My first PROPOSITION is, That no Perso [...] has a RIGHT to partake of the Ordinance of th [...] LORD'S SUPPER, but such only as are ALLOWED and COMMANDED of GOD to partake o [...] it.

Whether we consider the Participation [...] this Ordinance as a Duty or as a Priviledg [...] this will certainly hold a Truth. That nor may presume to part [...] [...] [...]vited and commanded so [...] to be numbred amo [...] [...] which may be done or let alone as any M [...] pleaseth. This Sacrament is one of the po [...]tive Institutions of Jesus Christ, which ought be attended by all and only such, as God [...]ders to attend it. If any Man or Wom presumeth to partake of it without his Le [...] and Command so to do, God may say to su [...] [Page 3] yea he does say to them as in Isai. 1 12. When ye come to appear before me, Who hath required this at your Hands? And on the other Hand, such as God allows and commands to partake of the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, may not presume to omit or neglect it: if they do they are therein guilty of sinning against God. He that is qualified to partake of the Lord's Supper, according to the Judgment of God expressed in his Word, has a Right to it, and is bound to partake of it, tho' he may think the contrary. If a Man be not qualified he sins if he receives it, whatever good Opinion he has of himself Men's Op [...]nions concerning themselves or other do not alter GOD'S Laws. A Man may be mistaken respecting his own State, and think [...]e has no Right to that which he has a Right to; Or otherwise, he may have a good Right to that which he judgeth himself utterly unqualified for: But God's Commands are uniform and steady; they change not a Men's Notions and Opinions do, Every Man is either qualified according to the Word of God [...]o partake of the Lord's Supper, or unqualified for it: if he be qualified, he is bound to partake; if unqualified, he may not presume to partake of this holy Ordinance, The like may be said, with respect to the Judgment of any Church and Churches. If a Man be qualified to partake of the Sacrament, no Judgment of any Church can take away his Right: If he be really unqualified f [...]r it, no Church can give him a Right to it. Indeed in Point of Order, no Person may partake, unless by the Church he be permitted to do it; but [Page 4] then if the Church do admit a visibly unquali­fied Person, they are guilty of Sin in it; and so they are also if they debar a visibly qualified Person from it. I say visibly qualified, because the Church is bound to admit such as are visibly qualified, whether they are really qualified or not; but in this Case the Persons offering themselves are guilty—. A Person ought to come to the Lord's Supper, who is according to Rule qualified for it, whatever other Quali­fication, not required, he may be without, and knows that he is so. Therefore, if the Grace of Regeneration be no necessary Qualification to give a Man a Right; The judicious M [...] Sioddard erred not, in saying, A Person [...] and ought to partake, tho' he knew hims [...] [...] [...]onverted, having those Qualifications that are necessary.

From what has been said we may infer, That it is not probable, that it should be very [...]ifficult for a serious Enquirer to know whether [...]e has a Right to the Lord's Supper, or not. [...]is not likely, that our merciful Redeemer [...]ould make the Terms of Church Communi­ [...]n such, that it should be extreamly difficult [...]r Persons to know whether [...] partake of this Sacrame [...] [...] [...]ave them under unav [...] [...] with Respect to this important Case. Does [...]od require us to partake, or does he at our [...]ril forbid us to eat of this Bread and drink of [...]s Cup? I would have this remembred, it be­ [...]g a Consideration that I shall have Occasion make Use of. At present, I say I believe it not Jesus Christ that does expose his professing [Page 5] People to such Difficulties; but the Mistake of some of his Ministers, who misunderstand, and so do not rightly expound some of his Com­mands, given to his Disciples. Thus much on my first Proposition.

PROPOSITION II.

GOD does not allow and command THE WICKED, while they continue such, to partake of the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper. I say, while they continue such; for otherwise they are invited and required to qualify themselves [...] [...]en to come to it. By the Wicked [...] such as in Scripture do generally [...] this Denomination.

When the Question is asked, Who have a Right to partake of the Lord's Supper? It is supposed there are some that have a Right to it, and others that have not; so that there are some that may come to it, and others that may not come. Now when we have found who have not a Right, we shall be brought the nea­rer to understand who have a Right to this holy [...] [...] [...]hat such as are usually, in [...] be Wicked, have no Right hereunto. God does not allow them to par­take of it. The Sacraments, as well as the Sa­crifices of such are an Abomination, Prov. 21. 27

Who are in Scripture usually intended by the Wicked, and who I here therefore intend, we may see in the following Particulars. (1) All Atheists, who believe not the Being and [Page 6] Perfections of God: such a [...] are described Psa▪ 14.1,—4. The Fool hath sai [...] in his Heart, ther [...] is no God: they are corrupt, they have done a­bominable Works, there is none that doth Good. The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Ch [...]laren of Men; to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. They are all g [...]ne aside, they are altogether become filthy: There is none that do [...]th Good, no not one. Have all the Workers of Iniquity no Knowledge? who eat up my People as they eat Bread, and call not upon the Lord. With this compare Psal. 10 2, to 11. also Psal. 4 3, to 7 & 30 16, to 21. (2) All such Infidels as believe not that divine Reve­lation, which is contained in the Scriptures of the old and new Testament: and so all who do not acknowledge the Doctrines and Pre­cepts [...]f God in our Bible, as the Doctr [...]nes and Commandments of the Lord especially the Record God has given of his Son in the Gospel, and the Precepts of the moral Law, which are of perpetual Obligation to all Mankind. See John 5 46 and Act. 28 24. also 2 Cor. 6 15. and 1 Tim. 5.8. (3) All such a [...] have no [...]ear of God before their by [...], (Psal. 36.1 —4. and Gen 20 11.) (4) All such as put no Trust or Confidence in God, nor have any Hope in his Mercy: I join these together because of their near Relation one to the other; and such Per­sons as these are certainly grosely wicked. It is possible Persons unregenerate may put some Trust in God, and have some sort of Hope in him, and of such a Trust and Hope I here speak, see Psal. 78.34, 35, 36. If gross [...]ypocrites may do so, much more may such as are morally sincere. [Page 7] (5) All such as will not seek God, or call upon his Name, as those in Psal. 10.4 and 14.4. also Isai. 43 22. and 64.7. (6) All such as do not repent of their Sins, and will not be reform­ed, but go on obstinately in their Iniquities, how many Prayers soever they may make, are yet to be reckoned among the Wicked I am speak­ing of. Of such as these we read, Isai. 1.11, to 15. and Chap. 58 1 to 4. also Jer. 7.8, 9, 10. (7) All gross Hypocrites: who tho' they carry themselves well, so far as appeareth unto Men, yet do it only for a Shew, that they may get Credit and be in Esteem in the World, and not that by what they do they may approve themselves unto God, by doing the Things that he requireth, Mat 6 5 and 23.14. (8) All such self-righteous Persons as think by their own good Works, to merit and deserve God's Favour; or that aim at working out a Righte­ousness that will entitle them to eternal Hap­piness; and so do not seek to be found in Christ, and to be cloathed with that perfect Righteous­ness, which he has wrought out and brought in for such as do or shall believe in him, Rom. 10.3. Luk. 18 [...], to 12.

All [...] whatsoever sorts of Persons [...] [...]tioned in Scripture, un­ [...]er the [...] of the Wicked, are not allowed, but form [...] to partake of the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper. Such may not declare God's Statutes, nor take his Covenant into their Mouth, Psal 50.16 The Sacrifices of such are an Abomination to the Lord. Prov. 15.8. and 21.27. before mentioned.

PROPOSITION III.

ALL who are still IN AN UNREGENERATE State, are NOT, according to the Stile and Lan­guage of Scripture, WICKED PERSONS, and as such excluded from the Lord's Supper.

They seem to me to be very much mistaken, who think, that all who are not born again, born of the Spirit, in the Sense in which these Words are used, Joh 3.3, 5. are the same with those, who are in the Word of God commonly called, the Wicked. It is true, that when Per­sons are born of the Spirit, they have a ve [...] glorious Change wrought in 'em, w [...] [...] other Persons do experience. They [...] Hearts given to them, and [...] within them, are made Partakers of the divine Nature▪ are indowed with the Image of God, which Man lost by his F [...]ll. Indeed when this is done, they are glorified. They are made Partakers of some Degree of the same Glory that all the Saints shall enjoy in Heaven for ever; which I doubt not is the Meaning of their being glorified, who are effectually called and justified, Rom 8.29. with which we may compare 2 Cor. 3.18. But we all with open Face beholding as in a Glass the Glory of the Lord are changed into the same Image, from Glory to Glo­ry, as by the Spirit of the Lord. God glorifies us when he indues us with his Image. To sanctify us is to glorify us; and we are then sanctified, when we are renewed in the Image of him that created us, Col. 2.10.

But we ought to consider also, that there is ordinarily, a very considerable Change wrought [Page 9] [...]n the Souls of Men before they pass under that Change which we call Regeneration; and that Change is a Work or Effect of God's Word and Spirit on Men's Souls, as well as this. Now tho' that is a Work very inferiour in the Nature of it, to Regeneration, or saving Conversion; yet it is not to be dispised, as if it were of no Value and no ways beneficial. For to some it is so, eventually; and it is so, respec­ting all, in the Nature and Tendency of it. Nor is it true, that such as are the Subjects of such a Change, are, in Scripture, spoken to, and of, in the same Manner and Language, as the Wicked are, before described: And there is great Reason for this.

That you may not think, that in this I am altogether singular, I will here transcribe some Words of that learned and judicious Man, Dr. OWEN, in his Perseverance of the Saints, Page 10. Sect. 17. ‘Of those who are said to believe and to be holy REALLY, and in the Truth of the Thing itself; there are two Sorts. FIRST such as having received sun­dry common Gifts and Graces of the Spirit, [...] Mind, Change of Af­ [...] [...] Amendment of Life, with [...], legal Repentance, tem­porary Faith, and the like, which are all TRUE and REAL in their Kind, do thereby become Vessels in the great House of God; being changed, as to their Use, tho' not in their Nature continuing Stone and Wood still, tho' [...] turned into the Serviceableness of [...] on that Account are frequent­ly [...] Saints and Believers. On such [Page 10] as these there is a lower (and in some a sub­ordinate) Work of the Spirit effectually pro­ducing (in and on all the Faculties of their Souls) somewhat true, good, and useful in itself, answering in some Likeness and Suita­bleness of Operation unto the great Work of Regeneration, which faileth not. There is in them Light, Love, Joy, Faith, Zeal, Obedience, &c. all TRUE in their Kind, which make many of them, in whom they are, do worthily in their Generation; howbeit, they attain not to the Faith of God's Elect, neither doth Christ live in them, &c.’

These described by the Doctor, are not the same with the Wicked, of whom I have spoken. No, these are Believers, Saints, or holy, or righteous Persons: and this not meerly, because they profess themselves to be such, and are such, in a Judgment of Charity; but as Dr. Owen affirms, are said to believe and to be holy, REALLY, and in Respect of the TRUTH of the Thing itself, and the common Gifts and Graces wrought in them by the Spirit of God, &c. as in the Words recited. Such Persons are said to believe, Luk. 8.13. and Acts 8.13. they are al­so said to be sanctified or made holy, Heb. 10.29. and to have escaped the Pollutions that [...] in the World, thro' the Knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, 2 Pet 2.20. Such are also said to have been enlightned, and to have tasted the heavenly Gift, and to have been Par­takers of the Holy Ghost, &c. as in Heb. 6.4 5. Yea, such are called Righteous, Ezek. 18.24. But when the Righteous turneth away from his Righteousness, and committeth Iniquity, and doth [Page 11] according to all the Abominations that the wick­ed Man oth, shall he live? All his Righteous­ness which he hath done shall not be mentioned: In his Trespass that he hath trespassed, and in his Sin that he hath sinned, in them shall be die. And this Righteousness was such, that they should have lived, if they had not turned away from it; as is evident in the Place quoted, and several others. Not that Per [...]on, in this Sense RIGHTEOUS, are already in a State of Grace and Salvation, but, that in due Time they should be so, if they would persevere; being at present in the Way in which Salvation is to be obtained; see Matth. 10.22, 23. And ye shall be hated of all Men for my Name's sake: But he that endureth to the End, shall be saved. But when they persecute you in this City, flee ye into another: For verily I say unto you, ye shall not have gone over the Cities of Israel, 'till the Son of Man be come▪ And Mat. 24 13. But he that shall endure unto the End▪ the same shall be saved. Hos. 6.3. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord. Gal. 6.9. And let us not be weary in well being. For in due Season we shall [...] not. As for the Re­ [...] [...] is already secured [...] [...]nal Life, Joh. 5.24. [...] depend on this Condition, if they continue to believe; for this is included in the Promise they are under of being eternaly av [...]d. By what has been said, it does, I think, plainly appear, that tho' such as are, in Scripture, called the Wicked, have no Right to the Lord's Sup [...]er, yet some unregene­rate Persons may [...] a Right to it.

PROPOSITION IV.

None but DISCIPLES of JESUS CHRIST have a Right to the Sacrament of the Lord [...]s Supper.

I do not here affirm, That every Disciple of Jesus Christ, has an immediate Right to partake of this Sacrament, or is in a present Capacity to receive it; but, That for Persons to be Disci­ples of Christ, is so necessary, that without this no Man has a Right to the Lord's Supper. When our Lord first instituted this holy Sa­crament, he gave it to his Disciples and none else; and he ordered those to whom he then administred it, and their Successors, to do as he, in their Presence, had done; and this even to his second Coming, Luk 22 10. 1 C [...]r. 11.23, 26. But we must not think, that because these were all of them Minister, yea Apostles, to whom Christ first gave the Sacrament, it will from hence follow, that none but Ministers have a Right to it. The Command of Admi­nistring this Ordinance, was indeed only given to Ministers; but that of receiving of it was not so, but belonged to Disciples, as such, whe­ther they were Ministers, or others. Accor­dingly the Church of Corinth was by the Apostle admonished and instructed, with Relation to it. 1 Cor. 11.23, and onward. Others bendes Ministers need it, to assist their Remembrance of Christ, and are required to qualify them­selves to partake of it.

Now a DISCIPLE is the same with a Learner or Scholar. And accordingly, they are all Disciples of Jesus Christ, who are committed to his Care, in the Way of the Gospel: And thus [Page 13] this Denomination comprehendeth, not only professing Believer, but their infant Seed also, such as are, with their Parents, comprehended in the Covenant. But here I intend, by Dis­ciples▪ such only, as by their own personal and voluntary Submission to Christ, as their Master and Instru [...]t [...]r take upon them the Name and Denomination of Christian▪ or Disciples; by which Name Believers on Christ were called, Act [...] 11.26 Nor do I say, that they who are [...]ly in many such have a Right to the Sacra­ment [...] ▪ [...] gross Hypocrites and other [...]cked Persons [...]ould have a Right to thi Or­ [...] [...] which by me denied. I would not [...]e mistaken: None, I say, but such as are Dis­ciples REALLY, have a Right to this Sacrament of the Supper. If Persons only seem to be Disciples, then they only seem to have a Right: But then I affirm, that Persons may be really Disciple of Christ, who are not in a regenerate State, and will prove this in my next Proposi­tion. At Present, I say, that a Disciple of Je­sus Christ, is one who submits himself to his In­struction, and endeavours to learn of him, and be obedient to him. Thus such as were Fol­ [...] [...] [...]iples, Mat. 9.11. [...] [...]achers were their [...] [...]hus CHRIST had many Di [...]ciples for a Time, that on a Disgust [...]orsook him, John 6.66. I deny not, that by Disciples of CHRIST, Persons truly godly are [...]m tim [...]s intended, as in Luk. 14 33. But I [...]ake not the Word in this strict Sense, when I say [...]hat none but Disciples of CHRIST, have a Right [...]o the Sacrament: Therefore, by real Disci­ples, [Page 14] I intend not such as are, in Scripture, said to be converted or born again, but such as are morally sincere, whether they are Disciples, in the strict Sense of the Word, or not. And I esteem a Person morally sincere, when making a good Profession, he does indeed believe, what he says he does believe, and does intend, what he says he does intend, and when he practiseth, what he says he does practice; which, that a Person may do, who is yet in an unregenerate State, is what I am, in the next Place, to make manifest.

PROPOSITION V.

Some are DISCIPLES of JESUS CHRIST, who are NOT yet in a REGENERATE State.

I mean they are so really and in Truth, and not by a false and hypocritical Profession. Some, I acknowledge, pass for Disciples among Men, by Means of their Professing, and mak­ing a Shew of being religion, when indeed they are nothing less—Such are they who not­withstanding their Profession of Religion, do not intend what they profess, nor believe what they say; nor design to practice what they pro­mise, or at all endeavour it. All they do in Religion, is but a meer Shew, to dece [...] those among whom they live and do converse. In a Word, I intend gross Hypocrites, and these I acknowledge have no Right to the Lord's Sup­per. Such are intended in 2 Tim. 3.5, 6. Mat. 23.14. and Chap 5.6. Ezek. 33.31. Gal. 2.4. But there are other Professors of Religi­on, who, tho' they are not savingly converted, [Page 15] ye [...] are they not to be numbred amongst such [...]oss Hypocrites, as these but now mentioned; [...]d I question whether they are any where [...]lled Hypocrites, in Scripture. Now it is [...]f such as these that I affirm, that they may be [...]nd are truly called Disciples of CHRIST, tho' [...]hey have not yet experienced the new Birth, [...]nd are not yet passed from Death to Life, as [...]n Joh 5.34.

To make this manifest, I shall here observe, That, whereas the Disciples of JESUS CHRIST have in Scripture several Names or Titles given them, as, Disciples, Believers, Christians, Saints, &c. These Names and Titles are all or most of them, according to the Stile and Language of the Scripture, applicable to some that are not savingly converted. I shall briefly con­sider those now mentioned; and (1) For the Word Disciple, we have already seen in Part, that it is applied to some that are not in a rege­nerate State. A Person professing the Religion of Jesus Christ, with a moral Sincerity, as above explained, must be acknowledged to be a Dis­ciple of his, tho' not yet in a State of Grace. Persons may be [...] entred into Christ's [...] [...]truction, tho' they [...] [...]ght of him, as to be [...] [...]m, and the Things [...] to their eternal Peace and Welfare, or to know the Truth as it is in Jesus, and live according to it.

Nor does the Use of this Word in Scripture necessarily import such a Knowledge and Prac­tice of spiritual Things and Duties, a [...] is pecu­liar to Persons in a State of Grace, but it is most [Page 16] commonly used for such as were Followers of JESUS CHRIST, and as have received his Doctrine, without any Design of restraining the Sense of it, to such as were, in the strictest Sense, sincere Converts, see Mark 8.14. and Acts 9.1. (2) So the Word, to believe, is fre­quently used with Relation to such as believe the Doctrine of CHRIST, without being restrain­ed in the Application of it, to such as believe in a saving Manner, see Acts 21.20, and 25. 1 Tim. 4.12. and John 2.23, 24, 25. Persons may believe in the Sense of these Places, tho' they are not savingly converted; they are not Infidels. (3) The Word Christian, is not, I think, ever in Scripture used, in such a restrain­ed Sense, as to signify such only a [...] are regene­rate, but largely, for such as profess and visibly obey the Gospel of CHRIST, whether they are truely converted or not: So I think it may be taken in the three Places where it is used, viz. Acts 11.26. and 26.28 also 1 Pet. 4 16. (4) People are also in Scripture, called Saints and Holy, not always on account of real saving Ho­liness wherewith they are supposed to be en­dued: Nor yet on the Account of a relative Holines [...] only, as being devoted to God in his Covenant; but partly also [...] a real Change wrought in [...] and Spirit of God, tho' that [...] mount to a saving Conversion. This is plain­ly affirmed by Dr. Owen, in the Place before quoted, in my third Proposition. What a great Change such are sometimes the Subjects of, we may see in 2 Pet. 2.20, 21.22. For if after they have escaped the Pollutions of the [Page 17] World through the Knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again intangled therein, and overcome; the latter End is worse with them than the Beginning. For it had been better for them not to have known the Way of Righteousness, than after they have known it, to turn from the holy Commandment delivered unto them. But it happened unto them accor­ding to the true Proverb, The Dog is turned to his own Vomit again; and, The Sow that was washed, to her wallowing in the Mire, with which compare Heb. 6.4. and Chap. 10.20. also Ezek. 18.24, and 26. Which Places, and others li [...]e them, being duly considered, we have no Reason to doubt, but that when Church Members are called Saints, and are said to be Holy, who are not really new Creatures a real Change wrought in them may be one Ground and Reason of it, see 2 Cor. 1.1. 1 Thes 5 27. They are not all savingly holy who are spoken of in these Places, and many others, where Per­sons are so denominated. When Persons are described in Scripture by such Words, as are applicable only to the regenerate; then I say, that Persons who are not in this Sense, Disciples and [...] admitted to the Lord's [...] [...]ard on the Catechism, [...]

[...] tho' none but Disciples have a Right to the Lord's Supper, yet Christ may have many Disciples who are not in a re­generate State.

PROPOSITION VI.

Such as are DISCIPLES of JESUS CHRIST are NOT DEBARRED from coming to the Lord's Sup­per, [Page 18] on the Account of their WANTING the Grace of REGENERATION, or because they are not yet born again.

Tho' it be granted that none have a Right but such as are Disciples of JESUS CHRIST, yet since I have proved, that Persons may be Dis­ciples that are not born again, I deny that it can be proved by Scripture, that these Disciples are not allowed to partake of this Ordinance: For unto Disciples it was given in the Institu­tion of it, with a Command to receive it; and if some learned Men are not mistaken, Judas himself was one of them. And who can shew me from the Word of God, that none of the Disciples of Christ may come to the Sacrament, unless they have experienced the new Birth, whatever preparatory Dispositions they may be under, and however nigh [...] unto the Kingdom of God they may be as the Scribe in Mark 12.34? Tho' such are not yet passed from Death to Life, yet they are of that Number, who are pressing into (or towards) the Kingdom of God, Luk. 16.1 [...] endeavouring to take it by Force, Mat. 11.12. Striving to enter in at the strait Gate, Luk 13.24 being engaged in working out their own Salvation with F [...]ar and Trembling Phil. 2.12. All whi [...] [...] some a [...]akened Souls, w [...] [...] converted. Please to [...] such may be reformed in [...] Lives, 2 Pet. 2.20 and what Experiences they may have, H [...] And yet such Attainments as these are no sufficient Foundation whereon we may assure any Person, that he is in a State of Salva­tion. But then, how shall we prove that Per­sons [Page 19] so qualified have no Right to the Lord's Supper, and cannot lawfully come to it? For my Part, I think awakened Souls, under such a Work of common Grace, stand in great Need of all the Helps God offers them, to excite and engage them to flee unto Christ, and lay hold on him for the Salvation he offereth to them: And I am perswaded, that the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is one of those Helps: Yea there is that in it, which has a plentiful Tendency to awaken such as are not sufficiently pricked at the Heart, on the Account of their many great and heinou [...] Sins.

In this Sacrament there is a Discovery of the dread [...] S [...]n [...]ness of Sin, and of God's Hatred and Potestation of it: and that it would not stand with the Justice of God to suffer it to go unpunished; insomuch that his Wrath, on the Account of it, must needs [...]e executed, either on the Persons of the Offenders themselves, or on a Surety interposing to save them.

In this Sacrament God also shews, That such was his Love and Compassion towards the perishing Children of Men, that rather than they should be damned forever, he was willing to give his only begotten Son, to be a Propitiation for their Sins, by dying a [...]tter & shameful Death for them as [...] [...]ared in the Scriptures, see 1 Joh. 4. [...].10. 1 Cor. 11.26. And as the Love of THE FA­THER was manifested herein so the Love of THE SON was no less so in undertaking and going thro' this Work, Rom 5 6, 7.

In this Ordinance there is also a m [...]st graci­ous Offer of this Saviour (whose Sufferings and Death are represented in it) made unto guilty [Page 20] and convinced Sinner, who stand in need of such a Saviour, and are invited by Faith to lay hold on him. For my Part, I don't not but that the very same Offer of Christ is made to Sinners in this Sacrament, as is made to them in the preached Gospel. Consider Gal 3.1. O foolish Galatians, who hath [...] you, that you should not obey the Truth, [...] Eyes Jesus Christ hath [...] crucified among you? Now [...] to me, that poor unregenerate [...] [...] of such a Help, as well as the Regenerate.

And I know not why the [...] the Heart, in seeing the [...] as well as the Ear, in hearing the [...] Christ fo [...]et [...] he should in life, [...] he wo [...] [...] all M [...]n to him: Which lifting up of JESUS CHRIST, tho' it firstly and principally intends his being lifted on the Cross, when he was crucified; yet it may well be understood to include in it his being held forth in the Ministry of the Word and Sacraments, and particularly in this Sacra­ment of the Lord's Supper, John 3.14, 15. And as M [...]ses lifted up the S [...]p [...]nt [...]n the Wilderness, even so must the Son of [...]an [...] whosoever [...] have eterna [...] [...] 22. Look unto [...] of the Earth: For I am God, and there is none else How much might awakened Sinners gain by it if they would improve this Help?

But it will be said, That Person must EXA­MINE themselves before they came to the Sacra­ment of the Lord's Supper, lest they eat and [Page 21] drink unworthily, and so eat and drink Judgmen [...] to themselves. To which I ANSWER, That th [...] is readily granted: but still the Question re­maineth, That Qualifications Persons must find themselves to have, before they are allowed to come to the Sacrament? If it be said, They must find themselves to be in a regenerate State before they offer themselves; this is to beg the Thing in Question. It does not yet appear, that this is required to the End mentioned, but rather that this is not required. If it be further said, That Persons must not come to the Lord's Supper, unless they can DISCERN the Lord's Body in it; I acknowledge this to be a Truth; because the Scripture is clear for it: But then I utterly deny, that an Ability to discern the Lord's Body in the Lord's Supper is peculiar to the regene­rate He that believes the Doctrines of the Sufferings of the Son of God, in our Nature, for the Sins of the World, and understands how these Sufferings of his are signified and shewed forth in the Sacrament, may be truly said to discern the Lord's Body therein. It is true indeed, that the Regenerate do discern the Lord's Body in a more excellent and affecting Manner, than unregenerate Persons can do: But still it remains unproved, That such a Dis­cerning as this is absolutely necessary to a law­ful Participation in the Lord's Supper.

If it be again said, That as adult Persons may not be baptised, unless they BELIEVE WITH ALL THEIR HEART, Acts 8.37 So, without such Faith, Persons may not partake of the Lord's Supper; I readily acknowledge the Truth of this: But then I say, That Men's believing [Page 22] with all their Heart, that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, as in the Place referred to, does not necessarily imply their being in a regene­rate State. It may imply [...] [...]ore than this, That they sincerely and [...] what they profess, and are not [...] the Professi­on they make, as may [...] comparing the Place quoted with Jer. [...] [...]nd [...]et for all this, her treacherous Sister [...] [...]ath not turn­ed unto me with her whole [...], but feignedly, saith the Lord. Where doing a Thing with the whole Heart is opposed to the doing it feignedly: The Question concerning the Faith of the Eu­nuch was not, whether he believed with that kind of Faith which is peculiar to a regenerate Saint, which he might have, and there was good Reason to suppose that he had, whether he did before this know that Jesus Chri [...]t was the promised Messiah, or not, he being then a zea­lous Proselite, as sufficiently appears, and as Cor­nelius, mentioned Acts 10.1, 2. also was: But the Thing then necessary to be enquired after, was, whether he believed that Jesus now affirm­ed to be the Christ, or the Messiah promised in the Scriptures of the old Testament was indeed so; because [...] [...] sary, in order to [...] Gospel-Church State [...] before.

I readily acknowledge also, That REPEN­TANCE is necessary in order to a Participation in the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper: But then I conceive that Persons may be in some Sense real Penitents who are not yet born again: And this I think may be proved from Matth. [Page 23] 11.20, 21. Jonah 3.5, to 10. compared with [...]at. 12.41. Repenting in Dust and Ashes, in [...]e first of these Places, does not imply the [...]eat Work of Regeneration: For if that had [...]en intended, the mighty Works done in [...]razin and Bethsaida had not been sufficient [...] have produced it in Tyre and Sidon, or any [...]er Place. See also Heb. 6.4, & 6. It is im­ [...]ssible for those who were once enlightened, &c. they shall fall away, to renew them again to [...]pentance.

Being without a Wedding Garment at a Gos­ [...] Feast, does, I think, doubtless intend the [...]ant of proper Qualifications for a visible [...]urch State; and what these be I have al­ [...]dy shewed. In the Church visible, no such qualified Persons are ever found.

Persons qualified, as has been expressed, do [...]t, in partaking of the Lord's Supper, put [...]ir Seal to a Blank, as has by some been said, [...]e they are not in a converted State. The [...]ing they set their Seal to, is not their own [...]rsonal Interest in the everlasting Mercies of [...] new Covenant; but what they SEAL, is [...]eir assent to the Truth of the Gospel, which [...] Resolution [...] [...]ST, and his [...] all serious Professors of Religion design [...] in the Profession they make, to declare to the World, That they look upon themselves as in a regenerate and justi­fied State. If People tho't this to be what a publick Profession signifieth, few, I believe, would venture to make it; a good Degree of Assurance being necessary in order to it.

PROPOSITION VII.

There are GREAT INCONVENIENCIES at­tending on this Assertion, That none but the Re­generate have a Right to partake of the Lord's Supper.

I shall briefly mention some of them.

1. Very few can, on this Supposition, satisfy themselves, whether they may lawfully par­take of the Lord's Supper, or not: And so ma­ny would, on this Principle, be unavoidably ex­posed to very great Perplexities with Respect to this Question, Whether they may and ought to desire an Admission to the Lord's Table, or no? Such as are serious would fain act in this Mat­ter as they ought to do. They desire to ap­prove themselves to God, with Respect to this important Case, Have I a Right to the Lord's Supper, or not? Or, which is the same Thing, Am I born again, or am I in a State of Nature? Many a one may here truly say, I have often examined myself, and yet cannot determine this great Question. And indeed we have Reason to think▪ [...] there are but few com­paratively of the [...] Children of God, that are able, satisfacto [...]ly to resolve themselves in this [...] very do [...] [...] in great [...] [...] lecting it. And thus these poor Creatures know not what to do on the Supposition I op­pose. They know they believe the Truth of God's Word, Law, and Gosp [...] [...] [...]d know they desire to serve God and obt [...] [...] [...]y with him; but they do not know whe [...] they do [Page 25] these Things with a gracious Sincerity or not. There is such a Resemblance betwixt common and saving GRACE, that they know not whe­ther they have the latter of these two, or no; and so know not what to do. It is not very likely that God should have made the Terms of Communion in his visible Church, such as necessarily do involve serious Professors of Re­ligion in such Difficulties as these, as I have ob­served in my first Proposition.

2. The Principle which I argue against, seems to me to expose Ministers and Churches to very great Difficulties, respecting those they should admit to the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper: For if none have any Right to the Lord's Supper, but such as are in a State of Grace, but will, if they partake of it, eat and drink Judgment to themselves, it seems to me, that they have a very difficult Task, who are obliged to judge whether such as offer them­selves to their Communion are qualified for it, or not; and a Mistake in this Point may be of dangerous Consequence to the Persons admit­ted, or denied; especially their Admission, if they are unfit, will be very dangerous.

If it be said [...] determine the Point [...] Charity; I answer, [...] [...]ty seems to be too uncertain and preca [...]ous a Thing to Judge by, in a Case of so great Consequence, as wherein a Person's Soul is in great Danger. Grounds for Charity will admit of a great many Degrees: And it may be enquired, Whether those that are to judge of Men's spiritual State, according to this Rule, are to give their Sentence accor­ding [Page 26] to the highest or lowest Grounds for the Charity intended, or some of the intermediate ones; and if so, which of them? And I desire to know, who made them Judges of what God only can judge of? Jer. 17.10. I should think they must needs be in great Danger, lest they should be mistaken in this Affair, or have alrea­dy been so, or lest they take upon them that which indeed is none of their Business.

3. It is to be feared, that on the Hypothesis opposed, many may be hindred from Commu­nion in special Ordinances, who have a good Right to them; and others admitted that have none. People being fixed in this Principle, That none but the Regenerate have a Right to special Ordinances many, even of those, who are very seriously concerned that they may approve themselves to God, being in great Doubt of the Sincerity of their own Hearts, are in all Likelihood hereby kept back from offering themselves to join in Church Commu­nion. It is evident, that the more serious Per­sons be, the greater Sense they have of the De­ceitfulness and desperate Wickedness of their own Hearts, by Nature; and such as these are very apt to be proportionably doubtful of their own Sincerity. These feel and observe so much Corruption working in them, that they cannot easily perswade themselves of the In­tegrity of their own Souls, and so dare not ven­ture, in a long Time, if ever, to join themselves to the Church of Christ; and so the Church is hindred from having many Members, who are indeed, fit Matter for it, and such serious Souls, from the Advantages and Comforts, which they [...]ght otherwise enjoy.

[Page 27]On the other Hand, Persons far less religious and comparatively but little concerned for the Glory of God and the Salvation of their own Souls, and who think the Difficulties of Reli­gion are nothing so great as others think them to be, can easily perswade themselves that they are true Christians, and are passed from Death to Life; being, as they think, born again. Such as these can, therefore, without any great Difficulty, offer themselves to the Communion of the Church; and thus great Numbers pro­bably do while, on their own Principles, they are unqualified for it; and by this Means Churches are corrupted rather than kept pure and holy.

4 I would ask this Question; Is there not some Danger, That, on the Principle I oppose, Persons submitting themselves to Examination, with Respect to the State of their Souls, in or­der to their Admission to the Sacrament, may be very greatly hurt, either by having too fa­vourable a Judgment passed on their Condition: or otherwise too severe a Sentence or Censure, with Respect to it? The Principle I argue a­gainst, supposeth the Candidate, for Church-Priviledge to offer [...] Trial, with Re­ [...] [...] and the Principal [...] in this Trial, is [...] under Examination b [...], or he not in a converted Estate? And of this Question, the Elders and Brethren are the Judges If they judge him converted they admit him: It they think he offers no good E­vidence of his Conversion they refuse him. Now it seem to me, That a Mistake in Judg­ment, [Page 28] here, if such a Mistake be committed, may greatly hurt the Person concerned in the Sentence, about whose Estate it is given. A suppose the Church should judge him to be converted, when indeed he is not; and thereup­on admit him to their Communion; Will not this tend greatly to confirm the Man in the unhap­py Mistake he is himself already under, who had not offered himself, if he had not hoped his Estate to be good: He will be very likely now to say in his Heart, I have Reason to be­lieve that the Bitterness of Death is passed from me. I thought indeed before, that I was in a regenerate State, but now I have the Judgment of the Brethren and Elders of the Church in my Favour: Why then should I doubt of this When yet the poor Man is still in the Gall of Bitterness and in the Bond of Iniquity, as in Acts 8.23. And it is well if that be not his Case, in Isai. 44 20. He feedeth on Ashes, and a deceived Heart hath turned him aside, so that he cannot deliver his Soul, nor say, Is there not a Lie in my right Hand?

On the other Hand, Suppose the Person should be a sincere Convert, and yet the Elders and Church should [...] still to be in a [...] Communion [...] [...]vously to wound [...] weak Believer, and to break the brursed Reed, and quench the smoaking Flax, contrary to what our Saviour does, and would have his Ministers do, Matth. 12.20.

I am afraid of such unhappy Consequences as I have now mentioned, and which seem to attend the Principle I oppose. Whereas if we [Page 29] allow a moral Sincerity in Men's Profession and Practice of Religion, to be sufficient to give them a Right to the Privileges of a Church State, we may tell them, we are not sufficient Judges of their spiritual Estate, so as to pass Sentence, whether they are converted or not; and that, as to this they must look to themselves, examine their own Hearts, and pray, as in Psal. 139.23, 24. Search m [...], O God, &c. And that they must by no Means think, that we judge them to be already in a regenerate State, from our admitting [...]f them to Church Com­munion, for we receive them, not as already in a State of Grace and Salvation, but as Per­sons, with a moral Sincerity, endeavouring to get into such an Estate, and unto that End, laying had on the Covenant: But whether they are converted or not, they themselves are the most proper Judges, and ought daily to ex­amine themselves, and prove their own Hearts and Works, in order to their being able to de­termine how it is with them.

This, Si [...], is the Truth of my present Tho'ts on the Point which you were pleas'd to ask my Opinion about; and which having, after my [...] Manner offered to you, I rest