may be known, fo far as the Terms of Chriftian Communion are concerned therein.

Note 2d I have here joined feveral doctrinal and practical Articles together, fuppofing that all thofe Duties which the Scripture makes neceffary to be practifed, are neceffary alfo to be known in order to practise.

;

Note 3d I call these Articles fundamental and it is my Opinion that they may be infifted on as neceffary to Communion, because they seem to me neceffary to true Christianity, in fuch an Age and Land of Light as ours is. Yet, what I hinted before I repeat now, that, as I will not judge all the Heathen World, and condemn them for want of Chriftian Knowledge, fo neither will I utterly condemn every poor Soul in the obfcureft Corners of a Chriftian Nation, for Want of fuch Degrees of Knowledge as to me feem neceffary to Salvation, to all that know and read the New Teftament. I grant, that God, in his Word, does not seem to give Encouragement to their Hope of Heaven, nor allow their Communion with Chriftians on Earth: But the final Condemnation of them is alone with him. And after all that we can fay, every Perfon must judge for himfelf, which Articles are neceffary in Order to his own Salvation ; and every Church muft judge for itfelf, to regulate its own Communion; and God alone is a fuperior Judge, with Regard to the one or the other.

Note

Note 4th I do not think every one of these Articles neceffary to be exprefly infifted on, and profeffed by every Communicant; but fo many only as the Church fhall think neceffary, in Order to give them a reasonable Satisfaction that he knows and believes the rest.

Note 5th Though I esteem it neceffary that every Communicant make known his Belief of fuch Articles as the Church judges fundamental and neceffary fome Way or other, yet I am far from confining him to any propofed human Forms of Expreffion; as I fhall fhew under the next Question.

SECT. V. I proceed now to the Second Sort of Knowledge that is neceffary to Chriftian Communion; and that is, a Knowledge of all thofe Things that are neceffarily implied in the Enjoyment or Practice of this Communion; or, in fhort, thus: We must know what Communion is, and how to communicate, before we can practise this Duty.

This Sort of Knowledge includes these Particulars.

1. If I fhould fay it is neceffary 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 Baptifm be neceffary, it is neceffary alfo to know the Nature of Baptifm, the End and Design of Baptifm, the Meaning of being baptized in the Name of the Father, Son, and Spirit, and the

Manner

Manner of performing it, whether it must be done by dipping or fprinkling, or whether both be not lawful, and whether Baptism in Infancy be fufficient.

2. It is neceffary also, that a Person should know what is the Nature of the Lord's Supper; that it is to be performed by breaking of Bread, and diftributing that and the Wine amongst a Chriftian Affembly; that the Bread and Wine are both to be bleffed, and what is the Nature of that Bleffing; what the Bread and Wine reprefent; what is the Defign of breaking and diftributing them; who are the Perfons that must do this: And a Woman must know, whether Women are to be admitted to the Lord's Supper.

3. That feveral Perfons, who make a credible Profeffion of Christianity, muft agree to meet together for Chriftian Worship, at the fame Time, and in the fame Place, in Order to celebrate this Ordinance; and that it is not to be received alone, because it is an Ordinance of Communion.

Without the Knowledge of thefe Things, I do not fee how any Perfon can communicate in the facred and fpecial Ordinances of the Gospel in an orderly Manner, or with fpiritual Profit.

Thus have I endeavoured to open the Way for Perfons to form their Judgement upon this difficult and important Question, What are thofe Articles of the Chriftian Religion, the

Know

Knowledge of which is necessary to Communion ; and I hope I have kept the middle Way between a Libertinifm of Principles, and a narrow uncharitable Spirit: Wherein I have failed, I fhall be glad to be fet right in a Spirit of Meekness.

QUESTION

QUESTION VIII. In what Words and Expressions must our Faith be professed, in Order to Communion? And in what Man ner must we profefs it?

SECTION I. ·

HIS has been a famous and no

T

table Question in all Ages of the Church. National Churches, Synods, Affemblies or Councils of Bishops, Prefbyters, and learned Men, have established certain Sets of fundamental Articles and express Forms of Confeffion; and by thefe Forms Perfons are to be tried,that defire Admiffion to their Communion. Others, who have thought this Yoke and Burden impofed upon the Confcience too heavy and intolerable, have maintained, that no Forms of Confeffion are neceffary, befides the very Words of Scripture; and that he who agrees to thefe Words, has a Right to Christian Communion, though perhaps he may understand

or