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

But yet as commonly as we are agreed on this, yet because it is the very point which most of the stress of our present Disputation ⟨p. 22⟩lieth on, it may not be amiss to foresee what may possibly be Objected by any new comers hereafter.

Object. Perhaps some may say, 1. That we find no mention of Professions required in Scripture: 2. It is not probable that Peter received a Profession from those thousands whom he so suddenly Baptized. 3 Our Churches have been true Churches without such a Profession, personally and distinctly made: therefore it may be so still. To these briefly, yet satisfactorily.

1. The Scripture gives us abundant proof that a plain Profession was made in those times by such as were baptized at Age, and so admitted (by reason of their ripeness and capacity) into the Church, and to the special Communion and Privileges of the Adult at once. To say much of the times of the old Testament, or before Christ, would be but to interrupt you with less pertinent things: Yet there it is apparent, that all the people were solemnly engaged in Covenant with God, by Moses, more then once: and that this was renewed by Joshua, and other godly Princes; and that Asa made the people not only enter into a Covenant to seek the Lord God of their fathers, with all their hearts, and with all their Soul: But that ⟨p. 23⟩whosoever would not seek him should be put to death, whether small or great, man or woman: And they sware to the Lord with a loud voice, and with shoutings, and with trumpets, and with cornets, 2 Chron. 15. 12, 13, 14. So following Princes called the people to this open Covenanting. But this is not all: To take the Lord only to be their God, (with the rest of the Law) was the very essence of an Israelite's Religion, which they did not only openly Profess, but excessively sometimes glory in. As Circumcision sealed the Covenant (and therefore supposed the Covenant) to Infants and aged whoever were circumcised; so had they many sorts of Sacrifice, and other worship, in which they all were openly to profess the same Religion and Covenant. Many Purifications also, and Sanctifyings of the people they had: and many figures of the Covenant. I am the Lord thy God, &c. Thou shalt have no other Gods before me, &c. was the tenor of the Covenant which every Israelite expressly and by frequent acts professed to consent to: The Law is called a Covenant, which all were to own, and avouch the Lord to be their God, and themselves his people. See