1. There is Scripture warrant for this practice David says, I have not hid thy Righteousness within my heart, I have declared thy Faithfulness and thy Salvation, I have not concealed thy ⟨p. 33⟩loving kindness and thy Truth from the great Congregation. Psal. 40.10 And in another place, he says, Come and hear all you that fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my Soul. Psal 66.16. These Expressions show that a Christian should be willing upon just occasion, to declare the Goodness and Gracious workings of God upon his Soul, and this too in the Assembly and Congregation of his People. Now if a Church does desire it, that's a just occasion for the doing of it: and therefore it then ought to be done. Moreover, the Scripture says, that Christians should be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in them to every one that asketh. 1 Pet. 3.15. This Expression of A reason of their hope shows that they must not only declare what good things they hoped for in this or in another world, but also upon what grounds they did so hope. For else they might show their hope, but not the Reason of their hope. Now if a man has Experienced a work of Saving Conversion, causing him to accept of Christ on the •erms of the Gospel, he has sufficient Ground and Reason for Hope. Eph. 1.18. Heb. 11.1. But without that he has no reason to hope but the contrary. Eph. 2.12. Therefore he that declares the reason of his hope, must declare his Faith and Regeneration If the Apostle does specially intend that Christians should be ready to do this before Persecutors, who would probably be offended with them for ⟨p. 34⟩it, surely they should be ready to do this before a Church of Christ who will not be offended with them, but bless God for what they shall hear. The Presbyterian (i)Ministers of London say well, whose words are these, If Christians are bound to give an account of their Faith and Hope to every one that asketh, yea even to Heathen Persecutors, how much more ought they to do it to the Officers of the Church? especially at such a Time when they desire to be admitted to such an Ordinance as is not common to all sorts of Christians I add, And how much more to a whole Church of Christ, if they ask it? There are also Scripture Examples to encourage this Holy practice. They who were admitted to Johns Baptism, made an Open Declaration of their Conversion. Math 3.6. And those Converts in Act.
1. There is Scripture warrant for this practice David sayes, I have not hid thy Righteousness within my heart, I have declared thy Faithfulness and thy Salvation, I have not concealed thy ⟨p. 33⟩loving kindness and thy Truth from the great Congregation. Psal. 40.10 And in another place, he sayes, Come and hear all you that fear God, and I will declare what he has done for my Soul. Psal 66.16. These Expressions show that a Christian should be willing upon just occasion, to declare the Goodness and Gracious workings of God upon his Soul, and this too in the Assembly and Congregation of his People. Now if a Church does desire it, thats a just occasion for the doing of it: and therefore it then ought to be done. Moreover, the Scripture sayes, that Christians should be ready to give a reason of the hope that is in them to every one that asketh. 1 Pet. 3.15. This Expression of A reason of their hope shews that they must not only declare what good things they hoped for in this or in another world, but also upon what grounds they did so hope. For else they might shew their hope, but not the Reason of their hope. Now if a man has Experienced a work of Saving Conversion, causing him to acc•pt of Christ on the •erms of the Gospel, he has sufficient Ground and Reason for Hope. Eph. 1.18. Heb. 11.1. But without that he has no reason to hope but the contrary. Eph. 2.12. Therefore he that declares the reason of his hope, must declare his Faith and Regeneration If the Apostle does specially intend that Christians should be ready to do this before Persecutors, who would probably be offended with them for ⟨p. 34⟩it, surely they should be ready to do this before a Church of Christ who will not be offended with them, but bless God for what they shall hear. The Presbyterian (i)Ministers of London say well, whose words are these, If Christians are bound to give an account of their Faith and Hope to every one that asketh, yea even to Heathen Persecutors, how much more ought they to do it to the Officers of the Church? especially at such a Time when they desire to be admitted to such an Ordinance as is not common to all sorts of Christians I add, And how much more to a whole Church of Christ, if they ask it? There are also Scripture Examples to encourage this Holy practice. They who were admitted to Johns Baptism, made an Open Declaration of their Conversion. Math 3.6. And those Converts in Act.
- (i)Vindication of Presbyterian Government. p. 67.
