Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 25:99 (Jul 1868)
Article: Free Communion
Author: Sereno D. Clark

BSac 25:99 (July 1868) p. 401

Free Communion

Rev. Sereno D. Clark

Part II. —The Specific Principles And Canons Of Scripture Prescribing And Regulating Church Fellowship

Section IV. — Arguments And Considerations Corroborative Of The Above Conclusions Deduced From Apostolic Toleration.

I. Strict communionists, by the particular texts which they cite to justify their exclusion of evangelical Pedobaptists, associate them with unchristian characters, directly contrary to repeated acknowledgments of their decided piety and Christian enterprise. The texts are: (1) Rom. 16:17:“Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences, contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned, and avoid them.” These were factious persons, divisive spirits, who had embraced heretical sentiments, which both corrupted their own characters and exerted a pestilential influence on others. They are described in the succeeding verse, such as” serve not our Lord Jesus Christ,” as are sensual, serving their appetites, and as with professions of godliness are artful, deluding the unsuspecting, and thus evincing characters unworthy of Christian confidence. (2) 1 Cor. 5:11:“But now I have written unto you not to keep com-

BSac 25:99 (July 1868) p. 402

pany, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolator, or railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner; with such an one, no not to eat.” The terms here employed need no explanation, signifying as they do, character which every decent man abhors. (3) 2 Thess. 3:6:“Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us.” The brother whom Paul here speaks of as walking disorderly, was one who led “a dissolute life “; according to Robinson, one who took such practical views of Christ’s coming immediately to judge the world as led to the neglect of ordinary business; to live dishonestly on the earnings of the more industrious; and to indulge in extravagant fancies to the corruption of his own morals and the morals of others; who even persisted in doing this after being repeatedly admonished to the contrary. In 1 Thess. 5:14, such are denominated “unruly,” i.e. ungovernable men, proud, self-willed, betraying an utter wants of Christian temper. (4) Titus 3:10:“A man that is a heretic after the first and second admonition, reject.” The word rendered heretic (αἱρετικόν), signifies, accordi...