Indeed God would not have any man admitted into the Church and to its communion, in his own way, and on his own terms: The way and terms are of Christs appointment: That they must Profess Faith and Repentance is his appointed condition: that the Minister must be the public judge of this profession; and accordingly receive them solemnly by Baptism, and that they must enter under the hand of the Key-bearers of the Church; All this is of Christs institution. But whether they will make this profession or not? and whether they will make it in truth or in falsehood; and whether they will live according to it, or play the hypocrites and live contrary to it; These are at their own choice. And good reason; for the gain or less must be their own. If any be in the Communion of the Church, who either never made profession of Christianity, or who is proved before them to have apostatized from that profession, or to live impenitently in any gross sin, after the Churches admonition, it is the Pastors fault; and yours if it be by the neglect of your duty. But if any other be there it is their own fault, and the loss and hurt must be their own. If any one that professeth ⟨p. 111⟩Christianity ignorantly, unbelievingly, and hypocritically be there: or if they come to the Sacrament whilst they live in secret or open sin, before they have been openly admonished by the Church, it is their own sin; and not you but they shall bear the blame. God leaveth such matters to their own choice: and as they choose they speed. And for us to grudge at this order of God, is but to quarrel at wisdom and goodness, and to correct Gods order by our disorder. The man that came in without a wedding garment, is blamed, and bound hand and foot, and punished: But the Minister that called him in and admitted him, is not blamed; because he did as he was bidden: He went to the high-ways and hedges and compelled them (by importunity) to come in, that the House might be filled: Nor are any that came in with him blamed, for having communion with such: For they were in their places, and did as they were exhorted to do. And swill it be in the case that is before us.
Indeed God would not have any man admitted into the Church and to its communion, in his own way, and on his own terms: The way and terms are of Christs appointment: That they must Profess Faith and Repentance is his appointed condition: that the Minister must be the publike judge of this profession; and accordingly receive them •olemnly by Baptism, and that they must enter under the hand of the Key-bearers of the Church; All this is of Christs institution. But whether they will make this profession or not? and whether they will make it in truth or in falshood; and whether they will live according to it, or play the hypocrites and live contrary to it; These are at their own choice. And good reason; for the gain or less must be their own. If any be in the Communion of the Church, who either never made profession of Christianity, or who is proved before them to have apostatized from that profession, or to live impenitently in any gross sin, after the Churches admonition, it is the Pastors fault; and yours if it be by the neglect of your duty. But if any other be there it is their own fault, and the loss and hurt must be their own. If any one that professeth ⟨p. 111⟩Christianity ignorantly, unbelievingly, and hypocritically be there: or if they come to the Sacrament whilest they live in secret or open sin, before they have been openly admonished by the Church, it is their own sin; and not you but they shall bear the blame. God leaveth such matters to their own choice: and as they choose they speed. And for us to grudge at this order of God, is but to quarrel at wisdome and goodness, and to correct Gods order by our disorder. The man that came in without a wedding garment, is blamed, and bound hand and foot, and punished: But the Minister that called him in and admitted him, is not blamed; because he did as he was bidden: He went to the high-ways and hedges and compelled them (by importunity) to come in, that the House might be filled: Nor are any that came in with him blamed, for having communion with such: For they were in their places, and did as they were exhorted to do. And s••will it be in the case that is before us.
