seven
sorts of persons to be kept off from the Lord's table, and such a
catalogue as godly ministers can be content with. But of this elsewhere.

Most horribly hath the Lord's table been profaned formerly in this
kingdom, by the admission of scandalous persons. God will wink at it no
longer,--now is the opportunity of reformation. The Parliament of England,
if any state in the world, oweth much to Jesus Christ; and he will take it
very ill at your hands, if ye do him not right in this. I say do him
right; for, alas! what is it to ministers? It were more for their ease,
and for pleasing of the people, to admit all; but a necessity is laid upon
us, that we dare not do it; and woe unto us if we do it. And for your
part, should you not establish such a rule as may put a difference between
the precious and the vile, the clean and the unclean, you shall in so far
make the churches of Christ in a worse condition, and more disabled to
keep themselves pure, than either they were of old under pagan emperors,
or now are under popish princes, you shall also strengthen, instead of
silencing, the objections both of Separatists(1411) and Socinians,(1412)
who have, with more than a colour of advantage, opened their mouths wide
against some reformed churches, for their not exercising of discipline
against scandalous and profane persons, and particularly for not
suspending them from the sacrament of the Lord's supper. Nay, which is yet
more, if you should refuse that which I speak of, you shall come short of
that which heathens themselves, in their way, did make conscience of, for
they did interdict and keep off from their holy things all such as they
esteemed profane and scandalous, whom therefore they called {~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON WITH PSILI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER NU~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER ALPHA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER GAMMA~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER EPSILON~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER IOTA WITH PERISPOMENI~}{~GREEK SMALL LETTER FINAL SIGMA~}, that
is, accused or delated persons. In this manner was Alchibades
excommunicate at Athens, and Virginia at Rome, the former recorded by
Plutarch, the latter by Livius. I trust God shall never so far desert this
Parliament as that, in this particular, pagan and popish princes,
Separatists, Socinians and heathens shall rise up in judgment against you.
I am persuaded better things of you, and things that accompany salvation;
and, namely, that you will not suffer the name and truth of God to be,
through you, b