An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

First, That the soundness and purity of Churches doth admit of degrees: That ¹as one Star doth excel another in glory, yet both Stars: So one Church may greatly transcend another in orthodoxy and purity, and yet both be Churches. In those seven Churches of Asia, there were some reproved more than others. We cannot expect that all Churches should be of the same measure in knowledge and grace, no mor than particular Christians: and therefore we are not to conclude such a Church is no Church, because not so pure as another Church, no more than such a man is not a godly man, because he hath not such a measure of Illumination and Sanctification, as another. And to say in the general, That it is a Christians duty to find out the purest Church in the world, and there to associate himself with it, must needs fill a Christian with infinite perplexities of conscience; as also to expose him to insupportable outward inconveniences. Let us not therefore do with a Church, as a godly tender heart is apt to do with himself, because he finds many failings and great imperfections, therefore he is ready to judge that he hath no grace at all. Thus because there are several disorders and distempers in such a Church, which are deservedly daily matter of groan, and sorrow to thee, therefore thou beginnest to sentence such a Church; as no longer Gods Church. Again, seeing that there are gradual differences of soundness and purity in Churches, this should also make every Church take heed of appropriating the glorious name of a Church, or Saints, or Christians to themselves only, as if none were Saints or Christians, but what are members of their Society. This is and hath been a most uncharitable proud disposition of some Churches. The Popish Church saith, There is no sanctity or holiness, but with them. Inter Catholicos ⟨p. 74⟩(saith Bellarmine) multi quidem sunt mali, sed inter haereticos ne uniu quidem est bonus. What a censorious condemnation is this? Not one good Protestant (whom they call Heretics) not in all our Churches. Thus they only appropriate the name of Church and sanctity to themselves. So the Donatists did of old, they enclosed the Church only amongst themselves; they called none Christians but themselves: To become a Donatist was to become a Christian with them.

First, That the soundness and purity of Churches doth admit of degrees: That ¹