The Doctrine of the Saints' Perseverance

First that there is no Argument will tolerably arise from what is practicable and comely in a visible Ecclesiastical Body of Christ, to the Mystical Spiritual Body; that is, from a particular visible, to the Catholic Church of Christ. As to the matter in hand, this is evident by the light of this single consideration, that in such an Ecclesiastical body of Christ, there are always or may be, and Christ himself in the rules and Laws that he hath given for the government thereof did suppose that there always would be good, and bad, true Saints and empty professors; whereas in the Body whereof we treat, there is no soul actually instated, but who is actually united to the head, by the inhabitation of the same Spirit. There never was nor shall to eternity, any dead member be of that Body. They are all living stones, built upon him who is the Foundation; now surely this is an inference attended with darkness to be felt, because it may be comely for those to whom the Administration of Ordinances in the visible Church of Christ, is committed, to cut of a dead member, from the membership which he holds by his confession of the Faith, when he discovers himself not to answer the confession he hath made, in his walking and Conversation; Therefore Christ himself, doth cut off, or on way, or other, loose any living members of his body Mystical, and actually by Faith instated in the unity of his Body with him. And if it shall be objected that even living members and such as are truly so, may yet for, and at a season, be cut off from a visible particular body of Christ. I Answer,

First that there is no Argument will tolerably arise from what is practicable and comely in a visible Ecclesiasticall Body of Christ, to the Mysticall Spirituall Body; that is, from a particular visible, to the Catholike Church of Christ. As to the matter in hand, this is evident by the light of this single consideration, that in such an Ecclesiasticall body of Christ, there are alwayes or may be, and Christ himselfe in the rules and Lawes that he hath given for the government thereof did suppose that there alwayes would be good, and bad, true Saints and empty professours; whereas in the Body whereof we treate, there is no soule actually instated, but who is actually united to the head, by the inhabitation of the same Spirit. There never was nor shall to eternity, any dead member be of that Body. They are all living stones, built upon him who is the Foundation; now surely this is an inference attended with darknesse to be felt, because it may be comely for those to whom the Administratione of Ordinances in the visible Church of Christ, is committed, to cut of a dead member, from the membership which he holds by his confession of the Faith, when he discovers himselfe not to answer the confession he hath made, in his walking and Conversation; Therefore Christ himselfe, doth cut off, or on way, or other, loose any living members of his body Mysticall, and actually by Faith instated in the unity of his Body with him. And if it shall be objected that even living members and such as are truly so, may yet for, and at a season, be cut off from a visible particular body of Christ. I Answer,