A30138:360
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.
Note, That Epistles are as well to direct how Churches are to carry things toward Saints without, as to Saints within; and also toward all men so as to give no offence to Jew or Gentile, nor to the Church of God. 1 Cor. 10. 32.
The second part of the Enquiry is, to what he that is weak in the Faith is to be received? whether only unto mutual affection, as some affirm, as if he were in Church-Fellowship before, that were weak in the Faith? or whether the Text doth as well, if not rather intend, the receiving such as were, and are weak in the Faith. Not only unto mutual affection if in the Church, but unto Church-fellowship also, if they were out. For clearing of which, consider, To whom the Epistle was written, Rom. 1. 7. Not only to the Church there, but unto all that were beloved of God, and called to be Saints in all Ages. And as at Rome it is like there then were, and in other places now are Saint; weak in the Faith, both in and out of Church-Fellowship; And it is probable there then were, and elsewhere now are those that will cast such out of their mutual affection. And if they will cast such out of their mutual affection that are ⟨p. 104⟩within, do doubt, they will keep out of their Church-Fellowship those that are without.
Arg. 1. Whereas the Lord's care extends to all his, and if it were a good Argument in the third verse, for them to receive those within, because God hath received them, it would be as good an Argument to receive in those without, for God hath received them also: unless it could be proved, that all that were and are weak in the Faith, were and are in Church-Fellowship, which is not likely; For if they would cast such out of their Affection that are within, they would upon the same account keep them out of Church-fellowship that were without: Therefore as it is a Duty to receive those within unto mutual Affection, SO it is no less a duty, by the Text, to receive such weak ones as are without, into Church-Fellowship.