1. THIS Duty is prescribed (1.) unto them only who profess Faith in Christ Jesus, ⟨p. 6⟩who own themselves to be his Disciples, that call Jesus Lord. For this is the method of the Gospel, that first men by the Preaching of it be made Disciples, or be brought unto Faith in Christ Jesus, and then be taught to do and observe whatever he commands, Matth. 28.18, 19, 20. first to believe, and then to be added unto the Church, Act. 2.41, 42, 46, 47. Men must first join themselves unto the Lord, or give up themselves unto him, before they can give up themselves unto the Church, according to the mind of Christ, 2 Cor. 8.5. We are not therefore concerned at present as unto them, who either not at all profess Faith in Christ Jesus, or else through ignorance of the Fundamental Principles of Religion, and wickedness of Life, do destroy or utterly render useless that Profession. We do not say it is the duty of such persons, that is, their immediate duty, in the state wherein they are, to join themselves unto any Church. Nay, it is the duty of every Church, to refuse them their Communion, whilst they abide in that state. There are other duties to be in the first place pressed on them▪ whereby they may be made meet for this. So in the Primitive times, although in the extraordinary Conversions unto Christianity ⟨p. 7⟩that were made among the Jews, who before belonged unto Gods Covenant, they were all immediately added unto the Church, yet afterwards, in the ordinary way of the Conversion of men, the Churches did not immediately admit them into complete Communion, but kept them as Catechumeners, for the increase of their knowledge, and trial of their profession, until they were judged meet to be joined unto the Church. And they are not to blame who receive not such into complete Communion with them, unto whom it is not a present duty to desire that Communion. Yea, the admission of such persons into Church-Societies, much more the compelling of them to be Members of this or that Church, almost whether they will or no, is contrary to the rule of the Word, the example of the Primitive Churches, and a great expedient to harden men in their sins.
1. THIS Duty is prescribed (1.) unto them only who profess Faith in Christ Jesus, ⟨p. 6⟩who own themselves to be his Disciples, that call Jesus Lord. For this is the method of the Gospel, that first men by the Preaching of it be made Disciples, or be brought unto Faith in Christ Jesus, and then be taught to do and observe whatever he commands, Matth. 28.18, 19, 20. first to believe, and then to be added unto the Church, Act. 2.41, 42, 46, 47. Men must first joyn themselves unto the Lord, or give up themselves unto him, before they can give up themselves unto the Church, according to the mind of Christ, 2 Cor. 8.5. We are not therefore concerned at present as unto them, who either not at all profess Faith in Christ Jesus, or else through ignorance of the Fundamental Principles of Religion, and wickedness of Life, do d•stroy or utterly render useless that Profession. We do not say it is the duty of such persons, that is, their immediate duty, in the state wherein they are, to joyn themselves unto any Church. Nay, it is the duty of every Church, to refuse them their Communion, whilst they abide in that state. There are other duties to be in the first place pressed on them▪ whereby they may be made meet for this. So in the Primitive times, although in the extraordinary Conversions unto Christianity ⟨p. 7⟩that were made among the Jews, who before belonged unto Gods Covenant, they were all immediately added unto the Church, yet afterwards, in the ordinary way of the Conversion of men, the Churches did not immediately admit them into compleat Communion, but kept them as Catechumeners, for the e•crease of their knowledge, and trial of their profession, until they were judged meet to be joyned unto the Church. And they are not to blame who receive not such into compleat Communion with them, unto whom it is not a present duty to desire that Communion. Yea, the admission of such persons into Church-Societies, much more the compelling of them to be Members of this or that Church, almost wheth•r they will or no, is contrary to the rule of the Word, the example of the Primitive Church•s, and a great expedient to harden men in their sins.
