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, From a Corrupt Opinion: As, 1. Of those who call themselves Seekers, confessing they cannot yet find a Church, to which they may joy• For they affirm, That since the Apostles days there are no Churches, and therefore till they can see Apostles, Apostolical gifts and miracles, with the like effusion of the holy Ghost upon persons, they cannot own any Church. But this is against those Texts of Scripture, which speak of a perpetuity of the Ministry, and the duty of receiving Sacraments, till the coming of Christ, which could not be, if there were no Church.

First, From a Corrupt Opinion: As, 1. Of those who call themselves Seekers, confessing they cannot yet find a Church, to which they may joy• For they affirm, That since the Apostles dayes there are no Churches, and therefore till they can see Apostles, Apostolical gifts and miracles, with the like effusion of the holy Ghost upon persons, they cannot own any Church. But this is against those Texts of Scripture, which speak of a perpetuity of the Ministry, and the duty of receiving Sacraments, till the coming of Christ, which could not be, if there were no Church.

2. Another corrupt opinion is, of those who call themselves high Attainers. These make themselves above the Church-ordinances, they need them not; yea some Anabaptists in Germany made themselves above the Bible, living wholly upon spiritual revelations, and called those, who would leave to the Scripture as a Rule, Creaturistae, as depending upon a creature. But the Scripture and Ordinances are necessary to quicken grace in the most holy; and there are none so spiritual, but they need them daily to comfort or instruct them; yet such have their public Assemblies, wherein they deliver their opinions to be received. But if people ought to be above all Ministry and teaching, then also above theirs. And certainly, if those places of being taught of God, and having an unction which teacheth us all things, be against our Ministry, it is also against theirs.

2. Another corrupt opinion is, of those who call themselves high Attainers. These make themselves above the Church-ordinances, they need them not; yea some Anabaptists in Germany made themselves above the Bible, living wholly upon spiritual revelations, and called those, who would leave to the Scripture as a Rule, Creaturistae, as depending upon a creature. But the Scripture and Ordinances are necessary to quicken grace in the most holy; and there are none so spiritual, but they need them daily to comfort or instruct them; yet such have their publick Assemblies, wherein they deliver their opinions to be received. But if people ought to be above all Ministry and teaching, then also above theirs. And certainly, if those places of being taught of God, and having an unction which teacheth us all things, be against our Ministry, it is also against theirs.