Church concord

4. And yet we are Agreed, (because Ignorantis non est Consensus, and for many other weighty Reasons, expressed in my Book of Confirmation) that where we can require and procure it, without a greater accidental Detriment to the Church, it is needful ad bene esse to the Churches Reformation, and to the Persons firmer engagement, to the satisfaction of others, and the due execution of Discipline, &c. that the Consent be as open and express as may be: As nothing is more necessary, excellent, honourable, reasonable, than a Holy Life, and nothing that less feareth the light than the Cause of God, so he would have his Cause to be openly owned, and managed above board, and would be confessed before men, and have all men know what they do, that take him for their Master. It is an honour to God and the Gospel, and an excellent advantage to the ordering of the Church, and the saving of the People, to have all brought to as serious and solemn an Engagement to the Living God, as conveniently can be procured. I doubt not but the Presbyterians would join with their Brethren, to Petition the Sovereign Rulers that all our People may be brought to this. Let no man think so uncharitably of them, as if they desired that Christ should be but darkly and implicitly owned by the Churches, and as if they would not have Church Members know what they do; Doubtless they cannot but be sensible how much it would further their Ministry with the People, if Magistracy would but assist them herein against the stubbornness of ignorant and wilful men; that men might be compelled to submit to Instruction and Approbation, and make a credible Profession of Christianity, owning their Baptismal Covenant, and by this engage themselves to submit to the Officers, Discipline and Ordinances of Christ, in the Churches where they desire Communion. The thing that the Presbyterians have stood upon is no more, but to vindicate the Truth of our Churches against Separatists, that have denied them to be true Churches, because they had not an explicit Covenant. They deny not that such a Covenant may conduce much to the well-being of the Church; especially if we have the Magistrates help to take off the Peoples prejudice.

4. And yet we are Agreed, (because Ignorantis non est Consensus, and for many other weighty Reasons, expressed in my Book of Confirmation) that where we can require and procure it, without a greater accidental Detriment to the Church, it is needful ad bene esse to the Churches Reformation, and to the Persons firmer engagement, to the satisfaction of others, and the due execution of Discipline, &c. that the Consent be as open and express as may be: As nothing is more necessary, excellent, honourable, reasonable, than a Holy Life, and nothing that less feareth the light than the Cause of God, so he would have his Cause to be openly owned, and managed above board, and would be confessed before men, and have all men know what they do, that take him for their Master. It is an honour to God and the Gospel, and an excellent advantage to the ordering of the Church, and the saving of the People, to have all brought to as serious and solemn an Engagement to the Living God, as conveniently can be procured. I doubt not but the Presbyterians would joyn with their Brethren, to Petition the Soveraign Rulers that all our People may be brought to this. Let no man think so uncharitably of them, as if they desired that Christ should be but darkly and implicitely owned by the Churches, and as if they would not have Church Members know what they do; Doubtless they cannot but be sensible how much it would further their Ministry with the People, if Magistracy would but assist them herein against the stubborness of ignorant and wilful men; that men might be compelled to submit to Instruction and Approbation, and make a credible Profession of Christianity, owning their Baptismal Covenant, and by this engage themselves to submit to the Officers, Discipline and Ordinances of Christ, in the Churches where they desire Communion. The thing that the Presbyterians have stood upon is no more, but to vindicate the Truth of our Churches against Separatists, that have denyed them to be true Churches, because they had not an explicite Covenant. They deny not that such a Covenant may conduce much to the well-being of the Church; especially if we have the Magistrates help to take off the Peoples prejudice.