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some learned writers for determining fundamentals, and having pointed out (in as clear a manner, and in as short a compass as I well could) their principal defects; I may now return with the greater advantage to the rule before laid down, and there abide. Whatever verities are found to be plainly and directly essential to the doctrine of the Gospel covenant, they are fundamental verities: and whatever errors are plainly and directly subversive of it, they are fundamental errors. By this rule, as I humbly conceive, we may with sufficient certainty fix the terms of communion with the several denominations of Christians. As to the

precise terms of salvation, they may admit of greater variety and latitude, on account of particular circumstances of diverse kinds : and there is no necessity of absolutely excluding all from uncovenanted or even covenanted mercies m, whom we may be obliged to exclude from brotherly communion. God will have regard in judgment to invincible ignorance, incapacity, infirmity: but men ought to have no regard to them, in settling the terms of communion; because they ought never to look upon any ignorance &c. as invincible, while it is in their power to apply any probable or possible remedies; and among the possible or probable remedies, Church censures may be justly reckoned, as carrying both instruction and admonition along with them. Whether the errors be vincible or invincible, whether the parties erring be curable or incurable, in many cases, God alone can know; Church governors do not, and cannot; and therefore they are to proceed in the same way, and to make use of the same expedients, (under direction of Scripture,) as if they were certain that the error is conquerable, and the party capable of cure.

But besides the consideration of the offending party, there are several more things of moment to be looked to in this business, viz. the preserving others from going astray, and the keeping ourselves pure and undefiled, and the maintaining truth and godliness in the face of the world, every man according to his abilities, and

m Persons unbaptized and without the pale of the Church, doing all that humanly speaking could be expected in their circumstances, we exclude not from uncovenanted mercies.

Persons admitted into covenant by Baptism, and erring fundamentally, but with an honest mind, and under some unavoidable infirmity or incapacity, we exclude not even from cove

nanted mercies: for they that are unavoidably, unaffectedly blind, are not chargeable with sin so far; and a man shall be accepted (as I observed above, p. 78.) according to what he hath or might have, not according to what he hath not and could not have. This rule is a Gospel rule, and so makes a part of the Christian covenant.

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according to the station wherein God has placed him for "since "the conservation of such things as are united is the end of union, it is evident that we are not to entertain any union but only with them who may help it forward. If therefore there be 66 any, who, under colour of the blessed name of Christ, subvert "his doctrine, annihilate his authority and our salvation; it is so "far from being our duty to unite ourselves to them, that, on the "contrary, we are obliged to part with them: because, to unite "with them, were in effect to disunite from Christ, and from his "body; and instead of coming to salvation, to fall into eternal "ruin. Both the discipline of Jesus Christ, and the laws of civil "societies, and even those of nature itself, permit us to avoid the "communion of such as, under any pretence, name, or colour whatever, go about to destroy and ruin Christianity n."

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n Daillé, Apology for the Reformed Churches, p. 4, 5.

THE

DOCTRINAL USE

OF THE

CHRISTIAN SACRAMENTS

CONSIDERED:

IN

A CHARGE

DELIVERED TO THE

MIDDLESEX CLERGY,

May 12th, 1736.

A CHARGE

DELIVERED TO THE

MIDDLESEX

CLERGY, &c.

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REVEREND BRETHREN,

S it hath been customary, upon these occasions, to recommend some important point of Christianity; so I take the liberty to offer to your thoughts, at this juncture, the consideration of the Christian Sacraments. Not that I can have room, in a short discourse, to enter into the heart of the subject: but the time perhaps may permit me to single out some collateral article, of moderate compass, and to throw in a few incidental reflections, tending to illustrate the value and dignity of those Divine ordinances, and to preserve in our minds a just regard and veneration for them.

When we duly consider the many excellent ends and purposes for which these holy Sacraments were ordained, or have been found in fact to serve, through a long succession of ages, we shall see great reason to adore the Divine wisdom and goodness in the appointment of them. They are of admirable use many ways; either for confirming our faith in the Christian religion at large, and the prime articles of it; or for promoting Christian practice in this world; or for procuring eternal happiness in a world to

come.

I shall confine my present views to the first particular, the subserviency of the Sacraments to true and sound faith which, though it may be looked upon as a bye-point, and for that reason hath not been so commonly insisted upon; may yet be of weight sufficient to deserve some consideration at this time.

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