11. Though the sacrament of the Lord's supper be appointed for the renewing of our covenant at age, yet is it not the first owning of the covenant, by the aged: for that sacrament belongeth neither to infants nor infidels; and he that claimeth it, must be an adult church member or christian; which those are not, who at full age no way ever owned their baptismal covenant, nor made any personal profession of christianity.
But of this I have written purposely in a "Treatise of Confirmation" long ago.
[302] See the proofs of all in my "Treatise of Confirmation."
Quest. LII. Whether the universal church consist only of particular churches and their members?
Answ. No: particular churches are the most regular parts of the universal church, but not the whole; no more than cities and corporations be all the kingdom. 1. Some may be, as the eunuch, baptized before they can come to any particular church; or as Paul, before they can be received.[303]
2. Some may live where church tyranny hindereth them, by sinful impositions; as all that live among the papists.
3. Some may live in times of doubting, distraction, and confusion, and not know what church ordinarily to join with, and may providently go promiscuously to many, and keep in an unfixed state for a time.
4. Some may be wives, children, or servants, who may be violently hindered.
5. Some may live where no particular churches are; as merchants and ambassadors among Mahometans and heathens.
[303] Acts viii. 37, &c.; ix. 17-20, 26-28.