Page:Testimony to the work of reformation in Britain and Ireland (1).pdf/7

Rh the cenures carried. It had been better, had there been more days of humiliation in Afemblies, Synods, Prebyteries, Congregations, Families, and far les adjourned commiions, new peremptory ummons, and new drawn up procees. And if the meeknes and gentlenes of our Mater had got o much place in our hearts, that we night have waited on gainayers and parties contrary minded; and we might have driven gently, as our Mater Chrit, who loves not to over-drive, but carries the lambs in his boom.

If the word of truth in the Old and New Tetament be a ufficient rule, holding forth what is a Chritian army, whether offenive or defenive; whether clean, or infully mixed,———then mut we leave the quetion betwixt our public brethren and is to be determined by that rule: But if there be no uch rule in the word, then the confederacies and aociations of the people of God with the idolatrons, apotate Iraelites, with the Egyptains and Ayrians, as that of Jehoaphat with Ahab, and thee of Irael and Judah with Egypt and Ayria, hall not be condemned; but they are often reproved and condemned in cripture. To deny the cripture to be a ufficient rule in this cae, were to accue it of being imperfect dad defective:———an high and unjut reflection on the holy word of God! Beyond all quetion, the written word doth teach, what is a right contituted court, and what not, Pal. x; what is a right contituted houe, and what not, Joh. xxiv. 15; what is a true church, and what is a ynagogue of Satan, Rev. ii; what is a clean camp, and what is an unclean. We are not for an army of Saints, and free of all mixture of ill affected men: But it eems an high prevarication for churchmen to counel and teach, That the weight and trut of the affairs of Chrit, and his kingdom, hould be laid upon the whole party