Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

50 The Preface. time to put our felves upon the Trial, being willing to Teach, or Learn, as God{hall help us. Secondly ; We lay that this Rule ingeneral k the Rule ofFaith, Love, and Obedience, containedand revealed in the Scripture, and in particular the Commands that the Lord Chrisi hath given for the Order and Worfhip that he requires in his Churches. It may Teem ftrange to fome, that we fhould fuppofe the due Obfervance ofthe Rule of Faith, Love and Obedience, that is, ofFaith real and unfeigned, Love fervent and without Diffimulation, and ofUniverfal gracious Evangelical Obedience, to be neceflary unto the Prefervation of Church Peace and Unity. But we do affirm with force confidence, that the only real Foundation ofthem Both lye herein, nor do we value that Eccleía}lical 'Peace, which may be without it, or is negletive of it. Let all the Chriftian World, or thofe therein who concern themfelves in us Know , that this is our Principle and our Judgment, that no Church Peace or 'Unity is valuedby or accepted with Jefia Chr , that is not founded in, that cloth not arife from, and is the efec! of, a diligent .Ittendance unto, and Obfeervance of the entire Gfpel , of Faith and Obedience. In the Neglect hereof, Peace is is but Carnal Security ; and Unity is nothingbut a Con- fpiracy againfi the Rule of Chrift. Add hereunto in particular, the due Obfervationofwhat the Lord Chrift bath appointed to be done and obferved inhis Churches, . as unto their Order, Rule, and Worfhip; and they who walk according unto this Rule, need not fear the Charge of Schifine from the fierceft oftheir Adverfariess. Wherefore we fay, Thirdly ; Thofe who recedefrom this R.ule, in any ma- terial `Branchofit,areguilty of the Breach ofChurchVnity,, accord-

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