Peace. Their third reason is, it will dissolve the continuity of the state, especially theirs, where the walls are made of the stones of the churches.
The wall, Cant. viii. 9, discussed.
Truth. I answer briefly to this bare affirmation thus: that the true church is a wall spiritual and mystical, Cant. viii. 9.
That consequently a false church or company is a false or pretended wall, and none of Christ’s.
The civil state, power, and government is a civil wall, &c., and—
Lastly. The walls of earth or stone about a city, are the natural or artificial wall or defence of it.
Now, in consideration of these four walls, I desire it may be proved from the scriptures of truth, how the false spiritual wall, or company of false worshippers suffered in a city, can be able to destroy the true Christian wall, or company of believers.
A spiritual wall cannot properly impair the civil.
Again, how this false spiritual wall, or false church permitted, can destroy the civil wall, the state and government of the city and citizens, any more than it can destroy the natural or artificial wall of earth or stone.
Spiritual may destroy spiritual, if a stronger and victorious; but spiritual cannot reach to artificial or civil.