A47350:172
A sober discourse of right to church-communion
A sober discourse of right to church-communion wherein is proved by Scripture, the example of the primitive times, and the practice of all that have professed the Christian religion, that no unbaptized person may be regularly admitted to the Lords Supper / by W. Kiffin ...A sober discourse of right to church-communion wherein is proved by Scripture, the example of the primitive times, and the practice of all that have prosessed the Christian religion, that no unbaptized person may be regularly admitted to the Lords Supper / by W. Kiffin ...
London: printed by Geo. Larkin for Enoch Prosser, 1681
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.
'If you pass from Precept and Example of all times to Reason, there you will find that whatever makes for the not repeating of Baptism in the ordinary use of it, makes also for this as fully, or more, that it should be the first.
'For, First if it be not to be repeated, because this is the Seal of Initiation, Regeneration, and Incorporation, then by the same Reason this must be first as Initiation, Admission, Incorporation, and Regeneration, are the first Internal Acts in us, and upon us, by which we are made Christians.
'Secondly, if the signification, and Use of Baptism be for ever and of constant and perpetual Use, then this Ordinance is to lie as the bottom stone in which is to have a durable and constant influence into the whole Edifice.
'Thirdly, If this be not to be repeated, because neither in Precept nor Example you find it so, and never otherwise, or if the ends of Baptism on our part, be that there shall be a formal external Contract ⟨p. 116⟩past with God, by which we are visibly Handfasted in this Mystical Marriage Or, 2. To distinguish our selves by this Badge and Character of our Profession from the evil world, which we renounce with all its Works, then certainly this Piece is to be first Administered before we go further, and the Sacrament of our Spiritual Life and Birth is to be given before that of our Nourishment: in a word Baptism hath been called of old, and not without Reason, Sacramentorum janua, and is for all these considerations, which are as many as concur to any one thing to Keep that Name and Nature still, which is to be the first and Primitive Sacrament, in which a Converted person, man or woman, is to Communicate. Now then if the Timing and Order of Instituted Worship be any thing,