A confession of my faith and a reason of my practice

Name: A confession of my faith and a reason of my practice
Author: John Bunyan

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

John Bunyan 1628–1688London: printed for Francis Smith, 1672

[10], 130 p. · 23k words · Wing B5506 · ESTC R36326

Title page typeset from the transcription.

A Confession of my Faith; and a reason of my practice in worship, &c. › A reason of my Practise in Worship,

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.

[ Earlier:163–178 of 218

:163p. 108

To have fellowship one with another for the sake of an outward circumstance, or to make that the door to fellowship which God hath not; yea to make that the including, excluding charter: The bounds, bar, and rule of Communion, when by the word of the everlasting testament there is no warrant for it (to speak charitably) If it be not for want of Love, it is for want of knowledge in the mysteries of the Kingdom of Christ. Strange! Take two Christians equal in all points but this, nay let one go beyond the other far, for grace and holiness; yet this circumstance of Water shall drown and sweep away all his excellencies, not counting him worthy of that reception, that with hand and heart shall be given a novice in religion, because he consents to Water.

To have fellowship one with another for the sake of an outward circumstance, or to make that the door to fellowship which God hath not; yea to make that the including, excluding charter: The bounds, bar, and rule of Communion, when by the word of the everlasting testament there is no warrant for it (to speak charitably) If it be not for want of Love, it is for want of knowledge in the mysteries of the Kingdom of Christ. Strange! Take two Christans equal in all points but this, nay let one go beyond the other far, for grace and holyness; yet this circumstance of Water shall drown and sweep away all his excellencies, not counting him worthy of that reception, that with hand and heart shall be given a novice in religion, because he consents to Water.

:164p. 109–111

Eighthly, But for Gods people to divide into parties, or to shut each other from Church communion; though from greater points, and upon higher pretences, then this of Water-baptism; hath heretofore been counted carnal, and the actors herein babish Christians: Paul and Apollo, Cephas, and Christ were doubtless higher things then those about which we contend: yet when they made divisions for them; how sharply are they rebuked? Are ye not Carnal, Carnal, Carnal? For whereas there are among you, envyings, strife, divisions, or factions: are you not carnal. 1 Cor. 1.11, 12. chap. 3.1, 2, 3, 4. While one saith I am of Paul, and another I am of Apollo; are you not carnal? See therefore from whence arise all thy, endeavours, zeal and labour to accomplish divisions, among the Godly; Let Paul or Cephas, or Christ himself be the burden of thy song,

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