Righteousnesse worthynesse Interests and sufficiency and chosen and appropriated him to themselves for their Righteousnesse worthynesse portion and sufficiency upon the sight and conviction of the nothingness emptinesse and insufficiency of their own and with a heart satisfyed with perswasion of the lovelynesse fullnesse and sufficiency of Christs 5. And if all this be seriously humbly self-debasingly and heartily done so far as Men may Judge Is it done or do they make known the dealings of God with their Souls and their faith in Christ in such a manner and at least seemingly with such a Spirit and with the sense and feeling of what they declare you may also be much helped in making a right Judgment of them whether they are sent of God as fitted by him for Church membership by the ends they propound unto themselves and declare unto you in desiring membership with you If they do seriously professe that what they do is in obedience to the will and as they judge the call of Christ as their indispensible duty and that they dare not live any longer in the neglect of the Church-ordinances of Christ That they joyn in fellowship to meet with and enjoy God to receive of his fulnesse to fit and enable them to the performance of all duties and conform their hearts and lives to the will of God in all things and other ends before named To which they do seriously bind themselves to God to perform and prosecute as also to walk and carry themselves in his Church according to the will of God through the Grace of Christ I say such may undoubtedly be accounted worthy Members and be received in as such CHAP. VI. Of the Formal cause of a Congregational Gospel-Church 6. QUest What is the formalis ratio or formal cause of a particular Church of Christ or how and by what means should Believers and fit materials be formed up and become a beautiful formal House or Temple of God for him to dwell in Answ First it is certain in experience that every house consists of matter and form and as men cannot have houses to dwell in without matter and form or materials formed up and laid together in order by the Art of Men so cannot God properly have a Spiritual house without matter and form God alludes to mens houses and the old Jewish Temple when he calls and stiles his Gospel Churches his houses and Temples so likewise Cities and Corporations that are of mens forming and we all know that a great number of materials scattered abroad lying here and there make not a house although they are well fitted and framed for a house but it is the orderly forming them up together that makes a house David provided many excellent materials to build God a house yet says God thou shalt not build it but Solomon thy Son shall and it was not a house until Solomons days he made the house of Davids materials So a Company or great number of Believers scattered up and down here and there make not a Gospel-Church or holy Temple of God how holy and excellent soever they are no more than the materials for the Temple made a Temple in Davids days It is contrary to every mans reason and experience to imagine it Neither are a number of Believers meeting occasionally together for the celebration of some Ordinances though often therefore a Church although they know and love each other and are satisfied of the good states of each other Neither doth their living together within the bounds or limits of a Parish make them a Church nor all of them together because they want the constitutive cause or formalis ratio of a Church or House of God Hence says the Text in allusion unto material houses and the Jewish Temple which was once the place of the special worship and presence of God Deut. 12.5 11. 2 Chron. 7.15 16. Ye are built and fitly framed for a habitation of God and being so framed and that not by man but the Spirit ye grow into a Holy Temple in the Lord. And the Church of Corinth was so built into a Holy-Temple 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 2 Cor. 6.16 Now if a number of company of Believers dwelling near together as in Cities usually they do and their occasional meeting together to worship God in some Ordinances did make them a formal house of God what need of building them up into a house and it is a matter of great weight and moment to me what the Apostle says in the Text last vers concerning the holy Spirit namely that he should be the great Agent and doer of it which clearly shews that it is a matter of very great concernment with respect to God and Believers to have them well and orderly formed together into a Church House or Temple of God for else the holy Spirit would never thus appropriate it and the whole of it unto himself as being only able to do it as his own proper work it being too great for men Angels to do but from and by him And I think if it were so light and inconsiderable a matter as some would have it it would have been a great dishonour rather than an honour to the holy Ghost to have entitled himself to it and have taken it upon himself as the sole cause thereof And as the Jewish Temple was so to be built and formed as that it might continue in its beauty and glory so undoubtedly ought the Lords Spiritual Temples now not for a few days but for ever for otherwise they will be rather like the Israelites Tents and Tabernacle in the wildernesse transcient and removing from place to place while they were Journeying towards their rest but when they were setled in their Land then they were to have a fixed Temple to meet God in and so the Apostle speaking to and of the particular congregated Church of Ephesus alludes unto the Temple of God at Jerusalem as a fixed setled place of Gods worship when he says they are a holy Temple and habitation of God Now if persons occasionally meeting together for the worship of God make a Gospel Church without any more adoe then they may be here to Day and gone to Morrow In such a place was a Church Temple of God Yesterday but none to Day for they are not fixed but transcient they are no more bound to one another with whom they sometimes walked than to others of Gods People which they never saw till to Day And if they have a mind to do so they may go to five or ten several places to Morrow and five take up with one Minister and ten with another c. for a Week Month or Year as they please if they be not formed and builded together and bound fast together as a House Temple or Family under the rule Inspection and teaching of fixed stated Officers For either they belong to one fixed houshold and Family or to none at all they have their own Officers or none
places and worship God together conscienciously and dutifully this lightens gladens and comforts their hearts strengthens their hands and puts as it were a new life into them It oyles the Wheels and helps to make them run on easily sweetly and comfortably If it be the duty of Ministers to wait on their Office to Preach the word in season and out of season to attend to the Ministry of the word and to feed their flocks and watch over them as indeed it is Then undoubtedly it is the indispensible duty of such to attend and wait on their Ministry For the work is relative And the same Authority that binds the one binds also the other The one must Preach and Administer and the other must freely dutifully and constantly wait on their Administrations And let me tell you and assure you that by your deserting your Ministers in whole or in part you despise them and their Ministry you expose your selves to inevitable Reproach for it is a scandalous sin and your Ministers and their Ministry to great derision and contempt and this will cost you dear one day Obj. But we cannot profit by them their Ministrations are dead to us Answ It may be so but whose fault is that theirs or yours will you lay the blame on them when indeed it is your own is that justice or horrible injustice Prov. 17.15 He that justifieth the wicked and he that condemneth the just even they both are abomination to the Lord. You did once value and esteem them and found life and refreshing in their Ministry else why did you joyn with them call and chuse them for your Ministers They did not force themselves on you you were at your free choice to refuse them and sit down under others Ministry Besides while you pretend that the cause of your deserting such as you have chosen and once found good by others of the same Congregation find their Ministry very profitable to them still and continue to wait on it and bless God for it and abhor all thoughts of deserting it If so then it is evident that God is with your Ministers and blesses their Ministry and then what follows but that the fault is in you not in your Ministry For why should not you profit by it as well as others but that the obstruction is at home And it would better become you and argue a better spirit in you to search out the plagues of your own hearts and lay the blame where it is than where it is not If you find no good by their Ministry is it not because you 1 have left God in secret God and you are become strangers at home If it be so as most likely it is then wonder not if the Ordinances of God profit you not For what can you expect to find in Divine Ordinances when God is departed from you because you are departed from God There is a woe pronounced to such Hosea 9.12 2. Do you not live in some known sin without Repentance It is more than probable you do and if so then be sure you will find no good in any of Gods Ordinances untill that Idol be removed by Repentance out of your hearts and hands Ezek. 14.2 3 7. Joshua 7. says God to such I will answer you according to your Idols who presume to come before me with Idols in your hearts as every known sin is 3. Have you not conceived a displeasure and taken up prejudice against your Ministers persons or their Ministry If so no marvel if you profit not by them But then I say that 's your fault not theirs you have laid a stumbling block in your own way and obstruct your profitting by the works of your own hands So some of the Corinthians were prejudiced against Paul and they could by no means profit by his Ministry and therefore away they go to Apollo Why what 's the matter why he had not such excellent speech and language as Apolle had 1 Cor. 2.1 and his bodily presence is weak and his speech contemptible 2 Cor. 10.10 Alas Paul is an inconsiderable fellow We did love affect and wait on his Ministry and time was we received profit by it But now the case is altered Paul is no man for us no but Apollo a man of more Eloquence shall be our man now a Rush for Paul Well to Apollo they go and leave poor Paul to Preach to their seats or shift for himself But it is not long that Apollo shall please them and be their man no but to Cephas they go and where then God knows But was this their vertue and a proof of their spiritual growth and attainments no but on the contrary the Holy Ghost tells them once and again that they did wickedly by their shiftings from one Teacher to another and proved themselves but poor low carnal professors 1 Cor. 3.1 2 3. This is ordinarily if not alwayes one cause of mens leaving their own Ministers And you that are guilty of it now will find this evil humour at the bottom of your shifting and withdrawing from your Teachers would you suffer your Consciences to speak out and search them to the bottom but that you are not willing to see your own spots in a clear Glass 4. Do you not profit by the Ministry of your own Ministers why is it not your Pride do you not conceit that you are wiser than they and so they are unmeet and unworthy to teach you and you are too high and good to learn or be taught of them half an eye may see that this is also in the bottom of your desertions you are not poor and hungry hearers nor little in your own eyes but are too full of conceits of your own abilities and base conceits of your Teachers and therefore you are not profitted by their Ministry This also was the Corinthians Disease which made them slight Paul's Ministry as unprofitable and unworthy of them 1 Cor. 4.2 11. 5. And as in these causes at home you will or may find why you do not profit by the Ministry of your own Teachers so likewise because the world and the deceitful pleasures and profits thereof do lye deep in your hearts and swallow up yea drown your minds and affections In a word you want love to Christ his word Ordinances and Ministers and therefore you do not profit you do not pray heartily and fervently for them that God would make them able Ministers of the New Testament and bless their Ministry to your Souls profit and therefore they profit you not Again you trouble distract and grieve their hearts contrary to the will of God and therefore they cannot profit you And by these and many other sinful wayes you grieve the holy Spirit so as that he will not concur with nor bless and prosper their sincere endeavours to do you good But then I say still the fault is in you not in them they would but cannot mend these things in you but so may you if
when we meet let our coming together be for the better and not for the worse Surely I think it is your Duty to give me loving Visits as well as I you and that when you come you shew a readiness to spend our Time and improve our Visits to the profit of our Souls unless the meeting be designed for other business The strangeness of some is no small burden to my spirit and I know not how their Consciences do dispence with such Omissions How can we think that such do really Love one another who regard not each others Company nor though they live near together will vouchsafe to give them a Visit in a whole year together For true Love inclines to Communion free and open-hearted Society together and it is so far from being burdensome to true Lovers so to do as that it is their delight Church-members are bound in duty to give their Teachers friendly Visits to encourage them in their Works and to get some good from them to their own Souls They should come and propound Cases to them that concern their Faith Practise Peace and Comfort and declare to them their Soul troubles and temptations and likewise their profit and gettings by their Ministry They should open unto them their Soul-wants and Spiritual diseases that so they may know the better how to suit their Ministry to them and apply words in season to their Conviction Instruction and Comfort For the Priests Lips should preserve knowledge and the People should seek the Law at his mouth for he is the Messenger of the Lord of Hosts Mal. 2.7 Mark it It is not said that they should always or mostly go to their People but that the People should seek to them Thus the Disciples came to the Lord Jesus with their Cases And truly Friends you would greatly rejoyce my heart if I might see the same practised by you in a holy and serious manner I do assure you that you should be very welcome to me and I shall most freely afford you my help and give you what assistance I can And I do further request and entreat you that when I come to visit you that then I may find you ready to entertain me with some profitable discourse that may better us in the Inner man for that is the best Entertainment I desire or expect from you and it is that which I am sure will turn to the best account now and at the last day These are some of my reasonable requests to you for my self which I hope you will not deny me 2. I have a few requests to you for God and your Head and King the Lord Jesus Christ 1. That you would still remember how you have received him as your Lord Jesus Christ and so walk ye in him Col. 2.6 Examine the Foundation you stand upon and take not up with Reformation without Regeneration and real Vnion with Christ by Faith It is to be feared that too too many Church-members sit down short of Christ a new State and a thorow change of heart that they content themselves with their being in the Churches of Christ the use of Ordinances and with their Church-priviledges We read of five Foolish Virgins in fellowship with five Wise Virgins and we read of bad Fishes in the Nets with the good of Tares growing amongst the good Wheat and of Hypocrits in the Kingdom of Heaven the Churches which Christ shall gather out and cast into the fire Matth. 25.2 Matth. 13.47 48 49 50. Isa 33.14 Take good heed that none of you be such You have past the Test of mens judgments and they take you for true Saints in their Char table judgments but you may be notorious Hypocrites for all that and you must pass under the Infallible Tryal and Judgment of God too who can and will make a true Judgment of you Therefore do you endeavour to know your own States by serious and diligent search 2 Cor. 13.5 2 Pet. 1.10 You may be Members of a true Church of Christ and yet not be true Members of Christ you may be Vnited to his People in Church-fellowship whilst you are Strangers to Christ And know that if you are Hypocrites in the Churches you are an Abomination to him you defile his holy Temple and his Soul abhors you But I say if upon your serious tryal of your selves you find indeed that you are new Creatures and have really received Christ the Lord on his own terms then do you walk in him and worthy of him Col. 1.10 Own him Trust him Love him Obey him Subject and Live to him as to your Head Lord and King Receive and walk by his Laws and Rules only and give him the Honour and Glory of his Headship and Authority over you in and by your so doing Luk. 6.46 Remember that you are the Servants of Christ bought with a price even the price of Christ's Blood that you should be his Servants and Subjects therefore be you not the Servants of men in his matters and concernments 1 Cor. 7.23 2. Do you stand up and be Zealous for and in the cause of your Lord and King Rev. 3.19 You are redeemed to it Tit. 2.14 and your Head expects it from you Keep your hearts with him and for him and suffer no Stranger no Lust Self or any Creature to Vsurp and Possess his Throne in you Shew your Zeal against all Intruders and fight them off when ever they assault you or attempt to get possession of your hearts Be you Zealous for and in his pure Gospel-worship and Ordinances for and in upholding sanctifying and celebrating of them in the Church 3. Encourage and promote the Interest of Christ in each others hearts and to enrich one another with the Truths and Grace of Christ as much as you can for it is your duty so to do and you will thereby please and glorifie him 1 Thes 5.11 Jude 20. You should labour to augment encrease and nourish the Graces Comforts and Experiences provoke strengthen and stir up one another to Love Trust Fear Honour and Serve Christ more and better For this is the Will of God concerning you 1 Thes 5.18 4. Honour Christ by reproving your sinning-Brethren and endeavouring all you can to hide it from the knowledge of others and to restore them with a spirit of meekness not suffering sin to rest upon them Gal. 6.1 Lev. 19.17 Lift them out of the ditch of Sin whereinto Temptation hath cast them and that with all possible secrecy and privacy for the honour of Christ and your Brethren and for the good of their Souls who have sinned Sin especially in Church-members carries Reproach in its mouth on Christ his Ways and Temples and therefore by the same Argument and Reason and for the self-same cause that we are to honour Christ and prevent all Reproach to his Name Gospel and People we should hide each others sins as long as possible and there is hope and endeavour privately to heal offences and
save them and that of his meer Grace and Love Joh. 6.37 40. Joh. 10. Joh. 17. Eph. 2.4 That God the Father gave and set his Son the second person in the Trinity to mediate peace between God and Men and to reconcile men to God by his active and passive Obedience That Jesus Christ gave himself and became a propitiation for their Sins That he assumed our nature and took it up into a personal Union with himself whereby there are two natures in one Person by which he was made capable of his Mediatorship That he being God-man in one Person took upon himself our guilt and punishment obeyed the whole Law of God that men had broken and did always do the things that pleased God That when he had finished his active obedience he became obedient unto the death of the Crosse to the wrath of God and curse of the Law Gal. 3.12 Phil. 2. That he really dyed and was buried lay in the Grave and rose again the third day and after forty days he went up into Heaven and sate down on the right Hand of God and that he will come again to Judge the Quick and Dead That he is King Priest and Prophet A King to give Laws unto men and command their obedience to them to rule and Govern his Subjects and to reward the obedient and punish the disobedient That all power in Heaven and Earth is committed unto him and that he is coequally and coeternally God with the Father and holy Spirit As a high priest he dyed and made Atonement for the Sins of his People and sits in Heaven to make Intercession and appear in the presence of God for them Heb. 7.25.9.24 That there are three persons in the God-Head but one God That the Holy Ghost is eternall God was sent into the World came from the Father Son for the elect sake that it is he that regenerates Persons works effectually in their Hearts applies Jesus Christ and all his benefits to men and savingly Convinces his Elect of Sin Righte ousness and Judgment Joh 3.5 Joh. 16.1 8.13 14 15. That all that rightly Believe in Christ shall be saved but those that believe not shall be damned and that all that believe in Christ must be careful to do good Works That Believers are made righteous with the Righteousness of Jesus Christ and that they have none of their own to commend them unto God That God hath made Jesus Christ unto his chosen Righteousnesse wisdome sanctification and Redemption 1 Cor. 1.30 and that they are made the Righteousnesse of God in him 2 Cor. 5. ult That God imputed their sins to Christ and imputes the blood and Righteousnesse of Christ to them and that they are justified thereby and not by inherent holynesse and Righteousnesse That God Loves Pardons Justifyes and Saves men Freely without any respect to their good Works as any cause thereof but all the moving cause without himself is Jesus Christ and his mediation That the Ground and reason of their obedience and doing Good works is the revealed will and pleasure of Christ commanding them and the ends of them are to expresse their thankfulness to God for his Grace and Love to please and honour Him to meet with God and enjoy communion with him to receive of his Grace and the good of many promises To shine as lights in the World and be useful unto men to declare whose and what they are and to lie up for a reward in another World to keep their Lusts under and their graces in use and exercise and to manifest their Respect and Subjection to Jesus Christ his Authority and Law That the Law for the matter of it as qualified by Christ is the Rule and Law of all obedience that all are bound to yield obedience subjection to it That there shall be a Resurrection of the just and unjust That Regeneration is absolutely necessary to Salvation and that without it none can enter into the Kingdome of Heaven Joh. 2.3 5 7. That the Scriptures of the Old and New-Testament contain and hold forth unto men the whole revealed will of God and are sufficient to make the man of God perfect thorowly furnished to every good Work 2 Tim. 3.16 17. and that whatsoever you are to believe and do is contained therein and that it is the ground of their Faith Hope and Practice That Jesus Christ hath instituted and appointed many Ordinances of Worship for his own Glory and his Peoples profit and that all are bound to observe and waite on God in them That all persons are indispensibly bound to mind and carefully to observe the principal manner and end of all their duties and to see that they be right holy and Spiritual indeed and not please themselves with the matter of duty without them That no men can serve God or do any acceptable work unto him until they are regenerate and put into a state of Grace These are some of the matters of Faith that they should rightly in measure understand and believe that are admitted into full membership in the Churches of Christ And these and other Truths must not be notionally lightly and in the general known and believed but heartily powerfully and particularly not for others but themselves or else their faith and knowledge will no way profit their Souls to Salvation 3. They must be qualified also with blameless conversations Their Conversations must become the Gospel Phil. 1.27 or else they are not meet for membership with Gospel-Churches Carnal walkings will not suit spiritual Temples For they will greatly pollute and defile them stain and darken their beauty and Glory Therefore they must not be brawlers or contentious Persons they must not be coveteous and worldly minded vain and frothy Persons They must not be froward and peevish Persons neither must or may they be Defrauders or such as detain others dues carelessy from them nor such as slight the worship of God in their Families or are carelesse of Governing and educating them in good manners and the things of God They may not be such as are known to neglect duties and ordinances in their times and seasons or to have vitious families through their neglects nor any other such kind of persons whose stinking Spirits and conversations are odious to God and his People And therefore whatever their profession be they may not be accepted or received into the holy Temples of God until they have repented of these or any other hateful and scandalous evil in their carriages and walkings 4. If they are such as have chosen the Lord Jesus Christ for their King and head given up and made over themselves to Jesus Christ to live in him and to him have singled him out and set him apart as it were to be the object of their trust Love and delight of their service and obedience If they have chosen and closed up with him upon his own Terms as they hope renounceing and rejecting all their own
you will And know for certain that if you are really willing to know these and other causes in your selves and shall deal truly with your own hearts and consciences in the case you will find what I have said to be a great truth And whether or no you will know and own it yet be sure that God the great heart-searcher doth know it is so And let me advise and counsel you in the fear of God to hasten to find out these plagues of your own hearts and ways and get deep convictions of them humble your selves before God unfeignedly for them confess your Errours and sins and take the blame and shame to your selves for harbouring such Vipers in your bosoms falsly blaming and charging your Teachers with your own evils justifying the guilty your selves and condemning the just your Ministers which the Lord abhors Sue out pardons in the blood of Christ and do all you can towards the removal of all the hindrances of your profitting by your own Ministry out of the way and get a meek humble hungering and thirsting Spirit a heavenly and spiritual frame of heart love to Christ his Word and Ordinances to your own Teachers and their Administrations and see if the case do not alter Prove if their Ministry do not profit you and if God do not indeed bless and prosper their labours to you If you shall in good earnest do these things and come in obedience to hear them as to an Ordinance of Christ for your good look unto and depend on him for his presence and blessing on your attendance on their Ministry set your selves in sincerity of heart before the face of God to receive his word and the blessed power and efficacy of it on your Souls and give diligent attention to what you hear and resolve unfeignedly and endeavour with all your abilities as you are bound to do to practise and rightly improve all you hear to your own and others profit and the glory of God in all I dare boldly assure you that you shall find the blessing of all Ordinances Administred by them to your Souls Therefore try and prove it so as you ought and may do and your own experiences will fully and clearly answer the objection and remove all difficulties out of the way Obj. But we find the Ministry of others more profitable to us Answ That 's strange and no less than a grosse delusion for can you indeed believe on a Scripture foundation and evidence that God hath commanded you to obey him to your loss detriment God hath charged his Churches to assemble themselves together namely with their own Teachers Heb. 10.25 and to obey them that have the Rule or oversight over them Heb. 13.17 and to know them which labour among them and are over them in the Lord and to esteem very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5.12.13 here is your duty And if so then be sure God intended all he commanded you for your profit and advantage and in no case to your disprofit he that hath with your own free consent set you in such a Church given you such a Ministry enclined your hearts to make choice of it and them for your Ministry and Ministers sealed their Ministry to others if not to you for the abovesaid Reasons commanded them to feed you and watch over you and given them hearts to do it from time to time did undoubtedly know what was best for you and design your profit and the good of the whole And if he had had an intention to have made use of others rather than of those you have to your greater advantage he would in season have directed you to them or else they to you and not have setled you where you are and have bound you there to abide in love and peace and in a dependence on him for his presence and blessing to your wrong and prejudice as the objection intimates This objection sets the Precepts and Orders of God at discord and variance with his promises of his presence and blessings with his people For if he hath enjoyned you to assemble together and keep to your own fold under the Teaching and oversight of your own Ministers as he hath done and yet as you say he blesses another Ministry in an other place that hath no such Relation to you as your own hath Then I say if that were true as it is not that God doth so bless that strange Ministry only in pursuance of his promises so to do And if so then his promises calls you out of your place to enjoy the good of them elsewhere when his Rules and Precepts direct and engage you to wait on and worship God in your own Church But who that are not under strong prejudices and delusion can believe it that God should deal so with his people or who durst affirm in cold blood that the only wise and righteous God is contrary to himself or that his Laws should thus contradict his promises or that his peoples duty and work lyes in one place and the good of the promises in another or that they must do their duty in one place and yet expect the blessings of the promises in another at the same time yet this and much more is implyed and included in the Objection Is not this a charging God with folly can any men in their sober moods believe indeed the matter of their own Objection or the reason of their pretence for leaving their own Ministers and Ministry and the Congregation to which they are with and by their own free consent united I think not neither dare they say in the presence and fear of God that they do so But in truth it is but a pretence to blind others eyes and stop their mouths against their just reproofs for want of better Arguments which such Transgressors are wholly destitute of yet something they will and think they must say for themselves and the justifying of their disorderly and scandalous practises in deserting their own chosen Teachers and Congregations although it be never so absurd and base But sad experience shews what they profit by such as they pretend to be more profitable to them than their own Teachers are Their words and carriages are loud proofs of it or rather that the Devils transforming themselves into Angels of light to them do together with their own pride prejudice c. perswade and entice them to such evil manners and Church-destroying practices and to put a fair face on a foul matter he helps them to defend themselves against checks of Conscience and Reproofs of their Brethren by such ridiculous reasons or rather pretences as these They care not how they charge God wrong their own Souls stumble and offend their Brethren grieve and sadden their own Ministers and cast contempt on the Church and the Ministry thereof so they may thereby but gratifie their own lusts their pride and prejudice their humours and passions and do
Ten things 1. In looking after the Conversations of such as propound themselves to joyn with the Church that the Church admit not any scandalous persons amongst them That if they are such they may be debarr'd and kept out if otherwise together with other qualifications they may be received in This I judge to be one part of their work For certainly it is one part and end of Church-power to keep the Church clear from scandal and offence And they may and ought to do it Authoritatively and not as private Members may do it only 2. In the absence or upon the desire of the Pastor they may admit or take Members into the Church or rather take them into Church-Membership by giving them the right hand of fellowship and shewing them their duty and priviledge in a Church-State And herein they represent the Church and act Authoritatively therein for them This is another part of their Office VVork and Power And it requires good abilities to do it well and to purpose 3. They may when need requires command speech and silence in Church-meetings for the preventing of Disorders and disorderly Members in their words and carriages and they may authoritatively and publickly admonish and reprove such in the face of the Church which private Brethren may not do 4. They may in some cases with the consent of their Pastor or Teacher if at home call and assemble the Church together for the preventing of some apparant evil or promoting of some good thing or work in the Church Or in case the Pastor shall knowingly neglect to do his duty in the case or cases aforesaid doubtless the Ruling-Elders may and ought to do it and the Church ought to obey their call For they do it by the Authority they have from Christ for the good and benefit of the Church But this may not be done by any Member that is not an Elder but in the want of an Elder And when they are assembled together they may authoritatively propound the causes and ends for which they called them there and require their assistance 5. Their work is to inspect and carefully diligently wisely and faithfully to look after the walkings and conversations of all the Members of the Church This is the chief part of their work They are not only to take cognizance of what is brought to them by others Reports but to enquire after them They are bound by virtue of their Place and Office to see if the Members keep close to Church-meetings and reverently attend them and if they do not to Reprove Admonish Exhort them to Teach and Instruct them That they may know their duty be convinced of their sinful neglects repent of and amend them and that by their good Counsels and Exhortations they may be provoked and encouraged to and in their work Ruling-Elders should in this matter as also in comforting the afflicted and speaking words in season to him that is weary be able and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to Teach 1 Tim. 3.2 as well as the Pastors The one more privately and particularly and the other more publickly For as the Deacons work is to look after the wants and corporal concernments of the Church and provide for the poor and the Teachers to mind and look after the concernments of their Souls and make provisions for them according to their needs So Ruling-Elders have their work namely to look after the manners of all the Members of the Church To encourage and strengthen the hands of the Tractable and Obedient and to reprove convince and perswade the Disobedient that they may do what they ought 6. And therefore they should often visit them and see how they do and how they walk what they want and wherein they need their assistance and helping hand and when they know it to hold it out unto them freely and readily Certainly Elders should be intimately acquainted with their Congregations and with their walkings also For if any miscarry through their default or neglect the guilt will lie at their Doors and the Lord Jesus will require it at their hands Oh! that Elders would serioufly consider it and lay this matter near their hearts and suffer it to penetrate and pierce their Consciences and that they would consider in good earnest wherefore they are set in the Church and for what ends they have Rule and Discipline put into their hands That under deep Convictions they may be induced to discharge their work and perform their Trusts mind their Duty and prosecute the ends of their appointment that God may be well pleased with and bless them own and delight to use them for his glory in the Church and that they receiving benefit by their wisdom diligence and faithfulness may rejoyce in and bless God for them 7. They must take up Controversies and endeavour to end strifes and debates in the Church when such evils happen which are found too frequent through the Pride and prejudice of our hearts and the Temptations of the Devil who is a great Adversary to the Peace Beauty Order and Prosperity of Churches Ruling-Elders must not suffer any quarrels or contentions either in publick or private either between a few or many but presently interpose their VVisdom and Authority to decide and reconcile the causes and persons and set all in joynt again For such evils if let alone will prove like Cancers in the body and encrease to more ungodliness as the Apostle speaks Therefore the Elders should enquire into them and search out such as did the wrong began the strife and such as they find are adicted to take up prejudices against and foment debates with their Brethren and correct the offenders and releive the wronged and oppressed as they see cause There must be no Hammer no knocking heard in the Temple of God And wee to them who give occasion for strife and debate and to such as do improve occasions in such a manner also so likewise to negligent and careless Elders who do or may know these evils and yet let them alone or seek to heal them in a slight manner as if they had nothing to do with them or were not indeed much concerned in them But surely this is one of your great works as you have the power of Rule and Government in your hands for the good of the Church And you may authoritatively take up Controversies and require the Members of the Church to hearken to you And you may do Christ and the Church great service in this matter Therefore mind it in good earnest 8. Their work is to assist and encourage the Teaching-Elders and to promote and set forward the Gospel in their hands They must stand by and stand up for their Teachers and not suffer them to be wronged obstructed or discouraged by any so far as they can prevent it by their power and wisdom Do any back-bite them Rprove them Do any slight or contemn their Ministry Reprove them shew them the
and Authority only that you must observe and walk by 3. Diligently you must exercise your power with all possible diligence Rom. 12.8 He that Ruleth with diligence That is he must frequently attend to his Ruling-work and what he doth therein he must do with all his abilities He must be earnest and fervent in it and set himself to it as to his work and business He must not be slothful negligent or careless in it as if it were an indifferent thing no but he ought to be diligent and fervent in Spirit serving the Lord in what he doth Rom. 12.11 The negligent servant shall be beaten with many stripes Luk. 12 47. They should be diligent to know the state of their Flocks Prov. 27.23 For although they I mean the Church are not the Ruling Elders Flock as they are the Teaching Ruling Elders yet they are in a sense their Flock and charge to watch over them and inspect their manners and walkings 4. Readily willingly and chearfully They should be like the Teaching-Elders in this also 1 Pet. 5.2 Taking the oversight of the Flock not by constraint but willingly not as Lords over Gods Heritage but examples to the Flock It is sad indeed when they look not after them nor mind their work and Office in the Church but when they are constrained and as it were forced to it by their Teachers and cannot for shame but do something then but somewhat unwillingly coldly and indifferently as if it were a small thing or a matter by the by and which they would not trouble themselves about could they handsomely evade and pass it by They grudge at it and account it their burden not their delight But surely it should be their delight to serve Christ and his Church and they should most readily willingly and chearfully do it 5. Conscientiously and Dutifully The will of Christ and their duty their work and opportunity to do good should lye deep in their hearts and powerful on their Consciences and what they do in the Church in pursuance of their Trust and Office-power for the Lord Jesus and his Church they are bound to do it upon Choice conscientiously and dutifully and that because it is their place work and duty by virtue of Christ's Authority who hath for these ends set them in the Church appointed and enjoyned them such work and service there for his glory and their good They must not only bear Rule but they must Rule well too for those ends or else they are of no use and service there Now how can they be said to Rule well as commanded unless they use and exercise their Office-power so namely wisely diligently readily and willingly chearfully conscientiously and dutifully according to the Laws and Rules of Christ their Lord 6. They ought to exercise their Authority and use their power in the Church with much love tenderness meekness impartiality and sometimes as need requires with severity too They must not exalt themselves and carry it in a Lordly manner towards their Brethren because they have Authority over and may command them But they must see that they temper their power and the exercise and use of it with love tenderness humility and meekness They should so carry themselves in all things as that on the one hand they be not slighted and despised and on the other hand envied for their haughtiness They should so behave themselves in the house of God as that they may give occasion to all to think that they love them and respect their good in all they do So likewise they ought to be just and impartial in their proceedures towards all and not respect persons in Judgment but the merit of the cause And in case of necessity when they have to do with stubborn and obstinate persons they may and ought to be severe in dealing with them when they cannot otherwise prevail on them to convince humble and reform them Jude 22.23 7. And in all their endeavours ways and practises in the Church they should intend design and aim at the union peace holinesse comfort and prosperity of the Church the honour of Religion encouragement of the Gospel and the Glory of Christ All which blessed ends they should wisely zealously sincerely seriously industrously and faithfully prosecute and with all their might strive and labour to obtain and by all means and that with much patience and perseverance in the use of them hope and pray seek and wait to accomplish in the Lords time They must not make one or two attempts to reconcile differences rectify disorders disswade from Sin perswade to Duty to heal wounds and encourage to Repentance and so leave it without looking after the Issue and the success of their labours but they must follow on their work until the ends be obtained They as well as their teaching Elders must look well to their herds Prov. 27.23 They must see that they rule well and with diligence 1 Tim. 5.17 Rom. 12.8 and that they approve themselves faithfull Stewards to Christ and his Church in all their proceedings and make full proof thereof Quest What are the qualifications of ruling Elders or how should they be qualifyed for so high and honourable work and office in the Church Ans I shall briefly name some of their necessary qualifications and but some of them and such as are indeed necessary for them without which they cannot will not rule well nor be profitable to the Church First They must be qualified with Spiritual Gifts and special Graces with a considerable measure of divine Wisdome and Spiritual understanding They should be not only real Saints but eminent Saints too They must not only have peculiar Grace but be strong in Grace also Surely they ought to be well furnished with the Gifts and Graces of the Spirit that they may go in and out and walk in the Church as shining Lights be able to judge and discern cases and persons and make a sound and true Judgment of the things and matters they may be called to judge and determine They must not be Novices in the knowledge of Christ his Law Gospel the Rules by which they must walk but they must have the Word of Christ to dwell in them richly in all Wisdom Col. 3.16 to help them in their work They cannot rule well unlesse they do understand and can speak well nor unlesse they are well acquainted with their Office Work and the Rules thereof They ought to be sober grave and serious Persons and not of vain light and frothy behaviour in their spirits carriages They should be of prompt ready minds and spirits for their work and not of dull lumpish and heavy Tempers For if they are such they will not act upon choice freely but by constraint and that will render them unprofitable and undesirable to the Church They should be men of blamelesse lives and spotlesse conversations and they should be men of warm and lively affections abounding in Love zeal and fervour of
by the Apostle Peter in his first Sermon after the coming of the Holy Ghost on him and other of the Apostles in Act. 2.39 when he was about the setting up of Churches and Church-Order Laws and Ordinances among them sayes he Repent yee and be Baptized why for the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are a far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call which is the same for substance given before to Abraham And Paul told the Galatians Chapt. 3.14 That the blessing of Abraham is come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ This Ordinance of Baptism is of meer Institution and made known to us in and by the Gospel The Light and Law of nature knows nothing of it neither are we bound to observe it but upon the command and appointment of Christ which is sufficient for us and we need no further warrant for our observation of it Fifthly The Lords Supper is clearly another Church-Ordinance And indeed it cannot be rightly and orderly administred and received but in a regular Church-state we never read of any Believers that received it or any Officers that administred it after Christ's ascension but as they were congregated en-Churched em-bodied and formed into a holy Temple but we read of Churches celebrating it as at Jerusalem Acts 2. Corinth 1 Epistle 11. and elsewhere We find the Institution of this Ordinance in Matth. 26.26 27 28. Mark 14.22 23 24. Luk. 22.17 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 to the end In this last Scripture we have many weighty things of and concerning this great Ordinance 1 The Institution its self 2 The time when the same night in the which he was betrayed 3 The Institutor namely the Lord Jesus 4 The manner of it 1. The Lord Jesus's own practise He took blessed brake and gave the Bread and said take eat this is my Body 2. By commandment this do ye in remembrance of me 5 Who should received it and how persons should be qualified and prepared for the reception of it 1. With light and faith They must be able to discern the Lords body the ends and use of the Ordinance and to make suitable and pertinent application of all to themselves 2. They must be able to examine themselves and actually to do it and be in a state and practical fitness and readiness to meet Christ in it to thank and praise him and to shew forth his death until he come 6 The danger and peril they are in who eat and drink and use this holy Ordinance unworthily 1. They are guilty of his Body and Blood 2. Of their own damnation 7 We are informed of some of the sad effects their unworthy receiving of this holy Ordinance had on some of them for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep Sixthly Singing of Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs is another Church-Ordinance or Institution of Christ Eph. 5.18 19 20. Col. 3.16 Mat. 26.30 Mark 14.26 This is a spiritual Ordinance and Duty yea it is a heart-warming Soul-refreshing Spirit-raising and grace-quickning Ordinance To the well performance of it much special grace and diligent exercise of it as also the spirit of grace is necessary Much wisdom and spiritual understanding life and vigor care and watchfulness is requisite sincerity and faithfulness spirituality and heavenly-mindedness is needful for our acceptable observance of it to God through Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 14.15 Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.18 19 20. It is true that all men ought to sing praises and thanksgivings unto God for it is a natural and moral duty and it is as true that none can rightly holily and acceptably do it but such as are partakers of the grace and spirit of Christ and that the Lord Jesus hath instituted it and made it a Church-Ordinance And as or because he hath instituted and made it one of his Gospel-Ordinances for his Churches that therefore they ought so to observe it Sevently Holy discourses and heavenly conferences among the members of the Church is another Church Ordinance which all are bound to mind and practise as they have ability and opportunity for the observation and celebrating of which they should seek for occasions and seasons to meet together and endeavour to promote it and when they have them in their hands to use and improve them to the glory of God and their own mutual profit and that because it is their Lords Ordinance for their good The neglect of which is doubtless one of the procuring causes of those witherings languishings and most dreadful decays in grace and woful back-slidings which are so notoriously evident among Church-members This useful profitable Ordinance was once in esteem much accounted of by Believers but it is now almost laid aside forgotten by them it was their delight but now their burden They made happy earnings of it to their Souls but now they fancy that they have no need of it that there is neither duty nor priviledge in it But however it is and shall ever be an Ordinance of God and their observation of it their priviledge and duty Jude 20. Building up your selves in your most holy faith 1 Thes 5.11 Wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another even as also ye do See also vers 14. and Heb. 3.13 Heb. 10.24 25. Mal. 3.16 17. Church-members must take heed that they meet together for the better and not for the worser as the Apostle told the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.17 that they so improve their occasional and determined meetings as to profit and better one another This holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ should be seriously frequently diligently spiritually and sincerely observed of all Church-members And if they shall so observe and practise it in obedience to his will and with holy designs and aims namely to please and honour God and to profit and better their own and each others Souls they will find it an exceeding profitable Ordinance to them for the promoting and carrying on the grace and interest of Christ in their hearts and it will be an effectual means to encrease love one to another unite their hearts and endear affections God will bless and empower it in your dependence on Christ and his free grace to keep your Consciences awake your Affections warm and your hearts ready to every good work Eightly Church-Discipline This Ordinance is instituted and appointed for the Churches regular and orderly walking for the preventing and curing disorders in them and there is as much need of this Ordinance and Institution as of any other as experience shews And it should be seriously minded and considered wisely and diligently observed and practised in the Church as much as any other Ordinance of God therein There is no Church in the world but is subject to disorders and too many irregularities because the Lusts Temptations and carnal Interests of some of the Member are strong and impetuous which causes many distempers and disturbances in the
to him for his love and grace to us to hold and enjoy Communion with him to grow in grace and to be filled with all the fulness of God to be warm lively and strong in our duties and performances and for such holy ends as God requires Thus you see that all Gods people are bound in duty to joyn themselves to and walk in spiritual fellowship with the Churches of Christ as also for what ends and to what purpose they should do so CHAP. XI Shewing how Church-members ought to walk and what Sins and Temptations they are obnoxious to in their Church-state with Rules and cautions against them Arguments and motives to perswade to practice the one and avoid the other Quest HOw ought Believers to walk in Church-fellowship Answ I have shewed already what their duties are and how they should carry themselves towards their Officers and towards one another in a Church-state and therefore shall not mention them here but shall answer the question in these following particulars First Church-members must walk exemplarily they should be like so many Stars in the Firmament of the Church They of all persons in the world ought to be burning and shining lights Their graces gifts words deeds and carriages should shine so clear and bright so gloriously and conspicuously as that they should have the force and prevalency of Laws on the minds of beholders so as that they may safely securely imitate follow them The Churches of Christ in the world are as so many Sea-marks Pilots Guides to Men they live more in the glory of Heaven as the Church is called in Rev. 13.6 in the beams of the glorious Son of Righteousness than others do and therefore they should give better and clearer light than others can They are much more eyed minded and observed than others are and men expect and look for more good in and choice fruits from them than they do from other men They do or may converse more with Christ and Christ with them than other men do and they are partakers of greater things from him than other men are and therefore they must be a singular People in all manner of holy Conversation and Godliness Church-members are highly dignified and greatly priviledged their holy Profession gives out bespeaks them to be a peculiar Treasure unto God and therefore they must declare before all men that they are such indeed and not in pretence only Their frames of heart words deeds and deportments must speak for them manifest them to be the same in Truth which they pretend to be Church-members words works and carriages must praise them in the Gate 1. They should be shining lights in Humility and Meekness Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the Elect of God humbleness of mind meekness 1 Pet. 5.5 and be Cloathed with Humility Phil. 2.3 But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Matth. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Church-members must not be high proud and lofty they may not think highly of themselves Rom. 12.3 nor cloath and deck themselves as others do They may not carry themselves strangely or disdainfully towards men but be meek and humble towards their Brethren and all men in their Apparel Words Deeds and Carriages for if this part of Christ's Image do not appear in some good measure on them they cannot have any at all A meek spirit carriage and deportment is one of their Ornaments It is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3. 2. They must shine in Zeal Fervency of spirit this holy fire should burn among them They must not be of dull stupid heavy and lumpish spirits worship God appear before him and hold Communion one with another indifferently coldly dully regardlesly and heavily as if they were rather driven to their work and duty against their wills than with their choyce love and desire but they must be fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 for which some of the Corinthians were commended 2 Cor. 7.11 and Phinchas Numb 25.11.13 and David Psal 69.9 To this they are redeemed and for it they are purchased Tit. 2.14 not only to do good works but to be Zealous in and for them The Lord Jesus charges his Churches to be Zealous Churches Rev. 3.19 in imitation of himself whose Zeal to God did eat him up Joh. 2.17 Much holy Zeal governed and guided by much spiritual Wisdom makes a man an excellent shining useful acceptable and desirable man indeed This should be another of the Churches beauties and comely Ornaments wherewith they should still be cloathed decked and adorned in this world If this Diamond do not shine if they are not adorned with this rare Jewel what are they worth and what are they good for They will be like fire without heat and light as to their duty work and usefulness They will be like Drones or like Bees without stings namely of no considerable use in the world All that they do for God Men and their own Souls will be of little or no esteem and account 3. They must shine in Love and Charity too Love is the bond of perfectness Col. 3.14 the ligament and sinew the cord and instrument that tyes us fast to God and to one another See that ye love one another with pure hearts fervently 1 Pet. 122. and let Love be without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart soul and strength Matth. 22.37 The internal motive or moving cause of all obedience and service to God must be love to him and our duty Joh. 14.15 1 Joh. 5.3 It is true that men cannot certainly discern this Love to God in one another but God and our own Consciences may and must Churches of Christ must be Churches of Love they should be acted and animated drawn and constrained to every good work by Love 2 Cor. 5.14 All the ways and workings of Jesus Christ to us all that he doth to or for us is Love Doth he instruct us or doth he correct us it is all in and from love Love to us is the bottom spring and cause of all his dispensations towards us His anger is provoked Love Love should knit our hearts fast to our God and Head to our duties and services and to one another in Church-fellowship But of this already else-where 4. Churches must shine in that great work and duty of Self-denyal when need requires He that will be my Disciple saith Christ must deny himself Mark 8.34 Matth. 16.24 Luk. 9.26 They should be eminent and singular in Self-denyal or in denying themselves of many things for Christ for their Brethren and for their own souls sakes Their Lord Jesus is the great copy pattern and examplar of Self-denyal and that for them to serve them and promote their happiness Phil. 2.5 6 7 8. Acts 20.28 and without this we cannot be his Disciples If we will not deny our selves