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wrought nothing at all; that fo, all that is of flesh and blood, may be laid low in us, and the Spirit alone may be exalted; first to do all in us; and then, to have all the glory, of all that is done.

And thus you fee the means to encrease the Spirit, and fo confequently ftrength, as well as to get it. And by the daily use and improvement of thefe means, we may attain to a great degree of Spiritual strength, that we may walk and not be weary, and may run and not faint, and may mount up as Eagles, yea, and may walk as Angels among Men, and as the Powers of Heaven upon Earth, to his Praife and Honour, who first communicates to us his own ftrength, and then by that ftrength of his own, works all our works in us: And thus is he glorified in his Saints, and admired in all them that believe,

Uniformity

Whether it be found in the

GOSPEL,

OR,

In the PRACTICE of the

Churches of CHRIST.

By Willian Bell, Minifter of the Gospel.

2 Cor. iv. 13.

We having the fame Spirit of Faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I fpoken: we alfo believe, and therefore Speak.

Published accozding to Dzder.

LONDON:

First Printed in the Year, 1651.

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Uniformity Examined,

Whether it be found in

The GOSPEL, &c.

O

BSERVING that our Brethren of Scot land, together with the Affembly of Divines, and the reft of the Presbyterian judgment, do often both in their Difcourfe and Writings, exceedingly prefs for Uniformity; I have been urged in my Spirit, to think upon the matter, and to confider whether there could be any fuch thing found in the Word of the NewTeftament, or in the practice of the Churches of Christ. And for my part, I ingenioufly profefs, I cannot yet difcover it, and would be glad if any would inftru&t me further in this Particular, fo he do it from the Word.

Now Uniformity, what is it, but an Unity of Form? and the Form they mean, no doubt is outward; for the inward Form, as it cannot be known by the outward Senfes, fo neither can it be accomplished by outward Power. And therefore (till I know their meaning better) I conceive that by Uniformity, they understand an Unity of Outward Form in the Churches of God. Yea, fome of them do declare fo much calling the thing they would have, External Uniformity.

Now fuch a thing as this (after fo much meditation and recollection, as my other imployments, and the many distractions that neceflarily attend my present Condition, will permit me) I cannot difcern, in the Word of the Gospel. For Christ speaking of the Church of the New-Tefta

ment,

ment, faith, Job. 4. 23. The hour cometh and noto is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and Truth, for the Father feekesh fuch to worship him. God is a Spirit, and they that worship him, must worship him in Spirit and Truth. In which words it is moft evident, that the Worship of God in the time of the New-Teftament, is inward and Spiritual, confifting in Faith, Hope, Love, and in Prayer, which is the operation of the three former, &c. And fo, is fo far from Uniformity, as it hath been explicated, and as they understand it, that it is not at all capable of it. And therefore I cannot but wonder at the ftrange workings of darkness in the minds of Men, who would have an external Uniformity in a Worship that is Inward and Spiritual; and of which, the Outward Form is no part at all, but is meerly accidental, and fo abfolutely various.

Again, as I find not this Uniformity in the Doctrine of the Gospel, fo neither in the Pra&tice of the Saints, who had the Spirit of the Gospel, as that Practice is reprefented to us, in the Word.

In Acts 1. 14. I read how the Apostles being together with the Women, and Mary the Mother of Jefus, and his Brethren, continued poupador with one accord or mind in prayer and fupplication; and Ats 2.v. 44. & 46. how all that believed were together, and continued daily podpadov with one mind in the Temple, and did break bread from house to house, &c. And in all this there was Unity, but no external Uniformity, neither name nor thing. Again, Acts 4. 23. Peter and John being let go by the Magiftrates, went to their own company) (which many of our Clergy would term a Conventicle) and reported all that the Chief Priefts and Elders had faid to them; and when they beard it, they lift up their voice to God, quodpadov,

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