A Christian Plea, Treatise 3
THE THIRD TREATISE Of ſome things which concerne the worſhip of God, and order of the Church: eſpecially concerning the Reformed Churches.
HAving now briefly treated of theſe points of Religion, which are called in queſtion betvveen the Remonſtrants, and others of the Reformed Churches: I will here alſo annexe ſome other things concerning the Reformed Churches themſelues. Which I acknowledge to be the Churches of Chriſt: and with whom I agree both in the faith of Chriſt, and in many things concerning the order and government of the church. Yet becauſe there are ſome particulars (of vvaight) touching the vvorship of God, and policie of the Church, wherein I think they are not as yet come to the ſynceritie of the Primitiue Churches conſtitution; and am perſvvaded that the Lord is now bringing his churches and people thereunto (from the apoſtaſie and corruptions of Antichriſt the man of ſinne:) and that he vvill in time accomplish this his work already begun, (vvhether before or together with the converſion of the Iewes to the Chriſtian faith, the Lord knovveth, and time vvill manifeſt:) therefore hauehave I thought it good herevvithal to note ſome few things thereabout.
The particulars are not all of them of like waight or evidence (in mine ovvne perſwaſion) but ſome of them ſuch, as far more may be ſaid and borne vvith about them, then about others of them. Neyther doe all of them concerne al the Reformed churches alike: but ſome of them more, and ſome leſſe: inaſmuch as their eſtate in divers Churches and places doth diverſly differ hereabout. Yet notvvithſtanding I thought it not amiſſe thus to propound thē here together: deſiring of al, that they would ſeriouſly conſider theſe things, in the fear of God, and according to his word; & hoping that the due conſideration thereof wil (through the bleſſing of God) become profitable for the furtherance of the truth, and further building up of the church, to the praiſe of his name, in Ieſus Chriſt.