96 `A CHRISTIAN CnCrH. must answer it to Christ, their judge, at the great day. Thor, is nothing in this world perfectly free from all inconveniences prudence and christianity ever direct us, of two evils to dense the least. QUEST. V.Whether a Profession to believe the. express Words of Scripture, without any Explication, be an Evidence of Knòwledge sufficient for Christian Communion? SECT. L ThoughwhatI have already said under the former questions, might be sufficient to answer the present enquiry, yet since in several ages of the church, and especially in times of rising error this controversy has been moved, I shall spend some time in sifting it thoroughly, and endeavour to lead my reader to such a determination of it, as may give a just satisfaction to au honest and bumble enquirer. By the express words ofscripture, . I here intend the words expressed in our English bible ; or the original Greek and Hebrew words translated into some other Englishwords ; for it is evident, that the -Greek andTIebrew can be of no use to admit plain christians into English churches. When I say without any explication, I mean, without explain- ing the sense of those scriptural words so translated, by other words or phrases ; also without any manner of influence or con- sequence drawn from these words, though it lie never so plain and open. Without explication signifies, where the person pro- posing himself to communion assents to the words of scripture, but refuses to explain in what sense he understands those worrds ; and neither will own or deny any tither articles or propositions that may be offered him as terms of communion, though deduced from the words of scripture with never so much evidence ; nor will confess his faith, even in the most important and necessary points, in any other words but those of bis bible. When I men- tion knowledge sufficient for christian communion, it is not to be understood, as if knowledge were the only thing necessary : for in order to christian communion, there is also required aprofessed. subjection to all the known duties of christianity, and a conver- sation answerable to this profession : But the present enquiry is, whether the express words of scripture are a sufficient test of thatknowledge, whichis one requisite tocommunion. Now let the question be proposed in the fullest and fairest manner thus : Whether a person's professing to believe the English bible itself, or subscribing, assenting to, or repeating any form of words expressly taken out of any English transla- tion, without any manner of explication or . inference, can be an evidence of christian knowledge, sufficient to demand admissi¢n to the Lord's-supper, with a christian church in England."
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