You ask if without respect to their Church estate men of approved piety (as we say) are to be admitted into fellowship in the seals, how shall their piety be approved to the Church, not by their own report of themselves alone, &c. Do not you say the same, That there be many godly persons, and of approved piety among us, who are not approved by their own report of themselves (unless ye will take their wisdom, faith, patience, courage, constancy, and holiness of life for their report) approved, we say by as ample and sufficient testimony as the Apostles exacted of them whom they received into Church fellowship, or can be required of members admitted unto the privileges of the Church, if men will follow the Lords direction, or as you can give to ordinances members of your societies. You profess high respect of your brethren in old England, but it seems you judge them insufficient to give orderly testimony of the sincerity and uprightness of approved Christians, well known unto them, and living among them, which two cannot well agree. We speak not of such who against light refuse to profess subjection to the Gospel of Christ to join themselves orderly in fellowship with some approved Church: But of such as do with all readiness profess subjection, and walk accordingly, and heartily desire to join themselves to the most pure and complete Churches so far as they are taught of God, or have opportunity thereunto. And if exception be taken against them only, who refuse against light to submit themselves to the Gospel; by what rule do you proceed when you judge men to refuse against light, or debar them who do not refuse against conscience, but for ⟨p. 52⟩lack of opportunity. No doubt (as you say) but now and then a man of approved piety in the judgement of some may be found too light, yea and in the judgement of his own conscience when he hath come to trial. And no question but many have been admitted by the Church, who indeed and truth are much too light; and some refused who deserved better then they that cast them off, we will not dispute what errors have been committed, nor what blessing ye have found upon your proceedings; we heartily beseech the Lord to keep your congregation pure, make his ordinances more and more effectual, go before you in the way wherein you should walk, and multiply his mercies upon you in the same.
You aske if without respect to their Church estate men of approved pietie (as we say) are to be admitted into fellowship in the seals, how shall their pietie be approved to the Church, not by their own report of themselves alone, &c. Do not you say the same, That there be many godly persons, and of approved pietie among us, who are not approved by their own report of themselves (unlesse ye will take their wisedome, faith, patience, courage, constancie, and holinesse of life for their report) approved, we say by as ample and sufficient testimonie as the Apostles exacted of them whom they received into Church fellowship, or can be required of members admitted unto the priviledges of the Church, if men will follow the Lords direction, or as you can give to ordinances members of your societies. You professe high respect of your brethren in old England, but it seemes you judge them insufficient to give orderly testimonie of the sinceritie and uprightnesse of approved Christians, well known unto them, and living among them, which two cannot well agree. We speake not of such who against light refuse to professe subjection to the Gospel of Christ to joyne themselves orderly in fellowship with some approved Church: But of such as do with all readinesse professe subjection, and walk accordingly, and heartily desire to joyn themselves to the most pure and compleat Churches so farre as they are taught of God, or have opportunitie thereunto. And if exception be taken against them onely, who refuse against light to submit themselves to the Gospel; by what rule do you proceed when you judge men to refuse against light, or debarre them who do not refuse against conscience, but for ⟨p. 52⟩lacke of opportunitie. No doubt (as you say) but now and then a man of approved pietie in the judgement of some may be found too light, yea and in the judgement of his owne conscience when he hath come to triall. And no question but many have been admitted by the Church, who indeed and truth are much too light; and some refused who deserved better then they that cast them off, we will not dispute what errours have been committed, nor what blessing ye have found upon your proceedings; we heartily beseech the Lord to keep your congregation pure, make his ordinances more and more effectuall, go before you in the way wherein you should walk, and multiply his mercies upon you in the same.
