A30138:156
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
Differences in Judgment about Water-Baptism no Bar to Communion.
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.
But you ask me, If outward and bodily Conformity be become a crime? pag. 23.
Answ. I no where said it: But know that to glorify God with our bodies, respecteth chiefly far higher and more weighty things than that of Water-baptism, Whatsoever is 1not of Faith is sin; and to set up an Ordinance, though an Ordinance of God, that by it the Churches may be pulled in pieces, or the truly visible Saints excluded Communion with their Brethren; I say again, To make Water-baptism a bar and division betwixt Saint and Saint, every-whit otherwise gracious and holy alike: This is like fasting for strife, and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; and is not to be found within ⟨p. 46⟩the whole Bible, but is wholly an order of your own devising. As to the Peace you make an Objection about (pag. 23.) you have granted me what I intended; and now I add further, That for Church-peace to be2 founded in Baptism, or any other external Rite, not having to do with the Church as a3 Church, is poor Peace indeed: Church peace is founded in blood; and love to each other for Jesus sake; bearing with, and forbearing one another, in all things Circumstantial, that concern not Church-worship as such: And in my other I have proved that Baptism is not such, and therefore ought not to be urged to make rents and divisions among Brethren.
Answ. I no where said it: But know that to glorifie God with our bodies, respecteth chiefly far higher and more weighty things than that of Water-baptism, Whatsoever is 1not of Faith is sin; and to set up an Ordinance, though an Ordinance of God, that by it the Churches may be pull'd in pieces, or the truly visible Saints excluded Communion with their Brethren; I say again, To make Water-baptism a bar and division betwixt Saint and Saint, every-whit otherwise gracious and holy alike: This is like fasting for strife, and debate, and to smite with the fist of wickedness; and is not to be found within