sacrifices 4. The Table of shew bread on which were set new every Sabbath weekly twelve Cakes with pure incense representing the twelve Tribes of Israel which stood on the Table continually before the Mercy-seat in the presence of God which as it signified the gracious favour and the eyes of God in Christ over the righteous so also how the Christian liveth continually as in the presence of God reconciled and reconciling him to him through Christ his heart saith with David Thy loving kindnesse is before mine eyes Psa 26. 3. and I have walked in thy truth And this constant presence as before God reconciled only through the blood of his Son raiseth the incense and sweet odours of holy motions presented also before God in Christ continually and look as God feedeth him with Christ the bread of life and furnisheth a Table before him so the Believer keeps a furnished Table Cant. 1. 12. 7. 12. 8. 2. of the fruits of the Spirit in which God in Christ is delighted this Table stood on the North-side in the Tabernacle 5. The Candlestick of pure Gold with seven Lampes burning was on the South-side right against the Table of Shew bread This is the Word of God written in the heart of the true Christian burning and shining in saving knowledge with the seven lampes of his spirit even manifold gifts and graces in the light of this Word ingrafted by which the Holy Ghost dwels in them they serve God in Christ with their spirits in the Gospel 6. The Brazen Laver to wash in is the very fountaine of godly sorrow and of renewing grace Esa 1. 16. Psal 26. 6. Act. 26. 18. the spirit of sanctification which is opened in the heart of a beleever it is the sanctification in them by faith which is in Iesus Christ whereby their soules are sprinkled from an evill conscience and their bodies washed with cleane water that so they may draw neare with a true heart in full assurance of faith Heb. 10. 20. This is the furniture of Gods house 3. For the Glory The Glory that fills this house of God is God in the presence of his Grace as the Apostle saith Ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 2 Cor. 6. 16. 4. For the Ministers The Ministers that serve in this house they are beleevers they are both the Temple and the Priests as the Apostle Peter saith coming unto Christ Ye are built up a spirituall house an holy Priesthood to offer up spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 4 5. In these foure respects is the beleever the Temple of God and every one that is called though but outwardly is called that he might be a partaker of this heavenly honour of which honour unbeliefe and impenitency doe deprive him Who can sufficiently expresse the Dignity of the true beleever who can sufficiently bewaile the state of the Christian that is so only in profession who while he seemes to give himself to God in words keepes his heart a stye for Satan keeps open house for the Devill Thus we see how every Christian is Gods Temple The Church is also Gods Temple even the Church visible It is true that as the Temple and Tabernacle had three parts the outer Court for the people the Holy Place where the Priests did their Office and the Holy of Holies into which the High Priest only entred so they did type out the visible Church as the outer Court where are good and bad the Holy Place the true Saints and Beleevers and Heaven the Holy of Holies But here the visible Church in the whole and in every particular visible Church is called the Temple of God 1. For the generall qualities or adjuncts 1. Vnity There was but one Temple so the Church is one Cant. 6. 9. There is but one body 1 Cor. 12. 12. though there be diversities of gifts of operations and of administrations though there be divers members this diversity makes for Unity for if they were all one member where were the body 1 Cor. 12. 19. unto every one is given some measure of Grace from Christ the Head which being improved in our fit and proper place in the body according to the effectuall working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it selfe in love Ephes 4. 7. 16. Diversity of gifts makes for growth as well as for unity if love with lowlinesse and meeknesse doe act and carry us 2. Sanctity The Temple of God is holy so the Church are a society or community separated from the world they are without we have nothing to doe to judge them that is to proceed with them that are the fornicators of this world or the covetous or the like with Church-censures These are within these that are called Brethren and are yet fornicators or covetous or Idolaters or drunkards or such like these that are fornicators of the Church these we judge If we doe neglect this Discipline the Apostle doth not say separate you that are Saints indeed set up a new Church but blames us saying Doe not ye judge them that are within 1 Cor. 5. 12. and injoynes reformation not a separation for such a fault saying Therefore put away from among your selves that wicked Person It is a lamentable thing to read in the Church of Corinth the Temple of God which is holy this mixture brother Fornicator brother Drunkard brother Idolater c. yet so it was Aug. Tom 7. cont Ep. Parmen l. 2. c. 1. Qusquis vel quod potest arguendo corrigit vel quod corrigere non potest salvo pacis vinculo excludit vel quod salvo pacis vinculo excludere non potest aequitate improbat firmitate supportat bic est pacificus ab isto maledicto immunis quod Scriptura dicit vae his qui dicunt quod nequam est bonum quod bonum est nequam so it hath been in the Primitive purest times if it be so now be not so offended as to run out of your little wit while you are running from pollution run not from Gods Temple while you flee the touching of the unclean thing rather let your holinesse be accompanied with love your love with severity your severity with tolerance and longanimity your long-suffering with zeal your zeal with compassion and all with meeknesse of wisdome 2. For the Structure 1. The Temple was built on mount Zion which was first a strong hold of the Jebusites but conquered and taken by David was called the city of David and because a mountain therefore strong and steddy So Christ hath no Church but what he gets by spiritual conquest they were before calling a Fort of Jebusites but our David subduing the strong holds of Satan brings them to God the Rock of Ages I. 26. 4. Jer. 17. 5. 7.
is the head of the Church which is most true and yet withall that the Pope is the head of the Church The Church then is a body that hath two heads And those make Christ yet more monstrous that setting up so many Independant Churches as there be Christian Congregations in the world which they call each severally the mysticall Body of Christ do make Christ a head that hath so many bodies but there is but one Body all particular Churches make up one Church and visible universall society in which Church he saith not Churches God hath set Apostles Prophets Teachers Miracles gifts of healings helps Governments diversities of Tongues Therefore many of us also must beware of that and such like sins of Divisions that defiled the Church at Corinth for the Ax of this Sentence in this Text is by the Apostle laid also to every of our roots While therefore these words are handled according to the truth Look not on me as if I spake of my self look not off your selves blesse not your selves under the vain thoughts of Gospel-Grace that you will hear and only that or Gospel-graces and gifts wrought in you or your freedom from other grosse-sins as if this of falling into divisions were no sin but consider who speaks How and to whom And the Lord Iesus Christ make all saving to you though for the present it should not favour you The Substance of the Text hath three words to be opened 1. The Temple of God He means not hereby the materiall Temple in Jerusalem first or second nor the Tabernacle built in the wildernesse but the latter end of this verse sheweth clearly he means Christians which Temple are ye every particular Christian every of you and ye the Church of Christians both then at Corinth and also every where not only the Christian that hath truth of grace and is so inwardly as well as outwardly but the Christian by outward calling for to these he wrote also not only every particular member but chiefly the Church the Society This word ye referred to all in Corinth called to be Saints and to all in all the world that call on the name of the Lord Iesus Christ doth fully evince thus much They are called Gods Temple continuing the Metaphor of a building considered severally and in a Church-society with Relation to the typicall Temple to shew that the truth of that type is now remaining 2. Defil◠Destroy The Greek word is but one in divers tenses it signifieth both to Defile and Destroy to corrupt and violate the Greek is thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The translation would render the Originall more naturally if we retained one English word either thus If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God defile or thus If any man destroy the Temple him will God destroy It is an Elegancy and not barely so but pregnant in instruction for it teacheth that the punishment of such offenders shall be in justice proportioned to their offence Defiling for defiling violence for violence degree for degree if they 'le be dilapidating and corrupting Gods house they shall have enough of it God will dilapidate and corrupt them 3. If any man him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any do it that same man shall feel it whoever he be Teacher or hearer of high esteem for place in the Church or for gifts and graces this man God will certainly meet withall this his sin shall finde him out Now from hence arise three Doctrines worthy our through perusall and attention 1. Doct. Every Christian professing the true Faith much more every true Professor of that true Faith is the Temple of God And every particular visible Church or Society of these Professors and the whole Church or universall society of Christians professing the true faith are the Temple of God This from the word Temple in the sense here used 2. Doct. Many there are yea many within the visible Church that are defilers and Violaters of this Temple of God 3. Doct. God will certainly punish every and all the defilers and violaters of this his Temple with punishments proportionable to their sin in violating and defiling the same For the first of these Note the difference I put between a Professor of the true Faith and a true professor of that true Faith One may professe the truth and not truly professe it he may be a hypocrite in his profession A Professor is visible and profession of the Faith may be discerned by men from profession of falshood but a true Professor and the truth of his profession is to be desired and prayed for but is not so easily discerned God onely that searches the heart can infallibly judge of this Again I use the word Society as the Genus of a Church not an Assembly for a Church is no lesse a Church when the Assembly is dismissed then when they are Assembled in the use of any Ordinance of God Nor a Congregation that word is too narrow it agreeth not to all the kindes but the word Society that agrees to a particular visible Church and to the whole visible Church to the Church in a house the Church in a Village of one Congregation the Church in a City consisting of many Congregations as the Church of Ierusalem of Ephesus of Corinth the Church in a Kingdom or Nation committed to the profession of the Faith of Christ the Church in the whole world the Church in her Officers gathered together to hear complaints the Church in her Members assembled to worship and serve the Lord according to the Gospel of Christ It is weak and a poor quarrell my opinion is it is so to deny a National Church under the New Testament for under the old its beyond all question and to plead there is no other visible Church then Congregationall The Church at Ierusalem was not Congregationall in that sense that is it did not consist of one Congregation that could meet in one place all the Members of it have one Pastor preach to them at one time and use other Ordinances of Worship as the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper Baptisme Publique Prayer and fellowship together twelve Apostles were not able to discharge to them the duty that belonged to the word and Prayer without the help of seven Deacons to take off them the care of distributing of the Church Almes Act. 6 1 2 3 4. It is hard to make clear proof that the word Church in all the History of the New Testament is given to a Congregation I desire to see it And why may not a Nation professing the Faith be called a Church as well as all the world of Professors be called a Church Why not now as well as under the Old Testament The word Church is applicable to every Society of men that professe the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ We read of Churches in the New-Testament because we have severall Societies and Nations of men converted and become the people of God
but also be acquainted with the Liberall Arts and Sciences that the Arts are needfull in a Minister is cleare hereby the Minister ought to be able to convince and confute errours and to maintaine the truth by disputation as well as to teach it and to comfort exhort and rebuke he is to stop the mouthes of Hereticks and Deceivers this he cannot doe without the helpe of the Arts especially of Logick whereby he discernes the fallacies of seducers and can open the truth out of the Scriptures which are delivered in a rationall discourse Who have been the famous Instruments of God to confute all the Hereticks of old Who have cut the sinewes of Harding Stapleton Bellarmine and other Popish Writers not any other save men famous for Learning Did you ever heare of such service done for the Church of God by any of the illiterate Anabaptists and Sectaries though they have boasted of the Spirit yet I say not that Learning gives Ministeriall gifts much lesse Grace but without Learning the Ministery would be but lame in many respects therefore the enemies of a learned Ministery are the friends of Popery and all Heresies of ignorance and blindnesse and the enemies of the truth and Gospell of the light and comfort of the Church of Iesus Christ 5. Novices newly converted ones at the best taking upon them to Preach and permitted so to doe this is to defile Gods House by prophaning the Ministery Holy Paul saith not a novice 1 Tim. 3. 6. lest passed up with pride he fall into the condemnation of the Devill these five waies our Novellists strike the pillar of the Ministery thus of a fifth sort of Temple-defilers 6. I proceed to others which though they might be cast many of them under the head of Schisme yet because they are now late-sprung and trouble the Church of God I shall let them beare a distinct numeration as so many severall orders of Defilers though not distinct sorts and kinds therefore sixthly those that keep out of the Church any of the Ordinances of Christ those that keep Gods Houshold-stuffe in any part of it out of his Temple as those that deny Paedo-Baptisme or the Baptizing of the Infants of those that professe the faith of Iesus Christ the Scripture for Baptizing of such Infants beside many others urged by many is that in Acts 2. 39. For the Promise is unto you and to your children from these words with the former ariseth this Argument To whomsoever the Promise belongs to them Baptisme doth belong the truth of this is in the reasoning of the Apostle who requires them to receive Baptisme upon their Repentance professed because the Promise is to them this ground is Apostolicall and Divine But to the children of Professors of the Faith doth the Promise belong this is the very sense of the words of the 39. verse therefore to the children of the Professors of the Faith doth Baptisme belong those that deny these infants Baptisme call them common whom God calls holy 1 Cor. 7. 14. 7. Those that keepe out the members of Christ not admitting Saints every way as gracious as themselves unto the fellowship of the Church unlesse they will yeeld to their Church-way not admitting Professors of the true Religion that have knowledge are not scandalous are not refractory to any the Holy Ordinances of Christs Worship because they see not in them truth of Grace or that which may savour to the sense of Christians that the worke of Grace in the New-birth is truely begun in them so farre as man can conceive Where is the Rule given for this visible grace as they call it by which rule the non-admitted may see that he is justly proceeded withall according to the Word of God that so though he have no Grace yet all that will use their reason may see by vertue of such cleare Texts of the Word their power is rightly used for his non-admission that the use of it may be to edification not to destruction 2 Cor. 13. 10. for which end all Church-power is given of Christ 8. They that Dis-church the true Churches of Iesus Christ because they are faulty in Discipline or in Government and chiefly to dischurch them when they thirst after pray for use all meanes God affords them for Reformation 9. Those that would introduce into a Christian Church and State a Toleration of all sorts of Religions or all sorts of Opinions in Religion under the name of Liberty of Conscience These Scriptures are fully against in The Angel of the Church of Ephesus is commended by our Lord Jesus for his patience Rev. 2. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and that he could not bear them which were evill and tried those that said they were Apostles and were not and found them lyars It is condemned in the Angel of the Church of Thyatira that he suffered or tolerated that woman Iezebell to teach c. And Christ saith to the Angel of the Church in Pergamos I have a few things against thee because thou hast there Rev. 2. 12. 14 15 16. them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam and the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans He is not charged with so great a fault as a toleration but there they were and there he should not let them be his connivence or invigilancy or remissenesse in not executing his power must be repented of or else Christ will fight against him from that place in Ieremiah chap. 32 39. this Argument is full of power Whatsoever God hath promised and is a branch of the Covenant of Grace with his people to be made good chiefly in the time of the New Testament all Christians ought to seek and aspire after To give his people one heart and one way in his fear for the good of them and their Children God hath promised and it is such a branch of his Covenant therefore this all christians ought to seek and breath after To seek after a toleration of divers wayes in Religion is not to seek after one heart and one way in godly fear and so not to seek after that branch of Promise and Covenant made to Gods people and to be made good chiefly in the times of the New Testament therefore to seek after a toleration of divers wayes in Religion is that which ought not to be in any Christian Adde to this that in Phil. 1. To stand fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for the faith of the Gospel is the conversation becoming the Gospel especially in times of terrible Adversaries and to stand thus united unterrified is an evident token of the Adversaries perdition and of our salvation And that of God Phil. 1. 27 28. to fall into Divisions and plead for tolerations of Opinions of divers mindednesse in one faith is not to stand fast in one spirit with one minde striving together for that one faith of the Gospel and it is not to stand thus united unterrified therefore to fall into Divisions and plead for
tolerations of opinions of divers mindednesse in faith is not the conversation becoming the Gospel especially in times of terrible Adversaries and is not an evident token of the Adversaries perdition and of our salvation and that of God What is it then It is an evident token of the Adversaries prevalency and of our succumbency under the present judgement as yet And of the further wrath of the Almighty and that from a just God I have heard of some that say this is that which can never be that all Christians should be of one heart and way let such believe in him that is faithfull and hath promised and not dishonour and weary God by unbelief God hath heretofore made good this Article of his Covenant In the first primitive Christian Church they were all the multitude of them that believed of one heart and of one soul Act. 4. 32. they continued stedfastly in this holy unity Act. 2. 42. 44. 46. There were two glorious fruits and concomitants hereof Fear came upon every soul Act 2. 43. and great grace was upon them all Act. 4. 33. Now the same God that hath thus powred out his owne holy and one spirit the spirit of unity by the Preaching of the Gospel can do the same again His Covenant is the same The great God delights to do great things the fruits would be alike excellent nothing more full of Grace and amiablenesse or of terrour and dread Hence also ariseth a strong Argument that no Christian should plead for toleration for all ought to seek for Gods Church in the Reformation of it the utmost conformity to the first purest Primitive Church of Christ when she was as a heap of Wheat set about with Lillies True liberty of Conscience lieth in sweet communion in the unity of faith and in the perfect bond of love the souls of believers knit together and cleaving one to another as Ionathans did to David unanimously subject to Gods Law all other Liberty is the Liberty of lust 10. There are also that will not joyn in Prayer with any other though they be Christians unlesse they know them to be godly and that they be of their judgement and way they refuse to pray with us not only in our publique Congregations but in our private or occasionall meetings The Lords Prayer directs us to Pray Our Father Our respects the whole community of Professors of Christs name and not any Segregated part It taketh in all that call on the name of our Lord Iesus Christ What spirit are they of that can deny to pray with those that say Za. 8. 21. Come let us go seek the Lord pray before him Not of the spirit of one that is a Iew inwardly Holy Paul among Sea-men and Mariners who are none of the best among souldiers prisoners for severall sorts of wicked deeds Heathens of severall Nations and Religions prayed as the mouth of them all or with them all beseeching them all to take meat he took bread and solemnly prayed as the Text saith He gave thanks to God in the presence of them all Act. 27. 35. Christ hath broken down the partition Wall and now none are to be called common Act. 10. 11 12 14 15. or unclean The Gospel is to be preached to every creature to all Nations therefore prayer is to be made with every creature with all Nations to whom we may preach with them we may pray and ought yea prayer to God is not only an instituted worship but naturall or of the Law of Nature These Doctrines of division rent and tear the Church of Christ and this now mentioned is a pricking Bryar and grieving Thorne 11. Like to these also are those that make up Churches of those of their own opinion and separate from others that do hold the unity of Faith and the Rule of righteousnesse But who can separate from those that are of the same Faith and not break fellowship with the Lord Iesus Differences in opinions should not dissunder us in affections much lesse make divisions separate us into Church-wayes against Church-wayes the same Faith and the same Commandments for holinesse should be more powerfull to cement us in one Church then difference in opinions through petulancy to put every opinion into practice note this should be of force to loose us in the building or lay us in a frame whose cement and morter whose mould and fashion is from a conspiring in an opinion these conspiracies in opinion joyned with separation from other Churches that hold the faith of Iesus and the Commandments of God are no right gathering of Churches they are Conventions sinfull and Schismaticall and unlawfull carnall and proud separations they that hold one Faith ought in lowlinesse of minde and forbearance of one another in love to indeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 2 3. 12. In like manner it is a violating of Gods Temple to separate because some wicked livers are not cast out of the Church the place abused is that in 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. 17. To separate to come out from among them is not to separate or come out from the Church and Temple of God but from Idols from Belial from Infidels from Darknesse from Unrighteousnesse that they from whom we ought to separate are Idolaters Infidels Belialists Heathens of whom it is said ye were once Darknesse Unrighteous ones and they are not the Church and Temple of God to separate in the Apostles sense is not to touch the unclean thing that is to have no communion with them in their Idolatry in their unrighteousnesse of any kinde but other communion with them is not condemned and if he will come to the Ordinances of worship of the true God with the Church we may and ought to admit him to Communion with us in all Ordinances that are for conversion and this is not to touch the unclean thing Idolatry and unrighteousnesse is the unclean thing which we may not touch but the man is not the unclean thing the separation commanded and the coming out from them is not to be unequally yoked together with them the Greek is elegant lively significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a Simile taken from the Plough where the Teeme that drawes the same plough is by yokes and paires of Draught-cattell Oxen or horses or the like which are yoked in the same yoke and so do draw each his part of the same Plough to be yoked together is to draw one part in the same Draught which is in the sense of the Apostle to be joyned in the same communion and counsell of the wicked in which they draw the Plough of their wickednesse be the wickednesse Idolatry unrighteousnesse drunkennesse or any other to have Communion with an Idolater in his Idolatrous worship counsell to uphold that worship or such leagues of nearest conjunction voluntarily chosen and run into which may be a temptation to entice one to Idolatry this is to