A survey of the Survey of that summe of church-discipline penned by Mr. Thomas Hooker ... wherein the way of the churches of N. England is now re-examined ... / by Samuel Rutherfurd ...

CHAP. XXII.

Whether profession makes a member of the Church visible. So Mr. H. pag. 60.

FOr the better understanding of the question, Church-right to membership, and to Ordinances and Seals must be consi∣dered.

1. As it is in, and referred to the professor himselfe; and then * 1.1 the question is upon what ground may the man himself chal∣lenge a room in the visible house, and the seals: now professi∣on, as profession is not a ground, for then a man should be for∣mally made a visible member, and be fed as one of the flock, and be externally called (which are finaliter, and in themselves saving mercies) because he professeth his desire to be fed, and to have the Gospel sent unto him.

But 1. there is no such word nor promise: (do this, and pro∣fess so and so, and you shall be made a visible member.)

2. To have right true and real to Membership and to Ordi∣nances, is to be called of God in a Church-way, from sin to grace and glory. So 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Church-visible, * 1.2 and the visibly called, are the same almost. Now no man hath right, true and real to membership and seals, and to be called of a God in a Church-way by the preached Gospel, because he professeth that he desires to be called; but the whole right and ground here is the Lords free grace, sending the Gospel to whom he will, Deut. 7. 7. Deut. 10. 14, 15. Psal. 147. 10, 29. Acts 16. 6, 9, 10. Acts 18. 6, 7, 8 9. Nor hath it a shadow of right in Scripture, that Macedonia and Corinth hath Church-right to the Gospel, and to be a Church, and to be the called of God, rather

then other people, Bythinia especially, at this time, because so Corinth shall profess the Gospel, before ever they hear the Gospel; but here the Lord hath mercy upon whom he will.

But 3. when the Gospel is come to a people, if the question be, what gives to this man, not to this man true real right to Membership, and Ordinances, and Seals, so as he may claim them before God and not sin: The meritorious right is Christs death, the condition upon his part is faith; hence visible profes∣sion as such cannot give right: for then might Magus say, I have right to a room in the visible Church, and to baptism, be∣cause I am a visible Saint: for that is an untruth.

1. If God forbid hypocrisie, and taking a room in the visi∣ble Church, and taking the covenant in the mouth, and recei∣ving the seals, when the party hates to be reformed, and eats and drinks unworthily, then cannot profession as profession give a man right true and real to room in the Church, and to the seals: but the former is true, Ps. 50. 16, 17, 18. Isa. 1. 12, 13. Matth, 22. 12. Matth. 13. 7.

2. Profession is in order to the Rulers and Members of the * 1.3 Church, which have hand according to their place, either for∣mal or tacit consent, to receive in members, here especially to be considered. And here our brethren mistake the question; for when the question is, what profession is required in such as the Rulers may without sin admit to membership and ordinan∣ces; we say a profession morally true, not real conversion judged to be real by men. Now this confession or profession do••h not make a Church-member, but declare a Church-mem∣ber, and it only declares him to the conscience of the Rulers, that they sin not in admitting such: but declares him neither to have right before God nor to his own conscience. Yea, for all this profession Magus sinned in being baptized, Magus usurped, and hath no true and real right, no not Ecclesiastick, except in a most unproper sense; the Church hath right and command to receive him to membership and seals, but he sins in occupying room in the house, and receiving seals, having no true right to membership and seals: it is scarce excusable (but it is among that godly mans errors) that Mr. H. saith, graceless men, as

Ishmael and Esau, have the best Right that can be to Ordinances, to wit, the command of God. But ah! Magus and such Come∣dians have no command to receive the seals, but conditional commands, If they believe; which they never do. I return to Mr. H.

Mr. H. Profession most frequently is a publick acknowledge∣ment to the truth delivered in the Word, and our resolution to per∣sist in the maintenance thereof, so it is used by distinction from practise; for an excommunicate person may so profess, yet it gives no formality to Membersh••p. 2. Profession is larger, and includes a suitable-carriage void of scandalous courses. 3. As it must not be too narrow, so it must not be too b••••ad; though one hold some errours out of infirmity, as Iustification by passive obed••ence onely—This hinders not, but he may profess the faith sa∣vingly.

Ans. Here be three notations of the word, no Scripture for * 1.4 any one of them. The fi••st is most frequent (saith he) and in∣cludes a resolution to maintain: But resolution, as such, is a se∣cret heart purpose; and profession must be visible.

2. Profession (saith he) is yet larger, and includes a suitable carriage of life. Say stricter, The species is not larger than the genus, or that which is as genus; man is not larger than animal a living creature.

3. Profession with some errors, should have been more wa∣rily delivered, left it set up toleration, the ruine of the one true Religion.

1. Profession, in Scripture, is rarely distinguished from Pra∣ctise; when it is differenced from it, then its condemned, 1 Tit. 1. 16. They profess they know God, but in works they deny * 1.5 him. Jam. 2. 14. What doth it profit, if a man say, he hath faith, &c? For 1 Tim. 6. 13. & 2. 10. Heb. 3. 1. & 4. 14. & 10 23. Matth. 16. 17. & 10. 32. it includes a holy practise. Now Mr. H. saith, The pinch of the question is, Whether such as walk in a way of profaneness, though otherwise professing and practising the things of the Gospel, have allowance from Christ, or may be counted fit matter, according to the terms of the Gospel. But sure this is a pinch of a question made of contradictions, Whe∣ther one walking in a way of profaneness, and yet not walking

in a way of profaneness, but professing and practising the things * 1.6 of the Gospel, have allowance to be the fit matter of a visible Church. A strange pinch!

2. Mr. H. takes allowance from Christ by his command, to be all one with being accounted fit matter of the visible Church by the Rulers; for the account must be of men, and the allowance of them as fit matter must be of Christ. But the truth is, there is no pinch of a question, Who a••e they that are fit matter of themselves in se & in••••insece, who have due right to Ordi∣nances, Seals? we say, onely sincere real professors. But the question is, Who are fit matter, having right to Ordinances in the account of Rulers and the Church, whether they have true right or not?

3. Allowance from Christ is ambiguous: for if it be referred to the Rulers, as Mr. H. seems to take them both for one; then the question must be, Whether Christ allow and command Ru∣lers to admit such as walk in a way of profaneness, that is, visi∣ble hypocrites, to be fit matter, having right to the holy things of God? that was never a question to either side, Whether Christ command to cast pearls to known swine? or the allow∣ance or command of Christ may be referred to the so walkers; then the question is as blasphemous, to wit, Whether doth Christ allow and command men to be gross hypocrites, and to take his Covenant in their mouth; though they hate to be re∣formed.

Mr. H. Profession conceived according to the compass of the ••••r∣m••n * 1.7 explication (adde a causal power with Baptism too) doth make a member of the visible Church, and a member of all Congrega∣tions in all the earth; the expressions of Mr. R. load me thus to c••nceive his meaning.

As. Then Mr. H. granteth, that his own conceptions, not my words (for he ought to have cited them) lead him.

2. I own no such explication of Mr. H. as I have shewn.

Mr. H. Profession lawful of the whole truth hindereth Mem * 1.8 bership; as suppose one believe mistakingly, all the Churches on earth are ill gathered, he dare not be baptized and made a Church∣member: If therefore profession hindereth Membership, as this doth, then is cannot constitute Membership.

Answ. I retort this Argument; forbearing of all known * 1.9 sins, and practise of known duties cannot constitute Member∣ship, as Mr. H. saith. For suppose one to be admitted a Chruch member, in a wicked mistake fall in an act of Adul∣tery, and to cover that in a known act of Murther, then can∣not practise more than profession constitute this visible Saint a member: for, that which opposes and hinders baptizing, and so kinders the formality of membership, that doth not help forward membership. So Mr. H. But such a practise blemished with Adultery and Murther, hindereth both one to be baptized, and to be made a member, for this practise will cast a man out; Ergo, it shall hinder him to be admitted a member. So also Mr. H. ibid. Arg. 2. pag. 92. So here, an erroneous profes∣sion of a Seeker, denying either Baptism, lawful Ministery, or right Churches to be on earth, until the Apostles arise again, constitutes not membership, but hinders it. Ergo, a sound profession gives not formality of membership, it follows not though Mr. H. conclude nothing against me.

Mr. H. That which giveth Membership to a party who had it * 1.10 not before, that can restore Membership when he hath lost it. But this cannot restore Membership. Now if Profession and Bap••ism were sufficient to do the deed, Baptism remaining the same as be∣fore his Excommunication, and now his profession being re∣newed, there is the whole formality of Membership, which is false.

Ans. 1. The Argument supposeth that I make bare profes∣sion separated from a non-scandalous practise, the formal cause of Membership: but if one renew his practical profession by Repentance, he is fit to be re-admitted a member.

2. There may remain in one excommunicate person,

1. Sound profession.

2. Evidences of Saintship in D••vid excommunicate, ex∣cept in the matter of Uriah.

3. A real purpose to adhere to the Church-covenant; yea, and all the three remain, and holy and blameless walking beside in a dissolved member. Ergo, the Church-covenant gives not formality to Membership; but the conclusion is contrary to Mr. H. Therefore the Minor is denied in the sense that Mr. R. * 1.11

holds of real profession, as is before declared.

Mr H. That which gives actual existence to a Member, must * 1.12 give interest to the whole actually existing, and therefore to some particular Congregation, for onely Individuals exist; and since * 1.13 such an individual person is a Member, he must have reference to the whole that doth actually exist: and this the general nature doth in the particular Congregations onely.

Ans. What is concluded, is not the present question, but it belongs to what follows.

2. Individuals onely exist firstly, and kindely; but the com∣mon * 1.14 nature of a man exists in Peter, in and with the Individual, and the nature of a Congregation exists in this or that Congre∣gation: but the nature of the whole integral Church, of which Peter is a member, as we shall hear, does no more exist in a Congregation, than the whole organick body existeth in the left hand: or the whole body of the Element of Water exists in a drop of the River Euplorates: But the Catholick integral visible Church, existeth in this or that Catholick integral visible Church. Nor doth that which gives actual existence to be a Member, give the same way ex••stence and interest to a totum, a whole integral body; the Thumb hath one way interest of ex∣istence to grow in the Hand, and another way interest of ex∣istence to grow in the body; and in all the parts of it, it is a member, or part of the hand, and also of the whole body, but the Thumb hath no possible interest of existence to grow in the head, in the leg. And so is Iohn a near and fixed member of the congregation of Boston, and a common and remoter member of the whole integral Catholick Churches of Hartford, of Cam∣bridge, of Norwich, and of all the congregations on earth: but it follows not, Ergo, Iohn hath an interest of ex••stence to be fed and to exist at one time in all the congregations on earth; as the common nature of man, of substantia, corpus, viv••ns, animal, homo, exists in all the individuals at once: It is wilde Logick, to put no difference between a whole integral, and the parts; and whole essential, and the parts subjective; or species and individuals: so as one integral member may exist at the same place where all the members exist.

Mr. H. That which equally belongs to all, that can make no * 1.15

particular appropriation to any out rather than to another: if a woman love all Christian men with Christian affection, she is not therefore a wife to this or that man, but this profession is equal and indifferent, as well to one, and to all, as to another.

Ans. All is granted; for we teach not that profession, as * 1.16 profession, makes a man a fixed and a married member of this Independent Congregation, rather than this: so that it shall be spiritual Adultery to partake of Church ordinances elswhere: we detest such a comparison destructive to Church-communion; for profession, as profession, declares the man to the Rulers to be a Church-member in all congregations on earth. It declares (I say as before) but does not as a formal cause make a Church-member, and it declares he hath right as a citizen of the visible Church, that Rulers without sin may admit him to Ordinances: but profession makes him not a member visible of onely this * 1.17 one congregation; yea, that one be a fixed member of this congregation, is, 1. An Affirmative command, not binding ad semper. Nor 2. does it tie, but as being a member of the Catholick Church, which is a confession of Christ before men. And 3. it is of providential conveniency for the more careful feeding, but not of divine institution or marriage tye.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A necessary discourse how profession gives right to membership, how not.
• * 1.2

  Profession as profession gives no pro∣•…•… right to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & mem∣•…•….
• * 1.3

  Profession in order to the Rulers, gives a sort of right in professors to membership and ordinances without sinne, which profes∣sors cannot re∣ceive without sin, except they believe.
• * 1.4

  Three accepti∣ons of the word Profession, scarce warran∣ted by the Word, are brought by Mr. H.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Par. c. 2. p. 20.
• * 1.6

  The state of the question about visible members is perverted by Mr. H.
• * 1.7

  Page 61.
• * 1.8

  Page 92.
• * 1.9

  Mr. H. his ar∣gument is, an erroneous pro∣fession consti∣tutes not membership, &c. a right profession doth not constitute membership.
• * 1.10

  Arg. 2.
• * 1.11

  Survey, par. 1. c. 4. P. 45, 46.
• * 1.12

  Page 92, 93.
• * 1.13

  Existentia est tantum indivi∣duorum.
• * 1.14

  Mr. H. mista∣kingly all a∣long maketh the Cath lick (integral) vi∣sible Church to be genus.
• * 1.15

  Par. 1. p. 63••.
• * 1.16

  Profession, as such, doth not make one a member married to one congregation onely.
• * 1.17

  Its not proper∣ly of divine institution, that a man be a fixed mem∣ber of this, ra∣ther than of this congrega∣tion.