A sermon preached before the right honourable the House of Lords in the Abbey…

Most horribly hath the Lords Table been profaned formerly in this kingdom, by the admission of scandalous persons, God will wink at it no longer: now is the opportunity of Reformation. The Parliament of England (if any State in the world) oweth much to Jesus Christ; and he will take it very ill at your hands if ye do him not right in this. I say do him right, for, alas, what is it to Ministers, it were more for their ease, and for pleasing of the people, to admit all: but a necessity is laid upon us that we dare not do it, and woe unto us, if we do it. And for your part, should you not establish such a rule as many put a difference between the precious and the vile, the clean and the unclean; you shall in so far make the Churches of Christ in a worse condition, and more disabled to keep themselves pure, then either they were of old under Pagan Emperors,¹ or now are under Popish Princes. You shall also strengthen instead if silencing the Objections both of Separatists and Socinians, who have with more then a colour of advantage opened their mouths wide against some Reformed Churches, for their not exercising of Discipline against scandalous and profane persons, and particularly for not suspending them from the Sacrament of the Lords Supper. Nay which is yet more, if you should refuse that which I speak of, you shall come short of that which Heathen• themselves in their way did make conscience of: for they did interdict and keep-off from their holy things all such as they ⟨p. 17⟩esteemed profane and scandalous, whom therefore they called [Greek or Hebrew], that is, accused or delated persons: In this manner was Alcibiades excommunicate at Athens, and Virginia at Rome: the former recorded by Plutarch, the latter by Livius. I trust God shall never so far desert this Parliament, as that in this particular, Pagan and Popish Princes, Separatists, Socinians and Heathens shall rise up in judgement against you. I am persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation: and, namely, that you will not suffer the Name and Truth of God to be through you blasphemed and reproached.

Most horribly hath the Lords Table been prophaned formerly in this kingdom, by the admission of scandalous persons, God will wink at it no longer: now is the opportunity of Reformation. The Parliament of England (if any State in the world) oweth much to Jesus Christ; and he will take it very ill at your hands if ye do him not right in this. I say do him right, for, alas, what is it to Ministers, it were more for their ease, and for pleasing of the people, to admit all: but a necessity is laid upon us that we dare not do it, and wo unto us, if we do it. And for your part, should you not establish such a rule as many put a difference between the precious and the vile, the clean and the unclean; you shall in so far make the Churches of Christ in a worse condition, and more disabled to keep themselves pure, then either they were of old under Pagan Emperours,