An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Lastly, The Church of God in the primitive times, when many Heathens, and Infidels were converted, had this custom, which I find commended by most; and that was, before the Church would receive such converted Heathens into an actual Communion with the Church, they took time to instruct them, and to try whether they were fit for that Sacrament, or no; and when they were prepared, then they received them. These were called Catechumenoi and Competentes. They were truly members of the Church, as the Protestants maintain against Bellarmine; only they had not as yet the actual admission into it. This custom in Antiquity of admitting none to Baptism, but such as were instructed, doth hold by proportion for the Lords Supper likewise. Seeing now that all are baptized in their Infancy; and whether Parents have done their duties, or that they have sufficient knowledge to come to a Sacrament, may justly be questioned, when we see so much gross ignorance in the Christian Religion abounding every where. Therefore in Antiquity there was Ecclesiastical Confirmation, which was to make search and trial about the knowledge and sufficiency of such, who had been baptized; and if found duly qualified, then they were confirmed. Such care did they use in Antiquity about those that were admitted to Church-society, insomuch that Casaubon, a man of famous learning, saith, It had been well in the Church of God, if men had laid aside many unnecessary disputes, and endeavoured to bring in that holy and godly order, the primitive Church had, especially about the Lords Supper. And Calvin speaking of this custom of Confirmation, before it was so horribly depraved by after ages, and made a Sacrament, wisheth it were brought into the Church of God again, as that which would make parents more diligent, who now think the institution of their children doth not belong to them; neither would there ⟨p. 93⟩be such ignorance and rudeness in people, as now there is. Instil. lib. 4. c. 19. Sect. 13.

Lastly, The Church of God in the primitive times, when many Heathens, and Infidels were converted, had this custome, which I find commended by most; and that was, before the Church would receive such converted Heathens into an actual Communion with the Church, they took time to instruct them, and to try whether they were fit for that Sacrament, or no; and when they were prepared, then they received them. These were called Catechumenoi and Competentes. They were truly members of the Church, as the Protestants maintain against Bellarmine; only they had not as yet the actual admission into it. This custom in Antiquity of admitting none to Baptisme, but such as were instructed, doth hold by proportion for the Lords Supper likewise. Seeing now that all are baptized in their Infancy; and whether Parents have done their duties, or that they have sufficient knowledge to come to a Sacrament, may justly be questioned, when we see so much gross ignorance in the Christian Religion abounding every where. Therefore in Antiquity there was Ecclesiastical Confirmation, which was to make search and trial about the knowledge and sufficiency of such, who had been baptized; and if found duly qualified, then they were confirmed. Such care did they use in Antiquity about those that were admitted to Church-society, insomuch that Casaubon, a man of famous learning, saith, It had been well in the Church of God, if men had laid aside many unnecessary disputes, and endeavoured to bring in that holy and godly order, the primitive Church had, especially about the Lords Supper. And Calvin speaking of this custom of Confirmation, before it was so horribly depraved by after ages, and made a Sacrament, wisheth it were brought into the Church of God again, as that which would make parents more diligent, who now think the institution of their children doth not belong to them; neither would there