Certain disputations of right to sacraments, and the true nature of visible Christianity defending…

But yet there's one other Objection to be met with. Those that feel this Proposition pull down the Principles of schism or unjust separation, which they are engaged in, or inclined to, do Object, that if a bare Profession may admit to baptism, then it may admit to the Lords Supper, and to the Privileges of church-members; and so Church-Ordinances, and Privileges shall be dispensed upon bare words and formalities, and so made nothing of. To which I answer; Are you able to search and know the heart? can you discern sincerity by an infallible judgment? I know none but Mr. Trask that pretended to it. And if you cannot, and know you cannot, then you must be found to take up with fallible signs your selves. And those signs you may as well call mere formalities, as you do this in question. 2. And if we must needs take up with fallible signs, is it not better to follow the Scripture examples proposed to our imitation▪ then to frame a new way of our own: especially when the Law of nature and nations doth consent with Scripture, and the contrary opinion proceedeth from a dividing principle, and tendeth to division. 3. Make as diligent search as you can after the sincerity of your flock, as to their more profitable use of Ordinances, but make no other conditions of their Right, then God hath made. 4. It is only a Profession that's serious, voluntary, not contradicted prevalently by word or life, which you must take, as is before described. And do you take it to be so unreasonable a matter to believe a man fide humana, who speak's of his own heart which another cannot see, when you can bring no evidence to disprove his words? If you know any thing by his life ⟨p. 37⟩that certainly proves his Profession false, admonish him of it in the order that Christ hath directed you to, till he either hear the Church, or be rejected by the Church, or at least, by not hearing the Church, do give you cause to take him as a Heathen or Publican: but be not so much against the Scripture, and 2. All discipline that ever the Church hath used.

But yet there's one other Objection to be met with. Those that feel this Proposition pull down the Principles of schism or unjust separation, which they are engaged in, or inclined to, do Object, that if a bare Profession may admit to baptism, then it may admit to the Lords Supper, and to the Priviledges of •hurch-members; and so Church-Ordinances, and Priviledges shall be dispensed upon bare words and formalities, and so made nothing of. To which I answer; Are you able to search and know the heart? can you discern sincerity by an infallble judgment? I know none but Mr. Trask that pretended to it. And if you cannot, and know you cannot, then you must be found to take up with fallible signs your selves. And those signs you may as well call meer formalities, as you do this in question. 2. And if we must needs take up with fallible signs, is it not better to follow the Scripture examples proposed to our imitation then to frame a new way of our own: especially when the Law of nature and nations doth consent with Scripture, and the contrary opinion proceedeth from a dividing principle, and tendeth to division. 3. Make as diligent search as you can after the sincerity of your flock, as to their more profitable use of Ordinances, but make no other conditions of their Right, then God hath made. 4. It is onely a Profession that's serious, voluntrary, not contradicted prevalently by word or life, which you must take, as is before described. And do you take it to be so unreasonable a matter to believe a man fide humana, who speak's of his own heart which another cannot see, when you can bring no evidence to disprove his words? If you know any thing by his life