Media: the middle things, in reference to the first and last things: or, The means, duties, ordinances, both secret, private and publike, for continuance and increase of a godly life, once begun, till we come to Heaven. Wherein are discovered many blessed medium's or duties, in their right method, manner and proceedings; that so a Christian (the spirit of Christ assisting) may walk on in the holy path, which leads from his new birth to everlasting life. / Drawn, for the most part, out of the most eminently pious, and learned writings of our native practical divines: with additionals of his own, by Isaac Ambrose, minister of the Gospel at Preston in Amoundernes.

Christian Reader,

IT is the desire of some precious men, That I should revise that Question about joyning with the wicked in the Supper of the Lord, page 260. For my own part, I am fully satisfied, that the minde of God is clearly delivered in it; and yet lest any may think that I am singular in this, I have lately con∣s••lted with those Divines, to whom high (if not highest) respect is given in the Controversies of this nature; viz. Mr. Rutherford, and Mr. Gelaspi, to whom I may joyn the late Assembly of Di∣vines convened at Westminster; and if you would know their opinions, consult but the Authors, as I have cited them, where you may finde them at large. The Question is, Whether admit∣ting of, or joyning with scandalous persons in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper, and not endeavoring to keep them back whilst such, be sin in the admitters and joyners? and how may it appear? It is answered affirmatively:—1. That it is sin:—

1. In the admitters, Mat. 7.6. See Rutherford, Divine right of Church Government, page 254. and see Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blos∣soming, page 548, 549, 550, 551.

2. In the joyners, 1 Cor. 5.11. 2 Thess. 3.6. See Rutherford, Divine right of Church-Government, page 238, 240, 250, 268, 356, 357. and see Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blossoming, page 424, 427, 428, 429, 339. 2. This appears to be sin:—

1. In the admitters, by these grounds.

1. Because of the command to keep unclean persons from holy things, Numb. 5.2.—9.6, 7. 2 Chron. 23.19. See Rutherford, Divine right of Church-Government, page 241, 242. see Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blossoming, page 96, 97, 98.

2. Because of Christs casting out the man that came without his wedding garment, Mat. 22.11. see Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blos∣soming, page 510.

3. Because of the practice of the Apostles, who cast out the scandalous from the Lords Supper, 1 Cor. 5.3, 4, 5. see Ruth. Di∣vine right of Church-Government, page 238, 240, 268, 346. Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blossoming, page 239. and for 1 Tim. 1.20. see Ru∣therford, Divine right of Church-Government, page 354, 355. Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blossoming, page 189.

2. In the joyners, by these grounds:

1. Because they are forbidden expresly to joyn with such, 2 Thess. 3.14. Ruth. p. 250, 360. Gelaspi, p. 281, 282.

2. Because scandalous persons ought to be censured, and so to be esteemed of the joyners as heathens and publicans, Mat. 18.17. Ruth. p. 303, 306. 223, 233. Gelasp. p. 295, 296, 351, 361, 364.

3. In both admitters and joyners, by these grounds:

1. Because God hath forbidden us to eat with such, 1 Cor. 5.11. 2 Thess. 3.6. Ruth. p. 238, 240, 250, 268, 356, 357. Gelasp. p. 424, 427, 428, 429, 339.

2. Because by joyning with such in the Lords Supper, their sin would become ours, 1 Cor. 5.6, 7. Gal. 5.9, 10. Ruth. p. 238, 239, 240, 339, 345, 349, 373. Gelasp. p. 116, 117. 286.

3. Because the Ordinance of the Lords Supper is defiled there∣by, which we understand not simply in it self, but in some sort; (i.) It is defiled to them who are scandalous, and to them who joyn with such whom they know to be scandalous: And this appears:—

1. In that the Temple, which had a Sacramental signification of Christ, was polluted by the coming of prophane persons into it, Ezek. 23.38, 39. Ruth. p. 452, 453, 496. Gelasp. p. 546, 547.

2. In that the sacrifices of old were defiled by prophane per∣sons, Hag. 2.11, 12, 13, 14. Ruth. p. 272, 347, 348. Gelasp. p. 547.

3. In that the prophane are as swine which trample the pearls under their feet. Matth. 7.6. Ruth. p. 254, 255, 638. Gelasp. p. 548, 549. It is confessed that the word is a pearl, and yet the prophane may hear the word, and in stead of defiling it (if the Lord see good) be converted by it, Isa. 2.3, 4.—11.4, 5, 6, 7. but the Lords Supper is such a pearl, as they can make no use of it, but pollute it to their own destruction; no more then dogs and swine can make use of pearls to feed, but onely to trample on them: The Lords Supper is such a thing as is ordained onely for those that have saving grace, and not for dogs.

I hope these two witnesses (if they be throughly perused) will satisfie the scrupulous: But besides those two worthy Pillars, our own Assembly of Divines affirm this truth; who grounding the suspension of scandalous sinners from the Sacrament, though not yet cast out of the Church, they gave in these proofs: 1. Be∣cause the Ordinance it self must not be prophaned. 2. Because we are charged to withdraw from those who walk disorderly. 3. Be∣cause

of the great sin and danger both to him that comes unwor∣thily, and also to the whole Church: The Scriptures from which the Assembly did prove all this, were Matth. 7.6. 2 Thess. 3.6, 14, 15. 1 Cor. 11.27. to the end; compared with Jude, v. 23. 1 Tim. 5.22. see Gelaspi, Aarons Rod blossoming, page 339. I have no more to say, but the Lord lead us into all truth, and give us grace to walk humbly and obediently to every truth revealed: And as many as be perfect, let them be thus minded; and if any be otherwise minded, God shall reveal it in his due time: Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us minde the same thing.

Thine in Christ, ISAAC AMBROSE.

E musaeo meo, Octob. 1649.

Soli Deo Gloria.

Notes

• Ph••l. 3.15, 16.