A49252:254
The natural mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man…The naturall mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man…
The natural mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man considered in both his capacities, either in the state of nature or grace / as is laid down in XVII sermons by that late truly orthodox divine, Mr. Christopher Love ... ; whereunto is annexed The saints triumph over death, being his funeral sermon, by that painful labourer in the Lords vineyard, Mr. Tho. Manton ...The naturall mans case stated, or, An exact map of the little world man considered in both his capacities, either in the state of nature or grace / as is laid down in XVII sermons by that late truely orthodox divine, Mr. Christopher Love ... ; whereunto is annexed The saints triumph over death, being his funeral sermon, by that painful labourer in the Lords vineyard, Mr. Tho. Manton ...
London: printed by E. Cotes for George Eversden, 1652
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Thus then you see both wherein a Church and a Commonwealth do agree, and wherein they differ, and if this be so that the Church of God is a spiritual Commonwealth, then give me leave to draw these three Inferences from hence.
Thus then you see both wherein a Church and a Commonwealth doe agree, and wherein they difler, and if this be so that the Church of God is a spirituall Commonwealth, then give me leave to draw these three Inferences from hence.
Use. 1 1. I may infer from hence the necessity of Church Government in a Church; Did you ever see a Commonwealth stand and flourish without rule and Laws, and order? Order is the staff of a Commonwealth, if every man might do what he list, and what is right in his own eyes, nothing but ruin and destruction would presently follow, as in Psal. 11. 3. If the 1foundations be destroyed, what shall the righteous do? If the Laws and foundations of a Commonwealth be subverted and destroyed, there will be nothing but ruin. If the Church be a spiritual Commonwealth, then there is an absolute necessity of a Government in it; & therefore those ⟨p. 110⟩that would either rob the Church of their Government, and would have none at all, or else would introduce a false Government upon the Church, and do as much as in them lies to overthrow the Government of the Church, such as these are to be reproved. Government to a commonwealth is like a hedge to a garden, now suppose you had a very fair garden, and a great many curious flowers and fine slips in it, and one should come to you and tell you, Sir, I see many dainty flowers and slips in your garden, but I see none to grow upon your hedge, therefore pull it down, let it grow there no longer; you would say to such a man, no by no means, for though nothing grows upon the hedge, yet the hedge does preserve the flowers, that grow in the garden, and keep them from the violences of wild beasts: So though a Government in the Church does not make us holy, a man may go to heaven without a Government, yet is it exceeding necessary to preserve the Church of God.