Fenner - Houston-Packer Collection BX5037 .F46 1651

ta dro2P /ie SAINTS. I 18 and what though Antichrif# bee Paid to fit in the Temple of God ? yet his Body is a Synagogue of Satan. There is no life in that Church. But to come neerer to our (elves. This may bee find of them, of our Churches too, and of our Congregations ; they have onely a Name to live, though wee might live well :enough ; for wee have the Doe-trine of Life, in many places, yet in regard ofour converfàtions for the moft part, wee may fay it is but onely a Nanie. For how does finne teigne among us every where, Coveteouf neffe, Profaneffe, fulneffe of Bread, Luff, Security, as it were in Noah, time, deadneffe of heart, Formality ; now where fuch times doe abound, there the power of godlinefíe muff needs be away ; generally our Affemblies content them- (elves with an outward profefficn, if they goe fo farre, they have but a Name to live. True, wee are a Church, fo was Sat-di( though thee had hardly any thing but aName, yet Thee was a Church, as Saint John ¡Lewes, wiJhsd in the Heusi of Jefus Chrifl, Revelations, 1..4,5, for they had a few Names that were fo, but the body had onely ahare name ; fo it is with us, wee are not nullifyed from being a Church, for God bath his chafen among us though they bee very few, here one and there one that live indeede and in truth ; yet the Bodies and Bulkes of our Congregations, have onely a Name, if that ; no Dilèipline, no good Order, no thorough Reformation, nay Cages of uncleane Birds ; nay hick as profefle better then the multitude, little better then titular and moral! Chriftians. Nay, are not all things almoft groyne to bee a foie Name What is the Preaching almoft but the bare Name of Prea- ching ? For converfion of Soules where is it ? the pulling people out of the Kingdome of Satan where is it ? a thou- find Sermons may be, and hardly one wrought upon ; wee may be Paid to be Fifhermen ; but it is turned only into a naine, for when doe we catch any ? $o for hearing of the Word. Trite, it is very common, and yet not fo common as it ought to bee, for many care little whether 6.

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