Five disputations of church-government and worship

Sect. 25. And the consequence is easily proved: For where God obligeth his Churches to the obedience of Pastors (though usurpers) and to the use of Ordinances and their Ministration, there will he bless the Ministry and those Ordinances (to the innocents, that are not guilty of his usurpation) and that obey God herein. And consequently the Ordinances shall not be Nullities to them. God would never set his servants upon the use of a means which is but a Nullity; nor will he command them to a duty, which he will blast to them when he hath done without their fault. Its none of the Churches fault that the Bishop or Pastor is an usurper, wh•le they cannot know it, and that any of his Predecessors were usurpers since the Apostles days. And therefore where God imposeth duty on the Church and prescribeth means, (as Baptism, Prayer, the Lords Supper, Church-Government &c.) it is certain that he will not blast it, but bless it to […] obedient, nor punish the Church so for the secret sin of I know not who, committed I know not where nor when, perhaps a thousand years ago.

Sect. 25. And the consequence is easily proved: For where God obligeth his Churches to the obedience of Pastors (though usurpers) and to the use of Ordinances and their Ministration, there will he bless the Ministry and those Ordinances (to the innocents, that are not guilty of his usurpation) and that obey God herein. And consequently the Ordinances shall not be Nullities to them. God would never set his servants upon the use of a means which is but a Nullity; nor will he command them to a duty, which he will blast to them when he hath done without their fault. Its none of the Churches fault that the Bishop or Pastor is an usurper, wh•le they cannot know it, and that any of his Predecessors were usurpers since the Apostles dayes. And therefore where God imposeth duty on the Church and prescribeth means, (as Baptism, Prayer, the Lords Supper, Church-Government &c.) it is certain that he will not blast it, but bless it to 〈…〉 obedient, nor punish the Church so for the secret sin of I know not who, committed I know not where nor when, perhaps a thousand years ago.