A trial of the new-church way in New-England and in old ... by that…A tryall of the nevv-church vvay in New-England and in old ... by that…

That sacred order which God hath set in his visible Church for all his Saints to keep and walk by, that is religiously to be observed. But for men to set up that as a necessary order which God never allowed, approved, or commanded, is great presumption. Now the Lord hath not ordained that a man should be a set member of a particular Society, or body politic of faithful people joined together in spiritual Church-fellowship by Covenant, before he be admitted unto the Lords Supper, or that the parents should be actual visible set members of some particular distinct body before their children be baptised. They that believe in Jesus Christ have received the word of promise and walk therein, they and their children are within the Covenant, and have right and title to the Seals of the Covenant, but in their order, the infants to baptism, parents baptised, to the Lords Supper. And if in that state by divine grant they have interest to the Sacraments, the Church in debarring them because they be not yet grown into one distinct separate society of mutual covenant, doth exceed the bounds of her commission. For a ministerial power only is committed to the Church to admit or refuse them who are to be admitted or refused by authority from God: But the Church if she thrust believing parents from the Supper of the Lord, and their seed from baptism; she denieth these benefits to them who by the grace and gift of God have lawful right and title thereto.

THat sacred order which God hath set in his visible Church for all his Saints to keep and walk by, that is religiously to be observed. But for men to set up that as a necessarie order which God never allowed, approved, or commanded, is great presumption. Now the Lord hath not ordained that a man should be a set member of a particular Societie, or body politique of faithfull people joyned together in spirituall Church-fellowship by Covenant, before he be admitted unto the Lords Supper, or that the parents should be actuall visible set members of some particular distinct body before their children be baptised. They that beleeve in Jesus Christ have received the word of promise and walk therein, they and their children are within the Covenant, and have right and title to the Seales of the Covenant, but in their order, the infants to baptisme, parents baptised, to the Lords Supper. And if in that state by divine grant they have interest to the Sacraments, the Church in debarring them because they be not yet grown into one distinct separate societie of mutuall covenant, doth exceed the bounds of her commission. For a ministeriall power onely is committed to the Church to admit or refuse them who are to be admitted or refused by authoritie from God: But the Church if she thrust beleeving parents from the Supper of the Lord, and their seed from baptisme; she denieth these benefits to them who by the grace and gift of God have lawfull right and title thereto.