very inlet into Church-communion; that gave a being ⟨p. 72⟩of membership among them And thus Moses himself expounds it; Every Man-servant saith he, that is bought with money when thou hast circumcised him, he shall eat of the passover: without the addition of another Church-act, to impower him there unto; his circumcision hath already given him a being there, and so a right to, and privilege in the blessing of Church-relation: A Foreigner and an hired servant shall not eat thereof. (because not circumcised) but when a stranger that sojourneth with thee. will keep the Passover to the Lord, let all his males be circumcised, and then let him come near and keep it. (for then he is one of the Church) and he shall be as one born in the Land; for no uncircumcised person shall eat thereof.