Confirmation and restoration the necessary means of reformation, and reconciliation; for the healing of…

3. No Profession is credible or sufficient, but that which is, or seems to be Free and Voluntary. Though some force, or outward ⟨p. 45⟩urgencies in some cases may help to incline the will, yet willing it must be; or it is not a Credible Profession. He that Professeth himself a Christian, when a sword or Pistol is at his breast, is not to be Credited, if he continue it not when he is free. And also that which is done in a mere Passion without Deliberation, is not to be taken as the act of the Man, and a true expression of the bent of his mind; unless he afterwards stand to it upon Deliberation.

3. No Profession is credible or sufficient, but that which is, or seems to be Free and Voluntary. Though some force, or outward ⟨p. 45⟩urgencies in some cases may help to incline the will, yet willing it must be; or it is not a Credible Profession. He that Professeth himself a Christian, when a sword or Pistol is at his brest, is not to be Credited, if he continue it not when he is free. And also that which is done in a meer Passion without Deliberation, is not to be taken as the act of the Man, and a true expression of the bent of his mind; unless he afterwards stand to it upon Deliberation.

4. It must be a Profession not nullified by a contradiction in word or deed. Though their may an obscure contradiction, not understood, consist with it; or a contradiction only in Degree; as Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief: yet there must be no contradiction of the Essentials of our Profession, that nullifieth it, by showing that we lie, or speak against the bent of our hearts. If a Minister can by contrary words or deeds disprove the Profession of the party, he is not to believe it, or accept it. For we are not to believe without Evidence of Credibility, much less against it. I have given instances of this in the foresaid Disputation of Sacrament, pag. 10.

4. It must be a Profession not nullified by a contradiction in word or deed. Though their may an obscure contradiction, not understood, consist with it; or a contradiction only in Degree; as Lord I believe, help thou my unbelief: yet there must be no contradiction of the Essentials of our Profession, that nullifieth it, by shewing that we lie, or speak against the bent of our hearts. If a Minister can by contrary words or deeds disprove the Profession of the party, he is not to believe it, or accept it. For we are not to believe without Evidence of Credibility, much less against it. I have given instances of this in the foresaid Disputation of Sacracrament, pag. 10.

5. When by Covenant-breaking, and Perfidiousness, or often Lying, a man is become ⟨p. 46⟩come Incredible, having forfeited the Credit of his word, with wise and charitable men, this man must give us a Practical, as well as Verbal Profession, before we can again admit him, to the Privileges of the Church. For though we are not to be so strict, as some old Fathers seem to have been, and the Novations were, that would not admit such Penitents again into the Church at all, but leave them to Gods own Judgment; yet must we not go against Reason and Scripture, and the Nature of the thing, in believing that which is not to be believed; nor to cast by all Order and Discipline, and prostitute Gods Ordinances to the lusts of men, and make them a scorn, or level the Church of Christ with the world.

5. When by Covenant-breaking, and Perfidiousness, or often Lying, a man is become ⟨p. 46⟩come Incredible, having forfeited the Credit of his word, with wise and charitable men, this man must give us a Practical, as well as Verbal Profession, before we can again admit him, to the Priviledges of the Church. For though we are not to be so strict, as some old Fathers seem to have been, and the Novations were, that would not admit such Penitents again into the Church at all, but leave them to Gods own Judgment; yet must we not go against Reason and Scripture, and the Nature of the thing, in believing that which is not to be believed; nor to cast by all Order and Discipline, and prostitute Gods Ordinances to the lusts of men, and make them a scorn, or level the Church of Christ with the world.

Tertullian Apologet. cap. 16. Sed dices etiam de n•stris, excedere quosdam à Regulis disciplinae. Desi•unt tum Christiani haberi penes res: Philosophi verò illi cum talibus factis, in Nomine & honore Sapientiae perseverant:that is, But you'll say, that even of ⟨p. 47⟩ours, some swerve from (or forsake) the Rules of Discipline.

Tertullian Apologet. cap. 16. Sed dices etiam de n•stris, excedere quosdam à Regulis disciplinae. Desi•unt tum Christiani haberi penes res: Philosophi verò illi cum talibus factis, in Nomine & honore Sapientiae perseverant:that is, But you'l say, that even of ⟨p. 47⟩ours, some swarve from (or forsake) the Rules of Discipline.

Answ. They cease then to be counted Christians with us: But your Philosophers with such deeds, do keep the Name and honour of Wisdom.

The Judgment of the French Professors at Saumours, you have in these words,Thes. Salmuriens. vol. 3. pag. 39. Thes. 39. Sacramenta non conferuntur nisi iis, qui vel findem habent vel salt•m eam praese ferant, adeò ut nullis certis argumentis compertum esse possit, eam esse •mentitam: that is, Sacraments are conferred on none, but these that either have Faith, or at least pretend (or Profess) to have it, so that it cannot by any certain Arguments be proved to be feigned.

The Judgment of the French Professours at Saumours, you have in these words,Thes. Salmuriens. vol. 3. pag. 39. Thes. 39. Sacramenta non conferuntur nisi iis, qui vel findem habent vel salt•m eam praese ferant, adeò ut nullis certis argumentis compertum esse possit, eam esse •mentitam: that is, Sacraments are conferred on none, but these that either have Faith, or at least pretend (or Profess) to have it, so that it cannot by any certain Arguments be proved to be feigned.

The Judgment of the Scottish Divines, may be much discovered in these two Testimonies following: Gillespie, Aaron's Rod Blossoming,pag. 514. [I believe no conscientious Minister would adventure to Baptise one; who hath manifest and infallible signs of unregeneration. Sure We cannot be answerable to God, if we should minister Baptism, to a man whose works and words, do manifestly declare him to be an unregenerated, unconverted Person. And if we may not initiate such a one, how shall we bring him to the Lords Table.]

The Judgment of the Scottish Divines, may be much discovered in these two Testimonies following: Gillespie, Aaron's Rod Blossoming,pag. 514. [I believe no consciencious Minister would adventure to Baptise one; who hath manifest and infallible signs of unregeneration. Sure We cannot be answerable to God, if we should minister Baptism, to a man whose works and words, do manifestly declare him to be an unregenerated, unconverted Person. And if we may not initiate such a one, how shall we bring him to the Lords Table.]

Rutherford, Due Right of Presbyteries,pag. 231. n. 2. But saith Robinson, most of England, are ignorant of the first Rudiments and Foundations of Religion; and therefore cannot be a Church.

Answ. Such are materially not the Visible Church, and have not a Profession; and are to be taught; and if they will fully remain in that darkness, are to be cast out.

If you would have the Testimonies of Protestants, you may read above threescore of them, expressly maintaining that it is a Profession of Saving Faith that is prerequisite to to our Right of Sacraments, cited in my forementioned Disputation second. To which I add 33. more, cited to a like purpose in my fifth Disputation of Sacraments: And to these add the large testimony of Davenant, with his many Arguments, on Colos. 1. vers. 18. too large to recite.

If you would have the Testimonies of Protestants, you may read above threescore of them, expressly maintaining that it is a Profession of Saving Faith that is prerequisite to to our Right of Sacraments, cited in my forementioned Disputation second. To which I adde 33. more, cited to a like purpose in my fift Disputation of Sacraments: And to these adde the large testimony of Davenant, with his many Arguments, on Colos. 1. vers. 18. too large to recite.

And for the later sort of Episcopal Divines, that they also agree in the same, I will satisfy you from an Eminent man among them, Mr Herbert Thorndike, in his Discourse of the Right of the Church, pag. 31, 32. where he saith [And hereby we see how binding and loosing sins, is attributed to the Keys of the Church: Which being made a Visible Society, by the power of holding Assemblies, to which ⟨p. 49⟩no man is to be admitted, till there be just presumption, that he is of the Heavenly Jerusalem, that is above.] I shall add more from him anon.

And for the later sort of Episcopal Divines, that they also agree in the same, I will satisfie you from an Eminent man among them, Mr Herbert Thorndike, in his Discourse of the Right of the Church, pag. 31, 32. where he saith [And hereby we see how binding and loosing sinnes, is attributed to the Keyes of the Church: Which being made a Visible Society, by the power of holding Assemblies, to which ⟨p. 49⟩no man is to be admitted, till there be just presumption, that he is of the Heavenly Jerusalem, that is above.] I shall adde more from him anon.

Somewhat I have elsewhere cited, of the Fathers Judgments in this Point, and more anon I shall have occasion to produce. But in a Point that we are agreed on (that is not Every Profession, but only a Credible Profession of true Christianity, even of Faith and Repentance, that must be taken as Satisfactory by the Church) I hope I may spare any further proof.

Somewhat I have elswhere cited, of the Fathers Judgments in this Point, and more anon I shall have occasion to produce. But in a Point that we are agreed on (that is not Every Profession, but only a Credible Profession of true Christianity, even of Faith and Repentance, that must be taken as Satisfactory by the Church) I hope I may spare any further proof.

Prop. 7. The Profession of those that expect the Church-state and Privileges of the Adult is to be tried, judged, and Approved by the Pastors of the Church, to whose Office it is that this belongeth.

Prop. 7. The Profession of those that expect the Church-sttate and Priviledges of the Adult is to be tried, judged, and Approved by the Pastours of the Church, to whose Office it is that this belongeth.

This Proposition hath two parts: 1. That it is not a Profession untried, and unapproved, that must serve the turn. 2. That the trying and approving of it, belongeth to the Office of the Pastors of the Church.

THis Proposition hath two parts: 1. That it is not a Profession untryed, and unapproved, that must serve the turn. 2. That the trying and approving of it, belongeth to the Office of the Pastours of the Church.

The first is grounded by almost all Christians that I know of, and therefore need not may words.