Answ. 1. Where the case is most Notorious, there needeth no Judge. Where the Probabilities are such as require a Determiner, it is the Ministers Office: and a main part of his work, of necessity to the Church, and not to be called or accounted Tyranny. 2. But, it is an easy matter to cavil at large against almost any cause; Destructive arguing is the easiest. But incommodum non solvit Argumentum. The thing I would see is a better way. Do our Brethren's Grounds afford us any better footing? Quest. 1. Will you take any verbal profession as a title, or not? If any whatsoever; then if a man tell you I will come such a day, ⟨p. 349⟩and in scorn to Christ profess Christianity, or if he tell you when he hath done, I did but dissemble, for fear or favour, or if he deride while he doth it, or contradict it in other words, you will take it for good. Or if a man come drunk to present his child in Baptism (as they have done to me to require it) Or if he fall a swearing and cursing at the Ordinance: Or say, I will never be ruled by Christ or Scripture: If any profession must serve, then these; But I hope not so. If not any whatever; Then, 1. Tell us how you will distinguish; will you not reject all that is apparently lying? How will you difference between Truth and a lye? what cross evidence will you take for currant? tell us that we may also know. If only words, than what if a man worship actively the Sun or Moon, while verbally he makes the Christian profession? will it not disable and discredit his profession with you? what if he have for twenty years (O that I had none such near me) been drunk, once a week or fortnight, and sometime thrice a week, and still confess it and promise amendment? Is his word to be taken? 2. If you were to baptize an Aged man, that comes new into Christianity would not you be the judges whether his profession seemed serious or not? and proceed on mere probabilities, as well as we? 3. Do you not in admitting persons to the Lords Supper, make your selves judges whether his profession be serious, yea and take in his conversation for evidence? and are you not put in all this upon the same uncertainties, and to the use of probabilities as we? 4. So you do, I suppose in excommunication for impenitency: Or at least, in case of absolution of the penitent, will not you be judges on probable grounds, whether his Repentance seem serious?
Answ. 1. Where the case is most Notorious, there needeth no Judge. Where the Probabilities are such as require a Determiner, it is the Ministers Office: and a main part of his work, of necessity to the Church, and not to be called or accounted Tyranny. 2. But, it is an easie matter to cavil at large against almost any cause; Destructive arguing is the easiest. But incommodum non solvit Argumentum. The thing I would see is a better way. Do our Brethrens Grounds afford us any better footing? Quest. 1. Will you take any verbal profession as a title, or not? If any whatsoever; then if a man tell you I will come such a day, ⟨p. 349⟩and in scorn to Christ profess Christianity, or if he tell you when he hath done, I did but dissemble, for fear or favour, or if he deride while he doth it, or contradict it in other words, you will take it for good. Or if a man come drunk to present his child in Baptism (as they have done to me to require it) Or if he fall a swearing and cursing at the Ordinance: Or say, I will never be ruled by Christ or Scripture: If any profession must serve, then these; But I hope not so. If not any whatever; Then, 1. Tell us how you will distinguish; will you not reject all that is apparently lying? How will you difference between Truth and a lye? what cross evidence will you take for currant? tell us that we may also know. If only words, than what if a man worship actively the Sun or Moon, while verbally he makes the Christian profession? will it not disable and discredit his profession with you? what if he have for twenty years (O that I had none such neer me) been drunk, once a week or fortnight, and sometime thrice a week, and still confess it and promise amendment? Is his word to be taken? 2. If you were to baptize an Aged man, that comes new into Christianity would not you be the judges whether his profession seemed serious or not? and proceed on meer probabilities, as well as we? 3. Do you not in admitting persons to the Lords Supper, make your selves judges whether his profession be serious, yea and take in his conversation for evidence? and are you not put in all this upon the same uncertainties, and to the use of probabilities as we? 4. So you do, I suppose in excommunication for impenitency: Or at least, in case of absolution of the penitent, will not you be judges on probable grounds, whether his Repentance seem serious?
