THE COMMVNION of Saincts . A treatise of the fellowship that the faithful have with God , and his Angels , and one with an other ; in this present life .

Gathered out of the holy Scriptures , by H. A.

Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp . 1607.

THe communion of Christians with the Lord and among themselves , is a doctrine ( good reader ) both needful and comfortable to be knowen : for it is the stay and strength of the soule in many tentations , and the meanes to conse●v the Church stedfast in faith and love . And if in this point mens minds be setled aright , vpon the ground of Gods word ; they wil be as the ‡ ‡ Exod. 36. 20. 23. 24 ▪ &c. boards of the Tabernacle standing vpright , with their tenons sastened in sockets of silver . For what is sweeter to a troubled conscience , then the assurance of salvation ; and what is better to stablish our weak & fainting faith , then when both flesh and hart do fayl , to know & feel , that † † Psal. 73. 26 God is the rock of our hart , and our portion for ever ? Againe , how good is it , & how pleasant , for brethren to dwel togither in vnity ! Psal. 133. like the pretious ointment on Aarons head , & the dew on the mountains of Sion . God hath appointed his holy son Iesus , to be the head and governour of his people ; the * * Heb. 5. 9. author of eternal salvation to al the that obey him . He hath set vp also the kingdome of Christ on earth , which is his Church ▪ the ‡ ‡ 1 Tim. ● . 1● pillar and ground of truth . He is the ‖ ‖ Ioh. 8. 18. light of the world , whom al must folow , that would have the light of life ; & † † Rev. 21. 9. 10. 11. Ierusalem his spowse , is made bright by his glory , & the people which ar saved * * Rev. 21. 24 . shal walk in the Isa. 60. 1. 2. 3. light of it . He is the ‡ ‡ Isa. 9. 6. Father , this the Gal. 4. 26. mother of vs al. Of the Son it is said , * * Psal. 2. 12. happy ar al that shrowd in him , for he is our † † Isa. 32. 2. hiding place from the wind , our refuge from the tempest of Gods wrath : of Sion also it is said , that Isa. 14. 32. the poor of his people shal shrowd in it ; for there hath the Lord † † Isa. 4. 5. 6. created a clowd by day , and flaming fyre by night , ( as when ‡ ‡ Exod. 13. 21 he brought his Israel out of Aegypt ) & vpon al the glorie , is a defence ; there is a shadow in the day for the heat , a refuge & shelter for the storm and for the rayn . It is requisit therfore , that al men come Mat. 11. 28 to Christ , if they would have life , and by him † † Ioh. 14. 6. vnto the Father , & abide in * * 1 Ioh. 1. 3. communion with them both ; that they may be † † Phil. 3. 9. found in him , and haue the justice which is of God through faith ; that they may ‡ ‡ vers. 10. know him , and the vertue of his resurrection , and the fellowship of his afflictions , & be made conformable vnto his death : this is as the first and great commandement of the law , & the second is like vnto it , that they seek Deut. 12. 5 the place which he hath chosen to put his name there , & * * Psal. 26. ● . love the place wher his honour dwelleth , wher he † † Song . 1. 6. feedeth & causeth ( his flock ) to ly-down at noon ; that thither they bring ‡ ‡ Isa. 60. 5. their riches , their glory & honour , Rev. 21. 26. that of every such one the Lord may count when he writeth the people , a a Psal. 87. 6. He was born there ; that so being b b Gal. 3. 29. & 4. 26. 28 31. Christs , and children of the free woman , & heyres by promise ; they may c c Act. 26. 18 receiv forgivnes of syns , and inheritance among them which ar sanctified by faith in him : for he hath sayd , that d d Isa. 65. 9. his elect shal inherit his mountayn , & his servants shal dwel there . But , two things ther are , which wil hinder our feet from running this way , if we beware not of them : the one is , too much liberty which many men take in the faith of the gospel and obedience of the same , whiles they turn Gods grace into wantonnes , and abuse his mercy to the fulfilling of their own lusts and licenciousnes ; wheras they should make an end of their salvation e e Phil. 2. 12. in fear and trembling , knowing that even the f f 1 Pet. 4. 18. righteous ar scarcely saved . Whiles also they take boldnes to communicate in spiritual actions with any , supposing that the syns of some , or of the publick congregation cannot hurt them , especially if in hart they disallow the evil , and condemn the same . Such men seem not to discern the nature of communion , how far it reacheth ; or the contagion of syn , how far it infecteth . They seem neyther to hav learned the Law g g Hag. 2. 12. 13. 14. which taught that a man by bearing or touching holy things , was not himself made holy therby , but a polluted person touching any of them , made them vnclear : nor the doctrine of the gospel , which confirmeth , that h h ● Cor. 10. 〈◊〉 . they which eat of the sacrifices ar par takers of the altar ; & al they i i vers. 17. one bread & one body , which partake of one bread ; wher if ther be but a k k ● Cor. 5. 6. &c. litle leaven , it maketh sowr the whol lump . And then look how farr they partake with other mens syns ; so farr ar they in danger , to l l ●●● . 18. 4. receiv of their plagues .

The other impediment , is over much straytnes which some men hav in their own bowels : whiles their feeble consciences ar too much affected , both with their own & others infirmities . Such had need to have their knowledg and faith increased , their harts inlarged , least by expecting a greater perfection in themselves and others , then is to be found vpon earth , they faint & fall . Let such look on the image of Christ , as he is portrahed m m Psal. ●2 . 〈◊〉 . ●3 . Ma● . 〈◊〉 . &c. in the scriptures , whiles the chastisemē● of our peace was layd vpon him ; so shal they find balme for their wounded consciences ; and healing for their sowles by his stripes ; and their shivered bones wil reioyce . ●or of his cup must we al drinck our parts , & be baptised with his baptisme , into his death , before we can tast the sweetnes of his life ; & be vnder the rigor of that schole-maister n n Gal. ● . 24. the Law like servants , ere we can perceiv the adoption of sons , & libertie of his faith and Gospel . And if he which knew no syn , and had but our syns imputed vnto him , felt such feares and sorowes in his pretious sowl , and was so smitt●n of God and humbled , so despised and reiected of the world : what shal we exspect , in whose Rom. 7. ●le●h ther dwelleth no good thing . Let them also look vpon the estate of Christs church in all ages from the ●● . beginning , how it hath been vexed with troubles & terrors , within & without , & 2. 5. they shal find Sions case to be continually as o o Rev. 12. 2 a woman in travel , whose payns & infirmities Gal 4. 19. 26. 27. are sometimes so great , that the children come to the birth , p p 2 King . 19. 3. and ther is no strength to bring forth . And when they hav viewed the many tribulations through which the Lord hath led his people , how he hath suffred them to be buffeted of Satan , persecuted by enemies without , and molested with hypocrites within , for their trial & humiliation ; they wil confesse that we must walk here by q q 2 Cor. 5. 7. faith and not by sight , for our r r Colos. 3. 3. life is hid with Christ in God ; his spowse s s Song . 1. 5. is black , for the Sun hath looked vpon her , her own mothers sons hav been angry against her , and al the glory of the kings daughter t t Psal. 45. 1● . is inward .

And furthest astray are such vayn men as imagine to themselves a state of perfection , as if they had already u u Phil. 3. 11. 12. attayned the resurrection of the dead : & do disclaime al Churches and societies where synnes are to be seen . Moses face is x x Exod. 34. 30. 33 , 35. hid from them as with a veil , they discern not the vse 2 Cor. 3 , 13. 14. 15. of his law , nor end of his ministerie , for a veil covereth their harts ; neyther see they 〈…〉 the possession that syn hath in them , yea 〈…〉 . 7. 17 〈…〉 1 Ioh. 1. in al Saincts , so long as they dwel in these howses of clay , for which cause they sigh desiring to be clothed with their howse 〈…〉 . 5. 2. which is from heaven , to be loosed and to be with Christ . And when the voyl shal be 〈…〉 . 1. 23. taken from those mens harts , who so farr mistake themselves to be that they are not : they wil crie with the Leper , f f Lewit . 13. 45. I am vnclean , I am vnclean ; & wil g g Ezech. 16. 61. 63. remember their wares and be ashamed , & never open their mouth any more because of their shame , but will h h Ezech. 20. 43. judge themselves worthy to be cut of , for al their evils that that they have committed . Such also as eyther of ignorance , or worse humour , doe vnorderly depart , and rend themselves vpon every occasion from the church and body of Christ ; wil walk better , when they have learned to i i Gal. 6. ● . bear one an others burden , and tread in the steps of Christ , his prophets and Apostles ; who vsed al good means with patience , to reclaim the offenders , before they forsook them . Yet because the faith must not be held k k Iam. 2. 1. in respect of persons , neyther may we l l Exod. 23. 2 folow a multitude to do evil ; and it often falleth out , that the m m Isa. 1. 21. faithful city becometh a harlot , and they which wer n n M●c . 2. ● . yesterday Gods people , are risen vp on the other syde as against an enemie : therfore the Saincts should be wise in hart , and not hold communion with any but in the Light , in the faith , in the true worship of God ; for he is gealous even over his own people , and wil not o o Exod. 23. 21. spare their misdeeds , but wil take his kingdome from them , and remove p p Rev. 2. 5. the candlestick out of the place , if they repent not ; & as he saith by his prophet , q q Amos. 3. 2 You onely hav I knowen of al the families of the earth , therfore wil I visit you for al your inquities . Thus may Christians walk as they ar counselled by the wisdom of God , not being r r Eccles. 7. 18 just overmuch , neyther s s vers , 19. wicked overmuch , laying hold , and not withdrawing their hand from this , t t vers. 20. that he which feareth God , shal come forth of them al.

For this cause hav I endevored , ( though the vnfittest among many , ) to help forward in the way of truth , such as love the same with me ; and hav penned this treatise folowing , for their sakes , that hav not meanes and leysure to serch the scriptures as they should and would , or by reason of their weaknes cannot gather and compare the scriptures togither for their confort & assurance in these points , as they desire . I have laboured both for playnnes & brevity , as I could in so large & ample argument ; & by references rather sent the reader to look himself into Gods book , then to insist vpon collections or expositions of mine own . Wherin if any places be alleged amisse or impertinent , or things gathered otherwise then the text wil afford ; ( as through my ignorance , or vnheedines , no doubt many may ●e : ) I humbly ask pardon for the same , both of God and his people ; and do 〈◊〉 ●●● reader not to rely vpon my judgment in any thing , but as himself by the wisdome of Gods spirit , shal see agreable vnto truth . For if any shal buyld vpon my words , with out sure ground from the Law of the Lord ; he shal first offend God , who hath given his scriptures by divine inspiration to teach and perswade al truth , to improve and correct 2 Tim. 3. 16 17. al error , to instruct in righteousnes , & make men perfect vnto every good work ; he shal injury me also , who have written these things to be tryed and examined by Christs law , not to be accepted for a law ; and he shal injury his own sowl , by relying vpon the word of frayl man whose breath is in his nosthrils , which cannot stablish the hart , nor assure the conscience in any thing . Let therfore the grasse wither & the flower fade , for it is the x x Isa. 40. 8. word of our God that shal stand for ever .

Finally this one thing I would advertise thee of , ( good reader , ) that somtimes I alledge the scriptures otherwise then our common translations hav them ; when the force of the Original words , doth afford an other or more ample sence . Herin I fear not to be blamed of any that love the truth in incorruption ; and for the places so changed , I leave them to their trial , that are men of judgement . The Lord who is author of every good gift vnto al men , who passeth by the syns of his servants , and covereth al their trespasses ; passe by in mercy , whatsoever in this work is done amisse : & turn these my labours , to the glory of his name , & the benefit of his people . Amen .