A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbytery in Scotland, or, A modest and…A peaceable and temperate plea for Pauls presbyterie in Scotland, or, A modest and…

3. Conclusion. A Church may be a visible incorporation of guides and people meeting for the worship of God, and exercise of discipline, and yet not necessarily a Church of believers, for if there be twenty or thirty visible Saints, who are Saints in profession, they may meet for the worship of God, and consequently by our Brethren's grounds, independently and without any subordination to Synods or classes exercise discipline. I prove that they are not necessarily believers, 1. Because to make one or two formal members of a visible Church is not required that they be indeed believers, it sufficeth that they profess Faith, and be apparently Saints; and our Brethren teach they may be Hypocrites, and often are, as Judas was amongst the Apostles, now by that same reason all ⟨p. 73⟩the thirty may be heart-hypocrites, and face-professors, for who seeth the heart? And our Brethren say the preaching of the word, and the administration of the Sacraments are not essential notes and marks of the Church, because the word is often preached to reprobates and unbelievers, and by that same reason the power of the keys and discipline is exercised by hypocrites and unbelievers.¹ 2. Amesius saith it is probable (he saith not it is necessary) where the Word and Sacraments are that there are some believers: And I say it is probable; but that at all times there should be believers, especially when it is first founded, it is not necessary. I say when it is first founded; because we cannot say it is possible that there should be never any believers there at all; for the Lord sendeth not a ministry to these where there are none chosen at all; it doth cross the wisdom of God, who doth nothing in vain, that he should light a candle where he had no loosed money; and the Shepherd should be sent through the fields, where there were no loosed sheep at all. Hence I infer these consectaries. 1. that the claim and title that a people hath to Christ is not the ground why the keys are given to that people, as to the original subject, because they may have the Word, Sacraments and keys a long time, and yet want faith in Christ, and so all title and claim to Christ: All which time they have the keys, discipline, and Sacraments;

3. Conclusion. A Church may be a visible incorporation of guides and people meeting for the worship of God, and exercise of discipline, and yet not necessarily a Church of believers, for if there be twenty or thirty visible Saints, who are Saints in profession, they may meet for the worship of God, and consequently by our Brethrers grounds, independently and without any subordination to Synods or classes exercise discipline. I proove that they are not necessarily believers, 1. Because to make one or two formall members of a visible Church is not required that they be indeed believers, it sufficeth that they professe Faith, and be apparantly Saints; and our Brethren teach they may be Hypocrites, and often are, as Iudas was amongst the Apostles, now by that same reason all