which hath been various And it is meerly from a spirit of Contention that some call on us or others to produce express Testimony or Institution for every Circumstance in the Practice of Religious Duties in the Church and on a supposed failure herein to conclude that they have Power themselves to Institute and Ordain such Ceremonies as they think meet under a Pretence of their being Circumstances of Worship For as the Directive Light of Nature is sufficient to guide us in these things so the obligation of the Church unto it makes all stated Additions to be useless as on other accounts they are noxious Such things as these are the Times and Seasons of Church Assemblies the Order and Decency wherein all things are to be transacted in them the bounding of them as unto the number of their Members and places of Habitation so as to answer the ends of their Institution the multiplication of Churches when the number of Believers exceeds the Proportion capable of Edification in such Societies what especial Advantages are to be made use of in the Order and Worship of the Church such as are Methods in Preaching Translations and Tunes of Psalms in singing Continuance in publick Duties and the like the things themselves being divinely instituted are capable of such general Directions in and by the Light of Nature as may with ordinary Christian Prudence be on all occasions applied unto the Use and Practice of the Church To forsake these Directions and instead of them to invent ways modes forms and ceremonies of our own which the things whereunto they are applied and made use of in do no way call for require or own as it is with all humanely invented Stated Ceremonies and thereon by Laws and Canons to determine their precise observation at all times and seasons to be one and the same which is contrary to the very nature of the Circumstances of such Acts and Duties as they are applyed unto their use in the mean time unto the general end of edification being as indemonstrable as their necessity unto the Duties whereunto they are annexed is also It is that which hath no warranty either from Divine Authority or Christian Prudence This respect of the Gospel Church-State unto the Light of Nature the Apostle demonstrates in his frequent Appeals unto it in things that belong unto Church-Order 1 Cor. 7.29 33.7 chap. 9.7 chap. 11.14 15 16. chap. 14.8 9 10 11. ver 32 33. ver 40. And the like is done in sundry other places And the Reasons of it are evident 2. But such is the especial Nature and condition of the Evangelical-Church-State such the Relation of it unto the Person and Mediation of Jesus Christ with all things thereon depending such the Nature of that especial Honour and Glory which God designs unto himself therein things that the Light of Nature can give no Guidance unto nor direction about And moreover so different and distant from all that was before ordained in any other Church-State are the Ways Means and Duties of Divine Worship prescribed in it that it must have a peculiar Divine Institution of its own to evidence that it is from Heaven and not from Men. The present State of the Church under the New Testament the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 7.11 It s Perfection its Consummation that perfect State which God designed unto it in this World And he denies that it could be brought into that State by the Law or any of the Divine Institutions that belonged thereunto Heb. 7.19 chap. 9.9 chap. 10.1 And we need go no farther we need no other Argument to prove that the Gospel-Church-State as unto its especial nature is founded in a peculiar Divine Institution For it hath a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a perfect consummate State which the Law could not bring it unto though itself its Ordinances of Worship its Rule and Policy were all of Divine Institution And herein doth its Excellency and Preference above the legal Church-State consist as the Apostle proves at large To suppose that this should be given unto it any other way but by Divine Authority in its Institution is to advance the Wisdom and Authority of men above those of God and to render the Gospel-Church-State a Machine to be moved up and down at pleasure to be new moulded or shaped according unto Occasions or to be turned unto any Interest like the Wings of a Mill unto the Wind. All the Dignity Honour and Perfection of the State of the Church under the Old Testament depended solely hereon that it was in the whole and all the particulars of it of Divine Institution Hence it was Glorious that is very excellent as the Apostle declares 2. Cor. 3. And if the Church-State of the New Testament have not the same Original it must be esteemed to have a greater Glory given unto it by the hand of men than the other had in that it was instituted by God himself for a greater Glory it hath as the Apostle testifieth Neither can any man nor dareth any man alive to give any Instance in particular wherein there is the least defect in the Being Constitution Rule and Government of the Gospel-Church-State for want of Divine Institution so as that it should be necessary to make a supply thereof by the Wisdom and Authority of men But these things will be more fully spoken unto after we have declared Who it is who hath divinely instituted this Church State 3. The Name of the Church under the New Testament is capable of a threefold Application or it is taken in a three-fold Notion As 1 For the Catholick invisible Church or Society of Elect Believers in the whole World really related by Faith in him unto the Lord Jesus Christ as their mystical Head 2 For the whole number of visible Professors in the whole World who by Baptism and the outward Profession of the Gospel and Obedience unto Christ are distinguished from the rest of the World And 3 for such a state as wherein the Worship of God is to be celebrated in the Way and Manner by him appointed and which is to be ruled by the Power which he gives it and according to the Discipline which he hath ordained Of the Nature of the Church under these distinct Notions with our Relation unto either or all of them and the Duties required of us thereon I have treated fully in my Discourse of Evangelical Love and Church Peace or Vnity and thither I must remit the Reader It is the Church in the latter sense alone whose Original we now enquire after And I say 4. The Original of this Church-state is directly immediately and solely from Jesus Christ He alone is the Author Contriver and Institutor of it When I say it is immediately and solely from him I do not intend that in and by his own Person or in his Personal Ministry here in the Earth he did absolutely and compleatly finish this State exclusively unto the Ministry of
to do The Reasons and Causes appointing and securing this Continuation are of various sorts the principal whereof are these that follow 1. The supreme Cause hereof is the Father's Grant of a perpetual Kingdom in this World unto Jesus Christ the Mediator and Head of the Church Psal. 72.5 7 15 16 17. Isa 9.7 Zech. 6.13 This Grant of the Father our Lord Jesus Christ pleaded as his Warranty for the Foundation and Continuation of the Church Mat. 28 17 18 19 20. This Everlasting Kingdom of Jesus Christ given him by the irrevocable Grant of the Father may be considered three ways 1 As unto the real Subjects of it true Believers which are the Object of the Internal Spiritual Power and Rule of Christ. Of these it is necessary by vertue of this Grant and Divine Constitution of the Kingdom of Christ that in every Age there should be some in the World and those perhaps no small multitude but such as the Internal Rule over them may be Rightly and Honourably termed a Kingdom For as that which formally makes them such Subjects of Christs gives them no outward Appearance or Visibility so if in a time of the universal prevalency of Idolatry there were Seven thousand of these in the small Kingdom of Israel undiscerned and invisible unto the most Eagle-eyed Prophet who lived in their days what number may we justly suppose to have been within the limits of Christs Dominions which is the whole World in the worst darkest most profligate and idolatrous times that have passed over the Earth since the first Erection of this Kingdom This therefore is a fundamental Article of our Faith that by vertue of this Grant of the Father Christ ever had hath and will have in all Ages some yea a Multitude that are the True Real Spiritual Subjects of his Kingdom Neither the Power of Sathan nor the Rage or fury of the World nor the Accursed Apostacy of many or of all visible Churches from the purity and Holiness of his Laws can hinder but that the Church of Christ in this sense must have a perpetual continuation in this World Mat. 16.18 2. It may be considered with respect unto the outward visible Profession of Subjection and Obedience unto him and the Observation of his Laws This also belongs unto the Kingdom granted him of his Father He was to have a Kingdom in this World though it be not of this World He was to have it not only as unto its Being but as unto its glory The World and the worst of men therein were to see and know that he hath still a Kingdom and a Multitude of Subjects depending on his Rule See the Constitution of it Dan. 7.13 14. Wherefore it is from hence indispensibly and absolutely necessary that there should at all times and in all Ages be ever an innumerable Multitude of them who openly profess Faith in Christ Jesus and Subjection of Conscience unto his Laws and Commands So it hath alwayes been so it is and shall for ever be in this World And those who would on the one hand confine the Church of Christ in this notion of it unto any one Church falling under a particular Denomination as the Church of Rome which may utterly fail Or are ready on the other hand upon the supposed or real Errors or Miscarriages of them or any of them who make this Profession to cast them out of their thoughts and affections as those who belong not unto the Kingdom or the Church of Christ are not onely injurious unto them but Enemies unto the Glory and Honour of Christ. 3. This grant of the Father may be considered with respect unto particular Churches or Congregations And the end of these Churches is twofold 1 That Believers as they are Internal Spiritual real Subjects of Christs Kingdom may together act that Faith and those Graces whereby they are so unto his Glory I say it is that true Believers may together and in Society act all those Graces of the Spirit of Christ wherein both as unto Faculty and Exercise their internal Spiritual subjection unto Christ doth consist And as this is that whereby the Glory of Christ in this World doth most eminently consist namely in the joynt exercise of the Faith and Love of true Believers so it is a principal means of the encrease and augmentation of those Graces in themselves or their Spiritual Edification And from this especial end of these Churches it follows that those who are Members of them or bâ—long to them ought to be Saints by calling or such as are indued with those Spiritual Principles and Graces in whose exercise Christ is to be Glorified And where they are not so the principal end of their Constitution is lost So are those Churches to be made up Fundamentally and Materially of those who in their single capacity are Members of the Church Catholick invisible 2 Their second end is that those who belong unto the Church and Kingdom of Christ under the second consideration as visibly professing subjection unto the Rule of Christ and Faith in him may express that subjection in Acts and Duties of his Worship in the Observance of his Laws and Commands according unto his Mind and Will For this alone can be done in particular Churches be they of what sort they will whereof we shall speak afterwards Hence it follows that it belongs unto the Foundation of these particular Churches that those who joyn in them do it on a publick Profession of Faith in Christ and Obedience unto him without which this end of them also is lost Those I say who make a visible Profession of the Name of Christ and their subjection unto him have no way to express it regularly and according to his mind but in these particular Churches wherein alone those Commandments of his in whose Observance our Profession consisteth do take place being such Societies as wherein the solemn Duties of his Worship are performed and his Rule or Discipline is exercised Wherefore this State of the Church also without which both the other are imperfect belongs unto the grant of the Father whereby a perpetual Continuation of it is secured Nor is it of any weight to object that such hath been the Alterations of the State of all Churches in the World such the visible Apostasy of many of them unto false Worship and Idolatry and of others into a worldly carnal conversation with vain Traditions innumerable that it cannot be apprehended where there were any true Churches of this kind preserved and continued but that there were an actual Intercision of them all For I answer 1 No Individual man nay no company of men that come together can give a certain Account of what is done in all the World and every place of it where the Name of Christ is professed so as that what is affirmed of the State of all Churches universally is meer conjecture and surmize 2 There is so great a readiness in most to judge the
Church-State of others because in some things they agree not in Judgment or Practice with what they conceive to belong thereunto as obstructs a right Judgment herein And it hath risen of late unto such a degree of Phrensy that some deny peremptorily the Church-State and consequently the Salvation of all that have not Diocesan Bishops Alass that poor men who are known to others whether they are unto themselves or no what is their Office and what is their Discharge of it should once think that the Being and Salvation of all Churches should depend on them and such as they are Yea some of the men of this persuasion that Christians cannot be saved unless they comply with Diocesan Bishops do yet grant that Heathens may be saved without the knowledge of Christ. 3 Whatever Defect there hath been de facto in the constitution of these Churches and the celebration of Divine Worship in them in any Places or Ages whatever it will not prove that there was a total failure of them much less a Discontinuation of the Right of Believers to Reform and Erect them according unto the Mind of Christ. It is hence evident that the perpetual continuation of the Church-State instituted by Christ under the Gospel depends originally on the Grant of the Kingdom unto him by his Father with his Faithfulness in that Grant and his Almighty Power to make it good And they do but deceive themselves and trouble others who think of suspending this continuation on mean and low conditions of their own framing 2. The Continuation of this Church State depends on the Promise of Christ himself to preserve and continue it He hath assured us that he will so buiâ—d his Church on the Rock that the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Matth. 16.18 Under what consideration soever the Church is here firstly intended the whole State of it as before described is included in the Promise If the Gates of Hell do prevail either against the Faith of sincere Believers or the Catholick Profession of that Faith or the expression of that Profession in the Duties and Ordinances to be observed in particular Churches the Promise fails and is of no effect 3. It depends on the Word or Laws of Christ which gives Right and Title unto all Believers to congregate themselves in such a Church-State with Rules and Commands for their so doing Suppose 1 That there are a number of Believers of the Disciples of Christ in any such place as wherein they can assemble and unite themselves or joyn together in a Society for the Worship of God 2 That they are as yet in no Church State nor do know or own any Power of men that can put them into that State I say the Institution of this Church-State by the Authority of Christ his Commands unto his Disciples to observe therein whatever he hath commanded and the Rules he hath given whereby such a Church-State is to be erected what Officers are to preâ—ide therein and what other Duties belong thâ—reunto is Warranty sufficient for them to joyn themselves in such a Sâ—ate Who shall make it unlawful for the Disciples of Christ to obey the Commands of their Lord and Master Who shall make it lawful for them to neglect what he requires at any time Wherever therefore men have the Word of the Scripâ—ure to teach them their Duty it is lawful for them to comply with all the commands of Christ contained therein And whereas there are many Priviledges and â—owers accompanying this Church-State and those who are inâ—erested therein are as such the especial Object of many Divine Promises this Word and Law of Christ doth make a conveyance of them all unto those who in Obedience unto his institutions and commands do enter into that State by the way means that he hath appointed Whilst we hear â—im according to the reiterated Direction given us from Heaven whilst we do and observe all that he hath commanded us we need not fear that promised Presence of his with us which brings along with it all Church Power and Priviledges also Wherefore this State can have no Intercision but on a supposition that there are none in the World who are willing to obey the commands of Christ which utterly overthrows the very Being of the Church Catholick 4. It depends on the Communication of Spiritual Gifts for the Work of the Ministry in this Church-State as is expresly declared Ephes. 4.8.11 12 13 14 15. The continuation of the Church as unto the Essence of it depends on the Communication of saving Grace If Christ should no more give of his Grace and Spirit unto men there would be no more Church in the World as unto its internal Form and Essence But the continuation of the Church as it is Organical that is a Society Incorporated according unto the mind of Christ with Rulers and Officers for the Authoritative Administration of all its concerns especially for the Preaching of the Word and Administration of the Sacraments depends on the Communication of Spiritual Gifts and Abilities And if the Lord Jesus Christ should with-hold the Communication of Spiritual Gifts this Church-State must cease An Image of it may be Erected but the true Church State will fail for that will hold no longer but whilst the whole Body fitly joyn'd together and compacted by that which every joynt supplieth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh encrease of thâ— Body and the edifying of it self in Love Ephes. 4.16 whilst it holds the Head c. Col. 2.19 such dead lifeless Images are many Churches in the World But this Communication of Spiritual Gifts unto the use of his Disciples to the end of the World the Lord Christ hath taken the charge of on himself as he is Faithful in the Administration of his Kingly Power Ephes. 4.18.11 12 13 14. Whereas therefore the Lord Christ in the Exercise of his Right and Power on the grant of the Father of a perpetual visible Kingdom in this World and the Discharge of his own promise hath 1 Appointed the ordinary Offices which he will have continue in his Church by an unalterable Institution 2 Ordained that Persons shall be called and set apart unto those Offices and for the Discharge of that Work and those Duties which he hath declared to belong thereunto 3 Furnished them with Gifts and Abilities for this Work and declared what their spiritual Qualifications and moral Endowments ought to be 4 Made it the Duty of Believers to observe all his Institutions and Commands whereof those which concern the Erection and Continuance of this Church-State are the principal and 5 Hath in their so doing or their Observance of all his Commands promised his presence with them by which as by a Charter of Right he hath conveyed unto them an Interest in all the Power Priviledges and Promises that belongs unto this State it is evident that its perpetual continuation depends hereon and is secured hereby