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. This is evident from that famous Text, Math 16▪ 18. which intimateth that those that profess Faith in Christ and do not destroy that Profession by any Heresy in Judgement, or Sandal in Conversation, are to be esteemed as belonging to the visible Church. But the persons in Question do this. They […] publicly and solemnly before God, Angels and men profess their […] ⟨p. 6⟩to the doctrine of Faith, and their Consent to the Covenant, and are not scandalous in Life. Ergò

2. This is evident from that famous Text, Math 16▪ 18. which intimateth that those that profess Faith in Christ and do not destroy that Profession by any Heresy in Judgement, or Sandal in Conversation, are to be esteemed as belonging to the visible Church. But the persons in Question do this. They 〈…〉 publickly and solemnly before God, Angels and men profess their 〈…〉 ⟨p. 6⟩to the doctrine of Faith, and their Consent to the Covenant, and are not scandalous in Life. Ergò

3. Either such persons as these are to be owned as belonging to the visible Church, or else we shall exclude all persons except those of our way out of the Church visible▪ If we say, that none belong to the visible Church but such as do first make a Relation of the work of grace (a practice holy and good and far be it from me to reflect thereon, as if it▪ were Superstitious or needless. Albeit I Confess the rigid Imposition of this, or that Mode, or Formality In this matter not determined in the Scripture, is not to be excused) and so join themselves to particular Churches, this would be at once to unchurch all men but our selves. But to appropriate membership in the Catholic Church to our selves alone is such rigid, Censorious, arrogant, self-assuming, as better becometh Papists then men of modest and Congregational Principles.