A30138:13
Differences in judgment about water-baptism, no bar to communion, or, To communicate with saints,…Differences in judgment about vvater-baptism, no bar to communion, or, To communicate with saints,…
Differences in judgment about water-baptism, no bar to communion, or, To communicate with saints, as saints, proved lawful in answer to a book written by the Baptists, and published by Mr. T.P. and Mr. W.K. entitled, Some serious reflections on that part of Mr. Bunyan's confession of faith, touching church-communion with unbaptized believers : wherein, their objections and arguments are answered, and the doctrine of communion still asserted and vindicated : here is also Mr. Henry's Jesse's judgment in the case, fully declaring the doctrine I have asserted / by John Bunyan.Differences in judgment about vvater-baptism, no bar to communion, or, To communicate with saints, as saints, proved lawful in answer to a book written by the Baptists, and published by Mr. T.P. and Mr. W.K. entituled, Some serious reflections on that part of Mr. Bunyan's confession of faith, touching church-communion with unbaptized believers : wherein, their objections and arguments are answered, and the doctrine of communion still asserted and vindicated : here is also Mr. Henry's Jesse's judgment in the case, fully declaring the doctrine I have asserted / by John Bunyan.
London: printed for John Wilkins, 1673
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.
Courteous READER,
BE entreated to believe me, I had not set Pen to Paper about this Controversy, had we been let alone at quiet in our Christian Communion. But being assaulted for more than sixteen▪years; wherein the Brethren of the Baptized-way (as they had their opportunity) have sought to break us in pieces, merely because we are not in their way all baptized first: I could not, I durst not, forbear to do a little, if it might be, to settle the Brethren, and to arm them against the attempts, which also of late they begin to revive upon us. That I deny the Ordinance of Baptism, or that I have placed one piece of an Argument against it, (though they feign it) is quite without colour of truth. All I say, is, That the Church of Christ hath not Warrant to keep out of their Communion the Christian that is discovered to be a visible Saint by the Word, the Christian that walketh according to his Light with God. I will not make Reflections upon those unhandsome brands that my Brethren have laid upon me for this, as that I am a Machiavellian, a man devilish, proud, insolent, ⟨image 3⟩presumptuous, and the like; neither will I say as they, The Lord rebuke thee; words fitter to be spoke to the Devil, then a Brother. But Reader, read and compare, lay aside Prejudice and Judge. What Mr. Kiffin hath done in the matter I forgive, and love him never the worse, but must stand by my Principles because they are peaceable, godly, profitable, and such as tend to the Edification of my Brother, and as I believe will be justified in the day of Judgment.
BE intreated to believe me, I had not set Pen to Paper about this Controversis, had we been let alone at quiet in our Christian Communion. But being assaulted for more than sixteen▪years; wherein the Brethren of the Baptized-way (as they had their opportunity) have sought to break us in pieces, meerly because we are not in their way all baptized first: I could not, I durst not, forbear to do a little, if it might be, to settle the Brethren, and to arm them against the attempts, which also of late they begin to revive upon us. That I deny the Ordinance of Baptism, or that I have placed one piece of an Argument against it, (though they feign it) is quite without colour of truth. All I say, is, That the Church of Christ hath not Warrant to keep out of their Communion the Christian that is discovered to be a visible Saint by the Word, the Christian that walketh according to his Light with God. I will not make Reflections upon those unhandsom brands that my Brethren have laid upon me for this, as that I am a Machivilian, a man devilish, proud, insolent,