the Unity of Faith c. § 3. Those Pastors and Teachers are called Elders 1 Pet. 5.1 Elder is a name of Office in the Church of God Elders are indeed fixed Officers for Rule and Government who are to be counted worthy of double Honour 1 Tim. 5.17 They are also called Bishops Phil. 1.1 And the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Act. 20.17 were called Bishops Act. 20.28 (f) Act. 20.17 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 28. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 over which the holy Spirit hath made you Overseers or Bishops The Office of a Pastor Bishop and Presbyter or Elder in the Church of God is to take the Charge Oversight and Care of those Souls which the Lord Jesus Christ hath committed to them to feed the Flock of God to watch for their Souls (g) Act. 20.28 Heb. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Tim. 3.15 Isa 33.22 to Rule Guide and Govern them by virtue of their Commission and Authority received from Christ Mat. 28.18 19 20. Titus 2.15 according to the Laws Constitutions and Ordinances of the Gospel § 4. The Office of Episcopacy and Presbytery or Eldership in the Church of God is Divine and Sacred but not Lordly 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. (h) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 prospicientes neque ut dominantes Cleris c. neither over-ruling the Clergy No Bishop Pastor or Presbyter is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Master of the House of God which is the Church of the Living God but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Steward or Dispensor of the Mysteries of God 1 Cor. 4.1 2. The Apostles Bishops Pastors and Teachers were Fellow-Elders 1 Pet. 5.1 The Elders which are among you I exhort who am a Fellow-Elder (i) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. But they were not all of equal Dignity and Authority § 5 It doth appear at least I think so and indeed it is my Opinion that there was even from the Beginning of the Gospel of the Grace of God a Priority and Pre-eminence among the Ministers of Christ approved of God yea and appointed by himself in the Church (k) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. 1 Cor. 12.28 29. And God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets thirdly Teachers after that miracles then gifts of healings helps governments diversities of Tongues Are all Apostles are all Prophets are all Teachers are all workers of miracles Christ gave Priority and Pre-eminence unto his Apostles above the Ordinary Prophets and Evangelists Pastors and Teachers and all other Ministers Eph. 4.11 (l) 2 Cor. 2.9 11.28 2 Thes 3.6 The Evangelists Timothy and Titus called Bishops in the subscriptions of St. Paul's Epistles to them both in our English Bibles and in the Greek Testament had Authority and Pre-eminence above other Pastors Teachers and Elders in the Ephesian Church and in Crete 1 Tim. 1.3 As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other Doctrine Titus 1.5 10 11 13. and 2.15 and 3.10 11. For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City as I had appointed thee For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers especially they of the Circumcision whose mouths must be stopped who subvert whole houses teaching things which they ought not for filthy lucres sake This witness is true wherefore rebuke them sharply that they may be sound in the Faith These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all Authority Let no man despise thee A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject Knowing that he that is such is subverted and sinneth being condemned of himself § 6. And the consonant Testimonies of the Antients with the general consent of Modern Divines and Protestaâ—â— Writers of good esteem and approbation do assent and acknowledge That Timothy and Titus were not only Evangelists but Bishops set and fixed by some of the Apostles to Oversee Order and Govern Churches Ordain Bishops and Presbyters and to exercise Authority over them according to the Laws Canons and Constitutions of Christ and his Apostles given unto them Walo (m) Walo alias Salmas lib. de Episc pag 229. Titum Cretae Insulae praefecit Paulus qui non singulari in aliqua Civitate Episcopus fuit sed totam illam Provinciam ad tempus procuraret c. called Salmasius who professedly pleaded for the Identity of Bishops and Presbyters confessed concerning the Antients that Chrysostome Epiphanius Theophylact Theodoret and other Greek Commentators have collected out of the words of St. Paul That Titus was verily the Bishop of Crete (n) Hierom. de Eccles script Ephesiorum Episcop à Paulo ordinatus c. Hierom hath recorded both Timothy and Titus Bishops the one of Ephesus and the other of Crete to whom (o) Ambros in Praefat. ad Timoth. c. 3. hunc creatum Episcopum c. Ambrose Primasius and (*) Gregor Pap. de Curat Past part 2. c. 11. Primaâ— in Trin. Gregory the Great do consent so do Reverend Beza (p) Beza de Minist gra cap. 22. Habuit jam tum Presbyterium suum aliquem 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Presbyterum etiam Presbyterorum manente communi appellatione Learned Scultetus Luther Master Moulin Tossanus Zuinglius Calvin Dr. Gerard Dr. Reynolds and several others assert and acknowledge That the Presbytery had their Presbyter or President over them in the Apostolical Age when the community of Names of Presbyters and Bishops remained among them Such were Timothy and Titus whom the Apostles ordained Bishops 1 Tim. 4.14 2 Tim. 1.6 Titus 1.5 Scultetus in Titum cap. 8. p. 10. At Paulus Ephesi in Creta aliquandiu docuerat ideo Titum Timotheum in Creta jubet manere non utique ut Evangelistas sed Ecclesiae Gubernatores c. Luther tom 1. fol. 309. conclus 13. Probo quamlibet civitatem habere debere Episcopum proprium jure divino quod ex Paulo ad Titum ostendo dicente v. 5 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 As I have ordained thee Calvinus in Titum 1.5 Discimus saith he ex hoc loco non eam fuisse aequalitatem inter Ministros quia unus aliquis Authoritate praeesset § 7. Jesus Christ commanded his Servant John the Apostle to write a Book and send it to the seven Churches in Asia Rev. 1.11 He directed his seven several Epistles to the seven several Angels of the seven Churches beginning thus Unto the Angel of the Church of Ephesus and so the rest Chap. 2.1.8.12.18 and Chap. 3 1 7 14. And those seven Epistles were by those seven Angels to be communicated to all the Asian Churches and every one was called upon in that Epiphonema at the End of every several Epistle He that hath an Ear let him hear c. Rev. 2.7 11 17 29. chap. 3.6 13
22. that is to hearken attend and observe what the Lord Jesus Christ by his Spirit saith utno the Churches not to this or that particular Church only Rev. 2.1 7. nor to these seven Churches exclusively but unto all the Churches of Saints in all other Countries Cities and Places in all the future Ages of the World Dr. Scultetus saith (a) Scult observat in Titum Doctissimi quique interpretes per septem Ecclesiarum Angelos interpretantur septem Ecclesiarum Episcopos neque enim aliter possunt vim nisi facere Textui velint All the most Learned Interpreters by Angels expound the Bishops of the Churches nor can it be otherwise interpreted without Violence to the Text. As punctually and pertinently speaks Marlorat (b) Marlorat in Apoc 1.12 Quamvis quaedam tam in Clero quà m in Populo corrigenda essent non tamen Populum sed Clerum aggreditur nec quemlibet de Clero nominatim Principem Cleri utique Episcopum Some things saith he were to be corrected as well in the People as in the Clergy yet doth not Saint John write unto the People nor yet to the Clergy but to the Chief of them which is the Bishop Dr. Reynolds in his Conference with Hart. cap. 2. divisio 3. saith Although in the Church of Ephesus there were sundry Elders and Pastors to guide it yet among these sundry Pastors was there one Chief whom our Saviour calleth the Angel of that Church Apoc. 2.1 And the said Doctor telling us of that very Time when St. Paul assembled the Elders of Ephesus at Miletum Act. 20. 17 28. chap. 8. distinct 3. saith One was chosen as Chief called Bishop § 9. Smectym c. assert that the word Angel Rev. 2.1 c. doth signifie only the Presbytery or the Colledge of Elders Pastors and not the Church (a) Smectym Vindication pag. 146 148. And they draw argument from the Epistle of Christ to the Church in Thyatira Rev. 2.18.20 24. Upon which place Beza thus paraphrased Unto you that is saith he unto the Angel as President and unto the rest of the Elders viz. the Colledge of Presbyters in Thyatira And as many as have not this Doctrine that is have not received this Doctrine of Jezebel But why would Christ have the Angel or Chief Bishop of the Church of Thyatira blamed for suffering false Teachers in that Church to Teach and Seduce his Servants if he was not their President or Superintendent who had Priority Preeminency and Authority above other Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders called Bishops in that Church (b) Beza in Apoc. 2.1 Angelus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quem oportet admoneri per eum Collegas totamque adeo Ecclesiam Gualther Hom. 9. in Apoc. 2.8 Angelo id est Episcopo Smyrnensi atque toti Ecclesiae constat ex Historiis Polycarpum fuisse hunc Angelum Consult Beza Gualter especially Ignatius that holy Martyr who is said to live in the daies of the Apostles who writ an Epistle to the Ephesians wherein he hath plainly and fully distinguished between Bishops and Presbyters and towards the end of that Epistle he doth exhort them to obey both the Bishop and the Presbytery with an undivided mind (b) IgnaEpist ad Ephes p. 17-29 c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ibid. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 § 10. Polycarpus was Bishop of Smyrna when St. John wrote that Epistle Revel 2.8 Unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians saith Irenaeus And who can better inform us than they that lived in the daies of the Apostles Polycarpus saith Irenaeus (c) Iren. advers Haeres l. 3. c. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. was not only taught by the Apostles and conversed with many that had seen Christ but also was by the Apostles Constituted in Asia Bishop of the Church which is in Smyrna Whom we our selves also did see in our younger Age for he continued long And being very aged he most gloriously and nobly suffering Martyrdom departed this Life To this let me add the Testimony which those Brethren of the Church of Smyrna who were present at the Martyrdom of their Bishop Polycarpus gave him (d) Smyrnens Eccles epist de Martyrio Policarpi Euseb lib. 4. hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vide Euseb l. 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lib. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Eusebius l. 4. Hist 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 15. He was said his Brethren the most admirable Man in our Times an Apostolical and Prophetical Doctor and Bishop of the whole Church in Smyrna Famous and certain is the Testimony of Hegesippus in his History of the Church as Eusebius noteth to the same purpose The next and last I shall cite is the Testimony of Clement whom St. Paul mentioneth among other his fellow Labourours Phil. 4.3 § 11. Clement is said by the Antients to have written an Epistle to the Church and Saints at Corinth which Epistle hath the Attestation of Irenaeus who calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a most substantial Epistle to the Corinthians and of Photius that stiles it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an eloquent or a worthy spoken Epistle It is also highly commended by Origin Cyril Justin Martyr St. Jerom and other godly and learned men Which Epistle Mr. Patrick Young saith is extant in the King's Library at Oxford His words in that his Epistle are these (a) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Clem. Epist ad Corinth pag. 57. D. Patrieii Junii Our Apostles knew saith he by our Lord Jesus Christ that there will be Contention about the Name of Episcopacy And therefore for this very same cause having received perfect knowledge thy appointed the foresaid Degrees and gave thereupon a Designed Order and List of Offices c. And it would be no small sin in us saith he if we should refuse or reject them who have sacredly and without Reproof undergone the Offices of Episcopacy c. The Magd. Cent. 1 2 3. do make mention of such Bishops in the Churches of God And all Ecclesiastical Historians that I have Read do testify the Priority and Pre-eminence of Bishops § 12. I would not be misunderstood therefore I will take liberty to tell the Reader That this Priority Presidence and Pre-eminence of any one Bishop above other Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders and Ministers of Christ is not any Lordly Prelacy with coercive Power over the Conscience or Dominion over the Faith of God's Clergy For the holy Apostles did approve themselves to every Mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.1 2. not having Dominion over their Faith 2 Cor. 1.24 Neither as being Lords over God's Clergy or Heritage 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. But I mean and intend any one of the Bishops Pastors Teachers Presbyters or Elders who are or shall by the Consent Approbation and Choice of the rest be appointed ordained and set over them as Chief Bishop or Presbyter
a litlte while and HE that shall come will come and will not tarry Act. 1.11 This self same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven As Christ ascended into Heaven in his own Person so he shall lihewise descend from Heaven in his own Person Matth. 24.27 As the Lightning cometh out of the East and shineth unto the West so shall also the Coming of the SON of Man be so visible Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every Eye shall see him And 1 Thes 4.13 14 18. The LORD himself shall descend from Heaven c. To them that look for him he shall appear the Second Time without sin unto Salvation Now the principal things to be explained in this Branch or part of our general Position are three viz. 1. The Manner 2. The Time 3. The Ends of Christ's Coming First Touching the Manner of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven it is testified Matth. 16.27 That the SON of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father The Glory of the Father is the highest and most heavenly Glory called the Excellent Glory 2 Pet. 1.16 17 18. When we made known unto you the Power and Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ For he received from God the Father honour and glory from the Excellent Glory which was but a glimpse of that Excellent Glory of the Father which Christ shall come in Attended with all his holy Angels and glorified Saints from Heaven and met in the Air by all the changed Saints then living on Earth Jude v. 14. Behold the LORD cometh with Ten Thousand of his Saints and ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands of Angels saying with a loud voice Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and honour and glory Rev. 5.11 12. and 2 Thes 1 7-10 When the LORD Jesus Christ shall be Revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels At the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his Saints 1 Thes 3.16 1 Thes 4.17 18. Then we which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord ver 5. shall be caught up together with them in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Read Luk. 21.17 Mark 13.16 Matth. 24.30 Secondly Touching the Time of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven Though of that Day and that Hour when Christ shall come knoweth no man no not the Angels of Heaven nor the Son of Man but the Father only Mark 13.26 32. Yet there are some signs of Christ's Second Coming recorded in the Scripture of Truth whereby we may know that it is near even at the door The Disciples of Christ asked him What shall be the sign of his Coming Matth. 24.3 to whom Christ gave this for a sign ver 37 38 39. But as the Daies of Noe were so shall also the Coming of the Son of Man be And Luk. 17.28 29 30. Likewise also as it was in the Daies of Lot even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed It will be so with the Men of this World as it was with the Men of the Old World which God destroyed with Water Then the wicked ones of that Generation were very ungodly Gen. 6.5 And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the Earth c. And Christ told his Disciples Matth. 24.12 That Iniquity shall abound a little before his Second Coming vers 30. And it will be so with the Men and Women of these Cities as it was with those Citizens of Sodom and Gomorrah whose Cities were burned Another sign of Christ's Second Coming is a great Apostasie both in the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel This sign of Christ's Second Coming the Apostle Paul foretold 2 Thes 2.1 2 3. Now we beseech you Brethren by the Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ Let not man deceive you for that DAY shall not come except there come a falling away first An Apostasie first from the Doctrine of the Gospel especially Faith and Love 1 Tim. 4.1 2 3. Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter daies some shall depart from the Faith c. And Christ saith Matth. 24.3 12. The Love of many shall wax cold before his Second Coming from Heaven vers 30. Some Teachers make the Law of the Ten Commandments a Doctrine of Faith in Christ affirming that those ten words are a Covenant of Grace Other Preachers make the Gospel of the Grace of God a Doctrine and Covenant of works teaching Justification by works and Salvation by works holding Free-will and falling away And many there are of whom the Apostle Peter prophesied 2 Pet. 2.1 2. False Teachers who privily shall bring in damnable Heresies even denying the Lord that bought them c. And 2 Pet. 3.3 4. That there shall come in the last Daies Scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying Where is the Promise of his Coming c Insomuch that our Saviour said Luke 18.8 When the Son of Man cometh shall he find Faâ—th on Earth And many Professors will fall from their first Love as the Ephesians did Rev. 2.4 The Faith and Love of the Primitive Saints in the Churches of Christ continued and increased 2 Thes 1.1 2 3. Your Faith groweth exceedingly and the Love of every one of you all towards each other aboundeth But in these last Daies many depart from the Faith and many cool in their Spiritual Affections to Christ there are great decaies of Grace and many flourishing Professors experience great withering fading and decaying in their spiritual gifts and graces their backslidings are increased As the Apostasie in Doctrine so in Worship is a sign of the Last Daies and of the Second Coming of Christ The Apostle Paul foretold thereof 1 Thes 2.3 4. 2 Tim. 3.1 5. This know also that in the Last Daies Men shall be Lovers of their own selves c. more than Lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof In those last Daies even a little before the Second Coming of Christ the Laodicean Churches will be lukewarm neither cold nor hot formal not fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rev. 3.15 16. And then the National Churches will be Papal Superstitious and Will-worshippers Col. 2.16 18-22 23. Which things have indeed a shew of Wisdom in Will-worship c. Then Mystery Babylon will say I sit a Queen c. Revel 18.7 8. Therefore shall her Plagues come in one day to wit the seven Vials of the last Plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God Rev. 15.1 7. And then our Lord Jesus Christ will come in power and great glory and shall utterly destroy Antichrist 2 Thes 2.8 Whom the Lord shall destroy with the brightness of his Coming When those Virgin-Professors who have highly pretended to be upon their watch waiting for the Coming of the
Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of Devils Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Which Apostasie happened in the fourth Century as Ecclesiastical Historians tell us when the Church at Rome and other Churches their Bishops Presbyters and Members departed from the Faith and fell away from the sound Doctrine pure Worship and true Discipline of the Gospel And then the Apocalyptical Beast the Pope and the great Whore Mystery Babylon the Great that Mother of Harlots and the false Prophets those Roman croaking Frogs did begin to Rise who afterwards greatly increased in the ten European Kingdoms See my Book intituled Mystery-Babylon unvailed Printed 1679. But the last and greatest Apostasie noted in the holy Scripture of Truth is both in Faith and Manners by Men of corrupt Minds and carnal Principles having the Form of Godliness but denying the Power thereof 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5. This know also that in the last daies perillous times shall come For men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous boasters proud blasphemers disobedient to Parents unthankful unholy without natura laffection Truce-breakers false accusers incontinent fierce despisers of those that are good Traitors heady high-minded lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 v. 1. This likewise or besides directs us to look back to the former Epistle ch 4. v. 1 2 3. before-mentioned to wit the Time of the first Apostasie In the latter daies v. 1. But here the Apostle speaks of the Time of the Last Apostasie v. 1. That in the last daies c. The great Inquiry now will be What Daies the Apostle meant here I answer My Opinion hereof is That by the Last Daies here we are to understand those three Prophetical Daies and an half of the 1260 Daies that Christ's two Witnesses shall prophesie in sackcloth Rev. 11.3 7-12 And I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth And when they shall have finished their Testimony the Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit shall make War against them and shall overcome them and kill them And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great City which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three daies and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves And they that dwell upon the Earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth And after three daies and an half the Spirit of Life from God entred into them And they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them Read my Exposition of the Eleventh chapter of the Revelation published 1679. These Daies of slaying the Witnesses are those last Daies and will be perillous Times For 1. The Roman Beast will make war against the Witnesses and overcome them and kill them Rev. 11.7 2. They will be perillous hard difficult dangerous grievous and troublesome Times or Daies because the Rights Liberties and Freedoms of the People will be infringed and taken from them and such temptations and snares will be laid whereby mens Liberties Lives and Estates shall be in great hazard and danger Mat. 24.21 Luk. 21.22 26 27. 3. These last Daies will be so full of amazing Distractions Disturbances and Tribulations that wise men shall be at their Wits end not knowing what to do nor what course to take for their own safety And many eminent Professors of Religion will fall off from their former Principles and Practice and be drawn aside to follow the pernicious waies of ungodly men and so fall in with the sins of those last Daies here mentioned 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lovers of their own selves Self-love is the Root of Apostasie both Political and Ecclesiastical When men of Name began to love themselves more than their most solemn Oaths Vows and Covenants more than Truth and Righteousness more than the good Laws of the Nation and the just Liberties and Rights of the People then began the last and greatest Political Apostasie And when men of Eminency for Religion began to love themselves more than the Waies and Worship of God more than the Churches and Saints of God more than Jesus Christ the only begotten Son of God then began the Ecclesiastical Apostasie of those last Daies This is one Sign that Christ gave his Disciples of the Ending Time of this world Matth. 24.3 4 12. And as he sate upon the Mount of Olives the Disciples came unto him privately saying Tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of thy coming and of the end of the world And Jesus answered and said unto them Take heed that no man deceive you And because iniquity shall abound the love of many shall wax cold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Covetous Danaeus in Loc. saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic à Paulo dicitur qui sive aurum sive argentum sive agros sive quaslibet alias opes ardenter expetit vitiose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred studium pecuniae the desire of money And the love of money saith the Apostle 1 Tim. 6.10 is the root of all evil which whilst some have coveted after they have erred from the faith c. How much of the spirit of the world and of the things of this world is crept into the hearts of many Professors and Church-Members in these last Daies who consider not the Testimony of the Apostle against them 1 Joh. 2.15 If any man love the world the love of the Father is not in him Covetousness is Idolatry Col. 3.5 Another Character of those Apostates of the last Daies is Pride 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proud so are those covetous self-loving Professors and Church-Members in these evil Daies witness the Perriwigs and Petticoats of London Professors and Sermon hearers in this City Doth not even Nature it self teach you that if a man have long hair it is a shame unto him 1 Cor. 11.14 Yea it is a shame indeed for men professing Godliness to wear such long Perriwigs of Womens hair as some men do What an abomination is it unto the Lord to see an hoary Head covered with long hair that hath been cut off from a Whores Head when he is praying to God and worshipping the All-seeing God Heb. 4.13 All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do And doth
Hail for the Plague thereof was exceeding great And immediately after the Tribulation of these daies they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory Matth. 24. v. 29 30. Then will Christ take unto him his great Power and Reign he will create New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwells Righteousness Isa 65.17 66.22 2 Pet. 3.13 Rev. 21 2-5 And he that sate upon the Throne said Behold I make all things New Now this New Creation is the WORLD to come CHAP. V. Of Separation § 1. GOD did separate his Antient People the Jews from all other People in the World to be his peculiar People to worship him according to his Institutions and Commandments Levit. 20.24 26. And God hath commanded the Believing Gentiles to be separated from Idolaters and Unbelievers or Infidels and to have no Communion or Fellowship with them in any false Worship 2 Cor. 6 14-18 § 2. But though Believers may be and ought to abide separated from the Worship and Worshippers of Idols in their Temples (a) 2 Cor. 6.16 17. and from the Worship of the Unbelieving Jews in their Synagogues (b) Act. 19.8 9. And also from the Worship and Worshippers of the Beast or his Image (c) Rev. 14.9 10. 20.4 and from the Assemblies of all false Worshippers and from all false Worship yet sanctified Believers ought not to separate themselves from the true Churches of God and of his Saints that Worship him in Spirit and in Truth and walk in the Faith and Order of the Gospel according to the Rule of the written Word of God so far as they have attained § 3. The most pure Churches of Saints on Earth are subject to mixture some false Brethren may creep into a Church of Christ unawares (d) Gal. 2.4 and some false Teachers too (e) 2 Tim. 3.1 2 3 4 5 8. Men of corrupt minds and corrupt manners also (f) 2 Cor. 2.17 And there may be some Errours in Doctrine and some Evils in Conversation among them as there was among some of the Churches of Christ in Asia in the Apostles time (g) Rev. 2.14 15 20 24. But yet Believers ought not to separate themselves from those Churches of Saints whereof they are Members for those Errours in Doctrine or Evils in Conversation until they have first faithfully and orderly born their testimony against them secondly until they have humbly entreated the Church and the Ministers thereof to Reform those things that are amiss among them and thirdly until the Church and the Ministers thereof do utterly Refuse to Reform those Errours in Doctrine and those Evils in Conversation among them § 4. The Ministers and Members of the Churches of God ought to imitate Christ in this matter and to follow his steps Our LORD Jesus Christ did see many things amiss in some of the Churches in Asia viz. unsound Doctrines and corrupt Manners to wit the Doctrine and Deeds of the Nicolaitans which Christ hated c. But notwithstanding Christ did not presently forsake those Churches nor did he command any of the Ministers or Members thereof to separate themselves from them neither did Christ blame any Believers that were sound in their Judgments and holy in their Conversations for holding Communion with those Churches But Jesus Christ did first bear his Testimony against those Errours in Doctrine and Corruptions in Conversation Secondly Christ called upon the Church and Angel to Repent and Reform what was amiss And Thirdly Christ gave them space to Repent and waited for their Amendment before he did forsake them Read the second and third chapters of the Revelation And therefore I conclude That none of the Ministers nor Members of any true Church of God ought to separate themselves from the Church nor ought they to forsake the Assembling of themselves with the Church nor absent themselves from any part of the true Worship of God nor turn their back of any Gospel-Ordinance of Christ in the Church because of Offence against any Member or Minister in the Church But they ought to bear and have patience and to wait upon Christ and his Church until such Offenders be orderly proceeded against and those offences be reformed or removed by the Laws of God's House Or else until the Candlestick be removed out of its place for suffering those Errours in Doctrine or Corruptions in Manners and Conversation and for adding impenitency unto such impiety iniquity suffered and indulged in the Church by the Ministers therein and by the Members thereof to the dishonour of God the scandal of the Gospel and the great offence and grief of the godly who have walked orderly and have not defiled their Garments but have watched and kept themselves unspotted of the world and uncorrupted with those Evils in the Church which would not be healed and therefore ought to be forsaken and separated from by the faithful Ministers of Christ and all the holy People of God Seeing then that the Ending Time of this evil world will be so perillous and a Day of so great Tribulation I do intreat both unconverted Sinners and sanctified Believers to suffer a word of Exhortation I do therefore exhort unconverted Sinners upon whom the End of this WORLD is coming by Death or Dissolution That you would come to Christ Believe in Jesus Christ and Repent of your sins First I exhort you to come to Christ for there is not salvation in any other Acts 4.12 If you will not come to Christ whilst you live you will certainly go to Hell when you dye Psal 9.17 Some poor sinner haply will say Alas I am a vile sinful sinner I am unworthy may I presume to come unto Christ Yes Jesus Christ who came into the world to save the chiefest of sinners doth invite all that will to come unto him Isa 55.1 2 3. Rev. 22. v. 17. But if I do come unto Christ will he not refuse me and reject me and cast me off No! Joh. 6.37 Him that cometh unto me I will in no wise cast out Some poor lost sinner may haply say Indeed I see a great need of Christ to justifie me and to sanctifie me and to save me but I know not how to come to Christ I cannot come to Christ what shall I do I answer It is true no man can come to Christ except the Father draw him John 6.44 but God the Father doth draw sinners unto Christ with his Cords of Love Jer. 31.3 Yea I have loved thee with an everlasting Love therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee Though thou canst not come to Christ yet know that the Lord Jesus Christ can and will come to thee and teach thee to go to him as he did Ephraim Hos 11.3 4. The danger is not in thy own Inability that thou canst not come to Christ accept of Christ and take Christ upon Gospel-terms of Free Grace but thy souls danger lyeth in thy
willing to resign your whole Man Spirit Soul and Body unto the Government of Christ as LORD and King to Reign and Rule Guide and Govern you by his holy Spirit and Written Word Not that you can do those things of your selves I have told you without Christ you can do nothing Joh. 15.5 But it is your duty to do them and it is the Free Grace of God to work in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure Phil. 2.12 13. that he so working in you you may work out your own salvation with fear and trembling I would through the Divine Assistance of the Spirit and Grace of God make some Application of this our general Position unto the Churches of Saints for their edification First I most humbly beseech all the Churches of Saints to receive this Doctrine of Christ's Second Personal Coming from Heaven And to believe 1. That when HE comes he will glorifie the House of his Glory Isa 60.1 2 7. and will make Zion an eternal Excellency vers 14.15 22. God will build up Zion and then he shall appear in his Glory Psal 102.13 16. Then shall Zion be the Perfection of Beauty Psal 50.2 Out of which God shall shine In that DAY God shall be his Churches everlasting Light and Glory Isa 60.19 Rev. 21.23 Then shall Christ and his Church be each others Crown and Glory Isa 28.5 In that DAY shall the LORD of Hosts be for a Crown of Glory and for a Diadem of Beauty unto the Residue of his People Isa 62.3 Thou shalt also be a Crown of Glory in the hand of the LORD and a Royal Diadem in the hand of thy God Read Zech. 9.16 and Isa 60.13 2. That when Christ comes He will Restore all his holy Ordinances unto their Primitive Power and Purity yea unto an higher and greater degree of Excellency than in the Apostles Daies God will not only give his Churches of Saints Pastors according to his own heart which shall feed them with knowledge and understanding Jer. 3.14 15. but HE will also pour out his Spirit upon Sons and Daughters and upon the Servants and upon the Hand-maids also God will pour out his Spirit Joel 2.28 31 32. Before the great and terrible DAY of the LORD come The LORD will vouchsafe unto his Churches such Anointing of his holy Spirit as the Apostle John witnesseth and recorded 1 Joh. 2.20 27. But ye have an Unction from the holy ONE and ye know all things c. Read v. 27. and Joh. 6.45 Isa 54.13 Jer. 31.34 It is written in the Prophets And they shall be all taught of God And not only be instructed and led by the holy eternal Spirit into the sound and saving Knowledge of all the Truths in God's written Word as the Truth is in Jesus but they shall see with their Eyes those things fulfilled which they have read and heard out of the written Word of God Matth. 24.33 34 35. That Gospel Ordinance of Praising God will then be with greater spiritualness and with more heavenly mindedness performed in the General Assembly and Church of the first Born where all the Sons of God shall sing together even all the Saints and Angels shall celebrate the high Praises of God together Read Rev. 5.11 12 13. Rev. 11.15 16 17. Rev. 14.1 2 3. Rev. 15.2 3 4. Rev. 19.1 4 5 6 7 8 9. The whole Worship of God shall then be performed by the true Worshippers in Spirit and in Truth according to Christ's Word John 4.23 24. for God will then give all his People one Heart and one Way Jer. 32.38 39 40. to worship him with one Consent Zeph. 3.9 14 16 17 18. In that day shall there be ONE LORD and his Name ONE Zech. 14.9 A Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 3. That when Christ comes his glorious personal and spiritual Presence with his Church Heb. 12.21 23 24. Rev. 22.2 3. will occasion a Confluence of all Comforts Isa 51.3 12. and 66.13 and Zech. 1.13 17. Then Zion shall be adorned with spiritual and glorious Beauty Isa 52.1 9 10. and compassed about with peace and safety God will be as a Wall of Fire round about Zion Zech. 2.5 10. Sing and rejoyce O Daughter of Zion for Lo I come and I will dwell in the midst of thee saith the LORD Read Ezek. 34.23 24 25 28 29 30 31. No Canaanite in the Land of Israel nor none that shall hurt or destroy in all God's holy Mountains Zech. 2.4 Jerusalem shall be inhabited as Towns without walls for God's salvation shall be her walls and bulwarks Isa 26.1 2 3. Then the State of the Church of God will bear some proportional Resemblance to the Kingdom of Heaven for it will then be a sinless state Isa 60.1 21. Zeph. 3.13 and Rev. 14.1 5. and a sorrowless state Rev. 21.1 2 3 4 5. and a timeless state Rev. 10.6 Time shall be no more For the thousand years time of the Church's Glory being finished and all the time of Satan and his Instruments ended who are the Abusers of Time Time shall pass into Eternity of Glory and Beatifical Vision and eternal Life Secondly I would also humbly intreat my Reverend Brethren to declare to the Ministers of Christ Churches of Saints what is noted in the holy Scripture of Truth concerning the WORLD to come the New Heavens and a New Earth and the New Jerusalem Also the Second Personal Coming of our LORD Jesus Christ from Heaven You are commissioned and commanded to declare unto the people the whole counsel of God revealed in his written Word and this Gospel of the Kingdom and Coming of Christ must be preached in all the Inhabited World towards the latter End thereof Matth. 24.14 as a Witness unto all Nations and then shall the End come This is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Generation Truth which ought to be Preached and Testified by the Ministers and Churches of Christ in these latter daies though they be killed for bearing this Testimony Rev. 11.3 4 7. Be faithful to Death and Christ will give you a Crown of Life Rev. 2.10 and 12.11 Lastly A word of Consolation to those that do believe pray and wait for the world to come and the Spiritual Glory thereof 1. In general for then the Ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with Songs and everlasting Joy c. Isa 35.10 Then shall be the confluence of all spiritual Comforts to the Church and People of God Isa 60.1 2 3 7 13 19-22 The LORD shall be thy everlasting Light and thy God thy Glory vers 19. All the promises of Grace and Glory shall then be performed which are in Christ Yea and in Christ Amen to the praise and glory of God 2 Cor. 1.20 And then all Prophecies relating to the Churches Spiritual Glory shall be fulfilled Act. 3 19-21 which God hath spoken by the mouth of his holy Prophets Then will be a superabundant pouring out of
with Thanksgiving and after the Bread is so consecrated he ought to break it in pieces and give it unto the Communicants expressing the words of Jesus Christ saying Take eat This is my Body And after the Communicants have eaten the Bread the Minister ought to take the Cup with Wine in it and in like manner consecrate it by Prayer and Thanksgiving and then give it all the Communicants expressing the words of Christ saying Drink ye all of this for this is my blood of the New Testament which is shed for you and for many for the Remission of sins Luk 22.20 Matth. 26.27 28. And the Minister also having received with them 3. They all ought to praise God together in singing an Hymn as Christ and his Disciples did Matth. 26.30 Mark 14.26 Singing is also a Gospel-Ordinance which ought to be performed by the Church as a part of God's Publick Worship Isa 52.8 With the Voice together shall they sing The Matter that we are to sing is the Word of God namely the Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs contained in the holy Scriptures the Written Word of God Col. 3.16 Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all Wisdom c. The Manner of Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs is to Sing in Meeter and Measure with audible Voice as our English manner is The Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs in the Book of Psalms were Sung in Meeter and Measure As they that understand the Hebrew Tongue know well The End of Singing is to make Melody in your heart to the Lord Eph. 5.19 Singing with a tunable Voice makes Melody in our Ears and stirs up our pure Minds to rejoyce in the Lord but Singing with Grace in our Hearts doth make melody to the Lord. Though the Voice of the Church espoused to Christ was sweet and pleasant unto him in the Song of Songs Cant. 2.14 yet the Spirit acting Grace viz. Faith Love and Joy in the Hearts of the Saints is much more sweet well-pleasing and acceptable unto God than their Voice in Singing Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs to the Lord Col. 3.16 Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord. Query Did not some of the Saints in the Church at Corinth Sing other Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which they themselves indicted and sang alone by the Spirit with Grace in their hearts to the Lord Answer I think some Members of that Church did compose a Psalm upon occasion 1 Cor. 14.26 And it is my Opinion That a Minister or Member of the Church if he hath received a Gift of the Spirit to Sing may Sing in the Church to Edification 1 Cor. 14 15. yea and ought so to do 1 Pet. 4.10 11. But this I say First That those Hymns and Spiritual Songs which Ministers or Members of the Church do indict and Sing are not Psalms and we are commanded to instruct and exhort one another in Psalms and to Sing Psalms as well as Hymns and Spiritual Songs Eph. 5.19 Col. 3.16 And I know that the word Psalms is interpreted David's Psalms the Book of Psalms and the Psalms of David Asaph c. Search those Scriptures Acts 1.20 Acts 13.33 35. Luk. 20.42.24.44 Secondly That those Ministers and Members of the Church cannot affirm will not assert that their Hymns or Spiritual Songs are materially the Inspiration of the holy Spirit as the Book of Psalms were they may Sing with the Spirit and with understanding unto Edification but the Psalms of David and of Asaph and the Song of Songs which is Solomons and the Hymns of Jesus Christ and his Apostles must have the Pre-eminence Thirdly Although I have also through the riches of Free Grace received the holy Spirit and have learned in some measure what it is to pray in the Spirit and to pray with understanding Also to Sing in the Spirit and and to Sing with Understanding yet I rather chuse to Sing in the Church those Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs which are contained in the holy Scripture than any of my own inditing for these Reasons because First Although I should be assisted by the holy Spirit of God to indite an Hymn or a Spiritual Song and Sing it in the Church with Grace in my heart and so make melody to the Lord and edifie the Church yet some matter thereof may be doubtful to some persons that hear me Sing it if that matter be Prophetical or Mysterious and they understand it not or if there should be any words or sentences therein expressed which are not sound words For I pretend not to Sing by the Spirit otherwise than to pray by the Spirit to wit as the Spirit helpeth mine Infirmities which I may be subject to and so through my Infirmity may err or utter some unsound words Secondly When I Sing a Psalm Hymn or Spiritual Song which is written in the holy Scripture of Truth none but an Atheist or an Atheistical Spirit will object against the Matter of it for those Psalms Hymns and Spiritual Songs were given by Inspiration of God and Revelation of the holy Spirit and I do only translate them into English Meeter and Measure out of the Hebrew Text that the Church may Sing them together with their Voice making Melody to the Lord by Singing praises to the Lord with Grace in their hearts Thirdly The Church cannot practise the Lord's Command given by the Apostle to those two Churches and all other Churches of Saints though they Sing Hymns and Spiritual Songs unless they also Sing Psalms which are by the same holy Spirit that inspired David to indite them expounded and interpreted The Book of Psalms and The Psalms of David c. as hath been proved by those Scriptures aforecited which the Reader is humbly desired to search CHAP. IV. Lastly THE Lord Jesus Christ having finished the work for which he came into this WORLD being to leave the WORLD and return to Heaven whence he came Eph. 4.9.10 did at the Request of his Disciples Matth. 24.3 4. foretel them the Signs of his Second Coming and of the End of this WORLD The Ending Time of this WORLD and the Second Coming of Christ have some evident Signs set upon them And God hath caused those Signs to be Recorded and Written in the holy Scripture of Truth First To strengthen the Faith of his People that they might upon Scripture ground believe that this World shall have an End and that the LORD Jesus Christ will come again from Heaven in Power and great Glory And Secondly To leave all Unbelievers without excuse One Sign of the Ending Time of this World is the last and greatest Apostasie of Professors and the Laodicean Lukewarmness of Ministers and Members in the Churches of Christ The first great Apostasie which the Apostle foretold was a departing from the Faith of the Gospel which Christ and his Apostles had preached and which the Churches their Ministers and Members had imbraced and professed 1 Tim. 4.1 3.