The way of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The way of churches…The vvay of the churches of Christ in New-England, or, The vvay of churches…

SECT. V.

Object. The second thing in our administration of public ordinances, whereof many require account of us is, why in the administration of the Sacraments, we do not admit the Members of the Churches of England, either themselves to the Lords Supper, or their children to Baptism, as we receive the Members of other Churches in this Country.

Object. THe second thing in our administration of publick ordinances, whereof many require account of us is, why in the administration of the Sacraments, wee doe not admit the Members of the Churches of England, either themselves to the Lords Supper, or their children to Baptisme, as wee receive the Members of other Churches in this Countrey.

Answ. Let it first be known what we do, and then consider upon what ground we do it.

Answ. Let it first be knowne what we doe, and then consider upon what ground wee doe it.

1. We do not admit the members of other Churches in this Country, unless they bring with them Letters of recommendation from the Churches whence they came; or at least unless those Churches have made known to us their desire, that their Members coming occasionally amongst us, may be received to the Lords Table, with our own, by virtue of communion of Churches.

1. Wee doe not admit the members of other Churches in this Countrey, unlesse they bring with them Letters of recommendation from the Churches whence they came; or at least unlesse those Churches have made knowne to us their desire, that their Members coming occasionally amongst us, may be received to the Lords Table, with our owne, by vertue of communion of Churches.

2. We do not admit the Members of other Churches to fellowship of the Lords Table, if either the persons themselves, or the Churches from whence they came, lie under any offence before the Church.

2. Wee doe not admit the Members of other Churches to fellowship of the Lords Table, if either the persons themselves, or the Churches from whence they came, lie under any offence before the Church.

Now the grounds upon which we thus walk, are these.

Now the grounds upon which wee thus walke, are these.

1. From the power requisite to the administration of the Sacraments, viz. to administer a Sacrament, is not an act of Christian liberty, that every Christian may dispense to whom he please, but an act of power, which Christ hath given to them who are called to be Ministers of the Word, and by them to be dispensed unto the Church, whereof the Holy Ghost hath made them over-seers. They then over whom we have no ministerial power, unto them we may not dispense an act of power; but they who are Members of no Church, we have no ministerial power over them; and they who are Members of other Churches (not of our own) we have no power over them, further then they are recommended to us from their own Churches, either by Letters, or by word of mouth, and such are all the members of the Churches in this Country, ⟨p. 77⟩whom we do admit to communion with us at the Lords Table.

1. From the power requisite to the administration of the Sacraments, viz. to administer a Sacrament, is not an act of Christian libertie, that every Christian may dispense to whom he please, but an act of power, which Christ hath given to them who are called to be Ministers of the Word, and by them to be dispensed unto the Church, whereof the Holy Ghost hath made them over-seers. They then over whom wee have no ministeriall power, unto them wee may not dispense an act of power; but they who are Members of no Church, wee have no ministeriall power over them; and they who are Members of other Churches (not of our own) wee have no power over them, further then they are recommended to us from their own Churches, either by Letters, or by word of mouth, and such are all the members of the Churches in this Countrey, ⟨p. 77⟩whom wee doe admit to communion with us at the Lords Table.

But now for our Brethren, who come out of England, many of them are altogether unknown to us; and those who are well known, (and it may be also well approved) yet they bring no Letters of recommendations to us from those Churches who had interest in them, and power over them. And besides, we know that those who have been members of any parish Church in England, when once they remove their dwelling out of that Parish, they are accounted as no longer members of that Church; so that they come over to us as members of no particular Church at all, either in old England or in new; and so they are under the power of no Church, either there or here; how then can we dispense an act of power to them, over whom we have no power at all, either commended to us by themselves, or by the Churches from whence they came? Would it be thought reasonable, in case that any of our Country-men coming over to us, should fall into drunkenness, or whoredom, or other scandalous crimes, if the Church where he sojourneth amongst, should proceed to excommunicate him for the same? were it not an act, Coram non judice? might he not demand justly, by what authority we cast him out of our Communion, who was never yet entered into our Communion? This may therefore yield us a just defence.

But now for our Brethren, who come out of England, many of them are altogether unknowne to us; and those who are well known, (and it may be also well approved) yet they bring no Letters of recommendations to us from those Churches who had interest in them, and power over them. And besides, wee know that those who have been members of any parish Church in England, when once they remove their dwelling out of that Parish, they are accounted as no longer members of that Church; so that they come over to us as members of no particular Church at all, either in old England or in new; and so they are under the power of no Church, either there or here; how then can wee dispense an act of power to them, over whom wee have no power at all, either commended to us by themselves, or by the Churches from whence they came? Would it be thought reasonable, in case that any of our Country-men comming over to us, should fall into drunkennesse, or whoredome, or other scandalous crimes, if the Church where he sojourneth amongst, should proceed to excommunicate him for the same? were it not an act, Coram non judice? might he not demand justly, by what authoritie we cast him out of our Communion, who was never yet entred into our Communion? This may therefore yeeld us a just defence.

They over whom we have no power to censure, (in any case by Excommunication) to them we have no power to dispense the Communion; but so it is, we have no power to censure any of our Congregation (though never so scandalous) by excommunicating, unless they first commend themselves to our fellowship.

They over whom we have no power to censure, (in any case by Excommunication) to them wee have no power to dispense the Communion; but so it is, we have no power to censure any of our Congregation (though never so scandalous) by excommunicating, unlesse they first commend themselves to our fellowship.

Therefore neither have we power till then to receive them into our communion.

Therefore neither have wee power till then to receive them into our communion.

2. A second ground of their practise we take from the nature of the Sacraments, which though they be seals of the righteousness of faith, (Rom. 4.11.) yet not to all the faithful, as such, but as they are confederate and joined together in some particular visible Church. None may ordinarily dispense a Sacrament of the new Testament, but a Minister of a visible Church, nor may he dispense it to any, but to the members of a visible Church. In the old Testament, none were partakers, either of the Passover, or of Circumcision, unless they were either Israelites borne, or Proselytes to the ⟨p. 78⟩Church of Israel. Job and his three friends, and Elihu with them, though all of them righteous by faith, and all of the stock and kindred of Abraham, yet we read of none of them to be circumcised; nor is it credible they were; for had they been Circumcised, they would not have kept so deep silence of it throughout all their conference with Job, as they do; especially having so often occasion to urge the pollution of nature from the birth; whereof Circumcision had been a most pertinent and pregnant evidence to convince the same. And wherefore were they not all circumcised, being all of them righteous by faith, but only because they had not opportunity to join themselves to the house of Israel, to whom only the Church, and the Covenant of grace, unto them and their seed, and the seals of the Covenant were granted.

2. A second ground of their practise wee take from the nature of the Sacraments, which though they be seales of the righteousnesse of faith, (Rom. 4.11.) yet not to all the faithfull, as such, but as they are confederate and joyned together in some particular visible Church. None may ordinarily dispense a Sacrament of the new Testament, but a Minister of a visible Church, nor may he dispense it to any, but to the members of a visible Church. In the old Testament, none were partakers, either of the Passeover, or of Circumcision, unlesse they were either Israelites borne, or Proselytes to the ⟨p. 78⟩Church of Israel. Job and his three friends, and Elihu with them, though all of them righteous by faith, and all of the stocke and kindred of Abraham, yet wee read of none of them to be circumcised; nor is it credible they were; for had they been Circumcised, they would not have kept so deep silence of it throughout all their conference with Job, as they doe; especially having so often occasion to urge the pollution of nature from the birth; whereof Circumcision had been a most pertinent and pregnant evidence to convince the same. And wherefore were they not all circumcised, being all of them righteous by faith, but onely because they had not opportunitie to joyne themselves to the house of Israel, to whom onely the Church, and the Covenant of grace, unto them and their seed, and the seales of the Covenant were granted.

Object. If it be objected, that all that were circumcised amongst the people of Israel, might come and keep the Passover amongst them: but we here withhold the Lords Supper from them that are baptized.

Object. If it be objected, that all that were circumcised amongst the people of Israel, might come and keepe the Passeover amongst them: but wee here withhold the Lords Supper from them that are baptized.

Answ. Our answer is, they that were circumcised amongst the Israelites, might rightly keep the Passover amongst them, because the whole Nation of Israel made but one Church, and the Officers or Ministers of any one Synagogue (the Priests and Levites) were Ministers in common to the whole house of Israel. In proportion whereunto they that are baptized in any particular Church, may in like sort require the Lords Supper in the same particular church where they are baptized, if there be no other impediment in regard of their unfitness to examine themselves, which is a thing requisite to the receiving of the Lords Supper, more then was required to the receiving of the Passover. But now because the Churches of the new Testament are of another constitution, none of them national, as the Church of Israel was, but all of them congregational; Baptism in one Church doth not give a man right to the Lords Supper in another, unless the Officers of one Church were the Officers of all, (as in Israel they were) or unless that one Church and the Officers thereof did recommend their right and power to another.

Answ. Our answer is, they that were circumcised amongst the Israelites, might rightly keepe the Passeover amongst them, because the whole Nation of Israel made but one Church, and the Officers or Ministers of any one Synagogue (the Priests and Levites) were Ministers in common to the whole house of Israel. In proportion whereunto they that are baptized in any particular Church, may in like sort require the Lords Supper in the same particular church where they are baptized, if there be no other impediment in regard of their unfitnesse to examine themselves, which is a thing requisite to the receiving of the Lords Supper, more then was required to the receiving of the Passeover. But now because the Churches of the new Testament are of another constitution, none of them nationall, as the Church of Israel was, but all of them congregationall; Baptisme in one Church doth not give a man right to the Lords Supper in another, unlesse the Officers of one Church were the Officers of all, (as in Israel they were) or unlesse that one Church and the Officers thereof did recommend their right and power to another.