QUESTION XII. 12S such churches to the same privilege of occasional communion with themselves. Thus they might maintain the unity of the church of Christ in general, and preserve peace, both abroad and at home, without contention or schism. SECT. II. But to-declare my opinion particularly on this head ; I would say, that there are two sorts of persons that ought never to communicate in the same sacraments ; and there are three sorts of christians that neednot join as members of the same church, yet may occasionally maintain communion with each other; and I think all other sorts of protestants may hold constant communion together. The persons that should never attempt to join in the same communion, either constant or occa- sional, are these : First, Those that differ in fundamental arti- cles of doctrine or practice, ar such articles, as either side sup- poses to be fundamental and necessaryto salvation ; for if they can never hope to meet together in heaven upon the principles they profess, I see no reason why theyshould join in solemn acts of special communion on earth; nor does the holy scripture re- quire or encourage, but rather forbids it. What communion path light with darkness ? Righteousness withunrighteousness? The templeof God with idols? And he that believeth with an infidel 2 Cor. vi. 14-16. Secondly, Those that are so widely divided in their opinions about some practical points of worship or discipline, which$ are necessary to be practised in communicating together, but are utterly inconsistent with each other: Several such I have mentioned in the beginning of the former question; as, those that think public liturgies or singing of psalms necessary, and those that think them utterly unlawful : Such as esteem episcopal ordination of absolute necessity, and such as believe it to be sinful and antichristian, &c. Thesecannot hold commu- nion together in special worship, and hardly in the general ordin- ances of it. 'l'he persons that should content themselves with occasional communion together, are chiefly such as these, viz : First, These that give evidenceof serious piety, but differ in very im- portantpoints of doctrine, which yet they cannot certainly 6.11 fundamental ; and especially such points as continually occur in preaching, praying, or other parts of worship, and would fre- quently disquiet' and disturb the devotion of one party, or the other. Such I may suppose the better sort of remonstrants, or arminians, compared with the calvinists, and the better sort of enthusiasts, or antinomians. Secondly, Those that differ much in the external forms of worship or discipline, which yet are not utterly inconsistent with each other ; but if fixed ana united in one single community, they might probably occasion frequent disturbances ; such are the moderate episcopalians, and baptists, lutherans and calvinista, &c.
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