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…

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.

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 sensless: 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.

4. The last corrupt opinion, by which men may not join to a Church, may be from a superstitious conceit, whereby men thinking it impossible to have salvation in the world, have imprisoned themselves, as it were, in Cells, and holes of Rocks, thereby to give themselves wholly to divine Contemplation. Thus the Monks, Hermits and Anchorites of old. For though some of the most ancient are excused, as being driven thereunto by persecution, yet the latter seemed to be transported wholly with superstition; and therefore in that they lived solely, not coming to the public Ordinances of God in a Church way, it was not justifiable by Scripture. Indeed if they took their times, to come to public Societies, and receive Sacraments, as Rivet affirmeth against Grotius, Dialys. pag. 106. pleading their example for being of no Church, then they are to be excused à tanto, though not à toto.