shall continue me among you in this place my endeavour shall be by Gods assistance to set you in heaven-way to be plaine and faithfull to you in things of soul concernment To tell you that you are altogether such as ye ought to be all reall christians a visible Church such as have a right to the sacrament an interest in the promises I dare not sow such pillows under your armes if I should well might you suspect me of daubing I mean with untempred morter But I shall endeavour to shew you out of the Scriptures who are Christians indeed not only by a change of name but by a change of nature also who are a true visible Church of Jesus Christ what manner of persons they are and ought to be to whom Seals and Promises are given and if you be or become such then may I tell you without deceiving you that you are Christians indeed a Church indeed have a right to the Seals and promises of the Gospel indeed If a Parish or People be altogether profane atheisticall dead in sins and trespasses without any favour or taste of spirituall things To tell such a people that they are good Christians a visible Church have a right to the Sacrament is no other then to cheat them of the truth harden them in their sins and lead them blindfold to destruction A formall and generall Preacher that words and phrases out his own wisdom tickling the ears without touching the hearts or awaking the consciences of his hearers he may have the praise and applause of men but not the praise and peace of God give me the latter let who will take the former It will be worth all his pains and sufferings if a Minister drawing men to his latter end and ready to give up an account of his stewardship can appeale unto God and his Congregation as once Samuel ready to die did unto the people in another case 1 Sam. 12. Whose Oxe or whose Ass have I taken whom have I defrauded So when a Minister what soul have I beguiled What soul have I defrauded What soul have I hardened in sin by covering and not discovering the truth and danger of its estate to it What people have I deceived by telling them they were Christians when they were not a Church when they were not had a right to the Kingdome of heaven and the seals thereof when they had not to be able to say thus will be worth something one day O that all that take upon them the Ministry of the Gospel would consider this If plain dealing have outward disturbance yet it hath inward peace But indeed an ingenious people whose reason and understanding is not quite lost or infatuated will in time make good that saying of the wise mans Pro. 28.23 That he that rebuketh a man afterward shall finde more favour than he that flattereth with his tongue My endeavour therefore shall be to cause you to know your miserable estate by nature and the remedy thereof by grace To cause you to look into that great mystery the infinite love of God in Jesus Christ in that great work of your dedemption through him that ye may know the Lord Jesus the power of his Resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death That when I am called to give an account of my Stewardship amongst you I may do it with joy and not with griefe Ministers of all men had need to look about them for they must give account for more souls than their own and if any be lost through their default Ezek. 3.18 that blood will be required at their bands I would not at the day of judgement be found in the condition of a negligent idle Pastor that hath fleec'd and not fed his flock for ten thousand worlds Not in his condition 1 Cor. 2.4 that daubs with untemperd morter that speaks smooth things that preacheth not in the demonstration of the spirit and of power but with the inticing words of mans wisdome For fearefull will be the end of such a man when Jesus Christ and he shall reckon together for so many sheep lost through the earelesness of the shepheard It was the saying of one That of all men that should be saved Ministers should be the fewest Indeed they have the greatest charge and are subject to the sorest temptations and it is to be feared that many Ministers either for fear or love or some other worldly respect may offend too much against their commission which bids them cry aloud and spare not Isa 58.1 lift up thy voice like a trumpet shew my people their sinns and the house of Israel their transgressions and so hazard themselves too neere the pickes of Gods eternall vengeance and displeasure which thing of all other I most fear and therefore through grace shall labour to avoid which I cannot do unlesse I look strictly unto you over whom I set an Overseer therefore blame me not if I be plain and earnest with you to press you forward towards the mark of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus Phil. 3 14. If I should be negligent herein your blood would be upon my head The Lord pardon my neglects past I had rather disturbe my own peace if it must be so and trouble the water to stir you out of the lees of carnall security than to have you curse me and accuse me before God at the day of judgement for the deceiver and betrayer of your soules I blesse God I can say through the grace given me that my destre is so farre as I know my own heart not to seek yours but you I had rather see you thrive in spirituals than my self in temporals and my greatest encouragement among you will be to see you walking in and obedient unto the truth If you will give up your names to Jesus Christ if you will obey the Gospel and not run with the wicked of the world into the same excess of riot you must look for many oppositions affronts scornes reproaches but passe thorough all these with patience looking unto the End Jesus the Author and Finisher of your Faith who for the joy that was set before him endured the Cross despising the shame Heb. 12.1 and is now set down at the right-hand of God and there if you run with patience the race that is set before you shall you sit down also For which things sake I shall alwayes bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ and that he would grant you according to the riches of his glory to be strengthened with might Ephes 3.14 by his Spirit in the inward man That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith that ye being rooted and grounded in love may be able to comprehend with all Saints what is the breadth and length and depth and height and to know the love of Christ which passeth knowledge That ye might be filled
contradicted T is true those Histories say not that the whol Nation of England did embrace the Faith of Christ when it was first preach'd unto them as is conceived either by some of the Apostles or Apostolicall then as Philip or Simon Zelotes or Joseph of Arimathea but part of the Nation did and were then gathered into a Church-way For about six hundred years after this when Augustine was sent from Rome by Gregory the then Bishop of Rome to endeavour the conversion of the whole Nation he found both a Ministery and Churches of Jesus Christ setled in the Land For at his first coming he as the History relates assembled together the Bishops and Doctors of Britaine to discourse and reason with them and to request their assistance for the conversion of the Pagan English So that we may say and that truly that Christianity was in England propagated but not at first planted by Rome But grant this that Augustine was the first that planted the Christian faith in England and that there were neither Ministery nor Church before ordained and gathered by him and his assistants what is this to the now unchurching of the Church in England or the wrong constitution of it at the time Obj. The ministry and churches of England were ordained and constituted by Augustine and his assistants who were sent from Rome Therefore the Ministery and Churches of England had no right constitution and Ordination Sol. I deny the consequence if any man will go about to prove it it will be necessary that he prove and make appeare that the Ministery and Church of Rome were at that time a false and Antichirstan Ministery and Church But I think it is a clear case that the Church of Rome was then though a corrupt yet a true Church so continued for many yeares after that time Yea it is the opinion of some Godly learned and judicious from whom I see no Reason to dissent that the Church of Rome did not quite fall off from Christ or turne utterly Antichristian untill the Councel of Trent at which time the said Church of Rome did by a publick Councel disowne and destroy the very fundamentalls of Christian religion which she never did before that time at which time these absurd antichristian and unchurching errors were decreed and published as the faith of the Church of Rome and all were accursed and excommumicated that assented not unto these abominations 1. Popes supremacy 2. Dividing the bread and wine in the Sacrament allowing the people no wine 3. Justification by works 4. Worshipping of images 5. That the people ought not to read the Scripturess 6. That Traditions ought to be believed as Scripture Now these abominations which make desolate I mean unchurch the Church of Rome were not set up by publick decree and consent in the said Church untill the said Councel of Trent 'T is true the Mystery of iniquity did work before and these abominations as before were creeping into that church but they were corrected exploded by several Councells The Councels of Calcedon Affrick Constantinople Milevi Basil decreed against the Popes Supremacy the Councel of Basil decreed communicating in both kinds The divine worshipping of Images was forbid by the second Nicene Councel the Councel of Nice decreed that no Christian should be without a Bible To believe Traditions to be equall with the Scriptures to hold justification by works was never decreed by any Councel nor held out as the Faith of that Church before the Councel of Trent So that I may say though the Mystery of iniquity was many hundreds of years a working yet the disease came not to its full height and state so as to destroy the body until that time I mean the Councel of Trent So that the Church of Rome not having declared a publick disowning of the Faith and Gospelfundamentalls untill the Councel of Trent I see no reason as yet why shee may not be called a true Church untill that time I say a true Church though a Church very corrupt As a man may be called a true man though never so sick and weak and diseased until by the extremity and height of the mallady he becomes dead so a Church may truly be called a Church though very sick diseas'd corrupt untill by making shipwrack of the Faith and erring in fundamentalls it expires Thus it is clear that grant it were so as it was not that the Ministery and Church of England as to the whole were ordained and constituted by Augustine and other assistants from Rome yet this concludes nothing at all against the right ordination and constitution of the Ministry and Churches of England because the Church of Rome was at that time though very corrupt yet a true Church Ob. But it is objected the churches of England were not rightly constituted because the people became Christians not by the ministry of the word but by the commands and edicts of their Kings who after they were converted commanded all their subjects and people to embrace the said faith and religion Sol. To this I answer that the matter of this objection is wholly false and Scandalous It is wholly false that the Pagan people of England became Christians after the conversion of their Kings by penal Laws and edicts of their said Soveraignes After Augustine had converted Ethelberg King of Kent to the Christian faith let any one if he can shew any such act or edict put forth by him to enjoyne all his subjects to embrace the said religion upon any penaltie or forfeiture If there were any such thing it would surely be upon record But we read the contrary of him we read of this King Ethelberg that after he was converted Innumerable others dayly came in Mr. Fox Acts Monuments 1. vol. page 1656. and were adjoyned to the Church of Christ whom the King did specially embrace but compelling none for so be had learned that the faith and service of Christ ought to be voluntary and not coact And so I read of the other Kings that then reigned in this Land that after they were converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ they encouraged Ministers to go into their Countries and preach to their Subjects and by this means became the Pagan people of England to be Christians a Church by the preaching of the Gospel to them and not by compulsatory Laws of their Kings And they that do gainsay this it will be easy to prove that they are either ignorant or perverse Mr. Cotton late of New-England a man of great learning and reverence though he fully assented not to the way of the Churches of England and therefore separated from them yet he never found fault with their constitution at first for as to this he declares himself thus The efficient instruments of their first plantation meaning the Churches of England which were neither Apostles or Apostolicall men whether Phillip or Joseph of Arimathea or Simon Zelotes as any of our
Country men may read in Mr. Fox 's Book of Acts and Monuments out of Gildas Tertullian Origen Beda Nicephorus which being so we cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered and planted according to the rule of the Gospell And all the corruptions found in them since have sprung from Popish Apostacy in succeeding Ages and for want of thorough and perfect purging out of that Leaven in the late times of Reformation in the dayes of our Fathers Cottons way Churches New-England So that all the work now is not to make them Churches which were none before but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution Thus Mr. Cotton And it being granted that the Churches in England were rightly constituted and gathered at first it will easily be proved that there hath continued a true Church in this Land unto this day though very corrupt and impure especially when subject to the Papall yoke Yet in those saddest times of corruption and persecution God had his Church and Ministery in England who witnessed to the Truth and appeared for a Reformation of such corruptions abuses in the Church though many of these by the power of a prevaling faction in suffered for such zeal and love to the Church the Truth I say the Church in England under the greatest Corruption was never without some Witnesses some Names which suppose they were but a few in comparison of the greater part that corrupted themselves and were made drunk with the wine of fornication spoken of Rev. 14.8 Yet will not God disown that to be a Church when these though but few names be found God own'd them to be a Church in * Rev. 3.1 * verse 4. Sardis and yet tells them they had but a few names which had not defiled their garments And though the Church in England might be reproved of corruption in Doctrine yet this did not unChurch her no more than it did the Church of Pergamus which God owned to be a Church though they held the Doctrine of Baalam Rev. 2.14 Though the Church in England might be justly reproved of corruption in manners and discipline yet this did not un-Church her no more than it did the Corinthians whom St. Paul calleth a Church of God though in the same Epistle he reproveth them both for their corruption in manners and discipline 1 Cor. 11.21 Though in the Church of England by the power of a prevalent factious party cha 3.1 2 3 chap. 5. many of the precious Saints of God were put to death yet this doth no more un-Church her than the same sin did the people of the Jews whom God al along own'd as his Church though a prevalent wicked factious party among them killed the * Mat. 23.37 Prophets and stoned the Messengers of the Lord that were sent unto them The Church in England since its first Institution unto this day cannot be justly charged to have made shipwrack of the faith of Jesus Christ by disowning or erring in any thing fundamentall to that Faith or necessary to the esse or being of a Church Therefore the Church in England continues to be a Church of God still As for her many and grievous corruptions both in Doctrine discipline and manners they are sadly to be bewailed and diligently to be reformed These blemish and disbeautify a Church and justly provoke God against it These are inconsistent as to the well being but not to the being of a Church And though the Church in England did joyne with and own the Church of Rome whilst the said Church held the fundamentals of Christian Religion and was sound in matters of Faith yet when the said Church of Rome did begin to faulter there to deny fundamental verities and make shipwrack of the faith which she hath done since the Councell of Trent at that very time did the Church in England refuse her the right hand of fellowship disown and separate from her and so continues unto this day After this manner also did the reformed Churches in Germany Suevia Denmark France separate themselves from that faction of Rome and likewise so continue at this day They that deny the Ministery and Churches in England to be a true Ministry and true Churches must of necessity also assert defend and affirm these to me most horrid and desperate Conclusions First Conc. 1 That the reformed Churches beyond the Seas are no true Churches but false and Antichristian Churches and Ministery The Reason is because the Church in England and these Reformed Churches reach out the right hand of fellowship to each other have the same Baptism the same Ordinances the same Ordination the same Discipline as to the substance of it Therefore if the one be false and Antichristian the other cannot be a true and Christian Church or Churches Secondly Conc. 2 That Luther Calvin and all those famous Lights and happy Reformers of the Churches beyond the Seas were false and Antichristian Ministers Thirdly Conc. 3 That Cranmer Ridley Latimer Tayler and many more who laboured much the Reformation of the Church in England from Romish superstition and were famous instruments as to that work and afterward sealed unto the truth with their blood and are now Triumphing in heaven that all these were limbs of Antichrist and no Ministers of Jesus Christ Fourthly Conc. 4 That there hath been no true Church nor Ministery of Jesus Christ for many hundreds of years upon earth For if neither in England nor beyond the Seas where then hath it been Now if Satan did so prevail against the Church as utterly to raze the very foundation of it how will this consist with that word of our Saviours * Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it If there hath ever ceased to be a true Ministery upon earth how will this again consist with that promise of our Lords * Mat. 28.2 Loe I will be with you unto the end of the world Fifthly Conc. 5 That there hath been no true conversion of Soules unto God for these many hundreds of years in England but that all have continued dead in sins and trespasses Children of wrath without Christ aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world This was the condition of the Ephesians whilst they were no Church Ephes 2. nor had a Gospel-Ministery amongst them And this hath been for many hundreds of years and still is the sad condition of England if without a Church and true Ministers of Jesus I cannot see how that ture conversion should be wrought by a false and antichri-Antichri-christian Ministery * Jer. 23.32 I sent them not nor commanded them there fore they shall not profit this people at all saith the Lord. Therefore by what Ministery a people profit are converted from sin and Satan to serve the Lord and fear
with all the fulness of God Feb. 2. 1657. J. FLOWRE Severall Questions concerning the Church of Jesus Christ upon earth Concerning the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ upon earth I find these Questions moved amongst others First WHether there be any such thing as a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth Secondly What is the Church of Jesus Christ Thirdly How do a people become a true visible Church of Jesus Christ at first Fourthly Whether the Churches of England vvere at first rightly constituted Fifthly What Government hath Jesus Christ Ordained in and for his Church Sixthly What manner of persons those ought to be that are in the judgement of Charity to be lookt upon as visible Members of the Church Seaventhly What are the duties of Church-Members towards Jesus Christ and one another Severall Queries concerning the Church of Christ Section I. Containing an Answer to the first Question IF there were not those that denied the Scriptures to be the word of God and Jesus Christ the Son of God it might then be admired that any should question Whether there be a Church of Jesus Christ a upon earth For to deny this is to deny an Article of the Christian Creed to accuse the holy Scriptures of folly and impertinences to defame our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ If there be no such thing as a Church of his upon earth what meant our Lord Jesus Christ when he said * Mat. 16.8 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church What meant St. Paul 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 when he directed his Epistle to the Church of God which is at Corinth Rev. 2. Why doth the Spirit write to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus of the Church in Smyrna Those therefore that deny a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth are not of so much worth as either to be named or disputed withall but they are to be rejected by all sober and judicious Christians as those that have together with their Faith made shiprack of their Reason also Section II. Containing an answer to the second Question What is the Church of Jesus Christ The word which in English is rendred a Church is in the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word is used in the Gospel to signifie a Church of Jesus Christ And this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Church doth signifie A company Called out from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to call out from among others And again this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we Translate a Church is sometimes used to signifie any assembly called together upon any occasion Act. 19.33 For the Assembly was confused the word then translated assembly is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the same word is rendred an assembly Act. 19.39 41. But this word Ecclesia or Church we in our speech do use to signifie a sacred assembly or meeting or combination of Gods people Our English word Church signifies an assembly of Gods people or those that desire to fear the Lord For it is very probable that our word Church com's from the German word Kirch which is derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the flock or people of God We use the word Church also by a Metonymie for the place or house where the Church or the people of God meet 1 Cor. 11.18 Calling that a Church But to speak properly the Church of Jesus Christ is his people built of living and not of dead and sensless stones 1 Pet. 2.5 and this Church of Jesus Christ is a company of people * Joh. 15.19 Rev. 18 4. call'd out of the world serving Jesus Christ as their Lord and King * 1 Thes 4 7. Rom. 6.17 Act. 2.42 Living under and submitting unto all his holy ordinances A true visible Church of Jesus Christ is not a profane wicked assembly an assembly of Notorious Drunkards Whoremongers Swearers and the like But an holy assembly called out from among these * 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are Sanctified Not an assembly of such as only serve their own bellies lusts passions sin satan the times but an assembly of such as turn from these Idols to serve the living and true God Not an assembly refractory and disobedient to Gospel-Ordinances mockers scoffers of holy things and duties But such as do submit themselves to the Laws commands ordinances of Jesus Christ as their duty and but * Rom. 12.1 Reasonable service Section III. Containing an answer to the third question How do a people become a true visible church of Jesus Christ at first A People become a true visible Church of Jesus Christ by entering into an holy covenant with the Lord to take him for their God and King to be ruled and directed by his word and to submit unto all his holy ordinances Thus we finde in the Scripture when God did constitute Abraham's Family a church I mean receive them into a church-estate it was by entering them into such a * Gen. 17. covenant as before of which circumcision was a seale That which they covenanted with God was * Gen. 17.1 To walk before him and be perfect and God covenanted with them to * verse 7. be their God and the God of their feed and so they came into a church-estate This was the way of the Apostles in their constitution of Churches Those people whom the Apostles did receive into a church-estate it was by engaging them to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to submit to his holy ordinances This is plain if we read the 2. of the Acts v. 41. There were three thousand received into a church-estate which before neither were a church nor of the church of Jesus Christ And how came these to be a church why v. 41. v. 41. they gladly received the word preached to them according to that word v. 38. v. 38 they did evidence their repentance for Sin past which includes an engagement to serve God for the future and upon this they were baptized and became a church v. 41. So when the Apostles received particular persons into the Church which before were not of it these did covenant for to take the Lord for their God to own and serve him so they became added unto the church Acts 19. many became added unto the Church But we read that they were such as believed such as confessed their sins such as shewed their deeds such as burned their profane books Thus they covenanting to serve the Lord were received into the church Thus it is clear that a company of people do become a church by entering into an holy Covenant with the Lord their God to own him and serve him Therefore the church is called the * Cant 4.8 9 10. Spouse of Jesus Christ by which name the church could not properly be called had she not entred into an holy conjugall covenant
also at the welfare one of another If an Heathen could say very truly that Non solum nobis nati sumus We are not only born for our selves but for one another also I may surely then very confidently say that Non solum nobis renati sumus that we are not borne again for our selves but for one another also for the comfort and help and mutuall edification of all our fellow Members in Christ Jesus Lastly The Members of the body natural do all sympathise with one another if a finger do but ake all the Members condole it So in the Church of Jesus Christ all the Members should condole and sympathise with one aking or afflicted Member Christians Members of the same body should all sympathise and have a share together both in one anothers crosses and comforts Rom. 15.16 Rejoyce with those that rejoyce weap with those that weep be of the same mind one towards another The Lord Jesus Christ our head sympathises with all every of his poor members Isa 63.9 In all their afflictions he is afflicted Sect. VIII FRom what hath been said in relation to the Solution of the Fourth Question it appears that the first constitution or planting or gathering of the Churches in England was right and orderly according to the Scripture-rule and way of the Apostles in that case from whence I conclude with that Reverend Divine Mr. Cotton as before that the great work of the Ministers of Jesus Christ in England now is not to constitute and gather Churches anew as if there had never been any before But rather to labour to reform and purge and purifie those Churches which were at first founded and built upon the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets Jesus Christ himselfe being the chief Corner stone I say to reform purifie those from that dross and tin those many corruptions which time neglect of discipline hath contracted Therefore I shall declare what I conceive as to the way that every particular Church ought to take in this case That is what is now to be done by every particular Church in this land that desires to be a true reformed and refined Church of Jesus Christ It must needs by all be granted that we have even all the particular Churches and Congregations in this Land Rom. 3.13 I say that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God that our unfruitfulnesse under Ordinances our neglect of discipline our not sanctifying the Sabbath our carelesse and unchristianlike conversations might justly have provoked God to have sent us a bill of divorce to have sent his Messengers to us with a Loammi and a Loruhamah plead with your mother plead for she is not my wife Hos 2.12 neither am I her Husbend Therefore seeing we stand charged before God with so many high and heinous provocations it is surely high time for every particular congregation in England that is called by the name of a Church and desires truly to be such to meet God in the way with a peace-offering in their hands that the just indignation of the Lord may be turned away from them that they fall not by their iniquities and become as dung upon the earth We read of the * prodigall son after a long time of disobedience to his Father Luk. â—1 17 that when he came to himselfe he bethought him of this way to be reconciled to his Father again I will go saith he unto my Father and will say unto him Father I have sinned against heaven before thee and am no more worthy to be called thy son Thus he humbling himself and confessing his fault his father welcomes him gladly This my son was dead and is alive was lost and is found Here is a patterne not onely for one prodigall sonne or daughter but for a prodigall assembly or Congregation also to be reconciled to God their Father Let a particular Church or congregation of people that by their turning of grace into wontonness and abuse of spirituall mercies have given God just occasion to disown them I say when these come to themselves to have a sight and sence of their own state and of the danger thereof that is of their not being reconciled to God and cleaving more close to him let them gathering themselves together First Humble themselves before God freely confessing their many provocations the want of love of zeal of holy walking according to the Statutes and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus their breach of Covenant with God which they made in Baptisme let them say Father we have sinned against heaven and before thee are not worthy the name of thy Church or to be called thy people let them confesse the sins of their forefathers the generations before them let them humble themselves for these and their own imitation of them Thus did the Church of the Jewes in the dayes of Nehemiah and Ezra being sensible of their Backslidings and Spiritual Fornications and the danger they were in by reason of these They assembled themselves they confest their sins and the sins of their fathers confessing God to be just in all that he brought upon them Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us Neh. c. 93 3 Ezek. 10.9 for thou hast done right but we have done wickedly Secondly Let every particular Church or Congregation renew their Covenant with God even that Covenant they made with him in Baptisme to forsake the world the flesh the Devil professing their sorrow and repentance for the breach of it and solemnly engaging to observe it better for the time to come in keeping a more strict watch over themselves and one another in forsaking all ungodliness and worldly lusts and living more soberly more godly more righteously in this present world as becometh Christians the professed Members of the Church of Jesus Christ Thus did also the Church of the Jewes you heard before that in relation to their better reformation and turning to God they assembled themselves together and humbled themselves before the Lord confessing their sins and the sins of their fathers and to this they added a solemn renewing of their * Covenant Nehe. 9 38. 9 2. or a new engaging to God to walk more orderly before him for the time to come Thirdly Let them separate themselves from Achans I mean let every particular Congregation of Gods people put out from amongst them all the openly scandalous ungodly and prophane for these are botches and boiles of a Church the dead and withered branches which ought to be cut off by the sentence of excommunication 1 Cor. 5.1 2. Rev. 18.4 Nehem. 9.38 Sect IX HAving spoken as to the way of refining and reforming a Church I shall now use a word of Exhortation in generall to all the Congregations of this Land called by the name of Churches especially to my own Congregation to stir up and encourage you to so great so good so necessary so