To explain my meaning in this Argument, Observe 1. that I take not the common doctrine for true, that a particular Political or Organized Church, or incorporated Society of Christians, is a mere Homogeneal part of the universal Visible Church: All the Universal Church doth not consist of such Societies, no more than all this Common-wealth doth consist of Corporations. For a particular Church, is as a particular Body-Corporate; and all the Members of the Universal are not so: Though all ought to be so that can attain it, yet all cannot attain it, and all do not what they ought: Even in an Army a Soldier may be lifted by a General Officer into the Army in general, long before he is placed in any Regiment or Troop; yea there are some that are Messengers, and for other employments, that are not to be of any Regiment. So sometime a man is baptized, as the Eunuch, before he be entered into any particular Church, perhaps long: And some were of Churches which are dissolved, and stay long before they can join ⟨p. 281⟩themselves to others▪ And some live as Merchants, in a moveable travelling, condition: And some are bound for the good of the Common-wealth to be Ambassadors, or Agents, or Factors, &c. resident among Infidels, where is no Church: And some may be called to preach up and down among Infidels for their conversion, as the Apostles did, and fix themselves to no particular Church: And some may be too ignorant or neglective of their duty in incorporating with any: And some upon infirmity and scrupulosity hold off. So that its apparent that all the Visible Church is not thus Incorporated into particular Churches.
To explain my meaning in this Argument, Observe 1. that I take not the common doctrine for true, that a particular Political or Organized Church, or incorporated Society of Christians, is a meer Homogeneal part of the universal Visible Church: All the Universal Church doth not consist of such Societies, no more than all this Common-wealth doth consist of Corporations. For a particular Church, is as a particular Body-Corporate; and all the Members of the Universal are not so: Though all ought to be so that can attain it, yet all cannot attain it, and all do not what they ought: Even in an Army a Souldier may be lifted by a General Officer into the Army in general, long before he is placed in any Regiment or Troop; yea there are some that are Messengers, and for other employments, that are not to be of any Regiment. So sometime a man is baptized, as the Eunuch, before he be entred into any particular Church, perhaps long: And some were of Churches which are dissolved, and stay long before they can joyn ⟨p. 281⟩themselves to others▪ And some live as Merchants, in a moveable travelling, condition: And some are bound for the good of the Common-wealth to be Embassadors, or Agents, or Factors, &c. resident among Infidels, where is no Church: And some may be called to preach up and down among Infidels for their conversion, as the Apostles did, and fix themselves to no particular Church: And some may be too ignorant or neglective of their duty in incorporating with any: And some upon infirmity and scrupulosity hold off. So that its apparent that all the Visible Church is not thus Incorporated into particular Churches.
