Vindication of the Government of New England Churches 2, Chapter 12
CHAP. XII. Of the admiſſion of members into the church.
THE doors of the churches of Chriſt upon earth do not by God's appointment ſtand ſo wide open, that all ſorts of people, good or bad, may freely enter therein at their pleaſure, but ſuch as are admitted thereto, as members, ought to be examined and tried firſt, whether they be fit and meet to be received, into church-ſociety or not. The eunuch of Ethiopia, before his admiſſion was examined by Philip, whether he did believe on Jeſus Chriſt with all his heart. The angel of the church at Epheſus is commended for trying ſuch as ſaid they were apoſtles, and were not. There is like reaſon for trying of them that profeſs to be believers. The officers are charged with the keeping of the doors of the church, and therefore are in a ſpecial manner to make tryal of the fitneſs of ſuch who enter. Twelve angels are ſet at the gates of the temple, leſt ſuch as where ceremonially unclean ſhould enter thereinto. 2 Chron. 23.19. Mat. 13.25. and 22.12. Acts 8.37. Rev. 2.2. Acts 9.26. Rev. 21.12. 2 Chro. 23.19.
2. The things which are requiſite to be found in all church members, are repentance from ſin, and faith in Jeſus Chriſt; and theſe are the things whereof men are to be examined at their admiſſion into the church, and which then they muſt profeſs and hold forth in ſuch ſort, as may ſatisfy rational charity that the things are there indeed. John Baptiſt admitted men to baptiſm confeſſing and bewailing their ſins; and of others it is ſaid, That they came and confeſſed and ſhewed their deeds. Acts 2.38 to 42. and 8.37. Mat. 3.6. Acts 1.9, 18.
3. The weakeſt meaſure of faith is to be accepted in thoſe that deſire to be admitted into the church, becauſe weak chriſtians, if ſincere, have the ſubſtance of that faith, repentance and holineſs which is required in church members; and ſuch have moſt need of the ordinances for their confirmation and growth in grace. The Lord Jeſus would not quench the ſmoaking flax, not break the bruiſed reed, but gather the tender lambs in his arms, and carry them gently in his boſom. Such charity and tenderneſs is to be uſed, as the weakeſt chriſtian, if ſincere, may not be excluded nor diſcouraged. Severity of examination is to be avoided. Rom. 14.1. Mat. 12.20. Iſa. 40.11.
4. In caſe any through exceſſive fear, or other infirmity, be unable to make their perſonal relation of their ſpiritual eſtate in public, it is ſufficient that the elders having received private ſatisfaction, make relation thereof in public before the church, they teſtifying their aſſents thereunto; this being the way that tendeth moſt to edification. But where perſons are of great abilities, there it is moſt expedient that they make their relations and confeſſions perſonally with their own mouth, as David profeſſeth of himſelf, Pſal. 66.16.
5. A perſonal and public confeſſion, and declaring of God's manner of working upon the ſoul, is both lawful, expedient and uſeful, in ſundry reſpects, and upon ſundry grounds. Thoſe three thouſand, Acts 2.37, 41. before they were admitted by the apoſtles, did manifeſt that they were pricked in the heart at Peter's ſermon, together with earneſt deſire to be delivered from their ſins, which now wounded their conſcience, and their ready receiving of the word of promiſe and exhortation. We are to be ready to render a reaſon of the hope that is in us, to every one that aſketh us; therefore we muſt be able and ready upon any occaſion to declare and ſhew our repentence for ſin, faith unfeigned, and effectual calling, becauſe theſe are the reaſons of a well grounded hope. I have not hidden my righteouſneſs from the great congregation, Pſal. 40.10. 1 Pet. 3.15. Heb. 11.1. Eph. 1.18.
6. This profeſſion of faith and repent…nce, as it muſt be made by ſuch at their admiſſion, that were never in church ſociety before; ſo nothing hindereth, but the ſame way alſo be performed by ſuch as have formerly been members of ſome other church, and the church to which they now join themſelves as members may lawfully require the ſame. Thoſe three thouſand, Acts 2, which made their confeſſion, were members of the church of the Jews before, ſo were they that were baptiſed by John. Churches may err in their admiſſion and perſons regularly admitted, may fall into offence. Otherwiſe if churches might obtrude their members, or if church members, might obtrude themſelves upon other churches without due trial, the matter ſo requiring, both the liberty of churches would hereby be infringed, in that they might not examine thoſe, concerning whoſe fitneſs for communion they were unſatisfied; and beſides, the infringing of their liberty, the churches themſelves would unavoidably be corrupted, and the ordinances defiled, whilſt they might not refuſe, but muſt receive the unworthy; which is contrary unto the ſcripture, teaching that all churches are ſiſters, and therefore equal. Mat. 3.1, 6. Gal. 2.4. 1 Tim. 5.24. Cant. 8.8.
7. The like trial is to be required from ſuch members of the church as were born in the ſame, or received their memberſhip and were baptiſed in their infancy, or minority, by virtue of the covenant of their parents, when being grown up unto years of diſcretion, they ſhall deſire to be made partakers of the Lord's ſupper; unto which, becauſe holy things muſt not be given to the unworthy, therefore it is requiſite, that theſe as well as others, ſhould come to their trial and examination, and manifeſt their faith and repentance by an open profeſſion thereof, before they are received to the Lord's ſupper, and otherwiſe not to be admitted thereunto. Yet theſe church members that were ſo born, or received in their child-hood, before they are capable of being made partakers of full communion, have many privileges which others (no… church members) have not; they are in covenant with God, have the ſeal thereof upon them, viz. baptiſm; and ſo if not regenerated, yet are in a more hopeful way of attaining regenerating grace, and all the ſpiritual bleſſings both of the covenant and ſeal: they are alſo under church-watch, and conſequently ſubject to the reprehenſions, admonitions, and cenſures thereof, for their healing and amendment, as need ſhall require, Mat. 7.6. 1 Cor. 11.27.