Owen - BX5085 O84x 1681

(9) Thefe things therefore are evident in themfelves (a) That God created our nature, or made man for his own Worfhip and Service, and fitted the powers and faculties of his foul thereunto. (z,) That this nature is fo fitted for society, fo framed for it as its next end, that without it, it cannot ad itfelf, according unto what it is empowered unto. And this is the foundationof all Orderand Govern- ment in the world among Mankind. ( 3 ) That by the Light of nature this ailing in Society is principally defigned unto the Worfhip of God. The Power I fay and Neceflity of acting in Society, is given unto our nature for this end principally, that we may thus glorify God, in and by the Worfhip which he requires of us. (q.) That without the Worfhip ofGod in Societies, there would be an abfolute fail- ure of one principal end ofthe Creation of man ; nor would any glory arife unto God from the Conflitutionof his na- ture fo fitted for Society , as that it cannot ad. its own powers without it. (ç) All Societies are to be regulated in the light ofNature by fuch circumftances,as whereby they are fuited unto their end; for which they may be either too largeor too much reftrained. Hence have we the Original ofChurches in the Light of Nature; men afí-ociating themfelves together, or uniting in fuch Societies for the Worfhip ofGod which he requires of them, as may enable them untoan orderly Performanceof it, areaChurch. And hereunto it is required, (i ) That the perfons fo uniting are fenfible of their Duty, and have not loft the knowledge of the end of their Creation and Be- ing. (z,) That they are acquainted with that Divine, Reli- gious Worfhip, which God requires of them: The former Light and Perfuafion being loft, iflùes in Atheifm ; And by the lofs of this, infteadof Churches, the generalityofMan- kind have coalefced into idolatrous combinations. (3) That they do retain fuch innate Principles of the Light ofNature C as

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