The cry of a stone, or, a treatise; shewing what is the right matter, forme, and government of the visible church of Christ. How, and wherein the present Church of England is wanting and defective, both in the body of the land, and in the parochiall branches thereof, with divers reasons and grounds taken from the Scriptures, to perswade all that feare God, rather to suffer any afflictions at the hands of men, than to submit to mans carnall policy and humane devices in the worship of God, or be deprived of the sweet fellowship of the saints in the right order of the Gospel. Together with a just reproofe of the over-strained and excessive separation, contentions and divisions of such as commonly are called Brownists. By Robert Coachman.

What Ordinances of God may be used in the Parish assem∣blies, and what not.

YEt so long as life lasteth there may be some hope of recovery, neither are we to despaire of any, though never so vile, but * 1.1 that they may be converted and turned to God; And there∣fore were are still as with patience to suffer the evill men, so to prove alwayes, if at any time they may be brought out of the snare of the [ 1] Divell; and for this end it is very necessary that the preaching of the * 1.2 Word be amongst them both publikely and privately, if they will but be brought to it, and have the patience to heare themselves re∣proved and convinced by it; for as wee know it to be the onely or∣dinary meanes for their conversion; so also wee see that many are daily by it converted and brought home unto God, and so farre I * 1.3 am from disliking the preaching of the Word to them, as that I would have them heare it where it is most purely and powerfully taught, and wish, that where there is one such Preacher, there were a hundred.

But untill they doe convert and turne▪ none of the seales must in [ 2] any ease be administred to them or their seed, neither are they to be admi••••ed as members into the Church & fellowship of the Saints, nor * 1.4 〈…〉〈…〉 to ••each any thing to others▪ nor take up the name of God, 〈…〉〈…〉 ••blations or sacrifices to him▪ untill they have cleansed 〈…〉〈…〉 ••••••••ntance much lesse are the faithfull to partake with 〈…〉〈…〉s ••••ophaning of the Sacraments. But if by 〈…〉〈…〉 his strength they have gotten a custome * 1.5 〈…〉〈…〉 sacred ••••••inances and b••es∣〈…〉〈…〉

to their customes, nor have ought to doe with them in their taking the Name and Ordinances of God in vaine; for the proper ends of the seals are to confirm and comfort the faithfull, and such as groan under their sinnes; but how can the seale be set, or the assurance given to * 1.6 them that have not faith, neither are wearied with their sinnes, but love and delight in them. And how can any godly man consent in, or say Amen to such an holy action, when it is joyntly done by such as for the most part are Gods enemies; for the spirituall supper of the Lord is not like other civill banquets wherein civill fellowship and * 1.7 naturall refreshing is properly aimed at, but the fellowship therein is spirituall, and they that feast at it, must be united to Christ by one spirit, but now carnall men have not the spirit, and so can be no guests at that banquet.

This banquet is even the neerest fellowship that the Saints can have in this world, and most resembleth heaven; and it is not onely a sure pledge of their fellowship with Christ, but also a demonstration of their unity together, as the Apostle teacheth. But what a many * 1.8 lying signes and deceiveable demonstrations doe such Christians make, that communicate they care not where, nor with whom, but thinke if they examine themselves, it is enough, forgetting that it is an act of communion, and so called by the Apostle, and though the * 1.9 terme of a holy thing be given to it, yet if wee sever the word Sacra∣ment from communion, wee put out Gods termes, and place in our owne.

Many dislike that the godly should be civilly familiar with vaine and irreligious persons, but to be strict in that, and allow them to ban∣quet with all manner of persons at the heavenly supper of the Lord, is even as current counsell, as theirs who said, it was nothing to sweare * 1.10 by the Temple, but to sweare by the gold of the Temple was a trespasse; for if there be any act in this world that declares Christian ami••y, peace and sweet friendship in the grace of the Gospell, this doth it, when wee sit and feast together with Christ at his Table, and eate his flesh, and drinke his blood.

As Christ therefore preached the Gospel to all sorts of men good and bad, but when he administred the supper, hee drew out such as were apparantly faithfull and godly. So now, the Word may be preached * 1.11 and heard amongst the worst miscreants that are, but when wee goe to sit with Christ at his Table, let us know (as farre as wee can by out∣ward appearance) what guests goe with us.

Neither may these wicked men have any censure of excommuni∣cation executed upon them, much lesse execute it upon one another: [ 3] * 1.12 for, they were never in covenant with Christ, and so have b••oke ••o covenant, nor can be punished for any breach of covenant, but were ever as they are, naught from the wombe, and downeright unbeliever••

still▪ Secondly, what have they to doe to censure others, when they are as ill themselves? May one adulterer or drunkard or swearer, cast * 1.13 a stone at another, when hee is as bad himselfe as the worst? Thirdly, if they should so doe were it any more then a mockery: as if the thieves at Gods hill should hold a session to hang the cut-purses, which were an onely way to make sinne to be counted a trifle, and a jest, rather then to be feared and trembled at: it is onely the Saints that may binde them that are mighty in evill, and none other have this * 1.14 honour.

Fourthly, seeing excommunication is for the destruction of the flesh * 1.15 (supposing the person to have the spirit, though overwhelmed by the corruption of nature, how can it be exercised on them which still were and are▪ altogether flesh? For if their flesh be destroyed, the whole man is destroyed.

Notes

• * 1.1

  SECT. 4.
• * 1.2

  2 Tim. 2. 24. 25. The Word may be preached to evill men.
• * 1.3

  Rom. 10. 14.
• * 1.4

  Acts 9. 26. 27. Psal. 50. 1••, 17. Isai. 1. 13. 14.
• * 1.5

  T〈…〉〈…〉
• * 1.6

  Mat. 11. 28.
• * 1.7

  1 Cor. 12. 13.
• * 1.8

  1 Cor. 10. 17.
• * 1.9

  Verse 16▪
• * 1.10

  Mat. 23. 16, 17.
• * 1.11

  Luke 22. 11. 14. Ioh. 13. 30.
• * 1.12

  The power of excommunica∣tion belongs not to the parish multitudes.
• * 1.13

  Ioh. ••. 7.
• * 1.14

  Psal. 149. 8, 9.
• * 1.15

  1 Cor. 5. 5.