The 'Preface. 15 in particular complains of it frequently, and in many places cries out, What have I to do with this Multitude, a few ferions Believers are more worth than them all. However the Guides ofthe Church thought meet to re-. ceive them, with all their Multitudes, into their commu- nion, at leaít fo far as to place them under the yurisdicfi- on of fuch and fuch Epifcopal Sees. For hereby, their own Power, Authority, Dignity, Revenues, were en- larged and mightily encreafed. On this Occafion, the antïent Primitive way of admitting Members into the Church being relinquifbed, the confideration of their Perfonal Qualifications, and real Converfion unto God, omitted, fuch Multitudes being received as could not partake in all A&s and Duties ofCommunion with thofe particular Churches, whereunto they were difpofed, and being the molt of them unfit to be ruled by the Power and Influenceofthe Commands of Christ on their Minds and Confciences, it was impoffible but that a great Alte- ration muff enfue in theState, Order, and Rule ofthe Churches, and a great Deviation from their original In- ftitution. Men may fay that this Alteration was necef- fary, that it was Good, and Ufeful, that it was but the Accommodation ofgeneral Rules unto efpecial Occafi- ons and circumltances; but that therewas an Alteration hereon in all thefe things, none can with Modefty deny. And this is enough unto my prefent Defign, being only to prove, that fuch Alterations and Deviations did of old fall out. Neither ought we tocover theprovoking Degeneracy ofthe Generality ofChri(tians, in the4th. and çh. Centuries, with thofe that followed. The con- fideration ofit, is necefl ry unto the Vindication ofthe Holy Providence of God , in the Government ofthe World, and of the flithfulnefsof Christ in his dealing with
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