52 A CHRISTIAN cHUBCE. To force all christians into the same church, whose understand- ings andopinions point different ways, and to bind them together in an outward form of fellowship with their minds so much di- vided, is the way to increase their differences, to kindle their fire with more fierceness, and awaken their wrath to a higher degree, till they grow mad against each other and ruin thechurch. It is like tying Sampson's foxes together by the tail with firebrands between them, while their heads stand contrary ways, and then inclosing them all with a strong fence in one field : There they will unavoidably snarl and rage against one another ; they will draw different ways, and diftbse their fire and wrath tillthey have burnt tsp.the field, and destroyed -a lovely harvest. THE TERMS OF CHRISTIAN COMMUNION, Humbly proposed to the Churches of Christ, with an Attempt towards the Solution of various Questions and Cases of Con- sciences arisingfrom the Subject. QeasT1oN I. Wh'ggt is Christian Communion? And what are ¡vv C are the general and agreed Terms of it? ' HRISTIAN communion in the sense of scripture, is that communion or fellowship which christians have with God the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, or with one another ; and botti are joined together by the apostleJohn ; I John i. 4. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship, or communion with us ; and truly our fel- lowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. This communion or fellowship in the spiritual and invisible part of it consists in a participation of the' favour of God, the spiritual benefits of Christ, and the invisible and everlasting blessings of the gospel. But this is not our present subject of discourse. The visible fellowship or communion that christians have with each other, consists chiefly in the participation of the spiritual ordinances of the gospel, and mutual assistances for the good of each other. as The special ordinances of the gospel arechiefly these two, baptism and the Lord's-supper." Baptism is an ordinance ap- pointed by Christ, for our entrance into the visible church ; and when once performed is never to be repeated. The Lord's- supper is an ordinance appointed by Christ after we are entered into the church, for the assistance and increase of our faith and hope, our comfort and holiness ; and ought to be as often repeated
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