Chap. 3d Fifthly, By a fpecial care which he takes of bis Church, r Tim. 4. ra. Dr. Gouge on Heb. Qaeff. whether may our `Parochialflffembltes in England be called Churches ofCbrill, wherein there arefo manycorrupt perfons ? r/Ínfw. They may, and are true Churches. Look upon jerufaLm, Matth, 23 37. you fhalifee that the elevenTribes were Apditates : there were in it dumb dogs, Ifa.56. so. there were Scribes, and Pharifees Hypocrites, they had corrupt- ed the DcCIrine ofthe Lawwith their falfe gloffès : the Temple was made a den of thieves ; yet the Evangelift calls it the holyCity : and that . I. Becaufe there was the fervice ofthe true God in the: Temple , the Word preached, Sacrifices offered, the meetings ofthe Church ofGod. Becaufe as yet theyhad not received a bill ofdivorcement : So have not we the word of God preached, the Sacraments truly adminiftred, &c. andwhen cid the Lordgive usabili of divorcement ? and therefore to encourage us aaainft the cavills of the Separatifts, let us remember, I. That the word of truth is truely preached amonft us, which appears by the converfion ofthoufands, whereas never was any convertedby a word of reur, lam r.1 . a. That our Minifters areof God , becaufe by them fo many are begotten to God, Chrift thought it a good reafon when he faid, believe me that I canxe Out from the Father for the merits fake: the blind man faw this, joh. 3. Our meetings are.holy meetings : For I. Our people are outwardly called by an holy calling, and to an holy end. 2. They profefs faith inChrift, which is an holy profe;fion, and therefore in charity they are tobe judged Saints. 3. Congregations are called holy in Scripture, from the better part, not from the greater : asan heap of wheat mingled with charf, is called an heap of wheat : fo Cor.6.1 s. with chap.z.t e. 4. Mixt Congregations areholy in Gods acceptation, who efteems them , not as they are in themfelves , but as members of Quilt, Ifrael at the belt , was a fliffnecked people, ye Balsam faid, that God faw no iniquity in them, Numb.23.22. Queft. Nom ss the Church Gods peculiar ? Anfw. Firft , Becaufe Believers are the molt precious of men, even the molt noble upon earth : Hence Cant. 6.7. they are the fons ofGod,:brethren of Chrift, heirs of heaven. Secondly, In regardor God, they are a peculiar people, di(tin& from others, by the grace ofEleEtion,by which they are chofen out of the world, and ad- vanced in Gods favour above all others. Hence theyare called, an holy Nation ¿ the Spoufe of Chrift,thedauhgter of God, thechoiceofGod, andGods delight. Thirdly, in regard of their whole manner, and condition of life : Hence they are faid to dwell alone, and not to benumbredamongflthe Nations,Numbz3. ç. asfor inftanee , r. Their Original arenot force few families, coming out of fore corner of the Earth : but they fprung of Chill's, of whom all the families of.Heaven and Earth'are called. i. Their Countrey is not of the Earth : here they are Pilgrims, and Grangers: but Heaven is their home , from which they look for their Savi- our, Ephe. 3.1 5- 3. TheirKing is neither born, nor created,,but the everla(üng King of glory, who rulesnor force one Countrey,but fromSea toSea, &c. andnotfor an age, butfor ever. R r a .. Their about thé Church. 307 V.
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