A30138:173
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.
Again, If Baptism be without the Church, as a Church, if it hath nothing to do in the Constituting of a Church; if it be not the door of entrance into the Church, if it be no part of Church-worship as such; then, although all the Members of that Church were baptized, yet the Church is a Church without Water-baptism. But all the Churches in the New-Testament were such: Therefore, &c.
Again, If Baptism respect Believers, as particular Persons only; if it respects their own Conscience only; if it make a man no visible Believer to me, then it hath nothing to do with Church-membership: Because, that which respects my own Person only, my own Conscience only: that which is no Character ⟨p. 51⟩of my visible Saintship to the Church, cannot be an Argument unto them to receive me into fellowship with themselves. But this is true, Therefore, &c.
Again, If Baptism respect Believers, as particular Persons only; if it respects their own Conscience only; if it make aman no visible Believer to me, then it hath nothing to do with Church-membership: Because, that which respects my own Person only, my own Conscience only: that which is no Character ⟨p. 51⟩of my visible Saintship to the Church, cannot be an Argument unto them to receive me into fellowship with themselves. But this is true, Therefore, &c.
You proceed, If by Edification, be meant the private increase of Grace, in one another, in the use of private means, as private Christians in meeting together; how doth the Principle you oppose hinder that? Endeavour to make men as holy as you can, that they may be fitted for Church-fellowship, when God shall show them the orderly way to it. pag. 26.