said Salute them of such an house who are in the Lord and it was an exemplary Family and a seminary of the Church yet not such a Church as was capable of all Church Officers and power as this meant in the text hath by the gift of Christ 2. Sometimes it signifieth the Catholick visible Church Heb 12.23 but that hath been from the beginning and doth not nor can meet in one place on earth to worship God Therefore it is not meant here 3. Most commonly it signifieth a Congregational Church or an holy Society joyned together by an holy Covenant in one Congregation to walk together according to all the Ordinances and Lawes given by Christ to his Church And so sometimes it signifieth a definite particular Congregation meeting together in one place for the publick worship of God and their mutual edification as that at Corinth 1 Cor. 11.18 20. and 14.23 And in that acceptation it notes sometimes the Brethren as distinguished from the Elders Act. 15.22 Sometimes the Elders and Brethren assembled together as in 1 Cor. 11.20 but never the Elders meeting apart from the Brethren But in this place it doth not signifie a particular definite Church For there is no particular Christian Church built by Christ more or rather than other It remaineth that Christ speaks of a particular Congregational Church here in an indefinite sense And so the word Church is applyed in the New Testament when Paul saith he persecuted the Church Phil. 3.6 Not that at Jerusalem only or Damascus but all the Churches in Judea Gal. 1.22 23. In this sense Christ calls every Christian Congregational Church thus built his Church From the words thus opened this doctrinal conclusion is to be collectâ—d viz. That it is the will and appointment of Jesus Christ that the Christian Church under the New Testament be in respect of its quantity and compass Congregational Concl. 4 This we shall endeavour to prove both by Scripture and Reason 1. The Scripture in the writings of the Apostles clearly sheweth that they so understood this branch of the Church-Charter and therefore they speak of Christian-Churches as several and distinct from one another 1 Cor. 11.16 and 14.33 Yea in one and the same Country as Galatia Gal 1.2 Judea v. 22. Macedonia 2 Cor. 8.1 Yea in Corinth where God had much people Act. 18.10 yet the Church there was but one Congregation 1 Cor. 14. and though Cenchrea was a Port near unto Corinth yet it had a Church distinct from Corinth Rom. 16.1 The Church also in Jerusalem though a greater number of Believers was declared to be there than we read of in other Cities yet it was but one Congregation Act. 2.41 44 47. and 6.2 15. The same holdeth concerning other great Cities the Church in every one of them was Congregational and if the number of Believers grew too great for one Congregation doubtless more Churches were gathered in such a place and case if several parts of the Church met in times of Persecution now and then here and there as they might yet they continued one Congregation having the same Officers in common for any thing appears in Scripture to the contrary Now let us see why the Christian Church must be Congregational Reas 1 The first Reason is from the end of Church-fellowship which is mutual edification in the use of the means instituted by Christ thereunto Let all things be done unto edification 1. Cor. 14.26 but how can this be attained unless they so meet together that all may learn and all may be comforted v. 13 Hence all the Members of the Church are exhorted not to forsake their assembling together Heb. 10.25 which was the praise of the primitive Church in Jerusalem Act. 2.42 44. Therefore a particular visible Church is compared to a flock which are fed together Act. 20.28 and to an House or Family the members whereof injoy the same Family-priviledges in common under the same family-order 1 Tim. 3.15 Reas 2 The second Reason is from their duty to take up offences among Brethren which cannot be ended privately Mat. 18.17 18. which implyeth two things 1. That the Church must consist of more than two or three for though two or three may watch over one another admonish one another and in case of obstinancy withdraw from a convicted delinquent and though two or three praying together may expect the presence and blessing of Christ as v. 19 20. upon their admonition yet two or three cannot issue the matter compleatly in way of Church-censure but must tell the Church Therefore the Church must necessarily consist of a greater number Again how can two or three choose the four sorts of Officers amongst themselves which are described by four living creatures in Rev. 4.6 7. viz. Pastor Teacher Ruling Elder and Deacon 2. That they must not exceed the quantity and compass of one Congregation For the Church must meet ordinarily together with their Officers for these purposes Therefore the Scripture sheweth that the whole Church did meet together to chuse and ordain Officers as Deacons Act. 6.2 3 5. Elders Act. 14.23 to receive and admit Members Act. 9.26 for Prophesying 1 Cor. 14.23 for the Seals 1 Cor. 11.20 and for Censures 1 Cor. 5.4 and to release from censures 2 Cor. 2.6 7. So much for proof of the point The Conâ—â—ctaries are these Coroll 1 Then the Congregational frame of a Christian Church is no humane invention or constitution True it is that the Parish frame as it was wont to joyn all the inhabitants within such a praecinct into one Church injoyning them all to communicate at the Lords Table at least at Easter is meerly humane not being measured by the Golden Reed which is the Church-measure but by the Court-measure Rev. 11.1 2. But that Members so qualified as Christ requireth and so confederating should ordinarily meet togather in one Congregation for the solemn worship of God and their mutual edification is the Ordinance of Christ and according to the measure of the golden Reed whereby the City and Gates and the dimensions of the New-Jerusalem are measured Rev. 21.15 that they shall not be so few as to cut off Church-jurisdiction within themselves nor so many but that all may hear and be edified and be governed by the Power which Christ hath given to the Church to preserve the purity of his Worship and of their fellowship within themselves Coroll 2 Then when a People grow to be so numerous in any Church that they cannot ordinarily meet together to Church-ends it is the mind of Christ that they should be distributed into sundry Congregational Churches For though many thousands of Israel met together in the court of the Temple at Jerusalem to offer Sacrifice because they might stand in so large a place together and see the Sacrifices burnt yet that will not prove that such multitudes should be Members of a Christian Church where more communion is required then in seeing some one Ordinance
performed Coroll 3 Then it is not arbitrary but a duty for every Christian to endeavour to joyn himself in Membership with a Congregational instituted Church of Christ whosoever have opportunity and neglect so to do they greatly sin against God and break the second Commandment in not worshiping him according to his institution and also against their own souls in depriving themselves of the blessing which he hath annexed unto his Institution Exod. 20.24 Mat. 28.20 and if they persist in that neglect they can hardly be accounted Believers truly seeking the Kingdom of God what profession of Religion soever they make otherwise Mat. 6.33 and they sin against their posterity also to whom God promiseth mercy upon their parents worshipping him according to his Institutions If the Lord doth good to the posterity of such it is meerly from his own good pleasure but not from their Parents Covenant Ezek. 16.61 CHAP. V. Concerning the Churches impregnable stability TO the Church built by Christ upon this Rock he hath promised and given this great priviledge that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture signifieth not Hell but the state of the dead or the Grave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are enemies vanquished by Christ for his Church 1 Cor. 15.26 55. and shal be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the gates of Death in Job 38.17 Psal 107.18 and the gates of the Grave Isa 38.10 i. e. the power of Death and the Grave which seizeth on them as a Serjeant Psal 116.3 The sum is Let the Church be brought to the lowest that it seems to be dead as those two Witnesses Rev. 11.8 9. and buried as Christ's natural body was for a time yet neither Death nor the Grave shall prevail agaist it Yet we must not limit the sense of these words only to the power of Death and the Grave but it must be extended to all Satans plots and assaults against the Church against which if Christ did not help them Death and the Grave would prevail against them to their eternal destruction We conclude therefore that in this Text by the gates of Hell are meant all the machinations of Satan and temptations whatsoever whereby he laboureth to hinder the building of Christs Church to draw those from Christ who are built upon him The prevailing of them signifies their effectual working unto the attainment of those ends The sum is a promise that the Devil with all his policies and powers shall neither hinder the building of Christs Church nor cause the Church thus built to apostatize from Christ And that this is the true sense and meaning of the words whatsoever Socinians or Arminians say to the contrary may thus be evinced 1. Because the thing promised is the disabling of what ever opposeth the building of the Church upon this Rock or its constant adhering to Christ from prevailing to those ends but so do Satan's temptations Therefore they are meant by the gates of Hell 2. Because whatsoever goeth forth out of the gates of Hell or hath its beginning from thence is meant in this phrase but the Temptations and Machinations of Satan by himself and his instruments Hereticks and Tyrants go forth thence Therefore they are meant in this phraise 3. Because Peter to whom Christ spake these words describes unbelievers the adversaries of this building as belonging to the gates of Hell 1 Pet. 2.7 8. 4. Because the proportion which Christ implyes in these words requireth that they be so understood The proportion is between two Cities that of Heaven which hath its gates and keyes in v. 19. and the other of Hell which hath its gates whence it endeavors the ruine and overthrow of that but shall not prevail Seeing therefore City is opposed to City and Gates to Gates and one viz. the Church is considered in the state of present building it is most sutable that the other be also looked at as it opposeth that in the present whilst it is militant upon earth But from hence that Christ promiseth that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against his Church thus built some infer that Christ meaneth only the invisible Catholick Church For that only say they is bulilt on this Rock and only that shall not fail Answ 1. It is true that the Catholick invisible Church is built upon Christ by effectual and unfeigned Faith and that shall not fail For that is the general Assembly and Church of the fist-born which are enrolled in Heaven Heb. 12.23 And all the gates of Hell cannot prevail against those that are written in Heaven 2. But it is not true that these only are built on this Rock The Apostle Paul tells us that a particular visible Church rightly constituted as that at Corinth is built upon this Rock or Rocky-foundation 1 Cor. 3.10 11. and being so built is under the special protection of God in Christ in respect whereof the Lord promiseth any such Church as well among the Gentiles as the Jews Whosoever shall gather himself against thee shall fall Isa 54.15 and all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper vers 17. And it is clear that Christ in this place speaks of such a Church as is built upon the confession of Faith such as Peter made visibly and publickly whereupon not the invisible Catholick Church but visible particular Churches are built Therefore these only are meant here Concl. 5 The Church of Christ built by himself upon this Rock in using the means which he hath appointed for their safety is impregnable The Church of Christ is here indefinitely taken for a particular Congregational-Church instituted by Christ according to the sense of the former conclusions not for this or that definitely Therefore if any object that the gates of Hell have prevailed against the Greek-Churches those golden Candlesticks in Asia and against Rome whose Faith was spoken of throughout the whole World and against sundry other particular Churches Answ I Answer 1. Though it be true that the gates of Hell have prevailed against this or that particular Church yet not against a particular Church indefinitly considered or which is the same against the Church in general existing in its particulars In this sense the visible Church doth not fail For 1. Christ ever had and will have some or other visible Church on Earth wherein the general nature of a visible Church is preserved as the Genus is in its Species and the nature of man in this or that individual as when the Lord preserved Noah and his Family in the Ark mankind was preserved in them though multitudes of men were destroyed in the Deluge 2. Christ will shew that he makes a difference between Churches wherein are some true Believers mixed with many Hypocrites and other Societies Therefore he will not suffer such visible Churches to be totally destroyed as he doth his open enemies Hos 11.8 9. Isa 1.8 9.
Papam p. 565. was there burnt for denying the primacy of the Pope teaching that the Keys were given Ecclesiae toti non uni Petro to the whole Church and that the Communion should be administred sub utrâque specie and against humane Traditions and the Popes indulgencies and the wicked lives of the Cardinals and Priests and for preaching free Justification by Faith in Christ and that the Pope is Antichrist This was about the year 1499. In our own Land John Lambert in the year Fox Martyrol i' th Reign of Hen. 8th 1538 was burnt to death by the sentence of King Henry the 8th himself sitting in judgement upon him with all his Nobles and Bishops by the wicked counsel of Stephen Gardiner upon 45 Articles whereof this was the 43d Article Whether he believed the Pope was Christs Vicar and had power on earth to bind and loose He denyed that the Pope was Christs Vicar and affirmed that the Keys were given to Peter not for himself alone but in the name of the Church and proved it out of Cyprian Idem ibid. de simplicitate Clericorum and Aug. de Agone Christiano Also Sir John Borthwick a Scottish Knight in the year 1540 was condemned by the Arch Bishop of St. Andrews then Cardinal of Scotland and the Popes Legate with sundry Popish Bishops upon ten Articles of which this was the first touching the Popes Supremacy grounded upon Mat. 16. To thee will I give the Keys which he from that place confuted affirming that the Keys were given to the Church in Peter which name was given him upon his confession of Christ in the name of the whole Church and confirmed his assertion out of Cyprian and Augustine So that this is no new nor singular exposition of these words or practice taken up by some few of late Not new for Cyprian wrote about the year 250 after Christ and Augustine about the year 410 the last of them about 1200 years since and the first above 1400 years past I shall add hereunto that before Cyprian Tertullian about the year 200 shews us that Church-censures were then performed by one particular Church within it self and not in any combination of Churches Tertull. Apolog. Cap. 39. Nor singular for sundry sorts of Writers in several Ages and Countries have consented therein I will not enter into that question about which there seems to be some difference in apprehensions between some Godly learned Brethren Whether the Keys are given to Peter under several considerations as an Apostle and as an Elder and as a professing Believer all being taken joyntly together or to a single Society or condition of men under some special Relation which share alike in the equality of this Power promised unto them For in the substance of the matter they agree 1. That the Keys are promised to Peter in the name of a Congregational-Church 2. That this power of the Keys cannot be given to one single Society formally in all the kinds of it because it requires several sorts of subjects formally different viz. some Ruling some Ruled some Teaching c. 3. That til a Congregational-Church be organized and compleated with all its Officers it cannot compleatly exercise the Keys commited to it 4. That nevertheless before it be compleated it hath power of the Keys and is the first subject of them either formally or virtually whereby all the Ordinances are administred or administrable among them I shall issue this point into one Doctrinal Conclusion 6. Concl. The subordinate ordinary Power of acting Church-affairs in the Order appointed by Jesus Christ for attainment of the ends of Church-Communion is given by Christ to a visible Congregation of confederate Believers as the first and proper subject of it In the handling of this point I shall note somethings 1. For Explication 2. Confirmation of it 3. Draw some Consectaries 1. For explication of it I shall endeavour to clear five particulars 1. What I mean by Subordinate Power Subordinate Power is that which wholly dependeth on Christs Ordinance and Institution who is the Supreme and only Monarch and Head of the Church and therefore his revealed Will must be attended in all Church-Administations as the only Rule from which they may not swerve to the right hand or to the left for any humane policies or pretences whatsoever by adding ought thereto or taking any thing therefrom To this Christ limited his Apostles who were the highest Officers in the Church Mat. 28.18 19 20. And accordingly Paul strictly charged Timothy and in him all the Churches and Church-Officers to keep this Commandment without spot unrebukable until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ c. 1 Tim. 6.13 14 15. They must assume to themselves only that power which he hath allotted them and not exercise it any otherwise than he hath allowed them 2. Why I add ordinary to subordinate It is added to difference that Power which resideth in the Church for continual use in ordinary dispensations from that which was in the Apostles for a time by the gift of Christ Both Apostolical-Power and Church-Power agree in this that they are received immediately from Christ For as he said to the Apostles whose sins ye remit they are remitted c. Joh. 20.23 So he said to the Church both here in Peter and in Mat. 18.18 Whatsoever ye shall bind or loose on earth c. So that neither did the Apostles receive their Power from the Church nor doth the Church receive its power from the Apostles but both immediatly from Christ and therefore as the Apostles had their Power before visible Christian-Churches were constituted so such Churches have and hold their Power when Apostles cease to be on earth But herein these two Powers differ 1. That Apostolical Power was centred in one single Person and extended it self to the circumference of all Churches Each Apostle had the Power of the whole Church and of all the Officers of the Church when he was absent from the Churches he could administer Seals and Censures as if he had the presence and concurrence of the Church and if he was present in any Church that wanted Officers an Apostle had power to execute every Office for the Church And this their Power extended it self as much to all Churches as to any one Their Line went out into all the World Psal 19.4 with Rom. 10.18 Mat. 28.19 For as the Father sent Christ the Mediator with fulness of Soveragin Power so Christ sent his Apostles with fulness of Ministerial Power Joh. 20.21 But Church-Power is not in one man but in a Society and to be exercised variously by several persons in that society according to variety of callings Are all Teachers 1 Cor. 12.29 Hence 2. That was extraordinary and to last but for a time but this is ordinary and to continue to the end Rev. 4.1 3. What the Church-Affairs are and what the acting them imports The Church-affairs are the Ordinances of Christ called here the