The tallacocusGroundof this Argumentof M G's. C.XV. Fir For difinembring the Body ofchrifl, "is it notthe LawofChrisi himfelfe; in everyparticular church,orbody ofhis, that as any oftheir membersputrifie and difcover themfelves to be rotten andcorrupt, they fhould be cut ofby the spiritu- al' fword ofexcommun{cation, anddoth notfuch a difinembring asthis ,rather tend to the honouring & adorning the Body ofChrifl,than any ?payer tomaime or deforme it ?And forfuch a difinembringofthe Body ofChrift which the Doarine inhandfuppofeth to becaufable by themembers' themfelves, by the voluntarydif- f aithingofthemfelves, throughfnne and wicltednefJe neither is the permion of this, uponfuch tearnaes as it is permitted, eitherunworthyChrifi, or inconveni- ent to theBody itfelfe. Reply. Firftthat there is no Argument will tolerably arife from what is praelica- ble and comely in a vifible Ecclefiafticall Bodyof Chrift, to the Myfticall_ Spiritual] Body; that is from a particular vifible, to theCatholike Churchof Chrift. Asto the matter inhand, this is evidentby the light ofthis tingle con. fideration, that in fuch an Ecclefiafticall body of Chrift, there are alwayes or maybe, andChrift himfelfe in therules andLawes that he hath given for the goverment thereofdid fuppofe that there alwayes wouldbe good, and bad, true saintsand empty profeffours; whereas inthe Body whereof we treater there is no foule a&ually inftated, but who is a&ually united to the head, by theinhabitation of the fame Spirit. There never was nor Ihall to eternity] anydead member be ofthat Body. Theyare all living (tones, built upon him who is the Foundation; nowCutely this is an inference attendedwithdark - nefíe tobe felt,becaufeit may be comely for thole towhom theAdininiftrati- one ofOrdinances in the vifibleChurchofChrift, is committed, to cut ofa dead member,from thememberfhip which he holds byhis confe(iion ofthe Faith, when he dilcovershimfelfe not to anfwer the confefiionhe hath made, inhis walking andConverfation; Therefore Chrift himfelfe, doth cut off, or on way, or other, bofe any living members ofhis body Myfticall, and a&u= allyby Faith inftated in the unity ofhis Body with him. And if it(hall be obje&ed that even living members and fuch asare truly fo, may yet for, and at a feafon,be cut off from a vifible particuar body ofChrift. I Anfwer, I. It is true, they may fo, in refpe& oftheir ordinaryprefent right to the enjoyment ofOrdinances,not in refpe&oftheir remote fundamental)Right that (till abides. 2. They are fo, or may befo, for their amendment,not for their deftru- etion. That feparationfor a feafonbeing an exprefhon of as much Love and tenderneffe to them in Chrift as his joyning of them to the Body was from whence they are fofeparated. And 3. This makesnot at all to the impairingofthe truecompleatneffe ofthe myfticall BodyofChrift,and the perfe&ion ofiis parts; for as in particular vi> fiblebodyes ofChrift there may be, and are dead members which have 'no place in the body, but areas excreffencyes in thevine, and yet the body is not rendred monftrous by them; . fo a true member may be removed and the Body not be maimed in the Ieaft. The member though perhaps , from any fuch vifible body, for a Ceafou and yet ; the true .Spiritual) ficke and pineing, continuing a member thereof Rill; Now there is no- thing ofall this that will in any meafure agree, to the pluckingoffa member from the Myticall Body ofChrift, whereofalone we fpeake, Ifany fhould be fo feparated, it muff not only bee to his prefent a&uall enjoyment ofIfni- on, but to the lofie of his Spirit allo, and with himofall right and title, plea; or claime whatever, to any intereft therein;' Neither is it polka e that it fhould bea meanes for the correftion and amendment of Inch anone; it ly- ing in adire& tendency to inevitable deftru&ion; feparation from all intereft 35r 4. 4"
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