168 The Continuation ofa Churcbfate, Believers, that openly profefs Subjection and Obedience unto him. (2.) That in there Perlons there refdes an indefeazable Right always to gather themfelves into a Church- ftate, and to adminifter all Gofpel- Ordinances, which all the world cannot deprive themof; which is the whole of what I now plead for. And let it be ob- ferved, that all the enruing Arguments depend on this Right, and not on any Matter of Fae`1. (3.) I do not know how far God may accept of Churches in a very corrupt Mate , and of Worfhip much depraved, until they have new means for their Reformation. Nor will I make any judgment of Perlons as unto their eternal Condition, who walk in Churches fo corrupted, and in the performance of Worihip fo depraved. But as unto them whoknow them to be fo corrupted and depraved, it is a damnable fin to joyn with them, or not to fepa- rate from them, Revel. 18. 4. 2. The Nature and Ufe of the Gofpel Church-ftate require and prove the uninterrupted continuance of the Right of its Exiftence, and the Obfervance of all Ordi- nances ofDivine Worfhip therein, with a Power in them, in whom that Right doth indefeazably reticle, that is, all true Believers, to bring it forth into exercife and pra&ice , notwithstanding the external Impediments which in Come places at tome times may interrupt its ex- ercife. In the Obfervation of Chrift's Infbitutions, and Celebration of the Ordinances of DivineWorfhip, doth the Churchftate of the Gofpel, as profefling, confift. It doth loin oppofition, (a.) Unto the World and the Kingdom of Satan. For hereby do men call Jefiee Lord, as I Cor. 12.3. and avow their fubjeCtion unto his King- ly Power. (2.) Unto the Church ffiate ofthe Old-Tessa ment, as the Apoftle difputes at large in his Epiftle un- to the Hebrews. And this ftate of the profeuiing Church in
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