Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

154- The Duty of Believers tion, with refpea unto thefe particular Churches or Socie- ties for the celebration of Gofpel-worfhip andDifcipline, whereof we treat. And I fay, i. No Church, of what denomination foever, can lay a claim unto this Priviledge , as belonging unto itfelf alone. This was the antient Donatifm g They confined Salvation unto the Churches of their Way alone. And af- ter many falfe charges of it on others, it begins really to be renewed in our days. For force difpute, that SaIva- tion is confined unto that Church alone, wherein there is a succeffion of Diocefan Bifhops ; which is the height of Donatifr. The Judgments and Determinations made concerning the Eternal Salvation or Damnationof Men , by the meafures of force differences among Chriflians a- bout Churches, their State and Order, are abfurd,foolifh, and impious , and for the molt part ufed by them, who fufficiently proclaim , that they know neither what it is to be Paved, nor do ufe any diligence about the neceffary means of it. Salvation depends abfolutely on no particu- lar Church- ftatein the world; he knows not the Gofpel, who can really,think it doth. Perlons of Believers are not for the Church , but the Church is for them : if the itfini(iry of Angels be for them who are Heirs of Salva. tion, much more is the Miniftry of the Church fo. If a man beanAdulterer,an Idolater,a Rayler, a hater &fcoffer ofGodlinefs ; ifhe choofe to live in any known fin,with- out Repentance,or in the neglea of any known duty;ifhe be ignorant and prophane ; in a word,if he be not born a- gain from above , be he of what Church he will , and whatfoever place he poífefs therein , he cannot befaved. And on the other fide , if a man believe in Chrifl jefue , that is, know him in his Perfon, Offices, Do&rine and Grace, truft untohim for all the ends of thewifdom and love of God towards Mankind in him ; if he endeavour to

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