The due right of presbyteries, or, A peaceable plea for the government of the…

Answ. When a Church falleth it is not restored to the state of a visible Church by circumcision, and yet circumcision is given as a sign of a covenant betwixt God and his Church, Gen. 17. 11. nor is a Church restored by Baptism, or Baptizing over again, and yet Baptism is that whereby we are entered members of the visible Church. 2. When persons fail in omitting Church duties; I think they fail against your Church-Oath, yea when they fall into any sin that may be a scandal to others, yea the sin of adultery, yet if they repent and hear •he Church, they are not excommunicated, neither do they •ose the right of Church-membership and right to the seals of the covenant, nor is it needful they be restored by renewing a Church-covenant, but we desire to hear from Gods word proofs of the singular virtues of this Church-covenant. 3. Discipline is by all Divines thought necessary to the well being of ⟨p. 110⟩a Church, but not to the simple being thereof, and for this we appeal to the learned Parker who denieth ^aDiscipline to be an essential note of the visible Church, and citeth ^bCartwright for this, and therefore saith that Calvin, Bortrandus de Logues, Mornaeus, Martyr, Marloratus, Galusius, and Beza omitteth discipline amongst the notes of the Church.

Answ. When a Church falleth it is not restored to the state of a visible Church by circumcision, and yet circumcision is given as a signe of a covenant betwixt God and his Church, Gen. 17. 11. nor is a Church restored by Baptisme, or Baptizing over againe, and yet Baptisme is that whereby we are entered members of the visible Church. 2. When persons faile in omitting Church duties; I thinke they faile against your Church-Oath, yea when they fall into any sinne that may be a scandall to others, yea the finne of adultery, yet if they repent and heare •he Church, they are not excommunicated, neither doe they ose the right of Church-membership and right to the seales of the covenant, nor is it needfull they be restored by renewing a Church-covenant, but we desire to heare from Gods word proofes of the singular vertues of this Church-covenant. 3. Discipline is by all Divines thought necessary to the well being of