The bare enjoyment of Church-priviledges doth not make up a true Christian. [ 1883]
VVHen a Statute was made in Q. Elizabeths reign,* 1.1 that all should come to Church upon penalty of being looked upon as in a way of Recusancy and so punishable by Law, The Papists sent to Rome to know the Popes pleasure,* 1.2 He returned them this answer; Bid the Catholiques in England give me their Hearis, and let the Queen take the rest; And withall a dispensation was granted; so that very many came to Church, but it was more for fear then love, more for the saving of their purses, then any thought at all of saving their poor deluded Souls:* 1.3 And thus it is, that as Christ had his Saints in Nero's Court, so the Devill his servants in the outward Court of his visible Church so that a Man must have something more to entitle him to Heaven, then living within the pale of the Church, and giving an outward conformity to the Ordinances of Christ;* 1.4 There must be an inward conformity of the mind to the laws of God, a subjection to the Scepter of Iesus Christ, and a readinesse to be led by the gui∣dance of the blessed Spirit, otherwise he may be of the Church, but not in the Church; a Partaker of Church priviledges, but no true Proprietor of the Graces and benefits thereby accrewing.