A discourse concerning the subject of baptism wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…A discourse concerning the subject of baptisme wherein the present controversies, that are agitated…

2. A particular Church is sometimes taken more largely, so. for ⟨p. 47⟩that special part of Christs visible Church, which hath its subsisting in this or that particular place. Hence the Apostle saith to the Corinthians, you are the body of Christ and members in particular, Epist. 1. 12, 27. so then, they were not only belonging to the body or Church of Christ in general, but members of that particular part of Christs mystical body, which was then in Corinth. In this sense, it must not be denied, but that the Children in Question are members of the particular Church, h. e. they are parts (membrum est par• Integri saith the Logician) of that part of Christs visible Church which doth reside in this or that particular place, as formerly hath been demonstrated. As for those who think there is no difference between the instituted or particular Church strictly taken, and the Church visible, so as that a man cannot be a member or one of these, but he must be so of the other too, their notion is easily everted. For that may possibly dismember a man as to a particular Church which will not do so as to the visible Church. Diotrephes did Cast Brethren out of the Church. 3 John 10. He did not cast godly Souls wholly out of the visible Church (for that was not in his power); But out of some particular Church. ^[i]Be-like it was out of that particular Church at Corinth, where a Spirit of division and Faction prevailing, might well occasion such disorders and abuses of Church Censures. Men may be cast out of the particular Church (clave erran•e) and yet not out of the Catholic Church, either visible or invisible. Again, no one can be a member of the particular Church without the Consent of other men, but a man may belong to the visible Church; whether men will or no. A man may make profession of the Name of Christ, and his Conversation may be as becometh the Gospel, whether men will or no. Now such a Profession and practice will Constitute a member of the visible Church, but a farther act of Confederation is necessary to Constitute him a member of an Instituted Church. Yet more, suppose a particular Church to be dissipated and dissolved by persecution, so as that all the members are cut off, only one or two, these escaped ones, of what Church are they members?