QUESTION VII. 81 knowledge df what is necessary to salvation, and a knowledge of what is further necessary to maintain and enjoy this holy commu- nion : The very natureof things requires this. First, Let us consider' the things necessary to salvation. Howmany articles of the christian faith or practice are neces- sary to our salvation ? or in other words, howmany fundamentals are there, is not expressly determined in any part of the scrip- ture. It is a question that has troubled the christian churches almost two hundred years, ever since the reformation began, but has never yet been decided to the common satisfaction even of those that held the scripture to he the only and perfect rule of faith and practice. Therefore as every man must judge for him- self concerningthe fundamentals of christianity, in order to ex- aminehis own heart, and evidence to himself his hopes of salva- tion ; so every particular church must judge for itself, which are the fundamentals or necessary articles of christianity, Ito ex- amine those that propose themselves to communion, and evidence their right to it. I grant this, that in determining the nature or number of necessary articles, the churches of Christ ought to . govern their sentiments by the rules of scripture, as near as they can find them by comparing one place with another, and form their judgment in this matter by a large and extensive charity. A general love to mankind, the dutiful imitation of God our Saviour, and the exemplary practice of the blessed apostles, oblige us to make as few articles necessary as is consistent with the great ends of the christian religion, and to impose nothing more upon the consciences of men in this respect, than we so- lemnly believe our Lord Jesus Christ himself imposes in his word, as we will answer it at the great day of his appearance. Yet it is certain, and without controversy, that there are several articles both of doctrine and duty, of such importance, that a man cannot be a true christian without them, nor have any just hope of christian salvation according to the gospel ; and consequently, without the acknowledgment of the articles, a person may law- fully be refused communion. Here let me lay down this preliminary : That the funda- mentals of religion, as I have proved before, ,are very different in different ages and nations, according to the different degrees of revelation, and different advantages for knowing the. truth ; But ever since the time that the canon of scripturewas finished, and where this canon is published and acknowledged, we may say in general, and with regard to church communion, that the fundamentalsof christianity are the same to this day ;' especially in such places of Great Britain, Ireland, &c. where persons,en- joy so great degrees of advantage for obtaining christian know- ledge. What gracious allowances for want of capacity, or for want of means, in dark corners of England, or in India, God VOL. tv. F
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