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

refusing known Hypocrites; though when they have done all they can, close Hypocrites will creep in. 5. That all they who hold forth such a profession of Faith, as the Church may, in charitable discretion, conceive to be true, are to be received.] Though some of them have been formerly scandalous, yet now holding forth repentance, they are to be received, 1 Cor. 6.11. and though some are at present, weak in Faith, yet, if we may conceive that the Lord hath received them, the Church must receive them, Rom. 14.1, 3. For Christ approved this confession of Peter, though he was at present but weak in Faith, as the following Story in this Chapter, v. 22, 23. clearly showeth. 6. That none but such be admitted into Church-fellowship. For this Chapter limits the Church, to accept only such. Upon this Rock will I build my Church. i. e. Christ believed on, and ⟨p. 13⟩publicly confessed. A mere verbal confession is not that Rock. For the Devils made such a confession of Christ, yet were not built on him, Luke 4.34. But this confession of Peter was such as held forth his Faith in him; as appears by Christ's three-fold Elogy, or praise of it. 1. From its effect. Blessed art thou, &c, as, Joh. 17.3. 2. From the procreant cause of it: Not flesh and blood, but my Father hath revealed it, as Mat. 11.25, 26. 3. From the title [Greek or Hebrew], or Peter, before promised, John 1.42. and now confirmed to him, signifying a Stone; whereby Christ, not only acknowledgeth his faith, and that he was thereby a living Stone, and fit to have a principal place in this Spiritual Building, (in which sense, Peter applieth a like title to other Believers, 1 Pet. 2.4, 5. who yet were inferior in degree to himself) but also giveth him this Prerogative and Honour, that he should be the first Planter of the Christian Church, both amongst the Jews,