152 The Duty of Believers infli&ed on them, who comply not with them. So far as thefe perfwafionsb and a&ings according unto them, do prevail, fo far are they deftru&ive of the principal foun- dation of the external being and orderof the Church. But that mens joyning themfelves in, or unto any Church Society, is, or ought to be, a voluntary ac` , or an a& of free choice, in mere obedience unto the Authority and commands of Chrífl, is fo facred a truth, fo evident in the Scripture, fo neceffary from its fubje&matter, fo teflifyed unto by the pra&ice of all the firíl Churches ; as that it defpifeth all oppolition. And I know not howany can reconcile thecommon pra&iceof giving men the reputa- tion or reality of beingMembers of , or belonging unto this or that Church, as unto total Communion , who de- lire or chafe nofuck thing , unto this acknowledged principle. 5. There is a doublejoyningunto theChurch ; (t. )That which is,as unto total Communion in all the duties and pri- viledges of the Church, which is that whereof we treat. (2.) An adherence unto the Church, as unto the means of Inftru&ion and Edificátion to be attained thereby. So perlons may adhere unto any Church , who yet are not meet, or free on Come prefent confderation, toconfed rate with it, as unto total Communion ; fee Ad. 5.13, 14. And of this fort in a peculiar manner, are the Bap- tized Children of the Members of the Church. For al- though they are not capable of performing Church-Du- ties,or enjoying Church- priviledgesin their tender years ; nor can have a right unto total Communion, before the teflificationoftheir own voluntary content thereunto, and choice thereof; yet are they in a peculiar manner under the care and inlpe&ion of the Church , fo far as the out- ward adminiflration of the Covenant in all the means of it , is committed thereunto ; and their duty it is, accor- ding
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