Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

( 3 ) CHAP. I I. The Efpecial Original of the Evangelical Church State. OUR principal Concernment at prefent , is in the EvangelicalChurch-State ; or the State of Churches under theNew Teftament: For this is that about which there are many great and fierce Centefts amongft Chriftians, and thofe attended with pernicious Confequents and Effie&s. What is the Original, what is the Nature, what is the Ufe andPower, what is theEnd ofthe Churches, or anyChurch, what is the Duty ofmen, in it and towards it, is thefubje& of various contefls, and the principal occafion of all the Di- ftra&ions that are at this day in the ChriftianWorld : For the greateft part of thofe who judge themfelves obliged to take Careand Order about there things, having enterwoven their ownfecular Interefls andAdvantages,into fuck aChurch- State, as is meet and fuited to preferve and promote them; fuppofing rcpzo-p v éiváz 17;v ;UCT Eicov, or that Religion may be made a Trade for outward Advantage; they do openly feek the Deflrutlion of all thole,, who will not comply with that Church, Form and Order, that they have framed unto themfelves. Moreover frommens various conceptions and futable praá ices, about this Church-State, is Advantage and Occafion taken to charge each other with SchiJm, and all forts ofEvils which are fuppofed toenfue thereon._ Where- fore.

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