( 8a ) with the natureof the Gofpel Church State. . z. In and among all thefe Churches,there was oneand the famefpirit one (lope of their Calling,oneLord, one Faith,one &aptifm, whence they were all,obliged mutually to feek and endeavour the Good and Edification of each other; To be helpful to one another in all things, according unto that which any ofthem had received in the Lord. This they did by Prayer, byAdvice and Counfel, by Meengers fent with Salutations,Exhortations ,Confolations,fupplies for the Poor, and on all the likeoccafions. By thefe means, and by the exercife of that mutual Love and Care which they were ob- liged unto, they kept and preferved ?Jnity and Communion among themfelves, gave a common Teftirnonyagainfl any -thing that in Doctrine or Pra&ice deviated from the - Rule and Difcipline of Chrifl. This Order with Peace and Love thereon, continued among them, until Pride, Ambition, De- fire ofRule and Preheminence,in Diotreplies, and a multitude of the fame fpirit withhim; began to open a door unto the entrance of the Myftery of Iniquity, under pretence of a bet- ter Order, than this which was ofthe appointment ofChrifl. 3. It mull be acknowledged, that notwithflanding this Equality amongall Churches, as unto their State and Power, that there were great Differences between them, fome real and fome in Reputation, which not being rightly managed, proved an Occasion of evil in, and unto them all. For in- fiance; I. Some were more eminent infpiritual Gifts than others. As this was a Priviledgc that might have been greatly im- proved unto theHonour of Chrift and the Gofpel, yet we know how it was abufed in the Church of Corinth,and what Diforders followed hereon fo weakfandfrail are the bent of men, fo liableunto Temptation, that all `Freheminence is dangerous for them, and often abufed by them; which I confers makes menot a little admire to fee men fo earneftly pleading for it, fo fearlefly afîumin`; it Tinto 'tl.emiLlves, fo l "i z fiercely
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