Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

(78 ) dal barbarous Science of theCanon Lau), have proceeded, asare enough to fill a fober rational man with aftonifhment, how it could ever enter intothe minds ofmen to fuppofe, that they can poffibly have any Relation unto this Divine Inftitution. Thofe who are not utterly blinded with Intereft and Prejudice,wholly ignorant of the Gofpel, and the mind of Chrift therein, as alfo Strangers from the Practiceof theDutieswhich it requires, will hardlybelieve, that in this Context our LordJefus Chrift defign- ed to fet up, and ereâ anEarthly Domination in, and over his Churches, tobe adminiftredby the Rules of theCanonLaw, and the Rota at Rome. They mull be fpiritually mad and ridiculous, who can give the leaft entertainment unto fuch an Imagination. Nor can the Difcipline ofany Diocefan Churches, adminiftred in, and by Courts and Officers, foreign to the Scripture, both name and thing, be brought within theview of this Rule; nor can all the Art ofthe World, make any application of it there- unto : For what fome plead concerning Magill or Arbitra- tors, theyare things which men would never betake themfelves unto, but only to evade the force ofthat Truth which they love not. All this is fallen out by mens departing from the Sim- plicity ofthe Gofpel, and a contempt ofthat fenfe ofthewords of the Lord Jefus, which is plain and obvious untoall who de- fire not only to hear his words, but alfo to obferve his Com- mands. jdly. Our third Argument is takers from the Nature of the Churches instituted by. the Apoftles and their Order, as it is ex- prefid in the Scripture. For they were all Of them Congregati- onal, and ofnoother fort. This the enfuingConfiderations will make evident. F. There were many Churches planted by the Apofiles invery inall k rovinces. Not to infift on the Churches of Galatia; Gal. r. 1. concerning which it is no where intimated, that they had any one Head or Mother Church , Metropolitical, or Diocefan. Nor of thole of Macedonia, diflinF from that ofThilippi,where- of we have fpoken before ; upon the firft comingof Paul after his

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