A51837:225
Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition…
Christs eternal existence, and the dignity of his person asserted and proved in opposition to the doctrine of the Socinians : in several sermons on Col. I, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21 verses / by the Reverend Tho. Manton.
London printed : s.n., 1685
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.
Fourthly, The universal visible Church, While they are in the way, and in the midst of their conflicts it is possible many hypocrites may take up the profession; as in the great house are many vessels, some to honour, some to dishonour; from these ariseth an external promiscuous multitude, who also are called the Catholic Church for the sake, and with respect to those Holy ones among them who truly belong to Christs Mystical Body. We read often the Kingdom is like to a net wherein are good and bad Fishes, Matth. 13. To a Threshing floor wherein is chaff and Wheat. To a Field wherein groweth good Corn and also Tares, Matth. 13.24, 25. Now all these ways is the universal Church taken.
Fourthly, The universal visible Church, While they are in the way, and in the midst of their conflicts it is possible many hypocrites may take up the profession; as in the great house are many vessels, some to honour, some to dishonour; from these ariseth an external promiscuous multitude, who also are called the Catholick Church for the sake, and with respect to those Holy ones among them who truly belong to Christs Mystical Body. We read often the Kingdom is like to a net wherein are good and bad Fishes, Matth. 13. To a Threshing floor wherein is chaff and Wheat. To a Field wherein groweth good Corn and also Tares, Matth. 13.24, 25. Now all these wayes is the universal Church taken.
Fifthly. There are particular Churches wherein the Ordinances and means of Grace are dispensed as the Church of Corinth, Cenchrea, Galatia, Greek, Roman: None of these particular Churches contain all believers or the Elect of God, that out of them or any of them there should be no Salvation: Again the universal Church may remain in the World total and entire though these particular Churches are, or other of them may successively be destroyed, as it hath often fallen out. And it is a great sin so to cry up a particular Church, as to exclude all the rest from saving Communion with Christ; and for any one particular Church to arrogate power over the others, they being but members.