3. The person that does thus join himself to the Lords People will have more of their Love and Affection than could otherwise be expected. When they perceive what Experience he has had of the Converting Grace of God in his Soul, every one that is Godly will Love him, and their Hearts will be United to him. 1 Joh. 5.1. I Appeal to the Children of God it they do not find it thus. If when they […] any persons make a very Experimental Relation of Gods dealings with them, in Convincing them of their misery by Nature, and bringing them to cast themselves upon Christ, and helping them against special Temptations, they do not find in their hearts a Singular Love and Holy Affection towards such persons ever after that day. From such Considerations as these mentioned, the practice of the Churches of New-England respecting the matter in Question is to be Justified, and I pray God, that it may be with due Solemnity continued. That some ⟨p. 38⟩of our Presbyterian Brethren require that which is equivalent to what is with us called a Public Relation, of those whom they admit to the Lords Supper, is to be seen by a Discourse, called, The Young mans claim to the Sacrament, Written by my worthy Friend Mr. John Quick, a Reverend Minister now in London. I shall only add, that care is to be taken, Lest this custom of the Churches degenerate into a mere Formality Not only things in themselves Lawful and Good, but […] Holy Institutions of Christ, have through the Malice of Satan and the Corruptions of me•, been turned into Formalities. So are Church officers, Sacraments, and Church-censures i• the Church of Rome, and in some Protestan• Churches also; which are not throughly cleansed from the Romish Superstitions. Ou• Customary Relations may and will be so too, […] we be not careful to prevent it. Insipid, Sapless Relations which are used only Proforma, will not Edify; but give Scandal, and Prejudice many against this Laudable Practice. There are Reports, as if in some Churches, Persons have brought written Relations first to the Minister, and then to the Church, which were not of their own dictating, but devised by others for them. I hope these Reports have nothing of Truth in them, but if they have, I am sure that such Liars to the Holy Ghost, have Exceedingly provoked the Lord.
3. The person that does thus joyn himself to the Lords People will have more of their Love and Affection than could otherwise be expected. When they perceive what Experience he has had of the Converting Grace of God in his Soul, every one that is Godly will Love him, and their Hearts will be United to him. 1 Joh. 5.1. I Appeal to the Children of God it they do not find it thus. If when they 〈…〉 any persons make a very Experimental Relation of Gods dealings with them, in Convincing them of their misery by Nature, and bringing them to cast themselves upon Christ, and helping them against special Temptations, they do not find in their hearts a Singular Love and Holy Affection towards such persons ever after that day. From such Considerations as these mentioned, the practice of the Churches of New-England respecting the matter in Question is to be Justifyed, and I pray God, that it may be with due Solemnity continued. That some ⟨p. 38⟩of our Presbyterian Brethren require that which is equivalent to what is with us called a Publick Relation, of those whom they admit to the Lords Supper, is to be seen by a Discourse, called, The Young mans claim to the Sacrament, Written by my worthy Friend Mr. John Quick, a Reverend Minister now in London. I shall only add, that care is to be taken, Lest this custom of the Churche• degenerate into a meer Formality Not only things in themselves Lawful and Good, but 〈…〉 Holy Institutions of Christ, have through the Malice of Satan and the Corruptions of me•, been turned into Formalities. So are Church officers, Sacraments, and Church-censures i• the Church of Rome, and in some Protestan• Churches also; which are not throughly cleansed from the Romish Superstitions. Ou• Customary Relations may and will be so too, 〈…〉 we be not careful to prevent it. Insipid, Sapless Relations which are used only Profo•ma, will not Edify; but give Scandal, and Prejudice many against this Laudable Practice. There are Reports, as if in some Churches, Persons have brought written Relations first to the Minister, and then to the Church, which were not of their own dictating, but devised by others for them. I hope these Reports have nothing of Truth in them, but if they have, I am sure that such Lyars to the Holy Ghost, have Exceedingly provoked the Lord.
