2 38 The Öld and New Covenant. Chap.; t To gather Churches out of Churches to make up one ,Congregation out of many is unwarrantable. -Ojea. Sol. Fifthly, To gather Churches out of Churches, to make up one congregation ofMetnbers appertaining to and locally feated in many , is moil anti - Scriptural. It were eafie to bring abundant arguments againft this prataice. The diforderly confufion which of neceffity it doth occafion: The weakening of the work of God in the place where Providence bath feated them, and con- ferred many mercies upon them: The robbing of Paftours of their flock, fpiritual Parents of their children, (who they canfeffe are of ufe to fit men for fuch a new congregated way that is to be- get them by the Gofpel to Chrift Jefus ; but unfit to inftru& or build them:) The animofity of Spirit that is wrought in thefe fe- parating ones , judging them whom they leave as no Miniflers of Chrift, nor their Congregations any Churches of Chrift with- drawing from thence, where Chrift is pleafed to keep refidence. But letting thefe paffe, I (hall only urge this,that it is without all Scripture- prefident, or example, to gather up one Church (as thefe pretend)out of the cream and quinteffence of many Church- es. There was much amiffe in feveral of the Churches of A i< ;; Philadelphia it appears was the foundeft , yet the Saints they left not butheld communion with the feverall Churches where by providence they were placed, and did not pickup one out of all, as a Church in eminence of purity and glory;neither there or elfe- where bath there been found any fuch pra&ice. 1 know but one inftance of this kinde that is pretended , that is John Baptift, who while the Church of the Jewes flood a Church of God ; yet he gathered a Church out of them, as is objeted , and did em- body them. To this I might have much to anfwer. t. John Baptift fet up no new Church diftina from the Church of the Jewes ; Chrift and his Apoliles fubmitting to that which John did introduce, yet ftill held communion with the Church of the Jewes ; they were not Members at once of two diftin& Churches; of the new , becaufe more refined and of the old tainted and corrupted. 2. If John Baptifl according to duty fet up a new gathered Church in a Church of Chrift; then all the Prophets from Samuel to John the Baptifl , fell thort of duty. If they follow John in what he did , we follow all the Prophets and Apofties in what they did ; all the Prophets till John , did prophefie in the fame Church of Chrift, and not any of them did (et up new Churches. 3. The
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