But still; as the Probationers for our communion, are to make a Profession of their Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as that Redeemer in whom all Fullness dwells, and on whom they Rely for communications from that Fullness to their own Souls; thus, we must Look for some justifying circumstance ⟨p. 53⟩of that Profession. Our Charity towards all men of whom we know nothing amiss is. To Hope all things, and Believe the Best. But when we come to make a Judgment of them that lay claim to privileges with us, 'tis but Reason that our Charity should require a more positive Evidence of the Qualification on which the claim is made. In the Primitive Times, They made such a Profession at their being Added unto the Church; and the Profession had this Justifying Circumstance in it, that they made it, when they Endangered their very Lives to make it. I make no doubt, but that in such a Time of Persecution, the Like Profession ought to be esteemed sufficient. But in places where the true Religion is in Repute and Fashion, then to look for some other Justifying Circumstance of a Profession, is but a Reasonable Conformity to the custom and manner of the Apostles. Now, Reason cannot r•••ly dictate an easier, a ••irer, a fi•ter method for this; than, That a […] a blameless and […] Conversation, should either by […] o• […], express what […] the Word of God has had upon his […] Soul. The Saviour of such a Religion […], very much manifest the […] of him that makes it; […] i• more •or the […], for the […] of His people, than to hear good Christians than ⟨p. 54⟩making that Invitation, Come and […] all ye that fear God, and I will declare what […] done for my Soul. It is true, That after all we cannot be Infallibly sure, that we do not admit an Hypocrite in Heart into our Communion. Nor indeed, after the distinctest profession of a Dogmatical and Historical Faith, can we be sure that the person whom we admit, is not an Heretic in Heart. Nevertheless, no man scarce ever doubted, That Communicants must be Examined about their Orthodoxy. But we should go as far as we Reasonably can to prevent the pollution of Holy Things, by the Unregenerate. In the pressing of this matter, I do not insist on that Celebrated Scripture, in Mat. 7 6. Give not that which is Holy, unto the Dogs; which the Unregenerate may be too much compared unto;
But still; as the Probationers for our communion, are to make a Profession of their Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, as that Redeemer in whom all Fullness dwells, and on whom they Rely for communications from that Fullness to their own Souls; thus, we must Look for some justifying circumstance ⟨p. 53⟩of that Profession. Our Charity towards all men of whom we know nothing amiss is. To Hope all things, and Believe the Best. But when we come to make a Judgment of them that lay claim to priviledges with us, 'tis but Reason that our Charity should require a more positive Evidence of the Qualification on which the claim is made. In the Primitive Times, They made such a Profession at their being Added unto the Church; and the Profession had this Justifying Circumstance in it, that they made it, when they Endangered their very Lives to make it. I make no doubt, but that in such a Time of Persecution, the Like Profession ought to be esteemed sufficient. But in places where the true Religion is in Repute and Fashion, then to look for some other Justifying Circumstance of a Profession, is but a Reasonable Conformity to the custome and manner of the Apostles. Now, Reason cannot r•••ly dicta•e an easier, a ••irer, a fi•ter method for this; than, That a 〈…〉 a blameless and 〈…〉 Conversation, should either by 〈…〉 o• 〈…〉, express what 〈…〉 the Word of God has had upon his 〈…〉 Soul. The Saviour of such a Religion 〈…〉, very much manifest the 〈…〉 of him that makes it; 〈…〉 i• more •or the 〈…〉, for the 〈…〉 of His people, than to hear good Christians than ⟨p. 54⟩making that Invitation, Come and 〈…〉 all ye that fear God, and I will declare what 〈…〉 done for my Soul. It is true, That after all we cannot be Infallibly sure, that we do not admit an Hypocrite in Heart into our Communion. Nor indeed, after the distinctest profession of a Dogmatical and Historical Faith, can we be sure that the person whom we admit, is not an Heretick in Heart. Nevertheless, no man scarce ever doubted, That Communicants must be Examined about their Orthodoxy. But we should go as far as we Reasonably can to prevent the pollution of Holy Things, by the Unregenerate. In the pressing of this matter, I do not insist on that Celebrated Scripture, in
