R. 2. A company of people met together by the Power of the Civil Magistrate to receive holy things P 3. The place of such meetings 4. A company of Apostates joyned together by a Jesuitical bond to seduce people from the publique Ordinances of Jesus Christ A. Q c. Resp 3. Thirdly This word Ecclesia or Church is very often used by the holy Ghost in Scripture but that which it seemeth good to the most blessed Spirit to call most frequently by this name is a Company of visible Saints joyned together by a special bond for the constant exercise of the Communion of Saints amongst themselves Quest What condition is every Church of Christ in Resp Every Church of Christ is either in a Reformed or in a planted constituted state Quest Is there any difference betwixt a planted and a Reformed Church of Christ Resp Yea Their Agreement is very extensive and emphatical and yet they differ In the discovery whereof these two considerations must be diligently eyed 1. It is one thing to preach the Gospel another thing to plant the Gospel and a third to plant Churches by the Gospel preacht heard and planted As it is one thing for Work-men to work upon those things that are to be the Materials of a Building in a preparatory way another thing for those things to be actually prepared and fit to be put into the Building and a third thing to have all those Materials so fitted joyned together and the building compleated 1 Cor. 3.9 2. Reformation supposeth the building not compleated and yet somewhat done in order thereunto be it more or less sometimes and in some places it finds the Gospel to have been preached only and not planted Sometimes it finds that the Gospel hath been received by some but that those are not united or agreed to walk together in Church-fellowship and so do not constitute a particular Church according to the Gospel sometimes it finds them joyned together but very loosely Sometimts it finds them fast joyned together but under a defect of some particular Officers Sometimes it finds the Church to have been builded and compleated but relapsed degenerated or apostatiz'd less or more as a decayed Building not utterly ruined or not having more of the Devil than of Christ in it though too much This supposed these four things may be concluded 1. A Planted and Reformed Church of Christ agree 1. In their Causes 2. In their Properties 3. In their Practices And 4. In their Priviledges 1. In their Causes and so first in their Efficient causes thus 1. Christ was the Institutor and Ordainer both of the first Planted and of Reformed Churches under the Gospel Mat. 16.18 Rev. cap. 2. 3. 2. Christ and his Officers by his Word and Spirit are the Makers of both the Ministry is before both and none but Ministers by divine Appointment and Commission as Paul Timothy c. are originally ordinarily and equally employed by Christ in either 2. In their matter Visible Saints are the matter whereof both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ are constituted and made 3. In their form Both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ are formed Et in unum coalescunt omnes sancti Ecclesiae by a mutual Consent and Agreement to walk towards God and one another respectively according to Gospel Rules 4. In their ends The end both of the first Planted and our Reformed Churches of Christ is his Glory and his Saints salvation 2. In their Properties Both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ can visibly perform the conditions of the New Covenant and act according to Gospel-Rules of Church Communion 3. In their Practices Both the first Planted and Reformed Churches of Christ do visibly perform the conditions of the New Covenant and walk according to Gospel Rules of Church-Communion 4. They agree in their Priviledges Christ hath given very glorious Priviledges both to his first Planted and to his Reformed Churches Yet 2. They differ But 3. The difference that is betwixt them is but Parallel to the difference that was betwixt the Church at its first Constitution and the Church Reformed under the Law And 4. But accidental 1. In their Order 2. In their Officers 3. In their Matter 4. In their Form 5. In their End 6. In their Properties 7. In their Practices And 8. In their Priviledges Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 3.11 Gal. 1.6 7 8 9. Quest What difference is there in their Order Resp 1. Christ in the first Planting of his Churches proceeded as it were in an Analytical Order he made the Gospel so successfull that thousands were converted at a time and made as it were one Catholick visible Church by joyning themselves voluntarily to the Lord and to the Apostles then altogether at Jerusalem out of which as out of a Fountain there issued at it were particular Churches Resp Christ in the Reforming of his Churches proceeds as it were in a Synthetical Order He first moulds particular persons into particular Churches and then those particular Churches into one Catholick Church Sensu Amesiano Medul lib. 1. cap. 31.32 Quest Wherein do the first Planters and Reformers of the Churches of Christ differ Resp They agree in the Essentials of the Ministery as 1. the Spirit of Christ hath furnisht both of them invisibly at the least with gifts and graces proportionable to the work whereunto he hath appointed them in the times and places wherein they live For eminency in gifts and graces is as necessary for all Church-Officers as sincerity in them is for all Church-members and therefore God sends none to Church-work but those that appear to their Judges to be such though they be not all of them equally qualified 2. They are both of them called and sent Licensed and commanded by Christ to be his Vicegerents and chief Ministers about soul and Church affairs on earth Heb. 5.4 3. Both of them have the same commission for the substance and body of it both of them may by the special Law of Christ dispence the Mysteries of God or preach administer Sacraments and govern according to his Word 4. Both of them may providentially be suspended as to the exercise of these Acts which are properly Ministerial but not ex humana libertate arbitrio proprio 5. Both of them have a right by Divine grant to a comfortable maintenance that may free them from being necessitated to work with their own hands and encourage them and put them into a capacity of attending wholly upon the execution of their Commission 1 Cor. 9 to the end 2 Tim. 2.4 Resp They differ accidentally and circumstantially in the extra-essentials of the Ministery As 1. in the manner of their receiving of their gifts graces vocation mission and commission For 1. the first Preachers and Planters of the Gospel John the Baptist and Christ had them all immediatly from the Spirit without any humane Instrumentality 2. The first Fathers and Planters of Churches by
He hath given them vast instruction how to do it And 4. What do they import save Reformation 3. As it is the great glory of God to Institute and plant Churches for the Edification of his people that his special presence may be amongst them before their apostacy c. So it is the greatest glory of Christ to reform his Churches that his Presence may continue amongst them after their apostacy and defection c. For 1. Herein he delivers them from the great removeable evils that are on earth And 2. Gives them the most glorious things that are on earth communicable de quibus infra 4. It is the most incomparable state of man on earth In a Thoughly-Reformed state after Christian Apostacy the Saints and Churches of Christ are in the greatest glory that ever they will be in on earth When this Dispensation is ended that in Heaven will immediatly succeed it and continue for ever Quest But who is it that makes such a Preservation the end of his Reformation Resp If we may Judge of mens ends by their actings men of such a spirit are very rare 2. The grand enquiry is not about mens ends but Gods 3. God doth not make mans life his Law 4. In the Reformation of Christian Churches its evident that he aymes at their Preservation inclusively whether men do or not 5. Men ought to use Gods means for Gods ends It s both their duty honour and safety 6. It proceeds from want of Grace in those that do not and is not commendable in the least 7. It concerns us to take heed of being led by ungodly guides Object There be other means to preserve the Churches of Christ Resp 1. Whatever our ends be Gods way to them is the best 2. God hath prescribed Reformation as the way to the Preservation of Churches Leviticus 26.23 c. 3. The Experience of all Ages testifies and convinceth that it is so and the only soveraign Antidote against desolation 4. It s compounded of all the saving Spirituals that are in the World 5. Those other wayes and means are but of humane Invention 6. They are used by Worldly Wise men or carnal Polititians 7. It is not to be expected by Christians that Christ will by them secure his Churches from ruin and desolation but that 8. Where Christian Reformation is not practised mens Ecclesiastical and Spiritual if not their civil and temporal estates and Interests will languish and come to nothing notwithstanding Leviticus 26. c. Wherefore 9. Prudens O tale Caveto Object I see no necessity at all of preserving of Christian Churches Resp 1. The Instituted Churches of Christ are scituated directly in our way to the full fruition of God in Heaven according to Scriptures 2. The continuance of them is absolutely necessary for all those that travel thither 3. They that are travelling to Heaven do discover this necessity 4. The Gospel is hid from all the rest 2 Corin. 4.3 5. The Objection savours very strongly of Atheism and Antiscripturism unbelief and Antichristianism and therefore 6. Those whose spirits appear to be fraught with it must be left to the Judgement of God For 1. Contra negantem principia non est disputandum 2. The Apostle Paul desires the Church to pray for himself and his assistants and successors that they may be delivered from men of such a spirit 2 Thessal 1.1.3.1 2. 3. He commands his Successors in the Ministry 1. To withdraw from such 1 Timothy 6.5 2. To rebuke them sharply Titus 1.13 3. To reject such an one Titus 3.10 4. To turn away from such 2. Tim. 3.5 4. He charges the Churches 1. To let them be anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16.22 2. To avoid them Romans 16.17 3. To let them be accursed Gal. 1.8 9. 5. He himself did actually Excommunicate such 1 Timothy 1. 19 20. 6. The Apostle John adviseth the Saints 1. That they receive not such an one into their houses 2. That they bid him not God-speed 2 John 10. 7. Le ts not trust our own hearts in the Gospel Quest What difference is there betwixt the Properties of Reformed Churches and the Properties of the first planted Churches under the Gospel Resp 1. In general Properties properly are beings that are not of but follow or flow from the essences of their first and next Subjects 2. All Properties are Proportionable to the Essences from which they flow 3. In particular 1. The Churches of God are Essentially the most glorious things in the world and therefore 2. They have the most glorious Properties that are in the world Yet 3. The Essentials of the Churches of God having been sometimes more sometimes less glorious the Properties of them have accordingly been sometimes more sometimes less glorious 4. More particularly 1. The Churches Work and necessity being very various And 2. Greater in times of Reformation than at the first Plantation of Churches God communicated himself to them accordingly So that 5. The Essences of Reformed Churches being more glorious than the Essences of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel The Properties of Reformed Churches are also more glorious than the Properties of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel to instance 1. The members of the first Planted Churches could give much but the members of Reformed Churches can give more for a visible Interest in God They can give more glorious Evidences of their saving conversion and Union with Christ 1. They can make a more express profession of their assent to the truth of the Gospel in general 2. They can extend that profession more particulary to the grand Fundamentals of the Gospel The Messiah is come by owning of it distinctly in the parts thereof 3. They can exert more Acts of Faith and Repentance 4. They can engage themselves more gloriously to continue therein and to walk in all other things also according to the Scriptures and not otherwise 2. The first Planted Churches under the Gospel could walk according to Gospel Rules of Church-Communion but Reformed Churches can conform to them more compleatly and exactly 1. They can glorifie God more 2. They can edifie one another more And 3. They can contribute more towards the Salvation of those that are without Whether they be Infidels Heathen Or Christian Scattered Saints Unreformed Churches or Sauable Apostates 1. By the Doctrinal and practical holding forth of the Word of Life 2. By defending of it And 3. By offending the enemies thereof Such Power is most properly proper to Reformed Churches under the Gospel Quest What difference is there betwixt the practises of the Reformed Churches and the practises of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel Resp As all Properties are proportionable to the Essences so all practises are proportionable to the Properties from which they flow and therefore 1. The Practises of Reformed Churches are the most glorious practises in the World 2 In particular 1. The Members of the Reformed Churches of Christ give most for a visible
Interest in God they give the most glorious Evidences of their saving conversion and Union with Christ 1. They make the most express profession of their assent to the Truth of the Gospel in general 2. They extend that profession most particularly to the grand Fundamentals of the Gospel The Messias is come by owning of it distinctly in the parts thereof 3. They exert most acts of Faith and Repentance 4. They engage themselves most gloriously to continue therein and to walk in all other things also according to the Gospel and not otherwise 2. The Reformed Churches of Christ conform most gloriously to the Rules of Church-Communion 1. They glorifie God most 2. They lay out themselves most for the benefit of one another 3. They contribute most towards the salvation of those that are without As are 1. Infidels Heathen and Christian 2. Scattered Saints 3. Unreformed Churches And 4. Savable Apostates 1. By the Doctrinal and practical holding forth of the Word of Life 2. By defending of it And 3. By offending the enemies thereof in a Scriptural way Such are the Practises of the Reformed Churches of Christ Quest What difference is there betwixt the Priviledges of the Reformed Churches and the Priviledges of the first planted Churches of Christ Resp 1. In general Priviledges are special advantages granted to a special person or people by their Superiours 2. They are proportioned to the practises or atchievments of those that have them granted unto them Particularly 1. Though Gods free Grace be the Fountain of all Humane Enjoyments Yet 2. Divine Providence hath so ordered it that 1. In general they that do most have most And 2. In particular they that do most for God have most from God And 3. Therefore the Reformed Churches of Christ have the most glorious Priviledges that are in the World 1. They have the most glorious Administration of the Covenant of Grace Christ is applyed to them in the most glorious manner in all the purest Ordinances of Jesus Christ Isaiah 2.2 3 4.30.20 21 26. 2. They have the most glorious Interest in God Exod. 19.5 6. Levit. 26.12 2 Corin. 6.17 18. 3. They have the most glorious communion with Christ in his Ordinances Revel 27 17. Revel 3.20 4. They grow most under Means of Grace Mal. 4.2 5. They have the most glorious Evidences of their Justification Revel 2.10 11 17. Revel 3.4 5 21. 6. They have the most glorious outward peace amongst themselves Isaiah 11. Micah 4.3 4. 7. They are constituted and fixed by Christ for the main Supporters of Christianity Revel 3.12 8. They have the most glorious power on Earth Revel 2.26 27. 9. Christ causeth them to be honoured even by the greatest enemies of Christianity Rev. 3.9 10. Christ himself secures them in times of greatest danger Rev. 3.10 11. They have the Magistrates for their ordinary protection Isaiah 4.5 6. Isaiah 32.1 2. Isaiah 49.23 Romans 13.3 4. 1 Timothy 2.2 3. 12. They have the most glorious Presence of God alone with them in the tenour of their temporal undertakings Exodus 23.22 c. Levit. 26. Deut. 28. Et alibi passim These are the proper Priviledges of the Reformed Church of Christ In a word Notwithstanding that hellish conspiracy and Antichristian Energy and the terrible tottering of the first Planted Churches of Christ and of the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion for a thousand years yet neither the one nor the other are totally eclipsed much less ruined but retain their Essentials and had need be Rallyed and new model'd throughout Quest What must we do that we may be a Reformed Church of Christ Resp 1. Repent of your scandalous sins Not walking up to your Baptismal Covenant Apopostacy Neglect of Evangelically approved Ministers of Christ and of the Ordinances by them administrable c. 2. Hear such Preachers Revel cap. 2. 3. 3. Continue therein with patience untill ye think ye can prove that ye have such a Faith in Christ as hath the Promise of Salvation annexed to it in the Gospel Rom. 10 17. 4. When ye think ye can prove that ye have such a Faith make known your arguments to your Minister by conference or otherwise 5. Offer to give Scripture Security for your continuance in the profession and practice of such a Faith and Repentance and to walk in all other things also according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and not otherwise during life 6. If your supposed evidences of your union with Chrst be approved and accepted by your Minister give the profered Security for your future correspondent Evangelical behaviour 7. If your supposed evidences of your Union with Christ be not yet approved and accepted by your Minister then continue quietly and peaceably under the Ministry of the Word untill they be and then give the profered Security for your said good behaviour according to the Gospel and then 8. Your Minister must solemnly admit or declare you being seven or more a Reformed Church of Christ 9. Being so admitted or declared ye are a visible Reformed Protestant Christian Church of Christ by and in the Eye of the Gospel Quest Are we not a Church of Christ untill then Resp No For 1. We are not a first Planted Church of Christ before And 2. No person is a Reformed Saint untill he have such approved Evidences of his union with Christ Object But we are accounted Saints and a Church of Christ without that or any of it Resp 1. Proh nefas 2 Thessal 2.8 2. Gospel reckoning is the best Romans 2.16 c. And Resp 3. By the Gospel 1. None in our dayes may warrantably expect Salvation but upon the terms above mentioned 2. None may warrantably judge himself to be a Saint or member of a Reformed Church of Christ but upon those conditions 3. No Minister of Christ may Judge or Declare any man to be a Saint or any Society to be a Church of Christ but upon the terms above mentioned respectively 4. Without Ministerial Union and inauguration none are a Reformed Church of Christ 4. Take heed of Antichrist 2 Epist John 8. Quest Must we not be admitted into the state of Reformed Saints or members of a Reformed Church of Christ by Baptism when we are approved of by our Minister Resp No For 1. The Gospel Epistles are calculated directly for our Meridian and 2. There is no Rule for such a Practise 2. It lies upon those that are for the Affirmative and they are desired to prove it if they can 3. In the interim they will do well not to exclaim of and divide from Reforming Ministers and Christians Quest How then must Reformed Christians be installed into the state of a Reformed Church or members thereof Resp Either 1. By your Ministers publique verbal Declaration of his approbation of your evidential Profession and of your being thereupon in that estate and quality Or 2. By laying his hands upon you and praying for you Heb. 6.2 1 Tim. 5.22 Or 3. By his enrolement of your Names in a Book of Record Malathy 3.16 17 18. Or 4. By all or two of these together to bring our Divisions to An end