The Scriptures which have been already mentioned, are a sufficient Confirmation of the Truth, in opposition to Mr. S. Assertions. In another Discourse of his, he supposeth (as did Mr. Johnson, the famous Separatist in Amsterdam) that we must fetch our Schemes of Church Discipline out of the Old Testament, and not out of the New only. By the way, if it be so, why does he in that other Discourse, maintain that there is no Scripture for a Church Covenant, when the Old Testament speaks so much of it, as has rendered it needless to be expressly required in the New Testament. But let us consider, whether there are not Scriptures in the Old Testament, which his Notions do not at all comport with. What else shall we say to that Scripture, Cant. 4. 12. Where Christ compares his Church to a Garden enclosed, a Spring shut up, a fountain sealed? But Mr. S. his Doctrine has a tendency to break down the enclosure, and lay it open to the Wide World, ⟨p. 13⟩for almost all comers to enter into it. Our Saviour Christ invites his Friends to Feast with him at his Table, Cant. 5. 7. Eat O Friends, Drink O Beloved. Unregenerate persons are not his Friends, nor does he take Complacency in them, so as to invite them to sit down with him at his Table. Christ would have the Gates of his Church set open that the Righteous Nation who keeps the Truth may enter in, Isa. 26. 2. How contrary is this to those that would open the Doors of the Church to a Nation of Unconverted men, and who invite those who they think have no Sincerity, or truth of Grace in their Hearts to enter in? There is another Scripture in the Old Testament, which relates to New Testament times, tho' expressed in Old Testament Phrases. It is that, in Ezek. 44. 7, 9. You have brought into my Sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in Heart, and uncircumcised in Flesh, to be in my Sanctuary, to pollute it, even my House, when you offer my Bread, the Fat, and the Blood, and they have broken my Covenant;—Thus faith the Lord God, No stranger uncircumcised in Heart, shall enter into my Sanctuary. The Jewish Masters inform us, that their Fathers were very strict in their admitting Proselytes: (e)they say they admitted no Proselytes in Davids time, ⟨p. 14⟩left they should join themselves to his People out of Fear: Nor in Solomons time, lest they should come because of the great Prosperity which Israel then had.
The Scriptures which have been already mentioned, are a sufficient Confirmation of the Truth, in opposition to Mr. S. Assertions. In another Discourse of his, he supposeth (as did Mr. Johnson, the famous Separatist in Amsterdam) that we must fetch our Schemes of Church Discipline out of the Old Testament, and not out of the New only. By the way, if it be so, why does he in that other Discourse, maintain that there is no Scripture for a ChurchCovenant, when the Old Testament speaks so much of it, as has rendred it needless to be expresly required in the New Testament. But let us consider, whether there are not Scriptures in the Old Testament, which his Notions do not at all comport with. What else shall we say to that Scripture, Cant. 4. 12. Where Christ compares his Church to a Garden inclosed, a Spring shut up, a fountain sealed? But Mr. S. his Doctrine has a tendency to break down the inclosure, and lay it open to the Wide World, ⟨p. 13⟩for almost all comers to enter into it. Our Saviour Christ invites his Friends to Feast with him at his Table, Cant. 5. 7. Eat O Friends, Drink O Beloved. Unregenerate persons are not his Friends, nor does he take Complacency in them, so as to invite them to sit down with him at his Table. Christ would have the Gates of his Church set open that the Righteous Nation who keeps the Truth may enter in, Isa. 26. 2. How contrary is this to those that would open the Doors of the Church to a Nation of Unconverted men, and who invite those who they think have no Sincerity, or truth of Grace in their Hearts to enter in? There is another Scripture in the Old Testament, which relates to New Testament times, tho' expressed in Old Testament Phrases. It is that, in Ezek. 44. 7, 9. You have brought into my Sanctuary strangers, uncircumcised in Heart, and uncircumcised in Flesh, to be in my Sanctuary, to pollute it, even my House, when you offer my Bread, the Fat, and the Blood, and they have broken my Covenant;—Thus faith the Lord God, No stranger uncircumised in Heart, shall enter into my Sanctuary. The Jewish Masters inform us, that their Fathers were very strict in their admitting Proselytes: (e)they say they admitted no Proselytes in Davids time, ⟨p. 14⟩left they should joyn themselves to his People out of Fear: Nor in Solomons time, lest they should come because of the great Prosperity which Israel then had.
- (e)v. Ainsworth on Gen. 17.
