belong to this and not to other m Heb. 12.23 § 13. The Catholick Church is but one onely a Eph. 4.4.5 1 Cor. 12.12 and it cannot be visible as Catholick for the greatest part are not seen by us being Saints in Heaven b Eph. 1.10 3.15 Elect Infants and many not known by Profession and if Men apply Catholick to the Professors of Christianity living at the same time upon the Earth and call them the Catholick Visible Church it is a mistaken Appellation for they are neither a Visible Church nor Catholick Not a Visible Church because 1. Christ hath instituted none such 2. They are never seen in coetu or in a Congregation as a Visible Church is nor can be till the last Day c Mat. 13.41 3. Christ never gave Ordinances for such a Communion 4. All these are not under any visible bond of Confederation together which is the form of a Visible Church Profession is no Bond but a proper requisite only thereto 5. Christ never instituted such a Church Ministry but what were set in a particular Church and exercised in such The Apostles Christ's extraordinary Ministers were first set in the Church at Jerusalem d Eph. 4.11 1 Cor. 12.28 and were first Officers there and tho their Commission reached to the Planting and Governing other Churches that should succeed yet they exercised not their Ministry or Apostolick Power to any supposed Catholick Church Visible nor wrote to such but gathered particular Churches out of the World and in them settled a distinct Ministry and Ordinances peculiar to each wherein they exercised their own power as far as necessary for their Settlement and Edification Again there is no Catholick Visible Church for 1. If there be there is two Catholick Churches which is a contradiction and contrary to that Creed called the Apostles 2. All visible Professors if a Church cannot be Catholick because they are not all the Members of Christ on Earth and they that profess at large at least are not Members of Christ many if not most of them 3. It is not a Catholick Church because it 's not a Body-Corporate in any visible manner nor are capable of answering the ends of such in Government Order or Priviledges 4. If there be a Catholick visible Church it 's rational there should be a Catholick visible Pastor and from these Principles arose the Pope and the Papal Jurisdiction established throughout the professing World In the first Ages after Christ each particular Church called it self Catholick from the Profession of that Doctrine which was called the Catholick Faith because received by all the Churches Afterward the Word Catholick was applied to a supposed Universal Visible Church and became not only serviceable to the rising of the Mystery of Iniquity but a great Foundation of the Antichristian Fabrick which was afterward built thereon with all the Ecclesiastical Tyranny and Papal Superstitious Pomp imaginable The Protestants that have cast off the Universal Pastorship of one and will not endure a Catholick single Pastor do most of them retain the Notion of an Universal Visible Church as also of divers Catholick Pastors dividing that Catholocy which they will not allow the Pope among themselves each one exercising the Office and Power of a Catholick visible Pastor where-ever he comes having bin ordained by a Presbytery of a Catholick Constitution to a Catholick Pastorship to the Catholick Church To conclude Our best Protestants in opposition to the Papists have still denied the being of a Catholick Visible Church amongst whom was Famous Dr. Whitaker whose Arguments upon this Question against Duraeus are Quoted by Mr. Hooker in his Survey ch 15. p. 265. Our Savoy Confession allows the Name but denies the Nature Ch. 26. § 2. Institution of Churches § 6. for it saith it s not entrusted with the Administration of any Ordinances nor hath any Officers to Rule and Govern as such and what a kind of Visible Church is that that is neither the subject of Ordinances or Officers Mr. Hooker saith Church is the Genus of all particular Churches but a Visible Church in the generical consideration can no more be found existing out of individual particular Churches than a Man can be found existing under the generical consideration of Man out of individual Men. But that a totum aggregatum of all Churches in this World can be made and be a visible Church he denies upon Learned and convincing Reasons which will stand their Ground against all contradiction To whom for brevity sake we refer the Reader where also he evinceth that there 's no Catholick Visible Church considered as a totum Representativum i. e. as a Representative Church in all the Pastors that there cannot be a Catholick Visible Representative Church and that there is no such thing as a Representative Church of any kind of greater or lesser extent § 14. What the Scripture speaks of a Church is either of a Church in general and indefinitely belongs to any or of a Church in Specie either Catholick and invisible or particular and visible but saith nothing of a Catholick Visible CHAP. III. Of a Congregational Church in General Of Christ's Dispensation as Head A visible Church defined Revealed Worship exercis'd first in Families then in Instituted Churches The Foundation of visible Churches laid in Abraham's Covenant Two parts thereof The Church of Israel First Essential then Organized The difference between the Mosaical and Gospel Oeconomy The Church of Israel Congregational § 1. THE Lord Jesus Christ exerts his Headship not only by the more immediate Administration of his Spirit a 1 Cor. 2.11 12. 12.4 7.13 Eph. 4.3 7. internally in the hearts of his People whereby he constitutes his Mystical and Catholick Body but also as the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession b Heb. 3.1.2 6. by external Means of Grace Constituting and Ordaining particular visible Churches and in them Ministry and Ordinances suited to the State and respective Ages of the World c Heb. 9.1.8.10 Deut. 29.1 for the filling up and edification of his Mystical Body d Eph. 4.12 13. and blesseth such accordingly to his great Glory and good of his Chosen e Eph. 3.21 Ps 106.45 Exo. 20.24 Deut. 4.8 § 2. A Visible Church is a Particular Assembly of Professing Believers a 1 Cor. 1.2 visibly embodied in Christ b 1 Cor. 12.27 for a stated and holy Communion c Act 9.31 in one place d 1 Cor. 11 20. with God and one another in all instituted Ordinances e Act 2.42 appertaining to themselves and their immediate seed f Act. 2.39 Isa 61.9 65.23 Eph. 6.4 for God's Glory in Christ g Eph. 3.21 and their mutual Edification h 1 Cor. 14 5.12.26 § 3. God's External Worship by Revealed Religion was first celebrated in Adam's Family a Gen. 4.3 4. and continued in the Families of the Faithful till the time of Abraham
b Heb. 11.5.7 8. which by many are esteemed to have bin so many distinct Churches and accordingly distinguish particular Churches into Oeconomick or Family and Congregational But others think that tho God appointed to those Patriarchs a solemn Family-Worship yet that a Church was not instituted till Abraham's time when the first Foundation of an Instituted Church was laid in the Covenant that God made with and Sealed to Abraham and his Seed c Gen. 12.2 17.1 2 for before this Covenant tho God was Worshipped in Families there seems not to have bin any Churches made up of divers Families and therefore not Congregational nor any Church-Covenant or Seals thereof Hence he is said to have received the Sign of Circumcision the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had being uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all that believe both circumcised and uncircumcised d Ro. 4.11 i. e. of Believers whose Church-Covenant was Sealed by an Instituted Seal appropriated thereto or else how was Abraham said to be a Father to all that should afterward believe any more than Noah was or Sem and moreover because in this Covenant Christ the Head of the Church was explicitely contained e Ro. 4.13 Gal. 3.18 19. who indeed was promised as Heir of the World through the Righteousness of Faith therefore the Apostle tells us that the Promise of Christ and all Church-Priviledges and Ordinances of his Institution are sure not only to Abraham's natural Seed but to all who are of the Faith of Abraham who is the Father of all Professing Believers and Covenanting with God for themselves and Seed by vertue of his receiving the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had in his uncircumcision f Ro. 4.16 so that the stress of Abraham's Father-hood to the Faithful is not laid upon his Eminent Faith alone but upon his receiving an Instituted Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to himself and his infant-Seed g Rom. 4.11.16 and in this respect as he is called the Father so each Believer is his Seed in Christ h Gal. 3.26 27 28. receiving a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to himself and Seed as Isaac did i Gal. 4.28 § 4. In Abraham's Covenant was contained the Promise and Blessing of Christ to his Church in all Ages both in respect of its Mystical and Visible relation to him as its Head a Gal. 3.8 9 14. Ephes 1.3 and therefore the establishment of Church-Membership was made in Abraham to the professing covenanting-Believer un-alterably as a substantial part of the Blessing which was to come on the Gentiles and not to be removed b Gal. 3.14 15 16 17 18. Heb. 12.27 There were two things manifestly in Abraham's Covenant 1. The substantial and abiding part of that Covenant both to Jews and Gentiles both internal and Mystical yea and external as to a Church visible state Membership and Priviledges all which came upon the Gentiles c Gen. 17.13 19. Eph. 3.6 c. 1.3 2. There was the peculiar and moveable part of Abraham's Covenant which was the increase of his Seed into a National Church d Gen. 12.2 18.18 the growth and progress it should make through Bondage and Pilgrimage to an external and Typical Rest e Gen. 15.13 14 16 18. with all worldly Plenty and Prosperity f Josh 5.6 7. 22.4 21.43 and most especially the form and manner of that Church-Worship according as was after established by God's Ordination and Institution g Deut. 4.7 8.31 32. to 37. Exo. 25.40 for the time then being till the coming of Christ h Heb. 9.9 10. Circumcision it self being a part of that moveable Fabrick begun in Abraham and perfected in Moses i Act 7.8.32.37 38. Heb. 3.2 3 8.5 Gal. 5.3 4. it was taken away with the other observances k Heb. 8.5.8.13 9.9 Col. 2.11 17. but a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith whereby Abraham became the Father of all Believers Jews and Gentiles was not taken away l Rom. 4.11 15.8 but was a great part of the Blessing that came on the believing Gentiles m Gal. 3.9 14. viz. that the Professing Covenanting-Believer should both he and his Infant-Seed receive a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith as the great Priviledge of Church-Membership belonging to both as to Abraham and his they being his Seed by Faith as Isaac was n Ro. 4.12 16. Gal. 3.26 27. 4.28 Col. 2.10 11 12. Acts 2.39 Ro. 15.8 9. Isa 61.9 ch 65.9 § 5. The Church of Israel before Moses was Congregational and in a visible Covenant with God and truly an essential Church a Ex. 12.3 Num. 20.4 Ex. 12.40 41. 16.22 Act. 7.38 but not organized with a Ministry and Ordinances of God's Institution for a due and orderly Worship of God till Moses b Act 7.38.44 45. which state and standing of that Church from Abraham to Moses and partly in its Wilderness condition was a great Type of the Gospel-Church in its persecuted bewildred and unsettled state under its great Adversaries wherein it hath been mostly fed by God and preserved by him in its Mystical State and standing as was before hinted c Rev. 12.6.13 § 6. The Administration of the external Constitution by Christ in the Ministry and Ordinances of the Church of Israel a Acts 7.38 was of a distinct form and manner from the Church Administration according to the Gospel Oeconomy Ordinances and Order b Heb. 9.1.9 10 11. For the Administration of the Ecclesiastical State and standing of that Church was faulty in respect of the Ordinance of Circumcision it self c Acts 7.8 Gal. 5.3 4. 2 Cor. 3.14 and Mosaick Vail drawn over Gospel Mysteries d Heb. 8.6 the encouragement to Gods Service by temporal Promises the Typical and Legal Nature of the Sanctuary Ministry e Heb. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.9 Heb. 8.5 and Ordinances called carnal f Heb. 9.10 7.16 and worldly g Heb. 9.1 imperfect not reaching the Conscience h ch 9.11 10.1 2. 7.19 Moses the Mediator i Gal. 3.20 thereof and Aaronick Priesthood k Heb. 7.11 23. both typical of the true Mediator l 8.4 5. 3.1 and High-Priest of our Profession It was a faulty Covenant m Heb. 8.7 and called by the Apostle the Old Testament n 2 Cor. 3.14 and is all done away as a shadow in the coming of Christ o Ibid. and his bringing in to us a better because clearer ground of Faith and Hope p Heb. 7.19 by spiritual Promises q Eph. 1.3 and a more Heavenly Gospel Ministry and Ordinances r Heb. 8.5 9.23 and is therefore called a New Covenant ſ Heb. 8.8 the blessings whereof are Abraham's now come on the Gentiles t Gal. 3.14 heavenly and spiritual in high places v Eph. 2.6 much
professing Right thereto to the Believing Parent covenanting and his immediate Infant-Seed in him d Isa 65.23 chap. 44.3 Gal. 4.28 Fourthly The Seal of the Righteousness of Faith given to both Parent and Seed Fifthly The Ministry of the Gospel with all other Ordinances of Christ's Institution which each is capable of for spiritual advantage in the communion of the respective Members thereof e Gal. 3.7 8. § 3. A Visible Church is a spiritual a 1 Pet. 2.5 Body b Rom. 12.4 5. of Believers c 1 Cor. 1 2 with their immediate Seed d Gal. 3.26 27 28. 4.28 separate from the World e 2 Cor. 6.17 and given up unto Christ and one another in a Publick Covenant f 2 Cor. 8.5 Isa 56.6 7. for fellowship g 1 John 1.3 7. Phil. 1.5 1 Cor. 11.20 in all instituted Worship and Ordinances h Mat. 28.20 in one place i 1 Cor. 14.23 to the Glory of God k 1 Cor 10.31 and their own Salvation l Phil. 1.9 11. § 4. A visible Church is always particular a Rev. 1.20 Col. 2.5 a Catholick being not visible as hath bin shewed for a Visible Church is not a Society gathered together and made up of all the select People in the world there is none such can be here but it s such as is limited to a People and Place and is the subject of the Ministry and Ordinances there b 1 Cor. 11.20 14.23 Act 2.41 And though it should be supposed that there is a Catholick visible Church which cannot be granted it is to be observed that the Spirit of God speaks always of Churches in their respective places as distinct Churches each one entire in it self c 1 Cor. 1 2 1 Thes 1.1 not one Epistle wrote to any under the Name of the Catholick visible Church nor to any Church or Congregation as part of it but we read of writing to a Church in such a place d Revel 3.1 c. 1 Cor. 1.1 and divers Churches in a place as Country or Province we find distinguisht by the places where they were as Town City in which they were e Gal. 1.2 Rev. 1.4 Again each particular Congregation had its proper Elders relating to it f Act. 20.17 Phil. 1.1 Act 14.23 and not to others or to a Catholick visible Lastly the Church at Jerusalem the first Primitive was indeed the biggest and largest we read of but to make it any other than a particular Congregation is as weak Divinity as it is Logick for it continued to Assemble together in one place g Act 5.12 and was called but one Church and was not the Church that was visibly Catholick for it contained not the Churches of Samaria h Act 9.31 and Antioch i ib. 15.2 3 soon after gathered § 5. Wherefore the Subject defined by us is a particular Church not because the Catholick is a Genus of it but because the Catholick and a Particular are two distinct Species of Church by proper Adjuncts e. gr A particular Church is visible here on Earth in coetu a Act 5.12 which the Catholick Church is not It assembles in one place b 1 Cor. 11.20 which the Catholick cannot here It 's the subject of external Ordinances Officers and Discipline c Phil. 1.1 1 Cor. 5.4 which the Catholick is not The Members are known by visible Profession and confederation d 2 Cor. 9.13 which the Members of the Catholick are not known by § 6. The next general Nature as we have shewed to a Church is a Body Politick or Corporation for Body is thus distributed in Scripture Acceptation it is Natural or Political Political is Civil or Spiritual the Spiritual is a Church which is a spiritual Body Politick and that is invisible and Catholick or visible and Particular Here we are on a Particular Congregation which we say is a spiritual visible Body Politick a Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Co. 12.27 That it is a Body in a Political sence is most manifest for the Scripture calling it so it must be concluded that it cannot be so in any rational sence but as it is a Body Corporate not Civil but Spiritual it being of spiritual Matter b 1 Cor. 3. 1 Gal. 6.1 spiritual Form c 1 Pet. 2.5 and for spiritual Ends d 1 Cor. 12 3.3 7.8 Eph. 5.19 1 Pet. 2.5.9 Neither is it invisibly spiritual for spiritual things are both visible and invisible e Col. 1.16 18. 2.5 1 Pet. 2.5 but its spiritual in opposition to civil Hence the Church we are speaking of is a visible spiritual Body-Politick and as such having a special and peculiar Relation to Christ the Political Head f Heb. 3.1.6 wherein the special Glory and Excellency of this Church doth ly § 7. The great Concern therefore of this Body is its true Political Relation to Christ as the head thereof a Eph. 4.15 16. that it be by its visibility at least Christ's Corporation b 1 Cor. 12.27 1. By his Purchase c Act. 20.28 2. By his Charter and Institution being founded upon his Doctrine Rules and Appointments d Mat. 28.20 3. That the Dispensation be Christ's so that all things therein transacted be in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ e Col. 3.17 and to God's Glory by him f Eph. 3.21 4. That the Matter of this Church be visibly approved as Members of Christ's Mystical Body and so in Christ Jesus by Faith visibly at least g Phil. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.15 16. 5. That their association into one Body be by explicite Covenant first to Christ the Head and to one another as visible Members of Christ supposed faithful and Loyal to him h Rom. 15.6 7. Isa 56.7 1 Pet. 5.9 6. The great ends of it are 1. A freedom in Christ i Gal. 5.1 and the Spirit k 2 Cor. 3.17 from all other Political Heads as such in this spiritual relation and all pretendedly Ecclesiastical l 2 The. 2.4 or Civil m Isa 26.13 or Pastoral compulsion and Arbitrary Government within themselves n 1 Pet. 5.3 3 John 10. 2. The great enjoyment of the Presence and Blessing of Christ o Rev. 3.1 Eph. 1.3 3. Their communion in Christ with one another p 1 Cor. 10 16. and thereby their edification in Grace q 1 Cor. 14 26. and continued growth in Christ r Eph. 4.15 in the solemn and sacred use of all his holy Institutions and Appointments All which they look upon not as Bondage but their desirable Enjoyments and Priviledges granted to them by the Charter and Seal of the New Testament ſ Eph. 1.3 Col. 2.19 Eph. 1.18 19. § 8. As it is and ought to appear a spiritual Body a 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore visible it must be made up of such Members
Sabbath m Col. 2.16 17. but the Lord's Day are 1. Then Christ finished Redemption and Rose from the Dead n Mat. 28.1 Luke 24.1 2. Then he appeared after his Resurrection to his Disciples assembled o Joh. 20.19 3. On this Day the Churches held their Solemn Assemblies for Preaching and administring the Lords Supper and Contributions p Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.12 4. On this Day John was in the Spirit and it 's called the Lord's Day q Re. 1.10 because more peculiarly appropriated to his Service as the Lord's Supper § 10. It is not in the Power of Churches to set apart any stated times Yearly or Monthly to be observed for that would be Superstition and Will-Worship a Gal. 4.10 Col. 16.17 But Days of Fasting and Humiliation may be appointed by any Church of Christ according as weighty Reasons lead it thereunto b Acts 14.23 CHAP. XI Of Ordinances of Special Communion Kinds of Ordinances of Special Communion A Seal what it doth and signifies New Testament Seals but Two What Baptism is What the Lord's Supper is What is to be observed in its Administration § 1. HAVING shewed what are Christ's Ordinances in a Visible Church of General or more common Communion we come in the next place to speak of Ordinances of Special Communion peculiar only to such as are Church-Members and these are such Appointments of Christ as concern the Administration of the Seals or such as concern the Administration of the Keys § 2. A Seal of the Covenant under the New Testament is a visible and sensible Ratification thereof wherein Christ our High Priest doth eminently shew forth unto us the glory of his Priestly Office in makeing himself a Sacrifice for Sin bearing the Charge and Curse of Sin satisfying God's Justice reconciling us to God and procuring Eternal Salvation to us a 1 Pet. 2.9 Heb. 9.26 Col. 1.21 22. Heb. 9.12 who as such is the great Condition of the Covenant of Grace b Isa 42.6 i. e. of Abraham's Covenant c Ro. 4.13 Gal. 3.17 whereby we have upon Profession right to claim all Church-Priviledges Mystical and Visible in the State of Grace and that of Glory hereafter d Gal. 3.9.28 29. In all the Old Testament Seals and in the New especially Christ in the Covenant of Grace is in a most lively manner represented and shewed forth in the Church e 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26. Col. 2.11 12. as to Condition and Promises he being not only the great Condition but the Yea and Amen of all the Promises f 2 Cor. 1.20 which are therein Applied and Sealed at least Ministerially g Gen. 17.7 10. Rom. 4.11 12. Gal. 3.27 § 3. The Seals of the New Testament are Two and no more Baptism and the Lord's Supper which are the only Instituted Rites or Ceremonies in a Church that are ordained by Christ to continue till he come a Matt. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. All Jewish Ceremonies are vanisht as Shadows and abolished b Heb. 8.5.13 2 Cor. 3.14 as all Ceremonies attending the bestowing Miraculous Gifts are also ceased c 1 Cor. 13.8 such as Imposition of Hands on well or sick Vnction washing of Feet this being but a didactical Ceremony used by Christ to teach the Apostles Humility and not to Lord it over his Churches and was never intended for a standing Ordinance And as none of these which many are fond of and even Idolize some one and some another and upon as good Grounds all as any for each one had any Sanction for continuance so their significancy ceasing the Sign also comes to nought § 4. Baptism is a Sign and Seal of the Righteousness of Faith wherein Washing with Water into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost a Mat. 28.19 doth represent and shew forth at least Ministerially a Sinners washing from his Sins in the Bloud of Christ b Rev. 1.6 Act 2.38 his New Birth and Renovation by the Spirit of Christ c Titus 3.5 and his Covenant Obligation to be the Lords d Gal. 3.27 28. eib 3.9.26 The Subjects of this Seal are all those who by Profession of Faith in Christ e ib. 3.9.26 which is Abraham's Faith are become Covenant-Members accordingly of a Visible Church and their immediate Infant-Seed f Act. 2.39 they being blessed with faithful Abraham g Gal. 3.7 8 14. and having all essential Church-Blessings come upon them And therefore the Blessing of Membership to the professing Body of Christ h Rom. 15.8 9. ch 4.11 12 and Gospel Church Priviledges as they belong to one or other respectively are Ministerially to be applied of which Baptism is none of the least being the Ordinance of Christ in which only a Believer can bring his Infant-Seed to Christ and he cannot bring it to Christ out of an Ordinance therefore it being his Duty to bring it to Christ it must be in this Ordinance to be blessed with Abraham's Blessing spiritually as he and his Seed are Ecclesiastically the reason that Christ gives for his Command of bringing Infants to him i Matt. 19.14 15. Mark 10.14 16. Luk. 18.16 is That they are Church Members of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and it 's known that Christ means his visible Church in the days of the Gospel by the Kingdom of Heaven and he took them in his Arms received them visibly laid his Hands upon them which is more than for any Ministers to Baptize them and blessed them And doth Christ Bless with any Blessing besides the Blessing of Abraham that comes on the Gentiles § 5. The Lord's Supper is a special Ordinance of Church Communion a 1 Cor. 10.16 instituted and continued by Jesus Christ b 1 Cor. 11 26. wherein by the Giving and Receiving the outward Elements of Bread and Wine c Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.23 Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23 the Death Satisfaction and Merits of Christ are in a lively manner shewed forth and he who through Christ is a worthy Receiver doth spiritually and really by Faith partake of his Body and Bloud with all the high Benefits thereof and not Ministerially only as he doth who is only an outside professed Member It is called the Lord's Supper d 1 Cor. 11 20. because it is of the Lord's Institution and for this end to shew forth his Death e 1 Cor. 11 26. and because he first Celebrated it the Evening before his Death f ib. v. 23. § 6. This being instituted for so spiritual and solemn Ends and Purposes a 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26 27. Luk. 22.19 cannot be administred or attended upon for any other Purposes such as to qualifie Men upon a secular account without great Prophanation thereof b Mal. 1.11 12. John 6.26 27. Ex. 20.4 7 Rev. 13.16 17. § 7. In the Administration of this Ordinance these things according to the Primitive
as to the adult part are Professors of their Mystical Relation to Christ b Eph. 5.30 for the truest Believer cannot be known but by such Profession that must come into visibility before any one can have any approved Church-Membership or any fair or plausible pretence to a right thereto c Jam. 2.18 Act 11.23 2. Tho Professing Believers with their immediate Infant-Seed are the true and fit Matter for a Visible Church d Act 2.39 yet is not their Profession the Visible Form of a Church Stones may be good and well squared for a Building but do not give Form to any House e 1 King 6 7. till they be visibly conjoyned and knit together to a Corner-Stone f 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.21 therefore the Band must be visible in this Building of Christ all the sitted parts as living Stones freely coming to Christ the Corner-Stone and by common consent uniting themselves to Christ and one another to make a spiritual House a Habitation of God by his Spirit g Eph. 2.21 22. every one of which being supposedly at least united to Christ the Mystical Head h Eph. 4.15 and so becoming living Stones do now come to Christ by a second explicite visible Union in a Political Body of his i Rom. 12.1 4 5. which can be no other than Confederation whereby each one with his immediate Infant-Seed is given up unto Christ and associated to the said Members in one Corporation or Body Politick § 9. That explicite confederation gives form to a visible Church appears beyond all doubt 1. From the nature of its being a Body Politick or Corporation a Ro. 12.4 5. 1 Cor. 12 12 13 14 27. for all Civil Corporations are in this manner made a Body 2. Men may be very honest and good Subjects under the King's Government but not incorporated in any distinct Body Corporate under the King 3. They that are incorporated are bound by a promise of Fidelity to the King the Political Head and by a promise obliging to Membership with and fidelity to that particular Body 4. There is no Person governable by any such Body Politick that is not thus bound to it by such confederations for what hath it to do with such as are without b 1 Cor. 5.12 5. It is not fit that any should partake of the granted Liberties and Priviledges of any particular Society without becoming a fast Member thereof and how can any one that is at his choice whether he will or will not be made a fast Member thereof without a declared mutual obligation between him and such Society As all these Reasons hold good as well in a spiritual Body Politick as a Civil and bear a great Analogy with the Natural Body of a Man therein So likewise it appears in the second place from the Word of God speaking of a Church as such a Body 1. The first constitution of a Congregational-Church in Abraham and his Seed was by Covenant c Gen. 17.2 10. and so the great Reformations thereof afterwards were by renewing Abraham's Covenant 2. All the descriptions of a Visible Church by allusion to a Natural Body d Ro. 12.4 5. to a House e Eph. 2.21 22. 1 Pet. 2.5 or Temple hold forth such an explicite Band of parts together as well as the whole to the Head as parts of a Body or House are knit together which nothing can do in a Body Politick but a voluntary Confederation 3. The expressions of joining to the Lord and adding to the Church f Act. 2.47 5.13 14. 4. Church-Covenanting under the Gospel is foretold g Isa 56.6 62.5 5. The Apostle is express about it when he treats purposely and directly of the true matter of a Church and foederal form of it h 2 Cor. 6.15 16 c. Act. 11.23 6. Professed Subjection to the Gospel is explicite covenanting i 2 Cor. 9.13 as also in that place speaking of giving up ones self to the Lord and one another k 2 Cor. 8.5 § 10. Hence as it is a Covenanting Body so a Body separate from the World Heathenish and Antichristian a 1 Cor. 10 19.20 Rev. 18.3 2 Cor. 6.16 17. A Church cannot be a peculiar and select People without separating from communion in Church Ordinances with visible unbelievers and from false Worship of all kinds whatever b 2 Cor. 6.15 16. 1 Pet. 2.9 § 11. The immediate Infant-Seed of the Confederate-Believer becomes given up unto God and receives Church-Membership in and by the Parents Covenant a 1 Cor. 7.14 Gal. 4.28 Rom. 9.8 for such was the Constitution of the first Congregational-Church which remains un-altered for the righteousness of faith and the Seal of the righteousness of Faith remaining to Believers b Ro. 4.11 12. as the Gospel preached c Gal. 3.8 to Abraham was the Blessing that came on the Gentiles d ibid. 14. it belongs to them to whom he was the Father even in that respect e Rom. 4.11.16 and they are Heirs according to the Promise f Gal. 3.29 being the Children of God by Faith in Christ g ib. v. 26. ib. v. 9. are blessed with faithful Abraham h ib. v. 27 yea as many as have bin baptised into Christ have put on Christ as Abraham did both in respect of the righteousness of Faith and the Seal thereof i Ro. 4.11 12. the Priviledge he hath for himself and Seed in Covenant and both Jew and Greek Male and Female are all one as to this respect in Christ Jesus k Gal. 3.28 And being Abraham's Seed l Ro. 4.16 yea his Children as Isaac was they inherit the Blessing in the righteousness of Faith and the Seal thereof to themselves and Seed But this Blessing as it comes upon the Gentiles as fellow-heirs of the same Promise made to Abraham m Eph. 3.6 which neither the makeing or abrogation of Moses his Constitution did or could disannul n Gal. 3.17 comes not on this or that Nation or Race of any Family specified as it was upon Abraham's but it comes only in the right of a confederating Believer o Rom. 9.6 7 8. and therefore on him and his immediate Seed only for the Child of a Believer when he comes to be adult by his non-profession of Abraham's Faith and non-covenanting accordingly his Membership ceaseth and his Seeds and therefore the Grandfather's Faith cannot give the Grand-Child any right to the seal of the righteousness of Faith but the Infants Membership and Right to any Church-Priviledge as it must ly in the immediate Parent so the unbelief of the immediate Seed cuts off from any right to that Seal § 12. The ends of Visible Church-Union are very great viz. The constant and frequent waiting and attending upon God in his Worship and that by a People assembling together for this end and purpose with one Heart and Mind