A30136:83
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.
2. With whom I dare.
Only, first, Note, that by the word Communion I mean fellowship in the things of the Kingdom of Christ, or that which is commonly called Church communion, the Communion of Saints. For in civil affairs and in things of this World that are honest, I am not altogether tied up from the fornicators thereof; (Cor. 5 9, 10) Wherefore in my following discourse understand me in the first sense.
Only, first, Note, that by the word Communion I mean fellowship in the things of the Kingdom of Christ, or that which is commonly called Church communion, the Communion of Saints. For in civil affairs and in things of this World that are honest, I am not altogether tyed up from the fornicators thereof; (Cor. 5 9, 10) Wherefore in my following discourse understand me in the first sense.
Now, Then, I dare not have communion with them that profess not faith and holiness; or that are not visible Saints by calling: but note that by this assertion, I meddle not with the elect; but as he is a visible Saint by calling; neither do I exclude the secret Hypocrite, if he be hid from me by visible Saint ship. Wherefore I dare not have communion with men from a single supposition, that they may be elect, neither dare I exclude the other from a single supposing that he may be a secret Hypocrite. I meddle not here with these things; I only exclude him that is not a visible Saint: Now he that is visibly or openly profane, cannot be then a visible Saint,; for he that is a visible Saint must profess faith, and repentance, and consequently holiness of life: And with none else dare I communicate.
Now, Then, I dare not have communion with them that profess not faith and holiness; or that are not visible Saints by calling: but note that by this assertion, I meddle not with the elect; but as he is a visible Saint by calling; neither do I exclude the secret Hypocrite, if he be hid from me by visible Saint ship. Wherefore I dare not have communion with men from a single supposition, that they may be elect, neither dare I exclude the other from a single supposing that he may be a secret Hypocrite. I meddle not here with these things; I onely exclude him that is not a visible Saint: Now he that is visibly or openly prophane, cannot be then a visible Saint,; for he that is a visible Saint must profess faith, and repentance, and consequently holyness of life: And with none else dare I communicate.