3.6 after which he continues to breath out threatnings and slaughter and assay's to pursue them to Damascus and other places Acts 9.1 near which place Christ stops his Career But notwitstanding this scattering which God turn'd to the advantage of the Gospel and encrease of Churches by the Preaching of Philip and other scattered brethren so that as chap. 8. and 11. ver 19. and in ver 21. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number were added to the Lord So that in Judea the Churches of Samaria and Galilee were gathered Acts 9.31 It appears also the Body of that Jerusalem-Church still remained tydings coming to them of the marvellous success of the Ministry of the scattered Disciples they sent forth Barnabas Acts 11.22 Then tydings of these things came to the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch The Church of Antioch c. ver 25. from thence he departed to Tarsus to seek Saul ver 26. And when he had found him he brought him to Antioch and it came to pass that a whole year they Assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people i. e. besides the Churches this is the First Gospel-Church of the Gentiles we read of Now that this was a Congregation of the Faithful converted first by the Ministry of the Scattered it appears in that Barnabas first fell upon confirming work v. 23. When he came and had seen the Grace of God was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose â—f heart they would cleave unto the Lord and by his further labours the Church was encreased v. 24. and much people were added unto the Lord though I will not deny this expression may intend his first forming them into a Church before the coming of Saul after which we are assured it was a Formed Church separated from the rest of the people of Antioch yea from many that were frequent hearers of the Word as appears verse 26. After this a second Persecution ariseth against the Church of Jerusalem Act. 12.1 Now about that time Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church and killed James and imprisoned Peter for whom Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him verse 5 12. viz. Assembled in a private Meeting Chap 13.1 We have an Account of Certain Prophets in the Church of Antioch a sort of extraordinary Officers in the Primitive Churches mentioned next after Apostles Eph. 4.11 These were charged by the Holy Ghost to set apart Barnabas and Saul to the work whereunto he had called them which being sent forth they went their Progress to Seleucia Cyprus Salamis Paphos Perga in Pamphilia and from thence to Antioch in Pisidia chap. 13. verse 14. there Paul preached in the Synagogue with great acceptation of the Proselyte Gentiles who assembled to hear the next Sabbath from all parts of the City but the Jews contradicting and blaspheming they declare the rejection of the Jews and there turn to the Gentiles ver 46 47. Being Persecuted from this Antioch they came to Iconium to the great joy of the Disciples verse 51 52. Here they Preached with success chap. 14.1 but were opposed by the Unbelieving Jews and Persecuted to Lystra Derbe verse 20. Cityes of Lycaonia At Lystra cured the Cripple and like to be worshipped for Gods but the Jews from Antioch and Iconium change the Scene ver 19. and Paul was stoned but recovered departed to Derbe and after Preaching there returned to Lystra Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia Churches of Lystra Iconium Antioch of Pisidia confirming the Disciples verse 22 23. ordaining Elders in every Church These Churches of Lystra Iconium and Antioch were gathered at the Apostles first coming and at their return to confirm them they ordained Elders in them These were not National Churches Antioch was of the Region of Pisidia nor was the whole limit of any of these places of the Church but a few of each that were wrought upon by and submitted to their Ministry From Pisidia they came to the Province of Pamphilia ver 24. where they Preached at Perga went to Attalia and thence sailed to the first Antioch where these two Apostles so called ver 14. were Ordained and from whence they were sent to this Apostolick work of gathering Churches and setling Elders in them here they give the Church of Antioch an account of what God had done by them in opening a door of faith unto the Gentiles verse 27. and abode there a long time During their abode there disturbance was raised by some men that came from Judea and taught the necessity of circumcision chap. 15.1 2 3. whereupon the Apostles and certain others were sent to the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem about this question and were brought on their way by the Church verse 3. I suppose none can conjecture that here was any Church besides a Congregation of Faithful no House-church that could bring the Apostles on their way no National or Provincial Church it 's not to be supposed that all the Province or City of Antioch accompanied them but only those few that were gathered into a Church and they not taken all in one Parish or Precinct of the City but here and there as it pleased God by his Grace to work When they came verse 4. to Jerusalem they were received by the Church Apostles and Elders where the question was determined verse 22. and return made with the resolves of the Apostles and Church of Jerusalem to Antioch and staying some time there confirmed the Disciples But some days after Paul and Barnabas agreeing to depart to revisit the Cities where they Preached they disagreed about taking John Mark and so parted Paul then took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia Barnabas took Mark and went to Cyprus places where they had been verse 36 37. confirming the Churches v. 41. I shall proceed no further in these two Apostles travells this being enough to shew what sort of Churches were first planted by them and to shew where any mention is made of Church and that 's but in two places more in the Acts Acts 18.22 After he had Landed at Cesarea Church of Caesarea and went up and saluted the Church he went down to Antioch and chap. 20.17 from Miletus Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church and charged them v. 28. Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flâ—ck over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his Blood Now what were these but such Congregations that accompanyed the Apostles that was saluted by them that they confirmed and were purchased by Christs blood is it sence to think they were Houses or whole Nations or Provinces or Cities no they were those faithful ones Building of living stones who being gathered into particular Congregations
18.1 ch 22.12 16 18. 2 Chr. 6.3 Ezra 2.64 And the whole Congregation together 42360 these more or less made up one Assembly these were Preached to by Ezra and whatever the number of the Nation was they were to meet all together in one place And so we have the word applyed to the Church in the New Testament that it alwayes signifies a Congregation that doth ordinarily meet together for their edification if it be meant of a Particular Church but if an Universal such a Church as shortly shall Assemble and always sit together in a lasting sinless and uninterrupted communion So that a true Church of Christ under whatever Notion you take it must be and is a Congregation of Saints visible invisible or both that do meet together in one place for the Worship of God in Christ and communion in one body 4. We infer that we have part of the differencing form in that Description viz. where the pure word is Preached and Sacraments duely Adminstred c. for it distinguisheth the true Church distinguisheth the true visible Churches from false and erroneous it distinguisheth a particular Church from the Catholick for there is no Church but a particular Congregation capable of having the word preached to it and Sacraments duely administred in one Congregation but a particular Church when the Catholick Church assembles there will be neither 5. We find not the least word in Old or New Testament of a Representative Congregation or Church-Representative the Congregation of the Jews was to be by a Personal Appearance of all the Males the Females were exempted upon Gods special Dispensation by reason of their unfitness for Travel as from circumcision by reason of incapacity But we find that every visible Church of Christ still appeared before the Lord personally for actual communion in Church Ordinances in that way and method that God appointed in his Respective Dispensations and we are fully assured there is no Representative Church of Christs institution either Councels or Synods or Presbyteries We read not of any Presbytery i. e. Association of Elders called the Church but the Church is always spoken of distinctly from them If there had been any Reason to have called any Eldership the Church there had been Reason to have called that so in the Apostolick Church which had so many famous Apostles Prophets and Evangelists in in it but they are named distinctly in that great Councel held at Jerusalem Act. 15.22 It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church 6. The Universal Church doth comprehend all the particular Congregations in all Ages and places being simular and co-ordinate parts of it of the visible Saints where by the Institution of Christ the Head all the Ordinances are placed and by his influence there is a supply of Graces and gifts for the Edification of his Body as likewise all Officers and Offices as appears Eph. 4.11 12. of which there were Extraordinary and Ordinary 7. The extraordinary Officers were instituted for an extraordinary Occasion viz. the first Plantation of the Gospel-churches They were Apostles Prophets Evangelists the call of these the works and Qualifications was extraordinary These continued no longer than the first Age of the Church 8. The Ordinary remaining Officers are no more than Presbyters which some make a little distinction of Pastors Teachers Ruling Elders but there is no need of multiplication of Titles and Offices where the work doth so much correspond and is of the same nature and Deacons the first sort to give themselves principally to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word and Government the latter to mind the matters of more external concern called Tables as the necessities of the Poor the providing Elements for Sacraments conveniencies for Church-assemblies and whatever is necessary upon such Occasions These Officers are no where found with a capacity to exert their Power as such but in particular Congregations tho' they be members of the Catholick Church they are not Catholick Officers Christ is now the only Catholick Officer being the Head of the whole Body 9. All the Officers of the Gospel-church were placed in the one Catholick Church primarily and immediately relating to Christ Mystical secondarily and mediately to the several visible militating parts thereof in particular Congregations and their Office-work was either for the planting and gathering in to them or for the edification of those gathered The Extraordinary had an extraordinary call furnished with an extraordinary measure of the Spirit as with an extraordinary Commission the Ordinary had not these but sufficient both of the Spirit and commission for answering Christs glorious ends and designs in building his Church in future Ages and gathering more 10. It appears that the true actual members of the visible Church are visible Saints and Believers none that were adult were ever counted so in the Gospel-sence but under-the Notion of the Profession of Faith and Practice of Holiness True Faith makes a man a true Member of the mystical Body of Christ but cannot instate a man in foro Ecclesiae in the rights of visible communion till it manifests it self with credibility unto those to whom the Preservation of these Rights and Priviledges are committed the actual Officers and Members of a visible Church The Rule that Christ hath given for knowing and judging of others is by their Fruits and if the Church be mistaken for want of Infallibility which the Apostles themselves came short in Simon Magus and Judas being not known to them but by the Discovery of overt Acts God chargeth them not culpably with it that being a Prerogative that Christ reserves to himself and none ever Pretended to it but the false Prophet the great Spiritual Usurper and it appears that our Saviour reserved this Diadem to himself in the Embrio of the Gospel-church by his Behaviour towards Judas admitting him to visible communion meerly upon an outward Profession though he knew his Heart leaving his Practice as an Example to his Ministers and Churches carrying himself as a visible Pastor and dealt with men in the case of receiving to or rejecting from communion according to the visibility of their Profession therefore leaving it as a standing Rule to his Church for future proceeding in this kind not that he esteemed Hypocrites any part of his mystical Body but yet the present Profession giving them by his own Rules a right to all External Priviledges and a Reputation nothing inferiour to others he speaks of them in some Phrases which to minds not throughly informed in the Truth create much difficulty as John 17.11 Holy Father keep through thy name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are i. e. all those that thou hast given me to be of my mystical Body that they may be united in Participation of the Divine Nature as we are one vers 12. While I was with them in the World as a visible Pastor among them I kept them in thy Name of those thou
Apostles furnished with the gift of Tongues though secondary to them in their power for the dispensing the Gospel to all Nations and therefore upon the scattering the Church of Jerusalem after Stephens Persecution these Prophets mostly began the Churches of the Gentiles by their Ministry at first My Reasons for it are 1. That its evident all the Brethren as well as the Apostles were extraordinarily furnished for the Ministry Act. 2.4 They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues c. Now this was for special ends that they were capacitated to speak to all Nations in their own Languages 2. We find upon Stevens Persecution Act. 8.1 that they were all scattered except the Apostles not the whole Church for we read often of that Church still but all the Brethren of the 120 were scattered throughout the Regions of Judea Samaria by whole means Churches of the Jews were gathered as it appears verse 14. and Acts 9.31 After God had taken off that great Informer Saul then had all the Churches rest throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria Likewise we find that the Church of Antioch the first among the Gentiles that we read of was Planted by their Ministry see Acts 11.19 20 22. compare with ch 13. 1. More might be said on this point but I must keep to the present design only naming the several Offices 11 The third kind of extraordidary Officers were Evangelists such as Steven Phillip Luke Mark Timothy c. they were men no doubt extraordinarily qualified and were called Evangelists as being Assistants to the Apostles and travelled with them and sometimes alone as Philip It may be doubted whether the seven Deacons were of that 120 Brethren for they were men full of the Holy Ghost ch 6. 3. and afterward being pitched upon for eminent Service to the Church were called now Evangelists but being not of the number that were together at our Saviours Ascention and Pentecost and though their work might be the same with the Prophets yet their dignity was inferiour to the Apostles and Prophets as Eph. 4. Some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists but we need not lay much stress now upon the differences of those Offices ceased those Officers especially Apostles and Prophets are irrecoverably ceased from the very nature of them for an Apostle it were requisite to be one who had seen the Lord and a Prophet according to what we endeavour to prove one of those that were baptized with the Ghost and Fire at Pentecost As for an Evangelist it 's most probable to remain if any because the work still remains necessary to the encrease of the Church viz. Preaching to Unconverted people and gathering of Churches tho' none can be expected since the Primitive Times with any more then ordinary qualifications which any stated Church-officer hath such Evangelists such Deacons cannot be had But to supply those Offices necessary now in the Church those that are to be mentioned are sufficient 12. The Ordinary Officers remaining in the Church now may be reduced to these two heads Elders and Deacons Elders for Ministry and Government Deacons to serve Tables to look after the necessary charges for the Ministry Ordinances Assemblies Poor c. I shall not enlarge here it being evident to every one acquainted with Scripture 13. The Ordinances of Ordinary Communion are Prayer Preaching the Word Sacraments Acts 2. Collections The Lords Supper is still spoken of as the most eminent Ordinance of Communion 1 Cor. 10.16 14. If we enquire for the ground and end of Communion in these Ordinances it is That this is the way appointed by Christ for the edifying his Body for the encrease of Faith and Love in the Members of Christ those Ordinances being designed indeed as to the Church for edification for it s not to be supposed that a Church-Member should be an unconverted person if a hypocrite creep in he hath nothing of true end and design of Communion So that by Communion the Body of Christ is nourished strengthened and perfected towards its fullness of stature in Christ 15. If it be enquired where Church Communion is and between what kind of persons I answer Church Communion in Ornances can be but in one particular Congregation at the same time where all may meet for edification in one place we read of no other in the Primitive Church tho some would have that of Jerusalem to be greater then so after the addition of 3000 but it s expresly said that they were all together in Fellowship and met together still before the dispersion Acts 2.42.44 also chap. 5.12 and other places but this great Church was scattered afterwards by Gods Providence ordering it for the great advantage of the Gospel and propagation of Churches 16. If it be inquired between whom Church-Communion is exercised The answer is easy It 's between particular Members that ordinarily have fellowship in the same particular Congregations as likewise between one particular Church and another all Churches comunicating in this that they are of the same universal Body have the same Head Bond of Union Graces Ordinances Priviledges as in the one intire Catholick Body as every individual person in fellowship is a Member in particular so every individual Church is a part of that Integrum compacted by that vvhich every joynt supplyeth Ephes 4.16 according to the effectual working in the measure of every part c. 17. Communion we have said as it stands in copartnership in some common good so in communication between Member and Member what of peculiar good is in any part is communicable to the rest or fellow-feeling of the Sufferings of each other As there is a common design carri'd on by every part for the good of the whole so by all parts for each other The Apostle tells us this at large 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 18. The mutual communication that is visible in order to spiritual advantage stands in giving and receiving by the exercise of spiritual gifts and graces in the Word and Prayer by mutual advice and counsel by admonition and Church-censures where required by contributions to the wants and necessities of each other any way arising Spiritual or Temporal This Communion is practicable between Church and Church also not only by occasional participation in the Word and Ordinances with each other but in the matters before mentioned of advice and supply of each others wants In the former case we have the example of the Church of Antioch advising with the Church of Jerusalem in the latter that 1 Cor. 16.5 2 Cor. 9.3 4. Gal. 6.6 c. CHAP. XI The Conclusion BEing not minded to enlarge this discourse any further at this time I shall only lay down a few Corolary Assertions briefly to obviate some objections that may rise in some mens minds against what hath been spoken which we shall be ready to defend if occasion requires 1. That that only is a true constituted Church of Christ which is a house of Gods Building it 's not mans fancy or pretentions that renders any thing so 2. That a Christians actual Communion with any one true Visible Church of Christ makes him a Member in Communion with all the Churches of Christ though he doth not at present nor hath occasion to communicate with any Congregated Body besides what he is actually and immediately in Communion with 3. Hence barely Non-Communion as to immediate Participation in Ordinances with this or that Church doth not Unchurch them as some men phrase it i. e. condemn their standing neither is it any part of Schism or culpable Separation 4. There is a Separation that is absolutely necessary to every True Visible Church of Christ there can be none without it and it is the duty of True Churches and Members to practice it 5. This Separation is from the World Flesh and Devil and therefore from all the children of these and from all false Churches whatsoever 6. That all Antichristian Churches as well as absolutely Heathen are Idol-temples and therefore Communion with them is fellowship with Belial and his Idols 1 Cor. 6. 7. That Christ hath had his true Worshippers and Churches during the whole time of the Antichristian Reign and Rage but in a Wilderness especially as to Visible Form and Constitution yea trodden down by the Gentiles for the most part preserved notwithstanding by Christ in some times and places in its essential mystical state at least without any visible lustre in Externals as the Church of Old in Egypt and Babylon in other times and places he hath secured them in some retirements so far as to have opportunity to erect Tabernacles of true Gospel constitutions in form and fashion as he primitively appointed 8. And thus the true Churches of Christ hath stood during the time of the Womans militating in the Wilderness under its several Scatterings Deformations and Reformations under which God hath owned them all the dayes of their wanderings in the Wilderness 9. God hath had his degrees of Reformation and Purity of his Church especially during the last part of the Beasts Reign and that all such degrees have been progresses in Separation as to Purity of Ordinances and Worship till at last there shall be a perfect full and clear Redemption of Zion from all her Captivity in this Spiritual Egypt and Babylon 10. Schism is a thing talked more of then understood we only affirm this concerning it 1. That Separation from a manifestly false Church is no Schism 2. Non-communion with a suspected Church is no Schism but a duty 3. That all Schism spoken of in Scripture is actually and immediately in some particular Congregation being a Visible Politick Body and those there mentioned are not all amputations or rentings asunder most of them are but divisions in some matters of judgment and affection without a destruction of the whole as in the Church of Corinth though there may be some tendency thereunto 11. Manifest Corruptions in Worship persisted in especially if such as are taken up again after they have been abundantly witnessed against and purged out by former degrees of Reformation are to be separated from and witnessed against and such Churches as maintain them Yea such Separation is so far from a just charge of Schism that it is a necessary Duty of all those whose Minds and Consciences are informed in the truth of the Gospel FINIS