The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

There is nothing more certain in matter of Fact, than that Evangelical Churches at their first constitution, were made up, and did consist of such Members as we have described, and no other. Nor is there one Word in the whole Scripture intimating any Concession or Permission of Christ, to receive into his Church those who are not so Qualified. Others have nothing to plead for themselves but Possession; which being malae fidei, ill obtained, and ill continued, will afford them no real advantage, when the time of trial shall come. Wherefore, it is certain that such they ought to be. No Man, as I suppose, is come unto that profligate sense of Spiritual things, as to deny, That the Members of the Church ought to be visibly Holy. For if so, they may affirm, that all the promises and privileges made and granted to the Church, do belong unto them who visibly live and die in their Sins; which is to overthrow the Gospel. And if they ought so to be, and were so at first, when they are not so, openly and visibly, there is a declension from the Original Constitution of Churches, and a Sinful Deviation in them from the Rule of Christ.

This Original Constitution of Churches, with respect unto their Members, was for the substance of it, as we observed, preferred in the Primitive Times, whilst Persecution from without, was continued, and Discipline preserved within. I have in part declared before, what great care and circumspection the Church then used in the Admission of any into their Fellowship and Order, and what trial they were to undergo, before they were received; and it is known also, with what severe Discipline they watched over the Faith, walking, conversation and manners of all their Members. Indeed, such was their care and diligence herein, that there is scarce left in some Churches, at present, the least Resemblance or Appearance of what was their State and manner of Rule. Wherefore, some think it meet to Ascend no higher in the imitation of the Primitive Churches, than the times of the Christian Emperors, when all things ⟨p. 12⟩began to rush into the fatal Apostasy, which I shall here speak a little farther unto: For,

This Original Constitution of Churches, with respect unto their Members, was for the substance of it, as we observed, preferred in the Primitive Times, whilst Persecution from without, was continued, and Discipline preserved within. I have in part declared before, what great care and circumspection the Church then used in the Admission of any into their Fellowship and Order, and what trial they were to undergo, before they were received; and it is known also, with what severe Discipline they watched over the Faith, walking, conversation and manners of all their Members. Indeed, such was their care and diligence herein, that there is scarce left in some Churches, at present, the least Resemblance or Appearance of what was their State and manner of Rule. Wherefore, some think it meet to Ascend no higher in the imitation of the Primitive Churches, than the times of the Christian Emperours, when all things