far as men
can judge. If persons declare their knowledge of God and faith in Christ
in such a manner, and apparently by such a spirit as evidences some
sense and feeling of what they do declare, church rulers may be much
helped in forming a right judgment of them, that they are fitted by God
for church-membership. If they do seriously profess, that what they do
is in obedience to the will, and, as they judge, to the call of Christ
as their indispensable duty;--that they join in church fellowship to
meet with and enjoy God, to receive out of his fulness to enable them to
perform all duties, and to conform their hearts and lives in his will to
all things;--such persons may undoubtedly be accounted worthy members,
and admitted as such.

_Quest_. What are the duties of church members towards one another?

_Ans_. I. The greatest is love; love and spiritual affections are the
holy cords which tie the hearts, souls, and judgments of believers
together. This is that which, together with the fear of God, makes them
avoid all things that may give just offence or grief to one another, and
that which provokes them to follow after the things that make for peace
and edification. Love is the bond of peace. It is that which, together
with divine light and truth, causes church members to draw together as
in one yoke, and unanimously as with one heart and soul to design, aim
at, and carry on mutual and common good in the church. Without this they
cannot, they will not cement, nor long abide and live together as a
church, in peace and unity, nor promote any good work among themselves.
Without heart-uniting love they will receive and entertain jealousies
and suspicions one of another, and put the worst construction on
whatever is said or done; and they cannot walk together comfortably and
profitably when these are entertained. Therefore it is absolutely
necessary for all church members to be firmly united in cordial love and
charity, which is the bond of perfectness to and in all other duties.
God highly commends and strictly commands this love one to another, and
puts it into the heart of his peculiar people, that they may do what he
commands.

1. God highly commends it wherever he finds it in act and exercise; 1
Thess. iv. 10, "and indeed," says he, "ye do it towards all the
brethren." To this duty, and to manifest his high approbation of it, God
hath promised a great reward, Heb. vi. 10.

2. God commands it and vehemently exhorts t