There are some Scriptures that have been thought to hold forth a need of somewhat further, in order to participation in the Lords Supper, which if they be examined will be found to be strained beyond the Import of them, Psal. 6.16. David saith, I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my Soul, hence it is argued, that Men should give an Account of the manner of their Conversion, in order to their Admission; but if it should be granted that David doth respect the work of Regeneration, doth it follow because he was willing to talk of it, that they might make a Law to bind him to do it in the Synagogue, or doth it follow that David offered to do it in order to his joining with the Jewish Church, Act. 2.37. They ⟨image 12⟩were pricked at the heart, before they were admitted into the Church, but let it be considered that many others were joined to the Christian Church, of whom we read no such thing, and here is no living Rule that others must declare that they are pricked at the heart before their Admission; yea it is certain, that these did not declare their trouble, in order to their Admission into the Church, but in order to their Direction; yea, it doth not appear that these Men were under a work of Conversion at this time, they might be Godly Men before, the thing that stung them was a National sin, which in probability, they had no hand in; For the greater part of them, were strangers, come up to keep the Feast of Pentecost, and were greatly affected with the sin which the Nation of the Jews were guilty of in Crucifying of Christ, Act. 9.26,27. The Church at Jerusalem refused to admit Paul to their Communion, till they were informed by Barnabas, of his Conversion, but it doth not appear that Paul did then desire to participate with them in the Lords Supper, possibly it might be only in hearing of the Word and Prayer, and the reason why they were unwilling to receive him, was not any doubt whether his Conversion was sincere, but whether he was a Christian; As if in a Popish Country, one who had been a violent Persecutor should Essay to join himself to a Protestant Congregation, it would be no wonder if they should be afraid of him, until they were informed that he was become a Protestant; this is no foundation to require of all that join to the Church, an Account about the manner of their Conversion. 1 Pet. 3.15.
There are some Scriptures that have been thought to hold forth a need of somewhat further, in order to participation in the Lords Supper, which if they be examined will be found to be strained beyond the Import of them, Psal. 6.16. David saith, I will tell you what the Lord hath done for my Soul, hence it is argued, that Men should give an Account of the manner of their Conversion, in order to their Admission; but if it should be granted that David doth respect the work of Regeneration, doth it follow because he was willing to talk of it, that they might make a Law to bind him to do it in the Synagogue, or doth it follow that David offered to do it in order to his joyning with the Jewish Church, Act. 2.37. They ⟨image 12⟩were pricked at the heart, before they were admitted into the Church, but let it be considered that many others were joyned to the Christian Church, of whom we read no such thing, and here is no living Rule that others must declare that they are pricked at the heart before their Admission; yea it is certain, that these did not declare their trouble, in order to their Admission into the Church, but in order to their Direction; yea, it doth not appear that these Men were under a work of Conversion at this time, they might be Godly Men before, the thing that stung them was a National sin, which in probability, they had no hand in; For the greater part of them, were strangers, come up to keep the Feast of Pentecost, and were greatly affected with the sin which the Nation of the Jews were guilty of in Crucifying of Christ, Act. 9.26,27. The Church at Jerusalem refused to admit Paul to their Communion, till they were informed by Barnabas, of his Conversion, but it doth not appear that Paul did then desire to participate with them in the Lords Supper, possibly it might be only in hearing of the Word and Prayer, and the reason why they were unwilling to receive him, was not any doubt whether his Conversion was sincere, but whether he was a Christian; As if in a Popish Country, one who had been a violent Persecutor should Essay to joyn himself to a Protestant Congregation, it would be no wonder if they should be affraid of him, until they were informed that he was become a Protestant; this is no foundation to require of all that joyn to the Church, an Accout about the manner of their Conversion. 1 Pet. 3.15.
