( 5 ) Is it of Divine Ihftitution ? Is it the heart and center of Chriftian Religion ? Is it that which all men muff be fubjed to on pain of eternal damnation ? who that knows any thing of Chrift or the Gofpel, can entertain fuck a thought without deteftation and abhorrency. 5. This 'Pretence of the Church is at this day, one of the greateft caufes of theAtheifm, that theworld is filled with- al:, Men find themfelves, they know not how, to belong unto this or that Church; they fuppofe that all the Religi- on that is required of them , is no more but what this Church fuggefts unto them; andabhorring through innume- rable prejudices, to enquire whether there beany other mi- niflerial Church -State or no; underftanding at length the Church to be a political.tombination for the Wealth, Power andDignity of force perfous, they calf away all .regard of Religion, and become profef ed Atheifls. 6.Unto this very day thewafulDivifons,Diflratlions andend lefs Controverfiesthat areamong Chriffians, with the dan- gerous Confequences and effects of them, do all fpring and arife from the Churches that are in the World. Some are for the Church of Rome , fore for the Church of England, feme for the Greek Church, and fo of the reft; which up- on an acknowledgment of fuch a Rate of them, as is ufüal- ly"allowed, cannot but produce Wars-and Tumults among Nations, with the oppreflion ofparticular perfons inall forts of calamities. In one plàce men are killed for not owning ofone Church, and in another for approving of it. Amongft our.felves prifons are filled, and mens goods fpoiled, divifi- ons multiplied, and the whole Nation endangered, in a fe- vere attempt to caufe all Chriftians to acknowledge that Church-State which is fet up among us. In brief, thefe Churches,in thegreat Inftance of that ofRome,have been and are the Scandal ofChriflianReligion thegreateft caufe of molt ofthe evils and villanies which the world hathbeen re- plenifhed
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