Beast Rev. 13.1 to 10. that desolating abomination Dan. 11.31 12.11 Matth. 24.15 that man of sinne c. 2 Thes 2.3 4. Dan. 11.36 prophetically and historâ—cally or historico-prophetically described pregnantly in the Word as the compact complement of all Idolatry in its Romane perfection and Whore-mother of all its derivative abominations Prelatical and Presbyterial The Hierarchick Antichrist or Antichristian embodied Hierarchy or the counterfeit Gospel Church spiritual Body-politike or Corporation of Priests Pastors Prelates Diocesans Metropolitans Primats under one universal Head Primate or Pope pretending and calling themselves Christian Bishops Priests and Deacons and usurping their Gospel-offices but in the execution extending and racking them to an Antichristian Tyranny Hierarchy Church-Supremacy Word-absoluteness divine infiniteness or godness 2 Thes 2.4 with the World worshipping it wondering at it and wandering after it Rev. 13.4 5. and its Forts Temples Basilikes or Mauzzim Dan. 11.38 for its congregating and maintenance v. 39. This is the confluence of all the subjects of Idolatry and false Divine Worship The stative parts and actors or active States Ministries or Offices that Hierarchick c. these are the compleat patterns of all Idolatrous States Offices and instituted Orders rective teaching atoning possessive and fructive the particulars of each of these are innumerable and too large for this place the supream State or Head is the popeship or office of the Pope or universal Primate The next sort is the National Primates The third the Provincial The fourth the Diocesan The fift the Parochial Each of these have many Nethinims and Levites Their Actions Functions or Ministrations far more innumerable and irregular but more inobservable yet the soul of their abomination is in their God-Churchship or God-Rome whoredome which causeth the world to partake with the froth of her Fornication by her pretended infallibility of Doctrine and absolute authority obtruded by her emulous deposing and envious opposing all venerable Deities and Dignities so making the Gospel-preaching Sacraments Prayer c. Antichristian all partaking in any of those instituted actions c. is spiritual communion with those stative parts c. and so with that Hierarchick Antichrist c. and so with Devils Rev. 20.10 of and for whom they were so instituted constituted and used I forget not that other false worship of the Jews after the expiration of the seventy seveni'ts three years and an half after Christs Resurrection but it paralleleth not with these eleven either in their humane and diabolical institution constitution or communion but onely in the unholy and unhappy use for there is no relative partaking or spiritual communion without a relative state spiritual union of a corporation or authoritive erection of a Spiritual Ministry and Office or of a Sacramental Rite real or actional For though the Mosaical Church-state Ministry and Ministrations continued the same in the Jews practise yet the Apostles and many thousand believing Jews were both active and receptive in all the three real and the two relative or connexive parts of that Mosaical worship either cultively as the many thousands or indultively as the Apostles and their peculiar ones Act. 21.20 to 26. 1 Cor. 9.19 to 23. yet without Idolatry and instituted false worship in the Apostles intrue understanding because it was not of any humane institution constitution only it was without the spirits direction assistance or blessing in the devout thousands yea and in the Apostles as worshippers of God thereby but onely as understanding Indulgers of the weak knowledge of the sincere Believers and as commended Judaizers with them Act. 21.23 1 Cor. 9.20 The reason is because that compleat worship was instituted by God his Angels Act. 7.53 and his Mediatour Moses v. 37. and constituted by the concurrence of all those with the acceptance and free will of the Israelites in the Wilderness and confirmed by all the powers of Gods spirit as from him and in his people then ever after in all legal manner and measure yea and unto all Gospel-conversion sanctification and blessings except in the reserved degree peculiar to the Gospel Heb. 1. to 3.6 and it was invested in the consciences of the Saints by the word-light and true zeal and devotion of the spirit unto heavenly content but none of the other eleven ever were thus n any particular though it were mortal to cease by its deaths wound and sentence at Christs death unto death and execution three years and an half after it yet it was not deadly and pestiferous to any of the then converted Jews but after and ever since their death it was and ever shall be and no more indulgeable then the other 11. Of these with other false Worships the Author hath written more laâ—gly whereof at present I shall only add one instance more at large viz. that of Aarons and Israels Steer and its appurtenances and his seconding thereof with 2 Cor. 11.13 to 16. Aarons young Bull or Calf of a year old or yearling Bull or Bull-rite Sacrament or Idol AAron as supream Instituter and Constituter of that Idolatry Exod. 32. by the general provocation conviction and encouragement of the people of Israel ver 1 to 5. especially of his own high Priesthood thereof and of the sacrificing Priesthood and their Levitship with all their Functions even the same in kind state and order that they were before but onely in the new intervening Sign Image Representation Sacrament and Memorial of the same ultimate Object Deity or Person of God whose they were before that and whom they then and thereby intended to worship and that as the sole bringer of Israel from Egypt v. 1 5. whereby they all became in their own account the true instituted cultive Ministry of God in that new Function or cultive Ordinance so erected and did accordingly exercise that Ministry as of through and for God v. 4 5. whereto all the people conformed by their acting their parts which were prescribed to them v. 6. and thereby became the joynt active Worshippers of God in that false order and form and so joynt false Worshippers with them by their instituted respect and relation to that instituted Bull-Sacrament molten and graven Image of a yearling Bull or Bull-calf Steer or young Ox or Bullock as such in age and food of eating grass Psal 106.20 but not in maimedness or gelding instituted to be an Image resemblance representation memorial sign and seal of God and his visible and discernable presence with them as his Inheritance or Clergy People or Church Saints faithful and regenerate ones or spiritualty v. 4. Thy Gods O Israel the promised Seed and peculiar people of the God of Israel that brought thee out of Egypt for it is not thy God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 thy Gods which signifieth Gods Deputies divine cultives adorands venerables or things to be worshipped and reverenced in Gods stead representation and deputation as if he were there
all other pretended divine Worship which is not commanded by it 2. Wherefore from all these grounds I infer the same dehoâ—tation from your yeilding to conformity with any other divine Worship whereto the worldly worshippers wil wo and force you by all means they can but enforce ye your selves so much the more unto that transformedness from formality with it which our new-man-hood and renewedness of our minde exact of us even to appropriate our divine service to him only as we have done our Sonship in which peculiaring our selves in estate and service unto Christ he will bless us with the approbation of Gods peculiar will the originall and proper cause of those his Mercies and Graces as good to us and of these his services as acceptable to him wherein is the perfect Cyclopedia of Divinity and Religion obebedience whereto is better then any matter of worship and distinct boundedness whereby is better then the fattest Devotion to worship 1 Sam. 15.22 3. Wherefore as an Apostle of Christ by his peculiar gracious authority given to me for this end I charge the conscience of every one among you to fear and flee all arrogancy and overweeningness both in the matter and order of Divine Worship least ye transgress the rule and bounds thereof whereto ye are bound by God in all attentness and intentness of minde in the practise whereof therefore manifest your sound mindedness in each of your apportioning your doing the works and receiving the priviledges of Faith according to Gods apportioning them unto you as and because you are his faithfull ones united to him by faith and communicating with him in all the fruits and benefits of Faith especially in these of his Word-worship which are as good to us acceptable to him and perfect in themselves in the exactness of their matter and distinctness of order in their particulars as I have preparatively insinuated hitherto in the generall 4. For that whole and distinct Divine Worship is now instituted after the pattern of a City or a Body Politique with its City-States Members Officers and their works which are good for the Members thereof acceptable to the King who instituted them and exact in themselves For as we have many Members in one of those and in all naturall Bodies and every of these Members hath its peculiar function or practise 5. So is it in the Church and its Church-estates and works wherein though personally we be many severall Christians yet by an incorporating covenant to be a Church according to Christs institution we become one Body and each becomes others Members of the same bone and flesh for each others benefit practising his peculiar Function 6. Wherefore we having these enrighting and instrumentall Priviledges added to the said Mercies of God by Faith as son-like Portions distinct according to Gods peculiar grace distributing to every one as he pleaseth how should we not observe this unity of our Church-Estate and its variety of Membrall and Ministeriall Estates and their apportioned Functions and Rites and bound our selves to and within them according to that apportionment of God whether it be the enrighting state the Instrumentall or Medial work and enabling power of Prophesie which ought to have a generall eye to these things 7. Or a Ministeriall estate work and ability within which we are especially and peculiarly to bound our selves whether it be the Office of a Teacher within the function work and charge of teaching with all aptness and ability to teach to the information of the Church 8. Or of the Exhorter or Comforter within Exhortation to the Conformation and Reformation thereof with all serious sincerity according to his charge function and work of Exhortation Or of the Distributer within distribution with simple singleness of heart according to his Office to the relief of the necessities of the Church Or the Ruler within his Ruling-office and the charge and work thereof with all diligence therein Or the Pittyer Widow woman-Deacon or Mercy-shewer within that Office for the health and personall conservation of the Church with all personall cheerfulnesse even within all five Offices as Deputies in them to Christ as Prophet Priest Provider King and Preserver of his Churches Ministeriall and in them more evidently and eminently of his mysticall than without and before their constitution and also as good disposers of the manifold correspondent graces of that Spirit given to benefit the Church and lastly as Fellow-Members thereof imploying your distinct gifts and graces natural and spiritual to the benefit thereof according to the needs of the understandings hearts estates conversations and healths of every Member thereof and then you shal experimentally prove to your own and your brethrens consciences that these particulars of his Divine Word-Worship are that Divine will of God which I have said to be good to you acceptable to himself and perfect in themselves yea and perfecting Divine Communion between God and his Saints in the highest measure upon earth and nearest to heaven and directlyest and powerfullyest leading thereto The Analysis of these eight Verses follows ss First an Analysis of the eight Verses then also follows a draught of the matter per modum geneseos as the nature of the matter falls from the generals into its particulars the which to make them more portable and for some other reasons not requisite to be here rendred are published as followeth The Analysis or right distribution of these eight first Verses of the 12. to the Romans Gods instituted Worship is herein ¶ 1 Prescribed * 1 In the general †1 Positively 1 Impetrantly â— 1 Of our †1 Whole persons 1 Natural 1 Material your bodies ver 1. literally 2 Formal i. e. our souls ibid. by synecdoche of the part 1 Most backward and therefore all the rest a majori 2 Most pertinent in this case of outward Worshipping God before men i. e. The Body or material part 1 The vessel wherein the soul is to be presented to God and to present it self and its body and so the whole man as Gods peculiar service for his own table holy as informed by the word living as inspired by the spirit acceptable as required of himselfe as our Father and original Creator and correspondent Preserver 2 Circle 1 Whereby it is circumscribed 2 Whereto it is confined in all Gods Church-services to the visible manifestation of its self in them 2 Spirituall 1 Material i. e. our created nature v. 1. your bodies as above 2 Formal .i. e. our regenerate nature and renewed minds v. 2. but be ye transformed in the renewing of your minds †◠Distinct good things * 1 Personal †1 Mental 1 Intellectual all informing and informable faculties v. 6. whether Prophesie and v. 7. within teaching the Teacher 2 Animal of all our exhorting and exhortable faculties v. 6. Prophesie v. 8. the exhorter within exhortation * 2 Corporal 1 General our whole conversation 1 Active â— Passive v. 8. the ruler within ruling therefore also
〈◊〉 as an antidote to that boundless arrogancy and swelling ambition the root of that antichristian confusion which hath long confounded Christs divine order as was therefore prophetically and justly called of God Babel and Babylon * 2 In speciall and as particularly and immediately applying all these general precepts to the particulars of divine worship ensuing and that by the illative and causal particle for v. 4. which sheweth that we are to apply all these preceding generalls to the ensuing particulars as 1 Directing us in the connextion of each preceding particular to each subsequent particular and ◠converso and that with grounded reasons causal and illative 2 Moving us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. by internall motives of highest consequence both from the cause to the effect from debt to repayment from Gods absolute commands and by many other pregnant directions and motives wherein every one is to help himself according to these helps the particulars being so infinite in number as can hardly without tediousness be read and yet so precious as will content and requite the pains ¶ 2 Described †1 By its name 1 Christian forename v. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word-worship of the Scripture in general and Gospel of Christ in particular 2 Of its kind sirname cognomen v. 2. that Will of God and so not only properly and truely divine but in a special manner i. e. as the high matter of Gods prerogative instituting and dictating will †2 In its nature ¶ 1 By a Protasis as pattern †1 Immediate and proper i. e. of a corporation * 1 It self as a totum in se intire as 1 Existing in its self and properly such as a covenanted body of civill men whether Realm City Town corporate or other proper corporation v. 4. one body or coporation 2 Exerting it self 1 Dispositively into its members as in the choice of officers 2 Actively by joynt-consent of its members as in sentencing both these as assembled into a Congregation as in a Parliament Common-Council or Burrow-month-court wherein the body acteth its concial power and supremcy v. 4. we have many Members in one body * 2 Its members 1 Smply as existing v. 4. many members 2 In respect of their 1 Body v. 4. many members in one body 2 Functions 1 Simply as Ordinances and Works instituted v. 4. practise or work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Relatively as appropriated to their membership all members have not the same function or work v. 4. These I but touch in this Protasis they being more proper to the Apodosis where they shal be more particularly placed as in an Index or map but their compleat clearing and handling requireth a larger vindex which yet cannot be orderly without this Analytical epitomy premised †2 Remote and general that is of every totum and body integral or compound by God and Man v. 4. body in the general yet with all the mentioned particulars of the properly patterning body of a corporation in particular so far as they agree therewith and that so much more as they are more proper boies in the general though this pattern be more proper in this case ¶ 2 In the Apodosis or Patterned as an * 1 Vnum †1 Subjectum 1 Quod which beareth the adjuncts immediately ss the four membral and five ministerial estates mentioned 2 Quo wherein subjectum quod inhereth i. e. the Church the original pillar or eminencer ground or subject of true divine worship or truth 1 Tim. 3.15 with Rom. 1.25.23 †2 Order of adjuncts i. e. those nine adjunctive functions * 2 Integral integrum 1 Totum whole or intire body v. 5. so we are one body i. e. a corporation spirituall or Christian Church 2 Order of parts v. 5. so we being many are one body Note The difference between these two respects is expressed in the application of the Apodosis to the Protasis which by a peculiar Scripturism compleateth each other though an inferiour authority cannot force us to that inquiry for the preheminency of the totum as having the parts as its own totally is expressed v. 4. in one body we have many members and the precedency of the parts as being the matter of which the totum was compacted of which compacture it doth consist expressed v. 5. wee being many members are one body which is of great use as shall in the Vindex be shewn but I will here proceed in the bare Analysis This Order of Integralls is †1 Collateral or between themselves as 1 Onely integral 1 Onely existent or patient as the children of the enchurched 2 Also active 1 Onely applying to themselves in Church-actions and doing personal duties 2 As working Ecclesiastically in 1 Teaching and its consequences 2 Matters of ruling 1 In discussing 2 In Sentencing and their consequences concerning these only integral v. 6. whether prophesie i. e. ability so by his Churches integralship right to speak to edification exhortation and comfort by which one particular membership the other are by synecdoche meant but the compleat proof which are integral Church-members is to be supplied from other places this being but an epitome and summary compacting the heads of Divine Worship 2 Also instrumentall as the Ministers v. 7. or a Ministery 1 Overseeing the internal man 1 In the root by preaching 1 Doctrinally v. 7. whether the Teacher 2 Exhortingly v. 8. or the Exhorter 2 In the fruit by ruling v. 8. the Ruler 2 Serving the outward 1 Estate by distributing v. 8. the distributer by synecdoche meaning all other Church helps to the estates as collecting husbanding the Church-stock arbitrating debts c. 2 The person and health of the body by tending the sick c. v. 8. the pitier †2 Lineal * 1 A priore in relation to the Church †1 Ascensive or regressive in a 1 Giving 1 Existence its Churchship or constitution unto it by 1 Making the Church-Covenant 2 Continuing the Church-covenant 2 Actuation or life to it by 1 Assembling 2 Acting therein their particular works 1 Integral 2 Instrumental a 2 Receiving their membership at and by the very act of church-covenanting which is to be likewise supposed of all after-entrances or admissions into the church they having reference thereto V. 5. we being many are one body i. e. many Christians are become one church †2 Descensive or progressive in the churches giving to each christian person his proper church-member-ship 1 Integral by admission 2 Instrumentall by ordination Both which are the churches by its making them such v. 4. Wee in one body have many members wherefore the power of both is in the Church and that both of sentencing and solemnizing them and therefore much of laying hands on the member in his admission and ordination by the instituted rite for both Heb. 6.2 with 1 Tim. 5.22 lay hands suddenly on no man c. The four integral and five organical states are before mentioned and here supposed * 2 A
his by the other capacities of membral or integral 2 Potestative in the particulars aforesaid viz. examining advising convincing pro contra sentencing c. which is the proper work of the adulti or men grown besides those of women and children ensuing which they have in common with them yet without the proper work of the prophets for want of the personall abilities to prophesie * 2 Passive or receptive 1 Mixtly as the duty of women wherein the understanding and sincerity and devotion of the mind is active in receiving Church-preaching Sacraments Prayers censures and secondly wherein they act without church-power as in testifying for and against themselves and others in the Ordinances of Ruling and Power besides the prâ—viledge of children under the age of discretion and without the work of Prophets and men grown and their priviledges mentâ—oned 2 Simply viz. the priviledges of children of the adult men and women whereof one or both are Church-members viz. to be really of the Church and to be baptized and generally enrighted to further Church-priviledges and duties further correspondent personal abilities intervening For they have right to baptism which exacteth no act of the receivers but to be meer patients and passive receivers of Gods seal of the righteousness of Christ wherein they are estated by their Church-membership received with the admission of one or both of their Parents into the Church by the Prerogative will and gift of God given them in by and at Isaac's receiving of Gods Covenant with Abraham and his promised seed Gen. 17.7 to 14. Gal. 3.16 that is to Isaac typically and to Christ antitypically and so to Christians in the estate with Isaac for the gifts and graces of God are without repentance yea inlarged under the Gospel Note The three later of the four integral membral functions or priviledges are by synecdoch of the particular viz. prophesie put for the general i. e. membral priviledges and duties prescribed v. 6. in the word Prophesie Z 2 Instrumental or official as Mayor Aldermen and Sheriff y 1 Episcopal Presbyterial or Pastoral Acts 20.17.28 z 1 Doctrinal 1 Informing i. e. Teaching v. 7. i. e. Translating Metaphrasing Analysing and Genesing preparatorily thereto dogmatizing or extracting the genuine Doctrine of the place and proving thereby and its parallel places and by artificial proofs and illustrations ad captum recipientium and applying them to them with exhortation to learn them and comfort therein and lastly confuting the opposite Doctrine with dehortation and terror of the teachers and learners 2 Conforming viz. exhortation of the members to do according to the Doctrine taught i. e. to believe and apply the promises and comforts and to fear and flee the threats and terrors to obey the Preceps and Prohibitions of God proved Note To both these Functions do the administration of Sacraments appertain they being teaching and significant and also confirming and sealing rites and as earnests and livery of seisin of what is taught and exhorted Observe by the way that the neer union of these in their scope and end doth not extinguish the distinctness of their estates or e converso and from thence the like affinity and distinctness of the other Offices and also of the Trinity it self in its being one in its proper nature and yet three persons and distinct hypostasis and again one with the Church and that in union of estate in Christ expressed by Christ John 17.21 The like is hence to be supposed in all compleat things of God and in this particular of which anon z 2 Ruling viz. the function of Ruling v. 8. i. e. ordering the Church after its decrees of the time place and persons of the Congregation and in its ordering the whole Worship in its parts time and order of exercise especially in the act of Government as proposing the case ordering the tryall both in the speakers and putting the matter to sentencing and gathering the voyces and accordingly pronouncing the sentence and in matters of admission and excommunication election and degradation executing their instituted solemnities as imposing hands in admission and ordination as it is called or rather election whereunto it is a complementary rite or solemnity appendant Howsoever Antichrist hath made it his Priest begetting act or rather the Antichristing or whore-getting seed and act to parallel the creation of the Heathens Goddess whore of the foam or shame of the Sea Iude 13. with that miscreation of the spiritual Gentiles Rev. 11.2 Whore-Goddess or Mother of Whoredomes chap. 17. v. 1.5 of and by the fume of the breath and touch of the paw of that Prelatical Beast as such and without other seed or act yea or pretence of any thing or act of Gods but the least and last touch of his Church-Deputy in that act who also is counterfeited by a Church-maker and Church-master and Church-beer the monstrous monster getting of and by that beast whereof might be framed a Riddle unappliable but to this monster Rev. 13.1 2. But for the Preachers usurping these instituted works I know no warrant much less for his doing other and that without the Congregation or authority from it but least of all for his sole supremacy over it even many of them and that by that Paw-begotten Prelateship yea and to his leaving his Preachership by which he claimeth them y 2 Diaconal or serving 1 Possessive viz. disposing matters Possessory v. 8 Distributer 2 Personal viz. tending the sick v. 8. the shewer of mercy or pitier Note Both which and the ruling function are prescribed in their subjective offices by this rule The properties of each conjugate belong to all the proof of these and the confirmation of other functions of the four former are of the larger Tract 2 Actional or executive 1 Active viz. the actual execution of all the nine functions except that of Infants in whose Parents yet there is an actual claiming of the active administration of Baptism on them and an active tendering of a fit object thereof which supplieth the active part of the children but in the rest there is a double activeness personal prescribed 1 The one in tendering a fit object for the administration of the function of the Church-estates 2 The other in claiming and using the same whether it be in doing or receiving for those are active even in receiving 2 Passive or receptive viz. the submissive receiving the blessed prâ—vâ—ledg of faith for the increase of faith amd its fruits and yeilding to the holy work of Gods Worship charged by his Word upon us even in the most active functions yea in the right consideration of the nature of Worship as commanded by God we are rather Patients than Agents in the most active work thereof and therefore it is said 1 Sam. 15.22 Behold to obey is better then sacrifice and to hearken then the sat of Rams that is the cream of works Note All these adjunctive institutions are capitally included in the third Apostolike Principle of
Basis Centre Subject or Pillar b Originall c Primary or Proper viz. Christ as the Idea Image Word Reason Law Promise or Will of God v. 2. will of God v. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 3.11 viz. the Scriptures c Secondary and in respect of VVorship derived viz. the same manifested to man ordered or acted †in the same words of v. 1. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the word and will of God written being the immediate Original of the Church and its Offices and Ordinances though but Christs cistern as the brests are to the woman and her nipples †Figuratively viz. The Apostles and Prophets of the Gospel who are called such foundations Eph. 3.20 and authors 2 Tim. 2.16 by a Metonymie of the adjunct for the subject whether Christ or the word they being but Christs tongue or pen to reveal the word and so adjuncta subjecto cujus cui adjuncts to the subject original both primary and secondary as simply taken v. 3. by the grace b Existential subjective integral derived and effected viz. the Church Ministerial 1 Tim. 3.15 which is now 2 Cor. 6.16 with Levit. 26.11 as the Tabernacle Exod. 25.35 40.2.9.17 18. Num. 7.1 and the Temple 1 Chron. 28.20 2 Chron. 5.1 1 Kin. 6.38 the house with all the furniture thereof 7.51 all the work for the house were before Christ viz. the hypostasis basis subjectum quod or center to all the other Parts of Gods Worship whether Ordinances or Offices lines or circles V. 4 5. one body a Members furtiture branches cifcumferences ad juncts and Chapiters v. 3. to every one that is among you as God hath measured to every one the measure of faith v. 4 5. many members not one function being considered in themselves and without the particular scope of that place i. e. to shew the distinctness of the Church its Offices and Ordinances these in respect of the church their body are d Immediate e Homogeneal private naturall considered f Simply as such whether inherent and that either innate or acquisite or acting in the body f Relatively and order to the church its offices and their works Membral gifts powers and habits synecdocally exprest v. 6. whether prophesie These are b Common viz. of knowledge wisdome and dexterity in divine and natural things arts tongues utterance and actions especially grace which is common to all members and abilities and sanctifying both h Special as distinct prerequisite and peculiar to each of the three i Overseeing offices viz. to the Teacher as of knowledg and making know in those things as the spirits and annimal powers in the Arteries Exhorter of wisdome and wise-making therein as nutritive and vital as blood in the veins Ruler i. e. honest conditionedness 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 13.13 1 Thes 4.12 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Pet. 2.12.3 2.16 Jam. 3.13 and working others good conversation as the motive powers in the muscles i Serving in Provision for the k Estate as respecting simply Christians necessity not private benefit or glory as flesh k Health as tender and merciful-hartedness as the sinews and feeling power sympathetically moving all the parts in the hurt of any one e Heterogeneal publike or such as are in place office State or Ministry organical or such as are instruments of the house as Prophet Priest King and Saviour for moral voluntarie church-common actions or in a word distinct working Offices v. 7. or an Office v. 4. many members v. 5. sowe being many in distinctness of place office state ministry or giftedness for something must be supplyed and the scope of the place toucheth not the mysticall and personall respect of Christians nor the meer individuall manyness and diversity of the members of the Church but chargeth us strictly to keep distinct the manifold and distinct respects of Gods bestowing his divers membral and ministerial gifts for distinct ends and works or rather of his distributing and disposing the distinct parts of his worship to the diversly fitted and distinct members of the Church these are in number five viz. the Teacher the Exhorter the Distributer the Ruler the Pittyer or mercyer litterally translated v. 7 8. Now to annex their distinctness to their innumeration it is l Respective and mediate for they are to be considered as fitly answering to the distinct special membrall gifts mentioned as before in and after their existence or application to Officers which I have shewn before l Expresly confined unto denominated and so informed and so distinguished by and stirred up in those speciall divers and distinct gifts proper and adaequat◠Functions v. 6. by the inference of our divers discharging of them because they are divers in themselves and in respect of the givers free and voluntary distribution and of the receivers accordingly distinct measured portion and v. 7. by the Particles 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denorative and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 designative as is shewn before and also by the express or equivolent distinct paralelling them with their proper and adaequate Functions viz. the teacher in the teaching gift function or work or in the Doctrine viz. of the Scriptures Church or rather of the Teacher so appropriating the one to the other even convertibly and in the highest degree the Exhorter in the Exhortation in the same manner and so the other three but because the express particularizing of them therein would import them too childish and because the distinctness of the Offices and Functions is not all or the onely thing here intended but onely the principall therefore the discreet holy and peculiar means of discharging them is annexed to them referring likewise to us the supplying the same to the two former viz. to the Teacher understandingly or perspicuously and to the Exhorter holy powerfully or the like This incorporating manifoldness well orderedness and compleatness of the Arguments for the distinctness in kinde of the Offices of the Church should oversway and settle our judgments purposes and practises accordingly yet as if nothing were enough to express Gods care and jealousie herein as being the chief particulars of the second Commandment nor to perswade Christians to this strictness sollicitousness and jealousie as being instituted and so not naturally known and such as wherein the devill deceived Eve and Eve Adam and both fell The Holy Ghost yet addeth two express particulars as the two notes of a Patenthesis to take all doubts from the understanding and ingenious and cavils from the contrary that that distinctness of these Offices in kind is intended and included in this place and properly and fully concluded which I have said the former is in these words or an office let us accordingly be in the discharge of that office whether it be the Teacher or Exhorter or c. their first Office or Ministry is expresly named and set as the matter distinct and so to be used least the distinctness should be supposed to be properly
before but also now inserting their union and communion so far as it reacheth i. e. in respect of their individualness and some mutual common ends of benefit as 1 Cor. 12. doth also discreetively and oppositely v. 7. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v 7.24.25 26. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both agreeing in what I have said before so that this distinctness of Offices of the Church is exceedingly well cleared in these two verses in the sixth Argument that it is in kind and sort and not onely in number In the seventh that it is as between the integral yea heterogeneal members of mans body and not as the great and little branches of a tree except it be of the tree of life bearing twelve sorts of fruit Rev. 22.2 in the eighth that it is in function and not onely in ability in the nineth that it is essential ministerial official and as such and not only qualitative quantitative relative or otherwaies accidentary and in the tenth that it is not numerall nor in any respect whereof the individuum or particular as such is the Basis or Subject which excludeth the four former Negatives or Opposites and includeth the four Affirmatives and Positives thereby yea were but this last onely throughly considered the main matter would be cleer enough to the right Worshippers yet as this second sort of Arguments being from the body of this place of Rom. 12. and of Gods Worship instituted therein is more cleerly to our point than the first from the soul and root of both so is the third sort more express than the second even so much as the members or branches do more manifest the manifold powers of the original basis than they themselves as may out of what followeth and by further prosecuting of what it occasioneth unto be well discerned by the transformed in the renovation of their minds that have the free power of themselves and their understandings from under Antichristianism custome of others and themselves and prejudice The third sort of Arguments is from the branches or particularizing and explaining of what was generally and more obscurely set down in the five former Verses and from the use of the Divine Doctrine thereof This last fivefold confirmation of the point in hand viz. that all the five Church-Offices are distinct in kind and properly is revealed to us v. 6 7 8. the first of which and the eleventh of the whole number is v. 6. Since then wee have gifts that are divers this needeth no syllogism the words are so express if Gifts be granted here at all to signifie Offices given to the Church as is v. 7 8. expressed 1 Cor. 12.28 with Ephes 4.6 7 11 12. paralelled and also proved in the ten places cited before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here being all one as oft elswhere both agreeing in term nature and use to signifie a gracious gift such as are the Church-Offices and that the greatest except Sanctifying and Inherent Grace it self so that there is no evading from conviction but through the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 divers distinct different or severall and surely it will be hard breaking through this strength of the scope of the place the consonancie with two generals in the same compleatly proving the same the one mediate the other immediate the one as the root or soul the other as the body to which these words do illatively connect the Church Offices as their branches and members the expressness of the words the highly respectibleness of the matter requireth the same in its nature types and evangelicalness and also through the Army of Associating Arguments orderly and powerfully fighting for the same yet will men object what they can against it which are these two things Object 1. First from the word divers saying that it may signifie divers particulars different degrees distinct and several respects and so the Offices may be one in kind yet divers also Object 2. The second from the matter sutening therewith in other particulars alledging the extraordinary offices for instance viz. that the Apostles might do the works of all the rest both extraordinary and ordinary Answer To the former I answer First that that manner of Argumentation by may-bees proveth nothing though the ground were true for it may be doth not prove so much as probably which is the least proof so that though it might be so yet must the matter be inferred that it is before any thing bee proved Secondly That in this case and kind it may not be so expounded it being here adjected to an universal an abstract an adjunct and a state 1 To an universal both in gifts which is the general to prophesie and an office i. e. to personall or membral and to ministerial gifts and also in an office which is the general to five exprest kinds of offices as most hold and at least to two as all hold and therefore the substantive kinds or universal parts thereof must differ more than in number and so much more than in degree and respect 2. To an abstract both in gifts and offices and therefore if there be but four or five men in a church gifted with prophesie or with one language or made Deacons it cannot be said that Church hath divers gifts tongues and offices in it in the abstract but only divers gifted persons and divers officers in the concrete 3. To an adjunct to Christians members or Officers viz. to the Powers or Offices of such and not to the particular persons themselves and therefore the same consequence in respect of the adjunct and subject here followeth which before did in respect of the abstract and concrete altering only the one two words for the other two 4. To a State in respect of Offices which is our case so that it cannot be said that there are divers Ministerial States in a Church City or Nation that hath but one sort of Officers though many particulars of that sort and so many Officers who may also be different divers distinct and severall in degree and manifold respects but if they differ more then in particular concrete subject or person as in our case they do then must they differ also much more then in degree or in inabling arbitrary or other accidentall respects and so they cannot be said therefore to be divers but for some higher reason yea higher then that wherein they have their being i. e. the existent particulars concretes subjects and persons since accidentis esse est in esse i. e. the being of an accident is to be in viz. as such and since existentia sola agunt patiuntur subijciuntur i. e. Existents viz. particulars which only are properly and simply in act only do suffer and are subject viz. to accidents These four particulars yeeld four Arguments against the former Objection and fully answer it and might plentifully be exemplified and illustrated if further need and occasion required A
bountifull in his Portions of Faith The 17. is from Have not members have us That Church-offices Ministeries and States are adjuncts of the Church which is first in Nature and their Root and Basis but they are not its Root nor Basis nor any way precedent either in Time Nature nor Dignity before it as such but as it consisteth of particular members over the well-being of each of which they are set but not over their being as they be Christians nor a Church And also the 18. that the Ministers are the Churches Angels and members but the Church is not the Ministers Church The 19. is from We have That all Churches are in relation to each other as equall particulars of the Church in general as each of our persons are of man in general And the 20. There is no more an Universal particular Church Head or Body of Churches than of particular men And the 21. Our persons are the original pattern of the instituted Church imitable after the strictest manner of which a Spiritual Body Politick is capable as simillimum not idem And the 22. the knowledge of the nature of the Church and Church-Estates is easie to all reasonable men iâ— if Historically believing this one place much more to Christians led by the Spirit of grace in its patterning especially if they understand by Learning or Experience the nature of a Civill Body Politick the medium simillimum to both person and Church The 23. is from and That God hath avoided confusion in our many personal members by assigning them distinct Functions The 24. is from all Members have not one Function by a Graecisme or in English phrase No Member hath the same Function or rather it is of the same words And the 25. Our Members are bounded but not bondaged counter-distinct but not opposite The 26. is from Hath That membral Functions are adjuncts to the members of the Body and so that the Membral-Estates denominate the Membral-actions and administrations but not è contra The 27. is from One or in English one and the same or the same in kind That each member of the body hath its counter-distinct Function end or use And the 28. That each member is not to be employed to all that it can do but to its distinct and proper work as the Eye to see the Ear to hear the Nose to smell the Pallate to taste but none of them to feeling though in some sense they all can nor the hands to either of the foure though in some remote consequence they serve to the same use in case of defect with unseemlyness and out of the due course of Nature The 29. is from Practice Function or Work That no member ought to be idle but active and operative The 30. is from even so v. 5. That so much expresness of Form is necessary in this matter of Gods Worship as is to make way for and confirm the Logical consequences therein i. e. that it is an exact simile between man created after Gods Image and the Church of Ordinances instituted after Christs Image And therefore all the Doctrines well arising out of the former verse and protasis in respect of the body its members and their function are to be understood as good as expressed in the Apodosis in this verse adding onely the Church instead of the Body and Ministeriall for Membrall which I for the present leave to be done i. e. The 31. to be deduced from the 24 the 32 from the 25 the 33 from the 26 the 34 from the 27 supplying the particulars from v. 7 8. i. e. the Teacher to teach the Exhorter to exhort the Distributer to distribute the Ruler to rule the shewer of mercy to shew mercy and the 35 from the 28 with the same addition and the 36. from the 29. and the 37. from the 23. The compleat parallelling of this simile is very large and seeming in its exact prosecution more formal than necessary which seemeth to have been the reason why the Holy Ghost hath left them to be deduced by firm consequence but hath not exactly parallel'd all particulars wherefore I will not be extream herein either in negligence of all that is intimated nor in exactness in what it hath left unexact in particulars yet is there some vice versa to be applyed from the Apodosis to the Protasis as the 38. from in Christ or by the institution of Christ That the created order of the members of our body with their use and natural comelyness is to be observed perpetually And the 39. That each member of the body is for the benefit of each these two are to be deduced from the two next clauses following The 40. is from in Christ That the speciall form of all instituted Worship is Christs institution And the 41. from the same in relation to the many other causes of true worship That subordinate causes exclude not nor oppose each other so that the same worship may well be called the Worship of God of the Will of God of Christ and of the Word And the 42. in relation of this distinctness counter-distinguished from the materiall parts of Gods Worship That Christ is more manifested in the distinctness than in the materials of Gods Worship The 43. is from each one anothers members That each member of the Church is for the benefit of each other member thereof And 44. Much more for the whole and 45. Neither the Church nor its members are for any one member as for its superiour but onely as for its part or their fellow-member or as for their singular Superiour deputed by the Church as an encorporated general over each particular The 44. is from each in particular In relation to one body That there is an express difference between the Church-members relation to the Church and to each other so that the 45. Ministeriall or organical members have power or rather government of over or objectively for each member but not of over or objectively for the Church as an encorporated body but onely as deputedly and Ministerially for it And so 46. No Minister can excommunicate the Church The 46. is from the same words referred to Many That the Officers diversly respect the generality of the many Members and the particularity of each member The two first respecting the generality they being charged with the work of publication and pressing the general Word of God and the three last of the five respecting each particular member as a part of the Church to which they are concredited This divers respect is expresse in the Text but the apportionment is of the divers reason of the offices insinuated The 47. is from the mutuall relation of these three words one many each That the Church as one is suprâ—am in respect of its particular members is inferiour to all the offices but as many it is of a mixt State as the greater many it hath the power of the oâ—fices and their minâ—strations toward each member i.
last of all actions in the Congregation for the Widow is to do no work therein 3. It is the last and least of all Church or Ministeriall actions it being onely complementary ceremonial for solemnity distinct orderlyness but the essence and substance of the Ministry is effected in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Church-election by holdâ—ng up the hands or the like choice-declaring act whereto the Rulers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or laying on of his hand is but ad bene esse and for the solemnity of the Divine Office so that their first is Gods last their greatest is Gods least and the Prelats essence and essentiating work is it self but a circumstantial and complementary Ceremony no marvell then that they are such Ceremony-mongers Makers and Masters I had almost said Ceremony-Monsters These are extenuations of a speciall Nature but suppose it a Divine Ordinance yet there are many great extirpations of that Divineness and deposers thereof below the basest things as they use it For the Prelats appropriate it to their Bishops office which is none of Gods as they institute it distinct in office from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presbyter Elder or in their own term Priest for the two words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are of the same extent convertible and used promâ—scue and that expresly in all the places where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used which are but four Act. 20. Phil. 1. 1 Tim. 3. and Tit. 1. and so their Ordination of a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as by a distinct office is not a nullity divine but even an absolute nullity or worse even a Devil or Idoll where God's holy things are given or sacrificed Secondly their Ordination is administred not only out of the Church but without all relation as from it yea or as by it nay nor for it which is their only pretended respect thereof to the Church for first they suppose no Corporation for or to whom they are confined but onely the universall Church which is the mystical body of Christ and no Ordinance of Worship but that which is worst of all they usurp the nature arrogate the name of the Church to themselves and their natures and practise in all things proportionably though in case of opposition or danger they hide it as all Traytors Fellons c. do But alas this brevlate will not endure the deserved Aggravation of this Trojan horse but must in this entrance thereon abruptly refer the prosecution thereof to a distinct Tract no occasion being sufficient 4. The duties and works of the Distributer are receiving the contribution of the Church and distributing the same with simplicity Secondly helping the Church and Elders in providing Water Bread and Wine for the Sacraments and fit Utensils to that end and in other necessary services therein according to their names helps and servants not onely in respect of the Church but the overseeing offices thereof in counter-distinction from whom they are termed Deacons or Servants Thirdly preservation of the Church-stock as keeping of the purse by solliciting the Law-suits and attendance on the employments of that stock for the setting the Poor thereof on work and building or repairing the place of meeting 5. The adminâ—stration of the Mercier or shewer of mercy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to attend the Sick especially the Poor Sick who cannot hire helpers in their Food Physick Warmth Comfort and Naturall necessity Secondly their visiting the Sick and dejected in spirit and comforting them with all cheerfulness of motives mind and behaviour Rom. 12.8 with cheerfulness which is more proper to the diseases of the mind then of the body More especially of the thâ—â—e first offices and their functions both joyntly and severally as they in the generall agree in any terms and as they are effecting the same thing though in divers respects for the first they are joyntly termed and called in the Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Surveyours Overseers or Bishops Act. 20.28 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 3. 1 Tit. 1.7 Secondly Act. 20.1.7 Tit. 1.5 1 Tim. 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Elders Ancients or Seniors etymologically and Priests Popishly and Presbyters the Mincers and Refiners of Popish terms Thirdly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Shepherds Feeders Pastours Act. 20.28 Ephes 4.11 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Leaders Superiours and Watch-men 1 Thes 5. 1 Tim. 5.17 The first 3. being applyed expresly to them as officers of one nature well joyntly mentioned by and under those three names The fourth or latter three have express relation onely to their joynt actions of going beforâ— standing over looking to the Church which yet are to be supposed to have respective relation to those Offices whose properly they are known to be by other places of Scripture which by the scope of the Holy Ghost not onely distinctly describe but institutingly prescribe them to us as divine and holy Offices or Ministries jointly concurring in those terms and things signâ—fied by them Now therefore to confuse this distinct order of God and to dis-joyn what God hath thus conjoyned is an abomination to the Divine Author and a desolation to his Divine Order and therefore well sirnamed by him that Babylon Babel or Confusion Rev. 14.17 18. both of Tongues and Terms originally both Gen. 11.9 and here and also and especially of his Divine Order of Worship therewith which God hath charged to be kept distinct Rom. 12.3 6 7 8. especially in the distinctness of these three eminent Church-offices so that to desolate them by pounding and confounding all three particular existents into one and that in the terms which the Scripture useth as general and common to all three yea thereby as by Divine Authority is the high degree of Ministerial confusion or Babylon that great Rev. 17.5 In the latter joynt respect they reflect a Externally on their b Author Enrighting i. e. Christ in his three Offices of Prophesie Priesthood Kingship Enabling i. e. the Holy Ghost in its three gifts of Teaching Exhorting Ruling b Objects Faculties or Powers i. e. their Understanding Heatt Practike powers Habits Moral knowledge vertue or sincerity in conversation Spiritual Information Exhortation Government a Internally on their subjects i. e. The Ministers Medial Ministerial or Functional Severally and particularly of the first it is a Church-office deputed by Christ as Prophet to administer all his teaching Ordinances for the Churches spiritual information Rom. 12.7 Ephes 4.11 the genus or common matter is a Church-Office the efficient is Christ deputing it as Prophet the formal scope or specifical difference is to administer all Christs teaching Ordinances the final cause is For Gods Worship and the Churches spiritual information All and onely which are requisite in this definition which is confirmed by the places annexed to be of a divine nature and authority for Christs service and Christians benefit in all spiritual knowledge compared with the rest of those Chapters and
Christs Church and Clergy and to their answerable nature and so to domineer in and over both Domum dominium domini and so ut dominus domini nostri Mansion and Mannour of our Lord and so as Lord of our Lord and his Lordship its appendant worship homage rent and service Thirdly suppose we the word Sacraments and Prayer to be the materials of Christs and Christians Communion shall we therefore like Swine eat of his meat without observance of the order he hath set for their administration by his Ministers according to their distinct offices and functions and that as parts of his family or court of his own forming The Queen of Sheba shameth these Borderers on Jerusalem for she came from the utmost parts of the Earth to know the wisdome of Solomon and observed the house which he had built and the meat of his Table and the sitting of his Servants and the attendance of his Ministers and their apparel and his Butlers and their apparel and his ascent to the house of God and she admired them and pronounced him and them blessed of God therein and God blessed thereby 2 Chron. 9.1 to 8. But these eaters of the meat of the greater than Solomon come from Heaven to them observe not much less admire Christs wisdome Love and Will in his house formed by himself in the offices and set-estates thereof and their orderly attendance and administration of them and the comely ornaments of them all and the distinctness of the particular officers and their functions and beauty and also their relation reciprocal to God and his house and the mutual blessings communicated in all these Nay they rather as sensual gluttons and self-feeders lust after and suck up his wine and milk without seeking after his wisdome and perfect order therein loving him for his goodness therein or obeying him in his holy and so acceptable Will and Command in them all Fourthly they learned not of David to speak so slightly of these distinct Orders and Offices of the Church and their necessited relation to the Ark and the like administrations of the Priests and Levites as to call them circumstances of Religion for he saith that because they were not there in their Orders at the bringing home of the Ark God made that great breach in Israel because though Israel sought him yet they neglected the Ministerial Order God had prescribed for his Worship 1 Chron. 15.2 to 13. with Chap. 13. and Numb 4.4 15. Nor of Moses to neglect an hoof in way of compleat readiness for Gods service much less would he neglect the least hoof after it was sanctified by God for that end But what do they mean by circumstances distinctly They are vulgarly known to be three Time Place and Persons onely the third then can be the controversie Whether it be material in the Word Sacraments and Prayer publike who administreth them whether an instituted Officer or no But they are so far from holding the SacrameÌ„ts administrable by any out of an instituted office that they impose a necessity therof in preaching and praying in the congregation and the formal Protestants out of the congregration also except by reading especially in preaching since then they hold the ministry of the Church and i'ts administration so necessary unto in preaching Sacraments and prayer in Gods worship why villifie they our necessiting this Church estate to be distinctly known purposed and practised as a pertinent point of Gods worship But now to pass from these motives ab homine unto the greater à Deo call to mind the constant necessity of this official Celebration of all instituted ordinances since God set up a set Church-ministry teaching exhorting ruleing and serving and helping me and your self herein read Heb. 5. to 8 8. Exod. 25. to 31.33 to Lev. 10. 1 Chron. 20 2 Chron. 2. to 7. Ezek. 40. to 46. All which and many other parts of Scripture are wholly of one of the types of this worship summarily contrived in our present 8. verses of Rom. 12. expressed so to be 2 Cor. 6.16 1 Tim. 3.15 Rev. 21. compared with Levit. 26.11 Ezek. 37.26 27. Then in your reading the Histories and Prophesies of the Old Testament from Joshua to Malachi First mark the main scope of the Holy Ghost in them and you shall find it to be to observe the Israelites observing and neglecting the same and their omission of the matter and order thereof and their commission of the contrary false Worship of divers sorts and degrees and Gods reproofs and judgments for the same and his comforts and blessings of the walkers after that rule of his truth or true worship Secondly in reading the New Testament do the like in respect of his present Rule of true Worship both in it self and its comparisons with that his former instituted Rule of Worship prescribed in his Word of Truth and therefore called Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 Rom. 1.23 25. and comparing it with its opposites and you shall then find this our present subject not to be such circumstances ceremonies nor the like trivial trifles as the present worldly worshippers account call them But to be on the contrary of so high and deer esteem with God and his servants as they be of base and slight account with the halters between Christ and Antichrist one of which must alwayes prevail the former in love to his true Lovers in their inward and outward blessings The latter in contempt of his contemners God giving them over to strong delusions to beleeve lyes and to wonder and wander after him For 1260. years yet in quiet trading and prosperity both of outward worship and jollity while the true worshippers were forced by him them into the Inner Temple Sackcloth Rev. 11. into the wâ—lderness Rev. 12.6 14. Mat. 24.15 c. even to death Rev. 13.10 15.20 4. So that these Semi-christian doters on the 3. of the parts only of divine worship i. e. Preaching Sacraments and prayer and slighters of the rest are worse both in worship and benefits then Antichristians who highly esteem and devoutly practise the other parts in their intent and esteem and so observe the general duty of obedience to God therein though they misse the particular and thereby build their Babel and Babylonish regiment and orders instead of and as Gods City and Church with its ministry and ministrings whereunto they are also furthered and occasioned by this semi-Semi-christian conceit and practise not only in giving way and leave thereto but even in devoutly accepting their administrations of the word Sacraments and prayer yea and in magnifying maintaining and pleading for them that are sent according to that Babylonish regiment and professe their ministry to be from by and of that Antichristian Hierarchy it self which even themselves hold and say is Antichrist and that against many heavy penaltied laws of the Land and general practises and confessions of all their fellow opposites to that Antichrist throughout all
true Divine Worship as any of them And therefore also the thousands of extatical exaggeratings execratings and abominatings the World yieldeth no fit words herein against it self of false Worship and Worshippers ought to have their full force against confusion and disorder in the body members and functions of Divine worship as against other sins of omission or commission therein especially since the especial propriety of Antichristianisme consisteth therein as the proper frequent title therof Babylon confusion Rev. 17.11 14 18. understanding observation and experience of its courses and the nature of its type the confusion of the tongues of the world and the orders of Gods worship in Babylon do severally and more joyntly evince But if these degrees wherein the Scripture preferreth it before the membral matter of worship in its manner of handling them both be added thereto how can we be less zealous and jealous herein than therein yea those degrees are not dark strained nor small neither are they all that might be gathered as the very extent of v. 3 4 5 6. above v. 1 2. sheweth but the introduction of the membral matter it self of the Church its offices and their works in way of apportioning and limiting each work and office of the Church yea of the Church it self by its proportionableness to those works and offices doth inestimably dignifie the observation of this distinctness and bound-mindedness in Gods Worship and force us to sympathize with the Holy Ghost in our intentness thereon and therein or if these things will not no means will untill the time of reformation and restitution cometh mean while the discerners hereof must exercise their Faith in receiving these priviledges of Faith their obedience in working these works of Gods worship their understanding in discerning what God hath thus distinctly determinated their temperateness in actuating their graces without excess or defect in these special tryals of boundedness and sound-mindedness their patience in waiting for the fruit of their sincere endeavours herein patiently and possessing their souls in patience both which these of all other will most exercise their godlyness in true zeal for and godly jealousie against what GOD herein proposeth as their special objects their brotherly-love in exercising all these sixe graces in this matter for the good and benefit of their Brethren therein remembring that the godlyest zeal of Gods honour which ought to eat up us and all that is ours is not to eat up what is our brothers i. e. our dealing with them herein as they are able to hear and bear And lastly their natural love to all as naturally good in walking holily therein to win unto Christ those that are without Christ and not giving just offence to those that are without knowing that we once were such and that these Ordinances are services of God and his servants and not knowing who though now without belong unto the election of God nor how we fall into their danger by sin or otherwise For if these things be in us and abound in this special matter we have a special testimony of our Election promise of our perseverance in the works and fruits of godlyness and unto eternal happyness 2 Pet. 1.5 to 8. where also the contrary is annexed to the defect thereof Now therefore of some of those glimpses in the close as of the distinctness of the four Offices to be exercised in the Church-Congregation with their distinct functions and fruits and also of their roots yet as of one subjective ortive root unto one objective Lordive fruit by one ejected project of by and for the one Deity yet according to its Trinity GOD. FOr first God as the Father willing himself to be our Father sent Christ as God-man to make us his sons and servants by the Spirits proceeding from both their will and order to operate that compleat entity unity community coity or eternal fruit of all CHRIST Whereby secondly Christ as Mediator became our Prophet to teach us our Priest as personally to cause so setly to preserve exhort and as our powerful King to effect command and commend our preservation of nature according to the Law by the Gospel unto Heaven CHVRCH-OFFICES Whereby thirdly he had right power to institute the Teachers office the Exhorters Comforters or Priestly office the Rulers Orderers Shepherds Rectors or Kingly one and the Preservers Distributers Providers office authorized state and right FVNCTIONS Whereby fourthly they had right officially ministerially to teach to exhort provoke affect our sons nature to Gods service to rule order shepherd our many stations of both and to provide for our naturewhile we submit to all three ABILITIES To all which fiftly the Spirit enableth them by light sight and might to teach by the Spirit of grace and wisdome to exhort and provoke and the gift of discerning of spirits and of ruling to rule and the gift of instinctive brotherly simplicity indulgently to provide for us GRACES Sixthly To our son-like receiving of gracious serving in holy knowledge sincere tender devout gracious heart and affections Christian approvable words deeds and life constant fosterers provision unto our preservation and personal content GLORIES Seventhly all these are in their subjective native ortive heavenly nature projective stative ordive heavenly typical order ejective exertive dative cordive power objective dotive lordive end glory scope upshot in of by and for glorified heavenly illuminations gracious motions infusions sonlike sincerity perfect pure unreprovable conversation with God and Saints compleat internal supernal external eternal means and end of intent and content comfort glory divineness of wit will work and weal. FINIS THE EXPOSITION OF The 18. Chapter of Matthew WHEREIN Proceedings in cases of Offences both positive and opposite are cleerly demonstrated Gal. 6.1 Brethren if a man be overtaken in a fault ye which are spiritual restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering thy self lest thou also be tempted See 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Thes 14 15. LONDON Printed for Henry Eversden at the Sign of the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard 1656. The Scripture text or Divine Word or Conscience-warrant of Church-power Jurisdiction or Discipline true and in Gods account both in the warrant and warranted in respect of Christ and his Worshippers and false or humane of Antichrist of two sorts stative and personal or on both sides of Christs all persecuted by the World as Christ and the two Theeves on either side of him by Pilate with their Metaphrase and Exposition in brief 1. Of that of Christ and his instituted peculiar worshipping Ministerial or separate Church of Separates 2 Cor. 6.16 17 18. in the literal warrant and its opening to Christians Matth. 18.15 to 20. VER 15. 1. BUT that is rather then he one of these little ones v. 14. which referreth us to v. 10. and that to v. 2. should perish by his dejected softness or childishness 2. If As a grievous unexpected casual and rare matter 3. A Brother An
the time be out v. 35. and to his raigning as a King of such Disseparatists in his own swolne conceit 1 Cor. 4.6 7. Thus hath malice slain the Gospel-spirit of the Diotrephists to pervert Christs word of truth and mercy to erect Antichrists fraud and fierceness with this bragging and begging Sermon though the plain meaning of this Scripture be clean contrary even to commend as wisdome our own confession of our own known and Conscience-wounding sins to God who knoweth them and our own forsaking them but not to command under the censure of Treason against God our publishing others rumoured facts and unconvinced sins unto men who know them not nor our disseparating our selves and whom else we can from their persons and communion spiritual and natural personal and publike nor to make this frowardness opposite to Christs meek-love-mercy to be that holy towardness teachableness and tractableness toward Christ which he requireth nor that contenting glory joy nor happiness which we desire it being a rejoycing in iniquity murderousness and mischief hated by God and his Saints 1 Cor. 13.6 Rom. 1.31 much less to be irreconcilable to them and inveterate against them and irregular in evil courses toward them These errours and erroneous mischiefs squeezed out of or rather falsly fathered on the word of truth and life especially on this special portion thereof exceedingly aggravateth the impiety and perniciousness of this personall Antichristianisme especially they being made by their Extracters to be parts of Divine Discipline devised by man and so abomination to Christ and Christians and yet pretended from the Word and so making Christ and his Scripture seem contradictory to himself and his Scripture of truth to be falshood and its Spirit and scope of meek-love-mercy to seem to these Deceivers and their Receivers to be a Patron of Usurpation and Pride and a Pattern of Mischief and Cruelty which is very neer if not meer forgery of Christs Scripture incurring all the plagues and curses of his true Scripture The Exposition of Matth. 18. especially of ver 15. to 20. THE 18th Chapter of Matthew best brooketh its name Chapter or Head of Scripture of any that I know First it is equal with any other in all vulgar use Secondly in its Head and Chapter of Gospel-matter it exceedeth other in the expresness thereof v. 1 4. and in the answerable and connected prosecution thereof unto the end of the Chapter And also Chap. 19.1 it is said that Christ had finished all that matter before he passed to any other Thirdly that matter so finished is the handling of the truest state and highest degree of heavenlyness and that in all its distinct parts of sonship servantship and heirship in our relation to God and to our threefold Collaterals viz. to our fellow-sons fellow-servants and coheirs The first of the three unto v. 14. The second unto v. 20. The third in the rest of the Chapter and that both lineally and collaterally and also in the affirmative and negative Fourthly that Christ our sole Gospel-head personal and publike is the sole decider of this head quâ—stion of the chiefship in Heavenliness all which call us to a special respect hereof in the whole and in each of its distinct parts The summariest expression of the affirmative part of the whole is in this word meek-love-mercy and of the negative in this proud-rail-racking The middle part of them is the center chair tryer and crown of the rest and for that reason placed before the first Col. 2.5 for otherwise cultive order and divine Church-worship in the course of generation and nature is after Faith and Personal Union with God thereby for that giveth us right of publike communion with him as with our husband but Conversion by Faith justifieth us and evidenceth our son-like Union with him Heb. 11.1 which our Child-meekness v. 4 called foolishness weakness baseness despisedness and nothingness 1 Cor. 1.27 28. justifieth to be true faith that God onely and no man may have the glory v. 29 30 31. which I desire may be specially considered and throughout my handling the second part remembred lest we deal about the hull and carkase of Religion omitting the precious kernel life and soul thereof and mark that this soul or spirit of Faith Christ and the Word is enmity and implacably opposite to that of Workes-Worth Antichrist and the World This middle or second part of this Chapter being the center throne tryer and crown of the rest and my present endeavours being in and for a Church and spoken and heard by Church-right the Church-use and exercise of this head-grace and soul of Religion is first to be handled for the Church is the center about which this meek-love-mercy is to move and work it is the throne wherein it exerciseth its supream authority it is the tryer of the truth and power thereof at our admission into it and in our being in it and therefore its approbation is the Crown and it the Crowner thereof and its due condemnation the discrowner thereof but onely upon full discovery that it is false and counterfeit and after all divine regular proceedings unto and in that tryall especially it evidently and eminently exercising in them all the true kind and pregnant degree of this meek-love-mercy without which all due conviction of obstinacy is not used without which no Excommunication ought to be by any Church decreed much less executed in affections or actions but least of all may any or many members so discommunicate any or many members or the Church it self whereof they are or any other yea these two last God hath reserved to himself as his peculiar prerogative and therefore our present Church-discipline nor any rule nor grace thereof is to be extended to them without flat rebellion This our second or middle part v. 15. to 20. is an authoritive or regular exercising and trying of that head or heart-grace of meek-love-mercy the subject matter of the 14. first verses and that in three parts or degrees The first is between the tryer and the tryed alone v. 15. The 2d between one or two moe v. 16. as an help both to the first in repentance and to the third in due and certain tryal of guiltiness The third between the tryed and the Church and that before and after that tryal accomplished affirmed v. 17. and ratified v. 18 19 20. There is a connexion of this matter with the former expressed v. 15. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in relation to v. 14. that is it ought to be for the recovery of our sick professing brother if he be curable but if not then for preservation of the Church and with the latter in this word then v. 21. But first of the body of this matter it self and first of the first part or degree thereof v. 15. The sole Institutor Law-giver and head of the Instituted Church prescribeth herein the first part and Use of Divine Church-discipline which is both a service of
God and a preserver of Christians by Divine Institution and therefore precisely commanded and commended by Christ both in the affirmative as our portion to use it as his sanctified means of his worship and our benefit and in the negative forbidding as more than his Divine Worship and our Portion all other courses means and manner of exercising this first part of Divine Church-government and means of winning our straying brother lest he perish by those rotting sins which are the onely matter immediatly moving us to those meanes and manner for their purging away and healing our sick brother There are therefore 8. main and plainly distinct parts of this verse 15. 1. The first is the state and encorporate order which enrighteth both Agent and Patient to the end means and manner prescribed viz. a Church-membership In these words thy brother against thee with v. 17. tell the Church 2. The second is the case wherein that end mean and manner are to be exercised viz. in the case of the Patients corrupting sin endangering his brotherhood in sin against thee 3. The third is the Agents personal knowledge of that his sinne viz. If thy brother sin c. not thou hear or suspect 4. The fourth is the end of our using the expressed Church-means and manner of purging that sinne from thaâ— brother viz. his recovery in these words thou hast won thy brother with v. 13 14. The fifth is the means i. e. convincing-reproof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 convincingly reprove him 6. The sixth is the instituted manner of our using that mean for that good of that our brother viz. all privacy and brotherly tenderness toward his soreness touchiness and good name between thee and him alone 7. The issue and success which is two-fold either good and pertinent to our case and verse viz. If he recover repent and return i. e. If he hear thee or bad and referring us to the next verse and case and not of pâ—esent observation 8. The eighth is the comfort and commendation of the Agent expresly and tacitly of the Patient thou hast won thy brother DOCTRINE The Doctrine which ariseth from the whole body of the first part of this The first degree of Christs Church-Discipline for his curing his sick Saints exacteth all these Ingredients 1. A Church-brotherhood both in the Agent and Patient 2. Sin in the Patient destroying that Brotherhood 3. The Agents knowledge of 4. And endeavour to cure the sin 5. By convincing-reproof 6. With all indulgent privacy 7. And expectation of success 8. And comfort The Proofs of each of these eight requisits are expressed in the Exposition of Christs express plain and sole-instituting Precept hereof more than which is not in Institutions to be expected much less exacted what is shall be supplyed in the uses USE 1. The first Use therefore must be for the confutation of the contrary tenent from whence the contrary practice groweth which is in its place to be dehorted reproved threatned and adjudged 1. Those that hold against the first are especially our Non-Conformitans called Professours and Puritans who hold no other brotherhood hereto requisite but that of the mystical union with Christ by personal Faith manifested by profession and fruits thereof but to what Church do they fit that party or cause which is the prime scope of the agent and to it are all the said particulars to be reduced and if the mark or aim be mistaken all Subordinats to it must needs be wrong their mark is not the Church of England their aim drift scope and endeavour is not for it and yet other Church they hold not much less labour for wherefore they erring in the very subject and object all their instituted Discipline and Church-dealing must needs be other than Christs and so in part and whole Antichrists at least the same in nature with his though not in act aim intent or possession his nor accepted by him and so they have no thanks for their labour and devotion either from Christ or Antichrist and so are of all most miserable in this matter suffering as busie-Bishops and Reproachers 1 Pet. 4.15 Use 2. They that erre in the 2d particular are the holders that every sinne in judgment word endeavour or act is the disease here meant But what meant Paul then to say Him that is weak in the faith receive unto you c. Rom. 14.1 expressing that weakness in the Faith to be in holding and practising the Mosaical holy days and in abstaining from the legally forbidden meats in obedience and conscience to Gods command by Moses which was then abolished and to prove and press that doctrine so plainly and plentifully through that Chapter unto Chap. 15.7 and there to conclude the same with the same Exhortation illustrated This is much confirmed Act. 21.20 to 26. 16.3 18.18 Why is Josephs omission of this first part commended as a point of his justness toward God and Christian indulgence toward Mary as to a true holy and tender-hearted Saint though his knowledge of her supposed sinne did neer over-weigh them all and gave him a strong appearance that it was a sinne destroying Church-brotherhood and her instituted Church-state the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 being or as being a just or righteous man c. and not being willing c. prevent all evasion in this point that every sinne of a brother known to another brother necessiteth not this instituted or Church-dealing which point is very frequently and fervently pressed in the word 1 Pet. 4.8 Prov. 10.12 1 Cor. 13.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 love roofeth all things Gal. 6.2 Mat. 6.14 15. Mar. 11.25 26. Obj. But you seem guilty and loving of some sins in putting them out of this case Answ The truth is I so love Gods divine Discipline that I cleave close thereto though I thereby incur your suspicion But it rather seems that you more affect absoluteness of Will and licentious injuriousness than Christs institutions and obedience to them wherein a Christians summum bonum and content consisteth Eccles 12.13 But I respect not personal upbraidings but reall arguments in this material case Michals scornings 2 Sam. 6.16 to 22. I scorn and honour Moses his periods to all his instituted practises i.e. As the Lord commanded Moses The third ingredient unto this divine medicine viz. the curers due and certain knowledge of the the disease or sin of his brother is 1. proved necessary Joh. 7.51 Doth our Law condemn a man before it hear him and know what he hath done was it so evident that the Law of Moses though in Christs time much corrupted by the Scribes and Pharises did not upon any report or presumption but onely by judicial hearing and testimony by two Witnesses at the least and testified in presence of the accused and answered by him condemn any man how dare any Church of the Gospel do so lest to his power he make the Gospel of Christ worse then the Law of Moses But by
what spirit dare any member of such a Church do it yea and execute that sentence of his own to his using him as an Heathen Publicane or that wicked man 1 Cor. 5.13 2ly every night-professour yea civil man in England or other Christian Common-wealth or State may with Nicodemus say the same words for before due proof by competent Witnesses and the Defendants full answer may no sentence be pronounced in any matter whether criminal or actional nor before that sentence dareth any Sheriff much less any other do any thing as to a condemned man and yet will any Christian person Officer or Church make Christs Gospel discipline worse than the civil discipline of the Common-wealths of the world which yet they do when they upon a rumour or other backbiting receive matter of spiritual censure both as an accusation and testimony yea and forthwith sentenceth and also executeth that censure in his affections and actions and expecteth yea exacteth of others so to do upon his telling them thereof This in a person or officer is personal or official Antichristianism and if all the members of a Church so do it is Church-Antichristianism though the state be true before and after it yea though any many or all those Christian persons endeavour a tryal upon that rumorous fame and testimony yet their course is Antichristian and a part of that mystery of Iniquity whereby that state or man of Iniquity by his Spirit of Antichristianism wrought himself from an embryo in Pauls time 2 Thes 2.3 to 8. unto full complement afterward which now is in his raging death-pangs with Gods harping-iron in his belly with whom also all the sparks of his Spirit do therefore blaze as in their last light 3ly the very professed Hierarchical Courts have a pretending and seeming face of the said Mosaical and Civil Courts and censure none for a rumours accusation untill they hear the Accuseds answer and use a form of tryal of the cause more like the other than the said personal Spirits of Antichrist whom this Text properly concerneth and chargeth to sue and pursue his brother unto the Church censure upon personal knowledge of his corrupting sin but not to take a third brothers right charge and work from him nor to partake in his omission thereof nor his reproachful diverting from it to play the Informer to this censorious spirit of Antichrist for why else doth he reproach but to provoke to censure where he findeth a by-shop open thus to receive censure and butcher 'T is usurpation and folly to do his work and sinne not to charge him to do it himself Do all these Courts and courses hear the accused and know what he hath done and dareth any member of a Church of Christ make himself worse then Mosaical than civil than uncivil Courts Dareth he also make that Church a partaker and guilty of that seven-headed sinne yet let not that Church dare to partake with not permit it much less to practice and ratifie it Indeed this Christian cure is properly and personally commended and commanded to every Church-brother that duly knoweth of the disease personally and his telling any other of the particular is a reproach and backbite for all pretended consultings may and must be in the general and so what is said thereabout is true yet if credible Witnesses out of a Church-estate give to a brother certain testimony of his brothers conscionless sinne he ought to joyn his enrighting Church-estate which those Witnesses want unto their pregnant matter to discover and destroy that sinne that will otherwise destroy that brotherhood or church and if it be without exception he ought to proceed thereupon First to relate to the brother what they offer to testifie and if he deny it not or by his tutchiness dejectedness scornfulness or other confirmations make him confident that his brother is guilty then he ought to proceed according to Gods rule Mat. 18.15 to 20. onely by the Witnesses v. 16. all things are to be fitted to the conveniency of the Church by their personal knowledge of all requisites if the Witnesses from without be not fit to be brought in person into the Church but to do so upon a brothers report or rather reproach is as is above said and much worse incurring the censure of Jam. 4.11 12. 1 Pet. 4.15 Lev. 19.16 17. Prov. 18.8 26.20 21 22. Rom. 16.17 Jude 19. Esa 65.5 Matth. 24.51 yea of 2 Thes 2.4 in his sitting or estating himself as the Church like that Antichrist and of 3 Joh. 11. in his usurping over the Church and the Scripture with Diotrephes who upon his own suspicion that John meant him in his former Epistles rayled against him with malicious words and cast his friends out of the Church but more of this in the sixt particular The fourth addeth to the first three their Gospel-soul meek-love-mercy Saint-healing and Soul-saving Spirit v. 14. in the end of this v. 15. and the fifth addeth to all four their instituted meanes and effective power viz. An argumenting convincing reproof for his said sin 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is ill rendred by tell him for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is an Argument Syllogism or evident proof which applyed to the said sin importeth a conviction thereof and its consequent reproof and charge of repentance compared also with if he bear which therefore importeth an answerable repentance all which necessite and dignifie the search of the scope of the place of Scripture in hand This enforceth a preceding proof of his said sin before our reproof and of that before our requiring his repentance and of that before our judging him irrepentant and of that before our taking one or two Witnesses much more before our telling it to any other upon any pretence much more before our telling the Church thereof and its tryall and condemnation or commendation much more before our barring him of Church-Communion but most of all before our using him as an enemy 2 Thes 3.15 and barring him of natural matrimonial or civil good things which are never to follow Christs Church censures but are fit onely for Antichrists who in state courses spirit and curses is flat opposite to Christ his Church-state Discipline Spirit and Censures which all tend to the saving of souls at the day of our Lord Jesus which is our fourth point by his Gospel-Institutions which is our fifth but because of Antichrists oppositness in them all God himself sirnameth him Abaddon and Apollyon that is Destroyer Rev. 9. which 5. Discipline or mystery of iniquity was in working in Pauls dayes 2 Thes 2.7 by that 4. Spirit of Antichrist that was in Johns days 1 Joh. 4.3 to the eminent estating of that Antichrist in Constantines days and his evident tyrannizing in Constantines days and to this time none of which four are yet ceased not the two first in true Christian Churches the latter which is our fourth point is practised in the Spirit of reproach in the
Disseparatists Jude 19. or proper Brownists or makers of offences or soul-killing sins more then the word hath made and makers of division or separation thereupon even from true Christians yea true Churches which the word never allowed nor instituted the former which is the 5. point is practised in the said un-Mosaical uncivil un-Messiacal and antichristian courses opposite to Christs instituted Church-order Mat. 18.15 in all the eight points thereof especially to this convincing course our fift part and the sixt of which next in both which abominations and false Church-orders are practised by true Churches in their members telling each other of each others faults main and mean and thereupon separating the reproached as vile Heathens and Publicanes at one hour with the same and reproach raised as if their so reproaching were a judicial tryal and that an authoritive sentence and that a soul-killing and disbrothering execution even all four so soon as the first is spoken by the reproacher yea as if all were done in himself so soon as it is suspected by him Secondly in both these desolations are practised against Christs said instituted membral course of four degrees i. e. 1. certain knowledge 2. due convincing 3. resolvednes of his irrepentance and 4. thereupon proceeding in an executory course of taking Witnesses to testifie it to the Church which onely hath discommunicative power that it may duly separate the otherwise uncurable brother for those four are slighted omitted and rejected by this rejecting or rejectible course and spirit which the word termeth desolating Thirdly confusions of the successive order of these four degrees is practised in one Church-members separating censuring testifying and lastly upbraiding another with sin and in his neglect of Christs precise order prescribed him herein Which 3. practises of 1. abominations or false institutions 2. of desolations of true Institutions and 3. of confusion or Babelism are severaly at least joyntly the quarto modo properties of Antichrist either publike and stative viz. of a false Church-state or personal and membral viz. of the possessed with the evil Spirit of Antichrist 1 Joh. 4.3 whether of Professours at large or of Christs Church-worshippers in state though unmortified in affections and actions especially in matters of the fift sixth and ninth Commandements which the sixth and next point will plainly and plentifully shew This sixth Jngredient into this Divine Saint-healing Medicine is brotherly and tender privacy in all the rest in these words between thee and him alone This therefore sorteth with all the rest in their joynt proper soul and of this whole Chapter viz. in meek-love-mercy and in opposing their and its opposites viz. proud-rail-racking the three parts of both those words answering to the three said distinct parts of this Chapter the former in the positive respect the latter in the opposite The two first parts of the former expresly the last part inclusively in the last part of the latter and the two first parts of the latter word inclusively in the two first parts of the former the last expresly in the last part of the Chapter from v. 20. This sixth part of this soul-saving and sinne-purging sealed receit Job 33.16 sorts also with the other five in their divine and word-holy body as they are instituted parts of Christs Scripture-worship so that the omitters and slighters hereof are Desolators of that Divine Worship and the practisers of any other in its stead though in their conceit much better are abominators thereof and the disorderly users thereof are confusers thereof and so sorters with that Babylon i. e. confusion that abomination and desolation Dan. 11.31 12.11 Mat. 24.15 Mar. 13.14 called also that man of sinne that sonne of perdition 2 Thes 2.3 that Usurper over and Opposer against all called God v. 4. Dan. 11.36 that Antichrist that Beast that Abaddon c. and so gross breakers of the first second fifth and sixth Commandements The gross and flat opposite to this part both in that soul and this body is one Church-members reproaching and speaking evil of another which also in a fifth respect is the proper and prime breach of the ninth Commandement viz. as it tendeth to his discredit for it breaketh the first as it usurpeth over opposeth against Christ the Institutor of that order and means and the commander and commander of that meek-love-mercy and against God his Father and sender It is a breach of the second in all the particulars of this second respect of this sixth Ingredient especially as it forsaketh and desolateth this part of Christs Church-Discipline and erecteth a false one in its stead and so abominateth it and sinneth in the like transgression with Adam who did yea could sinne onely in matter of Divine Institution for when by his shame his sinne was shewn God thence concludeth that he had eaten of the forbidden Institution Gen. 3.10 11. and as it usurpeth over and opposeth against Christs Church-power authority and jurisdiction instituted for as it proudly deposeth or opposeth the persons enrighted thereto and practising thereof it breaks the fifth and as it ariseth from anger malice or an evil mind it breaks the sixth Commandement Matth. 5.21 to 26. If it be above just cause and onely inward it is against the first degree of v. 22. If it extend to external insinuations and general reproaching it cometh under the 2. degree of that sinne and judgment but if it proceed to the least sort of particularizing of matter of a brothers discredit though it be but of his wisdome it is expressed to be of the highest sort of sins and judgment at least of that Commandement yet Jam. 4.11 12. expresseth it to be a reproaching and censuring of the Word of God it self and an usurpation of Gods Law-giving Supremacy and an opposition against God that is alone able to save and to destroy and thereupon thundereth against this reproacher with Who art thou that judgest another brother which last word is expressed v. 11. and sheweth the true nature and high degree of this sinne of reproaching without it the other two parallel places of Matth. 5.21 and 18.15 were not its true parallels and without this peculiar institutedness or instituted peculiarity of this privacy in present consideration the other two would seem somewhat harsh In brief mark the holy institutedness of this sin-hiding or rather sin-healing privacy Mat. 18.15 the holy estate of a brother in all three places the holy nature of the Law Jam. 4. and of Christianity Matth. 5. and the oppositness of Antichristianity to all three even in falsness of institution against the Gospel and in evilness of order against the moral Law and of nature generate and regenerate against the first and second Adam and their Posterity and you shall therein see the heavenly vertue of this privacy and hellish vility of its privative in dealing with our brothers sins even that the former is an healing and the latter an helling of our brother and his