Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

(17) mull be effeemed to have a greater Glory given unto it by thehandof men,than the other had,in that it was inflituted by God himfelf; for a greater Glory it bath, as the Apoftle teftifieth. Neither can any man, nor dareth any man alive, to giveany Inftance in particular, wherein there is the leaft defect, in the Being, Conftitution, Rule and Government of the Gofpel-Church-State, for want of Divine Inflitution; fo as that it fhoúld be necefiary to máke a fupply thereof, by the Wifdom and Authority of men. But thefe things will be more fully fpokenunto, afterwe have declaredWho it is, who hath divinelyinftituted this Church State. 3. The Name of the Church under the New Teftament , is capableof a threefold Application, or it is taken in a three- fold Notion. As (i) For the Catholick invifble Church,or Society of Elea Believers, in the whole World, really re- lated by Faith in him, unto the Lord Jefus Chrift, as their myftical Head. (z) For the whole number of vifible Pro- feffors in the whole World, who by Baptifm and the out- ward Profeffion of the Gofpel and Obedience unto Chrifi, arediftinguifhed from the reft of the World. And (3) for fuch a {late, as wherein the Wor,jhip ofGod is to be celebrated in theWay and Manner by him appointed,and which is tobe ruled by the Power which he gives it, and according to the Difcipline which he hath ordained. Of the Nature of the Church under thefe diftindt Notions, with our Relation unto either, or all of them, and the Duties required ofus thereon, I have treated fully in my Difcourfe of Evangelical Love andChurch `Peace or Vnity, and thither I muli remit the Reader. It is the Church in the latter fenfe alone, whole Original we now enquire after. And I fay, q.. The Original of this Church fate, is direaly, imme- diately and folely from refus Chrifl, He alone is the Author, Contriver and Inftitutor ofit. When I fay it is immediately and folely from him, I do not intend, that in, and by his D own

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