the only Iehovah and on him that is on him as he hath named revealed himself in his holy word are they built 2. The Temple had goodly foundations so the Church is built on Christ the Foundation-stone elect and precious tryed and sure on whom whosoever beleeveth shall never be confounded It is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Apostles are the highest Office and Calling that ever was in the Church and therefore named first not upon their Persons but upon their Doctrine called the foundation because it layeth Christ the Foundation and layeth him out and sets him in his proper place to the full in two sorts of fundamentall truths the Law and Gospel or as it is in Revel 14. 12. The Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus The Church is the Communion of Saints that keepeth these two This is the Zion of God opposed to Antichristian Babylon There is not a clearer Text in all the Bible nor more lively distinguishing it concerns our dayes well is this Book of Prophesies called the Revelation not onely because it opens and reveals the Prophesies of things to come all Prophesies but also because it carries such beams and rayes of lightsome doctrinall truth wherewith it is bespangled and shines in severall parts of it to enlighten the times which the Prophesies concern 3. The walls of the Temple were conjoyned by corner-stones Christ Iesus is the chief corner stone that holds both parts of this spirituall building both Iews and Gentiles that are called fast together so that they do concorporate Eph. 3. 6. 4. The severall stones in this Temple or curtains with tapes and loops and tenons posts and sockets are the severall members variously gifted and yet united in the unity of profession and of the spirit and of faith and of Baptisme and in the bond of Peace 5. The outer and inner coverings are the double condition of the Church the inward Psal 45. 14. comely and glorious the outward black and tann'd with afflictions and persecutions Cant. 1. 5. 6. The Temple had pillars and walls and the visible Church in respect of the Ministery of it is the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3. 17. Gal. 2. 9. Col. 2. 19. The Officers and Members in the Church are the sustainers of the fabrick and the body 3. But for the Furniture chiefly is the Church of God his holy Temple For. 1. There being retained held and held forth the Doctrine of Reconciliation by Christ alone that one Mediatour that God is onely to be found gracious to a sinner in Christ fully satisfied in his blood which is belonging to no sinner but to him that beleeveth here is the true Mercy-seat God in Christ We need not say O thou that dwellest between the Cherubimsâ— but know and pray to God as the God Father of our Lord Iesus Here being taught that Christ is true God and true Man in one Person here is the Ark over laid with gold the true flesh of Christ under which his God-head was covered is the Vail between the Holy-place and the Holy of Holies 2. The Doctrine of Christs sacrifice on the Crosse and of his intercession in heaven is both the Altars the Altar of whole burntâ— offering and the Altar of incense 3. The Tables of the Covenant in the Ark the Manna and Aarons rod by it this is in the Church that sets up Christ the Bread of Life the onely Prophet that teacheth to profit and the high Priest over the house of God whom we ought to obey 4. The Candlestick is the light of the Word the Law and Gospel that all in Gods house may walk in the light of the Lord and see to do his work 5. The Laver is the Doctrine of Regeneration and Iustification by Christs blood and spirit 6. The Golden Instruments and vessels for Incense-offering and sprinkling with the rest are the gifted Ministers gifted with pastorall and teaching aptnesse and abilities and sanctified for the applying of Christ and his benefits by their Ministery which gifts Christ giveth but the Church upon due triall acknowledgeth owneth receiveth confirmeth with her testimony and honoureth 4. For the glory inhabiting there God in Christ is there giving the blessing and life The name of that City is Iehovah-Shammah Ezek. 48. 35. or The Lord is there 5. For the cover on it all There is over every such assembly and over the whole Zion of God Isa 4. 5 6. a speciall Protection a speciall Direction and a speciall safety to them that shrowd there from the heat and from the storm This is the defence upon all the glory Now from this branch of the Doctrine and from this true and plain explication of the same we may describe or direct to the infallible note of the true Church on earth and of a true particular visible Church 1. Where ever Iesus Christ is held for the foundation and corner-stone and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles touching the faith of Iesus and the Commandments of God that concern holinesse and righteousnesse there is the true Church Ephes 2. 19 20. What ever Society of men associating in a religious way do hold Christ and the Prophets and Apostles Doctrine for faith and holinesse that Society is a particular visible Church Ephes 2. 22. 2. In what ever particular Society religious there is to be found all the furniture of the Temple all the glory the Mercy-seat the two Altars the Table of Shewbread the Candlestick the Laver that is a true particular visible Church It is the Temple of God therefore the Church of God Who can deny that that is Zion where it can be truly said the Tabernacle of God is with these men Behold he dwelleth with you you of Kingstone for of you it may truely be said Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men And to remove all things that may mislead your judgements let us looke upon that Prophesie in Rev. 11. 1. and forwards to v. 14. It concernes the state of the Church during the reigne of Antichrist in which Prophesie so farre as pertaineth to our present purpose two things are beyond all doubt and the more to be heeded First that the outer Court and the Holy City that is the Church visible is given to the Gentiles even the Antichristian or Popish Gentiles and they shall tread it under foot forty and two moneths which is one thousand two hundred and sixty daies Propheticall that is so many yeares this is the time of Antichrists reigne Secondly that this is the time and space in which the two witnesses that is the small but sufficient number for testimony to confirme any truth I say the small number of Christs faithfull Ministers for these two witnesses are expresly called two Prophets v. 10. and their worke is expresly and precisely named to be Prophecying v. 3. Now the Magistrate and his worke by the sword and Edicts is never in all the Bible called by these names
that Minister that begot you you cast off he continuing in his integrity and you heap to you instructers yet I thinke not so many as yet that we should reckon them by the thousands 5. By over-valuing themselves Ch. 4. 8. 10. in their owne conceit they were full rich and reigned as Kings without their faithfull Teachers they were wise strong and honourable now they were in the right now their joyes and light abounded but without us saith the Apostle I would saith he yee did reigne this their happy estate was but in their conceit These things made them be puffed up one against another 1 Corinthians 4. 6. Of this sin are they also guilty that fall under that admonition in Rom. 16. 17. that make divisions and offences contrary to the Doctrine of the Apostles the Greek Preposition signifieth both contrary and besides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Significat praeter contra the peace of the Church and the putity of Doctrine is sinfully violated by those that divide and lay stumbling blocks in the waies of Christians by contending for any thing that is against or besides Scripture-truth The Scripture is the Rule by which we discerne of Division and offence-makers Schisme is a sin that stickes fast the Apostle spends in one Letter foure Chapters upon it for this discourse begun in the first is continued to the fifth Chapter The greatnesse of this sin the Apostle sheweth many wayes 1. Schismes divide Christ so this sin is parricide Is Christ divided 2. Schisme giveth Christs honour to another so it is Sacriledge Was Paul crucified for you 3. It breakes our faith in Baptisme so it is perfidiousnesse Were yee Baptized in the name of Paul Chap. 1. v. 13. 4. It is a glorying in men Chap. 3. 21. and to glory in men that first proves men carnall for it fills men with envying and strife and divisions and that is to walk as men not as christians Ch. 3. v. 3 4. Ob. Some of them were ready to say Why spend you your time about this matter why come you not to us with meat we are strong we are spirituall teach us some deep Mysteries and higher Doctrines Sol. The Apostle prevents this and layes it upon themselves their Rudity their rawnesse required his plainesse they kept him to be laying of the Principles his faithfulnesse and Pastorall discretion and wisdome kept him fast to this way of dispensing the Truth to them Were they spirituall that thus strove and stood divided They were carnall they were babes the spoone was fitter for them then the knife they were not fit to be their owne carvers v. 1 2 3. Secondly this glorying in men makes as if the Ministers were Lords of our Faith whereas they are but Ministers v. 5. Thirdly it makes as if our profiting did depend on the Ministers whereas they are only planters and waterers it is Gods giving the increase that doth the deed v. 6 7. Fourthly all Ministers are but one though some are gifted above others some labour more than others they are all but Servants in one Worke imployed in Tilling Gods Field in building Gods House v. 8 9. 5. Schismes are of our owne spirit the Spirit of God is not factious Ch. 3. v. 16. 6. They wrong Gods Temple as in the text in hand dividing it when it is but one prophaning it when it is holy 7. Schisme is the bad effect of two evill causes 1. Self-confidence Anthadie and boasting as the Apostles words shew Let no man deceive himselfe if any man thinke he is wise Acts 8 9. 2. Vaine admiration upon vaine wisedome ver 18. every one with Simon Magus would faine be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 some great one 8. It is derogatory both to the Christians honour and to Gods order v. 21. All is the Christians he is Christs and Christ is Gods Thus Paul here sets out the greatnesse of the sin of Schisme and Divisions to which I shall adde but that one word of the same Paul in Gal. 5. 19 20. that it is a manifest worke of the flesh the workes of the flesh are manifest which are divisions Their waies of deceit in sowing divisions are excellently deciphered in Rom. 16. v. 18. they are not easily discerned for they paint with two colours 1. They glory they are the Servants of our Lord Iesus Christ 2. They use good words and faire speeches their tongues meere sugar blessing Grace goodnesse in their lips with such sobernesse gentlenesse meeknesse lowlinesse insinuations of faire speech as one would not thinke but God and goodnesse were confined to that sort of people these catch the simple but indeed they serve their owne bellies they have the teeth of Lions with those Locusts Rev. 9. 8. though they have the hair of women Now this schismaticall spirit is in all things most dangerous because it agrees every way and takes wonderfully with corrupt nature which is full of self-love pride and dotage 3. All Hereticks these ruine the foundation those before mentioned make rents in the walls and fabrick of the Church Heresie is worse than Schisme that of our Apostle imports so much where he saith 1 Cor 11. 18 19. I heare that there be divisions among you and I partly beleeve it for there must be also Heresies among you Also sheweth that Heresie is a greater evill than Schisme when he saith there must be also or even Heresies he speakes of somewhat more than that was signified by the word Schismes Heresie is an election or chusing to ones selfe an opinion not only contrary to the Doctrine delivered in Scripture but also contrary to that Doctrine which is of the substance of faith and holinesse Heresie is a perverse Doctrine Schisme in the deed of a perverse separation he that denyeth or teacheth contrary to any Article of Faith and yet will hold communion with a Church professing the truth faith he is guilty of Heresie but not of Schisme he that beleeveth all the Articles of Faith and holds a pure confession and yet will not communicate with a true Church in holy duties he is guilty of Schisme though not of Heresie in the Epistle to the Galathians Gal. 5. 20. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 these are two distinct workes of the flesh Divisions and Heresies The foundation-truthes on which Zion Rev. 14. 12. is laid are the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus Babylon the great the Mother of Harlots who is to be destroyed opposeth the Keepers of these labours to demolish these Papisme or Popery it is not any one lone Heresie but a body of many Heresies the sinke of Heresies A Mystery of iniquity Heresies therefore in a Mystery a cunning serpentine invasion of Christ and his Faith and Worship under the name and title of the Church of Christ his Faith his Spirit his Honour his Worship therefore for this man of sinne I shall set him by himselfe next after these Temple-violaters these Hereticks not as not guilty of Heresie but as
tolerations of opinions of divers mindednesse in faith is not the conversation becoming the Gospel especially in times of terrible Adversaries and is not an evident token of the Adversaries perdition and of our salvation and that of God What is it then It is an evident token of the Adversaries prevalency and of our succumbency under the present judgement as yet And of the further wrath of the Almighty and that from a just God I have heard of some that say this is that which can never be that all Christians should be of one heart and way let such believe in him that is faithfull and hath promised and not dishonour and weary God by unbelief God hath heretofore made good this Article of his Covenant In the first primitive Christian Church they were all the multitude of them that believed of one heart and of one soul Act. 4. 32. they continued stedfastly in this holy unity Act. 2. 42. 44. 46. There were two glorious fruits and concomitants hereof Fear came upon every soul Act 2. 43. and great grace was upon them all Act. 4. 33. Now the same God that hath thus powred out his owne holy and one spirit the spirit of unity by the Preaching of the Gospel can do the same again His Covenant is the same The great God delights to do great things the fruits would be alike excellent nothing more full of Grace and amiablenesse or of terrour and dread Hence also ariseth a strong Argument that no Christian should plead for toleration for all ought to seek for Gods Church in the Reformation of it the utmost conformity to the first purest Primitive Church of Christ when she was as a heap of Wheat set about with Lillies True liberty of Conscience lieth in sweet communion in the unity of faith and in the perfect bond of love the souls of believers knit together and cleaving one to another as Ionathans did to David unanimously subject to Gods Law all other Liberty is the Liberty of lust 10. There are also that will not joyn in Prayer with any other though they be Christians unlesse they know them to be godly and that they be of their judgement and way they refuse to pray with us not only in our publique Congregations but in our private or occasionall meetings The Lords Prayer directs us to Pray Our Father Our respects the whole community of Professors of Christs name and not any Segregated part It taketh in all that call on the name of our Lord Iesus Christ What spirit are they of that can deny to pray with those that say Za. 8. 21. Come let us go seek the Lord pray before him Not of the spirit of one that is a Iew inwardly Holy Paul among Sea-men and Mariners who are none of the best among souldiers prisoners for severall sorts of wicked deeds Heathens of severall Nations and Religions prayed as the mouth of them all or with them all beseeching them all to take meat he took bread and solemnly prayed as the Text saith He gave thanks to God in the presence of them all Act. 27. 35. Christ hath broken down the partition Wall and now none are to be called common Act. 10. 11 12 14 15. or unclean The Gospel is to be preached to every creature to all Nations therefore prayer is to be made with every creature with all Nations to whom we may preach with them we may pray and ought yea prayer to God is not only an instituted worship but naturall or of the Law of Nature These Doctrines of division rent and tear the Church of Christ and this now mentioned is a pricking Bryar and grieving Thorne 11. Like to these also are those that make up Churches of those of their own opinion and separate from others that do hold the unity of Faith and the Rule of righteousnesse But who can separate from those that are of the same Faith and not break fellowship with the Lord Iesus Differences in opinions should not dissunder us in affections much lesse make divisions separate us into Church-wayes against Church-wayes the same Faith and the same Commandments for holinesse should be more powerfull to cement us in one Church then difference in opinions through petulancy to put every opinion into practice note this should be of force to loose us in the building or lay us in a frame whose cement and morter whose mould and fashion is from a conspiring in an opinion these conspiracies in opinion joyned with separation from other Churches that hold the faith of Iesus and the Commandments of God are no right gathering of Churches they are Conventions sinfull and Schismaticall and unlawfull carnall and proud separations they that hold one Faith ought in lowlinesse of minde and forbearance of one another in love to indeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace Eph. 4. 2 3. 12. In like manner it is a violating of Gods Temple to separate because some wicked livers are not cast out of the Church the place abused is that in 2 Cor. 6. 14. 15. 17. To separate to come out from among them is not to separate or come out from the Church and Temple of God but from Idols from Belial from Infidels from Darknesse from Unrighteousnesse that they from whom we ought to separate are Idolaters Infidels Belialists Heathens of whom it is said ye were once Darknesse Unrighteous ones and they are not the Church and Temple of God to separate in the Apostles sense is not to touch the unclean thing that is to have no communion with them in their Idolatry in their unrighteousnesse of any kinde but other communion with them is not condemned and if he will come to the Ordinances of worship of the true God with the Church we may and ought to admit him to Communion with us in all Ordinances that are for conversion and this is not to touch the unclean thing Idolatry and unrighteousnesse is the unclean thing which we may not touch but the man is not the unclean thing the separation commanded and the coming out from them is not to be unequally yoked together with them the Greek is elegant lively significant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is a Simile taken from the Plough where the Teeme that drawes the same plough is by yokes and paires of Draught-cattell Oxen or horses or the like which are yoked in the same yoke and so do draw each his part of the same Plough to be yoked together is to draw one part in the same Draught which is in the sense of the Apostle to be joyned in the same communion and counsell of the wicked in which they draw the Plough of their wickednesse be the wickednesse Idolatry unrighteousnesse drunkennesse or any other to have Communion with an Idolater in his Idolatrous worship counsell to uphold that worship or such leagues of nearest conjunction voluntarily chosen and run into which may be a temptation to entice one to Idolatry this is to