Five disputations of church-government and worship

§. 17. 11. He that hath commanded us to express our minds ⟨p. 404⟩in several cases about his worship, (as in Confession of our sins, in Profession of our faith, in choosing of our Pastors, in Consenting to the casting out, or taking in, or restoring of members, in renewing promises of obedience, and the like) hath hereby made a Profession necessary in general, and so hath made it our duty to signify our Consent in all these cases, by some convenient sign: For mans mind is not known to others, but by signs. But he hath not tied us absolutely to any particular sign. If a Confession of faith be read, and we are called to signify our Consent, or if we are called to signify our Consent to be Church members, or to be guided by our Pastors, or submit to Discipline; God hath not tied us in such Cases, whether we shall signify this Consent by speaking, or by subscribing our names (Isa. 44.3, 4, 5.) or by lifting up the hand, or by laying it on a Book, (as in swearing) or by standing up, or such like. A sufficient signification or Profession of our minds is necessary; but the special sign is left to our own, or our Governors determination. Of which I shall speak more anon.

§. 17. 11. He that hath commanded us to express our minds ⟨p. 404⟩in severall cases about his worship, (as in Confession of our sins, in Profession of our faith, in choosing of our Pastors, in Consenting to the casting out, or taking in, or restoring of members, in renewing promises of obedience, and the like) hath hereby made a Profession necessary in general, and so hath made it our duty to signifie our Consent in all these cases, by some convenient sign: For mans mind is not known to others, but by signs. But he hath not tied us absolutely to any particular sign. If a Confession of faith be read, and we are called to signifie our Consent, or if we are called to signifie our Consent to be Church members, or to be guided by our Pastors, or submit to Discipline; God hath not tyed us in such Cases, whether we shall signifie this Consent by speaking, or by subscribing our names (Isa. 44.3, 4, 5.) or by lifting up the hand, or by laying it on a Book, (as in swearing) or by standing up, or such like. A sufficient signification or Profession of our minds is necessary; but the special sign is left to our own, or our Governors determination. Of which I shall speak more anon.