DEar reverend Christian Brethren , whom I cordially honour for your Rom. 1.1 . c . 10.15 . 2 Cor . 5.20 . c . 6.1 . c . 8.23 . high and heavenly Calling ; give me leave , with that Christian Liberty which becomes me , without any fear or flattery , to inform you ; that I have for many years by-past , with a bleeding soul and mournfull spirit , taken special Notice of some offensive Deviations from , and Negligences in your Ministerial Function , ( whereof many of you are guilty ) which have given great Advantages to your Common Romish , and Sectarian Adversaries , and just scandal to divers of your best-affected Friends , some whereof I formerly endeavoured by seasonable , timely In my 4. and 12. Serious Questions , and Seasonable Vindication of them . My 16 Important Questions . Suspension suspended . Independency examined . A full Reply to brief Observations . Publications , to crush in the very shell , and now deem high time to remind you of , being grown Epidemical , yea almost destructive to your very Ministry , as well as perillous to our Church and Religion .

Not to inlarge upon your own manifold intestine 1 Cor . 3 3 , 4. sad Divisions between and against your selves ; which have separated you into several Opposite Squadrons , ( that I say not Factions , and Battalioes ) of Presbyterians , Episcopalists , ( or Royalists ) Independents , Interdependents ; openly , secretly warring against , and seeking to supplant each other , by the extravagant power , proceedings of illegal Arbitrary Committees , and new coyned Orders , Ordinances , Covenants , Engagements , with other Machiavilian Devices , whereby you have endeavoured to eject , sequester , suppresse , vex , ensnare , ruine one another under our successive late publike Revolutions of Government . By which you have now at last made your selves meer Tenants at will , both in respect of your Benefices , Tithes , Ministry , to every New upstart power ; a derision to your Popish , a prey to your Anabaptistical and other Sectarian Adversaries ; who infinitely increase their Numbers , Proselytes , by these your unbrotherly feudes ; and have no special Committees to restrain , eject , suppresse them , but are crept into most Committees , and places of power , to vex , molest , discountenance , persecute , eject , sequester many of you , at their pleasures ; and secretly encourage , countenance , abet our last insolent spreading Romish Sect of Quakers , to disturb , affront , revile your persons , Doctrine , Ministry , both in the Church , Streets , and all other places , and to publish th●ir most rayling scurrillous Invectives against you , to accomplish your speedy extirpation by these Instruments of the Pope and Devil , which they dare not immediately attempt by themselves In which prosecuted design of your utter speedy extirpation , all Anabaptists , Sectaries concurre , and unite their forces with the Jesuites and Popish party , as Iohn Canne demonstrates in his Second voice from the Temple , p. 2. where he excites The Supreme Authority of the Nation , the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England , to whom he dedicates it , utterly to extirpate the National Church Ministry , Worship , Government of England ; and to starve , famish all the Ministers thereof ( whom he stiles , Antichristian Idols ) by taking away the food and maintenance whereby hitherto ( and at this present ) they are nourished , fed , and kept alive . In regard of which joynt desperate Confederacy against you by these your combined common Adversaries , I shall now exhort and advise you ,

First of all , To lay aside and abandon all private animosities , factions , feuds , contests , and persecutions against each other ; as not only unbeseeming the Rom. 10.15 Hebr . 13.20 . Isay 9.6 . Eph. 2.14 . to 22. Embassadors , Ministers of the God , Prince , Gospel of Peace ; but as the most probable , unavoidable means of your own speedy destruction ; as these two Gospel Texts will assure you , Mat . 12.25 , 26. And Iesus said unto them , Every kingdom divided against it self is brought to desolation , and every City or House divided against it self shall not stand . And if Satan cast out Satan ( or one Min ster another of a contrary party ) he is divided against himself ; how shall then his kingdom ( or Christs , where his Ministers are thus divided , and cast out one another ) stand ? And Gal. 5.15 . But if ye bite and devour one another , take heed that you be not consumed one of another . Among all the evils that afflict the body politick of the Church or State , there is none so pernicious as division , See Mr. John Daille His Apology for the Reformed Churches , ch . 2. especially amongst the Ministers and chief Officers thereof , ( e ) because it strikes at the very foundation of their being , and poisons the original of their life and strength . Wherefore , I beseech you most especially to avoid , detest this destructive sin .

2ly , Seeing all Ministers and Christians are specially obliged by the John 13.34 , 35 , c . 17.20 , 21 , 22. Eph. 4.3 . to 17. command , and will of their Master , and by their own welfare , safety , salvation , to continue inseparably united one to another , and all together to make up but one harmonious Body ; I shall exhort , beseech , advise you all , to Ps●l . 133.1 . live and love like Brethren ; Phil . 1.27 . To be all of one mind and of one Spirit , striving together for the faith of the Gospel ; Ephes . 4.3 . To keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace . Joh . 13 . 3● , 35. To manifest to all the world that you are Christs disciples by loving one another . And to pursue this pathetical exhortation of the Apostle , to cease the Contentions between the Minister and people in the Church of Corinth , 1 Cor . 1.10 . Now I beseech you Brethren in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ , that ye all speak the same thing , and that there be no divisions among you ; but that ye be perfectly joyned together in the same mind and in the same judgement .

3ly , Hab. 2.1 . Stand constantly upon your watch , and Phil . 1.27 . Jude 3. unite all your studies , endeavours together against the manifold plots , policies of Satan , and your Iesuitical , Popish , Sectarian common Enemies , who seek nothing but the speedy ruine of your persons , Ministry , and of our Protestant Religion , Church , State , being more active , subtle and successfull of late years in this design , than ever in former ages . And let their present joynt attempts , combinations against you , be a prevailing argument to unite your affections , endeavours , studies to countermine them .

4ly , Avoid all carnal , Machivilian Policies , all sordid Compliances , and Ezech 2.6 . Mat . 10 26.28.31 . base Fears of any Mortals , how great or powerful soever : And never Rom. 3.8 . act nor consent to any evils , error , unrighteous , impious Projects , or hypocritical designes , yea , hope that any good may come thereby : but rather part with your lives , liberties , and all worldly enjoyments , than with a good conscience , and the truth or Ordinances of God intrusted to your care .

5ly , Take Notice of some particular late failings and scandalous sinfull Omissions or Neglects in the discharge of your Ministerial Office , in which divers of you have been and still are very peccant .

Whereas , by our former Liturgies ( confirmed by 2 & 3 E. 6. c . 1. 5 & 6 E. 6. c . 1. 1 Eliz . c . 2. sundry Acts of Parliament yet in force ) the Decalogue , or Ten Commandements of God himself , See Dod , Downham , Bp. Andrews , Elton , and others on the command ments . ( asserted by all or most of you to be Moral , and Perpetual , as they are a rule of Life and Obedience ) were to be publikely read in all Churches , ( as heretofore was usual ) once every Lords day , and when ever the Lords Supper was administred ; to the end the people might the better remember and observe them in their lives and conversations . This godly custom , hath for sundry years together been universally neglected , and cast aside by all or most of you . By which means , the elder sort of people have quite forgotten these Commandements ; the younger sort are alltogether ignorant of them , and generally know not , whether there be any such Decalogue for them to learn , know , observe : their Parents , Masters , not instructing them in them in their private families as formerly ; since discontinued publikely in our Churches ; The number of Antinomians is hereby augmented , confirmed in their Error : the Knowledge , Sence , Conscience of sinnes against these Precepts , almost quite obliturated : And these Laws of God , with all other good Laws of the Realm , quite cast aside , slighted , scorned , violated in the highest degree , by many professed Saints of the highest Orb , like Old Almanacks quite out of date or force , especially the 5 , 6 , 8 , and last of them , Thou shalt not covet thy neighbours house , &c. nor any thing that is his : now turned into an affirmative , or quite expunged out of the Decalogue of too many English Protestants , as well as the See Led●sma his Catechism ; Officium beatae Ma●iae , and Popish primers which expunge it . second Commandement heretofore out of the Papists . And whether this omission be not a sinne against Deutr . 6.1 . to 10. c . 18.18 . to 22. c . 4.9 , 10. Acts 13.15 . Psal . 1.2 . Iosh . 1.8 . and other Scriptures , fit henceforth to be reformed , let your own Consciences , with all Protestant Commentators on these Texts , and the Decalogue resolve you .

2ly , Whereas the Summary Heads of the Christian Faith , comprised in antient Creeds , ( made , See Cyprian de Symbolo , Dr. Jackson , and others on the Creed : and all antient Gre●k and Latin Liturgies . used in the Primitive Church , and continued in all Christian Churches , as most useful , necessary , ever since ) were usually repeated by the Ministers and people in all our Churches heretofore , when ever they assembled to worship God on Lords-dayes , and other Festivals or times of Devotion ; This Godly , profitable Christian practice , hath been generally disused and set aside by most of you for sundry years together : whereby the old Principles of our Christian Faith and Creeds , are quite forgotten , or neglected by the ancienter sort , and unknown to the younger people , ( not instructed to learn or repeat them by heart as formerly , by their Parents and Masters , since disused in our Churches by Ministers ) and a world of New Faiths , Heresies , Blasphemies , Errors , have been set up and vented in opposition thereunto , destructive to the very Foundations of our Religion . Now whether this Omission be not a great Misdemeanour or Oversight in you , repugnant to the 1 Cor . 15.1 . to 8. Hebr . 5.12 , 13. c . 6.1 , 2 , 3. 2 Pet . 1.12 , 13 , 15. c . 3.2 . and other Texts , let all Old and New Expositors on the Creed , determine , and your own Consciences judge ?

3ly , Whereas by the Laws of our Land , confirming the Book of Ordination , and the Liturgies of our Church , all our Deacons , Ministers , formerly on Lords dayes and other times of publike Divine Service , were specially obliged to read certain Psalms , with one Chapter of the Old Testament , and another out of the New , in the Church , for the peoples better edification and instruction in the Scriptures , and incouragement to read them diligently in their Families and private Closets ; yet now of late years , contrary to their Solemn Promise at their S● 〈◇〉 Book of nation . Ordinations , diligently to read the Canonical Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to the people assembled in the Church , and contrary to Exod . 24.7 . Deut . 6.1 . to 10. c . 11. 18. to 22. c . 31.11 , 12 , 13. Josh . 8.34 , 35. 2 Kings 23.1 , 2 , 3. 2 Chron . 34.29 , 30 , 31. Neh . 8.1 . to 19. c . 9.1.3 . c . 13.1 . Isay 34.16 . Ier . 36.6 , 10 , &c. c . 51.61 , 62. Luk . 4.16 , 17. Acts 13.15 . c . 15.21.31 . 2 Cor . 1.13 . Eph. 3.4 . Col. 4.16 . 1 Thess. 5.27 . Rev. 1.3 . c . 5.4 , 5. 2 Cor . 3.14 . 1 Tim . 4.3 . contrary to the practice of Gods own people the Iews , of Christ himself and his Apostles ; of the Primitive Fathers , Councils , Church , Christians , as 〈…〉 ●5 .9 . div●s . 1. p. 489 490. part . 6. p. 608 , ●nd His Reply to Harding , Art. 3. divis . 6. p. 117 , 118. and Artic . 15. Of reading the Scriptures , p. 383 , &c. Bishop Iewel proves at large , of all Harmony of Confessions , sect . 10. to 16. Protestant Churches in foreign parts ; the Practice , Canons , Rubricks , and Liturgies of our English Church , and command of God himself in the forecited Texts , most of our Independent Ministers have wholly cast off the reading of all Psalms , Chapters of the Old and New Testament in their Churches and Meetings ( more particularly in Pendennis Castle in Cornwall , where there was not one Chapter , Psalm either sung or read , during my near two years close imprisonment , in their Meeting-house there ; ) yea , many Presbyterians and other Ministers have overmuch failed herein , reading only either one Chapter out of the Old Testament or New , and somtimes only one Psalm , without a Chapter , now and then on Lords dayes , and other Publick Dayes of worship . By which ill president , the generality of their people ( especially such who cannot read ) are become wholly ignorant of the Scriptures , and made a prey to every seducer ; the constant reading of the Scriptures in privat , is much neglected ; the Scriptures themselves much slighted ; yea many turned professed Anti-Scripturists , rejecting the Old and New Testament both together : and others who retain the New Testament , have quite rejected the old , as nothing appertaining to Christians ; though a chief part of the Churches foundation , & approved , injoyned to be searched , studied , read by Christ himself and his Apostles in the New Testament , Mat . 5.17.18 . c 7.12 . c . 22.40 . c . 26.56 . Mar. 1.2 . Lu . 1.70 . c . 16.26 . 31. Acts 3.18 . c . 10.43 . c . 13.15.27 . c . 26.22.27 . c . 28.23 . c . 17.2.11 . c . 18.24.28 . Rom. 1.2 . c . 16.26 . Ephes . 2.20 . c . 4.11 , 12.13 . 1 Pet . 1.10 , 11. 2 Pet . 1.19 , 20 , 21. c . 3.1 , 2. with other expresse Gospel texts . And is not this a grosse sinful Omission now fit to be repented of and reformed by you all , having produced so many sad effects , and complying too much with the Papists , Bish . Jewels Defence of the Apology , part . 5. ch . 9. divis . 1. p. 499. and Mr. Harding , who stiles the publike reading of the Scriptures to the people in their mother Tongue , The instinct and work of Satan ?

4ly , Many Minsters and Congregationt ( especially Independents and Anabaptists ) have wholly cast off the Singing ( as well as reading ) of Psalms , Hymnes , and Spiritual Songs , not only contrary to the Exod . 15.1 &c. Numb . 21.27 . Deut . 31.19 &c. Judg . 5.12 2 Sam . 22.1 . 2 Chron . 29.27 . Ps. 18.1 . Ps. 92.1 . Cant . 1.1 . Isay 5.1 . c . 26.1 . c . 30.19 . c . 35.10 . c . 38. ●0 . Amos 8.23 . c . 8.3 . precepts of God , and Practice of the Saints in the Old Testament : but of Christ himself , his Apostles , Saints , Church in the New , Luke 1.13 , 14. Mat . 26.30 . 1 Cor . 14.15 . Ephes . 5.17 . Col. 3.16 . Heb . 2.12 . Iam . 5.13 . Rev. 15.3 . c . 5.9 . c . 14.3 . And is not this a sin fit to be redressed by those who are guilty of it ? unlesse they deem our present Oppressions , Thraldom , and publick Calamities such , as deserve to turn all our Psalms into Lamentations , and Songs into Howlings , Amos 8.10 . Ezech . 26.13 . Iam . 7.9 .

5ly , Whereas our Ministers heretofore by our Councils , Canons , Liturgies were obliged to Catechise and instruct their younger Parishioners in the Lords Prayer , Creed , ten Commandements and Principles of Christian Religion ; and made a Conscience to perform it on Lords dayes and other Seasons in the Church , to the great edification and corroborations of their People against Heresies , Sects , Errors , Vices ; The generality of Ministers of late years have either totally rejected , or in a great measure neglected this part of their Ministerial duty ; contrary to Gal. 6.6 . Heb . 5.15 , 16. c . 6.1 , 2 , 3. Deut . 6.1 . to 10. and other expresse Scriptures . Whereby Parents and Masters have for the most part given over this duty in their Families ; and so the people being generally ignorant , uninstructed , unsetled , ungrounded in the Principles of Religion , are Eph. 4.14 . Jam . 1.6 . tossed and carried to and fro with every wind of doctrine ; made a prey to all sorts of Sectaries and seducing Spirits , and divided from our Churches into different separated Conventicles , almost past hopes of reducing to the truth and unity of the Gospel . How necessary it is therefore for all peccant Ministers to reform this Sin , let the Preface to Mr. Crooks Guide , and others who have written of the Vtility and Necessity of Catechising , inform them .

6ly , Some Ministers ( especially Independents ) have ( contrary to Luke 9.62 . Rom. 1.1 . Heb . 7.23 , 24. ) S●e a Transcript of a Letter 〈…〉 ●●e Summer ●lands ●t the end of my Fresh Discovery of P●odigious B●nding Stars . quite renounced their very Ministerial Ordination and Function , preaching only now as gifted Brethren , not as Ministers of the Gospel ; and others of them have either overmuch neglected or scrupuled the baptizing of Infants ; especially Mr. Henry Burtons Vindication . of th●se who are not of their own Independent Congregatio●s : Which how repugnant it is to the precepts and Presidents of Christ and his Apostles ; How scandalous to our Protestant Church and Religion , how advantagious to our Papal , Anabaptistical , and other Sectarian Common Enemies , let Mr. His Vindication of the judgment of the R●fo●m●d Ch●rches , & Prot●stant Divines , concerning Odination , London 1647. Seaman , Mr. Baxter , Mr. Hall and others , who have written largely on these Subjects of late times resolve them ; and themselves now reform with penitent hearts .

7ly , The thing I shall here principally charge upon the consciences of hundreds of Ministers guilty of this Saerilegious Crime , is , their many years wilfull discontinuance of the frequent publike celebration of the Lords Supper to their Parishioners ; against the very essential duty and Office of their Function , as Ministers of Christ , and Incumbents of Parish Churches , the Precept and Presid●nt of Christ himself , the Practice of the Apostles , Primitive Church , Fathers , Christians , and all former Churches , Ministers of Christ throughout the world ; the Canons , Decrees , Injunctions , Laws , Statutes of our own and foreign Church●s , States in all ages , and the very Directory it self ; as I have My Suspensi●n suspended ; A Legal Resolution of 2. Important Questions ; A New Discovery of some Romish Emissaries and Popish Errors . elsewhere , and shall here more largely manifest . By which Negligence and Omission , I shall desire them now at last most sadly to consider ,

1. That they rob God himself of one chief publick Ordinance , and part of his solemn worship .

2. That they rob Jesus Christ himself of one of his instituted Sacraments , whereby they should principally shew forth the benefits , fruits , and memory of his death , till his Second coming , 1 Cor . 11.25 , 26.

3. That they rob their Churches and people of the inestimable benefits , comforts of Christs most blessed Supper . Wherein they are more culpable , sacrilegious and injurious to Christs Institution and their people , than the Sacrilegious Popes and Popish Priests , who administer this Sacrament to themselves in both kinds every Masse , and give the People the Consecrated Bread in all places , once a year at least , and the Cup too in some places , by special Bish . Jewels Reply to Harding , p. 73. Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 910 , 911 , 912. dispensations : whereas they deprive themselves and their people wholly of both parts of this Sacrament for sundry years , and will not dispence it to them at their and others earnest intreaties .

4. That herein they give as high , as grosse , as sinful a Non obstante to Christ himself , the Primitive Church and Fathers , in casting aside this Sacrament of the Lords Supper for so many years together ; as the Sessio 13. Surius Concil . Tom , 3. p. 821 , 822. Council of Constance did , when it took away the use of the Cup only from the Lay-people ; and hereby justifie , imitate , exceed this their Sacrilegious , Antichristian practice .

5. That hereby they sinfully neglect , renounce one principal essential part of their Ministerial function and pastoral duty , which they were purposely ordained Ministers , and presented to their Parochial Cures and Benefices diligently to discharge , ( as I have A Leg●l R●solution of two important Q●ae●ts . Harm●ny of Conf ssions . sect . 10. to 16. elswhere manifested at large ) to wit , to administer this Sacrament to their people .

6. That they herein pointblank oppugn , contradict the See My Suspension suspended . Tho . Beacons Catechism . constant practice of the Primitive Church , Fathers , Christians ; who usually administred the Holy Communion to all their visible Church-members every Lords day ; with the constant usage of all the Churches of God throughout the world , in all former ages till this present , who prescribed , practiced the frequent celebration thereof , as a necessary , usefull , and most comfortable duty .

7. That herein they have in a great measure imitated the tyranny and practice of Pope Innocent the 3d . and the Popish English Clergy under him ; who interdicting the whole Realm of England , Anno 1208. ( by reason of differences then risen between King John , the Archbishop of Canterbury , and other Prelates ) for 6 years , 3 moneths , and 14 days space ; thereupon through the Clergies obstinacy cessaverunt in Anglia omnia Ecclesiastica Sacramenta praeter solummodo Confessionem , & viaticum in ultima neccessitate , et Baptisma parvulorum , ad irrestaurabile damnum Ecclesiae , tam in temporalibus quam spiritualibus , as Hist . Angliae , An. 1208 , 1214. p. 239. 240. Mat . Parker , Antiq . Eccl●s . Brit . p. 148 149. &c. Godwins Catalogue of Bishops , ● . 62 63 , &c. Fox Acts and Mon. Vol. 1. p. 324 , 326 , &c. Holinshed , Spe●d , Graston and others in the life of King John . Matthew Paris and others inform us : The King hereupon by special Writs and Patents , commanded William of Cornhil , Joseline of Cornwal and others , to seise all the Lands , Goods , Livings of the Archbishops , Bishops , Abbots , Priors , Religious Persons , Clerks and Priests , that should from the Monday next before Easter refuse to celebrate divine Service and Sacraments to the people ; and confiscated them all as forfeited to his Treasury : Being driven to use such austerity and sharpnesse against them , to enforce them to perform their Pastoral charge ; as Acts and M●numents , Vol. 1. p. 324. Mr. Fox records out of the Clause Roll of 9 Johannis in the Tower of London . And have not many whole Parishes , Cities ▪ and Dioceses , well nigh for as long a space or more , been actually interdicted in like manner , by sundry obstinate Ministers , from all Ecclesiastical Sacraments , except baptizing of Infants , ( and some of them from that too ) and from the administration of the Lords Supper to such as lie at the point of death , which was not denyed to any during that long Papal Interdict ? And do they not deserve then , as severe a seizure of their Benefices , Lands , Goods for this their wilful neglect of their Pastoral duty for so long a season , as the Popish Clergy then incurred for their negligence , obstinacy , and fear of the Popes displeasure ?

8ly , This Crime and Neglect of theirs is highly aggravated by sundry circumstances , which instead of justifying or extenuating , doth elevate it to the highest pitch .

1. It hath been carried on and acted by special Confederacies , Combinations amongst most Ministers guilty thereof ; who have had sundry publike and privat meetings , yea some days of Humiliation ( which is worse ) to carry on this Sacrilegious design ; as the Popish Priests and Prelates formerly had , for the Sacrilegious taking away of the Consecrated wine from the Lay-people in the S●ssio 13. Surius Concil . Tom . 3. Fox , Vol. 1. p. 783. Council of Constance .

2. They have justified it both in Dr. Drakes ●oundary , Mr. Collings Jurid●cal su●pension , & others . Presse and Pulpit , as not only Lawful and Necessary , but their bounden duty ; yea the will and appointment of Iesus Christ , as the See Gerson , & D. Featlies Grand Sacrileg of the Chur : of Rome . Popish Preists have justified their ●alf Communion , and taking away the Cup .

3. They have miserably wrested , perverted , tortured many Sacred Texts of Scripture to warrant this their Sacrilege , as the Popish Priests have done to justifie their depriving the people of the Sacramental Cup .

4. They have printed , preached against the My sho●t Vindicacion of 4. Se●ious Questions . p , 17. to 29. & 47. expresse Letter of the Scripture , all Antiquity , the Articles , Homilies , Liturgy , and these Writers of our Church , and Confession of the Council of Constance it self , That our Saviour never administred the Sacrament to Iudas , but only to the other xi . Apostles ; to justifie their Sacrilege by this palpable untruth .

5. They have cast most vile aspersions upon this most blessed Sacrament , to justifie this their practice , and deterre the people from it ; stiling it frequently in their Pamphlets , Sermons ; A Brotherly and F●iendly Censure , p. 6. 7. An Antidote p. 6. [ See My short Vindicatication , ● . 28 , to 36. ] ● . D●ak s Br●n●●● , and others . Deadly poyson : A Cup of poyson , which will poyson and kill mens souls . An Ordinance of Christ , which hath no efficacy spiritually to quicken , regenerate or convert men , but only to confirm such who are already regenerated and really converted . And asserting , That it belongs to none but real Saints , and such as are truly sanctified ; and not to all visible Members of the visible Church able to examine th●mselves .

6. They have pleaded D● ▪ D●●k● , Mr. Collins , & others tendernesse of Conscienc● , Duty ; and p●rtaking with unworthy Communicants in their sins , to justifie their Non-celebration of this Sacrament , which both in Conscience and Duty they are obliged duly to celebrate ; and by not doing whereof they are not only partakers , but Authors , abettors , perswaders of their peoples sinful contempt and neglect thereof .

7. They have deprived many thousands of Gods dear , precious real Saints of the inestimable benefits , comforts of , strength and growth in grace by this most heavenly Ordinance , to whom they confesse it doth of right belong , and debarred themselves also from it , for sundry years together , only for fear such whom they deem ignorant , scandalous , should partake thereof . And is not this the extremity of in justice , impiety , uncharitablenesse , to debar Gods Children , and Christs invited Guests from his Table , only for fear some unworthy or unbidden guests should intrude thereto ? Certainly this is diametrically contrary to the Luke 12.42 . to 47. Office of every Good and Faithfull Steward whom the Lord hath made ruler over his houshold to give them their portion of meat in due season ; who cannot expect a blessing , but curse from his Lord when he cometh , and that he should cut him in pieces , and give him his portion with unbelievers .

8. Some of them are grown so inveterately and transcendently malicious against the frequent publike administration of the Lords Supper , that they deem , prose●ute it as a scandalous Crime in other Ministers , for which they deserve to be sequestred and suspended from the Ministry : Some Ministers in Surrey , Middlesex , and other places having l●tely been prosecuted , yea sequestred and put out of their Livings , and those of the late Kings party all silenced and prohibited to administer the Sacraments at once , principally upon this account . When as those Ministers rather deserve suspension both from their Office and Benefice , as Scandalous , who have wilfully neglected the celebration of this Sacrament for sundry years , and are guilty of all the premised aggravations of this their Sin and Sacrilege .

Now Dear Brethren , I beseech , I adjure you in the Name and Fear of God , without prejudice or partiality , to reflect on all these premises , so far forth , as any of you are really guilty of them ; and now at last to behold , consider , lament , repent , reform these transcendent Exorbitances and Excesses , into which the Policy of Satan , the pravity of your own hearts , the ambitious affectation of a New Ecclesiastical Iurisdiction over the Sacraments of Christ himself , and the Consciences of your flocks ( the sourse of this New Sacrilegious extravagance ) have hurried you by degrees : and 2 Chron . 30.8 . be no more stiffnecked in the obstinate neglect , defence , or excuse of all or any of them ; Which I have faithfully represented to your view in their proper colours & just aggravations ; not with the least intention to cast any reproach or infamy upon your Persons , or Ministerial Function ( which I cordially honor , reverence , and have ever supported , defended to my power ; ) but the more effectually to convince you of the greatnesse , sinfulnesse of these your Errors and Deviations whereinto you have lapsed of late years ; and for which especially ( in my weak apprehension ) God hath brought so much neglect , contempt , reproach upon , and opposition against your persons and calling , more than in former ages ; of which you all now so much complain in Presse and Pulpit , not without just cause : You all well know , 1 S●m . 2.27 . to the ●nd That the kicking at Gods sacrifice and offring which he commanded , and despising of God therein , was that which made Elyes sons and their Ministry to be lightly esteemed , and brought ruine on them and their families , and caused God to translate the Priesthood from them unto Samuel . Yea , you cannot but take notice of Mal . 2.1 , 2 , 8 , 9. And now , O ye Priests , this commandement is for you . If ye will not hear , if ye will not lay it to heart , to give glory unto my name , saith the Lord of hosts , I will even send a curse upon you , and will even curse your blessings ; yea , I have cursed them already , because ye do not lay it to heart , Behold , I will corrupt your seed , and spread dung upon your faces , &c. Ye have departed out of the way , ye have caused many to stumble at the Law , ye have corrupted the covenant of Levi , saith the Lord ●f hosts : Therefore have I also made you contemptible and base before all the people , according as you have not kept my wayes , but have been partial in the Law . And may you not then conclude from these two Scriptures ; That your kicking against the Sacrament of the Lords Supper , and casting this offring quite aside , which Christ commanded you frequently to celebrate , with your departing out of the way in all the forementioned particulars ( which hath caused many to stumble at t●e Law ) are the principal causes , that have moved God to make you thus contemptible and base before all the people ? Yea , hath not your casting off the Lords Supper for so many years , occasioned many of the people to cast off all other Ordinances , Sacraments ? encouraged the Anabaptists to cast off Infant-baptism ; and thousands to reject both your Ministry , Churches , and to turn Anabaptists , Seekers , Quakers , Ranters , Independents , Papists ; and some professed Atheists ? I shall therefore apply that wholesom advice of our Saviour to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus , unto you , at this season , Rev. 2.5 . Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen , and repent , and do thy first works ; or else ( you may justly fear what follows ) I will come unto thee quickly , and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place , unless thou repent .

Now because Christs own institution , practice , and the practice of his Apostles recorded in the word , is the ● Cor . 11.1 , 2 , 3. Ephes . 5.1 ● . Iohn 2.5 , 6. only rule you ought to follow in the admission of your Parishioners and people to this Sacrament , and your administration thereof unto them ; give me leave to propound these Observations to you from them , which through Gods blessing may rectifie both your Erronious judgements , consciences , practices in secluding others from the Sacrament , without any Gospel grounds .

1. It is clear , that Mat . 26 26. to 30. M●● . 14.22 . to 26. Luke 22.8 . to 23. 1 Cor ▪ 11.23 , 24 , 25. Iesus Christ himself secluded none from this Sacrament of his body , either for ignorance or scandal ; but admitted all his disciples to it at first , without any pre-instructions that we read of , either of its nature or use , but what is recorded in the very institution it self , done sodenly after the passeover , as they sate at Table . That all his disciples were then ignorant of the Article of his resurrection from the dead , and would not believe that he was risen , within 4. dayes after he administred this Sacrament to them ( though he M●t 10.19 . c . 26.32.27.63 . Mar. 8.31 . Lu . 18.33 . c . 24 25.26 ▪ 45.46 . oft foretold them he should rise again the third day , and the Prophets also predicted it ) as is clear by Mat . 28.17 . Mar. 16.11 , 13 , 14 : where Christ himself appeared to the eleven , and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardnesse of heart , because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen , upon their double testimony to them ; whose words seemed unto them as idle fables , and they believed them not , Lu . 24.11 , 12.21 , 22 , &c. 37 , 41 , 46. John 20.24 , 25. to 30. Yet he admitted them all to his Supper , though thus ignorant and unbelieving . And as he admitted all his Disciples , though thus ignorant : so he likewise admitted Iudas himself , though a John 6.70 , 71. c . 18.2 , 3 , &c. c . 17.12.12 6. Mat . 26.14 15.16.47 , Acts● . 16 . to 21. Devil , a Thief , a Traytor , a Seller of him to the Iews for money , ae Son of perdition , yea cast away , and Christ then knew him to be such a wretch .

2ly , It is most evident , that Mat . 26.2.17 . to 26. Mar. 14.14 . John 18.28 , &c. all those whom Christ admitted to eat the Passover with him , he likewise admitted to receive this Sacrament of his last Supper , without secluding any of them . But all circumcised Persons whatsoever , as well unregenerate , ignorant , or scandalous , as the most regenerate , knowing and holy Saints ( if not totally cut off from the Congregation , and legally , not morally unclean ) were admitted to eat of the Passover , Exod 12.3 , 4.43 . to 50. Deut . 16.2 . &c. Josh . 5.10 . 2 Kings 23.21 , 22. 2 Chron 30.1 . to 26. c . 35.1 . to 20. Ezra 6.19 , 20 , 21. 1 Cor . 10.11.3 , 4 , 5 , Therefore all such Christians and Church-members ( if not actually cut off by Excommunication from the Church ) ought , by Christs own practice , to be admitted to the Lords Supper , 1 Cor . 10.16 , 17 , 18.

3ly , We read of no special Preparation Sermon made by Christ to fit his Disciples to receive this Sacrament : of no Classis or Presbytery appointed by him to examin their faith , knowledge , graces , preparation worthinesse , fitnesse before they were admitted to it ; or to seclude them from it , if adjudged unworthy , ignorant , or scandalous by them . Of no such extraordinary preparation , prescribed to them ere admitted to receive it , as is now See The Practice of Piety , Mr. Rogers of the Sacrament . D. Drakes Boundary , Mr. Collings Juridical suspension . peremptorily exacted , prescribed , as absolutely necessary ere men must approach , or be admitted to receive it ; and no other preparation or self-examinanation then was requisite for the receiving of the Passover , or other daily holy duties . All which our Saviour , no doubt , would have absolutely prescribed at his first institution and celebration of this Sacrament for a pattern to all succeeding ages , if so absolutely necessary , as some over-rigid Ministers ( now wiser , holier , and more scrupulous than Christ himself , the Author of this Mystery ) now affirm in Presse and Pulpit , without any precept or president from their Lord and Master Jesus Christ , but their own fancies .

4ly , It is apparent from the 1 Cor . 10.16 , 17. The Cup of blessing which we blesse , is it not the Communion of the Bloud of Christ ? The Bread which we break , is it not the Communion of the Body of Christ ? For we being many are one bread : For we are all partakers of that one Bread : That all the believing Corinthians and Members of the visible Church of Corinth ( except the 1 Cor . 5.7.13 . incestuous Corinthian excommunicated from the Church and all other Ordinances as well as this ) did receive the Lords Supper usually together : Yet many of them were very ignorant ; yea meer babes in Christ , whom the Apostle fed with milk , and not with strong meat , being not able to bear it ; and some of them denyed the resurrection of the dead , or were ignorant of it , 1 Cor . 1 , 2 , 3. c . 7.10 , 11. c . 14.38 . c . 15.12 , 13. &c. Others of them were in a great measure scandalous : 1 In going to Law with their Brethren before unbelievers , for which he reprehends them , 1 Cor . 6.1 . to 8. Others of them guilty of Adulterie , lasciviousnesse , fornication , ch . 6.18 , 19. c . 10.8 . 2 Cor . 12.21 . Others of them spiritually proud , and puffed up with their knowledge , who did eat things sacrificed to Idols in Idols Temples , and scandalized their weak brethren , ch . 8. 1.2 , 7 , 8 , &c. c . 10.22 , 23 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 32 , 33. Others of them withheld due maintenance from Paul himself & th●se other Ministers who instructed them , ch . 9.6 . to 20. Besides , their men and women were very disorderly in their publike assemblies , and came together not for the better , but for the worse , for which he reprehends them ch. 11.3 . to 34. and ch. 14. throughout . More particularly , when they came to receive the Sacrament of the Lords Supper they were very disorderly , in not receiving it all together , and tarrying not one for the other ; in despising and not relieving their poor Brethren , and not eating with them ; yea some of them were drunken when they came to receive ; and they were also full of schisms , contentions , factions ; some being for Paul , others for Apollos , others for Cephas , &c. 1 Cor . 11.16 . to 34. 1 Cor . 3.1 , 2 , 3. Yea , the Apostle writes expresly that he could not speak unto the generality of them , as unto spiritual , but unto carnal , even as unto babes in Christ , being carnal and walking as men , chap. 3.1 , 2 , 3 , 4. Yet notwithstanding all these disabilities , sins , scandals , they were then freely admitted to the Lords Table , and not secluded from it . And though the Apostle reprehends them in this Epistle for their ignorance , these other vices sins and disorders in their meetings ; yet he gives no order to their Ministers or Presbyteries to seclude them from the Sacrament till better instructed , prepared , and reformed in their lives ; but only admonisheth them , to reform those their abuses themselves ; to judge and examine themselves before they eat and drink of the Lords bread and cup ; because otherwise they shall eat and drink Judgement to themselves , and bring Gods temporal Iudgements of sicknesse and death upon them : yet no way dehorts them from constant and frequent reception of this Sacrament by reason of this danger of unworthy receiving , which they must take care to reform , 1 Cor . 11.33 , 34. but in no case omit the duty , being Christs prescribed Ordinance , to shew forth his death till he come , Verse 25 , 26.