Cortris's Sersmom, 373 Churches ofChrist, is a reverend holy th:ng , even ofthat that is a true C hurch : Ti s aweighty Argument, when the Apoftle faitir, We have noftseh Coftome nor the Churches cf Chrift : And therefore I:do fully clofe w ith him that Paid, No fober man will goagainh Reafon : No Chriftian againft the Scripture and no peaceable minded man aginft the Church : But then the Church muff fhine by a Divine Scripture Light : If that be a rule, it muff be ruled by the Scripture; the Churches power is not Authoritative, as to give Laws againft the Laws of Chrift 5 it's only Tilinifterial : we do believe the Scripture for it felf, and not becaufe of the Church ; we receive the Scripture by the Church : Hence therefore when we fet up the name ofa Church, let us fee-whether that Church walks in the way of Chrift, whether thee behis Spoufe or no, whether the cloth ad according to his Inftitutions, whether they bring- his light; yea or no ; then fubmit ; for it is not that a Church pra&ifes, but what they are warranted to praetife : not what they hold for a truth, but what they are warranted toilette' as the -word of truth., The word was written after the Church ; but as iris the word-of God its before it. This therefore will break the fnare if you be fet upon by the fpecious name of theChurch ; look that the Church bath war- rant from S; ripture Inftitution, and then fubmit to Church in-a- flitution. A fecond Rule I obferve men would fet up to betray poor fouls from the faith once delivered to them ,is Antient Cullome Our Fathers worfhipped in this Mountain) when they would hold forth that which theScripture is fhort in, they wfll fend us to fuchand fuch Cutlomes, of fo many hundred years handing. It is to be bewailed that thedate,the handing ofthe falfe Dodrines and falfe worships is fo antient; for though at firft they were but Innovations, yet to fucceeding Generations they become old : And tis a very truth, that That is the moll antient is the moil true, and therefore there lies a great fnare in this Therefore when Antiquity is pretended, if 3 ou find not their hoaryheads in the wayof Righteoufneffe, there is little reafon for you to reverence them, or complywith them;no more then therewas reafonfo fuddenly to be taken with the Gibeonires mouldy bread, and clouted (hoes: When matters of Antiquity arepretended, fay as Ignatims,7efos Cbriftm eft ?ma Antiquitar, efus Chrift is my Antiquity; fo fay, Truth is my Antiquity : for though an opinion , have been pradifed a thoufand years, yet men may have the word of truth in their hearts that is antieriter then all S f 2
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