Obieïfions takenfrom teeimonies ofScriptasre,anfirerec& yc z The eightplace obiec-ted is Iob. r. 5.2. aeriebranch that § Sec `.5. beareth not fruste in mee bee taketh From which tohn i S.a. place they thus reafon : All the branches which are in Of truead Chrif} are eleòted and indued with true faith : but force "inf." tray- branches which are inChrift bearing not fruite, are cut from cbes. hisbodie,and fo periíh:therefore forcewho are elected, and induedwith faith,may be feuered from, Chriii and fo perilh. I anfwere,that the propofition is falfc;for abranch inChrift is nothing elfe but a member of the Church, and both of them generally vnderflood,doe fgnifie fuch an one as is out- wardly admitted into the Church, which is the bodie of Chriff,by the Sacrament ofbaptifrne, andbeing outwardlie called by the tninifterie of the word, doth make profeflìon ofthedoìrine offaith therein taught, and communicateth in the vie ofthe Sacraments. And fogenerally to be ingraf- tedinto Chrift, is° tobee ioyned as a member to thevifible Church. Now as oftnembers,fo alto ofbranches there are two forts; for foine are notonly ioyned to thevifible Church by the Sacrament ofbaptifine, andbyan outwardprofeflìon ofthe faith, but alto are truely vnited vnto Chrift their head, and ingrafted into the inuiGble Church by the fpirit ofGod andaliuely faith, and fo communicating of the life and ver- tue which is in Chrift their head, and lucking lively- iuyce from this diuine and holie roote, doe liue in him andbring forth the fruites ofgodlinefie and righteoufneffe. And who- foeuerare thus ingrafted into Chrift Iefus, they (hall euer remaine fruitfull branches, andbee neuer cut offandwither, nay rather Chrift the goodhusbandman wil purge and prune them, and continually water themwith the dew ofhis grace and holy fpirit, ÿ they maybring forth fruit inmoreabun- dance, as it is in thisplace. So he faith, verf. r6. that whom he bath chofen, hee bath ordained that they fhould bring forth fruite, and that their fruit fhouldnot fade and wither, but remaine, and continuallie flourifh like a tree planted by a riuer ofwaters,as it is lnfalm. z .3 . P(alm. ;. But thereare other members and branches which areon- 4,äE'ci.6. ty intertained into the vifible Church,and accountedmem- bers thereof, becaufe they haue receiued the facrament of baptifrne,.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=