( 39) ny Nations, in the coming of Chrift, whereunto this Church-State was fubfervient. (z) The Lawof God itfelf, and the Inffitutions thereof, which God appointed to be obferved in all their Generations, calling the Covenant, the Statutes and Laws of it, perpetual and ever/ailing; that is never to ceafe, to be abrogated or difannulled, until by his own Soveraign Authority he would utterly change and take away that whole ChurchState, with all that belonged unto its Conffitution and Prefervation. z. The Means of its continuance were three. (r) Car-, nal.Generation , and that on a twofold account. For there were two Conffituent Parts of that Church, the Priefls and the People ; the continuation of each of them depen- ded on the priviledge of Carnal Generation. For the Priefis were to be all of. the Family of Aaron , and the People of the Seed of . Abraham by the other Heads of Tribes, which gave them both their foundation in,. and Right unto this Church-State. And hereunto were annexed all the Laws concerning the Integrity, Purity , and Legitimacy of the Priefls, with the certainty of their Pedegree. (z) Circur- càjon; the want whereof was a bar againff any advantage by the former Priviledge. of. Generation from thole twos Springs ; and hereby others alfo might be added unto the Church, though never with a Capacity of the Prieffhood. (3) The Separation of the People from the reff of the World, by innumerable Divine Ordinances, making their Coalition with them, impoflible. From thefe Caufes and by thefe Means it was , that tire Church-State under the Old Teffament was preferved _unto its appointed feafon. Neither the outward Calamities that befel the. Nation , nor the fins of the generality of the People could defiroy this Church State, but it continued its Right and exercifè, unto the rime of Reformation. And if it be not fo if there be not Causes and Means cAr.t?io i
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