Book IV. THE CHURCH COMPARED TO A FAMILY, &c. 699 I N F E R E N C E THIS thews, that the Church of God arc a choice and peculiar People, fuch who have given up themfdves in the Order and F~Uo~O>ip of th<; Gofpel, walking to– <>ether in Love, as a holy, reltgJous, and umted Famdy, accordmg to the Order and Difcipline Chrifl: hath left in his Word, having fweet Acquaintance and Int1macy one with another. And now to conclt1de with this Head, from the Whole we may infer, 1 • That God's Church is mofl: clear and precious in his Sight, or a People that he 'bth mofl: choice Love and AffeCtions to, and takes great Care of. 2. That the Church of God, under the Gofpel-Difpenfation, is not National, Pa– rochial, &c. 3· That the Church of God are a People feparated from the World, in refpect of the Worlhip, Traditions, aod finful Cuftomi thereof, &c. Non-conformity to the World in thefe refpeEts is an indifpenfible Duty: Be not conformed to this World, Rom. xii. 2. Come out from amongft them, and be ye feparated, faith the Lord, and touch not the unclean 'Thing, &c. 2 Cor. vi. '7· 4- That the true Church of God is a Number of fin cere and godly Chrifrians, who have folemnly cov"nanted, and given up themfelves, to walk in the true Order and Fellowfhip of the Go!j>d, according to the exact Rule of God's Word, amongfl: whom the Word of God is truly preached, and the Sacraments are duly and in a right Man· ner ad:niniGered. · 5· That God's Church hath many Enemies, and yet in defpite of them all, Ohall abide, and the Gates of Hell Ohall never prevail againfl: her: And thouo-h for a Time file may be low, and under great Sufferings, yet fi1e fi>all arife to a gr~at Degree of Giory in the !otter Day. Mctap!1ors,
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