( 297 ) Perfns, and that thefe things are improved by.the Am- bition ofthe Clergy, engrofling all things in the Church unto themfelves as they did in former Ages, ifthe Old Popedome do not return, a new one will be erected, as bad as the other. Thirdly another Principleofthe Reformation is, \that. therewas not any Catholick, Yifible, Organical, Governing Church, traduced by Succeffion into that of Rome, whence all Church `Power and Order was to be derived. I will not fay that this Principle was abfolutely received by all the firft Reformers here in England 3 yet it was by the Generality ofthem in the other Parts ofthe World. For as they conftantly denied that there was any Catholic& Church, but that invifible of Elet Believers, allowing the External Denomination of the Church unto the dif- fufed Community of the baptizedWorld ; fo believing and profefl'ing that the `Pope is Antichrift, that Rome is eWy.flical Babylon, theSeat of the Apoftatized Church ofthe Gentiles, devoted to deftruétion, they could ac- knowledge no fuch Church ftate in the Roman Church., nor the derivation of any Power and Order from it. So farre as there is a Dedenfion from this Principle, fo fax the Caufe ofthe Reformation is weakened, and the principal Reafon of Separation from the Roman Church . is rejeâed, as {hall be farther manifefted, if occafion re- quireit. This Principle we do firmly adhere unto ; and not only fo, but it is known, that our fixed Judgement con- cerning the Divine Inftitution, Nature and. Order of Evangelical Churches, is fuch, as is utterly exclufive of the Roman Church, as a body organized in and under, the Pope and his Hierarchy, from any Pretence unto, P p Church.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=