SECTION TII. 33 christianity to be strictly religious : they are called to separate themselvesfrom every defilement of flesh and spirit, to come outfrom arnóng the wicked dnd profane, that they may be a peculiar people to the Lord. It is true, this cannot be practised universally and perfectly, in any visible churches of Christ here on earth, because we are boueìd tojudgeby sensible appearances of things : and those who have the visible marks of christianity in the knowledge and pro- fession of the faith ofChrist, and whose conversation in the world is sober and pious to all outward appearance, may claim a place inany christian church and in the peculiar rites and ordinances of the gospel : and upon this account there may be some secret sin- ners who make their way into our separate congregations, and join with us in the most solemn ordinances, though they are not really worthy of any room or place in the house of God : yet common swearers and common drunkards, publicly vicious, riot- ous and unclean persons, and men of scandalous life, are never received amongst us to the holy fellowship of the supper or communion at the Lord's -table ; therefore in this respect we hope our communion is tolerably pure, and such as the gospel requires. And indeed it must be also confessed, that neither the rubric nor the rules of the church of England encourage such scandal- ous sinners to come to the table of the Lord : but there is very little obedience can generally be paid to these rules in the con- tinual admission of all persons, as is practised now-a-days, to this holy sacrament : there arevery few ministers of our parishes who usually attempt to lay these bars against any persons, known or unknown, who have a mindto come : and where a minister of a tender and scrupulous conscience has endeavoured to put the rules of the rubrie'in practice against persons of vile and profane cha- racter, he has exposed himself to great difficulties and troubles, and to many hardships and vexatious suits ; and especially if they who offer themselves to the communion have wanted to qualify themselves at the table of the Lord, for an office at court or in the city, by land or by sea *. Well then, since you who assemble in separate places of worship, maintain and enjoy a purer comma. Mon in your churches, should you not be very zealous and soli- citous, each of You for yourselves, that you are not dishonourable communicants at the holy supper? that your consciences and your hearts are pure in the sight of God ? that you lift up pure hands at his altar ? And do you not feel this sacred engagement on your souls, to keep yourselves from the infection * S =e Dr. balmy of Moder. Nonconf. Vol. III. p. 64. and Mr. ßattrick'a 'account of his hardships rn she church of l; .ziand, and his becoming a no floss '- furmist, at the end of:that volume, p. 8, &o. L,y Noacoúf. Justified, p. 33r Wt.. v. C
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