Britons, in the Room of fuch as are yearly called Home; fo if any among them prove to be falfe and infincere, and are guilty of Crimes highly difgraceful to their Profeffion of being Natives of England, and their Allegiance to their King, they have no other Punishment for them befides that they are cut off from the Society, and forbid to enjoy the Privileges thereof any longer.

Now it is so very easy to apply these Transactions of Englishmen in China to the Affairs of a Chriftian Church, that I hardly need difplay the Parallel. Chriftians profefs to be Natives of Heaven, to be born from above: They fojourn for a Seafon in the World as in a foreign Land, till their Father and King fummons them Home. They speak the Language of the Gospel, or of the Kingdom of Heaven, and understand it; and they know each other hereby: They agree to meet together to worship their King, and pay Allegiance to him; to learn more of his Will, and feek his Favour, The Day of their folemn Affemblies is the Day of the Refurrection of Chrift, the Son of God, and their Lord. When they do fpecial Honours to him, they eat Bread and drink Wine, to folemnize the Memory of their Deliverance from Sin and Hell, when he was fent into the World to die for them. Then, by calling away their Hearts from this World, and converfing about heavenly Things,

Things, they are continually preparing for their Return Home. They choose one or more Teachers, Paftors, or Bishops, to inftruct them in their Duty, and to offer up their common Addreffes to God, in the Name of Chrift; to put them in Mind of the Things of Heaven, and to walk before them in exemplary Holiness. They choose Deacons to relieve the Poor, out of their publick Liberality, as well as to take Care that their Paftors or Teachers be maintained. They receive in new Members who are worthy, upon their Profeffion; and they caft out those that are difhonourable. They walk onward in this Way toward the heavenly State; and wait the Summons from on high, to call them thither by Death and the Refurrection,

SECT.

SECT. VII.

The Several Advantages of fuch a Church, or Chriftian Society.

I.

O natural a Scheme of focial Religion as this, does not need long and exprefs Forms of Institution, after the great Doctrines and Duties of the Christian Faith and Life are plainly revealed and received. All that is found in the New Teftament relating to Chriftian Churches, fo happily correfponds with these Dictates of the Light of Nature, and the Affairs of the Civil Life, that it has made these Rules much more plain, and eafy, and practicable, than thofe of the Jewish Religion, or perhaps of any other Religion, that pretends to divine Revelation, This Scheme is built on the eternal Reasons and Relations of Things, as well as the Word of God, The particular pofitive Prescriptions relating to Christian Churches are but few, while the general Duties of Christian Fellowship are fuch as the Light of Nature and Reafon feem to

dictate

dictate to all Societies whatsoever. It is the evil Mixture of the needlefs and fanciful Inventions of Men, together with the plain and common Dictates of Nature and Scripture, and the Impofitions of thefe Inventions on Confcience, which hath done fo much Injury to Chriftianity, defaced its Beauty, and tarnifhed its Honours.

II. This Scheme is perfectly confiftent with every Form and Kind of civil Government, whether it be a Kingdom, a Senate, or a Republick. As it does not mingle itself with the Interests of this World, nor affume to itself any civil or coercive Power, so it can make no Head against the Governors of the Country; for its Power is of another Kind, and reaches but to one fingle Society of Christians: Nor are they combined by any Law of Chrift, in fuch united Multitudes, under one common visible Head, as to make themselves dangerous to any State. Whatfoever hath been done in the World by Men profeffing Chriftianity, in a Way of Refiftance to lawful Governors, or rebellious against them, hath never been done by them as Churches of Chrift, formed upon the Model I have laid down,

III. This Form of a Chriftian Church allows to all its Members the most perfect Liberty of Men and Chriftians. It is incon

fiftent

fiftent with Perfecution for Confcience-fake ; for it leaves all civil Rewards and Preferments, Penalties and Punishments, to Kingdoms, and States, and the Governors of this World. It pretends to no Power over Confcience, to compel Men to Obedience; no Prisons, no Axes, Fire, nor Sword. It gives its Ministers Power and Authority to command nothing but what is found in the Bible: All other Things must be determined by the Confent of the People, who are fuppofed to be led by common Prudence, by the neceffary Reasons of Things, and by a Vote of the major Part of the Society. But if in any of thefe Things, particular Perfons, after all proper Enquiries, cannot agree with the major Part, they may make their Remonftrances, and be difmiffed, if they cannot continue there with tolerable Satiffaction; or they may withdraw to another Congregation, if they are aggrieved, and the Society refuse to difmifs them.

I confefs, thofe Chriftians who differ from the major Part of the Congregation fhould seriously examine themselves, whether their Difagreement doth not arife from any Pique, or Prejudice, or worldly Intereft, or Humour, or obftinate Self-will; and, in fome Particulars, they should deny themselves, rather than divide themselves from a Society whofe Communion they have long enjoyed: More efpecially, they should take Heed of