The power of Congregational churches asserted and vindicated in answer to a treatise of…

The Doctrinal conclusion, which these words of the Charter afford us, concerning the materials of particular visible Churches, is, that,

2. Conclusion. It is the will and appointment of Christ, that all and only such grown persons be admitted Members of particular Churches, who make such a public profession of their Faith, as the Church may, in charitable discretion, conceive, hath blessedness annexed to it, and is such as flesh and blood hath not revealed to a man, but our Heavenly Father.] 1. That Christ here meant a particular visible Church, and not only the Catholic Church, we have partly evinced already, and shall more fully hereafter. 2. That persons meant by Christ here, are adulti, grown persons, appeareth by his questions to the Apostles, Whom do men say? and, whom do ye say, that I am? and, by Peter's answer. As for Infants, they are indeed Members of the Church, and, as such, Baptized; yet it is so, only as they are included in their Parents, by virtue of the Covenant, ⟨p. 11⟩wherein they are wrapped with their Parents, Gen. 17.7. Acts 2.38, 39. 1 Cor. 7.14. 3. That such adulti, or grown persons, must make a public confession of Faith before the Lord and his people.] So Christ required Peter to do here, and, when he had so done, said Christ, Upon this Rock I will build my Church, viz. in after times. For no particular Christian Church was actually constituted, at this time, nor till after the Ascension of Christ, in Act. 1. q. d. Then take this course, and ever after, all the World over, if you will have a particular Church to be acknowledged by me to be my building. 4. That their Confession of Faith must be so made, as that the Church may, in charitable discretion conceive it to have blessedness annexed, &c. For seeing it pleaseth Christ to use Men as his Instruments in building his Church,