An exposition on the Lord's prayer with a catechistical explication thereof, by way of…

Now this Visible Kingdom of God upon Earth, is but an imperfect State and Condition; for though all that are Members of it are selected and taken out of the World, yet there is a great deal of Mixture and Dross, and many things that do offend. For,

First, There is in it a mixture of Wicked Persons with those that are really Holy. Many are of this Kingdom only, because their Consciences are convinced of the Truth of the Christian Religion, although their Lives are not subject to the Power of it; and these are taken out of the World only as they are brought into the Pale of the Church, and profess the Name of Christ and his Religion, as distinct from all other Religions in the World. And therefore we find the Church, or the Kingdom of Heaven, in Scripture, frequently compared to a Net cast into the Sea, gathering every kind of Fish, both good and bad, Matth. 13.47. both sorts are embraced in the Bosom of this Net, and no perfect Separation can be made, until it be drawn to shore, at the Day of Judgment; and then the Good will be gathered into Vessels, and the Bad cast away, as it is there expressed. Again, it is compared to a Floor, wherein is both Chaff and Wheat, Luk. 3.17. and these will be mixed together until the last discriminating Day, and then shall the Wheat be gathered into the Garner, and the Chaff burnt up with unquenchable Fire. Again, it is compared to a Field, ⟨p. 41⟩wherein there grows Tares as well as Corn, Matth. 13.24. which must grow together until the Harvest, and then shall the Tares be bound in Bundles to be burnt, and the profitable Grain be gathered into the Barn. This hath still been and will be the mixed condition of God's Church on Earth, wherein, through Hypocrisy and gross Dissimilation, many that are Enemies to the Cross of Christ, will yet go under that Cognisance, and keep up a Form of Godliness, though they deny and hate the Power of it.