A30138:325
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.
Quest. 4. Is it not the Spirit of Diotrephes of old, in you, who loved to have the preeminence, that you are so bold to keep out all the Brethren, that are not of your mind in this matter, from having any entertainment in the Churches or Meetings to which you belong, though you your self have not been denied the like liberty, among them that are contrary minded to you? Is this the way of your retaliation? ⟨p. 97⟩Or are you afraid lest the Truth should invade your quarters?
Quest. 4. Is it not the Spirit of Diotrephes of old, in you, who loved to have the preheminence, that you are so bold to keep out all the Brethren, that are not of your mind in this matter, from having any entertainment in the Churches or Meetings to which you belong, though you your self have not been denyed the like liberty, among them that are contraryminded to you? Is this the way of your retaliation? ⟨p. 97⟩Or are you afraid lest the Truth should invade your quarters?
Answ. I can say, I would not have the Spirit you talk of, what I have of it, God take it from me. But what was the Spirit of Diotrephes? Why, not to receive the Brethren into the Church, and to forbid them that would, (3 John 9, 10.) This do not I; I am for Communion with Saints, because they are Saints▪ I shut none of the Brethren out of the Churches, nor forbid them that would receive them. I say again, show me the man that is a visible Believer, and that walketh with God; and though he differ with me about Baptism, the Doors of the Church stand open for him, and all our Heaven-born Privileges he shall be admitted to them. But how came Diotrephes so lately into our parts? Where was he in those days that our Brethren of the Baptized-way, would neither receive into the Church, nor pray with men as good as themselves, because they were not baptized; but would either, like Quakers, stand with their Hats on their heads, or else withdraw till we had done.