A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many useful questions and cases of conscience are…A treatise of miscellany questions wherein many usefull questions and cases of conscience are…

If any disaffected shall still insist and say; But why then are we received, both to the Covenant and to the Sacrament, nay, why are we forced and compelled into the Covenant. Answ. 1. If any known Malignant, or complier with the Rebels, or with any enemy of this Cause hath been received, either to the Covenant or Sacrament, without signs of repentance for the former Malignancy, and scandal (such signs of Repentance, I mean, as men in charity ought to be satisfied with,) 'tis more then Ministers and Elderships can answer, either to God, or the Acts and constitutions of this national Church. I trust all faithful and conscientious Ministers have laboured to keep themselves pure in such things. Yea, the General Assembly hath ordained, that known compliers with the Rebels, and such as did procure protections from the enemy, or keep correspondence and intelligence with him, shall be suspended from the Lords-supper, till they manifest their repentance before the Congregation. Now if any after signs, and declaration of repentance, have turned again to their old ways of Malignancy, their iniquity be upon themselves, not upon us. 2. Men are no otherwise drawn or forced into the Covenant, then into other necessary duties. Nay it ought not to be called a forcing or compelling. Are men forced to spare their neighbours life, because murder is severely punished? Or are men compelled to be loyal, because traitors are exemplarily punished? There may, and must be a willingness and freeness in the doing of the contrary duty; although great sins must not go away unpunished. Men are not compelled to virtue, because vice is punished, else virtue were not ⟨p. 192⟩virtue. Those that refuse the Covenant, reproach it, or rail against it, ought to be looked upon as enemies to it, and dealt with accordingly: yet if any man were known to take the Covenant against his will, he were not to be received. 3. These two may well stand together, to censure the contempt or neglect of a duty, and withal to censure wickedness in the person that hath taken up the practise of the duty. If any Israelite would not worship the true God, he was to be put to death, 2 Chron. 15. 13. but withal, if worshipping the true God, he was found to be a murderer, an adulterer, &c. for this also he was to be put to death.

If any disaffected shall still insist and say; But why then are we receaved, both to the Covenant and to the Sacrament, nay, why are wee forced and compelled into the Covenant. Answ. 1. If any known Malignant, or complier with the Rebels, or with any enemy of this Cause hath been receaved, either to the Covenant or Sacrament, without signes of repentance for the former Malignancy, and scandale (such signes of Repentance, I mean, as men in charity ought to be satisfied with,) 'tis more then Ministers and Elderships can answer, either to God, or the Acts and constitutions of this nationall Church. I trust all faithfull and conscientious Ministers have laboured to keep themselves pure in such things. Yea, the Generall Assembly hath ordained, that known compliers with the Rebels, and such as did procure protections from the enemy, or keep correspondence and intelligence with him, shall be suspended from the Lords-supper, till they manifest their repentance before the Congregation. Now if any after signes, and declaration of repentance, have turned again to their old wayes of Malignancy, their iniquity bee upon themselves, not upon us. 2. Men are no otherwise drawn or forced into the Covenant, then into other necessary duties. Nay it ought not to be called a forceing or compelling. Are men forced to spare their neighbours life, because murther is severly punished? Or are men compelled to be loyall, because traitors are examplarily punished? There may, and must be a willingnesse and freenesse in the doing of the contrary duty; although great sinnes must not go away unpunished. Men are not compelled to vertue, because vice is punished, else vertue were not