A sober discourse of right to church-communion

THE PREFACE.

What was Praise-worthy in those Primitive Christians, to whom the Apostle Paul writes, 1. Cor. 11.2. Can be no Blemish, but really a Duty in other Christians, in after times, to imitate; his words are, I praise you, Brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the Ordinances as I delivered them to you: our Translation of the ^*Greek Word (rendering it Ordinances) is excepted against by some Papists, especially ⟨image 8⟩Gregory Martin, reputed a great Linguist in the Rhemish Seminary, who would have it Translated (Traditions) to countenance the Romish Opinion; to which shall be opposed that the Greek Word signifies indeed Tradition, that is in English, a Delivery, viz. of Doctrines, Ordinances, Instructions, or Institutions, 2. Thess. 2.15. by those Evangelical Preachers to their Auditors, which is nothing else but the Doctrine of the Gospel first Preached, (which is of the greatest and highest Authority,) and afterwards committed to writing by the Evangelists and Apostles, as standing Records to future Ages; so that any⟨image 8⟩ Traditions, besides what is written, are justly to be excepted against, and (in matters relating to Divine Worship) to be esteemed Apocryphal. Because a Delivery of Transactions or Doctrines by Ancestors to Posterity by word of Mouth, is liable to many mistakes and uncertainties, by reason of the different constitutions and circumstances of men, who frequently introduce that Authority to colour their Inventions, or the product of their imaginary Fancies, with respect to Divine Matters. Though it is very apparent that such a Rule is not at all self-evidencing, for it cannot prove it self; ⟨image 9⟩