Reliquiæ Baxterianæ, or, Mr. Richard Baxters narrative of the most memorable passages of his…

If they bring Certificates from the Pastor under whose Guidance they are, that they are of his Flock, and walk as Christians, supposing the Pastor faithful that certifieth it. 2. Or if they do not this, yet if they will come to me, and acquaint me who is their Pastor, and what Church they are Members of, and what Reasons they had to withdraw from this Church, I shall not refuse them, if their account be such as may justly satisfy. But as for those of this Parish that have (after this two years Invitation and Expectation) refused to profess themselves to be Members of this particular Church, and to take me for their Teacher or Pastor, and yet are not Members of any other Church, nor under any particular Pastor and Discipline, I shall desire to speak with them before I give them the Sacrament. And if they can give me any tolerable Reason of it, I shall willingly receive it, and if they prove the blame to be in me, I shall endeavour to reform it. But if they give me no sufficient reason, I cannot admit such to the Lord's Supper (specially ordinarily and the multitude of them) for these Reasons following: 1. Because I take it to be a heinous, scandalous sin, to live from under Discipline, as a Straggler and in Disorder, having no Pastor, nor being a Member of any particular Church: And therefore I dare not admit such till they repent, no more than I would do a Drunkard or Adulterer. 2. I dare not be an Instrument of hindering Reformation, and the Execution of just Discipline, by gratifying the Unruly that fly from it, and set themselves again it. And as for all those that either will not give me an account, why they live from under Discipline, or can give no just account, yea, and those that think their own Reasons for it good, when I do not, or on any ground are from under my Pastoral Charge, without my Fault, I say, for all these, I dare not admit them ordinarily to the Sacrament, because I dare not spend so much time on them as is necessary for Preparation. I may not do it without some previous Instruction; and I have so much more work already than I can well do, that I have not a minute of time to spare. And (except in public or extraordinary Cases) I take my self to be more strictly tied to those of my Charge, than to any others;

If they bring Certificates from the Pastor under whose Guidance they are, that they are of his Flock, and walk as Christians, supposing the Pastor faithful that certifieth it. 2. Or if they do not this, yet if they will come to me, and acquaint me who is their Pastor, and what Church they are Members of, and what Reasons they had to withdraw from this Church, I shall not refuse them, if their account be such as may justly satisfie. But as for those of this Parish that have (after this two years Invitation and Expectation) refused to profess themselves to be Members of this particular Church, and to take me for their Teacher or Pastor, and yet are not Members of any other Church, nor under any particular Pastor and Discipline, I shall desire to speak with them before I give them the Sacrament. And if they can give me any tolerable Reason of it, I shall willingly receive it, and if they prove the blame to be in me, I shall endeavour to reform it. But if they give me no sufficient reason, I cannot admit such to the Lord's Supper (specially ordinarily and the multitude of them) for these Reasons following: 1. Because I take it to be a heinous, scandalous sin, to live from under Discipline, as a Stragler and in Disorder, having no Pastor, nor being a Member of any particular Church: And therefore I dare not admit such till they repent, no more than I would do a Drunkard or Adulterer. 2. I dare not be an Instrument of hindering Reformation, and the Execution of just Discipline, by gratifying the Unruly that fly from it, and set themselves again it. And as for all those that either will not give me an account, why they live from under Discipline, or can give no just account, yea, and those that think their own Reasons for it good, when I do not, or on any ground are from under my Pastoral Charge, without my Fault, I say, for all these, I dare not admit them ordinarily to the Sacrament, because I dare not spend so much time on them as is necessary for Preparation. I may not do it without some previous Instruction; and I have so much more work already than I can well do, that I have not a minute of time to spare. And (except in publick or extraordinary Cases) I take my self to be more strictly tied to those of my Charge, than to any others;