,`-- 324 The needof this. dude that the Gifts and Holinefs of the Paflors is a very excellent andneedful help , to the peoples fetled Piety and Peace : And that where this help is wanting, that ordinary means is wanting , by which God ufeth to convey thisble(fìng. I have met with many who are either infuf d cient or ungodly themfelves , er are guilty of bringing fuch into theChurches, who ufe tomake very light of this , and fay , God is not tied to mens goodnefsor abilities in diftributinghis gra- ces : which is true, but nothing to the purpofe He is not tiedby any force or neceffity; nor is he fo tied as that he cannot do other wife : But yet this is his ordinaryway of working : which bath made it a maxime, that as to means, Infuafedgrá. ces are obtained in the fame way as acgnired rifts And let the contrary minded anfwer me thefe quelions. Firíl, If it be only theOffice of the Miniflery, and not the Gifts and graces that are ordinarily needful to their fuccefs, why doth Religion de- cay andperish in all parts of the wrorld,where the Giftsand Graces of the Miniffers decay ? Why are almof} all the Greek Churches, the Arme- nians, the Ruffians, the Abaflians, fo lamenta- bly ignorant ? and moa ofthem as vicious as ig- norant ; info much that the notorious wicked nefs of their lives, and contemptiblenefs of their underflandings, doth keep Chriflianity out of moll of the Heathen and Infidel Nations of the world, that are acquaintedwith them ? and kee- peth up the reputation of Mahometanifm and Heathenifm. Is not the experience of all the Chriflian world a fufkient proof ? The Greeks and
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