Confirmation and Restoration Necessary Means, Question
Queſt. Whether thoſe that were Baptized in Infancy, ſhould be admitted to the Priviledges proper to Adult Church-members, without Confirmation, or Reſtauration, by an Approved Profeſſion of Perſonal Faith and Repentance? Neg.
THough the diſtempers of the Churches of Chriſt in England, are not ſo great as the Popiſh adverſaries, or ſome diſcontented Brethren do pretend, nor as ſome inconſiderate lamenters of our condition do imagine, who obſerve leſs our enjoyments then our wants, and that have not the faculty of diſcerning our true Agreements, where there is any difference, but think that many things are wanting that are not, becauſe they cannot find them: Yet is our diſcompoſure ſuch as the wiſeſt have cauſe to mourn for, and all of us ſhould contribute our endeavours to redreſs. And for the accompliſhment of this bleſſed Work, two things muſt be done: The firſt is, to Diſcover the Principles that muſt Reform and heal us, if ever we be healed; and to acquaint the world with the neceſſary means. The ſecond is, to concur for the execution, in the application and uſe of the Remedie, when it is diſcovered. The firſt is a work, that is uſually done beſt by a few at firſt: Though the more Receive and Approve of the diſcovery, the better it will be brought into uſe. But it's here, ſaith Pemble, as in diſcerning a thing a farre off, where one clear eye will ſee further then many that are dimme, and the greateſt conjunction of unfurniſhed intellects affords not ſo much aſſiſtance for the Diſcovery, as the greater ſight of a few may do. But in the executive, part, there muſt be many hands to the work. If the Paſtours and people do not conſent, it cannot be accompliſhed; and if they barely conſent, and be not up and doing, Diſcoveries will lie dead, and nothing will go on: And if the Chriſtian Magiſtrate afford not his aſſiſtance, his Guilt will be great, and the work will go the more heavily on. Though all the body be not an Eye, and therefore be not as good at Diſcovering as the Eye is; yet muſt each member perform its own office, and none be idle, or withdraw its helpe, becauſe it is not an Eye; but all muſt execute by the Guidance of the Eye.
In order to the Diſcovery of the Healing Meanes, among others, this Rule is worthy our obſervation. If any Church Order, or adminiſtration ſeem offenſive to you, before you wholly caſt it out, conſider whether there be not ſomewhat that is neceſſary and excellent either in the ſubſtance, ☜or in the Occaſion and Reaſon of it: and you will find, that Reformation is to be accompliſhed more by Reſtauration of Ordinances and Adminiſtrations to their Primitive Nature and Vſe, then by the utter Abolition of them. Satan found it eaſier to corrupt the Ordinances of Chriſt, and to cauſe them to degenerate into ſomewhat like them, then to Introduce ſuch of his own as were wholly new, and as Chriſt had given no Occaſion of. I could give you very uſefull inſtances in many of the Popiſh adminiſtrations, which require a Reſtauration, rather then an Abolition, leſt that which is Chriſt's part, be caſt out with that which is mans, and we ſhould throw away the Apple which ſhould be but pared; and leſt we caſt away our neceſſary food, and moſt precious Jewels, becauſe they have fallen into Romiſh dirt. But my preſent buſineſs is to inſtance only in Confirmation and Penitence, ſo farre as is requiſite to the deciſion of the Queſtion now before us.
I know you will eaſily excuſe me from the needleſs labour of explaining any terms in the Queſtion which you underſtand already: I think the beſt method to lay the matter naked before your underſtandings, will be by approaches and degrees in the opening and confirming of theſe Propoſitions.