Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

'1. 66 The Continuation of a ChurchRate, Chrift will remove his Candleftick. But it hath a living root whence it will fpring again in other places and Churches, whilft this world doth endure. Neither 4. Do they ceafe, becaufe they have been all of them corrupted, abufed, anddefiled in the Apoftacy which fell out among all the Churches in the latter Ages , as it was fully foretold in the Scripture. For (I.) Thll, fuppofiti- on would make the whole Kingdom of Chrill in the world to depend on the corrupt Lulls and wills of men, which have got by anymeans, the outward poffeflion of the Adminiftrationof his Laws and Ordinances. This is all one as if we should fay that if a pack of wicked Judges , {hould for a feafon pervert Justice, Righteouf- nefs and Judgment, that the beingof the Kingdom is fo overthrown thereby, as that it can never be restored. (2.) It would make all the duties and all the priviledges of all true Believers to depend on the wills of wicked Apostates. For if they may not make ufe of what they have abufed , they can never yield Obedience to the commands of Chrift, nor enjoy the priviledges whichhe hath annexed unto his Church and Worfhip. (3.) On this fuppofition, all ReformationofanApostatized Church, is utterly impofiible. But it is our duty toheal even Ba- bylon itfelf, by a reduétion of all things unto their first Inttitution, if it would be healed , Jerens. 51. 9. and if not , we are to forsake her, and reform ourfelves, Rev. 18.4. There is nothing therefore in all these pretences, that fhould in the leaft impeach the infallible continuationof . the Evangelical Churches and Worship, as to their right, unto the end of the world. And the Heads of thofe Ar- guments whereby theTruth is invincibly confirmed, may be briefly touched on. z. Thereare express Teftimoniesof the Will ofChrift, and

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=