7. If Implicit Covenanting is absolutely necessary to the b•ing […] a particular Church, than Explicit Covenanting must needs be a good thing. The more Explicit men are in Confessing Christ, and owning his institutions, ⟨p. 42⟩the more do they Glorify him. Matth. 10.33. Mark 8.39 There is (as Mr. (n)Stone the famous Teacher of Hartford has observed) much of the Visible Glory of Christ appearing in the Explicitness of the Church Covenant, when men visibly bind themselves and their Children to Christ. That Explicit Covenanting was practised among Christians in the next ages to the Apostles, is Evident from Pliny (who lived Anno. 110) his Letter to the Emperor Trajan. Having Enquired into what was Customary in Christian Assemblies, He says that they did meet to Worship Christ, and that they did by an Oath bind themselves to attend the Discipline, that they would not allow of Adulteries, Thefts, Lying, or any Evil thing to be among them. We see in Justin Martyr, his Second Apology (who lived within fifty Years of some of the Apostles) that Christians were in those Days admitted into Church Fellowship, declared their Resolution in all things to Conform to the Word of God They did not only profess their belief of the Christian Religion, but promised to live accordingly. Apol. 2. p. 93, 94. Tertullian (o)in his Apology speaking of Plinies Letter but now cited, Expresseth the Practice of those Primitive Christians, by saying that they met together ad Confaederandam Disciplinam, which shows that they had both a Discipline and a Covenant amongst them, and clearly Explains the meaning of ⟨p. 43⟩Plinies Sacrament or Oath, which he affirms to be Practised in the Christian Assemblies. Commenius (p)informs us that in the Bohemian Churches such as were admitted to full Communion, made a public profession of their Faith before the whole Church, withal promising to live according to the rules of the Gospel. In the beginning of Queen E•iz. Reign, several Congregations in England, particularly those in Coventry, and in Northampton, did publicly profess Repentance for their Idolatry, and Promised Obedience to the Protestant Doctrine then restored and established; which Mr Robinson in his Answer to Mr. Bernard, p. 464 Supposeth to be the deed not of the whole Congregations, but of some Ministers, a few of their people joining with them.
7. If Implicit Covenanting is absolutely necessary to the b•ing 〈…〉 a particular Church, than Exp•icit Covenanting must needs be a good •hing. The more Explicit men are in Con•essing Christ, and owning his institutions, ⟨p. 42⟩the more do they Glorify him. Matth. 10.33. Mark 8.39 There is (as Mr. (n)Stone the famous Teacher of Hartford has observed) much of the Visible Glory of Christ appearing in the Explicitness of the Church Covenant, when men visibly bind themselves and their Children to Christ. That Explicit Covenanting was practised among Christians in the next ages to the Apostles, is Evident from Pliney (who lived Anno. 110) his Letter to the Emperor Trajan. Having Enquired into what was Customary in Christian Assemblies, He sayes that they did meet to Worship Christ, and that they did by an Oath bind themselves to attend the Discipline, that they would not allow of Adulteri•s, Thefts, Lying, or any Evil thing to be among them. We see in Justin Martyr, his Second Apology (who lived within fifty Years of some of the Apostles) that Christians were in those Dayes admitted into Church Fellowship, declared their R•solution in all things to Conform to the Word of God They did not only profess their belief of the Christian Religion, but promised to live accordingly. Apol. 2. p. 93, 94. Tertullian (o)in his Apology speaking of Plinies Letter but now cited, Expresseth the Practice of those Primitive Christians, by saying that they met together ad Confaederandam Disciplinam, which shows that they had both a Discipline and a Covenant amongst them, and clearly Explaines the meaning of ⟨p. 43⟩Plinies Sacrament or Oath, which he affirms to be Practised in the Christian Ass•mblies. Commenius (p)informs us that in the Bohemian Churches such as were admitted to full Communion, made a publick profession of their Faith before the whole Church, withall promising to live according to the rules of the Gospel. In the beginning of Queen Eiz. Reign, several Congregations in England, particularly those in Coventry, and in Northampton, did publickly profess Repentance for their Idolatry, and Promised Obedience to the Protestant Doctrine then restored and estabishd; which Mr Robinson in his Answer to Mr. Bernard, p. 464 Supposeth to be the deed not of the whole Congregations, but of some Ministers, a few of their people joyning with them.
- (n)In his Answer to Mr Hudson. p. 41.
- (o)Cap. 2. p. (Mihi) 13.
- (p)Histor. p. 46. et. in rat. ordin. p. 43, 46.
