The third exception is that the scriptures we bring are places speaking* 1.1 of invisible members properly, of visible figuratively, as they are iudged to be, on in hope they may be, or sh••wing what men ought to be, but shew not that men are so, or els are not Gods people.
It cannot be manifested that we bring one scripture meant of* 1.2 the invisible Church, to prove the holynes of the visible Church. The vanity of this obiection hath been discovered in the expositiō of that your picked instance, 1 Pet. 2. It is true indeed that the scriptures we cite speak of men as they are iudged to be, and if you would graunt, that onely they are true members of the Church which by the word of God, (which must be the rule of our iudge∣ment) may be iudged saincts, it would end this controversie. And even for them without, though never so prophane, they ought to be holy, and there is hope they may be holy, but Gods people must be such as they ought to be in some measure, & so are all they whome he receives into covenant with him, and if they fall from their righteousnes and will not be reclaymed, they are to be put * 1.3 out and to be delivered to Satan, whose vassals they are, and not Gods people any longer.* 1.4