as hath been shewed being his design mostly to shew the Beauty Glory and Mystery of Christ Mystical c. He directs his Epistle to Philippi Church of Philippi in the same manner and mentions the word Church but twice the first is where he speaks of his Zeal in Persecuting the Church i. e. of Jerusalem Philip. 3.6 and 4.15 where he saith No Church communicated with me as to giving and receiving but ye only So that the Saints at Philippi were the Church The Epistle to Coloss is directed to the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ who are at Coloss Church of Coloss chap. i 2. i. e. the Congregation of the faithful there where this Epistle was to be first read and then in the Church of Laodicea chap. 4.16 He mentions also the Church in the House of Nymphas every where else the word relates to the Catholick Church in this Epistle as hath been shewed The Apostle directs his second Epistle to the Thessalonians verse 1. To the Church of the Thessalonians Church of Thessalonica and such a Church as took their pattern from the Churches of God in Judea 1 Thess 2.14 and therefore he saith 2 Thess 1.4 We our selves glory in the Churches of God for their Patience and Faith in all our Persecutions The Epistle to Timothy speaks of particular Churches 1 Tim. 3.5 If a man know not how to rule his own House how shall he take care of the Church of God i. e. such a one as falls under a Pastoral care in a mans capacity of Government as a Family doth and 1 Tim. 5.16 Let not the Church be charged that is the particular Congregation where Church charges arise as the Context shews In the Epistle to Philemon he speaks of the Church in his House i. e. that did usually assemble there as indeed all the Church-Assemblies were in those times in private Houses and this is the third Church in a private Family that is expresly mentioned by Paul there was Aquila's Nymphas's and Philemon's The Epistle to the Hebrews hath the word Church but twice the first is chap. 2.12 I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Church I will sing Praise unto thee a place taken out of the Psalms where in the next and Primary Signification the Psalmist so far as he means himself it s to be understood of a particular Congregation where God is praised and so far as it s Prophetically applyed to Christ it s meant of the Catholick Church in the fore-going verse saying He that sanctifieth and who they are sanctified are all one for which sake he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying c. And chap. 12.23 He speaks expresly of the Catholick without dispute The Apostle James speaks of the Elders of a particular Church expresly James 5.14 So John's third Epistle verse 6 9 10. John in the Revelations makes mention of the Word in the singular and plural number no less then nineteen or twenty times and always to be understood of particular Churches I will only name the Texts that the Reader may inspect at his Leisure Revel 1.4 11 20. Chap. 2.1 7 8 12 17 18 23 29. Chap. 3.1 6 7 13 14 22. Chap. 22.16 I find the word Church used in the New Testament about 85 times in this sence viz. of a particular Congregation and cannot by any candid Reader be supposed to have any other meaning nor with the least shew of reason be understood of any Meeting-house National Provincial Diocesan or Parochial constitution but only of a Congregation of Saints by mutual consent ordinarily assembling together for Attendance on Christ in all his Ordinances CHAP. VIII Of the Inferences necessary from the Fore-going Chapter IT being discovered in what sences the word Church is taken in the New Testament it s an idle and vain thing for Christians to trouble and concern their heads and Consciences about humorsome conceipts and imaginations of mens brains managed for the most part to serve their carnal Interests or darken the Truth Let men give up themselves and Understandings impartially to the plain and genuine Sence and meaning of the Spirit of God without squeezing or wresting it to a design or prejudicate Opinion or favouring any beloved Lust and the truth of the Gospel would shine with full Evidence and Demonstration And therefore notwithstanding mens great swelling and words of Vanity from Pulpit and Press in matters of this nature we shall make bold to lay down these following Assertions as undeniable plain Conclusions from what hath been spoken 1. That the Gospel Church Established by our Lord Jesus Christ in the dayes of the New Testament is or can be no where understood of any other Church then the Catholick Church or particular Congregations of faithful men c. and that there is no one place that can have any fair pretence to be understood of any other constitution of Churches 2. That where-ever the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used it always signifies a Congregation or Assembly of men met together at least occasionally upon some civil spiritual or sinful Account and that we need not be beholding to any Tropical Sences or ungrounded supposal of things and meanings of Words so remote when in the plain and ordinary way of Understanding things present themselves to our Reasons and Senses If we be not blinded with Pride Passion Prejudice and Estrangement from the true way of Spiritual Understanding by comparing Scripture with Scripture and consonacy of things to the Analogy of Faith 3. We infer That a Congregation of faithful men is the generical material part of a Church because it comprehends all the matter that is ever found in any Gospel Church of any kind all fit matter for such a Congregation are such as are really so or visibly in foro mundi or both And also because there is no Church of Christ spoken of or mentioned in Old or New Testament but is so called under the Notion of being a Congregation to be sometime or other Assembled all together the Catholick Church is so under that Notion as being all gathered together actually and mystically in Christ and shall all appear one day in a glorious Congregation Heb. 12.22 23. Where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be understood as R. St. renders it Publicus conventus a general Publick Assembly likewise wherever the Spirit of God speaks of a Church of his own constituting it s always so The Old Testament Church was called so under that notion though National yet was required to be still Congregational all the Males being required thrice a year to appear before the Lord in a Visible Congregation at the Tabernacle therefore called the Tabernacle of the Congregation or at the Temple where it was in standing and it is so often called the Congregation of the children of Israel the Reader may turn to these places at leisure Exod. 16.2.10 Levit. 4.13 ch 14.2 20.1 22. Jos
Apostles furnished with the gift of Tongues though secondary to them in their power for the dispensing the Gospel to all Nations and therefore upon the scattering the Church of Jerusalem after Stephens Persecution these Prophets mostly began the Churches of the Gentiles by their Ministry at first My Reasons for it are 1. That its evident all the Brethren as well as the Apostles were extraordinarily furnished for the Ministry Act. 2.4 They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues c. Now this was for special ends that they were capacitated to speak to all Nations in their own Languages 2. We find upon Stevens Persecution Act. 8.1 that they were all scattered except the Apostles not the whole Church for we read often of that Church still but all the Brethren of the 120 were scattered throughout the Regions of Judea Samaria by whole means Churches of the Jews were gathered as it appears verse 14. and Acts 9.31 After God had taken off that great Informer Saul then had all the Churches rest throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria Likewise we find that the Church of Antioch the first among the Gentiles that we read of was Planted by their Ministry see Acts 11.19 20 22. compare with ch 13. 1. More might be said on this point but I must keep to the present design only naming the several Offices 11 The third kind of extraordidary Officers were Evangelists such as Steven Phillip Luke Mark Timothy c. they were men no doubt extraordinarily qualified and were called Evangelists as being Assistants to the Apostles and travelled with them and sometimes alone as Philip It may be doubted whether the seven Deacons were of that 120 Brethren for they were men full of the Holy Ghost ch 6. 3. and afterward being pitched upon for eminent Service to the Church were called now Evangelists but being not of the number that were together at our Saviours Ascention and Pentecost and though their work might be the same with the Prophets yet their dignity was inferiour to the Apostles and Prophets as Eph. 4. Some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists but we need not lay much stress now upon the differences of those Offices ceased those Officers especially Apostles and Prophets are irrecoverably ceased from the very nature of them for an Apostle it were requisite to be one who had seen the Lord and a Prophet according to what we endeavour to prove one of those that were baptized with the Ghost and Fire at Pentecost As for an Evangelist it 's most probable to remain if any because the work still remains necessary to the encrease of the Church viz. Preaching to Unconverted people and gathering of Churches tho' none can be expected since the Primitive Times with any more then ordinary qualifications which any stated Church-officer hath such Evangelists such Deacons cannot be had But to supply those Offices necessary now in the Church those that are to be mentioned are sufficient 12. The Ordinary Officers remaining in the Church now may be reduced to these two heads Elders and Deacons Elders for Ministry and Government Deacons to serve Tables to look after the necessary charges for the Ministry Ordinances Assemblies Poor c. I shall not enlarge here it being evident to every one acquainted with Scripture 13. The Ordinances of Ordinary Communion are Prayer Preaching the Word Sacraments Acts 2. Collections The Lords Supper is still spoken of as the most eminent Ordinance of Communion 1 Cor. 10.16 14. If we enquire for the ground and end of Communion in these Ordinances it is That this is the way appointed by Christ for the edifying his Body for the encrease of Faith and Love in the Members of Christ those Ordinances being designed indeed as to the Church for edification for it s not to be supposed that a Church-Member should be an unconverted person if a hypocrite creep in he hath nothing of true end and design of Communion So that by Communion the Body of Christ is nourished strengthened and perfected towards its fullness of stature in Christ 15. If it be enquired where Church Communion is and between what kind of persons I answer Church Communion in Ornances can be but in one particular Congregation at the same time where all may meet for edification in one place we read of no other in the Primitive Church tho some would have that of Jerusalem to be greater then so after the addition of 3000 but it s expresly said that they were all together in Fellowship and met together still before the dispersion Acts 2.42.44 also chap. 5.12 and other places but this great Church was scattered afterwards by Gods Providence ordering it for the great advantage of the Gospel and propagation of Churches 16. If it be inquired between whom Church-Communion is exercised The answer is easy It 's between particular Members that ordinarily have fellowship in the same particular Congregations as likewise between one particular Church and another all Churches comunicating in this that they are of the same universal Body have the same Head Bond of Union Graces Ordinances Priviledges as in the one intire Catholick Body as every individual person in fellowship is a Member in particular so every individual Church is a part of that Integrum compacted by that vvhich every joynt supplyeth Ephes 4.16 according to the effectual working in the measure of every part c. 17. Communion we have said as it stands in copartnership in some common good so in communication between Member and Member what of peculiar good is in any part is communicable to the rest or fellow-feeling of the Sufferings of each other As there is a common design carri'd on by every part for the good of the whole so by all parts for each other The Apostle tells us this at large 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 18. The mutual communication that is visible in order to spiritual advantage stands in giving and receiving by the exercise of spiritual gifts and graces in the Word and Prayer by mutual advice and counsel by admonition and Church-censures where required by contributions to the wants and necessities of each other any way arising Spiritual or Temporal This Communion is practicable between Church and Church also not only by occasional participation in the Word and Ordinances with each other but in the matters before mentioned of advice and supply of each others wants In the former case we have the example of the Church of Antioch advising with the Church of Jerusalem in the latter that 1 Cor. 16.5 2 Cor. 9.3 4. Gal. 6.6 c. CHAP. XI The Conclusion BEing not minded to enlarge this discourse any further at this time I shall only lay down a few Corolary Assertions briefly to obviate some objections that may rise in some mens minds against what hath been spoken which we shall be ready to defend if occasion requires 1. That that only is a true constituted Church of Christ which is a house of Gods Building it 's not mans fancy or pretentions that renders any thing so 2. That a Christians actual Communion with any one true Visible Church of Christ makes him a Member in Communion with all the Churches of Christ though he doth not at present nor hath occasion to communicate with any Congregated Body besides what he is actually and immediately in Communion with 3. Hence barely Non-Communion as to immediate Participation in Ordinances with this or that Church doth not Unchurch them as some men phrase it i. e. condemn their standing neither is it any part of Schism or culpable Separation 4. There is a Separation that is absolutely necessary to every True Visible Church of Christ there can be none without it and it is the duty of True Churches and Members to practice it 5. This Separation is from the World Flesh and Devil and therefore from all the children of these and from all false Churches whatsoever 6. That all Antichristian Churches as well as absolutely Heathen are Idol-temples and therefore Communion with them is fellowship with Belial and his Idols 1 Cor. 6. 7. That Christ hath had his true Worshippers and Churches during the whole time of the Antichristian Reign and Rage but in a Wilderness especially as to Visible Form and Constitution yea trodden down by the Gentiles for the most part preserved notwithstanding by Christ in some times and places in its essential mystical state at least without any visible lustre in Externals as the Church of Old in Egypt and Babylon in other times and places he hath secured them in some retirements so far as to have opportunity to erect Tabernacles of true Gospel constitutions in form and fashion as he primitively appointed 8. And thus the true Churches of Christ hath stood during the time of the Womans militating in the Wilderness under its several Scatterings Deformations and Reformations under which God hath owned them all the dayes of their wanderings in the Wilderness 9. God hath had his degrees of Reformation and Purity of his Church especially during the last part of the Beasts Reign and that all such degrees have been progresses in Separation as to Purity of Ordinances and Worship till at last there shall be a perfect full and clear Redemption of Zion from all her Captivity in this Spiritual Egypt and Babylon 10. Schism is a thing talked more of then understood we only affirm this concerning it 1. That Separation from a manifestly false Church is no Schism 2. Non-communion with a suspected Church is no Schism but a duty 3. That all Schism spoken of in Scripture is actually and immediately in some particular Congregation being a Visible Politick Body and those there mentioned are not all amputations or rentings asunder most of them are but divisions in some matters of judgment and affection without a destruction of the whole as in the Church of Corinth though there may be some tendency thereunto 11. Manifest Corruptions in Worship persisted in especially if such as are taken up again after they have been abundantly witnessed against and purged out by former degrees of Reformation are to be separated from and witnessed against and such Churches as maintain them Yea such Separation is so far from a just charge of Schism that it is a necessary Duty of all those whose Minds and Consciences are informed in the truth of the Gospel FINIS
Ceconomy Nationality being the form of its constitution Having Officers Members Assemblies and Ordinances suited to its Nature The Aaronick Priesthood was National a Type of Christs Priesthood relating to his universal Church this Priesthood with all the appertaining Sacrifices Ordinances Ceremonies the Manifestation of the Antitype abolished yea that kind of Church Membership was utterly abolished viz. that none could be a Member of that Church but a Jew born or one Proselyted to that Nation it being the only Nation in the Earth that God had chosen with Exclusion of all other till Christ came and brake down the Partition-Wall between Jew and Gentile after which no man was any longer to be reckoned ever the more a Church-member because he was a Native of this or that Country Col. 3.11 But in the conforming to Christs likeness There is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Vncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond or Free but Christ is all in all and therefore of whatever Nation a man be of if he believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he shall be saved and becomes a capable Member of the visible Church and where-ever he is born without Faith in Christ he cannot be saved neither is without a visible credible Profession thereof capable of communion with the Visible Church in all Ordinances Moreover Christ Jesus abolished all the National Church Assemblies and Ordinances for the Jews as they were one Organized Church so they were to be but one Congregation which is not known now of any one Nation assembling together for the Worship of God in one place where their Ark of the Covenant was and therefore the Tabernacle of Publick Worship was called the Tabernacle of the Congregation where all the Males were required to appear before the Lord thrice a year Exod. 14.23 24. whereby they shewed themselves assembled and a Congregated Nation all in actual communion in the same Church-Administrations and in one place all which was duly to be observed during the time of the Tabernacle and standing of the Temple and though they corruptly retained their high places for offering some Sacrifices during most of that time till the full Reformation in Hezekiahs and Josiahs days yet the Lord still charged it on them as their great sin and witnessed against it by his Messengers the Prophets as such And though they had their several Synagogues they were but for reading of the Law not for Sacrifice or Burnt-offering which were National Services and were to be dispensed only at the Tabernacle of the Congregation or at the Temple yea all Sacrifices Expiations Purifications c. appertaining to particular Levitical Uncleannesses or moral transgressions were there to be performed Now our Lord Jesus Christ never erected such a Gospel-worship after this was abolished either for matter or form neither a National Congregation nor a National Pastor as Aaron nor Ordinances adapted to a National communion as the Sacrifices of old were he never intended in this way or manner to edify his Gospel-Church Besides As Christ established the Church of the Gospel it was not capable of such a constitution such being impossible to be sustained without the countenance if not the compulsive power of civil powers and we see that de facto it came into the ruines when ever in the Jewish Nation Wicked Kings swayed the Scepter we well enough are assured that our Saviour and his Apostles formed the Gospel-Churches every where under Heathen Princes and Governours who were for the most part severe Persecutors of them witness their Sufferings in the Apostles days and during the Christians bloody Persecutions till Constantines time for 300 years at which time of prosperity this National or then rather Provincial corrupt grandeur of Church-constitution began to enter proceeding from the corrupted minds of Church Officers aspiring to the accumulation of riches honours Soon after they fell under the Arrian Heresy under which the same Church pomp continued and proceeded to grow with much Persecution and confusion and distraction in the world with the daily increase of all manner of corruptions in doctrine and worship even to the introduction of Heathenish Abominations in the worship of God till the mortal wound was given to one of the seven heads of the Romish Empire and was healed by the eighth which was the false Prophet the Grand Church Imposter under which the great Apostacy hath so manifestly prevailed and during whose Usurpation the true Church of Christ hath been in the Wilderness and the Witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloth So that our Blessed Lord and Saviour seeing the present state of his little Flock when he ascended and foreseeing their future Suffering State for so many Ages to come under Rome Heathen and after pretendedly Christian constituted such a frame of Gospel churches that were capable of being Spiritual Polities under Heathen and Antichristian Princes and Governours and fitted Officers and Ordinances for their communion and edification suited to such a state which constitution was to last by his commission to the end of the world not alterable to another kind by the will of man in the ensuing prosperous estate that the Church might he blessed withal in after ages which hath been very rare hitherto nor much to be prejudiced as to its truly intended Oeconomy by the afflictions and sufferings that it was destined by faith and patience to encounter withal Hence it will appear there being a Politick Impossibility that the Church-constitution Established by Christ and his Apostles could be National because of the Power of the Dragon raging so much against it in Governours and Rulers of the Earth during the time of the first Ages of it and afterward for the most part by reason of the Tyranny and Usurpation of the false Prophet And when that any time in any Nations it was favoured with the countenance of Christian Kings and Princes had it been National it must have been subject to all the Alterations Additions and Diminutions in Form and Worship which the corrupt and changeable minds of men in Power would invent and impose especially upon change of Governours and Governments though Christian yet divers in their Tempers Understandings and Opinions concerning Gods true Worship as also in their Interests and carriages towards the Church that it would be the most difficult thing in the World to have known the manner and Fashion of Christs house Wherefore the Apostle saith Heb. 3.1 Holy Brethren Partakers of the Heavenly calling Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus vers 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house i. e. in all things appertaining to the Worship of God in his Church vers 3. For this man was counted worthy of more Glory then Moses in as much as he who builded the house hath more Honour then the house vers 5. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a Servant for a Testimony of those things that were to be spoken
3.6 after which he continues to breath out threatnings and slaughter and assay's to pursue them to Damascus and other places Acts 9.1 near which place Christ stops his Career But notwitstanding this scattering which God turn'd to the advantage of the Gospel and encrease of Churches by the Preaching of Philip and other scattered brethren so that as chap. 8. and 11. ver 19. and in ver 21. The hand of the Lord was with them and a great number were added to the Lord So that in Judea the Churches of Samaria and Galilee were gathered Acts 9.31 It appears also the Body of that Jerusalem-Church still remained tydings coming to them of the marvellous success of the Ministry of the scattered Disciples they sent forth Barnabas Acts 11.22 Then tydings of these things came to the ears of the Church which was in Jerusalem and they sent forth Barnabas that he should go as far as Antioch The Church of Antioch c. ver 25. from thence he departed to Tarsus to seek Saul ver 26. And when he had found him he brought him to Antioch and it came to pass that a whole year they Assembled themselves with the Church and taught much people i. e. besides the Churches this is the First Gospel-Church of the Gentiles we read of Now that this was a Congregation of the Faithful converted first by the Ministry of the Scattered it appears in that Barnabas first fell upon confirming work v. 23. When he came and had seen the Grace of God was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose â—f heart they would cleave unto the Lord and by his further labours the Church was encreased v. 24. and much people were added unto the Lord though I will not deny this expression may intend his first forming them into a Church before the coming of Saul after which we are assured it was a Formed Church separated from the rest of the people of Antioch yea from many that were frequent hearers of the Word as appears verse 26. After this a second Persecution ariseth against the Church of Jerusalem Act. 12.1 Now about that time Herod the King stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the Church and killed James and imprisoned Peter for whom Prayer was made without ceasing of the Church unto God for him verse 5 12. viz. Assembled in a private Meeting Chap 13.1 We have an Account of Certain Prophets in the Church of Antioch a sort of extraordinary Officers in the Primitive Churches mentioned next after Apostles Eph. 4.11 These were charged by the Holy Ghost to set apart Barnabas and Saul to the work whereunto he had called them which being sent forth they went their Progress to Seleucia Cyprus Salamis Paphos Perga in Pamphilia and from thence to Antioch in Pisidia chap. 13. verse 14. there Paul preached in the Synagogue with great acceptation of the Proselyte Gentiles who assembled to hear the next Sabbath from all parts of the City but the Jews contradicting and blaspheming they declare the rejection of the Jews and there turn to the Gentiles ver 46 47. Being Persecuted from this Antioch they came to Iconium to the great joy of the Disciples verse 51 52. Here they Preached with success chap. 14.1 but were opposed by the Unbelieving Jews and Persecuted to Lystra Derbe verse 20. Cityes of Lycaonia At Lystra cured the Cripple and like to be worshipped for Gods but the Jews from Antioch and Iconium change the Scene ver 19. and Paul was stoned but recovered departed to Derbe and after Preaching there returned to Lystra Iconium and Antioch of Pisidia Churches of Lystra Iconium Antioch of Pisidia confirming the Disciples verse 22 23. ordaining Elders in every Church These Churches of Lystra Iconium and Antioch were gathered at the Apostles first coming and at their return to confirm them they ordained Elders in them These were not National Churches Antioch was of the Region of Pisidia nor was the whole limit of any of these places of the Church but a few of each that were wrought upon by and submitted to their Ministry From Pisidia they came to the Province of Pamphilia ver 24. where they Preached at Perga went to Attalia and thence sailed to the first Antioch where these two Apostles so called ver 14. were Ordained and from whence they were sent to this Apostolick work of gathering Churches and setling Elders in them here they give the Church of Antioch an account of what God had done by them in opening a door of faith unto the Gentiles verse 27. and abode there a long time During their abode there disturbance was raised by some men that came from Judea and taught the necessity of circumcision chap. 15.1 2 3. whereupon the Apostles and certain others were sent to the Apostles and Elders at Jerusalem about this question and were brought on their way by the Church verse 3. I suppose none can conjecture that here was any Church besides a Congregation of Faithful no House-church that could bring the Apostles on their way no National or Provincial Church it 's not to be supposed that all the Province or City of Antioch accompanied them but only those few that were gathered into a Church and they not taken all in one Parish or Precinct of the City but here and there as it pleased God by his Grace to work When they came verse 4. to Jerusalem they were received by the Church Apostles and Elders where the question was determined verse 22. and return made with the resolves of the Apostles and Church of Jerusalem to Antioch and staying some time there confirmed the Disciples But some days after Paul and Barnabas agreeing to depart to revisit the Cities where they Preached they disagreed about taking John Mark and so parted Paul then took Silas and went through Syria and Cilicia Barnabas took Mark and went to Cyprus places where they had been verse 36 37. confirming the Churches v. 41. I shall proceed no further in these two Apostles travells this being enough to shew what sort of Churches were first planted by them and to shew where any mention is made of Church and that 's but in two places more in the Acts Acts 18.22 After he had Landed at Cesarea Church of Caesarea and went up and saluted the Church he went down to Antioch and chap. 20.17 from Miletus Miletus he sent to Ephesus and called the Elders of the Church and charged them v. 28. Take heed therefore to your selves and to all the Flâ—ck over which the Holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his Blood Now what were these but such Congregations that accompanyed the Apostles that was saluted by them that they confirmed and were purchased by Christs blood is it sence to think they were Houses or whole Nations or Provinces or Cities no they were those faithful ones Building of living stones who being gathered into particular Congregations
by the Ministry first of the Prophets i. e. the scattered Brethren from Jerusalem were setled and confirmed by the Apostles who Ordained Officers respectively among them I proceed in the next place to the Churches to whom the several Epistles were wrote We read not the word Church in any part of the Epistles to the Romans but in the 16th chapter and there referring to other Churches The Church of the Romans as verse 1. he speaks of Phebe a Deaconess of the Church at Cenchrea and verse 4 mentions all the Churches of the Gentiles verse 5. salutes the Church in Aquila's house vers 16. The Churches of Christ salute you Though we have reason enough to believe that there was at this time a constituted Church at Rome because first he writes to them as beloved of God and called to be Saints chap. 1. verse 7. Secondly because he gives Rules to them for walking towards each other as those in Fellowship chap. 14. Thirdly Phebe is recommended to them from the Church at Cenchrea which would not have been had they not been a Church In the Epistle to the Corinthians we have more mention made of the word Church then in any Epistle The Church of Corinth importing a Particular Congregation and we may begin with that description the Apostle gives of it 1 Cor. 1.2 Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints c. he writes not to all the Inhabitants of Corinth but to the Church which he tells you what they are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints which words are exegetical of Church so he directs his second Epistle 2 Cor. 1.1 Vnto the Church of God which is at Corinth with all the Saints which are in all Achaia Corinth was a City of the Province of Achaia and he writes primarily to the Church at Corinth and likewise to all the Saints which were in that Province whether they were actually in Church Fellowship or no. I shall briefly mention all the other Texts where Church is taken plainly for such a Particular Congregation as is described in the first Epistle chap. 1. 1 Cor. 4.17 I have sent unto you Timotheus who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ as I teach every where in every Church i. e. every particular Congregation 1 Cor. 6.4 If then you have judgment of things appertaining to this life set them to judge who are least esteemed in the Church i. e. in the Church of the Corinths of them it s primarily intended and as a rule for other particular Churches where no such thing as Christian civil Magistrates was in those times 1 Cor. 7.17 As the Lord hath called every one so let him walk and so ordain I in all the Churches i. e. as a Rule for every particular member of each Church 1 Cor. 11.16 If any man sâ—emeth to be contentious we have no such Custom nor the Churches of God Verse 18. When you come together in the Church i. e. the Assembly not meant of the meeting place as before noted the same sence as in verse 22. Chap. 14.4 He that Prophesieth Edifieth the Church i. e. the Congregation that heareth him And verse 5. his reason of prefering Prophecying is given viz. That the Church may receive Edifying therefore saith verse 12. Seek that ye may excel that the Church may receive Edifying and verse 19. In the Church I had rather speak five words with my Vnderstanding that I might teach others Verse 23. If the whole Church be come together in one place Verse 28. If there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church c. Verse 33. God is not the Author of Confusion but of Peace as in all the Churches of the Saints Verse 34. Let your Women keep silence in the Churches Verse 35. For it is a shame for Women to speak in the Church Chap. 16.1 Concerning the Collection for the Saints as I have given Order to the Churches such as are in the Province of Galatia even so do ye Where should Collections be made but in particular Congregations Verse 19. The Churches of Asia i. e. of that Region salute you Aquila and Prescilla salute you and the Church in their House it may be that frequently assembled there or that was for the most part belonging to their Family there might be enough for a competent Congregation in such times as those that Church is mentioned more times 2 Cor. 8.1 We do you to wit of the Grace of God bestowed on the Churches of Macedonia the word is always used in the plural Number when it s applyed to Nations Provinces Macedonia was a Province Regions as of Galatia Macedonia Asia Judea Verse 18 19. We have sent with him the Brother whose praise is in the Gospel throughout all the Churches verse 19. And not that only but who were also chosen of the Churches to travel with us the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and might be rendred ordained as well as in other places Verse 23. They are Messengers of the Churches Verse 24. Wherefore shew to them and before the Churches the proof of your Love Chap. 11.8 I robbed other Churches to serve you 2 Cor. 11.28 That which cometh upon me daily the care of all the Churches viz. as to his Apostolical Office 2 Cor. 12 13. What is it wherein you are inferiour to other Churches It seems there 's no superiority of one particlar Church above another but are all co-ordinate The word is thrice used in the Epistle to the Gallatians Chap. 2.1 2. Paul an Apostle and all the Brethren which are with me unto the Churches of Galatia a Province Verse 13. You have heard of my Conversation how that beyond measure I persecuted the Church of God and wasted it i. e. the Church of Jerusalem which was only extant when he began his Persecution and for ought I know while it lasted for that was a principal occasional cause of scattering the Jerusalem Church in order to Propagation but he tells them of more Churches in the Province of Judea after his Conversion Verse 21 22. Afterwards I came into the Regions of Syria and Cilicia and was unknown by face unto the Churches of Judea which were in Christ. The Apostle directs the Epistle to the Ephâ—sians thus To the Saints which are at Ephesus and to the faithful in Christ Jesus which terms have a synonymous acceptation most times with a Church and we have ground enough to believe there was an Established Church there when Paul wrote he writing of such high mysteries concerning Christ and his Church but we are fully assured of it afterward when John wrote Rev. 2.1 where he directs his Epistle to the Ephesian Church as if to the Dutch or French Church in England or the Ephesian Congregation at Ephesus but in all places where Church is mentioned in this Epistle he treats only of the Catholick Church
18.1 ch 22.12 16 18. 2 Chr. 6.3 Ezra 2.64 And the whole Congregation together 42360 these more or less made up one Assembly these were Preached to by Ezra and whatever the number of the Nation was they were to meet all together in one place And so we have the word applyed to the Church in the New Testament that it alwayes signifies a Congregation that doth ordinarily meet together for their edification if it be meant of a Particular Church but if an Universal such a Church as shortly shall Assemble and always sit together in a lasting sinless and uninterrupted communion So that a true Church of Christ under whatever Notion you take it must be and is a Congregation of Saints visible invisible or both that do meet together in one place for the Worship of God in Christ and communion in one body 4. We infer that we have part of the differencing form in that Description viz. where the pure word is Preached and Sacraments duely Adminstred c. for it distinguisheth the true Church distinguisheth the true visible Churches from false and erroneous it distinguisheth a particular Church from the Catholick for there is no Church but a particular Congregation capable of having the word preached to it and Sacraments duely administred in one Congregation but a particular Church when the Catholick Church assembles there will be neither 5. We find not the least word in Old or New Testament of a Representative Congregation or Church-Representative the Congregation of the Jews was to be by a Personal Appearance of all the Males the Females were exempted upon Gods special Dispensation by reason of their unfitness for Travel as from circumcision by reason of incapacity But we find that every visible Church of Christ still appeared before the Lord personally for actual communion in Church Ordinances in that way and method that God appointed in his Respective Dispensations and we are fully assured there is no Representative Church of Christs institution either Councels or Synods or Presbyteries We read not of any Presbytery i. e. Association of Elders called the Church but the Church is always spoken of distinctly from them If there had been any Reason to have called any Eldership the Church there had been Reason to have called that so in the Apostolick Church which had so many famous Apostles Prophets and Evangelists in in it but they are named distinctly in that great Councel held at Jerusalem Act. 15.22 It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church 6. The Universal Church doth comprehend all the particular Congregations in all Ages and places being simular and co-ordinate parts of it of the visible Saints where by the Institution of Christ the Head all the Ordinances are placed and by his influence there is a supply of Graces and gifts for the Edification of his Body as likewise all Officers and Offices as appears Eph. 4.11 12. of which there were Extraordinary and Ordinary 7. The extraordinary Officers were instituted for an extraordinary Occasion viz. the first Plantation of the Gospel-churches They were Apostles Prophets Evangelists the call of these the works and Qualifications was extraordinary These continued no longer than the first Age of the Church 8. The Ordinary remaining Officers are no more than Presbyters which some make a little distinction of Pastors Teachers Ruling Elders but there is no need of multiplication of Titles and Offices where the work doth so much correspond and is of the same nature and Deacons the first sort to give themselves principally to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word and Government the latter to mind the matters of more external concern called Tables as the necessities of the Poor the providing Elements for Sacraments conveniencies for Church-assemblies and whatever is necessary upon such Occasions These Officers are no where found with a capacity to exert their Power as such but in particular Congregations tho' they be members of the Catholick Church they are not Catholick Officers Christ is now the only Catholick Officer being the Head of the whole Body 9. All the Officers of the Gospel-church were placed in the one Catholick Church primarily and immediately relating to Christ Mystical secondarily and mediately to the several visible militating parts thereof in particular Congregations and their Office-work was either for the planting and gathering in to them or for the edification of those gathered The Extraordinary had an extraordinary call furnished with an extraordinary measure of the Spirit as with an extraordinary Commission the Ordinary had not these but sufficient both of the Spirit and commission for answering Christs glorious ends and designs in building his Church in future Ages and gathering more 10. It appears that the true actual members of the visible Church are visible Saints and Believers none that were adult were ever counted so in the Gospel-sence but under-the Notion of the Profession of Faith and Practice of Holiness True Faith makes a man a true Member of the mystical Body of Christ but cannot instate a man in foro Ecclesiae in the rights of visible communion till it manifests it self with credibility unto those to whom the Preservation of these Rights and Priviledges are committed the actual Officers and Members of a visible Church The Rule that Christ hath given for knowing and judging of others is by their Fruits and if the Church be mistaken for want of Infallibility which the Apostles themselves came short in Simon Magus and Judas being not known to them but by the Discovery of overt Acts God chargeth them not culpably with it that being a Prerogative that Christ reserves to himself and none ever Pretended to it but the false Prophet the great Spiritual Usurper and it appears that our Saviour reserved this Diadem to himself in the Embrio of the Gospel-church by his Behaviour towards Judas admitting him to visible communion meerly upon an outward Profession though he knew his Heart leaving his Practice as an Example to his Ministers and Churches carrying himself as a visible Pastor and dealt with men in the case of receiving to or rejecting from communion according to the visibility of their Profession therefore leaving it as a standing Rule to his Church for future proceeding in this kind not that he esteemed Hypocrites any part of his mystical Body but yet the present Profession giving them by his own Rules a right to all External Priviledges and a Reputation nothing inferiour to others he speaks of them in some Phrases which to minds not throughly informed in the Truth create much difficulty as John 17.11 Holy Father keep through thy name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are i. e. all those that thou hast given me to be of my mystical Body that they may be united in Participation of the Divine Nature as we are one vers 12. While I was with them in the World as a visible Pastor among them I kept them in thy Name of those thou
This Communion in the Holy Ghost runs through the whole Catholick Church in all Ages and Countries for where the common Bond of Union is this Communion must be 3. To make Communion in the Body compleat there must not only be this Participation in a common good by all the Members but a Communication of all good to each other mutually as they are capable and fellow-feeling with each other in all Sufferings The Spirit of Christ thus influencing all the Members appears and manifests it self in Graces and Gifts variously working towards this mutual fellowship of Parts both in good and evil of each other which are called the Operations of the Spirit as for Graces the Principal wherein the Catholick Communion doth consist are Faith and Love and by these they Communicate with Christ the Head receiving from him and making return to him as it were in a reciprocation as also a mutual communication to and with each other for Faith is the leading Grace of Communion for our present state by it we receive of the fulness of Christ for Justification and Sanctification John 1. and by Faith the Saints have communion one with another for as it is the foundation of the love of God in the heart so it is of our love to our Brethren believing them to be Justified in Christ Jesus and Members of his Body for Love founded on the Faith of the good estate of another is properly Charity the credibility of anothers Profession gives ground of Faith that he is what he professeth and this joyned with Love makes Charity wherefore the Apostle takes it in this sence when he saith Philemon 5. Hearing of thy Love and Faith which thou hast toward our Lord Jesus Christ and all Saints Moreover by Faith the Saints visible have a kind of Communion with those that went before and who are to come after it being the substance of things or persons in futurition hoped for and the evidence or demonstration of the Truth of things not seen i. e. removed from sence by timen parterition or place in absence so thereby we see the Saints and those Truths attested by them in Ages past 4. As for Love it 's not only the most eminent Grace of actual communion between Christ and his Members and of them with each other in the state that we are in here but it 's almost the only remaining when we go hence 1 Cor. 13.13 John treats much of the transcendent excellency of this Grace throughout his Epistle c. 1 John 4.11 If God so loved us we ought to love one another 12. If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is made perfect in us by this Grace we have communion with all Saints Militant and Triumphant 1 John 5.1 Every one that loveth him that is begot loveth him that is begotten of him 5. Now by Communion in these two Graces the Church grows up to its full perfection the Apostle saying Ephes 4.12 That the Ministry and Ministration is for the Building up of the Body of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agreement in all points of Faith and Profession of it and to the knowledge of the Son of God the Head to the perfect man to the measure of the Stature of the fullness of Christ Mystical filling up his Body and receiving influentially of his Fulness by Faith and v. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do grow more and more sincere in Love this Love shews it self in its fellow-feeling also that it works in us whereby we communicate in each others Sufferings and supply each others wants for the good of the whole this part of Communion is fully discoursed by the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.13 14 c. yea in the most part of the Chapter 6. Thus far Communion belongs to the Church under its Catholick consideration in its Mystical State there must be some external actions and things that are visible whereby the Communion of these Graces must be manifest in Ministry Offices Gifts Ordinances but all for and from the Spirit and these eminent Graces of Faith and Love 7. Communion then of particular Congregations must be by Christ's Ordination visible in those sacred Means and Ordinances appointed by Christ for its growth confirmation and building up in Grace and Truth God having made his Church in its visible state the Nursery of Grace and the Knowledge of the Truth Eph. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ i. e. in the militanting visible part 13. till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Verse 14. That we should be henceforth no more Children 8. The Edification of the Church being appointed by Christ in a way of Communion we are to consider 1. wherein this visible communion doth consist 2. what is the ground and end of it 3. where and between whom it is 1. Wherein doth it consist It doth consist first in participation of some common benefit and advantages which a particular Congregation are capable of and have frequent fellowship together in and these are Church-Gifts and Church-Ordinances Acts 2.42 They continued stedfast in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship in Breaking Bread and in Prayers and for this end hath Christ furnished his Church with Ministry and Ordinances Ephes 4. Ministry by erecting extraordinary and ordinary for the planting of his Church our Saviour thought meet to send them with extraordinary Commission and qualifications those that were such were especially Apostles Prophets Evangelists 1 Cor. 12.28 First Apostles secondarily Prophets Eph. 4.11 These were all to be Witnesses of the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus and confirm their Doctrine by Miracles had their inspiration of the Holy Ghost special Presence of God and power in the Churches wherever they came especially the Apostles 9. The Apostles were XII which waited upon our Lord during his Ministry on earth before his Sufferings Judas then falling from his Ministry when our Lord Ascended he left eleven to which Matthias was added by Lot and Election of the Church Act. 1. to these two more were added afterwards by special command of the Holy Ghost to the Prophets in the Church at Antioch Act. 13.1 2 3. compared with chap. 14.14 Which when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of and before that Ordination Barnabas was but a Prophet sent from the Church at Jerusalem to assist them that were there before as appears chap. 11.22 23. and chap. 13.1 10. The Prophets I apprehend to be such who were furnished with Gifts and Graces and extraordinary inspiration their Call and Commission being such for the calling of the Gentiles and gathering the Churches And I suppose them to be those Brethren of the 120 that waited together at Jerusalem till they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire being all equally with the
Ecclesia Enucleata The Temple Opened Or A Clear DEMONSTRATION Of the True Gospel-Church IN ITS Nature and Constitution According to the DOCTRINE and PRACTICE OF Christ and his Apostles By I. C. In that day seven Women shall take hold of one man saying We will eat our own bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy Name to take away our Reproach Isa 4.1 London Printed by George Larkin at the lower End of Broadstreet next to London-Wall 1684. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Candid Reader TRue Religion and the Church of Christ are Twins they were conceived and born together and have grown up together in the World and I may say of them as of all the Sons of God in particular That they are born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh nor of the will of Man but of God John 1.13 They are only from God and for God and his revealed mind and will In his Word is the great prescribing Rule of both and the only Touch-stone for an unerring Tryal of the Truth of either All Pretentions of humane Wisdom Law and Authority must here vail their Bonnet for if these could justly claim a binding Power in matters of this Nature I know no Reason why the Great Turk hath not as strong Arguments for his Religion in all his Dominions as Christians have any where for theirs We find whatever Prerogative Secular Powers lay claim to that they are fully assured that Religion never takes place upon mens minds by their Authority only they must pretend to at least a Divine as we see The Turk must have his false Prophet Mahomet and his Mufti and the Ten-horned secular Beast must have his two-horned Ecclesiastical Brute So the Heathen Kingdoms and Pagan have always had their Diabolick Priests to influence the Minds and sham the Consciences of Men by the awe of some Divinity or supposed Divine Authority into a Reverend esteem of that Religion they designed to establish suitable to their own carnal designs and advantages Since the knowledge of the True God and the breaking forth of the light of the Gospel in the Kingdoms of the darkness of this world the Devills Mask hath bâ—en much removed he is found to be what he is His wiles and deceits whereby he hath so long imposed upon the minds of men are very much discovered in so much that it may be said of him in these latter days that he is fallen as lightning from heaven since the Reforming Angels mentioned Rev. 14. have been employed in the Wilderness the three Gospel flying Angels to bring in that glorious light and the two Sicle Angels that cut down the Harvest and Vintage the Thickâ—ts and shading poysonsome Antichristian Trees have been in a great measure in many places cut down yea Reformation hath been carried on to such degrees that the Angels have been seen having the seven last Plagues and those that have got the Victory ovcr the Beast over his Image and over his Mark and over the number of his name standing on the Sea of Glass having the Harps of God and singing the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb c. Yea the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony hath been open and I doubt not but the seven Vial-Angels are coming out of the Temple though Smoak fill it at present from the glory of God and his power In answer to the old enquiry Where was your Church according to Article 19. of the Church of England before Luther We say It hath been for above 1200 years in the Wilderness it was before that ever since the Apostles timâ—s under the Draconick Tyranny and Persecution till it fell under the Beast and False Prophet in the midst of Spiritual Egypt Sodom and Babylon out of which it hath been bringing under the conduct of the Angel that was with the Church in the Wilderness by several removes steps and degrees of Reformation sometimes too wofully lusting and turning back again But God will be a Refiners Fire to all the Sons of Levi he will throughly purge away all the Churches dross and take away all her Tin he will wash away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion and purge the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of Burning by his trying Providences and bright shining searching Light of the Gospel In order to the last I have presumed to cast in some fire from the Altar have run to and fro a little â—hat knowledge may encrease and â—hat many may be purified and made â—hite Reader what thou seest of â—arkness and ignorance of the Mind â—nd Will of Christ concerning a Subâ—â—ct of so great concern overlook it of but lend thy Light also as thou â—ast received from the Lord Jesus â—hrist and remember partiality is to â—e laid aside and who ever decreaâ—eth Christ must encrease If thou â—st no other Argument to resist the â—ght offerd then that the Cross attends â—ruth deny thy self and take up â—e Cross and Truth and follow â—â—rist this Life World is but for a â—tle while take heed of bâ—ggling â—th Conscience and sophisticating â— Word of God by shifting Glosses to make it serve thy own corrupt designs and ends the Word of God â— pure and consonant to it self Christ is and will make it manifest and confest at last notwithstanding all opposition that he is the only Lawgiver his Church he seeks such Woâ—shippers as shall serve him iâ— Spirit and in Truth he hates aâ— abhors all Whorish Babylonish Drâ—ses of his Worship and Ordinance Let Christ be found and embraceâ— his Church sought out in the place â—che Wilderness where it hath honourished Get true Union to Cbrâ— the Head becoming a Member of â— Mystical Body and maintain tâ— Gospel-communion of Saints â— none can harm you The noise that some men make â—e World of Schism and Separation â— nothing but some of Antichrists â—ust that he throws into the eyes of â—ose that he cannot quite blind for â—ere was never any Schism in the Mystical Body of Christ his Vesture â—as never divided and there was neâ—â—r any true constituted Gospel-Church â—t by Separation and as for Schism it concerns Visible Churches there none spoken of in the New Testaâ—ent but such as was found in a â—â—rticular Congregational Church and â—â—ey but superficial Divisions that â—re soon healed He that walks in â—e bond of peaceable communion with â— particular Gospel-Church of Christ â—ll never be hurt by all the Nick-â—â—mes of Schismatick or Dividing-â—eparatist that any of the Worshippers of the Beast or his Image or oâ— any carrying the mark or number oâ— his name can cast upon him It 's aâ— easy thing for men of corrupt minds tâ— call what they please by the name oâ— Church and then to stigmatize thâ— Servants of Christ in not holding communion with it by all reproachfâ— names of the Devils invention It â— the
and obscure and so will be until such time as this Babylonish cheat be perfectly discovered to the minds of men and that whole fabrick destroyed Among all the Mists and Foggs that this Mistress of Sorceries hath raised to lose the true Spouse of Christ in it there 's not many hath been greater then the confusion of Languages and especially about the word Church and Schism that all Enquirers spake of the Church but no two meant the same thing men generally agreed there was a Church and a true one excluding Rome but could not tell what a kind of thing it should be and great contentions have been and are to this day about it Some say Here is the Church and others that it is there and every one cries up his Church and calls others Schismaticks and they that get power into their hands deal with others as such Now it would be worth our while to search after many who have found for confirmation of those that will be perswaded of the Truth and to examine every Church that pretends to that Name by the Test of the Gospel that we may be fully resolved what metal each is made of I know all Christians of what mould or size whatever do pretend to lay no other Foundation then Jesus Christ and it s well if it were true of all professing themselves Protestants for that Foundadation is a Rock and they are so far wise that lay Christ as such in their writings and doctrine but yet that will not bear an ill Superstructure as a good one will not long stand on a bad foundation so a good foundation will not long bear up an ill Superstructure 1 Cor. 3.11 12. Other Foundation can no man lay then that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this Foundation Gold Silver Precious-stones Wood Hay Stubble Every mans work shall be manifest for the day shall declare it because it shall be revealed by fire and the fire shall try every mans work of what sort it is verse 14. If any mans work abide which he hath â—uilt thereupon he shall receive a reward verse 15. If any mans work shall be burnt he shall suffer loss but he himself shall be saved provided he lay a good foundation yet so as by fire I doubt not but many good mens and Ministers Church-works will be burnt and they will suffer loss it will be manifest one day to be the great blemish of the Reformation that so many good men that have Preached Christ clearly as to his Sonship Natures Offices Merits and Satisfaction for Justification and Sanctifâ—cation have from interest prejudice or ignorance extreamly fumbled in most of the concerns of his Gospel-Church I have much admired to hear some mens Pulpit-zeal against sin in general and for the advancement of holiness even to a justifying condition and when we come to enquire of the particular cases for the practice of it in Gospel and revealed Religion in duties toward God they can tell you of nothing but moral natural Religion and reduce all the Service of God under the Gospel thereto saying they have no other Rule to direct us there but such as this Let every soul be subject to the Higher Powers Rom. 13.1 So as for revealed Religion under the Gospel our judgments and practice must be wholly regulated by and resolved into the wills laws and commands of men But to come to the matter we intend seeing the word Church is cloathed with so great ambiguity and so much dust raised about it to the perplexing of mens minds and Consciences we shall principally fix our Enquiries for the true sence and notion of the word upon the tenure of the Gospel and the meaning of the Spirit of God there knowing that it is That hath the greatest power upon the Consciences of men when it comes with evidence and demonstration to convince us of Truth and whereas fire and sword yea mens great words and looks may terrify flesh and blood yea Pulpit Thunder-Claps discharged on the behalf of Error and Nonsense do keep many weak judgments and consciences in bondage and thraldom afrighting them from an impartial search for truth by hard names equivocating words passionate and zealous ways of expression yet a Conscience truly enlightened by Divine Testimony is very little concern'd at such things any more than to pity such passionate Soul-confounding blind guides and much more their poor deluded enslaved Followers I shall handle this word Church two ways for our more distinct understanding its true Gospel meaning 1. Shew in what sence it is not usually taken 2. In what sence it is CHAP. II. Shewing that a place of Meeting is no where taken in the New Testament for a Church of Christ IT 's necessary to intimate concerning the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in General that tho' it be taken for a Congregation or Assembly of people yet it 's not alwayes limited to a religious one but is used by Classick Authors for any Assembly prophane civil or religious and so it 's used expresly Acts 19. for a prophane and tumultuous assembly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for a civil lawful Court or Assembly ver 39. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the first of which was dismissed ver 40. But in the proper and usual sence of the Spirit of God in the New Testament it 's every where except in the place above mentioned taken for a Church of Christ in one sence or another and therefore that we may be assured in what sences it is understood it 's necessary to winnow the Chaff from the Wheat and set aside such things as through the mistakes of men error custom and carnal interest are usually called so and imposed as such upon erring or unthinking judgments when Christ and his Gospel never called them so First there is nothing more frequent among us then to call a place of meeting for Publick-Worship a Church I affirm there is no just reason of understanding it so in the New Testament no not in a Metonymy-sence though Learned Mr. Joseph Mede takes a great deal of pains to prove that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 11.22 Have ye not houses to eat and drink in but despise you the Church of God is there to be understood for the material place of ordinary assembling together for the Worship of God and saith that their Oratories where they frequently met were called Churches and yet in the begining of his discourse he saith It is taken for granted in a manner by the most of our Reformed Writers and affirmed by some of the other side that in the Apostles times and ages next after them whilst the Church lived under Pagan and Persecuting Emperours Christians had no Oratories or places set apart for Divine Worship but that they assembled here and there promiscuously and uncertainly as they pleased or the occasion served in places of common use and not otherwise which thing undoubtedly is justly enough and
upon grounds more evident believed then any reasons brought to prove the contrary by that worthy person wherein he acknowledgeth himself almost singular in this undertaking and lays his first and greatest stress on that expression 1 Cor. 11.22 Here saith he I take the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Church to note not the Assembly but the place appointed for sacred duties and that from the opposition thereof to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own houses these are places proper for common and ordinary repast and not the Church or housâ— of God This is the only argument which he brings besides some obscure passages of some Fathers whose opinions will not sway here but as in other things so far as we see them consonant to the truth manifest in Scriptures compared together and it seems strange that the word should have a tropical meaning in this place and every where else a proper one and besides the reason from the opposition will not hold especially if we consider what Mr. Mede understands those Oratories or Churches of theirs to be It is not to be imagined that in the first three hundred years before Constantines time that they were such goodly and stately structures as the Church had after the Empire became Christian At the first some capable and convenient Room within the walls or dwelling of some pious Disciple dedicated by the religious bounty of the owner to the use of the Church and that usually an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upper room or Caenaculum It 's very probable that all the Disciples houses were at the service of the Churches but that any one house or room in a house was dedicated so to that religious use as to be separated for it from common uses when the Church met not is not probable at all for in times and places of Persecution if Churches meet in any certain house or place though in a private house they shall be sure to be interrupted and broken in upon by Persecuting Officers and Informers The only place met in for some time considerable that we read of was Pauls own hired house at Rome but we find not that it was consecrated or called a Church I am sure consecrated Barns Garrets Cellars or Dining Rooms would be esteemed by our devout Ecclesiasticks a great Abomination But how will the Opposition hold if the Room called the Church was in the same house they eat and drank ordinarily in He should have rather said Have ye not Kitchens or Parlours of common use to eat and drink in but you must despise or put a Prophanation on the Garret which is the Church of God Besides if that Addition had not been made to the Church I should much rather have enclined to Mr. Mâ—des sence if he had said only despise ye the Church But I take it that it would be a very audacious and highly abusive Expression to say Tâ—at a Meeting-house is a Church of God or a Church of Christ And why is not the Opposition as full thus Have you not houses to eat and drink in or Families for so the word is used But you must do it in the Church-Assemblies for they made their Love-feasts in their Assemblies It is evident enough that the Apostle takes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Assembling of the Church together as vers 18. where its used when you meet together in Assembly i. e. when you are Congregated together I hear that there have been Divisions or Schisms among you and those he means had the Divisions who were the Church for the Gospel ascribes culpable Schismes no where but to Body Politicks or Assemblies not to Houses But if we grant Mr. Mede all that he so industriously labours to squeeze out of the Text only to favour the Relative Holiness of such places it s not to be supposed that he intended that they were real and proper Churches but only Metonymical Churches by a Trope and improperly so named no otherwise allowable names putting the Continens pro contento to distinguish places allotted to convenient assembling in Religious Worship from Town-halls and other houses of meeting together for publick concerns or more private Society and Conversation And so we lose nothing by it if such a place be called improperly a Church it s not the Church of Christ intended in the Gospel which Christ purchased with his blood nor built of living stones nor such as Christ is the Head of nor such as Paul wrote his Epistles too nor the Church of Corinth which he exhorts rebukes and commends in the Epistles that he wrote And therefore we may with the greatest assurance conclude that no place where Religious Assemblies frequently use to be is a Church of Christ or may properly be so called They that plead the Expression in the Ephesian Town-Clerks Speech Act. 19.37 Ye have brought hither these which are neither Robbers of Churches Shew their little skill in the Original Text the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Robbers of Temples such as were dedicated to the Heathen Gods and Godesses to which they ascribed not only Relative but inherent Holiness and therefore adapted that name to them CHAP. III. Of a National and Provincial CHURCH CHrist never instituted any such Church under the Gospel Administration as a National and Provincial or Diocesan there is as much for one as for the other there 's no seeming pretence can be made for any of them from any Gospel Expression when I say this I mean not a Church in a Nation Province or Diocess nor all the particular Churches in such place collectively and co-ordinately considered But I mean in the usual acceptation of such Churches in our day as of France of Spain of Denmark c. and in the sence that a National Church was taken in under the Old Testament viz. an Organized National Provincial or Diocesan Church that have Officers or Members suited to their respective Natures and Constitution as Pastors and other Officers Exercising National Provincial or Diocesan Jurisdiction in Ecclesiastical Courts or elsewhere and Members quatenus Natives of such places being therefore said to be born within the Pale of the Church or by vertue of such Nativity have immediate right to baptism and made so I say that that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no where signifies such a Church in the New Testament except when there is mention made of the Church of the Jews and the word is but once used in Application to them Act. 7.38 This was he who was in the Church in the Wilderness this we own was a National Church but elsewhere in the New Testament I know not of one place where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can with any fair pretence be understood of a National Church Besides it may be argued from undeniable reasons that Christ instituted or intended not such a Church for the days of the Gospel If it be duely weighed that Christ by his Death put a full Period to the whole Jewish
after vers 6. But Christ as a Son over his own house in which he is a chief corner stone and hath a greater Propriety then Moses had upon all respects whose house are we c. i. e. The faithful in the times of the Gospel are the house and Church of Christ and not this or that Nation or Province lying continually at the mercy and dispositions of the wills of Princes guided by carnal interests and acted by corrupt minds to the modelling of it by mutable Laws as they shall correspond most with their State-designs and purposes which had been a great ground to have suspected the faithfulness of Christ if he had left his Church under such a Proteus-like form and constitution as to be lyable to all the models changes and alterations of future ages that the powers of the world would form them into under a pretence of profession of Christianity when as very few of them if they were duely weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary will prove to be much more then almost Christians Lastly The purpose and design of the Lord Jesus Christ by his Incarnation Sufferings Miracles wrought and Doctrine Preached by himself and Apostles was the gathering both Jews and Gentiles Elect into one Body his Church where-ever scattered or dispersed not respecting one Nation or people more then another any further then in respect of the Elect Ones among them nor designing any Kingdom as yet in this world with External Pomp and Grandeur but rather a continuation of a Suffering State with very little intermission under the powers of the Earth exercising the rage and cruelty of the Dragon against the Church and afterward the Tyranny and Usurpation of the Seven Headed Romish Beast and False Prophet neither designed he the calling of many wife men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble 1 Cor. 1.26 otherwise then which he would certainly have done had he designed National Provincial Churches he would have said I design a Church that may top at least give check to earthly Kings Princes I will turn their heart make them mine both they and their Subjects Therefore I will call many wise men after the Flesh many mighty and many noble persons who shall rule manage and defend my Church which may be in after-ages but we see it quite contrary yet Ver. 27. God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the things that are mighty and base things of this world and things that are despis'd to cary on his spiritual rule Believe it this matter cannot constitute a National Church it must be another sort of men Whatever men therefore may confidently assert and however they make a boast and vaunt themselves of National Churches Officers Members yea and National Jurisdiction and Judicature exerted in Spiritual Courts so called none of which were of Christ's Appointment and Institution but were the meer products of Humane Policies and meer Antichristian Shams put upon the poor carnal blind world whereby that Wicked One endeavours to carry away the eyes and hearts of the children of men from the true plain and Spiritual Spouse of Christ and go a whoring after Harlots that are agreeable to the fashions of this world in Pride Pomp Pleasures Covetousness c. And I say though such Ecclesiastical Powers as also Civil may deal very hardly upon this account with the true Followers of the Lamb and Deluding Pulpiteers may terrify and fright some more weak and less grounded Christians with ambiguous words mis-interpretation and false application of the Scriptures of Truth calling light darkness and darkness light calling what they please Church Charity Communion Uniformity Schism Separation Rebellion Disobedience to Laws Governments c. Yet through the mercy of the most High there are some that have bought the Truth in these latter dayes of light at dear rates of Sufferings with expence of Estates Liberties and Lives under the Antichristian Tyranny and tasted so much of the sweetness and excellency of it that they will not sell it so as to part with it for worldly interest or be affrighted from it by the open mouths of Roaring Lyons nor jugaled out of it by the Sham-Divinity of the slie Foxes that spoil the Vines We have nothing to say to such men but as Hannah spake 1 Sam. 2.3 Talk no more so proudly let not arrogancy come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed And as for some good old Ely's who are too much blinded with prejudice passion and interest keep a great sputter against Schism Separation from the Church c. and do not seldom grieve the hearts of Christs Members by their unwarrantable doctrines and practices in the great concerns of Gods Worship and but gently rebuke Hophni and Phineas we are very well assured that however they may have laid a a good foundation in some people yet their superstructure is but hay and rubbish which shall certainly be burnt and the day shall make it manifest what it is The only Plea that is made for a National Church that is worth our Observation is from the Prophesies of Old of calling in the Nations Sprinkling many Nations c. Isa 5.26 chap. 52.15 chap. 45.1 This Argument hath little in it to prove a Gospel National Church for these and such like Prophesies reser to the calling of the Gentiles the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is indifferently rendred Gentiles and Nations and it intends no more then the Conversion of the elect Gentiles scattered up and down in all Nations and if it be to be understood of some whole Nations becoming Christian it argues nothing of the necessity that the Nation should become one Church Organized but that the Gospel-Profession of Christianity and the Gospel-churches should overspread the most of a Nation or prevail upon the ruling part of it though very seldom to be brought in Subjection to the Crown Scepter and Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ Erected in visible Churches planted there And it s no hinderance but that christian and religious Magistrates have Scope enough to Exert that power which Christ hath entrusted them withal as such for his Honour and Interest in making and Executing Laws for Restraint of Sin and Encouragement of Vertue in all matters touching Natural Religion as likewise in taking care for the effectual Propagation as much as may be in a due way and manner of the Revealed Religion and by being Nursing Fathers to the Churches countenancing and encouraging them in all strict Observation of the commands of Christ and Exemplary conversation both as Churches and particular Christians defending them from the the Rage Malice and Persecution of the Professed Enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ But know that a christian Magistrate rightly informed in his Duty as Christian and Magistrate hath a Heart and Opportunity to use both those
this constitute a Church of Christ or a Synagogue of Satan what are all his Admidistrations but an Usurpation As to the efficacy of the Act done it s not my Province to determine here I shall onely say as to the matter of Baptism I roundly affirm That I believe it no more effectual than if a Cobler Tinker or Midwife had done it with some competent Solemnity Hence it evidently may be concluded That the Administration of Sacraments constitutes not a Church of Christ much less makes a Parish a Church But in the foremention'd instances the whole proceeding of Ministers and People are a meer usurpation of Communion in Church Ordinances and is no better then Jeroboams worshipping Dan and Bethel and Conformity thereto no better then the Israelites Conformity thereto in obedience to their lawful civil Governours in that which is a declared Abomination to the Lord. Obj. You do hereby Vnchurch many an eminent Church where there hath been a Faithful Parish Minister and holy good people walking as his Parishioners in Communion with him Ans We unchurch no true Church of Cbrist by this means for i◠one thing to say a thing is Church and that it 's occasional of a Church I deny not but many Ministers Parish-Relation and Peoples cohabitation have been ocasions of many Reforming Churches which Christ hath accepted in their degrees of Reformation but we affirm they were not Churches of Christ as such i. e. as Members of a Parish but as a faithul people related by a Spiritual Bond of Union to Christ and one to another in Communion of the Word purely Preached and Sacraments duely Administred CHAP. V. Of the Catholick Visible Church THose that speak of a Catholick Visible Church speak some at one rate and some at another If they mean that the Catholick Church is Visible in the largest sence as such we deny it for it is not visible to us nor can be till all the Elect are called in and so must be onely at the General Assembly and Church of the First-born for at present the most eminent part of it is triumphant many true Believers that are militant not seen or known to us And so to say the Catholick Church is Visible is to set our words and sences at variance By Catholick Visible some will say they mean not the whole Universal Church but so much of it as is visible but this cannot for that reason have the denomination of Catholick Church because it s but a very small part of it and part cannot be called the whole besides if it be limited to the Visible Saints militant I say the universality of them are never visible either in any congregation or in communion of any Ordinance or under any Visible Pastoral Jurisdiction neither are the particular Members of the Church militant visible at the same time there being no such time when all true Believers are known by their visible Profession Some understand by the Catholick Visible Church an Organized Church with a visible Pastoral Head and furnished with Officers suiting a Catholick Ruling Power over all Churches and Saints on Earth and this is the meaning alwayes of the Papists when they speak of the Catholick Church calling themselves Catholicks as Members of it which Church they say Rome is wherein this universal Pastor and Jurisdiction is placed But it is by a cloud of Witnesses asserted that Christ never Ordained any universal visible Pastor nor ever promoted Peter above the rest of the Apostles neither did ever the greatest contender for the Popes Headship and Supremacy over all other Pastors and Churches ever make seeming fair proof of it for though he sent sorth his Apostles as extraordinary Officers with an extraordinary presence for working Miracles and healing in order to the first propagating the Gospel and Plantation of Churches yet they had but a co-ordinate power neither were they fixed as standing and lasting Officers in the Church neither was their Apostolick power conveyed to any Successors but dyed with them leaving only ordinary Officers in the Church Lastly can you read the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any where to import in the New Testament a Church of this nature viz. a Catholick Visible Organized Church Christ rather pofitively forbad it and reproved that spirit of Ambition that was one thing that our Saviour saw working in them labouring to be Dignitaries But he that will be chief among you let him be your Servant Mat. 20.17 23.11.10.24 25. Which Reprimand the Mother of Zebedee's children received when she enquired who should be greatest among her children There are six or seven sorts of Churches in the latter dayes that entitle themselves the Churches of Christ which the Gospel makes no mention of viz. Catholick Organized Visible such the Church of Rome Patriarchal National Provincial Diocesan Archdeconary Parochial These seem to be the seven women spoken of Isa 4.1 that shall take hold of one man The Lord Jesus Christ Saying we will eat our own bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach They will have the name of Christ that they may not be Reproached as the Churches of Antichrist and yet will be at their own provision for Worship and Ordinances by humane inventions But for all this tho' these whorish women make a shift by a common vogue to carry the name of the True Gospel Churches throughout the world his True Spouse though small and contemptible as to outward appearance shall be glorious ver 2. In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel ver 3. And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion in that great Apostacy and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem See what follows from ver 4. to the end This I take to be the true meaning of that place for 1. Women in the Prophetick phrase are Churches as frequent instances may be given 2. The number may be definite for an indefinite 3. The Prophecy is manifestly of the latter dayes and the Churches state therein which none will deny CHAP. VI. Of the most usual acceptation of the word Church in the New Testament WE have shewed that in one place the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for any common Assembly lawful or unlawful Acts 19.32 39. and likewise that it 's once taken for a National Church Acts 7.38 But in all other places it 's either taken for the Universal Church of Christ or for particular Congregations and for no other sorts of Churches The Universal Church of Christ is one Organized Body Christ being the Head and all the Saints Triumphant and Militant the Members united together either by a real Bond visible or invisible or both This Church of Christ either is mentioned in
then another all men that speak of Churches say so As some say Baptism some say Cohabitation and that Baptism only unites him to the Catholick Church but Cohabitation determines him to this or that particular But we say it must be a voluntary and free submission of a mans self to this or that Society of Christs Flock and the Discipline thereof that can give him or be to him the form of Visible Church Membership it 's not â—ational or natural that any man â—hould be a Member or be capable to claim the priviledges of any Society in the world of what nature soever it be without his consent It 's therefore a free voluntary consent and agreement which is the true and proper external form of a particular Church or Church-Membership Profession is a visible qualification of the matter but it 's consent and agreement which is the Copula or Nexus For I challenge any man to give me one instance where Christ or his Apostles ever attempted to force any man to hear the Word much less to believe it when they heard it or to be of this or that Church Besides it 's a natural freedom to every man to choose what Government he will put himself under as to his temporal Concerns though when he hath done it he be bound by the Laws thereof much more a Christian Liberty in respect of Spiritual Regiment 3. God desires nor accepts of any forced Service but requires the greatest freedom and voluntary resignation of themselves in this kind 4. I shall make it evident that all the Primitive Churches were so gathered For the Apostles had no external force in any place of the Earth it was not by power or might i. e. humane but by the Spirit of God which wrought with the Word Preached whereby their hearts were brought with freeness to embrace it and with boldness to profess and practice it in the midst of all opposition and accordingly with the greatest chearfulness and alacrity to consent to a subjection to Christ and all his Precepts and Institutions in his Church See in the first most Apostolical Church the 120 that Christ left together at his Ascention Acts 1.14 And all these continued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. with one consent unanimously in Prayer c. Chap. 2.41 And as many as received the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chearfully or gladly yielded and submitted to the Truth Preached and advised by Peter these were baptized and added to the Church by the Apostles Doctrine and in Fellowship which they would not have done if they had not freely and upon choice and profession embraced it The first Church of the Gentiles that was gathered was at Antioch See how they came to be a Church Acts 11.19 20. And they that were scattered upon the Persecution that arose about Steven Travelled so far as Phenice c. verse 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians Preaching the Lord Jesus verse 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them The Spirit and Power of Christ and a great number beleived i. e. freely embraced the Truth and turned unto the Lord. Now when Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to aid and encourage this great work verse 23. When he came and had seen the Grace of God he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord that is that they would freely voluntarily and sincerely without any hypocrisy submit themselves to Christ and his Ordinances with manifestation of the fullest assent and freest consent that might be now you find vers 26. that they were immediately a Church upon this cleaving to the Lord with whom Paul and Barnabas assembled Preaching unto much people that attended their Ministry besides which were not yet of that gathered Church I need not enlarge on this Point any further the assertion being not only most agreeable to the best reason but it being so clear that this was the only way of Gathering Churches used by the Apostles and all their Coadjutors in the times of the Primitive Purity If any hath practiced otherwise since we are not obliged to be of their minds or follow their examples Corruptions of the Church proceeding from Antichrist and not from Christ This is the day wherein the Lord is washing away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion The Churches of Christ and is purging away the Blood The Antichristian Pollutions of Worship of Jerusalem from the midst of her by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of burning Isa 4.4 And all the seven women that have laid hold on the Skirt of Christ and called themselves by his name shall appear to be Harlots yea as for thee O Aholibah thus saith the Lord Thou hast walked in the way of thy Sister therefore I will give her Cup into thy hand thou shalt drink of thy Sisters Cup deep and large thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision Ezek. 23.31 32. It containeth much CHAP. X. Of Church-Communion 1. UNion according to its Nature Physical or Politick or Oecumenical naturally produceth a Communion suitable thereto that which we are about to speak of is of a Spiritual at least of an Ecclesiastical Nature we have shewn what is the primary Bond of Union in the Church of Christ that it is the Spirit of Christ that animates knits and tyes his whole Body together and that this is Mystical But exerting it self in vital motions and operations in all the Members it produceth a second Bond proper and necessary to the establishment of a particular Visible Church which is a manifestation of this Spirit in a credible Profession and free consent to the Regiment and Ordinances of Christ with a resignation of our selves thereto and this becomes the Bond of Church-Fellowship and the Foundation of an orderly Communion Communion is participation in one common benefit or its mutual Participation or Communication of good things by various subjects So Spiritual Communion is first a common participation in one general good or benefit of a Spiritual Nature and here where all the Members of Christ's Body partake of the same Head the same Spirit as their Unity consists in respect of connexion of Parts so their Communion consists in it in respect of Participation and this is the Communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 It s fully expressed as a Mystical Communion 1 John 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you may have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This Communion in the Spirit is set forth unto us at large in that forementioned place 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7 c. where he shews that all the Graces Gifts Members Operations Offices in the Body according to their several diversifications flow from the same Spirit all the streams take indifferently from the same Fountain