Some things, therefore, are to be premised unto what shall be offered unto the right stating of this inquiry ; as, —
1. That if there be no more required of any, as unto personal qualifications, in a visible, uncontrollable profession, to constitute them subjects of Christ's kingdom and members of his church, Ezek. xxii. 26, but what is required by the most righteous and severe laws of men to constitute a good subject or citizen, the distinction between his visible kingdom and the kingdoms of the world, as unto the prin- cipal causes of it, is utterly lost. Now, all negative qualifications, as, that men are not oppressors, drunkards, revilers, swearers, adul- terers, etc., are required hereunto ; but yet it is so fallen out that • generally more is required to constitute such a citizen as shall repre- sent the righteous laws he liveth under than to constitute a member of the church of Christ.
2. That whereas regeneration is expressly required in the gospel to give a right and privilege unto an entrance into the church or kingdom of Christ, John iii. 3, Tit. iii. 3-5, whereby that kingdom of his is distinguished from all other kingdoms in and of the world, unto an interest wherein never any such thing was required, it must of necessity be something better, more excellent and sublime, than any thing the laws and polities of men pretend unto or prescribe. Wherefore it cannot consist in any outward rite, easy to be ob- served by the worst and vilest of men. Besides, the Scripture gives us a description of it in opposition unto its consisting in any such rite, 1 Pet. iii. 21; and many things required unto good citizens are far better than the mere observation of such a rite.
3. Of this regeneration baptism is the symbol, the sign, the ex- pression, and representation, John iii. 5; Acts ii. 38; 1 Pet. iii. 21. Wherefore, unto those who are in a due manner partakers of it, it giveth all the external rights and privileges which belong unto them that are regenerate, until they come unto such seasons wherein the personal performance of those duties whereon the continuation of the estate of visible regeneration doth depend is required of them. Herein if they fail, they lose all privilege and benefit by their baptism.
TBE SUBJECT-MATTER OF THE CHURCH. 13
So speaks the apostle in the case of circumcision under the law : Rom. ii. 25, " For circumcision verily proiiteth, if thou keep the law; but if thou be a breaker of the law, thy circumcision is made uncir- cumcision." It is so in the case of baptism. Verily it proiiteth, if a man stand unto the terms of the covenant which is tendered therein between God and his soul, for it will give him a right unto all the outward privileges of a regenerate state ; but if he do not, as in the sight of God, his baptism is no baptism, as unto the real com- munication of grace and acceptance with him, Phil. iii. 18, 19; Tit. i. 15, 16. So, in the sight of the church, it is no baptism, as unto a participation of the external rights and privileges of a regenerate state.
4. God alone is judge concerning this regeneration, as unto its internal, real principle and state in the souls of men, Acts xv. 8, Rev. ii. 23, whereon the participation of all the spiritual advantages of the covenant of grace doth depend. The church is judge of its evidences and fruits in their external demonstration, as unto a participation of the outward privileges of a regenerate state, and no farther, Acts viii. 13. And we shall hereon briefly declare what belongs unto the forming of a right judgment herein, and who are to be esteemed fit members of any gospel church-state, or have a right so to be: —
1. Such as from whom we are obliged to withdraw or withhold communion can be no part of the matter constituent of a church, or are not meet members for the first constitution of it, 1 Cor. vi. 9-11 ; Phil. iii. 18, 19 ; 2 Thess. iii. 6 ; 2 Tim. iii. 5; Rom. ix. 6, 7; Tit. i. 16. But such are all habitual sinners, those who, having prevalent habits and inclinations unto sins of any kind unmortified, do walk accord- ing unto them. Such are profane swearers, drunkards, fornicators, covetous, oppressors, and the like, " who shall not inherit the king- dom of God," 1 Cor. vi. 9-11; Phil. iii. 18, 19; 2 Thess. iii. 6; 2 Tim. iii. 5. As a man living and dying in any known sin, that is, habitually, Avithout repentance, cannot be saved, so a man known to live in sin cannot regularly be received into any church. To com- pose churches of habitual sinners, and that either as unto sins of commission or sins of omission, is not to erect temples to Christ, but chapels unto the devil.
2. Such as, being in the fellowship of the church, are to be admo- nished of any scandalous sin, which if they repent not of they are to be cast out of the church, are not meet members for the original constitution of a church, Matt, xviii. 15-18; 1 Cor. v. 11. This is the state of them who abide obstinate in any known sin, whereby they have given offence unto otliers, without a professed repentance thereof, although they have not lived in it habitually.