Carna cillansunhappy Condition. and are edefied ; they receive the pramife of Chrift, andarea cflablilhed ; they receive the forgiveneffa of fins by Chrifl,I and are eomfortud ; but carnali men like a company ofbro-1 ken cifternes, and withered branches, receive nothing from Chrift Jefus,Chrifl commeth among them in hisGofpell,but they receive him not ; he commeth to them byhis Minifters, but they receive not their witneflè, they (hut the doores of their hearts againl Chrift, he Elands without, and knocks, but they open not, they give him no entertainment. atilt ends hisfirength in vaine,and his labour for nought amongft them ; and by all thcfe things theymake manifeft their Ali- enation from the Church ofChrift, and all the fpeciall privi- ledges and prerogatives thereof. 469 CHAP. XII I. Difcourfz"ng ofthe unhappy condition, and impoffibility of theirfalvation n'ho are strangers to the true Church. THis difcovers the unhappy condition of' all carnali and unholy people, though they live within the pale of' the Church, yet they are all aliens to the Church; though they be in the Church, yet theyare not ofthe Church, as nail), hu- mours are in the body, yet no member, no part nor parcell of thebody; though they be Within theSchoole ofChrift, yet they are no true Difciplesof Chrift, they are like them of whom Saint 'Paul fpoakes, who are alwayes learning, and ' never conic to the knowleegeof the truth : Though they are within thepale ofCmrífts Orchard, yet they are butfalf'eflips, no Trees of Righteoufnef f of Chril}s planting : Though they be in Chrltt Sacramentally,yet they are but as deadmem- bers, or woodden legs in a body, or withered branches in a vine; wanting the Spirit ofChrift,theyhave no fpirituall life, fence, or moron in them : Though they take upon them the name ofChriit, yet they doe not partake of the nature of' Chrift, as blazing Starres have thename, but not thenature of Starres : Though they verbally profef c Chrift, yet they E e -3_ a sally Vnhappy con. dition of $ran- gers to the crue Church.
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