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to
the Reader.
,
xi
fill',
men.
That
we
be
/ubjeft
to
principalities
and
powers,
and
obey
magrflrates.
And
that
Tit.
3.
r.
fill
of
all,
fupplications,
and
prayers,
and inter-
i
Tim.
2
cefons, and
giving
of
thanks,
be
made
for
all
i,
2.
men
:
For kings,
and
all
that
are
in
authority,
ï.
that
we
may
lead
a
quiet and
peaceable
life in
ail
godlinefs
and
bonefly
:
Cheerfully
allowing
to
them all
that the
fcriptures
of
the
old and new
teftaments,
and the confef-
fions
of
faith
of
the reformed
Churches
of
Chrift,
allow
unto
them
:
And,
whoever
have
taught,
or
held,
or
do
teach,
and
hold
the contrary,
whatever be
their preten-
lions and profeflioris,
are not
only,
not true
preshyterherns,
but,in
fo
far,
not
true
protell
ants
,
yea,
not
true
Chriflians ;
but
the difgrace,
fhame and
reproach
of
presbytery,
prote-
flanifm,
and Chriflianity,
fo
far
as
in
them
lies
.;
for
their
way
hath
a
manifeft
tendency
to
faften
fuch unwor-
thy
imputations on thefe interefts,
tho'
they
can caufe
no
inherent
blemifhes in
them,
no
more than
fogs
and mitts
can
do
in
the
fun,
albeit
they may
eclipfe and obfcure
its
glory.
Let
us
make
the
fuppofition,
that
the
apoftles
of
our
Lord
had
taught
fuch
dottrine,
as
force
very
few,
one
or
two,
have
of
late
taught,, and
do ftill teach
(which yet
we
cannot with any íhadow
of
truth
make;
for
thefe
di-
vinely
and infallibly
infpired
perlons
could teach
no
fuch
do&rive)
what
ground
of
jealoufy
and
prejudice
would
it
have given
to
all
the fecular
powers
of
the
world
a-
gainit
the
gofpel
of
Chrift
;
as
if
the
defign
of
it had
been
to
ruine
all
civil
authority,
and to inftigate
its
dif-
ciples to
root
out
all
civil magiftrates
and
rulers? How
would
it
have
let them
on, and
not
without
force
rea-
fon, with implacable fury
to
have,
by
all means,
Rifled
the
gofpel-
chriftian
Church,
in
the very
infancy
and
cradle
thereof
?
Whereas, the
do&rive
of
Chrift and
his apoftles
teaching.
no
filch
thing,
but
molt
clearly,
convincingly and
fully, the contrary
;
it
made
the civil
powers
their
perfecuting
its profeffors
utterly inexcu-
fable,'
and
their
fufferings
by them
to be
truly
glorious.
And
it
is
worthy
obefervation,
that
the
time
wIIrein
our
Lord
Chrift,
and
his apofties,
Paul
and
Peter, gave
thefe fore
-
mentioned commands and inftru
&ions
to
Chri-
ftians,
relating
to
their duty
to
the
fuperior
civil
pow-
B
3
ers