The judgment of several eminent divines of the Congregational way. Concerning a pastors power.…

2. If the Pastor of a Church may Administer the Sacrament to the Members of another ⟨p. 3⟩Congregation, and so to the whole Church in case they shall come to the Church, whereof he is Pastor, and desire such occasional Communion; He may upon as good Grounds go to the Town where the other Church dwelleth, and at their Request Minister to them: For neither the Place, nor the Presence of his own Flock, can make that which is in it self contrary to the Rule of the Word become a regular Act. This Argument seems not easy to be answered, and therefore acute Mr. Hooker instead of solving it, does plainly cut it in pieces. For in his Survey of Church Discipline (which is an elaborate and accurate Piece) Part 2d. pag. 65. in answer to that Allegation, That Members of one Congregation may partake of the Sacrament in another, and then they Receive it from one who is not their Pastor; He replies thus, It has been a course which I have ever questioned, and against it many years have alleged many Arguments, and therefore could readily ease my self of the Argument, by professing the Course unwarrantable, &c. But now there are few or none amongst us, who scruple the Lawfulness of admitting Members of other Churches to their Communion. It uses to be said, they are Transient Members of the Church, where they Partake: And why may it not with as good reason be affirmed, that the Minister who Dispenseth ⟨p. 4⟩the Seals in another Congregation is a Transient Pastor) for ought that I can discern to the contrary, there is as much Ground in the Scripture for Transient Officers, as there is for Transient Members.

2. If the Pastor of a Church may Administer the Sacrament to the Members of another ⟨p. 3⟩Congregation, and so to the whole Church in case they shall come to the Church, whereof he is Pastor, and desire such occasional Communion; He may upon as good Grounds go to the Town where the other Church dwelleth, and at their Request Minister to them: For neither the Place, nor the Presence of his own Flock, can make that which is in it self contrary to the Rule of the Word become a regular Act. This Argument seems not easy to be answered, and therefore acute Mr. Hooker instead of solving it, does plainly cut it in pieces. For in his Survey of Church Discipline (which is an elaborate and accurate Piece) Part 2d. pag. 65. in answer to that Allegation, That Members of one Congregation may partake of the Sacrament in another, and then they Receive it from one who is not their Pastor; He replies thus, It has been a course which I have ever questioned, and agninst it many years have alledged many Arguments, and therefere could readily ease my self of the Argument, by professing the Course unwarrantable, &c. But now there are few or none amongst us, who scruple the Lawfulness of admitting Members of other Churches to their Communion. It uses to be said, they are Transient Members of the Church, where they Partake: And why may it not with as good reason be affirmed, that the Minister who Dispenseth