The Gofpel of the Sin-Ofering. 251 and unchurched, . and which (hall never be reftored any more. Be- hold the Church of Rome. It was once a true Church, and the Paftor thereof a true Minifter, when Paul wrote his Epiftle to the Romans fixteen hundred Years ago : But now, fo far declined from their firft Eftate, and from the Primitive and Scripture Pattern, That the Churck of Rome is become the Whore of Babylon, and the Bi/hop of Rome the Head of that Church, is Antichrifi. See Rev. 13. They are fet forthun- der the Notion of two wild and venomous Beafts the firft Beaft in that Chapter, which bath ten Horns, &c. is the Church of Rome ; the fecond Beaft with two Horns, is the Pope of Rome : The firft is Baby- lon, and the fecond Antichrift. The truth is, they have erred fo far, that (except the Church of the Views, when they crucified Jefus Chrift) I think there was never any Church that erred fo much, as this Church that pretends they cannot err. 4. Inftruaion. That the Elders and Publick. Perfons afí, and are to aft for the People. For the Elders are to lay their Hands upon the Peoples offering, Verf. 15. That is, as their Agents and Reprefentatives. The People are riot to think themfelves meerly Paffive, in what their Elders and Rulers do : no, believe it, you are more concerned than fo. Their as involves the People, which gives a juft Account of God's fending Publick Calamities upon the People, for the Sins of their Rulers : For what the Parliament do, the People do. The Method of Providence is often thus. Firft the People Sin, and provoke God to Anger, then he leaves their Rulers to Sin for their fakes, and then comes Wrath. For while there is a Phinehas, a Yofiah, they Rand in the Gap, and ftave off Publick Judgments it may be all their Days : But when they are gone, or if they Sin too, this opens a Gap for Publick Judgments to break in upon the People. See z Sam. 24. i. And again the Anger of the Lord was kindled againft Ifrael, and he moved David againft them, to fay, go number Ifrael and Judah. Ob- ferve the Method ; firft God is angry with lfrael for their Sins, then he moved David their King to Sin, and then comes the Plague. When things go amifs, and thePublick Affairs donot profper, People are very apt tobe difcontented with their Rulers and Magiftrates, and to fay, that it is their Fault. But if they do amifs, you fhould confider why God leaves them to it: It is often for the Sins of the People. It would better become PrivatePerfons to reflect upon themfelves, and upon their own Sins, and their own Unworthinefs, than to Work out in Difcontent againft thofe that God hath fet over them. 3. The third Law of the Sin-Offering is, Concerning the Blood there- of ; There is a threefold difpofal of it appointed by the Rule in this Chapter, t. The ver. 5,_6, 7. K k 2
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