The cure of church-divisions, or, Directions for weak Christians to keep them from being…

Consider it well, and you will find that you are not at all bound to know what the spiritual state of any man is, as he is to join in Church-communion with you, but upon your Pastors trust and word. Whether their understanding be sufficient at their admittance, you are not any where called to try: but the Pastor is: And if he have admitted them, you are to rest in his judgment (unless you would undertake the office your selves) whether their profession of faith and repentance be serious and credible, you are not called to try and judge: But if your Pastor have admitted them, he hath numbered them with the visible Christians: And it is the credibility of the Pastor that you have to consider; and by him you must judge of the credibility of the professor, and not immediately by your own trial. Who are the persons that you shall meet at a Sacrament or in public Communion, you are not at all required to try; And if you never saw them before or heard them speak, you may perform your duty nevertheless: Indeed if as a neighbour you are ⟨p. 99⟩called to instruct or counsel or comfort them; you must do it: But there may be five thousand in one Church with you, whose names or faces you are not bound to know; but to rest in the knowledge of them to whom the keys are committed, who according to their office take them in.

Consider it well, and you will find that you are not at all bound to know what the spiritual state of any man is, as he is to joyn in Church-communion with you, but upon your Pastors trust and word. Whether their understanding be sufficient at their admittance, you are not any where called to try: but the Pastor is: And if he have admitted them, you are to rest in his judgment (unless you would undertake the office your selves) whether their profession of faith and repentance be serious and credible, you are not called to try and judge: But if your Pastor have admitted them, he hath numbred them with the visible Christians: And it is the credibility of the Pastor that you have to consider; and by him you must judge of the credibility of the professour, and not immediately by your own trial. Who are the persons that you shall meet at a Sacrament or in publike Communion, you are not at all required to try; And if you never saw them before or heard them speak, you may perform your duty nevertheless: Indeed if as a neighbour you are ⟨p. 99⟩called to instruct or counsel or comfort them; you must do it: But there may be five thousand in one Church with you, whose names or faces you are not bound to know; but to rest in the knowledge of them to whom the keyes are committed, who according to their office take them in.