A44695:91
A sermon preached on the late day of thanksgiving, Decemb. 2, 1697 by John…A sermon preach'd on the late day of thanksgiving, Decemb. 2, 1697 by John…
A sermon preached on the late day of thanksgiving, Decemb. 2, 1697 by John Howe ... ; to which is prefixed Dr. Bates's congratulatory speech to the King, Novemb. 22, 1697, in the name of the dissenting ministers in and about London.A sermon preach'd on the late day of thanksgiving, Decemb. 2, 1697 by John Howe ... ; to which is prefixed Dr. Bates's congratulatory speech to the King, Novemb. 22, 1697, in the name of the dissenting ministers in and about London.
London: printed by S. Bridge for Tho. Parkhurst, 1698
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.
AND indeed there is not a Difference to be found, amongst them that hold the Head, but must be so Minute, that it cannot be a Pretence for Refusing Communion. For true Christian Charity will at least Resolve it into Weakness. And Men are generally so kind to themselves, that he from whom another differs, will be very apt to think himself the stronger; then does the Rule conclude him, You that a•e Strong, bear the Infirmities of the Weak, and do not Dispute with them, but Receive them. This Obligation immediately lies on the Strong, and therefore must take hold of them that think themselves so, not to Dispute with the others but receive them, and because the Lord has Received them. Does He take them into his Communion, and will not You take them into Yours? To profess want of Charity in Excuse, is to Excuse a Fault by a Wickedness. It is to Usurp Christs Judgment-Seat, and Invade His Office, Rom. 14. 4, 10. Therefore wheresoever there is any such Case to be found, that let a Man be never so sound in the Faith, never so Orthodox, let him be in all Things else never so Regular through his whole Conversation, if he do not submit to some doubtful Thing, Thought perhaps a Matter of indifferency on the one side, and unlawful on the other; this Person must be excluded Christian Communion, for no other known Pretence, but only that he presumed to Doubt somewhat in the imposed Terms; for this very Doubt he is to be Treated as an Heathen or Publican, or indeed no more to be Received into our Communion, than a Dog or a Swine. How will this be Justified at Christ's Tribunal!
BUT how much less justifiable is it, if not only Communion be Pefused, but Ruin Designed, to such as Differ from us about those our Arbitrary Additions to Christs Rules, and Boundaries of Christian Communion.
BUT how much less justisiable is it, if not only Communion be Pefused, but Ruine Designed, to such as Differ from us about those our Arbitrary Additions to Christs Rules, and Boundaries of Christian Communion.