from the cafe of the incestuous perfon in the church at Corinth. And have those churches that practise free communion never excluded any for fcandalous backflidings; whom, notwithstanding, they could not but confider as received of Chrift? What, do they never exclude any from fellowship with them, but fuch of whom they have no hope? I cannot fuppofe, nor will they affirm any fuch thing. But if there may be a juft caufe of excluding fuch from communion whom God has received, though at present in a state of backfliding why may there not be a fufficient reafon of refufing communion to fome, whom we look upon as the objects of God's peculiar favour? Is there not as great a degree of disapprobation discovered in the former cafe, as there is in the latter ? and is not the word of God our only rule in both cases? It is not every one, therefore, that is received of Jefus Chrift who is entitled to communion at his table; but fuch, and only fuch, as revere his authority, fubmit to his ordinances, and obey the laws of his house.

And are our opponents verily perfuaded that baptifm is a matter of "doubtful difputation?" Why, then, do they not both sprinkle and immerse, infants and adults, that they may be fure, in fome inftances at leaft, of doing that which is right? Why fo pofitive, on certain occafions, when they preach, or publifh, upon the fubject? That it has been, and is difputed, must be allowed: and fo has almost every article of the Christian faith ; efpecially fuch articles as appear to us the cleareft and of the greatest importance. Witnefs thofe doctrines relating to the Trinity and the Deity of Chrift; his vicarious atonement, and original fin

These have been much oftener disputed, in ancient and modern times, than the mode and fubjects of baptifm.-And has not almost every branch of Christian worship been difputed? The fupper of our Lord has been much more frequently controverted, between Papifts and Proteftants, between Lutherans and Calvinists, than ever bap: tifm was among any profeffors of Chriftianity. Yet who, among our brethren, will dare to affert, that no Catholic, who ever difputed for withholding the cup from the people, was received by Jefus Christ? For that matter is not so clear, but real Chriftians may paffibly differ in their judgment and practice concerning it. Nay, fuch doubts and difficulties are there attending the holy fupper, that Bellarmine affures us, we cannot certainly determine from the exprefs words of fcripture only, what there was in the cup, before our Lord bleffed it, whether a little wine, or wine mixed with water, or frong drink, or water only.* And will Pacificus, or Candidus, dare to affert, that the zealous Cardinal was abfolutely rejected of God? No; they cannot do it, without violating the amiable import of their feveral names.-The Quakers alfo, have difputed the whole ordinance, and every pretence to it, as well as baptifm, out of their affemblies. But is it lawful hence to conclude, that they are all rejected of Jefus Chrift? So true are thofe words of Pacificus, and of Candidus, his colleague: The points in baptifm [and the Lord's fupper] about which we [Papifts and Lutherans,

* Quid in calice fuerit ante confecrationem, an vinum parum, an vinum aqua mixtum, an ficera, an aqua fola, exfola Scriptura expreffe non habetur. Apud Vofs. Thefes Theelog, p. 486,

Quakers, Pædobaptifts, and Antipædobaptists] differ; are not fo clearly stated in the Bible (how ever clear to us) but that even fincere Chriftians may mistake them.' We may, therefore, henceforth confider baptifm and the Lord's fupper, the only positive inftitutions in the Christian church, as juftly reckoned among those things that are of doubtful difputation:" but whether they are to have the first place among Paul's diangiosis diaλoyoua, I leave our brethren to determine. For to them the honour of claffing a pofitive inftitution of Christ among things ambiguous, is undoubtedly due; fince all befides themselves look upon it as evident, either, that baptifm is an indifferent thing, as Socinus, and fome of his followers;* or, that it fhould be entirely laid afide, as the Quakers; or, that it is a term of communion, which has ever been the opinion and practice of the Chriftian church in general. One ftep farther, and it will be matter of doubtful difputation, whether both the pofitive appointments of our divine Lord fhould not be quite difcarded. For, that baptifm ought to be administered prior to the facred fupper, is as clearly revealed, as that either of them was intended for the use of believers in all fucceeding ages. Our honest friend, Barclay, when taking notice of those disputes which have been about the facred fupper, fays; The ground and matter of their contest lies in things extrinfic from, and unnecellary to, the main matter. And this has been often the policy of Satan, to busy people and amufe them with outward figns, shadows, and forms; mak

* Baptifmum aquæ rem indifferentem effe ftatuimus, Theoph. Nicholaid. De Ecclef. p. 22. Apud Hoornb. Sccin. Conf. Tom. III. p. 250.

ing them contend about it [them ;] while, in the mean time, the fubftance is neglected-For there have been more animofities and heats about this one particular, and more bloodfhed and contention, than about any other. And, furely, they are little acquainted with the state of Proteftant affairs, who know not, that their contentions about this have been more hurtful to the Reformation, than all the oppofition they met with from their common adverfaries."* He ad vises, therefore, to give up the ordinance for the fake of peace, and as the only effectual way of fecuring tranquillity in the church of God-So the Socinians maintain, that we may either adminifter or difpenfe with baptifm, as occafion requires. For, fays Volkelius, As all other indifferent things may be either used or omitted, as charity fhall direct; even fo baptifm, if the honour of God and the love of our neighbour demand it, feems at fometimes abfolutely neceffary to be adminiftered, in order to avoid giving offence.'+-And as the Socinian pleads for the administration of baptifm, on fome occafions; fo Mr. Bunyan ftrongly afferts the neceffity of its omiffion, on others. Thefe are his words: If water baptifm. as the circumftances with which the churches were peftered of old, trouble the peace, wound the confciences of the godly, difmember and break their fellowthips, it is, although an ordinance, for the

Barclay's Apology, p. 455, 456.

Ut omnia alia adiaphora,-pro eo ac charitas praefcribit, jam ufurpari, jam amitti poffunt: ita et baptifmus ifte, divinæ gloriæ ratione, et proximi amore poftulante, ut nimirum fcandalum vitetur, adhibendus interdam plane vieţur. Apd Moornb. upi fabra, p. 266.

prefent, to be prudently fbunned.'-How flight the barrier, how thin the partition, between free com. munion and Katabaptifm! Thus baptifm is treated, not as a branch of divine worship, but as a tool of human convenience; not as an ordinance of God and a mean of his glory, but as a happy expedient in the hands of men, to fecure the applause of their fellow mortals;-that applaufe which is confidered as due to persons of a condefcending, candid, catholic fpirit. If the omiffion of it would give offence, let it by all means be administered: and if the use of it would be attended with the fame inconveniences, lay it afide and fay not a word about it. Such is the advice of Volkelius and Bunyan.

The reader, I take it for granted, can hardly forbear obferving, what an admirable method is here propofed by this triumvirate, Volkelius, Barclay and Bunyan, in order to promote and secure peace among Chriftian brethren. A method, it must be confeffed, that is at once very comprehenfive, quite expeditious, and extremely eaty. So comprehensive, that it will apply to every cafe: fo expeditious, that any controverfy may, by the happy expedient, be finished in a trice: and fo eafy, that every one may have the benefit of it.

Were it univerfally known and univerfally pursued, there would foon be no disputes at all, either about truth or duty. For the whole procefs confifts in this; If divulging a truth believed, or practising a duty required, fhould at any time give offence, or be likely fo to do; keep the former to yourself, let the Jatter alone, and all shall be well. But how much more agreeable to fcripture, is the following max

Works, Vol. I. p. 136.