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CHAP. VI. Quest. 2. Whether PROFESSION makes a man a member of a Congregation.
Answ. We shall first inquire the meaning of the Question and the intendment of M. R. and so lay down the state thereof in the severals of it.
2. Then give in our Arguments why we cannot give our consent to this tenet.
I.
THe meaning of rhe question will best be discovered by our inquiry of the nature of profession, what it implies, and how it is taken in this discourse.
1. PROFESSION in the most frequent and familiar appre∣hension, signifies the publike manifestation of our assent to the doctrine of Faith, as in the word delivered and received by us, and our resolution to persist in the maintainance of the same. And then it is commonly used in a way of distinction from PRACTICE. And thus we say many professe fair, but their practice answers not their profession. And in this sense I suppose he doth not, nor indeed can he take profession, as serving his purpose.
For an excommunicate, who is cast out of the Church for his sinfull carriage, may notwithstanding in his judgement avouch all the truths of Scriptures, and outwardly desire to enjoy all Gods ordinances, and yet this gives him no formality of mem∣bership, because he may have all these and be cut off from mem∣bership.
2. Profession is yet larger, and includes also a sutable carriage in the life, so far as the profession which is made, is void of scan∣dalous courses.
3. As Profession must not be too narrow, so we must be care∣full not to make it too broad, as to exact more then is compe∣tible in truth unto it. Namely Such a profession of the faith and