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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A91267	A seasonable vindication of free-admission, and frequent administration of the Holy Communion to all visible church-members, regenerate or unregenerate. From the institution, precept, president of Christ himself; the doctrine, practice of the primitive Church, fathers, councils, Christians: the confessions, articles, records, chief writers of our own and other reformed churches: the dangerous consequents, effects, schisms arising from the disusage, infrequency, monopoly of this sacrament, to visible or real saints alone; and suspension of all others from it, till approved worthy upon trial. And that upon meer Anabaptistical, and papistical false principles, practices, (here discovered) unadvisedly embraced, imitated, asserted, exceeded by sundry over-rigid, reforming ministers; to our Saviours dishonour, our Churches great disturbance, their own, their peoples prejudice; and the common enemies, and seducers grand advantage. / By Will: Prynne of Swainswick Esq; a bencher of Lincolns Inne·	Prynne, William, 1600-1669.	1656 (1656)	Wing P4070; Thomason E495_3; ESTC R203285	81,072	108

the Father through the Son his passion and death The custom of the Popes Church is that the people receive the Sacrament usually but once a year that is to say at Easter By which ●eans the Commandement of Christ is broken the Sacrament neglected the death of Christ not so earnestly remembred the people become unthankfull Dissolution of life breaketh in Vice increaseth Virtue decreaseth From these with sundry other like Passages of Bishop Iewel and Thomas Beacon incomparably eminent both for their Learning and Piety it is irrefragable 1. That in the Apostles days as some from Acts 2. 46 47. c. 20. 7. 11. 1 Cor. 10. 16 17 21. c. 11. 17. to 34. resolve and in the l Primitive Church for many hundreds of years next after the Apostles and among the Greeks and Christians under Precious Iohn at this day all Christians and visible Members of the Church of years of discretion to examine themselves constantly received the Communion all together every day or Lords day at the least when ever they met to pray hear the Word or perform any other publike Duties of Religious Worship unto God and that out of meer duty piety devotion zeal and love to Christ m Bishop Iewel in his Defence of the Apology of the Church of England proves this more fully by the confession and testimonies of sundry Popish Authors Thomas Aquine saith In Primitiva Ecclesia quando magna vigebat devotio Fidei Christianae Statutum suit ut fideles quotidie communicarent In the Primitive Church when great Devotion of the Christian Faith was in strength it was ordained that the faithfull should receive the Communion every day n Durandus saith In the Primitive Church all the faithfull daily received the Communion o Hugo Cardinalis saith In the Primitive Church All as many as were present at the Canon of the Masse did daily communicate and if they would not they departed out of the Offertory If ye think these Authorities are not sufficient p Iohannes Cochlaeus saith Omnes olim c. In old time both all the Priests and all the say people received the Communion with the Minister that had made the Oblation as is plainly perceived by the Canons of the Apostles and by the Books of the antient Doctors of the Church c. Likewise saith q Iodocus Clichthovius In Primitiva Ecclesia c. In the Primitive Church the faithful received the Communion every day Likewise it is noted in the Margin upon the Apostles Canons Omnes olim qui intererant communicabant In old time all that were present did communicate In the Council of Antioch Can. 2. Concil. Aquisgran cap 70. Omnes c. All that come into the Church of God and hear the Holy Scriptures and refuse the receiving of the Lords Sacrament let them be put from the Church These Decrees reach not only to the Ministers of the Church but to the whole People r St. Ambrose saith Munus obla●um totius populi fit c. The oblation offered is made the whole peoples For that in me bread all are signified For in that we are all one we must all receive of one bread In imitation hereof the Protestant Churches in forein parts did frequently receive the Lords Supper all together witness the ſ Former Confession of Helvetia Artic. 22. Of the Lords Supper We do therefore use the holy meat oftentimes because that being admonished hereby we do by the eys of faith behold the death and bloud of Christ crucified and meditating upon our salvation not without a tast of heavenly life and a true sense of life eternal we are refreshed with this spiritual lively and inward food with an unspeakable sweetnesse and we do rejoyce with a joy that cannot be expressed with words for that life which we have found and we do wholly and with all our strength pour out our thankssgivings for so wonderfull a benefit of Christ bestowed upon us And this t Confession of Sweveland of their practise Our men do often times with as great reverence as they may receive the Sacrament to be the lively food of their souls and to stir up in them a gratefull remembrance of so great a benefit The which thing also useth now to be done among us much more often and reverently than heretofore was used to wit in times of Popery With the u Confession of Auspurg in these words Therefore the Masse to wit the celebration of the Lords Supper must be used to this end that there the Sacrament may be reached unto them that have need of comfort As Ambrose saith Because I do alwayes sin therefore I ought alwayes to receive a medicin And seeing the Masse is such a Communion of the Sacrament we do observe one common masse every Holy-day and on other dayes if any will use the Sacrament when it is offered to them which desired it Neither is this custom newly brought into the Church With what * hearts of adamant browes of brasse searedness not tenderness of Conscience then can or dare any Protestant Ministers Parsons or Vicars now who have Cure of Souls obstinately deny peremptorily refuse to deliver the Lords Supper to themselves or any or all of their Parishioners and Church members when they earnestly desire it at their hands not only for sundry dayes weeks months but years together and that under a new monstrous x pretext of extraordinary Zeal Piety Devotion Sanctity tendernesse of conscience transcendent Love to Christ his Sacraments their own and their peoples souls Or with what colour will such Pastors be able to justifie or excuse themselves before any Tribunals of God or men when legally accused convicted for this notorious detestable Sacrilege and Apostacy from the custom of the Primitive and Protestant Churches if they presently repent not of it with confusion of face and redemption of their former wilfull neglect herein by constant frequent publike Communions henceforth delivered to all their people in Common without future seclusions of any unexcommunicate persons from it who unfeignedly desire it 2. That the Apostles Primitive Christians Fathers Authors with these two most judicious Divines believed asserted both by their preaching writing practise y That the Sacrament belonged to and ought to be administred to every visible Christian and Church-member alike to all the whole Congregation in common and that none ought to be secluded suspended from it but persons actually z excommunicated from Church-communion and all other publike Ordinances for notorious scandalous offences That upon this ground and its frequent common reception by all it was stiled The Communion both by the Fathers Primitive and Modern Christian Church-writers of all sorts This is the express doctrine of the whole Church of England confirmed by a Parliament and subscribed assented to by all true Ministers Pastors of the Church of England admitted to any Pastoral Charge Article 30. The Cup of the Lord is not

to be denyed to the Lay-people For both the parts of the Lords Sacrament by Christs Ordinance and Commandment ought to be ministred to all Christian men alike A universal affirmative admitting all unto and sequestring no unexcommunicated Christian from both or either parts of the Lords Supper Which the Confession of the Protestant Churches in Saxony thus back b Article 22. Of the Sacraments The Church also is discerned from other Gentiles by certain Signs and Ceremonies instituted of God and usually called Sacraments as are Baptism and the Lords Supper Which notwithstanding are not only Signs of a Profession but much more as the antient fathers said Signs of Grace that is they be Ceremonies added to the promise of the Gospel touching Grace that is touching the free remission of sins and touching reconciliation and the whole benefit of our redemption the which are so instituted that every man may use them because they be pledges and testimonies which declare that the benefits promised in the Gospel do appertain to every one For the voice of the Gospel is general this use doth bear witness that this voice doth appertain to every one which useth the Sacraments What other Protestant Churches Confessions affirm to this purpose you may read at large in the Harmony of their Confessions Sect. 10 11 12 13 14 15. With what colour of Piety Iustice Equity Conscience Zeal Prudence Christianity Charity then dare any of our Independent Presbyterian or other Ministers seclude debar not only pretended ignorant scandalous unregenerate Visible Church-members nor actually or legally excommunicated but even true regenerate godly Christians and their whole Churches Parishes if not some whole Towns Cities from this holy Supper and Communion from month to month yea year to year upon false pretences that it belongs not to them that they shall prophane the Sacrament cast pearls before Swine give holy things to dogs damn poyson their own and their peoples souls if they give the Bread Cup of the Lord unto them and make visible and real Saint ship fitness worthinesse the sole rule ground of right interest in and admission to this Sacrament against the professed Doctrine Practice of all former ages Churches And all in truth to erect a more than arbitrary Ecclesiastical Papal Tribunal over Christs own Sacraments and their Parishioners consciences persons to admit to or seclude all and every of them from the Lords Supper at their pleasures upon their own terms and times alone the sole true round of this impious sacrilegious unchristian antichristian Innovation for it deserves no better Epithites 3ly That the Apostles Primitive Church Christians Fathers freely and usually admitted all visible Christians whatsoever to the Communion of the Lords Supper of discretion to examine themselves whom they freely admitted to Baptism Prayer hearing of the Word or any other publike Ordinances of Gods worship b enjoyning them all under pain of Excommunication when ever they heard the Word or met together in publike to receive the Lords Supper likewise in common together and excommunicating such who communicated not in this sort as men working the trouble and disorder of the Church That they required exacted no other no greater no solemner self-examination preparation fitness visible worthiness or real graces in the when they came to receive the Lords Supper but the very same they demanded expected from them when ever they came to be baptized pray hear read the Word or converse with God in any other sacred Ordinances of his worship God himself requiring the like examination qualification preparation fitnesse in all other holy duties and approaches to him in his word as in this duty as is evident by Eccles. 5. 1 2. Lam. 3. 40 41. Psal. 26. 6. Isay 1. 16 17 18. 1. 15 16. 2 Chron. 30. 17 18 19 20. Exod. 12. 48. 2 Cor. 13. 5. Jam. 1. 5 6 7 21. Mat. 22. 12. 1 Pet. 2. 1 2. Hebr. 12. 1. 1 Tim. 2. 8. Heb. 4. 2. 2 Pet. 1. 5. to 19. Luke 8. 18. Mar. 4. 24. Rom. 14. 23. and other texts compared with 1 Cor. 11. 28 29. and Christs c sodain institution and celebration of this Sacrament at his last Supper without giving any previous Notice of it to his Disciples to prepare themselves for its worthy reception their former preparation fitnesse to eat the Paschal Supper and hear Christs heavenly instructions given them Iohn 13. 14 15 16 17. being deemed by Christ himself a sufficient preparative to communicate with him at his Table Upon what true ground of conscience piety justice reason or religion then can any Ministers now seclude all or any of their baptized Parishioners of sufficient capacity to examine themselves whom they freely constantly admit to communicate with them in baptism prayer preaching singing Psalms hearing reading Gods word and other ordinary or extraordinary publike duties of Gods worship from the Communion of the Lords Supper only or deem them unprepared unqualified unworthy to communicate in this Ordinance alone when as they deem them sufficiently qualified prepared worthy to converse with God and the most regenerated Saints in all or any other publike Ordinances but this Or by what divine warrant from Gods own Word our Saviours his Apostles the Primitive Fathers Christians the * Protestant Churches or B●shop Jewels Doctrine or Practice can they now over-rigidly exact●a more transcendent serious diligent special examination preparation qualification worthinesse fitnesse holinesse in their people when they resort to the Communion of the Lords Supper than when they come to hear read the word fast pray receive the Sacrament of Baptism give thanks or sing praises unto God or else seclude or deem them for unworthy Receivers who can eat or drink nothing but their own damnation Yea with what conscience reason justice can any Communicants neglect refuse delay to receive the Lords Supper upon this pretext alone that they are wholly unworthy unfit unprepared only for this duty when publikely administred in the Churches whereof they are members and they there present at all or any other sacred publike Ordinances in which they then repute themselves not unfit unworthy unqualified unprepared to converse with God and communicate with other Christians but in this duty alone Doubtlesse the serious consideration of Bishop Jewels St. Ambrose and St. Augustines words forecited touching due preparation to all holy duties with that of Chrysostom If thon be not worthy to receive the Communion then thou art not worthy to be present at Prayers and of the Primitive Christians daily communicating as well as hearing and praying will rectifie this common received Error both in Ministers and People now made the principal plea in barre excuse justification by the one magisterially to sequester repell their Parishioners from the Lords Table and by the people voluntarily to withdraw debar themselves from it against Christs own precept and their bounden duties to the prejudice if not peril of their souls Which I write not to make any carelesse or

appertaining to Christians though a chief part of the Churches foundation approved injoyned to be searched studied read by Christ himself and his Apostles in the New Testament Mat. 5. 17. 18. c 7. 12. c 22 40. c. 26. 56. Mar. 1. 2. Lu. 1. 70. c. 16. 26. 31. Acts 3. 18. c. 10. 43. c. 13. 15. 27. c. 26. 22. 27. c. 28. 23. c. 17. 2. 11. c. 18. 24. 28. Rom. 1. 2. c. 16. 26. Ephes. 2. 20. c. 4. 11 12. 13. 1 Pet. 1. 10 11. 2 Pet. 1. 19 20 21. c. 3. 1 2. with other expresse Gospel texts And is not this a grosse sinful Omission now fit to be repented of and reformed by you all having produced so many sad effects and complying too much with the Papists y and Mr. Harding who stiles the publike reading of the Scriptures to the people in their mother Tongue The instinct and work of Satan 4ly Many Minsters and Congregationt especially Independents and Anabaptists have wholly cast off the Singing as well as reading of Psalms Hymnes and Spiritual Songs not only contrary to the z precepts of God and Practice of the ●aints in the Old Testament but of Christ himself his Apostles Saints Church in the New Luke 1. 13 14. Mat. 26. 30. 1 Cor. 14. 15. Ephes. 5. 17. Col. 3. 1● Heb. 2. 12. Iam. 5. 13. Rev. 15. 3. c. 5. 9. c. 14. 3. And is not this a sin fit to be redressed by those who are guilty of it unlesse they deem our present Oppressions Thraldom and publick Calamities such as deserve to turn all our Psalms into Lamentations and Songs into Howlings Amos 8. 10. Ezech. 26. 13. Iam. 7. 9. 5ly Whereas our Ministers heretofore by our Councils Canons Liturgies were obliged to Catechise and instruct their younger Parishioners in the Lords Prayer Creed ten Commandements and Principles of Christian Religion and made a Conscience to perform it on Lords dayes and other Seasons in the Church to the great edification and corroborations of their People against Heresies Sects Errors Vices The generality of Ministers of late years have either totally rejected or in a great measure neglected this part of their Ministerial duty contrary to Gal. 6. 6. Heb. 5. 15 16. c. 6. 1 2 3. Deut. 6. 1. to 10. and other expresse Scriptures Whereby Parents and Masters have for the most part given over this dutyin their Families and so the people being generally ignorant uninstructed unsetled ungrounded in the Principles of Religion are a tossed and carried to and fro with every wind of doctrine made a prey to all sorts of Sectaries and seducing Spirits and divided from our Churches into different separated Conventicles almost past hopes of reducing to the tr●th and unity of the Gospel How necessary it is therefore for all peccant Ministers to reform this Sin let the Preface to Mr. Crooks Guide and others who have written of the Vtility and Necessity of Catechising inform them 6ly Some Ministers especially Independents have contrary to Luke 9. 62. Rom. 1. 1. Heb. 7. 23 24. b quite renounced their very Ministerial Ordination and Function preaching only now as gifted Brethren not as Ministers of the Gospel and others of them have either overmuch neglected or scrupuled the baptizing of Infants especially c of these who are not of their own independent Congregations Which how repugnant it is to the precepts and Presidents of Christ and his Apostles How scandalous to our Protestant Church and Religion how advantagious to our Papal Anabaptistical and other Sectarian Common Enemies let Mr. d Seaman Mr. Baxter Mr. Hall and others who have written largely on these Subjects of late times resolve them and themselves now reform with penitent hearts 7ly The thing I shall here principally charge upon the consciences of hundreds of Ministers guilty of this Sacrilegious Crime is their many years wilfull discontinuance of the frequent publike celebration of the Lords Supper to their Parishioners against the very essential duty and Office of their Function as Ministers of Christ and Incumbents of Parish Churches the Precept and President of Christ himself the Practice of the Apostles Prim●tive Church Fathers Christians and all former Churches Ministers of Christ throughout the world the Canons Decrees Injunctions Laws Statutes of our own and foreign Church●s States in all ages and the very Directory it self as I have e elsewhere and shall here more largely manifest By which Negligence and Omission I shall desire them now at last most sadly to consider 1. That they rob God himself of one chief publick Ordinance and part of his solemn worship 2. That they rob Jesus Christ himself of one of his instituted Sacraments whereby they should principally shew forth the benefits fruits and memory of his death till his Second coming 1 Cor. 11 25 26. 3. That they rob their Churches and people of the inestimable benefits comforts of Christs most blessed Supper Wherein they are more culpable sacrilegious and injurious to Christs Institution and their people than the Sacrilegious Popes and Popish Priests who administer this Sacrament to themselves in both kinds every Masse and give the People the Consecrated Bread in all places once a year at least and the Cup too in some places by special f dispensations whereas they deprive themselves and their people wholly of both parts of this Sacrament for sundry years and will not dispence it to them at their and others earnest intreaties 4. That herein they give as high as grosse as sinful a Non obstante to Christ himself the Primitive Church and Fathers in casting aside this Sacrament of the Lords Supper for so many years together as the g Council of Constance did when it took away the use of the Cup only from the Lay-people and hereby justifie imitate exceed this their Sacrilegious Antichristian practice 5. That hereby they sinfully neglect renounce one principal essential part of their Ministerial function and pastoral duty which they were purposely ordained Ministers and presented to their Parochial Cures and Benefices diligently to discharge as I have h elswhere manifested at large to wit to administer this Sacrament to their people 6. That they herein pointblank oppugn contradict the i constant practice of the Primitive Church Fathers Christians who usually administred the Holy Communion to all their visible Church-members every Lords day with the constant usage of all the Churches of God throughout the world in all former ages till this present who prescribed practiced the frequent celebration thereof as a necessary usefull and most comfortable duty 7. That herein they have in a great measure imitated the tyranny and practice of Pope Innocent the 3d. and the Popish English Clergy under him who interdicting the whole Realm of England Anno 1208. by reason of differences then risen between King John the Archbishop of Canterbury and other Prelates for 6 years 3 moneths and 14 days space thereupon through the Clergies obstinacy

examin their fitnesse and suspend them from the Communion they have by divine retaliating Iustice or Providence at least and I desire them to observe it sodeinly unexpectedly beyond all humane probability by an unparalleld sacrilege lost most of their Church revenues Tithes Duties either seised or detained from them by their people from whom the● detain this Sacrament yea lost both their intended Presbyterial Government Classes Iudicatories Reputations Credits Reverend esteem the love and affections of the Generality of their Parishioners and rendred their Persons Function Ministry generally odious contemptible opprobrious throughout the whole Nation as themselves experimentally feel complain of and all intelligent men observe Which being an undeniable experimental truth there can be no better speedier means used to regain their former honor love respect and reduce their straying flocks from their several Schisms Sects Conventicles unto their Parochial Congregations Assemblies Ministry but to renounce those Anabaptistical Errors Practices they have unadvisedly taken up and strenuously defended to restore the frequent weekly monthly use at least of the holy Communion the principal bond of Christian Amitie Peace Vnity * serving instead of ANOATH to bind them all together in the true Profession of Christianity to re-gather their people together and re-unite and keep them close to themselves and one another and to grant a free admission unto all visible Church members able to examine themselves to the holy Communion as well as to all other Ordinances as Christ his Apostles the Primitive Fathers Christians did and the premises undeniably manifest they are bound to doe and to endeavour by preaching writing exhortations and all good Christian means to prepare and excite all persons capable to the frequent participation of this Sacrament and not dehort deterre any such from it as they have done of later years and thereby driven them both from their Churches and Ministry Remember what f Bishop Jewel in his forecited words replies to Mr. Harding O miserable is that Chdrch wherein no man no not so much as one is well disposed and fit to communicate at the Lords Table What conscientious zealous Christian can with comfort continue in such a Church or what Minister with comfort or conscience continue in his Pastoral charge over it and not remove or separate from it to some other Church and people better qualified for Christian Communion at Christs heavenly Feast Such Churches these Ministers declare their own to be by their practice to whom they pretend they cannot dare not administer the holy Communion at all as having no right unto it to the peoples scandal and their own And how many such Parochial Churches have we now in England who have had no Sacrament of the Lords Supper publikely administred in them for divers years last past though the more sinfull and worse they are the more they need this Soveraign Medicine this Sinne-clensing Soul-recovering Antidote to cure their Spiritual Maladies and diseased Souls the with-holding whereof from them instead of working their Spiritual cures hath f but only lengthned increased their diseases and made them more sinfull obstinate vicious irreligious sacrilegious prophane undevout atheistical neglectful contemptuom of this and all other sacred Ordinances than before and banished the serious frequent meditation of Christs precious bloudshed and benefits of his passion quite out of their remembrance As therefore the h Anabaptists and Independents seclude none from their Sacraments whom they deem visible members of their selected refined gathered Congregations upon this account That none are or ought to be members of their Churches but such who have an equal right and free admission to all Gods Ordinances So let our Presbyterian Ministers now upon the same account either separate from their Churches as no true visible Churches of Christ or else admit all the visible actual Members of their Parochial Congregations to this holy Communion as well as to all other Ordinances wherein they have all an equal interest as Church-members lest all their people withdraw and separate from them as many thousands have lately done and will do must else doe more and more till this Sacrament be restored to them That being no true visible Church of Christ nor true Christian Congregation wherein the Sacraments are not duly frequently administred as well as the Gospel preached as all i Protestant Churches Confessions Writers unanimously resolve And those Churches must needs be full of Schisms factions Contentions Animosities hatreds void of Christian love unity and in a most desperate sad condition where the Supper of the Lord the k sign and bond of the love peace unity amity that Christians ought to have amongst themselves and Sacrament of their redemption by Christs death is wholly cast aside kept from them by their Ministers Which the Lord give all such obstinate Church-distracting Church-destroying Ministers grace now timely to consider reform for their own their peoples the Churches benefit union Peace and future Settlement upon serious perusal of all the premises compiled published for this much-desired end alone For a close of all I shall desire all proud Pharisaical supercilious over-severe Ministers and other Christians puffed up with such a swelling conceit of their own transcendent Holinesse worthinesse and most others unworthinesse that they think them altogether unworthy to communicate with them at the Lords Table to consider seriously with themselves these few particulars which may abate this their spiritual pride and uncharitablenesse and reform their erronious practices in this kind 1. Advisedly ruminate upon Christs own parable of the boasting Pharisee and humbled sinfull Publican who went both up together into the Temple to pray and which of these two Christ himself justified Luke 18. 9. to 15. Which Parable he spake unto certain who trusted in themselves as being righteous and despised others v. 9. This alone methinks should at least abate if not fully cure this their overweaning self-conceit Compared with those Isay 65. 5. Which say to others stand by thy self come not near to me FOR I AM HOLIER THAN THOV These are a smoak in my nose a fire that burneth all the day Behold it is written before me I will not keep silence even recompence into their bosoms Let all such pure Justiciaries take heed they come not within the verge and censure of Prov. 30. 12. 13. There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes and yet are not washed from their fillhinesse O how lofty are their eyes and their eye lids are lifted up with spiritual pride Withall let them remember that of Jam. 4. 5. and 1 Pet. 5. 5. Yea all of you be cloathed with humility for God resisteth the proud and giveth grace unto the humble With that of Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain-glory but in lowlinesse of mind let each esteem other BETTER THAN HIMSELF And then they would seclude none from the Lords Table especially before a legal conviction trial and sentence of

A SEASONABLE VINDICATION Of Free-Admission and Frequent Administration of the HOLY COMMVNION To all Visible Church-members Regenerate or Vnregenerate From the Institution Precept President of Christ himself the Doctrine Practice of the Primitive Church Fathers Councils Christians the Confessions Articles Records Chief Writers of our own and other reformed Churches the dangerous Consequents Effects Schisms arising from the Disusage Infrequency Monopoly of this Sacrament to visible or real Saints alone and Suspension of all others from it till approved Worthy upon trial And that upon meer Anabaptistical and Papistical false Principles Practices here discovered unadvisedly embraced imitated asserted exceeded by sundry over-rigid reforming Ministers to our Saviours dishonour our Churches great disturbance their own their peoples prejudice and the Common Enemies and Seducers grand Advantage By Will Prynne of Swainswick Esq a Bencher of Lincolns Inne 1 Cor. 10. 2 3. 16 17. And did ALL eat the same spiritual meat and did ALL drink the same spiritual drink c. The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not THE COMMUNION of the Bloud of Christ The Bread which we break is it not THE COMMUNION of the Body of Christ For we being many are one Bread for WE ARE ALL PARTAKERS OF THAT ONE BREAD Aug. Ep●st 179. Non bonum est homini hominem vincere sed bonum est homini ut eum Veritas vincat volentem quia malum est homini ut eum Veritas vincat invitum Nam ipsa vincat necesse est sive Negantem sive Confitentem LONDON Printed by F. Leach for the Author 1656. To the over-sadly divided misguided Ministers of the miserably distracted undermined almost ruined Church of England especially such who in Theory or Practice have swerved from their Duties in casting off the Frequent Administration of the Holy Communion with their peoples Free-Admission thereunto and in other particulars of moment here briefly touched DEar reverend Christian Brethren whom I cordially honour for your a high and heavenly Calling give me leave with that Christian Liberty which becomes me without any fear or flattery to inform you that I have for many years by-past with a bleeding soul and mournfull spirit taken special Notice of some offensive Deviations from and Negligences in your Ministerial Function whereof many of you are guilty which have given great Advantages to your Common Romish and Sectarian Adversaries and just scandal to divers of your best-affected Friends some whereof I formerly endeavoured by seasonable timely b Publications to crush in the very shell and now deem high time to remind you of being grown Epidemical yea almost destructive to your very Ministry as well as perillous to our Church and Religion Not to inlarge upon your own manifold intestine c sad Divisions between and against your selves which have separated you into several Opposite Squadrons that I say not Factions and Battalioes of Presbyterians Episcopalists or Royalists Independents Interdependents openly secretly warring against and seeking to supplant each other by the extravagant power proceedings of illegal Arbitrary Committees and new coyned Orders Ordinances Covenants Engagements with other Machiavilian Devices whereby you have endeavoured to eject sequester suppresse vex ensnare ruine one another under our successive late publike Revolutions of Government By which you have now at last made your selves meer Tenants at will both in respect of your Benefices Tithes Ministry to every New upstart power a derision to your Popish a prey to your Anabaptistical and other Sectarian Adversaries who infinitely increase their Numbers Proselytes by these your unbrotherly feudes and have no special Committees to restrain eject suppresse them but are crept into most Committees and places of power to vex molest discountenance persecute eject sequester many of you at their pleasures and secretly encourage countenance abet our last insolent spreading Romish Sect of Quakers to disturb affront revile your persons Doctrine Ministry both in the Church Streets and all other places and to publish their most rayling scurrillous Invectives against you to accomplish your speedy extirpation by these Instruments of the Pope and Devil which they dare not immediately attempt by themselves In which prosecuted design of your utter speedy extirpation all Anabaptists Sectaries concurre and unite their forces with the Jesuites and Popish party as Iohn Canne demonstrates in his Second voice from the Temple p. 2. where he excites The Supreme Authority of the Nation the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England to whom he dedicates it utterly to extirpate the National Church Ministry Worship Government of England and to starve famish all the Ministers thereof whom he stiles Antichristian Idols by taking away the food and maintenance whereby hitherto and at this present they are ●ourished fed and kept alive In regard of which joynt desperate Co●federacy against you by these your combined common Adversaries I shall now exhort and advise you First of all To lay aside and abandon all private animosities factions feuds contests and persecutions against each other as not only unbeseeming the d Embassadors Ministers of the God Prince Gospel of Peace but as the most probable unavoidable means of your own speedy destruction as these two Gospel Texts will assure you Mat. 12. 25 26. And Iesus said unto them Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation and every City or House divided against it self shall not stand And if Satan cast out Satan or one Min●ster another of a contrary party he is divided against himself how shall then his kingdom or Christs where his Ministers are thus divided and cast out one another stand And Gal. 5. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another take heed that you be not consumed one of another Among all the evils that afflict the body politick of the Church or State there is none so pernicious as division especially amongst the Ministers and chief Officers thereof e because it strikes at the very foundation of their being and poisons the original of their life and strength Wherefore I beseech you most especially to avoid detest this destructive sin 2ly Seeing all Ministers and Christians are specially obliged by the f command and will of their Master and by their own welfare safety salvation to continue inseparably united one to another and all together to make up but one harmonious Body I shall exhort beseech advise you all to g live and love like Brethren h To be all of one mind and of one Spirit striving together for the faith of the Gospel i To keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace k To manifest to all the world that you are Christs disciples by loving one another And to pursue this pathetical exhortation of the Apostle to cease the Contentions between the Minister and people in the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 1. 10. Now I beseech you Brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ that ye all speak the same thing and that

cessaverunt in Anglia omnia Ecclesiastica Sacramenta praeter solummodo Confessionem viaticum in ultima neccessitate et Baptisma parvulorum ad irrestaurabile damnum Ecclesiae tam in temporalibus quam spiritualibus as k Matthew Paris and others inform us The King hereupon by special Writs and Patents commanded William of Cornhil Joseline of Cornwal and others to seise all the Lands Goods Livings of the Archbishops Bishops Abbots Pri●rs Religious Persons Clerks and Priests that should from the Monday next before Easter refuse to celebrate divine Service and Sacraments to the people and confiscated them all as forfeited to his Treasury Being driven to use such austerity and sharpnesse against them to enforce them to perform their Pastoral charge as l Mr. Fox records out of the Clause Roll of 9 Johannis in the Tower of London And have not many whole Parishes Cities and Dioceses well nigh for as long a space or more been actually interdicted in like manner by sundry obstinate Ministers from all Ecclesiastical Sacraments except baptizing of Infants and some of them from that too and from the administration of the Lords Supper to such as lie at the point of death which was not denyed to any during that long Papal Interdict And do they not deserve then as severe a seizure of their Benefices Lands Goods for this their wilful neglect of their Pastoral duty for so long a season as the Popish Clergy then incurred for their negligence obstinacy and fear of the Popes displeasure 8ly This Crime and Neglect of theirs is highly aggravated by sundry circumstances which instead of justifying or extenuating doth elevate it to the highest pitch 1. It hath been carried on and acted by special Confederacies Combinations amongst most Ministers guilty thereof who have had sundry publike and privat meetings yea some days of Humiliation which is worse to carry on this Sacrilegious design● as the Popish Priests and Prelates formerly had for the Sacrilegious taking away of the Consecrated wine from the Lay-people in the m Council of Constance 2. They have justified it both in n Presse and Pulpit as not only Lawful and Necessary but their bounden duty yea the will and appointment of Iesus Christ as the o Popish Preists have justified their Half Communion and taking away the Cup 3. They have miserably wrested perverted tortured many Sacred Texts of Scripture to warrant this their Sacrilege as the Popish Priests have done to justifie their depriving the people of the Sacramental Cup 4. They have printed preached against the p expresse Letter of the Scripture all Antiquity the Articles Homilies Liturgy and these Writers of our Church and Confession of the Council of Constance it self That our Saviour never administred the Sacrament to Iudas but only to the other xi Apostles to justifie their Sacrilege by this palpable untruth 5. They have cast most vile aspersions upon this most blessed Sacrament to justifie this their practice and deterre the people from it stiling it frequently in their Pamphlets Sermons q Deadly poyson A Cup of poyson which will poyson and kill mens souls An Ordinance of Christ which hath no efficacy spiritually to quicken regenerate or convert men but only to confirm such who are already regenerated and really converted And asserting That it belongs to none but real Saints and such as are truly sanctified and not to all visible Members of the visible Church able to examine themselves 6. They have pleaded r tendernesse of Conscience Duty and partaking with unworthy Communicants in their sins to justifie their Non-celebration of this Sacrament which both in Conscience and Duty they are obliged duly to celebrate and by not doing whereof they are not only partakers but Authors abettors perswaders of their peoples sinful contempt and neglect thereof 7. They have deprived many thousands of Gods dear precious real Saints of the inestimable benefits comforts of strength and growth in grace by this most heavenly Ordinance to whom they confesse it doth of right belong and debarred themselves also from it for sundry years together only for fear such whom they deem ignorant scandalous should partake thereof And is not this the extremity of injustice impiety uncharitablenesse to debar Gods Children and Christs invited Guests from his Table only for fear some unworthy or unbidden guests should intrude thereto Certainly this is diametrically contrary to the ſ Office of every Good and Faithfull Steward whom the Lord hath made ru●er over his houshold to give them their portion of meat in due season who cannot expect a blessing but curse from his Lord when he cometh and that he should cut him in pieces and give him his portion with unbelievers 8. Some of them are grown so inveterately and transcendently malicious against the frequent publike administration of the Lords Supper that they deem prosecute it as a scandalous Crime in other Ministers for which they d●serve to be sequestred and suspended from the Ministry Some Ministers in Surrey Middlesex and other places having lately been prosecuted yea sequestred and put out of their Livings and those of the late Kings party all silenced and prohibited to administer the Sacraments at once principally upon this account When as those Ministers rather deserve suspension both from their Office and Benefice as Scandalous who have wilfully neglected the celebration of this Sacrament for sundry years and are guilty of all the premised aggravations of this their Sin and Sacrilege Now Dear Brethren I beseech I adjure you in the Name and Fear of God without prejudice or partiality to reflect on all these premises so far forth as any of you are really guilty of them and now at last to behold consider lament repent reform these transcendent Exorbitances and Excesses into which the Policy of Satan the pravity of your own hearts the ambitious affectation of a New Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction over the Sacraments of Christ himself and the Consciences of your flocks the sourse of this New Sacrilegious extravagance have hurried you by degrees and t be no more stiffnecked in the obstinate neglect defence or excuse of all or any of them Which I have faithfully represented to your view in their proper colours just aggravations not with the least intention to cast any reproach or infamy upon your Persons or Ministerial Function which I cordially honor reverence and have ever supported defended to my power but the more effectually to convince you of the greatnesse sinfulnesse of these your Errors and Deviations whereinto you have lapsed of late years and for which especially in my weak apprehension God hath brought so much neglect contempt reproach upon and opposition against your persons and calling more than in former ages of which you all now so much complain in Presse and Pulpit not without just cause You all well know u That the kicking at Gods sacrifice and offring which he commanded and despising of God therein was that

Others of them guilty of Adulterie lasciviousnesse fornication ch. 6. 18 19. c. 10. 8. 2 Cor. 12. 21. Others of them spiritually proud and puffed up with their knowledge who did eat things sacrificed to Idols in Idols Temples and scandalized their weak brethren ch. 8. 1. 2 7 8 c. c. 10. 22 23 28 29 30 32 33. Others of them withheld due maintenance from Pa●l himself those other Ministers who instructed them ch. 9. 6. to 20. Besides their men and women were very disorderly in their publike assemblies and came together not for the better but for the worse for which he reprehends them ch. 11. 3. to 34. and ch. 14. throughout More particularly when they came to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper they were very disorderly in not receiving it all together and tarrying not one for the other in despising and not relieving their poor Brethren and not eating with them yea some of them were drunken when they came to receive and they were also full of schisms contentions factions some being for Paul others for Apollos others for Cephas c. 1 Cor. 11. 16. to 34. 1 Cor. 3. 1 2 3. Yea the Apostle writes expresly that he could not speak unto the generality of them as unto spiritual but unto carnul even as unto babes in Christ being carnal and walking as men chap. 3. 1 2 3 4. Yet notwithstanding all these disabilities si●s scandals they were then freely admitted to the Lords Table and not secluded from it And though the Apostle reprehends them in this Epistle for their ignorance these other vices sins and disorders in their meetings yet he gives no order to their Ministers or Presbyteries to seclude them from the Sacrament till better instructed prepared and reformed in their lives but only admonisheth them to reform those their abuses themselves to judge and examine themselves before they eat and drink of the Lords bread and cup because otherwise they shall eat and drink Judgement to themselves and bring Gods temporal Iudgements of sicknesse and death upon them yet no way dehorts them from constant and frequent reception of this Sacrament by reason of this danger of unworthy receiving which they must take care to reform 1 Cor. 11. 33 34. but in no case omit the duty being Christs prescribed Ordinance to shew forth his death till ●e come Verse 25 26. From which only Texts and Presidents in Scripture relating to this Sacraments institution and reception it is most clear to my judgement and conscience 1. That Ignorance in Church-members and baptized Christians of years of discretion is no sufficient ●ause to debarre them from the Lords Supper no more than from the preaching of the word The reason is most clear because Christs Supper as d Augustine e Bishop Iewel f Thomas Beacon and others resolve is both a visible and audible Sermon Word and the Priest therein preacheth and declareth the death of the Lord with the fruits and benefits of his passion to the Communicants to instruct teach edifie them thereby as he doth by his other Sermons reading and preaching of the word at other seasons Therefore the best and readiest way to instruct and reform the peoples ignorance is frequently to call presse and admit them to this holy Sacrament that they * may be thereby edified instruct●d comforted inlightned by it and not to seclude them from it year after year which doth but continue and increase their former ignorance and harden them therein 2ly That no scandalous sins crimes unregeneracy or want of spiritual saving graces ought to seclude any external Christians or Church-members from the Lords Supper no more than from hearing of the word prayer thanksgiving fasting reading the Scriptures or any other publick or private duties of Gods worship Because they are peremptorily g commanded to perform this duty in remembrance of Christs death and thereby to shew forth his death till he come as well as to hear read pray fast praise God and the like from which no sin nor unpreparednesse may exempt or excuse any man yea it is a far greater and more dangerous sinne wilfully to neglect omit contemn the performance of this or any other holy duty than sinfully to perform and set about it there being a total disobedience in the one but a partial obedience at least through a failing in the due manner of peformance in the other Which I wish all Ministers and Christians would now sadly consider And so much the rather because the Apostle and Spirit of God in this Epistle pointblank against Dr. Drakes Mr. Collins and others conclusions thence make the Corinthians scandalous sins forementioned their resort to and eating meats offered to Idols and Devils in their Temples a more scandalous crime than any English Christians are now guilty of not a ground to seclude them from the Lords Table Supper Temple as unfit to communicate with other Christians but presseth their frequent participation of the Lords Table and resort to his Temple his Ordinances as the strongest argument to disswade reclame them from these scandalous sinnes Witnesse these expresse words 1 Cor. 10. 14. to 24. Wherefore my dearly beloved flee from Idolatry I speak as to wise men judge ye what I say The Cup of blessing which we blesse is it not the communion of the bloud of Christ The bread which we break is it not the communion of the body of Christ For we being many are one hread For we are all partakers of that one bread Behold Israel after the flesh are not they which eat of the Sacrifices partakers of the Altar What say I then that the Idol is any thing or that which is offered in sacrifice to Idols is any thing But I say that the things that the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to devil● and not to God and I would not that ye should have fellowship with Devils Mark this inference and that which follows Ye cannot drink the Cup of the Lord and the Cup of Devils Ye cannot be partakers of the Lords Table and of the Table of Devils c. In which clause the word cannot is not taken physically or naturally for they did actually eat drink of the Table Cup of the Lord and Devils for which he reprehends them nor of a moral or spiritual cannot as some interpret it that is You cannot lawfully or spiritually of right drink of the Lords Cup or be partakers of the Lords Table but ought to abstain or be secluded from them so long as ye partake of the Cup and Table of Devils which is clearly contradicted as false by the 16 17 and 20 verses but of a rational and logical * cannot That is You cannot in reason duty justice convenience experience drink of the Cup and partake of the Table of Devils or go to Idols Temples but flee from Idolatry and not have fellowship with Devils because you all drink the Cup of the Lord and are all partakers of the

Lords Table and of that one bread which is the Communion of the Body of Christ Which argument is thus seconded enforced in the 2 Cor. 6. 14 15 16. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers for what fellowship hath righteousnesse with unrighteousnesse and what communion hath light with darknesse or what concord hath Christ with Belial or what part hath he that believeth with an Infidel And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people Wherefore come out from among them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch no unclean thing and I will receive you c. A full Exposition of and Commentary on this former Text Therefore by the Apostles own argument and resolution the most scandalous Church-members if not actually excommunicated not only may but must yea ought to be admitted to the Lords Supper and not secluded from it and their participation thereof ought to be thus enforced on them by Ministers as the strongest argument and most prevailing reason motive to reclame them from their scandalous Sins which have no rational fellowship communion concord part agreement or consistency with such a sacred Ordinance but ought to be abandoned as most incongruous unsuitable and repug●ant thereunto and to their Christian profession Which is more agreeable to the will mind of Iesus Christ and will be far more effectual upon the Souls Consciences lives of scandalous Sinners than their many years sinfull seclusion from this Sacrament which doth but harden them in their scandalous sins and cause them to have more fellowship with Devils in their works of darkness than ever they had before their seclusion from the Lords Supper 3ly That all visible Church Members as visible have an equal external right of admission to this Sacrament and ought all equally to receive it in common without any seclusion when administred being that wherein their common Christian communion principally consists and is testified unto the world whence it is stiled * The Communion and no other Ordinance but it so termed Therefore there is no Classis Presbytery or other Church Officer appointed by Christ or his Apostles to suspend or seclude any Church-member from it but rather if any such Classis or Officers there be to incite and invite them to it when negligent to receive it Isay 55. 1 2. Iohn 7. 33. Rev. 22. 17. 4ly h That though preparation Sermons to the Lords Supper to instruct and prepare the people for the more devout and diligent receiving are commendable profitable usefull especially where the people are ignorant carelesse and backward to receive it And although an extraordinary self-examination preparation humiliation and repentance be very profitable advantagious comfortable to such who have time and means sufficient before they approach to this Supper of the Lord yet they are not so absolutely necessary as i many now assert them in print and Discourse nor the want of them a sufficient cause for any persons to debar themselves or for Ministers or Presbyteries to seclude others from this Sacrament There being no other no greater preparation qualification or higher degree of faith love charity repentance devotion and other Christian graces required in our approaches thereunto than unto other publike and private Ordinances of Gods worship for ought appears by Scripture And that self-examination required of Christians when they receive this Supper by the Apostle in the 1 Cor. 11. 28. is required of all Christians at other times and seasons by the same Apostle 2 Cor. 13. 5 6 and of all Saints long before this Sacrament instituted as a constant and daily duty especially in times of affliction and approaches to God in other holy duties Lam. 3. 39 40. Psal. 4. 4. Ps. 119. 5● Hag. 1. 5. Prov. 6. 6. Jer. 8. 6 7. Eccles. 5. 1. 5. k That the Ministers administring the Sacrament to an ignorant scandalous or unworthy Communicant who eats and drinks judgement or damnation to himself thereby doth no wayes make him guilty of his sin or unworthy receiving for then Christ and the Ministers of Corinth should have been guilty of Judas and the Corinthians unworthy receiving The reasons are apparent 1. Because the administration of it is the l Ministers bounden duty and the receiving the receivers but the unworthy receiving his own Sin alone and personal crime to which the Minister is no party or accessory no more than the rider guilty of his horses halting stumbling or the Musician of his instruments jarring or Schoolmaster of his Scholars blots or misframing of his Letters or the Physician or Chirurgian of their Patients distempers or disorders which hinder the good operation of his wholesom medicines Or the Minister guilty of the peoples unprofitable hearing when m the word becomes unto them the savour of death unto death and a means of their obduration by their own defaults 2ly Because the good successe of the Sacrament and all other means of Salvation n depends not on the Minister but Gods blessing on them and the peoples due receiving of them 3ly Because the Ministers are unto God a sweet savour of Christ in them that are saved and in them that perish as well in administring the Sacraments as preaching the Gospel 2 Cor. 2. 14 15 16. they being both ordained by God and Christ himself as well to be o savours of death unto death in a secondary and accidental respect to magnify his justice towards those who unworthily receive abuse or contemn them as to be a savoar of life unto life to them who receive them worthily to the magnifying of his free grace towards them Wherefore there can be no real ground or scruple of conscience left for Ministers not to administer it freely unto all Church members but only meer design to erect a new Iurisdiction and Presbytery to seclude men from this Sacrament only under a pretext of conscience 5ly That p no scandalous sin whatsoever doth directly and properly of it self debarre Christians from the Sacrament or any other publike Ordinances or private duties the best ordinary means prescribed by God to cure and heal their sins convert and reclame them from them but only consequentially when they are actually and judicially excommunicated or cut off from the Church and publick Assemblies for them q for the terror of others the prevention of infection by their Society the shaming punishing of themselves for their scandalous sins and bringing them to repentance for them That excommunication it self doth not formally specially and intentionally seclude men from this Sacrament as most ignorantly fancy no more than from any other publick Ordinance but only consequentially and indirectly by secluding them for a time from the * Church it self and Communion Society of all the faithfull where the publick Ordinances and Sacraments

and undervalue Christs death and passion represented therein than those who in obedience to his Institution make conscience externally to receive it when administred and do neither externally nor internally Sacramentally nor spiritually receive the body of Christ when as the others who receive unworthily receive it externally and Sacramentally at least in the Elements Which Judas likewise did as Bishop Iewel there asserts out of two Quotations in i St. Augustines writings 3ly Consider that when our Saviour sent forth his Apostles and Ministers who succeed them to preach he gave them this Commission Mark 16. 15 16. Go ye into all the World and preach the Gospel to every creature He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved BVT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT SHALL BE DAMNED Which is likewise seconded John 3. 18 36. 2 Cor. 2. 15 16. If then the damnation of those who believe not the Gospel preached authorizeth not Ministers or Presbyteries to seclude any unbelieving Christians or other unprofitable hearers from hearing the Word and Gospel read or preached in the Church or elsewhere then by the self-same reason this danger of eating and drinking damnation and being guilty of the Lords body and bloud can be no sufficient Authority Ground or Commission for any Classi● Presbytery or Minister whatsoever to seclude any visible unexcommunicated Church-member from the Lords Supper no more than from the Word preached read prayer or any other sacred Ordinance which * God commands them to frequent which no mortals●may or can without the highest presumption usurpation juridically enjoyn them to abstain from or neglect Seeing we ought herein to obey God rather than men as the Apostle themselves have twice resolved Acts 4. 17 18 19 20 29 30 32. c. 5. 20 21 28 29. c. 42. and Daniel long before them Dan. 6. 5. to 18. All which particulars with what else I shall subjoyn in this Vindication duely considered together with that Commission which every Minister publikely received heretofore at his Ordination when he had this power conferred on him Be thou a faithfull Dispenser of the Word of God and OF HIS HOLY SACRAMENTS Take thou Authority to preach the Word of God AND TO MINISTER THE HOLY SACRAMENTS IN THIS CONGREGATION where thou shalt be so appointed And that solemn promise he then openly made k I will by the help of the Lord GIVE MY FAITHFVL DILIGENCE ALWAYS SO TO ADMINISTER THE DOCTRINE AND SACRAMENTS OF CHRIST AS THE LORD HATH COMMANDED AND THIS REALM HATH RECEIVED THE SAME according to the commandements of God will I hope through Gods blessing on them resolve and determine all those distracting needlesse Controversies touching Suspension of particular Persons or whole Parishes from the Lords Supper and remove all New-erected Bars and Rayles to keep the people from Free-admission and accesse to the Lords Table in all plaees where of late years they have been injuriously sequestred from it and restore the frequent Celebration thereof in remembrance of our Saviours Passion And so much the rather because the very Directory it self as well as our old Common Prayer Book in the Section Of the Celebration of the Communion or Sacrament of the Lords Supper resolves thus in the very first lines The Communion or Supper of the Lord is † frequently to be celebrated But how often may be considered and determined by the Ministers and other Church-Governours of each Congregation as they shall find most convenient for the comfort and edification of the people committed to their charge After which it directs When the day is come for administration the Minister shall make a short Exhortation expressing the inestimable benefits we have by the Sacrament together with the ends and use thereof setting forth the great necessity of having our Comfort and Strength renewed thereby in this our Pilgrimage and Warfare which being the things I plead for I cannot but hope all Ministers of the Church of England will henceforth cordially pursue notwithstanding all former Books Cavils Scruples to disswade them from their duties herein * If there be therefore any consolation in Christ if any comfort of love if any fellowship of the Spirit if any bowels and mercies fulfil ye my joy that ye be like minded having the same love being of one accord of one mind herein * Finally brethren whatsoever things are true whatsoever things are honest whatsoever things are just whatsoever things are pure whatsoever things are lovely whatsoever things are of good report if there be any virtue if there be any praise think on these things Those things which ye have both learned received and heard seen in me do the God of Peace shall be with you The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all Amen So prayes your unfe●gned Christian Friend and Brother in the Lord WILLIAM PRYNNE Swainswick Sept. 1. 1656. A Seasonable Vindication of the frequent Administration of the Holy Communion to all Visible Church-members Regenerate or Vnregenerate HAving heretofore in a several Publications from Divine and Humane Authorities of all sorts largely evinced That the holy Communion of the Lords-Supper belongs equally to all and every visible Member of every particular Church capable of self-examination not actually cut off from it by a legal Excommunication be he regenerate or unregenerate That it ought to be now frequently administred in publick to all congregations as it was in the Primitive Church That it is a powerfully Converting as well as a Confirming Ordinance That Christ himself admitted b Judas to it though a Devil Theef Traytor Covetous wretch selling Christ for money to his Crucifiers at its original institution as well as the holiest Apostles That all Ministers are bound by their Office Duty Christs command to administer and all their people of age of discretion often to receive it That none may or ought to be secluded from it but such as are for their Notorious sins actually excommunicated from Church-Communion and all other Ordinances That sole Suspension from this Sacrament by way of Church-censure with free admission to all other publick Ordinances and Examination by Ministers or Presbyters of other mens fitness by way of Jurisdiction before their admission to the Lords Supper are not warranted by any precept or president in Gods word That neither the Ministers who deliver this Sacrament to unworthy Receivers presenting themselves humbly and earnestly to receive it nor such who receive together with them are guilty of their unworthy receiving but themselves alone nor any wayes partakers with them in their sins Answering likewise all Objections to the contrary Which Mr. John Humfrey in his Sermons Vindications of Free-admission to the Lords Supper and Rejoynder to Dr. Drake hath acutely judiciously solidly backed vindicated since with John Timson in The Barre removed and Answer to Mr. Collings and Mr. Saunders And having newly in my Legal resolution of two Important Quaeres of General pres●nt concernment clearly demonstrated

neglectful of due preparation when they repair to the Lords Table but to stirr all up to a like conscientious holy preparation in all their publike or private approaches to God in other duties to rectifie this common superstitious epidemical errour that most think they are unworthy unprepared for the Lords Supper only even then when they deem themselves not so for all or any other sacred publike duties and thereupon approach not to it when it invited or so frequently as they ought and that henceforth none may deem themselves only worthy to receive the Lords Supper once or twice a year but unworthy at all other seasons they being not worthy to receive it once a year if they be not worthy every day according to St. Ambrose doctrine Who writeth thus of the custom of the Latine Church in his time as d Bishop Jewel records his words e Every week we must celebrate the oblation although not every day unto strangers yet for the Inhabitants yea sometimes twice in the week who then as frequently received the Communion as they heard the Word or prayed and deemed the self-same preparation sufficient for all three Ordinances then conjoyned as unseparable in point of usual practice The reason why Christ instituted the Sacrament of this Supper in the most common daily Elements of Bread and Wine was that so they might be commonly and frequently received by all at his Table for the spiritual nourishment of their Souls as well as daily and frequently received for the nutriment of their bodies at their private Tables 4ly That Christ himself his Apostles the Primitive Fathers Christians with all others who thus pressed practised the daily administring and receiving of the Lords Supper reputed it a converting as well as confirming Ordinance f begetting quickning grace in unregenerate as well as confirming inoreasing Grace in regenerate Christians as the Word read and preached doth This g St. Augustines forecited words For Christs Supper is a Sermon and the Priest therein preacheth and uttereth the death of the Lord with sundry others who stile it a visible Word a means of quickning and begetting Grace c. sufficiently manifest and I have h elsewhere proved at large How dare then any Novellers Ministers or others deny it to any unconverted unregenerated Christians as a meer deadly poyson only to them being the most probable effectual lively means of their humiliation compunction regeneration conversion unto God prescribed as the chiefest balsom cordial to heal their wounded sin-sick Souls and support their despairing languishing Spirits Or how dare any such Souls Spirits Christians though laden heavy laden with the greatest Crimes abstain from this most Soveraign Medicin to effect and perfect their Spiritual cure upon pretence of their own unfitness unworthiness unpreparedness when as the more dangerous more desperate mortal their Wounds Maladies are the more more speedily they need the fitter they are for this Spiritual Basilicon this heavenly Electuary which they i then most deferre neglect when they need it most and would first be healed cured by some other means before they resort to this most precious healing Physick which most effectually applies Christs passion bloud merits to their despairing dying Souls of all other Ordinances whatsoever If all in desperate corporal wounds diseases resort presently to the most effectual healing Medicaments why not then in Spiritual likewise but be enjoyned perswaded enforced under pain of damnation to defer and forbear them 5ly That it k was the constant practice duty of the Primitive Fathers Bishops Pastors and of the Protestant Churches Ministers in the beginning of Reformation to invite excite and stirre up all their people when backward negligent undevout to the frequent constant rec●ption of the Lords Supper reputing all such who neglected this duty to be malapert impudent unworthy of Christian Communion and rebuking censuring excommunicating them as such till they repented of this sinne as the premises largely manifest together with that pathetical Exhortation in our Book of Common Prayer prescribed by the whole Church Parliament of England to be used by all Ministers * and read in Churches when they shall see the people negligent to come to the Holy Communion which I shall desire all our Ministers and Negligent Communicants oft to read ponder at their leisures for their better information and conviction With what consciences reason equity Piety then can any who professe themselves the only true faithful orthodox Ministers of Jesus Christ yea the holiest and devoutest Zealots of all others now make it their chiefest busines their greatest glory praise the argument of their ferventest zeal and devotion by preaching writing disputing not to exhort provoke encourage invite compel their people to but to dehort deter s●quester debar their Parishioners others from the Lords Table and their holy Communion with Christ and one another in this Ordinance for whole moneths yea years together l advising them to abstain fly from it as a most certain deadly poison damnation to their souls and instead of discharging their Pastoral duties in excommunicating all such who prophanely neglect to repair to it seclude excommunicate themselves and all their Parishioners from it though they earnestly importune them to be admitted to it month after month year after year against all Lawes of God and Man and by most absurd unchristian unreasonable whimsical conceits and pervertions of Scriptures endeavour to justifie in Presse and Pulpit this their most sacrilegious unchristian impious Papal Antichristian practi●e before all the world m censuring all others as professed Enemies to Reformation Christs Covenant and Kingdom Prophane Licentious Libertius Erastian Hereticks Men of loose Principles void of piety devotion holinesse c. who either concurre not with or publikely oppose them in these their irreligious Innovations and tyrannous usurpations diametrically contrary to the Doctrine Practice of all former Christian Bishops Pastors Ministers Churches from the Apostles dayes till this day The Lord now convince rebuke humble them for these their scandalous Practices Publications and reclame them for the future for their poor oppressed peoples spiritual welfare and our Churches future peace and settlement in these distracted times 6ly Bishop Jewel and Thomas Beacon in their forecited passages charge these particulars on the Church and Clergy of Rome as antichristian Papal Practices Innovations Errors Crimes contrary to the institution doctrine Practice of Christ his Apostles the Primitive Church Fathers Christians and of all reformed Protestant Churches Ministers in which most of our Anabaptistical and Independent Ministers yea many Presbyterians now imitate equal and farre exceed them 1. That the Custom of the Popes Church and Popish Clergy is usually to administer the Lords Supper to the People but once or twice a year by which means the commandement of Christ is broken the Sacrament of Christ neglected the death of Christ not so earnestly remembred the people become unthankefull dissolute in life vice

may do and are commanded to do they will not doe but that they cannot do that they will needs do And is not this the wanton folly of our Anti-Communion Ministers now That they may lawfully and are commanded to do to administer the Communion frequently constantly to all their people they will by no means do but argue plead preach r write against it But that themselves confesse they cannot nor ought to doe that they will needs do in despight of God and Men even Pope like ſ without any articles hearing conviction and before any judicial Suspension Excommunication by any Classis or Ecclesiastical ●udicature against all or any of their Parishioners excommunicate and keep back all or the Major part of their Parishioners from the holy Communion for sundry months years together by their own lawlesse Arbitrary Tyrannical usurpations without any lawfull Authority from God or Man and will neither receive it alone themselves as the Popish Priests do nor suffer their people to receive it with them to keep a perpetual remembrance of Christs death thereby incurring that Censure of Tertullian de Resurrectione carnis Haretici ex conscientia infirmitatis suae nihil unquam tractant ordinari● yea that just Wo and Censure denounced by our Saviour Mat. 23. 11. Luke 11. 52. Woe unto you Scribes and Pharises Hypocrites for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men for you neither go in your selves neither suffer ye them that are entring to go in or them that were entring in ye hindered and forbad as Luke renders it The Lord give them now Gr●ce to discern and reform this their perverse Pharisaical Pride Hypocrisie and Tyranny yea Enmity against the Memorial of our Saviours passion for it deserves no milder Titles being such in reality 11. That the Popish Priests require a more extraordinary transcendent holinesse worthinesse examination confession of sins preparation and qualification in such Christians as they admit to the Lords Supper than they exact from them in their approaches to God in any other holy Ordinances and Duties of his worship be it Prayer hearing or reading of Gods word Fasting Thanksgiving singing of Psalms Baptism and the like And that upon this conceit t that it is more sacred and divine than any other Ordinance whatsoever For there it is Hoc est Corpus meum there we eat and drink say they the very Body and Bloud of Christ it se●f and so converse more immediately with Christ and God himself than in any other Ordinance Which ridiculous Popish dream of Transubstantiation as it u ushered i● their elevation Adoration of the Sacrament prostration kneeling bowing to it and their Altars with other various Papal Superstitions and Idolatries so it first introduced this Suspension Excommunication of Christians from the Lords Table only now so eagerly contested for by Anabaptists Independents and over-rigid Presbyterians though freely admitted to all other Ordinances of Gods publike worship and that extraordinary transcendent special Worthinesse Holinesse Self-examination Preparation Fitnesse which they appropriate to this Ordinance alone to make men worthy Receivers yet never presse upon them to make them worthy Petitioners Hearers Readers Thanksgivers Meditators introduced first by Popish Priests after Transubstantiation as an appendent or consequent of it but not known practised in Christs Church before in the primitive purest times as the premises evidence when they received the Lords Supper every day when they met together to pray or hear the word Which as it hath bred a strange Schism between the Sacrament and Ordinances of God themselves as if the Lords Supper were far holier and Christ more really immediately and in another manner present therein than he is in Baptism Prayer or the Word preached when as in truth Gods Sacraments Ordinances are all of equal holinesse and God the Father Sonne and holy Ghost equally present with us and as immediately conversed with by us in them all as in the Lords Supper as is undeniably evident by Eccles. 5. 1 2. 1 Cor. 10. 2 3 4 Mat. 28. 19 20. Acts 10. 33. 44. 47. Iohn 6. 29. to 66. compared with 2 Chr. 6. 19. to 42. Ps. 16. 11. Ps. 27. 4 8. Ps. 17. 5. Ps. 65. 4. Ps. 84. Ps. 95. 2. Psal. 100. 1 2 4. Ps. 105. 4. Ps. 132. 14. Ps. 140. 13. Isay 26. 8 9. c. 6. 3 5. c. 64. 1. 5. Jer. 30. 21. Mat. 7. 6. 1 Cor. 9. 13. 2 Tim. 3. 15. Rom. 6. 3 4 5. c. 1. 16 17. Gal. 3. 1 2. 27 28. By these passages of the Fathers cited by x Bishop Iewel against Harding who charged him with too Grosse an Errour in making the presence of Christ in Baptism like to his presence in the Supper y Saint Augustine saith Habes Christum in praesenti per Baptismatis Sacramentum Thou hast Christ in the time present by the Sacrament of Baptism z St. Chrysostom saith In the Sacrament of Baptism we are made flesh of Christs flesh and bone of his bones a Saint Berna●d saith of Baptism Lavemur sanguine ejus Let us be washed with his bloud b L●o saith Thou art washt in the bloud of Christ when thou art baptized in his death By these few writes Iewel it may appear That Christ is present at the Sacrament of Baptism even as he is present at the holy Supper unlesse ye will say We may be made Flesh of Christs flesh and be washt in his bloud and be partakers of him and have him present without his Presence Therefore Chrysostom when he hath spoken vehemently of the Sacrament of the Supper he concludeth thus Sic et in Baptismo Even so it is also in the Sacrament of Baptism The Body of Christ is like wise present in them both And for that cause c Beda saith Nulli est aliquatenus ambigendum tunc unumquemque fidelium Corporis Sanguinisque Dominici participem fieri quando in Baptismate Membrum Christi efficitur No man may doubt but every faithfull man is then made partaker of the Body and Bloud of Christ when in Baptism he is made the Member of Christ And whereas Mr. d Harding and others advanced the Dignity of the Lords Supper above Baptism and the Word and seclude those from it whom they admit to the other upon this Ground That those who eat and drink the Lords Supper unworthily eat and drink judgement to themselves not discerning the Lords body Thereto Bishop Iewel replyes St. e Ierom saith Dum Sacramenta violantur ipse cujus Sacramenta sunt violatur When the Sacraments be misused God himself whose Sacraments they be is misused And St. Augustine saith Qui indigne accipit Baptisma Iudicium accipit non Salutem Who so receiveth Baptism unworthily receiveth Iudgement or Damnation not Salvation as well as he who receives the Lords Supper unworthily Yea Christ himself when he sent forth his Disciples to preach and baptize Mar. 16. 15 16. said unto them Go ye into