Church concord

The Sum of all is this, which we are agreed in: [A Credible Profession of Christianity, that is, of Faith and Repentance, or of Holiness,] is that which is the Title-condition to our Membership in the Church Universal, and its Privileges: And [A Credible profession of Consent to be a Member of this particular Church] added to the former is the condition of our Right to admittance into such a Church. And a careful Pastor will and should consider how Mens lives do answer their profession: But if nothing be brought from the Life to invalidate it, the profession it self must be accepted: And therefore if no such Omissions or Commissions are proved against the person that desireth our Communion as are of sufficient weight to prove that the persons profession is Incredible, it is to be received, because every Man is supposed to be better acquainted with his own Heart, than the Church is or can be: And every Man is to be supposed Credible till he can be proved Incredible by Evidences that in foro Ecclesiae are satisfactory: Especially when Men have to do with a Heart-searching God, and their Everlasting Life or Death lieth at the stake, and when the holy Life that they engage themselves to live, is so contrary to Flesh and Blood, and seldom are there times so good, in which it is not reproached at least by the ungodly, we have reason fide humand to believe Mens profession in such a case. And as God will have Mens Salvation or Damnation lye more upon their own choice, than upon any other Mans, so is it his wise and gracious Order, that their Church Mercies or Judgments, their standing in the Church or being out of it, shall lye more upon their own Choosing ⟨p. 18⟩or Refusing than on the Churches or any others: And therefore if Men dissemble in their profession, the Church is blameless, and it is themselves that bear the blame and suffering: And so if they keep out themselves, or force the Church by their Impenitency to cast them out. But if the Church should keep out Men that would come in, that do not wilfully refuse Gods Terms, these persons would lay the blame on the Church, and say, Lord, I would fain have entered, but could not be received.

The Sum of all is this, which we are agreed in: [A Credible Profession of Christianity, that is, of Faith and Repentance, or of Holiness,] is that which is the Title-condition to our Membership in the Church Universal, and its Priviledges: And [A Credible profession of Consent to be a Member of this particular Church] added to the former is the condition of our Right to admittance into such a Church. And a careful Pastor will and should consider how Mens lives do answer their profession: But if nothing be brought from the Life to invalidate it, the profession it self must be accepted: And therefore if no such Omissions or Commissions are proved against the person that desireth our Communion as are of sufficient weight to prove that the persons profession is Incredible, it is to be received, because every Man is supposed to be better acquainted with his own Heart, than the Church is or can be: And every Man is to be supposed Credible till he can be proved Incredible by Evidences that in foro Ecclesiae are satisfactory: Especially when Men have to do with a Heart-searching God, and their Everlasting Life or Death lyeth at the stake, and when the holy Life that they engage themselves to live, is so contrary to Flesh and Blood, and seldom are there times so good, in which it is not reproached at least by the ungodly, we have reason fide humand to believe Mens profession in such a case. And as God will have Mens Salvation or Damnation lye more upon their own choice, than upon any other Mans, so is it his wise and gracious Order, that their Church Mercies or Judgments, their standing in the Church or being out of it, shall lye more upon their own Chusing