A sober discourse of right to church-communion

TO THE Christian READER.

When it pleased God of his free Grace to cause me to make a serious inquiry after Jesus Christ, and to give me some taste of his pardoning Love, the sense of which did engage my heart with desires to be obedient to his will in all things. I used all endeavours both by Converse with such as were able, and also by diligently searching the Scriptures, with earnest desires of God, that I might be directed in a right way of Worship; and after some time concluded that the safest way was to follow the Footsteps of the Flock (namely) that Order laid down by Christ and his Apostles, and Practised by the Primitive ⟨image 3⟩Christians in their times, which I found to be; that after Conversion they were Baptised, added to the Church, and Continued in the Apostles Doctrine, Fellowship, Breaking of Bread, and Prayer; according to which I thought my self bound to be Conformable, and having continued in the Profession of the same for these forty years, although through many Weaknesses, and Fears, Temptations, and Sufferings, yet not without some Witness from God of his gracious Acceptance and Strength to this very day: The sense I have of my own Weakness and Inability, would have been a Bar to me to appear in this Public way, did I not see a necessity lying upon me for the Truths-sake, and the sakes of many, by reason of some that have lately risen up to weaken, if not make void that great Ordinance of Baptism, by endeavouring to maintain, that all persons that Believe, although they ⟨image 3⟩never did, nor do Practice the same, may partake of the Ordinance of the Lords Supper, and all other Gospel instituted Duties. A Notion, not only Contrary to the Primitive Pattern, but the Constant Practice of all that ever professed the Christian Religion, or that own the Scriptures to be the Rule of Faith and Practise; and it would be a happiness to the Christian Religion, if all that Profess the same, did in other things agree as they do in this, namely, that none ought to be Partakers of the Lords Supper, but such as have been Baptised those that differ; in this matter from them, would be found to be as few in Number as they are Weak in Argument, and although I am well satisfied that the performance of all Duties and Ordinances, will be of no value to any man, further than Christ is enjoyed in them: the very Gospel it self Severed from Christ, will prove the Administration of Death,