The true and only way of concord of all the Christian churches the desirableness…

§. 14. 7. It is impossible to be a Church without the cement of Consent, professed or cordial: If many be forced into a Temple not consenting, it is a Prison, and they are not a Church. If they consent only to meet on other occasions, or for some occasional ⟨p. 232⟩act of Religion, it is not thereby made a Church. If they be commanded to consent and do not, and if it only be their duty, it maketh them not a Church, but only proveth that they ought to be one. No Law or command maketh a Church without Consent. But this Consent may be divers ways expressed: The plainest & most obliging way is best; but is not absolutely necessary: In some times and cases it may be more needful than at others: especially at the first gathering and forming of a Church: sometime ordinary Communion or attendance specially of persons born in that Church, may signify necessary Consent. It's pity then that men should be so weak as some, to make express Covenanting of each member with the Church and Pastor necessary, and others to deride it; when it is laudable ad bene esse but not necessary ad esse. But some signification of Consent is necessary ad esse, that is, A Consent to be a member of the society, and submit to the Pastor, and hold Communion with the Church to the Ends in the definition. And the plainer this is expressed, it is the fitter to satisfy the Church and oblige the person. But whether the Consent be signified by words, writings or deeds is undetermined. No man can have the great privileges of a member either of the universal or particular Church against or without his will and consent: And no Minister not consenting can be a Pastor to any. The Relation of a Church member consisteth in a Right to great benefits due to no refuser or unwilling person, and in obligation to duty contracted by Consent, besides the obligation of Gods Command. We can no further prove any Company of Christians to be a Church than we can prove that they Consent to Church relation for Church Ends.

§. 14. 7. It is impossible to be a Church without the cement of Consent, professed or cordial: If many be forced into a Temple not consenting, it is a Prison, and they are not a Church. If they consent only to meet on other occasions, or for some occasional ⟨p. 232⟩act of Religion, it is not thereby made a Church. If they be commanded to consent and do not, and if it only be their duty, it maketh them not a Church, but only proveth that they ought to be one. No Law or command maketh a Church without Consent. But this Consent may be divers waies expressed: The plainest & most obliging way is best; but is not absolutely necessary: In some times and cases it may be more needful than at others: especially at the first gathering and forming of a Church: sometime ordinary Communion or attendance specially of persons born in that Church, may signifie necessary Consent. It's pity then that men should be so weak as some, to make express Covenanting of each member with the Church and Pastor necessary, and others to deride it; when it is laudable ad bene esse but not necessary ad esse. But some signification of Consent is necessary ad esse, that is, A Consent to be a member of the society, and submit to the Pastor, and hold Communion with the Church to the Ends in the definition. And the plainer this is exprest, it is the fitter to satisfie the Church and oblige the person. But whether the Consent be signified by words, writings or deeds is undetermined. No man can have the great priviledges of a member either of the universal or particular Church against or without his will and consent: And no Minister not consenting can be a Pastor to any. The Relation of a Church member consisteth in a Right to great benefits due to no refuser or unwilling person, and in obligation to duty contracted by Consent, besides the obligation of Gods Command. We can no further prove any Company of Christians to be a Church than we can prove that they Consent to Church relation for Church Ends.