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
the Scripture appropriates this manner of witnessing to the Gospell and against errours to the Ministers and their worke alone which is Preaching of the Gospell Mark 16. 15. 1 Cor. 1. 17. if this be not the work of their Office they have no work Christ sends them to Preach and in comparison of this not to Baptize this small number is to Prophesie in sack-cloth Now this time being not expired for Antichrist is not yet destroyed the seven Vials are but in pouring out the state of the visible Church is this to be infested and polluted diversly with many Gentiles as we see by wofull experience there is no Protestant Church in the christian world but is miserably trodden upon at this day by Papists their bloudy rage their errours and superstitious inventions the errours of other Hereticks and Schismaticks all which are appertaining unto and are of the frye of Antichrist as the Apostle Iohn said of the errours of his time there are many Antichrists already tottered and torn and soyled will be the face of the visible Church untill Antichrist be down Againe the number of faithfull Ministers will not be very great nor their estate any other then a state of mourning they shall yet Prophesie in sack-cloth even so long till the one thousand two hundred and sixty daies or yeares be accomplished they that say otherwise shift as they can they will feele this to be a truth for the time of this burden is not yet expired Is Antichrists reigne expired when Papists so swarme so prevaile with many Kings that are Protestant that they waste Germany Ireland Scotland England besides other parts and yet the Pope sits in Rome I shall adde here but that of learned and godly Chemnitius in his Common Places Chemnit Loc. Theol. De Eccles. loco cap. 3. Sect. 3. Miser caetus in quâ— multâ— sunt infirmitates quique non tantum persecutionibus cruce premitur sed etiam offendiculis scandalis deformatur That the Church may be a miserable Society or company in which there are many infirmities and which is not only pressed with Persecutions and the Crosse but also is deformed with stumbling-blocks and scandals of which we ought not to judge by the outward shew but by and according to the Word The Church Visible is the company of those that imbrace Christs Gospell and rightly use his Sacraments in which company God by the Ministery of the Word workes powerfully and regenerates many to life eternall in which society notwithstanding there are many Et Sect. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 20. In Ecclesiae coetu multi sunt non sancti Non-sancti not holy but yet consenting with the godly in the point of true Doctrine Thus of the first Doctrine The second Doctrine is this That there are many yea many within the visible Church that are defilers and violaters of this Temple of God If it had not been so in vaine had been the Apostles reasoning if it would not be so in vaine were this sentence written and left registred in the Canon of the New Testament The Apostle did not deale this blow in the ayre and fight with shadowes and that we may not so doe and only beate the ayre and lose our labour let us inquire who are they stand guilty of this sin the things is filthy and odious and no man will willingly owne it though he will not be taken off but will willingly doe it To come then to charge the guilt of this great sin upon the particular offenders 1. All scandalous Christians I begin with you for though you are not the first intended by the Apostle in this Text yet you deservedly goe in the front you make and cause others to defile and wrong the Church by Schismes The offence you give makes them forsake the fellowship of the Church of God to which you doe belong you are many waies guilty of this Temple-pollution for the present you may be ranked into three sorts 1. Fornicators Adulterers effeminate and uncleane persons these defile their owne bodies 1 Cor. 6. 15 18 19. they take the member of Christ and make it the member of an Harlot these defile the Church of God this is a Leaven a little of which leaveneth the whole lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 6. it is a leaven to be purged out by Church-censures 2. The Covetous Raylers Extortioners Drunkards Theeves Swearers that feare not an Oath the prophane unholy malicious and all unrighteous persons these make Gods house a denne of Theeves they that live in these and the like sins against the holy Law of God and yet come before him as his people and cry The Temple of the Lord and rest in the name and priviledges of Christians these live as if they were delivered to doe those abominations Ier. 7. 4 8. they are abominable polluters of Gods Temple 3. The Pharisaicall Hypocrites that pretend the glory of God and good of the Church but under that colour drive a trade Ioh. 2. 14 15. of the Publique and of godlinesse make a merchandize for their own filthy lucre Such are those pretenders to Reformation now among us that make up their private estates out of the Publique being carried with self-seeking they dread not the examples of Councellors Nobles Iudges Prelates Gentry that now before their eyes lye under Gods avenging hand their carcases for they are cast out and nought of them remaines but their dead contemned bulkes and on them their Worme feedes and dyes not and the fire is not quenched these their miserable carcases they may goe out and see and looke upon the contempt that God hath and doth poure upon them for the abusing of their power to their owne lusts and for making a prey of the Publique and yet they greedily follow the way of such Balaamites All that are intrusted and imployed for the publique in this great service of seeking Reformation let them feare lest if found in the like sinne they should fall into greater condemnation The Lord is a jealous God â— All that make Schismes and divisions in the Church â— the context sheweth this these are properly and directly intended here by the Holy Ghost In the Church of Corinth many stood guilty of this sin their factious studies rented them into Sects 1. By contentious siding falling into parties according to their Teachers whom they affected 1 Cor. 1. 12. 2. By affection of humane wisdome and foolish admiration thereof in the Preaching of the Gospell Ch. 17. 2. 1. 4. 3. By building Heterogeneall stuffe of a divers kind and unsuitable as wood hay and stubble upon the foundation Ch. 3. 12. 4. By undervaluing their faithfull Teachers Ch. 4. 1. and neglecting their spirituall Father that had begotten them in Christ Iesus through the Gospell ver 15. of Chap. 4. had you saith the Apostle ten thousand instructures yet I am your Father you have not many fathers this unnaturalnesse in matters of Grace is found in some of this place
A SHORT TREATISE Describing the true CHURCH of CHRIST And the Evills of Schisme ANABAPTISM and LIBERTINISM Wherein is proved that Society is the genus of a Church not Congregations A National Church under the New-Testament The visible Church is Gods Temple The infallible note of a true Church 1. Schismaticks defile the Temple of God 2. Usurpers of the Ministery Temple-defilers Learning is needfull for the discharge of the Ministery Toleration of all religions contrary to Gods Word No communion with the wicked in their sinne Tyrants and Persecutors are Temple-defilers Temple-defilers shall be surely punished We must make triall of the Spirits Delivered in two SERMONS by Mr. RICHARD BYFIELD LONDON Printed for Ralph Smith at the signe of the Bible neer the Royall Exchange 1653. Temple Defilers Destroyed 1 COR. 3. 17. If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy THE circumstantials of this Text may profitably serve for our Exordium or entrance they are three who speaks how he speakes and to whom 1. Who speaks Paul an Apostle of Iesus Christ therefore it is a Gospel sentence Paul the Doctor of the Gentiles therefore you Gentiles ought to hear him Paul the mouth of Christ the Pen-man of the Holy Ghost and therefore he that despiseth this word despiseth not man but Christ but the Spirit but God 2. How he speaks First by way of denunciation of judgement The Gospel hath fire in it the Preachers threaten destruction yet the Preachers thereof no legall Preachers for our God is a consuming Fire it is true life and immortality are brought to light by the Gospel and it is no lesse true then Hell fire and Damnation is Language peculiar to the Gospel never any Preached in so frequent and plain termes the flames of Hell and that unquenchable fire as did our Lord Jesus who was sent of God Anointed with the spirit that oyle of gladnesse to preach the Gospel to the poor to heal and binde up the broken hearted that meek Lambe of God whose office it was to speak a word in season to the weary soul How often hath he Hell and Hell fire in his mouth in one Sermon Mat. 5. 22. 29 30. Three times in one breath with amazing illustrations Mar. 9. 43. 45. 47. At another time all his discourse almost beset as Paradise with a flaming sword with as sore as plain and equivalent expressions utter darknesse where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth the Prison out of which there is no coming by any means till they have paid the utmost farthing the losse of the soul cutting asunder and appointing them their portion with hypocrites in no case any entry into the Kingdom of heaven no reward of their Father which is in Heaven Will any dare to deny that Iesus Christ was an Evangelicall Preacher And it stands with all reason that such Preaching should be for Gospel times for the greater and more glorious are the manifestations of Gods grace the greater and more glorious are the manifestations of Gods grace the greater is the sin and the heavier the wrath and condemnation due to the refusers Heb. 12. 25. 29. the abusers the turners of such grace into lasciviousnesse and wantonnesse No marvell then if that Ministry of the New Testament that is as a mirrour to shew us the glory of grace with open face do with as great plainnesse of speech set Hell before us in open view Heaven is the more Heaven to them that see what Hell is It is not unbeseeming an Apostle a Teacher of Grace and of the Gospel to denounce the judgements of God Paul here speaks by way of threatning Secondly he speaks by way of Argumentation 1. Against building up the Church with wood hay and stubble ver 12. By which is meant not Doctrine Hereticall blasphemous and impious though that be worse that ruines the foundation but vain curious unnecessary doubtfull tending to jangling strife and divisions perhaps true but unprofitable like the Genealogies in the which the Jewes were curious or else erroneous and of ill consequence though not in it self impious Such in a word as suites not with the foundation such as is not like gold silver and precious stones these only are fit for this building suitable to Christ the foundation the Apostle reasons against their bringing such stuffe to Gods building and in this verse bringeth his Argument from the greatnesse of the sin and the certainty of the punishment Their sin is the defiling of Gods Temple their punishment shall be destruction 2. Again his Argument against such all Church works lyeth also against Schisme Divisions and Factions in the Church as appeareth to the diligent and intelligent Reader by that in the chapâ—â— ver 10. 12. and in this chap. 3. ver 3 4 5. The Apostle is still about the cure of this one disease and this verse we are upon argues against it as a Temple-polluter and destructive to those that are guilty of it 3. To whom he speaks 1. To the Church of Corinth called to be Saints 1 Cor. 1. 2. Consider it 1. He speaks not to them without there were within the Church too many defilers of Gods Temple 1. He speaks not to a party in that Church the house of Cloe a choice party separating from the faulty party making up a new Church lest they should be polluted in holding Church Fellowship with them that were such sinners The house of Cloe knew how tostand free from partaking with them in their sins and yet retain Gospel Union to seek a Medicine and not make a rupture The Apostle guided by the spirit of Vnion love and a sound minde breathes forth nothing to make Rents but what ever might be to make up breaches He directs not the Epistle to the house of Cloe that stood sound and untoucht though they gave him notice of the evils that infested the Church at Corinth But 1. To the whole company of Professors of Christianity in that great City to the whole society of Christians there 2. And that also to such a society as were enriched in gifts and graces so that he first breaks out in the mention of them with solemne Thanksgiving to God they were enriched in every thing by Christ in all utterance in all knowledge they came behinde in no gift as in chap. 1. ver 4. 5. 7. Yet many of these fell into this sin of Schisme these must take heed how they walk on in that sin for they may fall under this destroying judgement of God 2. To the Whole and Universall Church of God ver 2. of chap. 1. All in every place that call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord both theirs and ours One Lord in common of one visible Church in all the world which is one body under that one head particular visible Churches are not so many Independant Churches those that so teach make Jesus Christ monstrous The Papists make Christs Church a Monster in that they hold that Christ
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