Answ. Either they still profess themselves Christians, and attend Gods ordinances with the Church or not: If not, then they are Apostates; ⟨p. 88⟩If they do, then they do own their Baptismal Covenant by a continued profession: If you accuse them of not understanding this profession, or of living contrary to it, you must proceed against them one by one as Christ appointeth; and first admonish them, and then tell the Church; and not say they are ignorant and profane, and expect upon your saying so, they should all be unchurched. Ye• if you prove them ignorant, if they be willing to learn, it is fitter presently to instruct them than to excommunicate them: nor do you read of any excommunicated for mere ignorance. But we confess that in gross ignorance, they may show themselves uncapable of sacramental Communion, and may be denied it while they are learning to know what they do. But the mercy of God hath made points absolutely necessary so few, that this may be done in a short time, if the Persons be willing, and the Teachers diligent, and sufficiently numerous for that work. And though it is to be lamented, that in many great City-Parishes, the Ministers are not enough to catechize the twentieth part of the people, yet for the generality of Parishes through the Land, if Catechizing were used as it might be, there would not any great numbers be long kept away for mere ignorance. And he that is the cause of his Parishes ignorance by neglecting Catechizing and personal conference, & then unchurcheth them, for the ignorance which he is guilty of, doth take but a preposterous course, for his own account and comfort, or for the people• good.
Answ. Either they still profess themselves Christians, and attend Gods ordinances with the Church or not: If not, then they are Apostates; ⟨p. 88⟩If they do, then they do own their Baptismal Covenant by a continued profession: If you accuse them of not understanding this profession, or of living contrary to it, you must proceed against them one by one as Christ appointeth; and first admonish them, and then tell the Church; and not say they are ignorant and profane, and expect upon your saying so, they should all be unchurched. Ye• if you prove them ignorant, if they be willing to learn, it is fitter presently to instruct them than to excommunicate them: nor do you reade of any excommunicated for meer ignorance. But we confess that in gross ignorance, they may shew themselves uncapable of sacramental Communion, and may be denied it while they are learning to know what they do. But the mercy of God hath made points absolutely necessary so few, that this may be done in a short time, if the Persons be willing, and the Teachers diligent, and sufficiently numerous for that work. And though it is to be lamented, that in many great City-Parishes, the Ministers are not enough to catechize the twentieth part of the people, yet for the generality of Parishes through the Land, if Catechizing were used as it might be, there would not any great numbers be long kept away for meer ignorance. And he that is the cause of his Parishes ignorance by neglecting Catechizing and personal conference, & then unchurcheth them, for the ignorance which he is guilty of, doth take but a preposterous course, for his own account and comfort, or for the people• good.
