Church concord

I have elsewhere proved that the true condition (which Mr. N. here calls the Rule) is nothing but [A CREDIBLE PROFESSION] and that it being to be received upon a Humane Belief, that hath a fallible object, [IT IS TO BE TAKEN FOR A CREDIBLE PROFESSION, WHICH CANNOT BE PROVED FALSE OR INCREDIBLE.] This is the Scripture-way, and this is the ancient way of the Churches: And if you will needs on either hand forsake these Terms, I presume to Prognosticate, you shall but wrong your Brethren, and your Souls, and the Church and Christ, and bewilder your selves, and make work for Repentance. With confidence after long consideration and disputing the point I speak it. But I return to Mr. Noyes.

Page 64. [The Practise of the Apostles, Acts 2, &c. must confine our prudence: They were better directed and instructed than we are: And they expected no Testimony, nor a days experience: They could not in so short a time make any Inquisitions, or hear any persuasive relations. The youngest Converts must be instantly embraced: Therefore some days of Experience or Testimonies are not necessary. Some are ignorant and of an arid Constitution and Expression: Therefore an explicit savour of Language is not equally requisite in all—The Apostolical Rule was large: It suffered many corrupt Members to creep in—None, as far as we read, were put by: Yet Converts were many, young, ignorant, rude; and Conversions were sudden and passionate—If ample relations of the work of Grace be necessary, then either for satisfaction or for edification. Not for satisfaction, as hath been proved: Not for edification—For, 1. Would it not be as profitable for all Members to come about again at certain seasons? 2. Such ⟨p. 47⟩relations do uncover the nakedness of Brethren and Fathers. 3. They slander such as are not Gifted; such as cannot express themselves in good language. 4. Pride is set on the stage in the House of God. 5. Hypocrites are provoked to paint and act themselves. 6. Such relations are known to afflict the afflicted, who came to us, and with us in love, and we here hide our Faces from them. 7. The eloquent, and such as have Athletic constitutions carry away undeserved respect from Country Christians. Materiam superabat opus. Hence issue comparisons: Nay we foster, (instead of preventing) suspicious partiality. 8. Young Men exalt themselves over the Faith of their Ancients. 9. Some are sent to their Graves frustrate of their hopes, we being in a way to admit no more in many years, than were admitted by the Apostles in one day—10. To grieve such as ought to be comforted, to defame such as deserve honour, to judge one another for infirmities, is unjust.