reason of his remove And that this is so de facto see Can. 28. entituled Strangers not to be admitted to the Communion Church-wardens c. shall observe Whether any Strangers come often and commonly from other Parishes to their Church and shall shew their Ministers of them least perhaps they be admitted to the Lords Tahle amongst others which they shall forbid and remit such home to their own Parish-Churches and Ministers there to receive the Communion with their rest of their Neighbours Just as one Neighbour doth with the others Dogs when they run into each other houses a munching Home you Cur you c Here 's no admission of Members of another Parish therefore our conclusion holds good That by this bond of Communion Christians are cut off from the free Election of their Minister and Society in holy things whereas he is not enthralled so in worldly matters he can go out of the Parish to choose his Physician Chirurgion Wife Nurse Apprentice Taylor Trade and deal for any Commodities where he will excepting Spiritual and in those he must take no better will he nill he then his own Parish-shop affords Is not this so far from a Gospel constitution of a Church that it 's a miserable wretched and damnable device of the Devil to destroy the very nature of Gospel-Churches and ruine poor Souls to all intents and purposes I know what will be still pleaded for a Parish Church without respect some will it may be say to the bond of Cohabitation and that is this That where-ever the Word and Sacraments are Administred that is a true Church To which I answer these things 1. There is no politick Society but hath a bond of Union and if that be proved null void and of no effect as we have done the whole Society or Corporation falls to the ground 2. That which is Sawce for a Goose is for a Gander also if the Preaching the Word and Administring the Sacraments make a Church without any more why do the Assertors of Parish-Churches deny Separate Congregations where the Word and Sacraments are Administred to be such 3. There may be a Church in a Parish where the VVord is Preached and Sacraments Administred but it follows not thence the Parish is the Church It 's possible there may be a Church of Christ in Algiers but then it follows not that the City of Algiers is a Church 4. The 19th Can. of the Church of England saith There should be a Congregation of faithful men and a due Administration and the Word of God Purely Preached Implying that where the Majority at least which carries the denomination of the whole in all body politicks are not visibly faithful men but otherwise there 's not a Church of Christ likewise where the word of God is corruptly Preached and the Sacraments unduely administred 5. A Ministers Preaching by a meer Parish-relation makes him no more a Pastor then cohabitation makes the Parishioners Members for a Ministers Parish-relation is only a humane institution and indeed a matter of Civil Right which may be well improved in Reformed Christian Nations in order to Spiritual Advantage for the interest of Christ and his true constituted Churches by the countenance of good Magistrates but that it is a Church-relation setled on Gospel-grounds it would be absurdly insolent to pretend That the establishment of a Ruling Preaching Officer in the Church of Christ should be 1. by the Presentation of a Forreigner or a Tyrannical Gentleman or Landlord in the Parish it may be the most profest Enemy to Christ and his Church and if of the first sort by one that knows not the temper and disposition of the people nor the Abilities Parts and Honesty of him he Presents never regarding so much those qualifications whereby he might edify the people but only some carnal ends and advantages or particular regard to the Person of the Parish-Rector to prefer him or provide a competency for his Subsistance This man being presented is instituted and inducted takes to the profits for his life unless he forfeit them by some Puritan or Phanatick faults performs Parish-duties as the Law of some people requires this is his Parish-relation but not in the least grounded upon the Gospel 6. A Minister may Preach a great while in any place to any sort of people before there is a Church as for Conversion or for tryal of his Gifts and Parts but none can be so absurd as to affirm that that constant Preaching renders the Parish a Church for we know by woful experience that the word may be powerfully Preached in Parishes for a great while and great part most or it may be all be scarcely civilized but remain in Professed Atheism or manifest Prophaneness it may be open Persecuting Enmity to Godliness And if any say it must be constant Preaching that must denominate the Parish a Church I would know how long And what time is required If it be said till some are brought home to Christ and by a visible Profession to submit to his Gospel-Rules and Government then the limits of the Church is no further then the effects of the Gospel and it comprehends not those Inhabitants that still remain Professed Rebels against Christ So that if the Preaching the Gospel in a Parish renders it a Church of Christ as such one Sermon will do it as well as a hundred I say if all the Parishioners as such are to be the Church-members without exception upon the Gospel Preached 7. A Minister is often sent by Christian Magistrates for Conversion of People shall they presently be a Church whether they receive or own his Doctrine or no And it may be none of them or at least most of the Parishioners capable of judging of him or his Doctrine or a Minister sometimes is imposed by a Patron or Bishops c. upon a capable people shall they presently fall into a Church-Relation whether they approve him and choose him or no Such things carry the greatest absurdities with them 8. As Preaching may be in a Parish and no Constituted Church of Christ there so there may be the Administration of Sacraments and no Church of Christ there and if there be in the Parish it makes not the Parish a Church Suppose a pretended Minister imposed on a people that evidently enough declares himself by his life and Doctrine never to have been sent of Christ and challengeth the Parish by vertue of Humane Laws to be his Church as they call it which in general own no other Church-Relation but by Cohabitation this man goes on to Preach the Sentiments of his own Brain abuse Scripture Reproach Godliness rail at Persecute and devour the Sheep of Christ if there be any joyn in with the wicked ignorant lewd and debaucht part of the Parish and do all he can to infect the rest with the Scab or Rot This man Baptizeth and Administers the Lords Supper to his Infected Flock calls the soundest Schismaticks and Separatists Doth
the New Testament in the most general consideration or more particularly referring to it in the mystical part of it or to the Visible Externally Organized parts of it which are the particular Churches I shall briefly go through the places of the New Testament where it 's used for the Readers satisfaction It is taken for the Body of Christ under the most general and comprehensive signification and so it 's to be understood of a Body consisting of Head and Members made up of visible and invisible real and professing only The places carrying it in this sence are Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church i. e. my whole Spiritual Fabrick shall be built upon that Person and Doctrine which thou hast born witness to in this Profession Ephes 1.22 23. Hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head over all things to his Church which is his Body the fullness of him that filleth all in all Col. 1.24 Who now rejoyce in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ mystical in my Flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church Note that where the Church is called the Body of Christ it is meant of the Universal Church for the most part Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be made known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God i. e. by the whole Church both militant and triumphant by the eminent Grace and Glory shinning forth in them even to the admiration of Angels even to see ver 9. The Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God c. And ver 21. Vnto him be Glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all Ages world without end Ephes 5.25 He hath loved his Church and given himself for it ver 27. to make it a glorious Church 29. No man hateth his own flesh but nourisheth it and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church i. e. the whole Church for we are Members of his body of his flesh and his bones ver 32. This is a great Mystery but I speak of Christ and his Church Heb. 12.23 To the General Assembly and Church of the first born which must be understood of the Universal Church in its purest and most glorious state both militant and triumphant to which every true Believer comes when he is united by Faith to Christ the Head 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is the only word in the New Testament can be rendred Catholick Assembly 2. Church is taken in the New Testament for the visible part of the Catholick Church 1 Cor. 12.27 28. Ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular and God hath set some in the Church first Apostles then Prophets c. In this and such like places Church is taken primarily for the Universal Church though there be many things applyed thereto which more immediately belong to the visible parts of it in particular simular Congregations and differing Members in respect of Office Grace or Gifts And so i 's to be understood in the place last quoted as also Eph. 4.11 12 13. a Parallel Place and such is Rom. 12.4 5 6 7. Lastly 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou may'st know how to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of God i. e. in a particular part of the Universal Church which is the pillar and ground of truth i. e. the Universal Church is the pillar and ground of Truth in the world to defend and maintain it and hold forth the light of it but every particular Church is a Candlestick to hold the Candle of the Gospel-Light and Profession and Ordinances among which Christ walks These are all the places so near as I can find which have reference to the Catholick Church where Ecclesia or Church is mentioned unless those that speak of Pauls Persecuting the Church which may be understood not only actual Persecuting the Particular Church of Jerusalem but of the whole Body of Christ because 1. that Church was all as yet Planted and 2. because Christ takes his rage and enmity to be levyed and managed against his mystical Body Acts 9. Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me The places are these 1 Cor. 15.9 Gal. 1.13 Phil. 3.6 Acts 8.3 CHAP. VII Of a Particular Church I come in the next place to shew what the word Church importeth in all other Texts of the New Testament were it is used not yet mentioned which is far the greater part And to make it evident that no other Church is by them intended then such an one which is described in the 19th Article of the Church of England viz. A Church is a Congregation of Faithful Men where the pure Word of God is Preached and the Sacraments duly Administred according to Gods holy Ordinances which can have no other understanding then that of a Particular Church I need not descant upon it it carryes so much plainness and correspondency to the genuine sence of a Church in all places of the Gospel where a particular Church is intended that there is no room for exception The first Text is Mat. 18.17 Tell the Church which is the particular Congregation of faithful men c. It s nonsence to suppose that a National or Provincial Church is here meant that upon every offence between brother and brother an address must be made to a Council Synod Archbishop or Bishop and where have we Counsels or Synods or Pastors called Churches in any place of the New Testament If any man preâ—end to object that our Saviour here â—ntended the Church of the Jews â—nd that to tell the Church was to tell the Sanhedrim Let such an one give one instance that the Sanhedrim is called the Church in Old or New Testament I am sure not in the New neither is it rational to suppose that our Saviour gave here Rules for the Oeconomy of the Jewish Church which was so soon after to be dissolved as to its whole constitution our Saviour never intending the erection of a National Church more 2. The next Texts are Acts 2.47 Of the Church of Jerusalem And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved This was without dispute a particular Congregation for there was as yet but that one which was that CXX which Christ left together at his Ascention This was the Congregation of the Faithful which was added to which is the same Church that was spoken of Acts 5.11 Fear fell upon all the Church or Congregation of the Faithful The first multiplying of Churches was occasioned by Sauls Persecution after the stoning of Stephen scattering a great part of this Congregation now grown too big for one Acts 8.1 3. There was a great Persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem against this Church in particular Sauls Persecution was breathed which he mentions afterward 1 Cor. 15.9 Gal. 1.13 Phil.
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