203 i. Churches inftituted, planted, ruled according to theMind ofChrift in all things may degenerate into a corrupt flate, fuch as (hall Rand in need ofReformation, in a negle& whereof they mull perith as unto their Church flate andPriviledges. This needs no confirma- tion ; for befides that it is poffible from all the caufes of fuch an Apoftacy and defection, that fo it thould be, and it is frequently foretold in the Scripture that fo it would be, the Event in and among all Churches that had originally a divine Inflitution, doth make uncontroula- bly evident. Thefiven Churches of Afa, molt of them within few years of' their firft Plantation, were fo dege- nerated,that our Lord Jefus Chrift threatned themwith Calling off, unlefs they reformed themfelves. What a woful Apoítafie all other Churches both of the Eafl and Weft were involved in, is known unto and confeßêd by all Proteftants. But yet the cafe of none of them was deplorable or defperate, until through Pride and carnal Intereft they fell force of them into a Perfwation that they needed no Reformation, nor couldbe reformed, which is become a principal Article of Faith in the Roman Church. There was a Reformation attempted, and at- tained in force meafure, by force Nations or Churches in the lait Ages, from the Corruption and Impofitions of the Church ofRome. However none of them ever pre- tended that it was compleat or perfect, according tothe Pattern ofthe Scripture, as unto the Inflitution and Di- fcipline ofthe Churches ; no nor yet to the Example of the Primitive Church ofafter Ages, as is acknowledged by the Church ofEnáland, in the beginning of the Con - minationagainft Sinners. But fuppofe it to be compleat, to conclude that becáufe an outward Rule ofit was eita- C e 2 blithed.
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