Will you have the _Ancient men of a Congregation, that have for divers years been partakers of the Sacrament, come now in their Old Age to be Examined; will you have Noblemen, and Rich men, and Aldermen_, &c.
We have formerly declared, That the Presbyteriall Government doth not precisely require of those that come to the Sacrament, _That they should first be Examined by Questions and Answers: But if any man shall make a good profession of his Faith, in a continued discourse, without being asked any Questions, it will be accepted, as well as if they were Examined by particular Questions._
2. We have likewise shewed the Reason why Ancient men and women, that have formerly been admitted, are required to submit to Examination, before they can be again admitted, &c. We have intreated you, to distinguish between a _Church-reforming in Discipline, and reformed_: When a Church is once reformed, and members admitted by Examination of the Eldership, there will never be any necessity of coming afterwards to Ministers and Elders, for re-admission; (unless it be in case of excommunication.) But in a Church reforming, as ours is, when all sorts have formerly been admitted, without any Distinction, then _Old men_ must be willing to give an account, as well as _young men_, and _rich men_, as well as _poor_: Because,
1. Old men and rich men are found to be _ignorant_, and to prophane the Sacrament, as well as _young men_, and _poor men_.
2. In Gospell-administrations God is no respecter of persons; neither must his Officers be, if they would be found faithfull in their places; _It is not gray hairs, nor silken coats; but knowledg, faith, repentance, love and thankefulness, will qualifie a man for the Sacrament._
3. If old men and rich men are more gracious and knowing, then others, their good examples will be mighty incouragements, to draw on the younger, and poorer sort. And wherein can _Noblemen, and Richmen, express their thankfulness to God, for his distinguishing mercies towards them, better, then in becoming patterns and presidents to others, in their ready obedience to the will of Christ_, in this particular?
We are willing to come to the _Minister alone_, to be examined; But we will never come before the _Ruling-Elders_.