A30138:272
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.
Your fourth Argument is, None of the Scripture-Saints ever attempted this Church-privilege without Baptism, (if they did, let it be shown). The Eunuch first ⟨p. 78⟩desired Baptism before any thing else; Paul was first baptized before he did essay to join with the Church. Our Lord Christ, the great Example of the New Testament, entered not upon his public Ministry, much less any other Gospel-Ordinance of Worship, till he was Baptized.
Your fourth Argument is, None of the Scripture-Saints ever attempted this Church-priviledge without Baptism, (if they did, let it be shewn). The Eunuch first ⟨p. 78⟩desired Baptism before any thing else; Paul was first baptized before he did essay to joyn with the Church. Our Lord Christ, the great Example of the New Testament, entred not upon his publick Ministry, much less any other Gospel-Ordinance of Worship, till he was Baptized.
Answ. That none of the Scripture-Saints (if there be any unscripture ones) so much as attempted this Church-privilege first, remains for you to prove. But suppose they were all Baptized, because they had light therein, what then? Doth this prove that Baptism is essential to Church-Communion? Or, that Christ commanded in the 28th of Matthew, or gave his Ministers by that authority, not to make known to Believers other parts of Gospel-Worship, if they shall want light in Baptism? The Eunuch, Paul, and our blessed Lord Jesus, did none of them, by their Baptism, set themselves to us Examples how to enter into Church-Communion, what Church was the Eunuch Baptized into, or made a Member of; but where is it said, that the unbaptized Believer, how excellent soever in Faith and Holiness, must, for want of Water-baptism, be shut out from the communion of Saints, or be debarred the Privilege of his Fathers House? This you are to prove.