The old and New Covenant. Chap. 3 á Corinth, Ephefats,Colloffe, and defending them againft Mr. Rutherford lie faith, But if private members be per/Wa- ded in confcience from the Word ofGod,that themfelves have due right and intereft as well in the admifon of members as in excommunication of offenders or in elec`lion of o f fcers,how fl all they keep themfelves from partaking in the fanner of their Of- ficers, if they fuffer them to go on in loch amanifeft breach of rule without due proceeding againft them for their refor- mation ? and after force caution given he concludes, It is effential to Community to have power to admit unto commu- nion, and to Withdraw from Communion. To which I fay. t. We have not a full account of the Saints in thofe Churches refpecfive to fcandals, it feemes by divers paffages that many in Colloffe were none of the foundeft in faith, as ap- pears by theApoftles reproof,Chap 2.2o.I am fore that if any Church have fuchas were to be fod in Corinth for igno- rance, Idolatry, fafîion, oppreffion, adultery,lafcivioufnefs, prophanation of the LordsTable,they will be judged fuñici- ently fcandalous.2. If fuck a perfwafion in confcience would warrant a feparation,it would be worth enquiry to know what feparation is not warrantable? The error that Mr. Brightman brands as wicked& blafpemous here is abundanly juftified ; Church- guides then (at lealt in force places) were fo far at leaft guilty in their admiflions 3. What war- ranty is there for any mans withdrawing himfelf from publick Communion in the ordinances of Jefus Chrift when he may with freedome enjoy that glorious priviedge up- on that account that he cannot enjoy the whole of thofe priviledges or actual exercife of them in which he tikes himfelf to have any intereft. Sure I am, Minifters of Ch rift in many reformed Churches in the world, have judg- ed themfelves to be over -much coopt up in feveral parti- culars, when yet confcience held them in to judge the ve- ry thought offeparation in this cafe to be the greateft piacu- him, q.. This right or intereft in every particular member to vote in this way for admiffion or ejeâion,may well be queftio fed; If there had been this freedome in primative times claimed, and exercifed, there had not been fo much in fo fhort a fpace difpatched as was done in 3erujalem and
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