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…

2. Another corrupt opinion is, of those who call themselves high Attainers. These make themselves above the Church-ordinances, they need them not; yea some Anabaptists in Germany made themselves above the Bible, living wholly upon spiritual revelations, and called those, who would leave to the Scripture as a Rule, Creaturistae, as depending upon a creature. But the Scripture and Ordinances are necessary to quicken grace in the most holy; and there are none so spiritual, but they need them daily to comfort or instruct them; yet such have their public Assemblies, wherein they deliver their opinions to be received. But if people ought to be above all Ministry and teaching, then also above theirs. And certainly, if those places of being taught of God, and having an unction which teacheth us all things, be against our Ministry, it is also against theirs.

2. Another corrupt opinion is, of those who call themselves high Attainers. These make themselves above the Church-ordinances, they need them not; yea some Anabaptists in Germany made themselves above the Bible, living wholly upon spiritual revelations, and called those, who would leave to the Scripture as a Rule, Creaturistae, as depending upon a creature. But the Scripture and Ordinances are necessary to quicken grace in the most holy; and there are none so spiritual, but they need them daily to comfort or instruct them; yet such have their publick Assemblies, wherein they deliver their opinions to be received. But if people ought to be above all Ministry and teaching, then also above theirs. And certainly, if those places of being taught of God, and having an unction which teacheth us all things, be against our Ministry, it is also against theirs.

3. There may be a corrupt opinion, which though it be not against Church-communion absolutely, yet they judge it Arbitrary, and not necessary. Of this opinion Grotius seemed once to be; for he is thought to be the Author of that Book, which asserts, Quod non semper communicandum per symbola; and Rivet in his Dialysis against him, chargeth this upon him, that he was not a member of any Church, acknowledging it a just hand of God upon him, that at his death, when a Minister was brought to him, he was wholly senseless: So that he who in his life time cared not for Church-communion, could not have any benefit by a Minister of the Gospel at his death.