places wher they become yet is it most lively seen in their Assemblie and there he is very terrible For this cause did his people love the habitation of his house desired to dwel there al their dayes that they might be hold his bewtie and being absent from it their sowles thirsted for God saving when shal we come and appear before the presence of God for they knew his promise which had sayd In every place where I shal put the remembrance of my name I wil come vnto thee blesse thee they knew God was in the mids of his sanctuary it should not be moved he would help it very early But of this holy societie more is to be spoken particularly in another place CHAP. XII Of the Communion that we have with Iesus Christ our Mediatour IEsus Christ being God manifested in the flesh is given of the Father to be the onely mediatour between him and vs and he hath given him power to execute judgmēt in that he is the son of Man He is the head of the body of the Church in him all the buylding coupled togither groweth vnto an holy Temple in the Lord and we all are built togither in him to be the habitation of God by the Spirit he is the way the truth the life no man cometh to the Father but by him And of him and his mediation this Oracle was spoken of old to the Saincts that their Noble-ruler should be of thēselves their Governour Christ should proceed from the mids of them God would cause him to drawe neer and approach vnto himself when he should ascend and sit at his right hand to make intercession for vs for who is he els that warranteth his hart to come vnto me sayth the Lord And ye shal be my people and I wil be your God 2. As we are made the people and portion of God by Christ brought by him vnto the fellowship and glorie of his Father so is there a special fellowship and cōmunion that we have with Christ being caled therevnto of the Father as it is written God is faithful by whom ye are called vnto the communion of his Son Iesus Christ our Lord. And that this hath alwayes been the chief end and scope of God in al his Oracles since the world began to draw men vnto Christ so vnto himself is before shewed 3. The summe of the grace given vs through communion with our Lord Iesus is cōprised in those words of the Apostle saying that Christ is of God made vnto vs Wisdom and Iustice and Sanctification and Redemption These things he is vnto vs by vertue of his Mediatorship which consisteth in the three functions or offices of Prophecie Priesthood Kingdome committed vnto him by the Father For frō the in most holy place and from the bosom of the Father is he come to declare God vnto vs he is a Prophet raysed vp of the Lord to speak vnto vs al that he cōmanded him and him are we willed for to hear the yles are to wayt for his Law And as he being worthy obteyned to open the book that is in the right hand of him that sitteth on the throne to loose the seven seales thereof because all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge ar hid in him so having made knowen to vs al things that he heard of his Father having declared and stil declaring his Name by his word and spirit he is the Power of God and the wisdom of God vnto vs. And the things which he hath declared are two 1 the Law to shew vs our syn and the evils due for the same 2 the Gospel to shew vs our righteousnes by grace from God with the blessings that flow therfrō He also being our great high priest or sacrificer hath taken away our syns and al the evils accompanying them hath redeemed vs from the Curse of the Law finished wickednes sealed vp sins made reconciliatiō for iniquitie brought the gift of righteousnes or Iustice so by his obedience we ar made just grace shal reigne by justice vnto eternall life through Iesus Christ our Lord whose blood doth also purge our consciences from dead works to serv the Living God and by the same hath he sanctified his people and contineweth a Priest for ever and is both our Iustice Sanctification Finally this our redemtion from evil and restauration vnto happines he conserveth maynteyneth by his mighty power frō al enemies whō hee hath subdued vnder his owne feet wil also subdue vnder ours and is therfore named our King whom al kings shal worship al nations shal serv who wil redeem our sowles from deceit violence wil giv vs also the redemption of our bodie and cause our last enimy Death to be swallowed vp in victorie so wil be our ful Redemptiō for ever ever at his appearing with glorie in the day of Redemptiō 4. More particularly touching his Prophesie and our communion with him therin as God gave him for a witnes to the people for a Prince and a Commander vnto them so shewed he himself to be a faithful and true witnesse in that he spake to the world the things which he had heard of the Father This he did in his own person whiles he walked with mē teaching the true meaning and end of al his Fathers Law and vrging the syncere keeping of it in Love freeing it also from the false glosses and leaven of the Pharisees and cutting down their traditions for the Lord to this end had made his mouth like a sharp sword that by the breath of his lips he might slay the wicked He also taught the glad tidings of the Gospel vnto the poor therby healing the broken harted preaching deliverance to the captives recovering of sight to the blind and the acceptable yere of the Lord that whosoever should hear his word and beleev in him that sent him should hav everlasting life and not come into condemnation but was passed from death vnto life So he hid not his Fathers righteousnes within his hart but declared his truth and his salvation he conceled not his mercy and his truth from the great congregation but preached peace and comfort to his people For God had given him a tongue of the Learned that he might know to minister a word in time to him that is weary grace was powred in his lips and they they were like lillies dropping down pure myrrh and his mouth was sweet things 5. As in his own person so did he by others publish the will of his Father vsing hereto the ministerie both of men and Angels He gave and stil giveth the gifts of ministery vnto many men above al other he furnished his
THE COMMVNION of Saincts A treatise of the fellowship that the faithful have with God and his Angels and one with an other in this present life Gathered out of the holy Scriptures by H. A. Let thy hand help me Lord for I have chosen thy precepts Psal. 119. 173. Imprinted at Amsterdam by Giles Thorp 1607. To the Christian Reader Grace mercy and peace from God be multiplied THe communion of Christians with the Lord and among themselves is a doctrine good reader both needful and comfortable to be knowen for it is the stay and strength of the soule in many tentations and the meanes to conseâ—v the Church stedfast in faith and love And if in this point mens minds be setled aright vpon the ground of Gods word they wil be as the boards of the Tabernacle standing vpright with their tenons sastened in sockets of silver For what is sweeter to a troubled conscience then the assurance of salvation and what is better to stablish our weak fainting faith then when both flesh and hart do fayl to know feel that God is the rock of our hart and our portion for ever Againe how good is it how pleasant for brethren to dwel togither in vnity like the pretious ointment on Aarons head the dew on the mountains of Sion God hath appointed his holy son Iesus to be the head and governour of his people the author of eternal salvation to al the that obey him He hath set vp also the kingdome of Christ on earth which is his Church the pillar and ground of truth He is the light of the world whom al must folow that would have the light of life Ierusalem his spowse is made bright by his glory the people which ar saved shal walk in the light of it He is the Father this the mother of vs al. Of the Son it is said happy ar al that shrowd in him for he is our hiding place from the wind our refuge from the tempest of Gods wrath of Sion also it is said yâ— the poor of his people shal shrowd in it for there hath the Lord created a clowd by day and flaming fyre by night as when he brought his Israel out of Aegypt vpon al the glorie is a defence there is a shadow in the day for the heat a refuge shelter for the storm and for the rayn It is requisit therfore that al men come to Christ if they would have life and by him vnto the Father abide in communion with them both that they may be found in him and haue the justice which is of God through faith that they may know him and the vertue of his resurrection and the fellowship of his afflictions be made coÌ„formable vnto his death this is as the first and great commandement of the law the second is like vnto it that they seek the place which he hath chosen to put his name there love the place wher his honour dwelleth wher he feedeth causeth his flock to ly-down at noon that thither they bring their riches their glory honour that of every such one the Lord may count when he writeth the people He was born there that so being Christs and children of the free woman heyres by promise they may receiv forgivnes of syns and inheritance among theÌ„ which ar sanctified by faith in him for he hath sayd that his elect shal inherit his mountayn his servants shal dwel there But two things ther are which wil hinder our feet froÌ„ running this way if we beware not of them the one is too much liberty which many men take in the faith of the gospel and obedience of the same whiles they turn Gods grace into wantonnes and abuse his mercy to the fulfilling of their own lusts and licenciousnes wheras they should make an end of their salvation in fear and trembling knowing that even the righteous ar scarcely saved Whiles also they take boldnes to communicate in spiritual actions with any supposing that the syns of some or of the publick congregation cannot hurt them especially if in hart they disallow the evil and condemn the same Such men seem not to discern the nature of communion how far it reacheth or the contagioÌ„ of syn how far it infecteth They seem neyther to hav learned the Law which taught that a man by bearing or touching holy things was not himself made holy therby but a polluted person touching any of them made them vnclear nor the doctrine of the gospel which confirmeth that they which eat of the sacrifices ar par takers of the altar al they one bread one body which partake of one bread wher if ther be but a litle leaven it maketh sowr the whol lump And then look how farr they partake with other mens syns so farr ar they in daÌ„ger to receiv of their plagues The other impediment is over much straytnes which some men hav in their own bowels whiles their feeble consciences ar too much affected both with their own others infirmities Such had need to have their knowledg and faith increased their harts inlarged least by expecting a greater perfection in themselves and others then is to be found vpon earth they faint fall Let such look on the image of Christ as he is portrahed in the scriptures whiles the chastisemeÌ„â— of our peace was layd vpoÌ„ him so shal they find balme for their wounded consciences and healing for their sowles by his stripes and their shivered bones wil reioyce â—or of his cup must we al drinck our parts be baptised with his baptisme into his death before we can tast the sweetnes of his life be vnder the rigor of that schole-maister the Law like servants ere we can perceiv the adoption of sons libertie of his faith and Gospel And if he which knew no syn and had but our syns imputed vnto him felt such feares and sorowes in his pretious sowl and was so smittâ—n of God and humbled so despised and reiected of the world what shal we exspect in whose â—leâ—h ther dwelleth no good thing Let them also look vpon the estate of Christs church in all ages from the beginning how it hath been vexed with troubles terrors within without they shal find Sions case to be continually as a woman in travel whose payns infirmities are sometimes so great that the children come to the birth and ther is no strength to bring forth And when they hav viewed the many tribulations through which the Lord hath led his people how he hath suffred them to be buffeted of Satan persecuted by enemies without and molested w th hypocrites within for their trial humiliation they wil confesse that we must walk here by
youth for now ther shal be no more curse but the throne of God of the Lamb that was slayn shal be in the city he wil be merciful vnto his land vnto his people The Angels saw this were glad for our salvation they sung at our Saviours birth Glory to God in the highest heavens and vpon earth peace towards men goodwill And when he was glorified the thowsand thowsands of them praysed him saying worthy is the Lamb that was killed to receiv power and riches and wisdome and strength and honour and glory and prayse The heavens rejoyced for that the Lord had done the lower parts of the earth showted the mountaynes forrests and every tree burst forth into prayses for that the Lord had redeemed Iaakob would be glorified in Israel and al creatures in heaven in earth vnder the earth and in the sea al that are in them gave Praise honour and glorie power vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the Lamb for ever more Amen 14. This grace was the Wisedom of God in a mysterie the hidden wisedom which God had fore-determined before the world vnto our glorie but it was hid from the eyes of al the living hid from the fowls of the heaveÌ„ none of the Princes of this world knew it no ye had seen it nor ear heard it neyther came it into mans hart onely God vnderstood the Way thereof and from the beginning of the world it was kept secret and hid in him and stil he hideth it from the wise men of vnderstanding neyther can the natural perceiv it vntil he revele it vnto them by his spirit which spirit sercheth al things even the deep things of God and by it we know the things that are given to vs of God 15. And now he hath opened vnto vs the mysterie of his will according to his good pleasure which he had purposed in Christ he hath proclaymed vnto the ends of the world that the Saviour of the daughter Sion is come his wages with him and his work before him that we might cleerly see the fellowship of the mystery might be able to coÌ„prehend with al Saincts what is the bredth and length and depth and height to know the lov of Christ which passeth knowledge and might be filled with al fulnes of God who hath given vs bewty for ashes the oyl of ioy for mourning the garment of gladnes for the spirit of heavines because our ‡ warfare is accomplished and our iniquitie is pardoned For while we were yet sinners Christ died for vs and when wee were enemies we were reconciled to God by his death and now shal be saved by his life for the chastisement of our peace was vpon him and with his stripes we are healed he hath washed vs from our syns in his blood and purged our conscience from dead works to serve the living God and is gone vp into very heaven to appear now in the sight of God for vs and there to prepare vs a place that where he is we may be also From whence he wil shortly shew himself with his mightie Angels to be glorified in his Saincts and made marveilous in them that beleev who after that they have drunk of his cup been baptised into his death and buriall and walked with him in newnes of life in this vale of tears and fulfilled the rest of his afflictions in their flesh shal have their vile bodies changed fashioned like to his glorious bodie the dead being raysed vp incorruptible and such as live remayn being chaÌ„ged and caught vp with them also in the clowds to meet the Lord in the ayre and so shall they ever be with the Lord their faces shyning as the Sun in the kingdome of their Father 16. Although this mysterie of Christ was not opened vnto the sons of men in other ages as it was at last reveled vnto his holy Apostles and Prophets by the spirit yet was the effect and summe therof made known to all the Patriarchs from the beginning For Iesus Christ was yesterday is to day the same for ever Abraham saw his day and was glad Abel also by faith in him obteyned testimonie that he was righteous which faith he learned of his father Adam who heard of God the riches of this grace freely preached in paradise before the sentence of exile and death was pronounced vpon him namely that the womans seed should crush the Serpents head who also was shewed the way to be by death and sacrifice a shadow wherof he saw in the Lambs then slayn and sacrificed in the service of the Lord. The great afflictions of Christ and of his people wer foretold in the Serpents crushing of his â—eel and the enmitie between the womans seed that Serpents foreshewed also in the murder of Abel the iust by Cain his wicked brother To Christ gave all the Prophets witnes that through his name all that beleeved in him should receive remission of syns and the twelve tribes instantly serving God night day hoped to come vnto this promise So in this hope and exspectation of redemption by the Son of God the Fathers rested and comforted their fainting sowles by faith the evidence of things not seene by which faith they saw the promises a farr off were perswaded saluted them confessed that they were strangers and pilgroms vpon earth and so died having through their faith obteyned testimony but received not the promise God providing a better thing for vs that they without vs should not be made perfect but in patient hope passe out their dayes on earth after death wayt al the dayes of their appoynted time til their changing shall come and then stand vp in their lot with vs and al Saincts at the end of the dayes 17. But al this grace and riches of the glorious mysterie now manifested to the Saincts which is Christ in vs the hope of glory God did not communicate with al men neyther yet doeth save with some few chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world Which little flock have their election not by works but by him that caleth according to the good pleasure of his own wil who without any vnrighteousnes hath mercy on whom he wil and whom he will he hardneth having made as the clay-potter of one lump some men vessels of mercie prepared vnto glorie some vessels of wrath prepared to destruction which yet notwithstanding have many favours and benefits from God to draw them to repentance out of the snare of Satan but all in vayn for they despise the grace proffered vnto them and run headlong into the condemnation whereto they were of old ordeyned
afflictions ar more then conquerours through him that loved them For they account the suffrings of this preseÌ„t time not worthy of the glory which shal be shewed vnto them they consider Christ their head who for the joy that was set before him endured the crosse and despised the shame and is set at the right hand of the throne of God who when he was both in name power a Lion appeared as a Lamb killed yet behold he is alive for evermore Amen and hath the keyes of hel and of death And he it is that raiseth vp his children fioÌ„ death he wil prophesie and their dispersed bones shall come togither sinewes and flesh shall grow vpon them breath shall enter into theÌ„ they stand vpoÌ„ their feet an exceeding great army For in their tribulations they have but washed their garments white in his blood and this is al the fruit the taking away of their syn and the more the adversaries vex them thinking to root them out the more they multiply grow by patient suffering they triumph and by dying dayly they attayn to life eternal And God who hath chastened theÌ„ with rods for their good will turn his hand vpoÌ„ their enemies scourge theÌ„ with scorpioÌ„s they shal wring out and drink the dreggs of this cup of wrath he that made them wil not have compassion of them and he that formed them will have no mercie on them the beasts shal be destroyed and given to the burning fyre the righteous shal have dominion over them in the morning The zele of the Lord of hosts wil performe it The Lord preserveth the sowles of his Saincts he wil deliver them from the hand of the wicked Psalm 97. 10. CHAPT XXI How the peace and communion of the Church is disturbed by troubles syns within it self BVt it is a smal thing for Satan thus to molest the Saincts with troubles from abroad for he hath meanes and instruments many in the church it self to work the woe yea often the ruine of the same he most delighteth to kindle contentions among brethren knowing that such things are most offensive vnto God heavie to his people give to the enemie occasion of reproch The means are two that he chiefly vseth herevnto 1. the infirmities of the Saincts who though they would do good yet through syn that dwelleth in theÌ„ oft times doe the evil which they hate 2. the iniquities of false brethren and hypocrites who alwayes are corrupted in themselves and seek to bring corruptioÌ„ into the whol body of the church 2. For wheÌ„ the faithful through coÌ„mune â—iaylty defyle their precious sowles and bodies through the remaynders of â—yn both the enemies without take occasioÌ„ to blaspheme and the brethren within to stumble contend as Moses was murmured against by his owne sister and brother because he had maried an Aethiopian wife And God himself is often angry with the whol church and punisheth many for the fault of a few as wheÌ„ David synned in numbring the people God in displeasure plagued Israel that of them there died seventie thowsand men Again the home-bred warrs and dessentions are heavier to the brethrens harts then al forreyn troubles many weak ones are offended no lesse then was Rebekah who feeling the childreÌ„ to strive in her bodie made question of her conception and sayd If it be so why am I thus But above al the hypocrites in hart doe increase wrath oft-times molest the church of which they ar not though they be in the same like the Apes peacocks in SolomoÌ„s ships being in deed the serpents seed and apperteyning to an other kingdome then Christs yet are thrust among the Saincts through Satans malice for to annoy them God also permitting this for the trial of his elect By these means the litle bark of Christs church hathever been tossed as with winds and tempests and is like ever to be so lâ—g as it is on the seas of this world that none may look for Angelical perfection or absolute peace vpon the earth 3. The Saincts ar subject if they be not wary hav their wits exercised to discerne good and evil to be caried about with divers and strange doctrines to fal into errors heresies idolatries Satan rayseth vp even among the teachers of the church some speaking perverse things to draw disciples after theÌ„ and the people many of them ar through their owne corruption prone vnto vice even set on mischief The children of Israel living in Aegipt defiled themselves with the abominations and idols of that land being brought out into the wildernes and informed in the statuts of the Lord they ther rebelled against him sinned stil provoked the most High teÌ„pted God and limited the holy one of Israel made them a molten calf sayd this is thy God ô Israel that brought thee out of the laÌ„d of Aegipt coÌ„mitted great blasphemies When they were entred into the good laÌ„d promised to their fathers there also they mingled themselves among the hethen learned thir works and served their idols which were their ruine False prophets ther were many among them that seduced the people to errour and idolatrie strengthned their haÌ„ds in evil preached peace to the wicked put pillowes vnder their armes but smote the righteous grieved and killed what in theÌ„ lay the sowls of such as should not hav died False teachers the Apostle sayth ther wil be also amongst vs which privily shal bring in damnable heresies eveÌ„ denying the Lord that hath bought them The primitive churches had woful experience herof whiles in Galatia they wer soon remooved away to an other gospel being bewitched by their misleaders who vnder pretence of the law of God abolished them from Christ and made them fal from grace And in many other churches false doctrine fretted as a canker and destroyed the faith of certayn whiles some taught the resurrection was past already some with Iezabel BalaaÌ„ perswaded to eat of things sacrificed to idols and to commit fornication with other hateful doctrine of the NicolaitaÌ„s idolatrous doctrine of worshiping Angels Christ the head being let goe the grace of God turned to wantonnes God the onely Lord our Lord Iesus Christ denyed Antichrist even many Antichrists entred in to deceyv destroy mens sowles 4. By such seducers much trouble discord was wrought amoÌ„g the people some of ignorance some of wilfulnes receiving and walking in their errors by whom the way of truth was evil spoken of others opposing against them and earnestly contending for the faith once given to the Saincts Especially the Apostles and other trustie ministers of Christ to whose care the sowles of men were coÌ„mitted set themselves against those falsers by the word of truth by the
spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Iesus whiles he remayneth in that impenitencie and excommunicate estate al Christians ar to avoyd him al communion with him as the Iewes avoyded hethens and publicans 4. The keeping of this rule causeth much peace in the communioÌ„ of the Saincts for by this orderly dealing with the partie all whispering Backbiting slandering and calumniating one of another are stayed syns which reign in deed among the profane work lings and hethens but ar not sufferable in the citie of the Lord. By this occasions of grief and contention ar cut off for as without wood the fyre is quenched so without a whisperer strife is silent By this eyther the synner is amended wherat men Angels doe rejoyce or the church atleast weise purged of the evil for he that hardneth his neck when he is often rebuked shal sodainly be broken off and can not be cured but the churches wound is cured hereby as an other proverb sayth Cast out the scorner and strife shal go out so contention reproch shal cease 5. But if the syn be openly coÌ„mitted then must the synner be rebuked openly that others also may fear or if it be of such a nature as tendeth to the seducing of men froÌ„ God though he that entiseth be neer and dear vnto vs we are forbidden to spare or keep him secret for so may many be defiled by his privy suggestions Or if any secret hypocritical practise be seen to impeach the truth of the Gospel or vpright walking therin such ought in publick to be reproved as Paul for the like fault blamed Peter before al meÌ„ Or if the crime be heighnous bloody daÌ„gerous to the life of others by treason or trecherie such mischief is both to be beâ—â—ed prevented and punished and bloodshed so defileth the land 〈◊〉 it cannot be clensed but by the blood of him that shed it such therefore sayth Solomon shal flee to 〈◊〉 grave let them not stay him 6. The foresayd censures of Christ for rebuke and excommunication ar to be inflicted vpon al the members of the church without †respect of persons as for other syns so specially for errors heresies contentions against the true faith For an heretick must be reiected after one and the second admonition they that teach or receiv doctrines which they ought not must be rebuked sharply that they may be sound in the faith they that cause divisions and offences contrarie to the doctrine learned must be diligently marked and avoyded and such disquieters of the church to be cut off Generally al synners al vnruly persons ar liable to the Saincts admonitions and if any lust to be contentious the churches of God have no such custome for the Lord is author of peace in them al neither may the wicked be suffred to remayn in the coÌ„munioÌ„ of his people but judgment must be execued in the morning neyther may any favour evil doers for he that iustifieth the wicked him sayth Solomon shall the peoples curse the nations shal abhorr him but to them that rebuke that be plesant 〈…〉 vpon them shal come the blessing of good 7. The causes why the Saincts must thus redresse the evils that arise among them are these First for the glorie of God who commanded this duty in his law playâ—y to rebuke our neighbour that so vpon warning and sight of his syn he might bring his sacrifice reconcile himself vnto the Lord wâ—â— he had offended which if he regâ—ded not but should doe oug 〈…〉 with a high hand he then was sayd to blaspheme the Lord and must be 〈…〉 off from among his people because 〈…〉 despised the word of the Lord 〈…〉 broke his coÌ„mandement God thâ— who is dishonoured by mens transgressions wil again be glorified among them eyther by their confession of or punishment for the same For his way is holy the polluted may not passe by it they defile his sanctuarie and holy things therefore they must sanctifie themselves that draw neer vnto him for holines becometh his howse for ever 8. Secondly for the good of the synner himself who by these admonitions rebukes and censures is often-tymes bettered especially if he be the Lords elect For a prudent man when he is reprooved wil vnderstand knowledge and a rebuke sinketh more into him then a hundred stripes into a fool the ceÌ„sures of the church ar for his huÌ„bling salvatioÌ„ of his spirit in the day of the Lord. We owe this therfore as a dutie of love vnto our brethren for their good seing love covereth a multitude of syns that is done when we convert the synner from going astray and save his sowl from death And hervpoÌ„ it was that God gave that Law of rebukes in these words Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thy 〈◊〉 thou shalt plainly rebuke thy neighâ—â—â—â— suffer not syn vpon him For what greater hatred can ther be shewed then to see and suffer our brothers sowl to perish therfore Solomon was not afrayd to say that open rebuke was better then secret love And David minding this did desire thâ—â— the righteous might smite him fâ—â— it should be a benefit and r 〈…〉 him for it should be a precious 〈◊〉 which hewished might not fail◠〈…〉 being on his head How ever then the wicked esteem of this heavenly ordinance and hate those that rebuke them for which cause Christ forbad to cast these holy thingâ—â— pearles to dogs swine which would but rent the giver and Solomon to speak in the â—ares of a fool which would despise the wisdom of their words yet he sayth rebuke â— wise maÌ„ he wil love thâ—â— And an other prophet sheweth how men that by such wounds are drawen to amendment of life will acknowledg say thus was I wouÌ„ded in the howse of my friends To verifie the proverb which teacheth that howsoever the kisses of an enemy be pleasant the wounds of a lover are faithful 9. A third cause of these censures is the benefit of the church that it may be kept from the contagion corruptioÌ„ of synners which is great and dangerous For in asmuch as they ar al one body and brotherhood the fault of a few yea even of one may be a snare vnto the whol companie This Israel felt of old when for Achans syn the Lord chastised the whol congregation yea told them they were execrable and sayd he would be with them no more except they destroyed the excerable thing froÌ„ among them And that correctâ—â— was a warning to the church a good while after and made them for fear of the like again severely to look to their brethrens actions wheÌ„ they seemed evil in their eyes and to say