A86000:47
A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded…
A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late General Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianism, independency, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.A form for Church government and ordination of ministers, contained in CXI propositions, propounded to the late Generall Assembly at Edinburgh, 1647. Together with an Act concerning Erastianisme, independencie, and liberty of conscience. Published by authority.
London: printed for Robert Bostock, 1647
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
19.
Seeing then in the holy Supper, that is in the receiving the Sacramental Elements (which is here distinguished from the Prayers and Exhortations accompanying that action) the benefits of the Gospel are not first received, but for them being received are thanks given; neither by partaking thereof doth God bestow the very spiritual life, but doth preserve, cherish and perfect that life; and seeing the Word of God is accounted in the manner of letters patents, but Sacraments like seals, (as rightly the Helvetian Confession faith, Chap. 19) it plainly followeth that those are to be kept back from the Lords Supper, which by their fruits and manners do prove themselves to be ungodly or impenitent, and strangers or aliens from all communion with Christ; Nor are the promises of Grace sealed to any other then to those to whom these promises do belong, for otherwise the seal annexed should contradict and gainsay the letters patents; and by the visible Word those should be loosed anst remitted, which by the audible Word are bound and condemned: But this is such an absurdity, as ⟨p. 9⟩that if any would, yet he cannot smooth or heal it with any plaster.
Seeing then in the holy Supper, that is in the receiving the Sacramentall Elements (which is here distinguished from the Prayers and Exhortations accompanying that action) the benefits of the Gospell are not first received, but for them being received are thanks given; neither by partaking thereof doth God bestow the very spirituall life, but doth preserve, cherish and perfect that life; and seeing the Word of God is accounted in the manner of letters patents, but Sacraments like seals, (as rightly the Helvetian Confession faith, Chap. 19) it plainely followeth that those are to be kept back from the Lords Supper, which by their fruits and manners doe prove themselves to be ungodly orimpenitent, and strangers or alients from all communion with Christ; Nor are the promises of Grace sealed to any other then to those to whom these promises doe belong, for otherwise the seal annexed should contradict and gainsay the letters patents; and by the visible Word those should be loosed anst remitted, which by the audible Word are bound and condemned: But this is such an absurdity, as