That it is the Will of Christ, that Church-Governours have some sufficient way to discover who are such ignorant and scandalous persons, that they may be kept away.
This followeth clearly from the two former Proportions. For if it be the Will of Christ, that no grosly ignorant, or scandalous person should come to the Sacrament; and if they offer to come, should be kept back by Church-Officers; then it follows, That they must have sufficient way to detect who are ignorant and scandalous. For Christ never wills any end, but he wills also all necessary and sufficient mean, conducing to that end.
Now what sufficient means can be propounded or imagined, for detection of ignorant or scandalous persons, but by examination before these Church-Officers; examination, we say, of the persons themselves in case of ignorance, and of witnesses also in the case of scandal. For though in some particular cases for private satisfaction, private conference with the Minister alone may sufficiently discover the knowledge or ignorance of persons, yet in this common case, for publique satisfaction touching the fitness of persons for the Lords Supper, no lesse then a publike and judicial examination before the Eldership can be sufficient; inasmuch as an authoritative act of admitting, or refusing the persons so examined, depends thereupon.
To illustrate this;
If a man by his last Will and Testament, should leave unto the Master and Fellows of a Colledge in trust a sum of money; to be distributed to hopeful poor schollars, such as were well verst in the learned Arts and Tongues: Would it not hence follow?
1. That those Trustees have a power granted them by the Will, to examine those that come to desire that Legacie.
2. That if any refuse to be examined, or upon examination be found insufficiently qualified, they have authority to refuse them.
3. That the most sufficient, proper, and satisfactory way, is not to trust to Reports or Testimonials, but to examine the persons themselves that sue for such a Legacie: So in the present case, Jesus Christ hath left as a Legacie, the Sacrament of his Body and Bloud, and hath left the Church-Officers in trust with it, and hath said in his Will, That no grosly ignorant, or scandalous person ought to come to partake thereof; and if any come, that he be debarred from it by those Church-Officers. Hence it followeth inevitably.
1. That those in trust have power to examine such as desire to partake of this Legacie, whether they be of sufficient knowledg, and of good conversation, or no. 2. That they have power to refuse all such as either refuse to be examined, or upon examination, are found insufficient. 3. That if the Church Officers would give up their account with joy at the great day of judgment, they ought not to rest satisfied with private Reports or Informations of others; but to examine the persons themselves, that thereby they may faithfully discharge their trust in a matter of so great concernment; And that they that will have the Sacrament, according to the will of Christ, ought first to submit themselves to such examination.
Besides this that hath been said, to prove that those that would come to the Sacrament ought first to submit to examination; We shall further offer these following Arguments.