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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78093	Temple-defilers defiled, vvherein a true visible Church of Christ is described. The evils and pernicious errours, especially appertaining to schisme, anabaptisme, and libertinisme, that infest our Church, are discovered. And directions to preserve from the sin and punishment of temple-defiling, delivered in two sermons preached at the lecture in Kingston upon Thames, Feb. 20. & 27. 1644. out of I Cor. 3.17. / By Richard Byfield pastor in Long-Ditton, Surrey.	Byfield, Richard, 1598?-1664.	1645 (1645)	Wing B6394; Thomason E278_20; ESTC R200019	46,454	48

fornicators of the Church these we judge If we doe neglect this Discipline the Apostle doth not say separate you that are Saints indeed set up a new Church but blames us saying Doe not ye judge them that are within 1 Cor. 5. 12. and injoynes reformation not a separation for such a fault saying Therefore put away from among your selves that wicked Person It is a lamentable thing to read in the Church of Corinth the Temple of God which is holy this mixture brother Fornicator brother Drunkard brother Idolater c. yet so it was “ Aug. Tom. 7. cont Ep. Parmen l. 2. c. 1. Quisquis vel quod potest arguendo corrigit vel quod corrigere non potest salvo pacis vinculo exclu●it vel quod salvo pacis vinculo excludere non potest aequitate improbat firmitate supportat hic est pacificus ab isto maledicto immunis quod Scriptura dicit vae his qui dicunt quod nequam est bonum quod bonum est ncquam so it hath been in the Primitive purest times if it be so now be not so offended as to run out of your little wit while you are running from pollution run not from Gods Temple while you flee the touching of the unclean thing rather let your holinesse be accompanied with love your love with severity your severity with tolerance and longanimity your long-suffering with zeal your zeal with compassion and all with meeknesse of wisdome 2. For the Structure 1. The Temple was built on mount Zion which was first a strong hold of the Jebusites but conquered and taken by David was called the city of David and because a mountain therefore strong and steddy So Christ hath no Church but what he gets by spiritual conquest they were before calling a Fort of Jebusites but our David subduing the strong holds of Satan brings them to God the Rock of Ages Is 26. 4. Jer. 17. 5. 7. the only Iehovah and on him that is on him as he hath named revealed himself in his holy word are they built 2. The Temple had goodly foundations so the Church is built on Christ the Foundation-stone elect and precious tryed and sure on whom whosoever beleeveth shall never be confounded It is built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Apostles are the highest Office and Calling that ever was in the Church and therefore named first not upon their Persons but upon their Doctrine called the foundation because it layeth Christ the Foundation and layeth him out and sets him in his proper place to the full in two sorts of fundamentall truths the Law and Gospel or as it is in Revel 14. 12. The Commandments of God and the faith of Jesus The Church is the Communion of Saints that keepeth these two This is the Zion of God opposed to Antichristian Babylon There is not a clearer Text in all the Bible nor more lively distinguishing it concerns our dayes well is this Book of Prophesies called the Revelation not onely because it opens and reveals the Prophesies of things to come all Prophesies but also because it carries such beams and rayes of lightsome doctrinall truth wherewith it is bespangled and shines in severall parts of it to enlighten the times which the Prophesies concern 3. The walls of the Temple were conjoyned by corner-stones Christ Iesus is the chief corner stone that holds both parts of this spirituall building both Iews and Gentiles that are called fast together so that they do concorporate Eph. 3. 6. 4. The severall stones in this Temple or curtains with tapes and loops and tenons posts and sockets are the severall members variously gifted and yet united in the unity of profession and of the spirit and of faith and of Baptisme and in the bond of Peace 5. The outer and inner coverings are the double condition of the Church the inward Psal 45. 14. comely and glo●ious the outward black and tann'd with afflictions and persecutions Cant. ● 5. 6. The Temple had pillars and walls and the visible Church in respect of the Ministery of it is the pillar and ground of truth 1 Tim. 3. 17 Gal 2. 9. Col. 2. 19. The Officers and Members in the Church are the sustainers of the fabrick and the body 3. But for the Furniture chiefly is the Church of God his holy Temple For. 1. There being retained held and held forth the Doctrine of Reconciliation by Christ alone that one Mediatour that God is onely to be found gracious to a sinner in Christ fully satisfied in his blood which is belonging to no sinner but to him that beleeveth here is the true Mercy-seat God in Christ We need not say O thou that dwellest between the Cherubims but know and pray to God as the God Father of our Lord Iesus Here being taught that Christ is true God and true Man in one Person here is the Ark over laid with gold the true flesh of Christ under which his God-head was covered is the Vail between the Holy-place and the Holy of Holies 2. The Doctrine of Christs sacrifice on the Crosse and of his intercession in heaven is both the Altars the Altar of whole burnt-offering and the Altar of incense 3. The Tables of the Covenant in the Ark the Manna and Aarons rod by it this is in the Church that sets up Christ the Bread of Life the onely Prophet that teacheth to profit and the high Priest over the house of God whom we ought to obey 4. The Candlestick is the light of the Word the Law and Gospel that all in Gods house may walk in the light of the Lord and see to do his work 5. The Laver is the Doctrine of Regeneration and Iustification by Christs blood and spirit 6. The Golden Instruments and vessels for Incense-offering and sprinkling with the rest are the gifted Ministers gifted with pastorall and teaching aptnesse and abilities and sanctified for the applying of Christ and his benefits by their Ministery which gifts Christ giveth but the Church upon due triall acknowledgeth owneth receiveth confirmeth with her testimony and honoureth 4. For the glory inhabiting there 4. God in Christ is there giving the blessing and life The name of that City is Iehovah-Shammah Ezek. 48. 35. or The Lord is there 5. For the cover on it all 5. There is over every such assembly and over the whole Zion of God Isa 4. 5 6. a speciall Protection a speciall Direction and a speciall safety to them that shrowd there from the heat and from the storm This is the defence upon all the glory Now from this branch of the Doctrine and from this true and plain explication of the same we may describe or direct to the infallible note of the true Church on earth and of a true particular visible Church 1. Where ever Iesus Christ is held for the foundation and corner-stone and the Doctrine of the Prophets and Apostles touching the faith of Iesus and the Commandments of God

the wayes and spirit of s●ducers Their wayes are such as these 1. To draw the heart from and to destroy the fundamentall truths the 2 Tin 2 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 first truths pretending they are low dry and saplesse in comparison of their depths and their high speculations giving metaphoricall and farre fetcht meanings and interpretation● as 〈◊〉 and Phil●●us did upon the Article of the Resurrection saying it was past already or annexing to those foundation truths opinions which overthrow them by consequence laying one foundation in appearance and another in deed as the Apostle implieth in 1 Cor. 3. 11. So the Papists do about the Article of Christs Ascension into Heaven when they teach his corporall reall pres●nc● in the Masse of th●se kindes of Seducers the Apostle saith that their word will ●a● as doth a Canker 2 Tim. 2. 17. 2. To beguile by Paralogismes or d●ceitfull reasonings and sophisticall Col. 2. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iam. 1. 22. Nitor ser p●o non Argumento Ambr. de spiritu Sancto Col. 2. 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 16. 18. 2 Tim. 3. 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Eustachius dicit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 esse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thes 2. 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gal 3. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 arguings when upon misconceived principles of 〈◊〉 said as premises wrong conclusions are drawn like Satan their Father who beg●●les mens hearts by a self de●●it when they set up a profession of the wo●d 〈…〉 hear●t often and thereupon conclude they ●re blessed though they neglect the practise and obedience 〈◊〉 against this ab●●d of the usefull Art of Logicke●it is safe to rest upon the plain Scriptures and avoid the sub●ilty of Argument brought to lead from plain truths 3. To use perswasive and enticing words that they might induce to their errours and the Morall Philosophy of Heathen Authors about ●●●●ue naturall abilities and the chief good which poste us of Christ and true consolation through Fai●●●in him these en●●●ing words are also e●ther the swelling words of Vanity ●●d of w●●dy ostentation or good words and f●ir speeches 4. To inchant the people through a mournfull behaviour the old g●●●e of most of the orders of Fryars and Monkes and the new gusse of many with us in 2 Tim. 23. ●● He useth a word for Seducers that signifieth an Incha●●er by 〈◊〉 and lamentation 5. To lead us out of the common b●aten high way when affectation of a Notion and of a curious ●each makes men innovate word● and phrases formerly received in the Church as best expressing the sense of Scripture 6. To bewitch with fascinations that is to delude simple mindes with glesings of some speciall care of t●●m abou● some point of truth pre●●nded as witches do doe eyes of the body that they thinke verily they see that which they do not see and do not see that which is absolutely necessary they should see and know these be witchings are most dangerous when the mist is cast over the soul with jugling pretexts of shewing you Christ and F●ee grace in a more excellent manner till you know neither Christ no● Free-grace 7. To wrest and w●y things that are streight and plain Act. 20. ●0 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Act. 8. 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Cor. 11. 3. 8. To lead people to the admiration of their persons another way of bewitching bringing them into astonishment and a trance upon the conceit of the great power of God in them and some inspirations of the Holy Ghost 9. To corrupt mens mindes from the simplicity that is in Christ by adding or diminishing somewhat of the purity of the Gospel whereby we ●all from the obedience of faith as the Serpent dealt with ●●ve 10. To alleviate the threats of Gods word with vain words and to promise Ephes 5. 6. 2 Pet 2. 19 liberty and turn Gods grace into wantonnesse These are the chief path● of Seducers and for the spirit that ●●rrieth I om●● that of Miracles and lying Wonders of S●tan in 2 Thes 2. them it is an unruly spirit a self-willed spirit a proud spirit a giddy inconstant unquiet spirit a self-seeking spirit a spirit of timorousnesse and base fear not of love power and a sound minde a spirit of earthly mindednesse a spirit captived to mens persons a spirit that creeps into houses and leads silly wom●n captive laden with divers lusts and a doting spirit Of their dotages and deceits I shall give you two instances the one is this that they conceive they have a great light and a new light when their new great light is either some old errour raised from Hell again and new painted or some matter of opinion which is very doubtfull and controversall or somewhat of lesser moment ●rged and pursued with such zeale that the great things of the Law and Gospel are neglected the very disposition of the Pharisees of old But if any say should we not seek an increase and growth in our light and do not we look for it yes in some sense we do and we ought to grow in knowledge but this is not to be understood of any light of new truths there are no new truth● to No new truths be revealed yet the light may increase exceedingly in the more full distinct and shining knowledge of received truths in the clearing and fulfilling We expect a new and great light increasing in 8. things of some prophesies in the power of practise when Christians in name shine in holinesse power of faith and godlinesse expressed in their lives as so many great lights in the frmament of the Church in taking away the various contentions and quarrels that now darken and offuscate the mindes of men Satan chained up more from deceiving in the further manifestation of Gods judgements upon enemies of all sorts which thing doth exemplifie and illustrate the things we do already know In the increase of the number of able and faithfull Teachers and knowing holy professors and in clearer resolution of some obscure places of Scripture together with a more perfect union of the Church of Christ on earth which will be full of Grace Majesty and Terror now not one of these is found in or by the means of our men that boast of their new light for why do not they shew it to us Another Instance of their do●ing deceivable spirit is this that they cannot be brought to measure themselves and their tenets by the standard of the Scripture without shuffling It were a plain and easie way to see the truth in any matter in question about Religion if men did not love to doat thus propose the tenet nakedly see whether there be any plain Scripture for it if there be not we need go no further if there be but yet some other Texts seeme to say against it or a question may be moved about the sense hold the Analogy of Faith and rule

This from the word Temple in the sense here used 2. Doct. Many there are yea many within the visible Church that are defilers and Violaters of this Temple of God 3. Doct. God will certainly punish every and all the defilers and violaters of this his Temple with punishments proportionable to their sin in violating and defiling the same For the first of these Note the difference I put between a Professor of the true Faith and a true professor of that true Faith One may professe the truth and not truly professe it he may be a hypocrite in his profession A Professor is visible and profession of the Faith may be discerned by men from profession of falshood but a true Professor and the truth of his profession is to be desired and prayed for but is not so easily discerned God onely that searches the heart can infallibly judge of this Again I use the word Society as the Genus of a Church not an Assembly for a Church is no lesse a Church when the Assembly is dismissed then when they are Assembled in the use of any Ordinance of God Nor a Congregation that word is too narrow it agreeth not to all the kindes but the word Society that agrees to a particular visible Church and to the whole visible Church to the Church in a house the Church in a Village of one Congregation the Church in a City consisting of many Congregations as the Church of Ierusalem of Ephesus of Corinth the Church in a Kingdom or Nation committed to the profession of the Faith of Christ the Church in the whole world the Church in her Officers gathered together to hear complaints the Church in her Members assembled to worship and serve the Lord according to the Gospel of Christ It is weak and a poor quarrell my opinion is it is so to deny a National Church under the New Testament for under the old its beyond all question and to plead there is no other visible Church then Congregationall The Church at Ierusalem was not Congregationall in that sense that is it did not consist of one Congregation that could meet in one place all the Members of it have one Pastor preach to them at one time and use other Ordinances of Worship as the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper Baptisme Publique Prayer and fellowship together twelve Apostles were not able to discharge to them the duty that belonged to the word and Prayer without the help of seven Deacons to take off them the care of distributing of the Church-Almes Act. 6. 1 2 3 4. It is hard to make clear proof that the word Church in all the History of the New Testament is given to a Congregation I desire to see it And why may not a Nation professing the Faith be called a Church as well as all the world of Professors be called a Church Why not now as well as under the Old Testament The word Church is applicable to every Society of men that professe the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ We read of Churches in the New-Testament because we have severall Societies and Nations of men converted and become the people of God And whereas I hear of some that say did ye ever hear of Nations converted in the Scripture those be strange conversions the conversions of whole Nations I answer did you ever read the Scripture and yet passe by those famous prophesies concerning the Church under the New Testament All Nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord And shall glorifie thy name Psa 86. 9. Again In the last dayes the mountain of the Lords house shall be established in the top of the mountains c. Isa 2. 2 3 4. And all nations shall fl●w unto it and many people shall go and say Come ye and let us go up c. And he shall judge among the Nations And again Zac. 8. 20 21 22. There shall come people and the inhabitants of many Cities and the inhabitants of one City shall go to another saying Let us go speedily to pray before the Lord and to seek the Lord of Hosts I will go also Yea many people and strong Nations shall come to seek the Lord and pray before him It is a strange thing you say The Lord speaks of it indeed as a strange work Who hath heard such a thing Who hath seen such things Shall a Nation be born at once Esa 66. 81. Yet Zion doth so To what purpose were that command Go teach all Nations and Baptize if a Nation might not receive the Gospel and Baptisme or can any doubt of such an effect of Preaching the Gospel when Christ hath promised to his Ministers preaching to Nations that He will be with them to the end of the world Who can deny whole Nations imbracing the Gospel that have not lost their senses the Nation of England at this day and the Nation of Scotland professe the truth of Christ and now in their representative bodies are all for Reformation for the power of godlinesse for the rooting out of Popery Heresie Schisme Prelacy Prophanenesse and in this work count not their lives and livelyhoods dear unto them Moreover since I am upon this point let me propose this Argument for a Nationall Church He that hath all power given to him of God in Heaven and earth and out of the fulnesse of that power saith Teach all Nations and Baptize them and promiseth his presence to the World and to make the Nations obedient to the Faith and to receive the Gospel and Baptisme doth in so doing set up properly one Church of all the Nations in the world that receive the Gospel and Baptisme and make Nationall Churches of the severall Nations that receive the Gospel and Baptisme But Jesus Christ hath all power given him of God in Heaven and Earth and out of the fulnesse of that power saith Teach all Nations and Baptize them and promiseth his presence to the worlds end to make the Nations obedient and to receive the Gospel and Baptisme Therefore IESVS CHRIST doth in so doing set up one Church of all Nations that receive the Gospel and Baptisme and make Nationall Churches of the severall Nations that receive the Gospel and Baptisme I have degressed somewhat but let it passe Whether there be a Nationall or Congregationall Church or no this is sure every Society of Christians professing the true Faith is a Church and the Temple of God which now we come to prove for that is requisite that both branches of the first Doctrine be made good by clear Scripture The fi●st that every Christian professing the true Faith especially the true Professor is Gods Temple read the 16. verse of this Chapter and chap. 6. 6. 19. Where the Apostle saith Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God What know you not this Every Christian profession answereth our outward call is called to this honour to be Gods Temple this is the dignity to which ye are

that concern holinesse and righteousnesse there is the true Church Ephes 2. 19 20. What ever Society of men associating in a religious way do hold Christ and the Prophets and the Apostles Doctrine for faith and holinesse that Society is a particular visible Church Ephes 2. 22. 2. In what ever particular Society religious there is to be found all the furniture of the Temple all the glory the Mercy-seat the two Altars the Table of Shewbread the Candlestick the Laver that is a true particular visible Church It is the Temple of God therefore the Church of God Who can deny that that is Zion where it can be truly said the Tabernacle of God is with these men Behold he dwelleth with you you of Kingstone for of you it may truely be said Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men And to remove all things that may mislead your judgements let us looke upon that Prophesie in Rev. 11. 1. and forwards to v. 14. It concernes the state of the Church during the reigne of Antichrist in which Prophesie so farre as pertaineth to our present purpose two things are beyond all doubt and the more to be heeded First that the outer Court and the Holy City that is the Church visible is given to the Gentiles even the Antichristian or Popish Gentiles and they shall tread it under foot forty and two moneths which is one thousand two hundred and sixty daies Propheticall that is so many yeares this is the time of Antichrists reigne Secondly that this is the time and space in which the two witnesses that is the small but sufficient number for testimony to confirme any truth I say the small number of Christs faithfull Ministers for these two witnesses are expresly called two Prophets v. 10. and their worke is expresly and precisely named to be Prophecying v. 3. Now the Magistrate and his worke by the sword and Edicts is never in all the Bible called by these names the Scripture appropriates this manner of witnessing to the Gospell and against errours to the Ministers and their worke alone which is Preaching of the Gospell Mark 16. 15. 1 Cor. 1 17. if this be not the work of their Office they have no work Christ sends them to Preach and in comparison of this not to Baptize this small number is to Prophesie in sack-cloth Now this time being not expired for Antichrist is not yet destroyed the seven V●●ls are but in pouring out the state of the visible Church is this to be inf●sted and polluted dive●sly with many Gentiles as we see by wofull experienc● there is no Protestant Church in the christian world but is miserably trodden upon at this day by Papists their bloudy rage their errours and superstitious inventions the errours of other Hereticks and Schismaticks all which are appertaining unto and are of the frye of Antichrist as the Apostle Iohn said of the errours of his time there are many Antichrists already to●tered ●nd torn and soyled will be the face of the visible Church untill Antichrist be down Againe the number of faithfull Ministers will not be very great nor their estate any other then a state of mourning they shall yet Prophesie in sack-cloth even so long till the one thousand two hundred and sixty daies or yeares be accomplished they that say otherwise shift as they can they will feele this to be a truth for the time of this burden is not yet expired Is Antichrists reigne expired when Papists so swarme so prevaile with many Kings that are Protestant that they waste Germany Ireland Scotland England besides other parts and yet the Pope sits in Rome I shall adde here but that of learned and godly Chemnitius in his Common Places “ Chemnit Loc. Theol. De Eccles loco cap. 3. Sect. 3. Miser caetus in qu● multae sunt infirmitates quoque non tantum persecutionibus cruce premitu sed etiam offendiculis scandalis deformatur That the Church may be a miserable Society or company in which there are many infirmities and which is not only pressed with Persecutions and the Crosse but also is deformed with stumbling-blocks and scandals of which we ought not to judge by the outward shew but by and according to the Word The Church Visible is the company of those that imbrace Christs Gospell and rightly use his Sacraments in which company God by the Ministery of the Word workes powerfully and regenerates many to life eternall in which society notwithstanding there are many “ Et Sect. 5. 2 Tim. 2. 20. In Ecclesiae caetu multi sunt non sancti Non-sancti not holy but yet consenting with the godly in the point of true Doctrine Thus of the first Doctrine The ●econd Doctrine is this That there are many yea many within the visible Church that are defilers and violaters of this Temple of God If it had not been so in vaine had been the Apostles reasoning if it would not be so in vaine were this sentence written and left registred in the Canon of the New Testament The Apostle did not deale this blow in the ayre and fight with shadowes and that we may not so doe and only beate the ayre and lose our labour let us inquire who are they that stand guilty of this sin the thing is filthy and odious and no man will willingly owne it though he will not be taken off but will willingly doe it To come then to charge the guilt of this great si● upon the particular offenders 1. All scandalous Christians I begin with you for though you are not the first intended by the Apostle in this Text yet you deservedly goe in the front you make and cause others to defile and wrong the Church by Schismes The offence you give makes them forsake the fellowship of the Church of God to which you doe belong you are many waies guilty of this Temple-pollution for the present you may be ranked into three sorts 1. Fornicators Adulterers ●ffeminate and uncleane persons these defile their owne bodies 1 Cor. 6. 15 18 19. they take the member of Christ and make it the member of an Harlot these defile the Church of God this is a Leaven a little of which leaveneth the whole lumpe 1 Cor. 5. 6. it is a leaven to be purged ou● by Church-censures 2. The Covetous Raylers Ex●ortioners Drunkards Theeves Swearers that feare not an O●●h the prophane unholy malicious and all unrighteous persons these make Gods house a d●nne of Theeves they that live in these and the like sins against the holy Law of God and yet come before him as his people and cry The Temple of the Lord and rest in the name and priviledges of Christ●ans these live as if they were delivered to doe those abominations I●r 7. 4 8. they are abominable polluters of Gods Temple 3. The Ph●ri●●●c●ll Hypocrites ●hat pretend the glory of God and good of the Church but under that colour drive a trade Ioh. 2. 14 15. of the Publiq●e