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Chapter 3: Of the Covenant with Abraham,<br />
<strong>and</strong> its Supposed Connection with Baptism<br />
the reign of antichrist, have proceeded from<br />
the same cause. “While the Roman emperors<br />
continued heathens, the man of sin made slow<br />
progress; but no sooner was he who letted taken<br />
out of the way, 2 Thess. 2:7 <strong>and</strong> Christianity<br />
taken under the protection of the sovereign,<br />
then an unnatural connection was formed<br />
between church <strong>and</strong> state, which subsists to the<br />
present day in every country of Europe.<br />
Now, what is this but a recurrence to the<br />
weak <strong>and</strong> beggarly elements under which the<br />
church was placed in its minority? And by what<br />
arguments drawn from Scripture can it be<br />
vindicated, but the example of Israel of old?<br />
What is all the pomp <strong>and</strong> ceremony which have<br />
been introduced into religion, but an imitation<br />
of the sanctuary worship? What are the splendid<br />
edifices, but imitations of the Jewish temple? What<br />
are all the ecclesiastical dignities which are so<br />
highly prized, but an imitation of the institution<br />
of the Jewish priesthood?<br />
To this we must also trace the robes whereby<br />
the clergy are distinguished, together with the<br />
titles they have assumed. What is the distinction<br />
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