observation of all the commands of Christ. But it is such whom we intend who constantly fix their minds on the enjoyment of God as their chiefest good and utmost end who thereon duely consider the means of attaining it and apply themselves thereunto And it is to be feared that the number of such persons will not be found to be very great in the world which is sufficient to take off the reproach from some particular Congregations of the smalness of their number Such they ever were and such is it foretold that they should be Number was never yet esteemed a note of the true Church by any but those whose worldly interest it is that it should so be yet at present absolutely in these Natiâ—ns the number of such persons is not small 3. Of these persons it is said that it is their duty so to dispose of themselves It is not that which they may do as a convenience or an advantage not that which others may do for them but which they must do for themselves in a way of duty It is an Obediential Act unto the commands of Christ whereunto is required subjection of Conscience unto his Authority Faith in his promises as also a respect unto an appearaâ—ce before his Judgment-Throne at the last day The way of the Church of Rome to compel men into their Communion and keep them in it by fire and fagot or any other means of external force derives more from the Alcoran than the Gospel Neither doth ir answer the mind of Christ in the Institution End and Order of Church-Societies that men should become Members of them partly by that which is no way in their own power and partly by what their wills are regulated in by the Laws of men For it is as was said commonly esteemed that men being born and baptized in such a Nation are tâ—ereby made members of the Church of that Nation and by living within such Parochial Precincts as the Law of the Land hath Arbitrarily established are members of this or that particular Congregation At least they are accounted so far to belong unto these Churches as to render them liable unto all outward punishments that shall be thought meet to be inflicted on them who comply not with them So far as these perswasions and actings according unto them do prevail so far are they destructive of the principal foundation of the external Being and Order of the Church But that mens joyning themselves in or unto any Church Society is or ought to be a voluntary act or an act of free choice in mere obedience unto the Authority and commands of Christ is so sacred a truth so evident in the Scripture so necessary from its subject matter so testifyed unto by the practice of all the first Churches as that it despiseth all opposition And I know not how any can reconcile the common practice of giving men the reputation or reality of being Members of or belonging unto this or that Church as unto total Communion who desire or chuse no such thing unto this acknowledged principle 5. THERE is a double joâ—ning unto the Church 1. That which is as unto total Communion in all the duties and priviledges of the Church which is that whereof we treat 2. An adherence unto the Church as unto the means of Instruction and Edification to be attained thereby So persons may adhere unto any Church who yet are not meet or free on some present consideration to confederate with it as unto total Communion see Act. 5.13 14. And of this sort in a peculiar manner are the baptized Children of the members of the Church For although they are not capable of performing Church duties or enjoying Church-priviledges in their tender years nor can have a right unto total Communion before the testification of their own voluntary corsent thereunto and choice thereof yet are they in a peculiar manner under the care and inspection of the Church so far as the outward administration of the Covenant in all the means of it is committed thereunto and their duty it is according to their capacity to attend unto the Ministry of that Church whereunto they do belong 6. THE Proposition respects a visible professing Church And I intend such a Church in general as avoweth Authority from Christ 1. For the Minâ—sterial Preaching of the Word 2. Administration of the Sacraments 3. For the Exercise of Evangelical Discipline and 4. To give a publick testimony against the Devil and the World not contradicting their profession with any corrupt Principles or Practices inconsistent with it What is required in particular that any of them may be meet to be joyned unto such a Church we shall afterwards enquire 7. IT is generally said that out of the Church there is no Salvation and the truth hereof is testified unto in the Scriptures Act. 2.47 1 Pet. 3.20 21. Matth. 16.18 Ephes. 5.26 27. Joh. 10.16 8. THIS is true both positively and negatively of the Catholick Church invisible of the Elect All that are of it shall be saved and none shall be saved but those that belong unto it Ephes. 5.25 26 27. Of the Catholick visible professing Church negatively that no Adult person can be saved that doth not belong unto this Church Rom. 10.10 9. THIS Position of Truth is abused by Interest and Pride an enclosure of it being made by them who of all Christians in the World can lay the least and weakest claim unto it namely the Church of Rome For they are so far from being that Catholick Church out of which there is no Salvation and wherein none can perish like the Ark of Noah that it requires the highest charity to reckon them unto that visible professing Church whereof the greatest part may perish and do so undoubtedly 10. Our enquiry is what truth there is in this Assertion with respect unto these particular Churches or Societies for the celebration of Gospel-worship and Discipline whereof we treat And I say 1. No Church of what denâ—mination soever can lay a claim unto this Priviledge as belonging unto it self alone This waâ— the antient Donatism They confined Salvation unto the Churcâ—es of their way alone And after many false charges of it on others it begins really to be renewed in our dâ—ys For some dispute that Salvation is confined unto that Church alone wherein there is a Succession of Diocesan Bishops which is the height of Donatism The Judgments and Determinations made concerning the Eternal Salvation or Damnation of Men by the measures of some differences among Christians about Churches their State and Order are absurd foolish and impious and for the most part used by them who sufficiently preclaim that they know neither what it is to be saved nor do use any diligence about the necessary means of it Salvation depends absolutely on no particular Church-state in the world he knows not the Gospel who can really think it doth Persons of Believers are not for the Church but the Church is
Covenant unto him They are the Way means and Instruments appointed of God for this end and other end they have none And hereon it follows that if it be not in the power of Men to appoint any thing that shall be a means of Communication between God and his People as unto the Grace of the Covenant on the one Hand or the Duties of Obedience which it requires on the otherâ— they have no power to erect any new Church-state or enact any thing in Divine Worship not of his Institution This being the state of Churches and their Ordinances they cannot be altered they cannot be liable unto any decay unless the Covenant whereunto they are annexed be altered or decayed And therefore the Apostle to put finally and absolutely his Argument unto an Issue to prove that the Mosaical Church-State and Ordinances were changed because useless and ineffectual doth it on this ground that the Covenant whereunto they were annexed was changed and become useless This I suppose at present will not said concerning the New Covenant whereunto all Ordinances of Divine Worship are inseparably annexed Men might at a cheaper Rate as unto the Eternal interest of their own Souls provide another Covering for their sloth negligence unbelief and indulgence unto proud foolish imaginations whereby they render the Churches and Ordinances of the Gospel useless and ineffectual unto themselves thereby charging them with a decay and uselesness and so reflâ—cting on the honour and faithfulness of Christ himself 2. THEY do not cease because there is at present or at least there is shortly to be expected such an effusion of the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit as to render all these external Institutions needless and consequently useless This also is falsely pretended For 1. The greatest and most plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit in his Gifts and Graces was in the days of the Apostles and of the first Churches planted by them nor is any thing beyond it or indeed equal unto it any more to be expected in this World But yet then was the Gâ—spel Church-state erected and the use of all its Ordinances of Worship enjoyned 2. The Ministry of the Gospel which comprizeth all the Ordinances of Church worship as its object and end is the Ministration of the Spirit and therefore no supplies or Communication of him can render it useleless 3. One of the principal ends for which the Communication of the Spirit is promised unto the Church is to make and render all the Institutions of Christ effectual unto its edification 4. 1 Joh. 2.20 27. is usually pleaded as giving countenance unto this fond pretence But 1. The Vnction mentioned by the Apostle was then upon all Believers Yet 2. It is known that then they all walked in Church-Order and the sacred observation of all the Institutions of Christ. 3 If it takes away any thing it is the Preaching of the Woâ—d or all manner of Teaching and Instruction which is to overthrow the whole Scripture and to reduce Religion into Barbarism 4 Nothing is inâ—â—nded in these words buâ— the dâ—fâ—â—rent way of Teaching and degrees of Success betwâ—en that under the Law and tâ—aâ— now established in the Gospâ—â— by the 〈◊〉 effusion of the Spiâ—it a◠〈◊〉 been 〈◊〉 at large elsewhere Nor 3. Do they cease in their Administration for want either of Authority or Ability in dispense them which is pleaded unto the same end But neither is thiâ— preâ—enâ—â— of any force it only begs the thing in Question The Auâ—hority of Office for the Administration of all other Ordinances is an Institution And to say that all Institutions cease bâ—cause none have Authority to administer them is to say they must all cease because they are ceased 2. The Office of the Ministâ—y for the continuation of the Church-state and Administration of all Ordinances of Worship unto the end of the World is sufficiently secured 1. By the Law constitution and appointment of our Lord Jesus Christ erecting that Office and giving waranty for its continuance to the Comsumation of all things Matt. 28.20 Ephes. 4.13 2. By his continuance according unto his promise to communicate Spiritual Gifts unto Men for the Ministerial Edification of the Church That this he doth so continue to do that is is the principal external Evidence of his abiding in the discharge of his Mâ—diatory Office and of what nature these gifts are I have declared at large in a peculiar Discourse on that subject 3. On the duty of Believers or of the Church which is to choose call and soâ—emnly set apart unto the Office of the Ministry such as the Lord Christ by his Spirit hath made meet for it according unto the rule of his word If all these or any of them do fail I acknowledge that all Ministerial Authority and Ability for the dispensation of Gospel-Ordinances must fail also and consequently the state of the Church And those who plead for the continuation of a successive Ministry without respect unto these things without resolving both the Authority and Office of it unto them do but erect a dead Image or embrace a dead carcase instead of the living and life giving Institutions of Christ. They take away the living Creature and set up a skin stuffed with straw But if these things do unalterably continue if the Law of Christ can neither be changed abrogated or disannulled if his dispensation of Spiritual gifts according unto his promise cannot be impeded if Believers through his grace will continue in obâ—dience unto his commands it is not possible there should be an utter failure in this Office and Office-power of this Ministry It may fail in this or that place in this or that Church when the Lord Christ will remove his Candlâ—stick But it hath a living root whence it will spring again in other places and Churches whiâ—st this world doth endure Neither 4. Do they cease because they have been all of them corrupted abused and defiled in the Apostacy which fell out among all the Châ—rches in the latter Ages as it was fully foretold in the Scripture For 1. This supposition would make the whole Kingdom of Christ in the world to depend on the corrupt Lusts and wills of men which have got by any mâ—â—ns the outward possession of the Administration of his Laws and Ordinances This is all one as if we should say that if a pack of wicked Judges should for a season pâ—rvert Justice Righteousness and Judgment that the being of the Kingdom is so overthrown thereby as that it can never be restored 2. It would make all the dâ—â—ies and all the priviledges of all true Believers to depend on the wills of wicked Apostares For if they may not make use of what they hrve abused they can never yield Obedience to the câ—mmands of Christ nor enjoy the priviledges which he hath annexed unto his Church and Worship 3. On this supposition all Reformation of an Apostarized Church is utterly impossible But it is our duty to
judge of its evidences and fruits in their external Demonstration as unto a participation of the outward Privileges of a Regenerate state and no farther And we shall hereon briefly declare what belongs unto the forming of a right judgment herein and who are to be esteemed fit Members of any Gospel Church State or have a right so to be 1. SUCH as from whom we are obliged to with-draw or with-hold Communion can be no part of the matter constituent of a Church or are not meer Members for the first constitution of it But such are all Habitual Sinners those who having prevalent habits and Inclinations unto Sins of any kind unmortified do walk according unto them Such are prophane Swearers Drunkards Fornicators Covetous Oppressors and the like who shall not inherit the Kingdom of God 1 Cor. 6.9 10.11 Phil. 3.18 19. 2 Thess. 3.6 2 Tim. 3.5 as a man living and dying in any known Sin that is habitually without Repentance cannot be saved so a man known to live in Sin cannot regularly be received into any Church To compose Churches of Habitual Sinners and that either as unto Sins of Commission or Sins of Omission is not to erect Temples to Christ but Chapels unto the Devil 2. SUCH as being in the fellowship of the Church are to be admonished of any scandalous Sin which if they repent not of they are to be cast out of the Church are not meer Members for the Original Constitution of a Church This is the state of them who abide Obstinate in any known Sin whereby they have given Offence unto others without a professed Repentance thereof although they have not lived in it habitually 3. THEY are to be such as visibly answer the Description given of Gospel Churches in the Scripture so as the Titles assigned therein unto the Members of such Churches may on good grounds be appropriated unto them To compâ—â—â— Churches of such Persons as do not visibly answer the character given of what they were of old and what they were always to be by virtue of the Law of Christ oâ— Gospel-contitution is not Church Edification but Destruction And those who look on the things spoken of all Church Members of old as that they were Saints by calling lively stones in the house of God justified and sanctified separate from the World c. as those which were in them and did indeed belong unto them but even deride the necessity of the same things in present Church Members or the Application of them unto those who are so are themselves no small part of that woful Degeneracy which Christian Religion is fallen under Let it then be considered what is spoken of the Church of the Jews in their Dedication unto God as unto their Typical Hâ—linesâ— with the Application of it unto Christian Churches in real Holiness 1 Pet. 2.5.9 with the Description given of them constantly in the Scripture as Faithful Holy Believing as the House of God as his Temple wherein he dwells by his Spirit as the Body of Christ united and compâ—cted by the communication of the Spirit unto them as also what is said concerning their ways walkings and duties and it will be uncontrolably evident of what sort our Church Members ought to be nor are those of any other sort able to discharge the Duties which are incumbent on all Church-members nor to use the Privileges they are intrusted withal Wherefore I say â—o suppose Churches regularly to consist of such persons for the greater part of them as no way answer the Description given of Church-members in their Original Institution nor capâ—ble to discharge the Duties prescribed unto them but giving evidence of Habits and Actions inconsistent therewithal is not only to disturb all Church Order but utterly to overthrow the Ends and Being of Churches Nor is there any thing â—ore scandalous unto Christian Religioâ— than what Bellarmine affirms to be the judgment of the Papists in opposition unto all others namely that no internal Vertue or Grace is required unto the Constitution of a Church in its Members Lib. 3. dâ— Eccles. cap 2. 4. THEY must be such as do make an open profession of the subjection of their Souls and Consciences unto the Authority of Christ in the Gospel and their readiness to yield Obedience unto all his Commands This I suppose will not be denied for not only doth the Scripture make this Profession necessary unto the participation of any benefit or privilege of the Gospel but the nature of the things themselves requires indispensably that so it should be For nothing can be more unreasonable than that men should be taken into the privileges attending Obedience unto the Laws and Commands of Christ without avowing or professing that Obedience Wherefore our Enquiry is only what is required unto such a Profession as may render men meet to be Members of a Church and give them a Right thereunto For to suppose such a confession of Christian Religion to be compliant with the Gospel which is made by many who openly live in Sin being disobedient and unto every good work reprobate is to renounce the Gospel it self Christ is not the High Priest of such a Profession I shall therefore declare briefly what is necessary unto this Profession that all may know what it is which is required unto the entrance of any into our Churches wherein our Practice hath been sufficiently traduced 1. THERE is required unto it a competent knowledge of Doctrines and Mystery of the Gospel especially concerning the Person and Offices of Christ. The Confession hereof was the ground whereon he granted the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven or all Church Power unto Believers Matth 16.17 18 19. The first Instruction which he gave unto his Apostles was That they should teach men by the preaching of the Gospel in the knowledge of the Truth revealed by him The knowledge required in the Members of the Judaical Church that they might be translated into the Christian was principally if not solely that of his Person and the acknowledgment of him to be the true Messiah the Son of God For as on their unbelief thereof their Eternal ruine did depend as he told them if you believe not that I am he you shall die in your sins so the confession of him was sufficient on their part unto their Admission into the Gospel Church State And the Reasons of it are apparent With others an Instruction in all the Mysteries of Religion especially in those that are fundamental is necessary unto the Profession we enquire after So Justin Martyr tells us what pains they took in those Primitive Times to instruct those in the Mysteries of Religion who upon a general Conviction of its Truth were willing to adhere unto the Profession of it And what was their Judgment herein is sufficiently known from the keeping a multitude in the state of Catecumens before they would admit them into the Fellowship of the Church They are not therefore