Now if so, what Need of Men's being to rational Charity converted already, in Order to their Coming to the Lord's Supper? Is it reasonable to suppose God would institute this Ordinance directly for that End, that Sinners might be converted by it; and then charge his Ministers and Churches not to admit any that they had not reasonable Ground to think were converted already?— Mr. W. (in P. 83. b.) supposes two Ends of Christ's appointing the Communion of the Christian Church; That such as have Grace already should be under proper Advantages to gain more, and that those who have none, should be under proper Advantages to attain Grace. But this ill consists with other Parts of his Scheme.— If a King should erect a Hospital for the Help of the Poor, and therein has two Ends; One, the nourishing of such as are in Health, and the Other, the healing of the Sick; and furnishes the Hospital accordingly, with proper Food for the Healthy, and proper Remedies for the Sick: But at the same Time charges the Officers, to whom he commits ⟨p. 62⟩the Care of the Hospital, by no Means to admit any, unless it be under a Notion of their being in Health, and from Respect to such a Qualification in them, and unless they have reasonable Ground and moral Evidence, to induce 'em to believe that they are well: And if this Pretence should be made to justify such a Conduct, that the Hospital was indeed designed for the Healing of the Sick, yet it was designed to confer this Benefit only on such diseased People as were Hypocrites, and made a Profession and Pretence of being in Health; will any Man presume to say, that such a Conduct is agreeable to the Dictates of the Understanding of rational Beings? And to suppose, that such should be the Conduct of the infinitely wise GOD, is as unscriptural, as it is unreasonable. We often read in God's Word, of Men's being convinced of their Wickedness, and confessing their Sins, as a Way to be healed and cleansed from Sin: But where do we read of Men's pretending to more Goodness than they have, and making an hypocritical Profession and Show of Goodness, in order to their becoming good Men?* Where have we a divine Institution, that any who are Wolves should put on Sheeps Clothing, and so come to his People, that they may believe 'em to be Sheep, and under this Notion receive 'em into the Flock, to the End that they may truly become of his Sheep?
Now if so, what Need of Men's being to rational Charity converted already, in Order to their Coming to the Lord's Supper? Is it reasonable to suppose God would institute this Ordinance directly for that End, that Sinners might be converted by it; and then charge his Ministers and Churches not to admit any that they had not reasonable Ground to think were converted already?— Mr. W. (in P. 83. b.) supposes two Ends of Christ's appointing the Communion of the Christian Church; That such as have Grace already should be under proper Advantages to gain more, and that those who have none, should be under proper Advantages to attain Grace. But this ill consists with other Parts of his Scheme.— If a King should erect a Hospital for the Help of the Poor, and therein has two Ends; One, the nourishing of such as are in Health, and the Other, the healing of the Sick; and furnishes the Hospital accordingly, with proper Food for the Healthy, and proper Remedies for the Sick: But at the same Time charges the Officers, to whom he commits ⟨p. 62⟩the Care of the Hospital, by no Means to admit any, unless it be under a Notion of their being in Health, and from Respect to such a Qualification in them, and unless they have reasonable Ground and moral Evidence, to induce 'em to believe that they are well: And if this Pretence should be made to justify such a Conduct, that the Hospital was indeed designed for the Healing of the Sick, yet it was designed to confer this Benefit only on such diseased People as were Hypocrites, and made a Profession and Pretence of being in Health; will any Man presume to say, that such a Conduct is agreable to the Dictates of the Understanding of rational Beings? And to suppose, that such should be the Conduct of the infinitely wise GOD, is as unscriptural, as it is unreasonable. We often read in God's Word, of Men's being convinced of their Wickedness, and confessing their Sins, as a Way to be heal'd and cleansed from Sin: But where do we read of Men's pretending to more Goodness than they have, and making an hypocritical Profession and Show of Goodness, in order to their becoming good Men?* Where have we a divine Institution, that any who are Wolves should put on Sheeps Clothing, and so come to his People, that they may believe 'em to be Sheep, and under this Notion receive 'em into the Flock, to the End that they may truly become of his Sheep?
- *Mr. Williams (P. 42.) owns, that Persons must make a Profession wherein they make a Show of being wise Virgins, in order to come into the visible Church. And (P. 35. e.) He owns, that all visible Saints who are not truly-pious, are Hypocrites. Again, it may be observed, he abundantly insists, that Men who have no more than common Grace and moral Sincerity, may lawfully come to Sacraments; and yet by what he says (P. 35. c.) they must profess more. So that Men who have no more must profess more; and this, it seems, according to divine Institution!— Again he says (P. 35. a, b, c.) That one End God designed by appointing Men to be brought into the Church, is, that thro' divine Grace they might effectually be brought to Christ, to give him the whole Possession of their Hearts; and [yet in the very next Paragraph (P. 35. e. and 36. a.) he speaks of it as unlawful for Men to come to Sacraments 'till they give up all their Hearts to Christ.Mr. Williams (P. 42.) owns, that Persons must make a Profession wherein they make a Shew of being wise Virgins, in order to come into the visible Church. And (P. 35. e.) He owns, that all visible Saints who are not truly-pious, are Hypocrites. Again, it may be observed, he abundantly insists, that Men who have no more than common Grace and moral Sincerity, may lawfully come to Sacraments; and yet by what he says (P. 35. c.) they must profess more. So that Men who have no more must profess more; and this, it seems, according to divine Institution!— Again he says (P. 35. a, b, c.) That one End God designed by appointing Men to be brought into the Church, is, that thro' divine Grace they might effectually be brought to Christ, to give him the whole Possession of their Hearts; and [yet in the very next Paragraph (P. 35. e. and 36. a.) he speaks of it as unlawful for Men to come to Sacraments 'till they give up all their Hearts to Christ.
