TAOTRA Conclusion

Title - Preface - Sec. 1 - Sec. 2 - Sec. 3 - Sec. 4 - Sec. 5 - Sec. 6 - Sec. 7 - Sec. 8 - Conclusion

{Page 84} THE
CONCLUSION

The Substance then of what is asserted and proved in this Treatise resolves in these following Particulars.

First, That in the Church of Christ, when it consists of a visible People, (for I speak not here of the Church in the dark Night of Apostacy, that consisted not of any Society, visibly united) gathered in the Belief of certain Principles, and united in the joint Performance of the Worship of God, as meeting together, praying, preaching, &c. there is and still must be a certain Order and Government. XR2646

Secondly, That this Government, as to the Outward Form of it, consists of certain Meetings, appointed principally for that End, yet not so as to exclude Acts of Worship, if the Spirit move thereunto.

Thirdly, The Object of this Government is twofold, Outwards and Inwards; the Outwards relate mainly to the Care of the Poor, of Widows and Fatherless, where may be also included Marriages, {Page 85} and removing of all Scandals in things undenyably wrong; the Inwards respects an Apostacy, either in Principles or Practices, that have a Pretence of Conscience, and that either denying some Truths already received and believed, or asserting new Doctrines that ought not to be received; which again to subdivide, may either be in things fundamental and of great moment, or in things of less weight in themselves, yet proceeeding from a wrong Spirit, and which in the natural and certain Consequence of them to make Schisms, Divisions, Animosities, and in sum, to break that Bond of Love and Unity that is so needful to be upheld and established in the Church of Christ; and here comes also under this Consideration all Emulations, Strifes, Backbitings, Whispers and Evil surmising XR3789.

Fourthly, That in the True Church of Christ, according to the Definition above given of it, there will in such Cases of Differences and Controversies still be an Infallible Judgment from the Spirit of God, either, in one or other, few or more.

Fifthly, That this Infallible Judgment is only and unalterably annexed and seated in the Spirit and Power of God not to any particular Person or Persons, Meeting or Assembly, by vertue of any setled Ordination, Office, Place or Station that such may have or have had in the Church; no Man, Men nor Meeting standing or being invested in any Authority in the Church of Christ, upon other terms then so long as {Page 86} he or they abide in the living Sense and unity of the Life in their own particulars, which whosoever one or more inwardly departs from ipso facto loses all Authority, Office, or certain Discerning he or they formerly have had, though retaining the true Principles and sound Form, and may be not faln into any gross Practices as may declare them generally to be thus withered and decayed.

Sixthly, That Jesus Christ under the Gospel hath ordinarily revealed his Will in such Cases, through the Elders and Ministers of the Church, or a general Meeting, whose Testimony is neither to be despised or rejected without good Cause; neither is their taking upon them really to decide any just Ground to charge them with Imposition, or to quarrel their Judgment unless it can be proved that they are decayed, and have lost their Discerning, as above.

Seventhly, That to submit and obey in such Cases is no detracting from the common Priviledge of Christians to be inwardly led by the Spirit, seeing the Spirit has led some heretofore so to do and yet may, and that every pretence of Unclearness is not a Sufficient Excuse for Disobedience, seeing that may proceed from Obstinacy, or a Mind prepossessed with Prejudice; yet say I not, any ought to do it before they be clear; and who are, every Right will not want Clearness in what they to do.

{Page 87} And Lastly, That these Principles are no wayes tainted with Imposition, or contrary to true Liberty of Conscience, and that they fundamentally differ from the Usurpations both of Popery, Prelacy and Presbytery, or any other of the Nature.

Robert Barclay

THE END.