76o The Continuation of-a Churchfiate, commanded. If now therefore they ceafe as unto their force, efficacy and ufe, it mutt be on fome of there Rea- Ions. I. Beeaufe a limited rime and Seafon was fixed unto them, which is now expired. So was it with theChurch- frate and Ordinances of old ; they were appointed unto the time ofReformation, Heb. 9. io. They had a cer- tain time prefixed unto their Duration, according to the degrees of whole approach they waxed old, and at length utterly difappeared, chap.8. 13. until that time theywere all pun&ually to be obferved , Mal. 4. 4. But there were many antecedent Indications of the Will of God concerning their ceffation and abolition, whereof the Apoftle difputes at large in his Epiirle unto the Hebrews. And from a pretended fuppofition , that fuch was the ftate of Evangelical Ordinances, namely, that they had a time prefixed unto their Duration, did the firft oppo- fition againft them arife. For Montanus, with his Fol- lowers, imagined that the appointments ofChrift andhis Apofrles in the Gofpel, were to continue in force only unto the coming of the Paraclete, or the Comforter, promifedby him. And adding a new Phrenfie hereunto, that that Paraclete was then firft come in Montansrt,they reje&ed the Inftitutions of the Gofpel, and made new Laws and Rules for themfelves. And this continues to be the principal pretence of them by whom the ufe of Gofpel-Ordinances is at prefent rejeded , as that which is Of no forcer efficacy. Either they have received, or do fpeedily look for filch a Difpenfation ofthe Spirit, or his Gifts, as wherein they are to ceafe and difap- pear. But nothing can be more vain than this Pre- tence. I. It is fo as unto the limitation of any Time, as unto their Duration and Continuance. For (r.) there is no intima
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