The Preface. 3 refts, force advances may be made towards their Abate- ment. However ifthis may not be attained, yet Directions may be taken from the Difcoveryofthe Truth, for the ufe of themwho are willing to be delivered from all concern- ment in thefe fruitlefs endlefs contefts, and to reduce their wholePractice in Religion unto the Inllitutions, Rules, and Commands of our Lord Jefus Chrift. Andwhere all hopes ofa general Reformation feem to fail, it favours fomewhat ofan unwarrantable Severity, to forbid them to reform themfelves who are willing fo todo ; provided they admit ofno other Rule in what they fo do, but the Declaration ofthe Mind of Chrift in the Gofpel, carrying it peaceably towards all Men, and firmlyadhering unto the Faith once delivered unto the Saints. To make an Entrance into this Enquiry, the enfuing Difcourfe is deigned. And there can be no way of the Mannagement of it,but by a diligent impartial fearch into the Xature, Order, Power and Rule of the Gofpel Church ílate, as inftituted, determined and limited by our Lord Jefus Chrift andhis Apoflles. When we depart from this Rule, fo as not to be regulated by it, in all Inftances of Fact, or pleas ofRight that afterwards fell out, we fall in- to the confufion of various Prefumptions, fuited unto the Apprehenfions and Interefls ofmen, impofed on them from the Circumftances of the Ages wherein they lived. Yet is it not tobe denied, but that much Light into the nature of ,,Qpoflolical Inflitutions, may be received from the declared Principles andPraftices ofthe fzrfl Churches for the fpace of 20o years, or thereabouts. But that after this the Chur- ches did infenfibly depart invarious degrees from the fiat; Rule, and Order, oftheApoflolical Churches, mutt I fup- pofe be acknowledged by all thofe who groan under the final Iffue ofthat gradual Degeneracy in thePapal Autichri- flian Tyranny. For ?omewas not built in a day, nor was B 2 this
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