he appointed both kinds notwithstanding; and confequently we are not to neglect either of them. But, Secondly, I have prov'd at large, that the Doctrin of Tranfubftantiation is abfolutely falfe; and therefore that pretence which is built upon it, is good for nothing.

9. If it be faid, that the Church has power to deny one kind, tho' Chrift has appointed two I anfwer, 1. That if Chrift faid, Do this; there is none less than Chrift, that can fay, Do it not. We are to obey God's command; till God himfelf difannul it. 2. By the fame Reason the Church may take away both kinds; fince fhe has as much power to deny both, as to deny either of them. 3. We defire this Church to fhew by virtue of what commiffion the pretends to cancel the Laws of God; and we defire her Members to confider, whether that can be call'd a found and Orthodox Chriftian Church, which requires Men upon pain of damnation to difobey Chrift.

Thus then I have examin'd those things which are urg'd in favor of Half-Communion, and found them to be of no force. Wherefore I fhall fum what I have faid againft it in the following manner.

up

Since Chrift inftituted the Lord's Supper, and commanded us to continue it; and fince in his inftitution he deliver'd both Bread and Wine, and commanded us to receive the fame; 'tis plain, that we are obliged to drink of the Cup,as well as to eat of the Bread: and confequently, we are forbidden by the word of God to receive in one kind only. And therefore the Church of Rome which requires Men to approve and practife Half-Communion upon pain of damnation, impofes that,which is forbidden in the Scriptures, as neceffary to Salvation.

CHAP.

CHA P. XII.

Of Prayers in an unknown Tongue.

Third inftance of fomething, which the

A Church of Rome impofes as neceffary to Sal

vation, tho' 'tis plainly forbidden by the Holy Scripture, is their wicked practice of performing public Prayers in an unknown Tongue.

I need not prove, that the public Prayers of the Church of Rome are repeated in the Latin Tongue; or that she obliges every Man to profess this which is the 13th Article of her Creed, viz. I stedfastly admit and embrace Apoftolical and Ecclefiaftical Traditions, and the rest of the obfervances and conftitutions of the Same Church; by which every Member of her Communion do's folemnly approve of this manner of performing God's public worship. These things therefore being taken for granted, I fhall endeavor to fhew, 1. That the Scriptures do command us to perform public Prayers in a known Tongue. 2. That the Church of Rome do's tranfgrefs this command. Now when these particulars are fairly prov'd, I fhall find no difficul- ty in maintaining this branch of my charge against Popery.

I. Then, the Scriptures do oblige us to perform public Prayers in a known Tongue. This appears from 1 Cor. 14. where St. Paul difcourfes againft Preaching in an unknown Tongue, and then uses the very fame arguments against Praying in an unknown Tongue. For if I pray, faies he, in an unknown Tongue, my Spirit, that is, the gift of the Spirit by which I fpeak in an unknown Tongue, Prayeth, or

uttereth

Part II. uttereth the words of a Prayer: but my understanding, fense or meaning, is unfruitful. What is it then? I will pray with the fpirit, and I will pray with the understanding also. I will fing with the fpirit, and I will fing with the understanding alfo. Elfe, when thou shalt blefs with the Spirit, how fhall be that occupieth the room of the unlearned, or the unlearned Perfon, Jay Amen at thy giving of Thanks, feeing be understandeth not what shou Jaieft For thou verily giveft Thanks well; but the other is not edify'd. I thank my God, I Speak with Tongues more than you all: yet in the Church I had rather speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others alfo, than ten thousand words in an unknown Tongue ; verf. 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.

This paffage is a full and pofitive determination of the difpute between us and our Adverfaries. For St. Paul declares, 1. That the underftanding of him that praies in an unknown Tongue is unfruitful. 2. That an unlearned Perfon cannot fay Amen, when the Minifter bleffes, or gives God thanks in an unknown Tongue. 3. That the reafon of it is plainly this, viz. because the unlearned Perfon understandeth not what the Minifter faies, when he bleffes or praies in an unknown Tongue. From whence it follows, that the Congregation ought, in St. Paul's judgment, to understand what is faid by him, that blefles God or praies in public, and to join with him in it; and that for this reafon the public worship is to be perform'd in a known Tongue.

But our Adverfaries have reply'd, that the Apoftle fpeaks not of a pubiic Form of Prayer, but of fuch infpir'd Extempore Prayers as were us'd in the firft beginnings of Chriftianity; and that tho' fuch infpir'd Extempore Prayers, were to be pour'd

forth

forth in a known Tongue, because otherwise a Man cou'd not fafely join in them, fince he knew not whether they were good and lawful, or no ; yet our modern ftated Forms which have been approv'd by the Church may be in an unknown Tongue, because a Man may fecurely confide in the Churches judgment. Now to this I anfwer, 1. that the reafon is the fame in both; and therefore both forts of Prayer must be perform'd in a known Tongue. St. Paul takes it for granted that the unlearned muft fay Amen; and that he cannot fay Amen, unless he understands what is faid by the Minifter and therefore, whether the Prayer be Extempore or a ftated Form, the most ignorant Perfon in the Congregation must know the meaning and contents of it. 2. St. Paul faies, For thou verily giveft thanks well, but the other is not edify'd, verfe 17. fo that in the Apostle's judgment, tho' the Prayer be good, yet fince 'tis in an unknown Tongue, and therefore do's not tend to Edification, it must not be us'd.

If it be alfo faid, that the Apostle forbids the ufe of Hymns in an unknown Tongue, but that his words do not relate to all Prayers in general; I answer, 1. That he uses the word Pray, which is a general term for all forts of Prayer. 2. That the reafon as I have already faid, is the fame in all forts of Prayer, whether Hymns, Interceffions, or others; and therefore the Apostle's Injunction comprehends them all. For where the reason of a command holds good; the command is obligatory.

Let all things be done to edifying, faies the Apoftle, verfe 26. by which words the Prieft is requir'd fo to perform his Office, that the Congre gation may reap the benefit of it. Whereas he

fhews

fhews this to be impoffible either in Preaching or Praying, unless thofe Offices be perform'd in a known Tongue. And for his own part, that he might fhew how little he efteem'd that which did not edify the Church, he faies exprefly verse 18, 19. I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than you all yet in the Church I had rather Speak five words with my understanding, that by my voice I might teach others alfo, than ten thousand words in an unknown tongue. But certainly the Apoftle wou'd never have spoken after this manner, if Prayers in an unknown Tongue cou'd edify the Church. Wherefore, faies he, verfe 12. Forafmuch as ye are Zealous of Spiritual gifts, feek that ye may excel to the edifying of the Church. And fince he had already faid that the Church cannot be edify'd by an unknown Tongue, verse 2, &c. 'tis plain that he commands the ufe of a known Tongue in all public Service.

Again, he commands, that all things be done decently, verfe 40. Now I appeal to any considering Perfon, whether the faying of Prayers in an unknown Tongue be confiftent with decency. For if I know not the meaning of the Voice, I shall be unto him that Speaketh, a Barbarian and be that Speaketh, shall be a Barbarian unto me, verfe II, What wou'd an Infidel think of fuch a number of People, met together for no other end, than to hear, or perhaps only to fee a Priest mutter a great many words, which they do not understand one fyllable of? May we not argue against fuch a practice in the expreffions of St. Paul? If therefore the whole Church be come together into one place, and all Speak with tongues; and there come in those that are unlearned or unbelievers; will they not say that ye are mad? verfe 23. Certainly, there can

not