Manuductio ad ministerium. Directions for a candidate of the ministry

Challenge for this People, a Power to Associate, or form Assemblies for the Worship of GOD our SAVIOUR, according to the Directions which they apprehend his Gospel has given them. Challenge for the Societies of this People, the Power to elect their own Pastors; which was one of the Last Things lost in the Robberies which the Man of Sin committed on the Temple of GOD. Challenge for these particular Churches, the Rights of Sacred Corporations, that have all the Needful Power of Self-Preservation, and Self-Reformation: Yet obliged in Things of common Concern, so far to act in Conjunction with other Churches Walking in the Faith and Order of the Gospel, as to Consult them, and be Directed and Restrained by them, on just Occasions.

For Communion in these Churches, and Admission to all the Privileges and Advantages of the Evangelical Church-State, I would have you insist upon it, That no Terms be imposed, but such Necessary Things, as Heaven will require of all, who shall Ascend into the Hill of the Lord, and stand in His Holy Place. Be sure to stand by that Golden Rule, Receive ye one another, as CHRIST has received us unto the Glory of GOD; That is to say, Those of whom it is our Duty to Judge, that our SAVIOUR will Receive them to His Glory in the Heavenly ⟨p. 127⟩World, we ought now to Receive unto all the Enjoyments of our Christian Fellowship: And let the Table of the Lord have no Rails about it, that shall hinder a Godly Independent, and Presbyterian, and Episcopalian, and Antipedobaptist, and Lutheran, from sitting down together there. Corinthian Brass would not be so bright a Composition, as the People of GOD in such a Coalition, feasting together on His Holy Mountain. I wish, they do not see the Fate of Corinth, to compel them to it!— Tho' in the Church that I serve, I have seen the grateful Spectacle! — This I must say; A Church that shall banish the Children of GOD from His Holy Table, and shall exclude from its Communion those that shall be Saved, merely for such Things as are Consistent with the Maxims of PIETY, does not exhibit, The Kingdom of GOD, unto the World, as a Church ought to do. Churches that will keep up Instruments of Separation, which will keep out those that have the Evident Marks and Claims of them that are One with CHRIST upon them, are in Reality but Combinations of Men, who under Pretence of Religion, are pursuing some Carnal Interests. Their Diana is very Visible! Tis a Complicated Profanity and Hypocrisy, that these Churches are to stand indicted for. It is to be lamented, That more Churches than One have the Guilt of a very sinful Schism to be charged upon them, for their Chasing from their Communion, and the annexed Encouragements and Emoluments, many of the Righteous Nation, which have the Gates of Heaven standing open for them: and yet such is the Mystery of Iniquity, that at the same time they make Outcries of Schism, against the Conscientious People,