QUESTION VII. $37 5. Though I esteem it necessary that every communicant make known his belief of such articles as the church judges fundamental and necessary some way or other, yet I am far fron confining him to any proposed human forms of expression; as I shall shew under. the next question. SECT. V. I proceed now to the second sort of knowledge that is necessary to christian communion ; and that is, a " know- ledge of all those things that are necessarily implied in the en- joyment or practice of this communion ;" or, in short, thus : We must know what communion is, and how to communicate, before we can practise this duty. This sort of knowledge in- cludes these particulars : 1. If 1 should say it is necessary to be baptized before we communicate at the Lord's-table, I should have far the greatest part of christians on my side ; and if bap- tismbe necessary, it is necessary also to know the nature of bap- tism, the end and design of baptism, the meaning of being baptized in the name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and the manner of performing it, whether it must be done by dipping or sprinkling, or whether both be not lawful, and whether bap- tism in infancy be sufficient. 2. It i$ necessary also, that a per- son should know what is the nature of the Lord's -sapper; that it is to be performed by breaking of bread, and distributing that and thewine amongst a christian assembly ; that the bread and wine areboth to be blessed, and what is the nature of that bles- sing ; what the bread and wine represent ; what is the design of breaking and distributing them; who are the persons that must do this : And a woman must know, whether women are to be admitted to the Lord's-supper. 3. That several persons, who snake a credible profession of christianity, must agree to meet togetherfor christian worship, at the same time, and in the same place, in order to celebrate this ordinance; and that it is not to be received alone, because it is anordinance of communion. Without a knowledge of these things, I do not see how any person can communicate in the sacred and special ordinances of the gospel in an orderly manner, or with spiritual profit. Thus have I endeavoured to open the way for persons to form their judgment upon this difficult and important question, what are those " articles of the christian religion, the knowledge of which is necessary to communion ;" and I hope I have kept the middle way between a libertinism of principles, and a narrow unchari- table spirit: Wherein if I have failed, I shall be glad to be set right in a spirit of meekness. .
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