A treatise of liturgies, power of the keys, and of matter of the visible…A treatise of liturgies, power of the keyes, and of matter of the visible…

Thirdly this judgment of charity (concerning the truth of another's profession, or that which is called the work of grace) is to be regulated by the word, which Christ hath left as a complete rule, not only of faith but also of love, and charity to guide both in their acts unto their ends: and hence large professions and long relations of the work of grace (though full of exceeding glory, when humbly and prudently made) we exact not rigorously and necessarily of all, because the rule of charity directs us not so to judge; because many Christians may be drawn to Christ, and have a seed of faith, yet may sometimes not know it, sometimes remember not the working of it, sometimes (through bashfulness, fear, want of parts, nor not trained up under a knowing Ministry) not be able to profess it so fully and clearly; hence also to keep out others from Communion out of groundless fears, that all their profession might be in hypocrisy, we allow not, because no man in his charity is to be ruled by his fears, but by the word; hence also to account any unfit for the Church, because their hearts cannot close with them, or because they like not their spirits, speak not with favour or any such like principles, and yet can give no rule or convicting argument from the word, why thus they do, we think is rigour, not charity regulated by the word; for humane charity doth not make Gods Church, but such persons which from God according to the rule of Gods charity, is to receive, and therefore the rule is to be attended here: it is necessary to look for a ground of certainty to faith, but not for charity, which cannot be infallibly▪ ⟨p. 190⟩certain of another's estate, and therefore upon a hopeful supposition that the premises their profession is true, hopefully only makes the conclusion.

Thirdly this judgment of charity (concerning the truth of anothers profession, or that which is called the worke of grace) is to be regulated by the word, which Christ hath left as a compleat rule, not onely of faith but also of love, and charity to guide both in their acts unto their ends: and hence large professions and long relations of the worke of grace (though full of exceeding glory, when humbly and prudently made) wee exact not rigorously and necessarily of all, because the rule of charity directs us not so to judge; because many Christians may bee drawne to Christ, and have a seed of faith, yet may sometimes not know it, sometimes remember not the working of it, sometimes (through bashfulnesse, feare, want of parts, nor not trained up under a knowing Ministery) not be able to professe it so fully and clearely; hence also to keepe out others from Communion out of groundlesse feares, that all their profession might bee in hypocrisie, wee allow not, because no man in his charity is to bee ruled by his feares, but by the word; hence also to account any unfit for the Church, because their hearts cannot close with them, or because they like not their spirits, speake not with favour or any such like principles, and yet can give no rule or convicting argument from the word, why thus they doe, we thinke is rigou, not charity regulated by the word; for humane charity doth not make Gods Church, but such persons which from God according to the rule of Gods charity, is to receive, and therefore the rule is to be attended here: it is necessary to looke for a ground of certainty to faith, but not for charity, which cannot bee infallibly