R. 2. A company of people met together by the Power of the Civil Magistrate to receive holy things P 3. The place of such meetings 4. A company of Apostates joyned together by a Jesuitical bond to seduce people from the publique Ordinances of Jesus Christ A. Q c. Resp 3. Thirdly This word Ecclesia or Church is very often used by the holy Ghost in Scripture but that which it seemeth good to the most blessed Spirit to call most frequently by this name is a Company of visible Saints joyned together by a special bond for the constant exercise of the Communion of Saints amongst themselves Quest What condition is every Church of Christ in Resp Every Church of Christ is either in a Reformed or in a planted constituted state Quest Is there any difference betwixt a planted and a Reformed Church of Christ Resp Yea Their Agreement is very extensive and emphatical and yet they differ In the discovery whereof these two considerations must be diligently eyed 1. It is one thing to preach the Gospel another thing to plant the Gospel and a third to plant Churches by the Gospel preacht heard and planted As it is one thing for Work-men to work upon those things that are to be the Materials of a Building in a preparatory way another thing for those things to be actually prepared and fit to be put into the Building and a third thing to have all those Materials so fitted joyned together and the building compleated 1 Cor. 3.9 2. Reformation supposeth the building not compleated and yet somewhat done in order thereunto be it more or less sometimes and in some places it finds the Gospel to have been preached only and not planted Sometimes it finds that the Gospel hath been received by some but that those are not united or agreed to walk together in Church-fellowship and so do not constitute a particular Church according to the Gospel sometimes it finds them joyned together but very loosely Sometimts it finds them fast joyned together but under a defect of some particular Officers Sometimes it finds the Church to have been builded and compleated but relapsed degenerated or apostatiz'd less or more as a decayed Building not utterly ruined or not having more of the Devil than of Christ in it though too much This supposed these four things may be concluded 1. A Planted and Reformed Church of Christ agree 1. In their Causes 2. In their Properties 3. In their Practices And 4. In their Priviledges 1. In their Causes and so first in their Efficient causes thus 1. Christ was the Institutor and Ordainer both of the first Planted and of Reformed Churches under the Gospel Mat. 16.18 Rev. cap. 2. 3. 2. Christ and his Officers by his Word and Spirit are the Makers of both the Ministry is before both and none but Ministers by divine Appointment and Commission as Paul Timothy c. are originally ordinarily and equally employed by Christ in either 2. In their matter Visible Saints are the matter whereof both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ are constituted and made 3. In their form Both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ are formed Et in unum coalescunt omnes sancti Ecclesiae by a mutual Consent and Agreement to walk towards God and one another respectively according to Gospel Rules 4. In their ends The end both of the first Planted and our Reformed Churches of Christ is his Glory and his Saints salvation 2. In their Properties Both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ can visibly perform the conditions of the New Covenant and act according to Gospel-Rules of Church Communion 3. In their Practices Both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ do visibly perform the conditions of the New Covenant and walk according to Gospel Rules of church-Church-Communion 4. They agree in their Priviledges Christ hath given very glorious Priviledges both to his first Planted and to his Reformed Churches Yet 2. They differ But 3. The difference that is betwixt them is but Parallel to the difference that was betwixt the Church at its first Constitution and the Church Reformed under the Law And 4. But accidental 1. In their Order 2. In their Officers 3. In their Matter 4. In their Form 5. In their End 6. In their Properties 7. In their Practices And 8. In their Priviledges Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 3.11 Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. Quest What difference is there in their Order Resp 1. Christ in the first Planting of his Churches proceeded as it were in an Analytical Order he made the Gospel so successfull that thousands were converted at a time and made as it were one Catholick visible Church by joyning themselves voluntarily to the Lord and to the Apostles then altogether at Jerusalem out of which as out of a Fountain there issued at it were particular Churches Resp Christ in the Reforming of his Churches proceeds as it were in a Synthetical Order He first moulds particular persons into particular Churches and then those particular Churches into one Catholick Church Sensu Amesiano Medul lib. 1. cap. 31.32 Quest Wherein do the first Planters and Reformers of the Churches of Christ differ Resp They agree in the Essentials of the Ministery as 1. the Spirit of Christ hath furnisht both of them invisibly at the least with gifts and graces proportionable to the work whereunto he hath appointed them in the times and places wherein they live For eminency in gifts and graces is as necessary for all Church-Officers as sincerity in them is for all Church-members and therefore God sends none to Church-work but those that appear to their Judges to be such though they be not all of them equally qualified 2. They are both of them called and sent Licensed and commanded by Christ to be his Vicegerents and chief Ministers about soul and Church affairs on earth Heb. 5.4 3. Both of them have the same commission for the substance and body of it both of them may by the special Law of Christ dispence the Mysteries of God or preach administer Sacraments and govern according to his Word 4. Both of them may providentially be suspended as to the exercise of these Acts which are properly Ministerial but not ex humana libertate arbitrio proprio 5. Both of them have a right by Divine grant to a comfortable maintenance that may free them from being necessitated to work with their own hands and encourage them and put them into a capacity of attending wholly upon the execution of their Commission 1 Cor. 9 to the end 2 Tim. 2.4 Resp They differ accidentally and circumstantially in the extra-essentials of the Ministery As 1. in the manner of their receiving of their gifts graces vocation mission and commission For 1. the first Preachers and Planters of the Gospel John the Baptist and Christ had them all immediatly from the Spirit without any humane Instrumentality 2. The first Fathers and Planters of Churches by
betwixt the form of Reformed Churches and the form of the first planted Churches under the Gospel For 1. Before Christ came in the flesh God had freely given and commanded his Saints to observe and walk according to several Rules of Church-communion 2. In the beginning of the Gospel Jesus Christ abrogated those Rules and gave the Disciples several new Rules of Church-communion 3. Thereupon the world was as it were dissolved and void of a visible Church-state untill the Disciples did mutually consent and agree to walk according to those new Rules 4. The world lying in that confused condition Christ according to his promise by himself and his Apostles and their assistants and Successors commanded the Disciples to consent and agree to walk according to those new Rules 5. The Disciples thereupon at the appointed time consent and agree to walk according to those new Rules which Christ had given them 6. They were thereupon in the state and quality of a Church of Christ 7. That their consent and agreement was it that made them a visible Church of Christ and was the form of all the first planted Churches under the Gospel Act. 2.41 47. Act. 5.13 14. Act. 9.26.17.34 1 Cor. 16.15 2 Cor. 8.5 Eph. 2.19 20 21 22.4 16. Col. 2.2 19. 8. All those Churches did really apostatize from that their visible Church constituting covenant 2 Tim. 3.3 9. Notwithstanding Christ by his Ministers proceeded very vigorously to the Reforming of them 1. By reminding them of and recalling of them to those new rules of Church-communion which formerly be by himself and his Ministers had both briefly and largely given out unto them 2. By branching out those general Rules into further particulars 3. By pressing the members of each particular apostatized church to bind themselves more strictly to walk accordingly 10. All and only those Churches that practised accordingly were continued in the quality of Churches of Christ Rev. cap. 1.2 3. 11. Those Churches whose members do practice accordingly are the Reformed Churches of Christ 12. That their practice is the form of a Reformed Church of Christ So that the difference that is betwixt the form of the Reformed Churches and the form of the first planted Churches under the Gospel seems to lie mainly in this that the covenant or mutual consent and agreement which forms the Reformed Churches is more extensive intensive and explicite than that which formed the first planted Churches under the Gospel 1. It is more extensive it enableth the Church to more acts of communion than the other doth 2. It is more intensive It binds the Church to the present exercise of all those acts with more refined and fervent affections to Christ and the souls of one another than the other doth Numb 25.11 12 13. 1 King 19.10 1 Cor. 11.31 1 Cor. 14.1 12 39. Tit. 2.14 Rev. 3.19 3. It is more explicite in it self it is more particular and express then the other is The first Church constituting covenant under the Gospel was very implicit and general but that which gives being to a Reformed Church as such is more particular and explicite as will appear if we eye 1. The persons covenanting 2. The things consented and agreed unto or the matter of the covenant 3. The manner of signifying that consent and agreement 1. The members of a Reformed Church do covenant more individually particularly and pesonally then the members of the first planted Churches under the Gospel did 2. The things that they consent and agree to are delivered to them more particularly expresly and largely than they were to the members of the first planted Churches under the Gospel 3. The members of Reformed Churches do signifie and declare their mutual consent agreement more plainly and fully than the members of the first constituted Churches did as either 1. Viva voce by an audible verbal relation of their resolution to walk according to the Rule of Church communion read unto them Exo. 19.8 Exod. 24.2 7. Josh 24.16 21 22 24 c. 2 Chron. 15.14 15. Nehem. 10.28 29. Or 2. By sealing a Writing containing the matter of such a covenant or the particulars consented and agreed unto Nehemiah 9.38 10.1 Or 3. By subscribing such a Writing Isaiah 44.5 Thus the members of throughly reformed Churches evidence their inward determinations and are made the reformed Churches of Christ But the first planted Churches were not made and constituted in so solemn a manner Gen. 17. Object But the Gospel leads us not so far as to a particular explicite Church constituting Covenant Resp This Objection favours of a licentious Antinomian spirit for the silencing whereof let such an one consider 1. That it is a very great sin to silence the Old Testament where it is not inconsistent with but especially where and when it is subservient to the New For 1. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Timothy 3.16 2. Neither Christ nor his Apostles nor their Assistants and Successours abrogated any thing of the Old Testament but what was inconsistent with the New 3. They all along made use of the Law in its most comprehensive capacity in a way of subserviency to the Gospel 2. Let such an one consider that by the Scripture the Man of God may be compleatly and throughly furnisht for every good Work even for that of Reformation it self 2 Timothy 3.16 17. but in this posture he cannot be unless he have recourse to the despised Old Testament 3. Let such an one consider that it is far better to make use of an expedient that we may find in the old Testament than either 1. not to be throughly reformed or 2. to coyn an expedient of our own 4. Consider that the New Testament speaks more sparingly of that which is more fully discovered in the Old as worthy Mr. Baxter in his Book entituled Plain Scripture proof c. in the first position of the first chapter thereof demonstrates 5. Consider that the Old Testament leads directly to such an expedient in the time of Reformation 6. Though the Gospel doth not lead unto it by express syllabical Instruction yet by necessary consequence it doth Resp 2. It s possible this Objection may proceed from natural Antipathy and that the distemper may not lye so much in the mind and judgement as in the will and affections if so consider 1. Though this expedient be but as the Wall of a City the Hedge of a Garden or the border of a garment yet these things are necessary 2 We are not to Judge of any Ordinance of Christ by the flesh that is upon it but by the Spirit that is in it 3. That this head of the Serpent may be broken think of that Rom. 8.7 and take heed of self-interest Object But this expedient is but very little used Resp I grant that it is very extreamly slighted neglected and disused but it is no wonder For 1. It cannot be used but where Through Reformation it self is practised And 2.
Through-Reformation it self is but little practised Old England it self is too little acquainted with it When this is the other will be both better known to us and entertained by us all which God grant But 2. Had it never been used by any yet right reason must have preheminence before any custom especially before such an one as this though it have not been or is not yet it ought to be generally used by Christians in this generation for mans neglect cannot invalidate Gods Law But 3. It hath been and is used by many in this and the last century and those none of the meanest in the Churches of Christ 4. It s high time for all the rest to follow 5. None need to be ashamed of it 6. It s an honour to those that use it 7. It s well if this cavilling against the Form come not from an Antipathy to the matter of a Church-covenant for man is extreamly in love with elbow-room in a carnal selfish course and cannot abide a Bill of Divorce Object But Baptism is the form of a visible Church of Christ and of the members thereof Resp 1. In what sense it is so Restat explicandum 2. That any outward washing of the body or of any part thereof or that the exhibiting signifying and sealing of that which is exhibited signified and sealed by Lawfull Baptism is the essential constitutive form of a visible Church of Christ or gives Essence and Being to a Church and Membership c. Restat probandum 3. Against it see precious Mr. Sydenham in the 20th Chapter of his Exercitation about Baptism 4. This Principle is a great Plunder to Prophaness and a Bar to the Power of Godliness Quest What difference is there betwixt the end of a Reformed Church and the end of the first planted Churches under the Gospel Resp The End is that for which a thing is 2. God is the great Governor of the whole world He set all the Creatures their work He directs and leads them to their proper ends Psalm 29.10 3. The great end of all things is the Glory of God This is his grand intendment and this all the Creatures bring him in 4. The end of Churches is the special Glory of God 5. This is the end of all the Churches of God Divine perfection is most eminently manifested in them In them God most shews his Glory to man on earth and man most ownes the Glory of the God of Heaven Here are the highest actings of the purest love betwixt God and man on earth Here is God edifying man and man is glorifying God Act. 9.31 It s only in the Church of God that man makes returns proportionable to his Receipts by owning the whole of God For here man ownes 1. The absolute soveraignty and supream Authority of God 1. In submitting to his Institutions 2. To his Dispensations 2. In obeying of his Commands 2. The riches of Gods Free-Grace 1. In praying to him for all good things 2. In praysing of him for all good things 3. In not fainting under the greatest burdens 3. The infinite Wisdom and Knowledge of God 1. In spiritual Worship 2. In heart searching 3. In close walking with him in private 4. The Justice and Power of God 1. In expecting his dealing with the wicked according to his Word 2. In fearing his fatherly correcting of themselves 5. The infinite purity of God is also most really acknowledged in the Churches of God 1. In their cleansing of themselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit 2. In their pressing after Holiness and the perfection thereof 2 Cor. 7.1 Finally In the Churches of God God glorifies himself most by owning of man most and man glorifies God most by owning of him most and this is the first and last end of all the militant Churches of God In regard God is most gloriously glorified by giving and receiving what he hath given to his Churches But Resp 6. Though God in order to his greatest Glory on earth in his Institution of his Churches aims 1. At the most glorious communication of himself And 2. At the most glorious returns of that which he Communicates 1. To himself c. 2. To his Saints Isa 43 7. Yet he hath different ends therein suitable to the different conditions of his people 7. Upon this Account there is a difference betwixt the end of Reformed Churches and the end of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel For 1. The Exigencies of Gods people under the Gospel are very narrow 2. Gods regard unto them is accordingly very gracious 3. In his Planting and Reforming of Churches he aims at the supplying of those different wants which his people lie under 1. By causing them spiritually to exercise different and spiritual acts of church-Church-communion and that 1. towards himself and 2. towards one another And 2. By exercising different and suitable acts of communion towards them But 4. His people are in a more desperate condition in times of Church-Reformation than they are in times of Church-Plantation In regard they have sinned 1. Against greater Light And 2. Against greater Love and therefore 5. God out of a gracious respect unto them layes out himself and causeth them to lay out themselves more gloriously for their salvation in times of Reformation than in times of Plantation of Churches and so 6. The end of Reformed Churches is more glorious than the end of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel More particularly and briefly 1. The proper want of Gods people at the first Plantation of Churches was edification and this God intended and communicated by gathering and planting of them together 2. Their proper want in times of Reformation is preservation from utter ruine and desolation and this God intends and communicates by gathering and Reforming of them For 1. To vote with the Gospel in a distinguishing way Edification is the working or building up of Christians towards the highest pitch or the best and compleatest state and being of a Church of Christ at any time before its extream Apostacy and Reformation is the working or re-building up of Christians towards that condition after their extream Apostacy or the rallying of the spiritual Forces of Christ after they have fought with the Devil and his Angels and been extreamly shattered divided and scattered by the power and pollicy of the man of sin though they have conquered him And 2. As corruption is the way to annihilation so Reformation is the way to preservation in general and 3. In particular 1. All strengthening is properly in Order to preservation And 1. The strongest Union is in Order to the greatest strengthening And 3. Here is the strongest Union 1. In regard of the persons United And 2. In regard of the manner of their Uniting de quibus Supra Again 1. It s Christs grand interest to preserve his Church on earth Mat. 16.18 And 2. He hath entrusted his Embassadors with the management of this great affair And 3.