〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Full of the Holy Ghost before they had Imposition of Hands He added 2. That these Seven were appointed for the Seven Nations of the Western Dispersion and we find none here for the Eastern 3. That the Multitude of the Church in that place were all from home This he said to prove that this was not a proper Copy for future Times To which he subjoyned 4. That the Collections and the Deacons mentioned in the Epistles were for the Relief of the Church at Jerusalem And so no set Officers appointed to be in every Church Colman said that that place in Timothy shewed the Qualifications of a Dâ—acon but not the Perpetuity And of the same Judgment Lightfoot declared himself to be But when the Place came to be voted it was voted affirmatively But my Mind as he Writes in his Journal was not with it 8. A Question arose in the Assembly upon Excommunication Whether it were to be done in a Presbytery or in the Presence of the whole Church And so the Independents would have had it proving it from 1 Cor. v. 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When ye are gathered together c. Lightfoot answered this Place thus That the Synaxis i. e. The Gathering together here was in regard that there were Heart-burnings among them And so they Triumphed one against another in this very Act of the Incestuous Ergo he commands them that they should convene in Affection and in Place And being so met they should do it And after two or three Debates upon this Case of the Incestuous Person Lightfoot again That this Case of the Corinthians was such as cannot be among us For they were hedged in with the Heathen and the Apostle plainly tells that there was an Iniquity among them more than Heathenish ver 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Such as is not among the Heathen Therefore if he would have the whole Church to come together and cast out this Member for the Vindication of the whole Church it is a singular Example and cannot be paralleled among us Still this Text of St. Paul divers Days after was canvasing Then our Divine again 1. That the Phrase here used 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 differing from that cited 1 Cor. xi 20 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when ye come together and xiv 26 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 When ye are come together the Words being different gives cause to suspâ—ct that he means a difference in them 2. That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. From the midst of you is used of all the Jewish Courts for taking away a Wicked Man Deut. xiii c. Yet all the People might not need to be present at the Censure 3. That Paul writ indeed to all the Church in Corinth but every one must take out the Lesson as it concerned him As the King of Syria Writes to the King of Israel to heal Naaman whereas Elisha was to have and take his share in the Letter that concerned him 9. Further several in the Assembly offered that Place 1 Cor. v. 2 for Excommunication and for excluding from the Communion where that Incestuous Person is directed by St. Paul to be taken away from among them But this Place Lightfoot's Judgment was concerned not at all Excommunication Of whose mind also was Whitaker Who shewed that the Place did not prove a Cutting off from the Eucharist and that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. The Destruction of the Flesh was not taken for Excommunication And that Traditio Satanae i. e. Delivering over to Satan seemed to be extraordinary And that sorrow which this bred in the Person guilty and in the whole Church was most extraordinary Many of the Greeks thought it Pain This gave occasion to a Dispute that held all the Day But notwithstanding that Place was carried for a Proof of Excommunication But Lightfoot gave his Denial Neither did he like the other Place brought for Excommunication viz. Mat. xviii 17 If he shall neglect to hear the Church let him be unto thee as a Heathen Man and a Publican Which after Colman a Man that was against all Manner of Excommunication had opposed and Gataker spake against the Propriety of this Place Lightfoot conceived the Place 1. To speak of Offence given from a Member to his Pastor For from Mark ix 35 which place by comparing both carefully appears to fall in with this of Matthew it was plain this Speech of Christ was only spoken to the Twelve 2. That it spake of Shaming an Offender and not of Censuring For that the Two or Three Take with thee Two or Three ver 16. not the Church had to do about the Offender 3. That the Heathen and Publicans had Access Ad Sacra But the Jews abhorred their Civil Society And this was to be as an Heathen Man and a Publican to have no Society with such But to be as a Publican included not Excommunication Again after Herle and Reinolds had spoke for this Place to prove Excommunication our Divine answered them 1. With this Question Are the Two or Three here named Witnesses as they would have them For 't is plain these must be Admonishers 2. He shewed that that Text and Speech of our Saviour was upon Occasion of the Disciples Quarrelling Now how improper is it when he is speaking of Offence between Brother and Brother to conclude what such an one shall be to the Church and not to the Party offâ—nded For so saith he you understand Let him be to THEE that is to the CHURCH But notwithstanding this Place was carried for Excommunication 10. When the Dispute came on between the Independents and the other Party about Congregations whether there were more than one in a City And the great Enquiry was What that Church was that was at Jerusalem Whether one Congregation only or more And Dr. Temple doubted whether there were many fixed Coâ—gregations in that City and it seemed to him there were not Lightfoot answered in many particulars 1. That such a multitude of Pastors as were there at Jerusalem could not suit with one Congregation 2. That there were divers Languages that understood not one another Therefore there could not be but divers Congregations 3. That one part of the Church had Deacons the other not Vid. Sect. 7. Therefore we must distinguish of their Congregations 4. In the Twelfth of the Acts there were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Many gathered together ver 12. And yet James and the Brethren were not there Burroughs and Lightfoot had a Controversie about the Five Thousand added to the Church Acts iv Whether they were new Converts which our Divine averred and Burroughs denyed And when Lightfoot had done Palmer backed him in it Burroughs again questioned whether these Five Thousand or the other were of the Church of Jerusalem Palmer answered they were Dwellers in Jerusalem Acts ii 5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lightfoot answered they came Unbelievers thither and being there they sold their Lands Goodwin
Dragon waits till the Soul be delivered out of the Body and as soon as it is delivered he grasps it and seizes on it for God hath forsaken it and utterly cast away all Care of it God hath forsaken it Persecute and take it for there is none to deliver Consider seriously of these two Things I. That Sinful Souls departed are never under preserving Providence more II. That they are given up to the Power of Satan I. They are removed from under God's Preserving Providence True they are kept in Being that they may be kept in Punishment but this is Avenging Justice rather than Preserving Providence Mat. ix 49 For every one shall be Salted with Fire Every such Soul shall be Salted with Fire The very Fire of its Torment shall be as Salt to keep it from Consuming It shall be kept in Being that it may be kept in Fire But first God hath cast away all Care of it and secondly exerciseth nothing of preserving Providence towards it 1 Sam. xxv 29 But the Soul of my Lord shall be bound in the Bundle of Life with the Lord thy God and the Souls of thine Enemies them shall be sling out as out of the middle of a Sling VVhere she intimates that a David a Good Man his Soul is bound up in the Bundle of Life with the Lord But Evil Men their Souls be slung out as out of a Sling God casts them flings them away from him Fly where they will Light where they will Sink or Swim he looks no more after them VVhile VVicked Men were here Providence Preserved them Fed them Clothed them Strove with them with Patience and kept the Soul and Body that the Devil did not run away with the Man Bodily But when the Cursed Soul is departed out of the Body Patience no more Care no more Restraint of the Devil no more but take him Devil and do thy worst VVhich is the Second thing to be considered II. That VVicked Souls are given up to Satan's Absolute Power You read of giving up notorious Sinners to Satan here that if possibly they might be amended 1 Cor. v. 5 To deliver such an one unto Satan for the Destruction of the Flesh that the Spirit may be saved in the Day of the Lord Jesus 1 Tim. i. ult Whom I have delivered unto Satan that they may learn not to Blaspheme But when a Soul is now past all Amending all hopes of Amending conceive with Fear and Trembling how God gives up that Soul to the Roaring Lion to tear and spare not And here is one dreadful Symptom and Evidence of the Fiery Indignation that God in Anger gives up the Soul to Satan And this is a Second degree of its Misery that as it hath lost the use of the Creature so also it hath lost the Care and Preserving Providence of the Creator VVe have an Emblem of both in the Egyptians sitting in Darkness which conceive of by reading two Places Exod x. 21 23. It was Darkness that might be felt They saw not one another neither rose any from his Place And Psal. lxxviii 49 where when the Holy Ghost should mention the Plague of Darkness in its order he Characters it in these terms He cast upon them the fierceness of his Anger Wrath and Indignation by sending Evil Angels among them Moses saith that he sent Darkness the Psalmist saith Evil Angels or Devils And both most true Darkness and Devils Devils in the Darkness Moses saith They saw not one another The Psalmist intimates that they saw Devils and yet could not stir from the place where they sate to run from the Sight of them Chains of Darkness that tyed them fast that they could not stir So that the Devil may Roar and Rage and Terrifie and the VVretches not able to stir an Inch from under his Power and Terror The Fearful Estate of Damned Souls in Scripture is called Darkness utter Darkness Chains of Darkness I need not to cite Places And why Darkness Because the Sun Moon and Stars shine not there as they do here Because no Candle there The other World hath nothing to do with such Bodily Lights as these These are Lights for Bodily Creatures not for Souls and Spirits The Holy Ghost tells you that in Heaven where there is all Light yet there is nothing to do with such Lights as these Rev. xxii 5 And there shall be no Night there and they need no Candle neither Light of the Sun for the Lord God giveth them Light Is there Darkness in Hell and utter Darkness where is so much Fire and such Flames Luke xvi 24 There Dives speaks of his being tormented in Flames Fire and Flames and yet Darkness It is the Fire of that Indignation mentioned in the Epistle to the Hebrews that consumes them and that very Fire brings that Darkness with it Darkness for there is not one Spark of God's Favour appearing there nothing but Indignation Indignation And not one Beam of Favour appearing thro' any Chink there Everlasting Burning and no Intermission The VVorm never dies and never but gnawing and the Fire never quenched and never but scorching And it is Darkness because there is no common preserving Providence shining or appearing there God's shews not himself in the least Glimpse of his Care or Tenderness or Preservation there Their State is call'd Outer Darkness Mat. xxv 30 not Utter Darkness only as we say Utter Extremity c. but Outer Darkness The Phrase is very considerable It may be understood Darkness that is without that is Darkness that is out of Heaven As the Heathen are said to be without that is were out of the Church but there the Expression is only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Those that are OUT But this Expression is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Darkness that is OUTER as if he should say that Darkness that is beyond the other Darkness And we may very well interpret it the Indignation of God against the Wicked in Hell beyond the Indignation of God against them here his casting them off and casting off his Care of them in Hell beyond his casting them off and casting off his Care of them here His Wrath and his casting them off here is very black and dark but there it is Outer Darkness a Darkness beyond this Darkness And now think with your selves how fearful a Surprizal that Soul is surprized withal When it is just departed out of the Body it is as it were midwived into the other World by the Devil and the first thing it sees there is that it sees it self in the Paws of the Devil It makes me remember the Story in Saligniacus A Company of Travellers that went to visit the Holy Land would needs for Religion-sake forsooth bathe themselves in Jordan there where John Baptized And as they were refreshing sporting and delighting themselves in the Water and swimming suddenly there comes a Crocodile a dreadful Dragon of the Waters and lays hold of a Frenchman by Profession
shall not enter We are upon Catechistical Method to instruct the Ignorant in the necessary Points of Religion And according to that Task I shall speak only to that which is plain undeniable and necessary I. God hath ever had a Church since the beginning and will have to the end of the World As the Cherubins Wings touched both Sides of the House of the Lord and met in the middle so the Church touches both ends of the World beginning and end and continues all along the Space between No Generation in which there have not been some that truly professed the Name of God and belonged to him For we may take that for a handsome Definition of the Church 2 Tim. ii 19 The Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his and Let every one that nameth the Name of Christ depart from Iniquity It is a People that belong to God call on the Name of God and depart from Iniquity I might trace in Scripture the Footsteps of such a People and Church from Generation to Generation from Adam to Christ. But let the Apostle do it for me Heb. xi But how can we trace it from Christ to these times This is the great Question of the Papists Where was your Church before Luther How is it possible to trace Religion and the Church from Christ hitherto but in the Church of Rome Why That there hath been a true Church ever since Christ and will be to the end of the VVorld Christ hath assured us by that Matth. xvi 18 The Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it And to that reflecteth that 2 Tim. ii 19 The Foundation of God standeth sure Not to be shaken down not to be brought to nothing And that speaketh to the same Tenor that Christ's Kingdom should be everlasting and have no end Dan. ii 44 Which shall never be destroyed And Psal. cxlv 13 Thy Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and thy Dominion endureth throughout all Generations It is to endure throughout all Generations No Generation to be in which is not some part of that Kingdom II. But for clearing we must distinguish 'twixt the Church visible and invisible known of God and seen of Men. The Apostle makes this Distinction 1 Cor. i. 2 To the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints with all that in every Place call upon the Name of Jesus Christ. Sanctified and called to be Saints differ from all that profess and take on them to call on the Name of Christ. Psal. lxxxiii 3 They have consulted against thin hidden ones Hidden from the Eyes of Men that Men do not know nor own them for the People of God but he knows and sees them 2 Tim. ii 19 The Foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth those that are his They are under Seal as a sealed Letter which Men cannot read as a sealed Treasure which Men cannot see But God knows those that are his First VVe must say God hath ever had a Church but cannot say he hath ever had a visible Church Psal. xiv 1 2 3. The Fool hath said in his Heart there is no God They are corrupt they have done abominable Works There is none that doth Good c. VVhere was then a visible Church Yet there was then a Church Ver. 4. Have all the Workers of Iniquity no Knowledge Who eat up my People as they eat Bread There was a People of God but the VVicked would devour them and eat them up Look before the Flood Gen. vi 12 And God looked upon the Earth and behold it was corrupt For all Flesh had corrupted their Ways upon the Earth VVhere was a visible Church See ver 9. These are the Generations of Noah Noah was a just Man and perfect in his Generations And Noah walked with God There was a poor handful in the Family of Noah known of God but despised of Men. Look among Israel in Egypt VVhere would you look for a Church but among them Yet see Ezek. xx 7 8. Then I said unto them Cast ye away every Man the Abomination of his Eyes and defile not your selves with the Idols of Egypt But they rebelled against me and would not hearken unto me They did not every Man cast away the Abominations of his Eyes neither did they forsake the Idols of Egypt Where was a visible Church then when the Nation generally followed the Idols of Egypt Yet God had then his invisible Church Cohath Amram Aaron Moses c. One for all 1 Kin. xix 14 18. I have been very jealous for the Lord God of Hosts because the Children of Israel have forsaken thy Covenant thrown down thy Altars and slain thy Prophets with the Sword and I even I only am left Yet saith God I have left me seven Thousand in Israel c. Elias was quick-sighted to have observed one that served God and one that did not and yet he did not see one that did but himself Yet God had Seven Thousand of his hidden ones Knees that had not bowed to Baal and Mouths that had not kissed him Secondly There is no Salvation out of the Church but there may be Salvation out of the visible Church As Multitudes that are in the visible Church are not saved So some out of it may be saved I speak not this to encourage any to neglect being of the visible Church but to shew the necessity of the Distinction we are upon as to the right stating the Notion of the Church in Point of Conscience On one Hand there are some in the visible Church that are more abominable than ever were the Heathen Are there not some of the Church of England or Holland that will be called Christians that are as abominable Atheists Drunkards Whoremongers as ever were any of the Heathen Of such kind of Christians the Apostle complained 1 Cor. v. 11 But now I have written unto you not to keep Company If any Man that is called a Brother be a Fornicator or Covetous or an Idolater or a Railer or a Drunkard or an Extortioner with such an one no not to eat Implying that there were some called a Brother a Christian yet a Fornicator c. and one that was not fit to be companied withal And Phil. iii. 18 19. For many walk of whom I have told you often and now tell you even weeping that they are the Enemies of the Cross of Christ. Whose end is Destruction whose God is their Belly and whose Glory is in their Shame who mind earthly things And Tit. i. 16 They profess that they know God but in Works they deny him being abominable and disobedient and to every good Work reprobate Is not the greatest Company in any visible Church either such open profane or careless Christians or downright Hypocrites Are there not Ten an Hundred of such for One that truly fears God Well when we speak of the
some Hundreds of Years all this Western World was Popish Italy Spain France England Germany and no Religion visible in all these Countries but Popery The Name of Protestant not owned the Protestant Religion not to be seen And where was then your Religion say the Papists to us To whom to give a full Answer let us compound these three or four things together We must tell them or else we speak not as the Truth is that the Popish Religion was far from being the true Religion and the Popish Church from being the true Church all that time or from ever being so I shall not insist upon many Arguments to prove this I shall only give you one Argument from a Scriptural Reason and one Consideration of a Scriptural Expression The Argument from a Scriptural Reason is this That Church that is built more on Traditions and Doctrines of Men than on the Word of God is no true Church nor Religion But the Church of Rome is built more upon Traditions and Doctrines of Men than on the VVord of God Ergo. The Foundation of the true Church of God is Scripture Eph. ii 20 And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets But if you look upon what the whole Frame of Popery is built you will find it upon a Sand of Humane Tradition That the Pope is Head of the Church that he pardons Sin rules over Princes where find you this in Scripture They are but Points of the cursed Inventions of Men. That Priests can sing Souls out of Purgatory that the Service of God should be in an unknown Tongue that the Priests can change the Bread into a God and generally the whole Rabble of their Romish Religion hath not so much as any one underpinning of Scripture Warrant but all founded upon the rotten Trash of Humane Invention and Self-ends The Scriptural Expression to be considered is that Title of Rome Rev. xvii 5 MYSTERY Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth For that it speaks of Rome is plain ver 18. The Woman which thou sawest is the great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth And described even as the Roman Writers themselves do describe her ver 9. The Seven Heads are Seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth She is stiled Mystery Babylon She was a Mystery of Iniquity Babylon while she takes upon her Sion Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth when she takes upon her to be Mother of all Churches and the only Spouse of Christ in the World A Jezabel as Rev. ii 20 that takes on her to be a Prophetess but is a Seducer And Mysterious is the Providence of God in permitting such a Deceiver that should seduce all the Western World with a general Seduction It is observed that Popery and Mahometism rose together one overwhelmed all the East the other the West Where had been Glorious Churches there this Smoke of the Bottomless Pit clouded and darkened all And it is observable that wheresoever the Gospel had been these two came and spoiled all And Popery the more abominable than the other because under the Name of Christ and the Gospel it led Men from Christ and the Gospel We may say upon Thoughts of both as it is Rev. xvi 5 Thou art righteous O Lord which art and wast and shalt be because thou hast judged thus Because they received not the Love of the Truth that they might be saved it was just with thee Righteous God to send them strong Delusions that they might believe a Lie That they all might be damned that believed not the Truth but had Pleasure in Unrighteousness 2 Thess. ii 10 11 12. So that to question where was the Church of God before Luther we must answer 1. That the Roman Church was not it for that was but Babylon the Mystery of Iniquity the Plague of God upon the World for not receiving the Love of Divine Truth 2. Wheresoever there were any in that time that kept to the Truth of God they were the Church of God Ubi Imperator ibi Roma So wheresoever the true Profession of the Truth was there the Church was Where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in the midst of them The Seven Thousand that worshipped not Baal were the true Church I shall not insist to shew that even in the thickest and darkest Times of Popery there were other Churches in the World that were not infected with that Plague as the Grecians Abyssines c. But even Stories do shew that even within the Compass of the Popish Church there were some in all Ages that held to the Truth of God and Abominated the Wickedness and Delusions of the Church But if any such could not be named yet God never left himself without Witness and it hath ever been the Glorious Providence of God to preserve a Noah in a wicked old World a Lot in Sodom an Abraham in an Idolatrous Chaldea a Job in Heathen Arabia and a Jeremy in a most wicked Jerusalem a Church to himself in the worst Times But observe that the Church of God is the least part of the World and so the least part of the visible Church We must distinguish the Church in Opposition to the World and in Opposition to Hypocrites and carnal Gospellers So the Scripture nameth Saints in Opposition to the Heathen and in Opposition to unholy Christians Now take the Word in this latter Sense which is the most proper and the true Church of God is the least part of the Church I deny not that the Church of England Scotland and Ireland is a true Church of God in regard of outward Profession But there are Multitudes in these that are not the true Church in regard of sincere Profession but profane Hypocrites Castaways Imagine a great Parish or Congregation that meet together and in the Church hear and wait on the Ordinances and have the Word and Ordinances truly administred They attend upon them in outward Attendance but out of the Church are Profane and Ungodly We cannot but say here is a Church in Opposition to the Heathen a true Church in Opposition to a false where the Ordinances are not rightly administred Yet we cannot say this is a true and sincere Church of God because they do but outwardly profess and not at all Practice So Israel professed went to the Temple Es. i. had Ordinances rightly administred This was a true Church so far But they lied sware falsely committed Adultery oppressed the Innocent and such like Can we then say they were a true Church of God See that Eph. v. 25 26 27. Christ loved the Church and gave himself for it That he might sanctifie and cleanse it with the washing of Water by the Word That he might present it to himself a Glorious Church not having Spot or Wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be Holy and without Blemish Let us take up all these
Particulars 1. Christ loved his Church and gave himself for it What for all that make an outward Profession Adulterers Fornicators Drunkards and the like Doth he love such Doth he give himself for such Many and many better Professors shall be refused of Christ at the great Day because they were not sincere in their Profession tho' not so abominable in Conversation Mat. vii 22 23. Many will say to me in that Day Lord Lord have we not prophesied in thy Name and in thy Name have cast out Devils and in thy Name done many marvellous Works And then I will profess unto them I never knew you depart from me ye that Work Iniquity We cannot think that such were so abominable in their Conversation but Christ found they were not sincere in Profession The foolish Virgins we cannot imagine that they were Whores for they were Virgins Or that they were abominable in their Lives but they were foolish drowsie and negligent Now if Christ is so far from owning such as are so fair-carriaged think you he owns loves and gave himself for horrid Wretches that despise him 2. The true Church is cleansed sanctified without Spot or Wrinkle Look on the most nay almost all in the visible Church that make an outward Profession and do they carry such a Mark How few are there upon whose Conversation is Holiness to the Lord As Tit. i. 16 They profess that they know God but in Works deny him At Christ's Table there was One Devil to Eleven Saints in the visible Church it is well if there be one Saint to many Devils One of a City and Two of a Tribe like a few Berries after beating the Olive-Tree I may use the Stile of Eliphaz Job xxii 15 Hast thou marked the old way which wicked Men have trodden Mark the way of the World which most Men walk in Observe how unsuitable it is to the Gospel to the Example of Christ and the Discharge of a good Conscience And then look upon these Marks of the true Church of God And then judge whether it be not true that the Church of God is the least part of the VVorld and the least part of the Church visible Our Saviour asserts the former in Fear not little Flock c. Also the latter in Many are called but few are chosen Many in outward Profession in the visible Church but few truly the Church of God And so we may answer that Cavil of the Papists we spake of before Where was your Religion all the time of Popery Answer In the Scripture Had a Jew questioned a Heathen at his first Conversion Where was your Religion heretofore He might have answered In the Scriptures We profess nothing but what is in the Scripture As Acts xxvi 22 Saying none other things than those which the Prophets and Moses did say should come But where was our Church It was but invisible Some there were that worshipped God according to Scripture that he saw and knew tho' invisible and unknown to Men. That then that we are to believe in this Article is I. That God ordinarily hath had hath and will have a visible Church for the glorifying of his Word and Name But II. Tho' the Church be not visible yet God hath always some that belong to him and serve him And this is the Church of God tho' not to be discerned of Men. These most properly are the Church as Ecclesia signifies that is Called out A People called out of the World tho' in the World yet called out of it so that they are not of it Called off from the Course Way Doings of the World as it were into another Climate Many are called that is Have the Call held out to them but they follow it not called to but not called out But these as the Apostles did follow the Call of Christ and forsake the World Called to be Saints and they become Saints or Holy Now for further Explication and Illustration of this Article I shall descend to enquire into two Questions I. Whether every Christian who is bound to believe that there is a Church is bound also to believe that he is of this Church II. How far Christians are obliged to believe the Church that is Councils Synods or Primitive Fathers I. Whether every Christian is bound to believe that he is of this Church For certainly it seems strange for Men to believe as Standers by only as if they were not concerned in the thing believed I believe that there is a holy chosen number to be saved that God delights in them that they faithfully serve him and that they have Communion with God Forgiveness of their Sins But what is all this to thee What art thou the better for it And therefore certainly the Article hath further aim than to intend only a bare Belief But doth it reach to this I believe I am of this number To proceed gradually first let me observe two things by the way 1. That nothing is to be believed as a necessary Point of Faith but it concerns the Soul therefore believing of it must be to benefit the Soul Corde creditur ad justitiam With the Heart Man believeth to Righteousness It is not all to believe the thing is true but fâ—rther to believe so as the Soul may have Advantage Take an Instance One of the first things in Religion to be believed is That the Scriptures are the Word of God and divinely true This who believes not The Devil himself cannot deny it Nay he cited Scripture as the Word of God to our Saviour And there are Thousands in Hell that never made doubt of this Therefore the believing of this must have a further reach that the Soul may receive Benefit upon so believing 2. The believing the needful Points of Religion is not an Act of the Understanding only but of the Will and Conscience also It is a Question Whether Faith be an Act of the Understanding or Will And it is concluded of both especially the latter I believe that there was a Julius Caesar an Alexander Magnus Here is only an Act of the Understanding because I have no more to do with it but only to believe it But I believe that Christ was born died rose again that there is Forgiveness of Sins that there is a God an Heaven a Day of Judgment And in reference to these I have something more to do than barely to satisfie my Understanding that the things are true For I have to work my Will and Affections upon my Belief that my Soul may be benefited to Eternity These things premised let us apply to the thing in Hand Then I am not only barely to believe that there is a Church but my Soul is to be working upon this Belief for its Good to be affected in Heart according to the Import of the thing believed And this may be upon a twofold Reflexion When I say I believe a Holy Catholick Church that there is always a Company of