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YEa I appeale to any rationall man, whether all the people of* 1.1 this Nation be fit materials at the instant, to be admitted Members of the Church of Christ, (which according to the A∣postles expressions, were, or at the least seemed to be, beloved of God, sanctified in Christ Jesus, and called to be Saints) or whe∣ther their Church may not rather be termed a Gallimanfrey,
Medley, or Hodgepodge of all manner of opinions together, (as of him that sweareth, as him that trembleth at an Oath, and so con∣sequently of all manner of vice and vertue) then properly be termed a true gathered Church, for to gather a people out of a people, doth intimate that some are to be left out, as not fit for admission; therefore I admire their presumption, that dare ad∣mit the apparent sinagogue of Satan for the Temple and Church of Christ; For what communion hath light with darknesse, or Christ with Antichrist, so that either must they maintaine that there is no Antichristians in the Nation, either of Clergy, or Layety, or else confesse that they allow of such to be made Mem∣bers, for they have hitherto laboured, and doth yet labour to compell all such, Subjects to their Government, and why under their Government, as if not Members of their Church.
Now, it is very apparent that Christ and his Apostles did ever* 1.2 make a distinction of the true Church, from the men of the world, as in Mat. 18. 17. Tell it to the Church, &c. which was not to the Scribes, Pharisees, Saduces, or Herodians, or to the worshippers of the Calves in Dan, and Bethel, though all of Israel, for the Disciples of Christ (to whom he there spake) was no Members of such Societies, and therefore not to make their ap∣peales to them, in point of difference amongst themselves; it must needs follow then that the Church there spoken of by Christ, was an Assembly of his Disciples and followers, as may clearly be collected from his after expressions to the aforesaid Disciples, in the 19. and 20. verses of that chapter.
All the people of the Nation not fit mem∣bers for the Church of Christ.
Christ and his Apostles did distinguish be∣twixt his fl••ck and the world.