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

But because where Professions are but implicit, or […] express, we have but a probability, and not a full certainty, that all such Persons do take themselves indeed for Members, and because when we call them to acquaint us expressly, whether they take themselves for Members, or not, they deny it, or refuse to profess it, and so disclaim it, we now first discern that they are no Members; either not intending to be such all this while, or voluntarily departing now. We have more assurance of the Truth of our particular visible Churches, than we have of each Man's membership particularly. For some do plainly profess themselves Members, and most others do that which amounts to a more obscure Profession, and which makes them guilty of Hypocrisy, if they intend not what they seem to profess: But yet when they contradict the seeming darker Profession by an open disclaiming it, then they undeceive us, and cease that dissembling: And Multitudes do openly profess in many places, long ago, that it is their liberty to hear all Men, but they take us for no Churches, or at least they take not themselves as Members. Besides, when they disclaim our Power over them, they will not come near us to be questioned, or give any account of their ways, but tell us, We have no more to do with them, than others have whose Charge they are not under. Moreover, when they have cast out themselves, they are not capable of the same Casting out by us, as those that are in; for it cannot be wholly ab eodem termino. Yet we do not, as you say, resolve to exercise our Discipline on those only that testify Consent; but only agree on no more, leaving the rest to be done as above, and beyond this Agreement. But that's your third Question, to which we say, That we do not Prop. 18. limit our Public Censures to those only that express Consent, as excluding all others, or resolving not to do it on any others: but only resolving here to do it. Indeed our Judgment is, that so far as a scandalous Christian bath Communion with us, so far be may be cast out (not breaking Natural and Civil Bonds).

But because where Professions are but implicit, or 〈…〉 express, we have but a probability, and not a full certainty, that all such Persons do take themselves indeed for Members, and because when we call them to acquaint us expresly, whether they take themselves for Members, or not, they deny it, or refuse to profess it, and so disclaim it, we now first discern that they are no Members; either not intending to be such all this while, or voluntarily departing now. We have more assurance of the Truth of our particular visible Churches, than we have of each Man's membership particularly. For some do plainly profess themselves Members, and most others do that which amounts to a more obscure Profession, and which makes them guilty of Hypocrisie, if they intend not what they seem to profess: But yet when they contradict the seeming darker Profession by an open disclaiming it, then they undeceive us, and cease that dissembling: And Multitudes do openly profess in many places, long ago, that it is their liberty to hear all Men, but they take us for no Churches, or at least they take not themselves as Members. Besides, when they disclaim our Power over them, they will not come near us to be questioned, or give any account of their ways, but tell us, We have no more to do with them, than others have whose Charge they are not under. Moreover, when they have cast out themselves, they are not capable of the same Casting out by us, as those that are in; for it cannot be wholly ab eodem termino. Yet we do not, as you say, resolve to exercise our Discipline on those only that testifie Consent; but only agree on no more, leaving the rest to be done as above, and beyond this Agreement. But that's your third Question, to which we say, That we do not Prop. 18. limit our Publick Censures to those only that express Consent, as excluding all others, or resolving not to do it on any others: but only resolving here to do it. Indeed our Iudgment is, that so far as a scandalous Christian bath Communion with us, so far be may be cast out (not breaking Natural and Civil Bonds).