Country men may read in Mr. Fox 's Book of Acts and Monuments out of Gildas Tertullian Origen Beda Nicephorus which being so we cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered and planted according to the rule of the Gospell And all the corruptions found in them since have sprung from Popish Apostacy in succeeding Ages and for want of thorough and perfect purging out of that Leaven in the late times of Reformation in the dayes of our Fathers Cottons way Churches New-England So that all the work now is not to make them Churches which were none before but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution Thus Mr. Cotton And it being granted that the Churches in England were rightly constituted and gathered at first it will easily be proved that there hath continued a true Church in this Land unto this day though very corrupt and impure especially when subject to the Papall yoke Yet in those saddest times of corruption and persecution God had his Church and Ministery in England who witnessed to the Truth and appeared for a Reformation of such corruptions abuses in the Church though many of these by the power of a prevaling faction in suffered for such zeal and love to the Church the Truth I say the Church in England under the greatest Corruption was never without some Witnesses some Names which suppose they were but a few in comparison of the greater part that corrupted themselves and were made drunk with the wine of fornication spoken of Rev. 14.8 Yet will not God disown that to be a Church when these though but few names be found God own'd them to be a Church in * Rev. 3.1 * verse 4. Sardis and yet tells them they had but a few names which had not defiled their garments And though the Church in England might be reproved of corruption in Doctrine yet this did not unChurch her no more than it did the Church of Pergamus which God owned to be a Church though they held the Doctrine of Baalam Rev. 2.14 Though the Church in England might be justly reproved of corruption in manners and discipline yet this did not un-Church her no more than it did the Corinthians whom St. Paul calleth a Church of God though in the same Epistle he reproveth them both for their corruption in manners and discipline 1 Cor. 11.21 Though in the Church of England by the power of a prevalent factious party cha 3.1 2 3 chap. 5. many of the precious Saints of God were put to death yet this doth no more un-Church her than the same sin did the people of the Jews whom God al along own'd as his Church though a prevalent wicked factious party among them killed the * Mat. 23.37 Prophets and stoned the Messengers of the Lord that were sent unto them The Church in England since its first Institution unto this day cannot be justly charged to have made shipwrack of the faith of Jesus Christ by disowning or erring in any thing fundamentall to that Faith or necessary to the esse or being of a Church Therefore the Church in England continues to be a Church of God still As for her many and grievous corruptions both in Doctrine discipline and manners they are sadly to be bewailed and diligently to be reformed These blemish and disbeautify a Church and justly provoke God against it These are inconsistent as to the well being but not to the being of a Church And though the Church in England did joyne with and own the Church of Rome whilst the said Church held the fundamentals of Christian Religion and was sound in matters of Faith yet when the said Church of Rome did begin to faulter there to deny fundamental verities and make shipwrack of the faith which she hath done since the Councell of Trent at that very time did the Church in England refuse her the right hand of fellowship disown and separate from her and so continues unto this day After this manner also did the reformed Churches in Germany Suevia Denmark France separate themselves from that faction of Rome and likewise so continue at this day They that deny the Ministery and Churches in England to be a true Ministry and true Churches must of necessity also assert defend and affirm these to me most horrid and desperate Conclusions First Conc. 1 That the reformed Churches beyond the Seas are no true Churches but false and Antichristian Churches and Ministery The Reason is because the Church in England and these Reformed Churches reach out the right hand of fellowship to each other have the same Baptism the same Ordinances the same Ordination the same Discipline as to the substance of it Therefore if the one be false and Antichristian the other cannot be a true and Christian Church or Churches Secondly Conc. 2 That Luther Calvin and all those famous Lights and happy Reformers of the Churches beyond the Seas were false and Antichristian Ministers Thirdly Conc. 3 That Cranmer Ridley Latimer Tayler and many more who laboured much the Reformation of the Church in England from Romish superstition and were famous instruments as to that work and afterward sealed unto the truth with their blood and are now Triumphing in heaven that all these were limbs of Antichrist and no Ministers of Jesus Christ Fourthly Conc. 4 That there hath been no true Church nor Ministery of Jesus Christ for many hundreds of years upon earth For if neither in England nor beyond the Seas where then hath it been Now if Satan did so prevail against the Church as utterly to raze the very foundation of it how will this consist with that word of our Saviours * Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it If there hath ever ceased to be a true Ministery upon earth how will this again consist with that promise of our Lords * Mat. 28.2 Loe I will be with you unto the end of the world Fifthly Conc. 5 That there hath been no true conversion of Soules unto God for these many hundreds of years in England but that all have continued dead in sins and trespasses Children of wrath without Christ aliens from the Common-wealth of Israel strangers from the Covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world This was the condition of the Ephesians whilst they were no Church Ephes 2. nor had a Gospel-Ministery amongst them And this hath been for many hundreds of years and still is the sad condition of England if without a Church and true Ministers of Jesus I cannot see how that ture conversion should be wrought by a false and Antichri-christian Ministery * Jer. 23.32 I sent them not nor commanded them there fore they shall not profit this people at all saith the Lord. Therefore by what Ministery a people profit are converted from sin and Satan to serve the Lord and fear
contradicted T is true those Histories say not that the whol Nation of England did embrace the Faith of Christ when it was first preach'd unto them as is conceived either by some of the Apostles or Apostolicall then as Philip or Simon Zelotes or Joseph of Arimathea but part of the Nation did and were then gathered into a Church-way For about six hundred years after this when Augustine was sent from Rome by Gregory the then Bishop of Rome to endeavour the conversion of the whole Nation he found both a Ministery and Churches of Jesus Christ setled in the Land For at his first coming he as the History relates assembled together the Bishops and Doctors of Britaine to discourse and reason with them and to request their assistance for the conversion of the Pagan English So that we may say and that truly that Christianity was in England propagated but not at first planted by Rome But grant this that Augustine was the first that planted the Christian faith in England and that there were neither Ministery nor Church before ordained and gathered by him and his assistants what is this to the now unchurching of the Church in England or the wrong constitution of it at the time Obj. The ministry and churches of England were ordained and constituted by Augustine and his assistants who were sent from Rome Therefore the Ministery and Churches of England had no right constitution and Ordination Sol. I deny the consequence if any man will go about to prove it it will be necessary that he prove and make appeare that the Ministery and Church of Rome were at that time a false and Antichirstan Ministery and Church But I think it is a clear case that the Church of Rome was then though a corrupt yet a true Church so continued for many yeares after that time Yea it is the opinion of some Godly learned and judicious from whom I see no Reason to dissent that the Church of Rome did not quite fall off from Christ or turne utterly Antichristian untill the Councel of Trent at which time the said Church of Rome did by a publick Councel disowne and destroy the very fundamentalls of Christian religion which she never did before that time at which time these absurd antichristian and unchurching errors were decreed and published as the faith of the Church of Rome and all were accursed and excommumicated that assented not unto these abominations 1. Popes supremacy 2. Dividing the bread and wine in the Sacrament allowing the people no wine 3. Justification by works 4. Worshipping of images 5. That the people ought not to read the Scripturess 6. That Traditions ought to be believed as Scripture Now these abominations which make desolate I mean unchurch the Church of Rome were not set up by publick decree and consent in the said Church untill the said Councel of Trent 'T is true the Mystery of iniquity did work before and these abominations as before were creeping into that church but they were corrected exploded by several Councells The Councels of Calcedon Affrick Constantinople Milevi Basil decreed against the Popes Supremacy the Councel of Basil decreed communicating in both kinds The divine worshipping of Images was forbid by the second Nicene Councel the Councel of Nice decreed that no Christian should be without a Bible To believe Traditions to be equall with the Scriptures to hold justification by works was never decreed by any Councel nor held out as the Faith of that Church before the Councel of Trent So that I may say though the Mystery of iniquity was many hundreds of years a working yet the disease came not to its full height and state so as to destroy the body until that time I mean the Councel of Trent So that the Church of Rome not having declared a publick disowning of the Faith and Gospelfundamentalls untill the Councel of Trent I see no reason as yet why shee may not be called a true Church untill that time I say a true Church though a Church very corrupt As a man may be called a true man though never so sick and weak and diseased until by the extremity and height of the mallady he becomes dead so a Church may truly be called a Church though very sick diseas'd corrupt untill by making shipwrack of the Faith and erring in fundamentalls it expires Thus it is clear that grant it were so as it was not that the Ministery and Church of England as to the whole were ordained and constituted by Augustine and other assistants from Rome yet this concludes nothing at all against the right ordination and constitution of the Ministry and Churches of England because the Church of Rome was at that time though very corrupt yet a true Church Ob. But it is objected the churches of England were not rightly constituted because the people became Christians not by the ministry of the word but by the commands and edicts of their Kings who after they were converted commanded all their subjects and people to embrace the said faith and religion Sol. To this I answer that the matter of this objection is wholly false and Scandalous It is wholly false that the Pagan people of England became Christians after the conversion of their Kings by penal Laws and edicts of their said Soveraignes After Augustine had converted Ethelberg King of Kent to the Christian faith let any one if he can shew any such act or edict put forth by him to enjoyne all his subjects to embrace the said religion upon any penaltie or forfeiture If there were any such thing it would surely be upon record But we read the contrary of him we read of this King Ethelberg that after he was converted Innumerable others dayly came in Mr. Fox Acts Monuments 1. vol. page 1656. and were adjoyned to the Church of Christ whom the King did specially embrace but compelling none for so be had learned that the faith and service of Christ ought to be voluntary and not coact And so I read of the other Kings that then reigned in this Land that after they were converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ they encouraged Ministers to go into their Countries and preach to their Subjects and by this means became the Pagan people of England to be Christians a Church by the preaching of the Gospel to them and not by compulsatory Laws of their Kings And they that do gainsay this it will be easy to prove that they are either ignorant or perverse Mr. Cotton late of New-England a man of great learning and reverence though he fully assented not to the way of the Churches of England and therefore separated from them yet he never found fault with their constitution at first for as to this he declares himself thus The efficient instruments of their first plantation meaning the Churches of England which were neither Apostles or Apostolicall men whether Phillip or Joseph of Arimathea or Simon Zelotes as any of our
with all the fulness of God Feb. 2. 1657. J. FLOWRE Severall Questions concerning the Church of Jesus Christ upon earth Concerning the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ upon earth I find these Questions moved amongst others First WHether there be any such thing as a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth Secondly What is the Church of Jesus Christ Thirdly How do a people become a true visible Church of Jesus Christ at first Fourthly Whether the Churches of England vvere at first rightly constituted Fifthly What Government hath Jesus Christ Ordained in and for his Church Sixthly What manner of persons those ought to be that are in the judgement of Charity to be lookt upon as visible Members of the Church Seaventhly What are the duties of Church-Members towards Jesus Christ and one another Severall Queries concerning the Church of Christ Section I. Containing an Answer to the first Question IF there were not those that denied the Scriptures to be the word of God and Jesus Christ the Son of God it might then be admired that any should question Whether there be a Church of Jesus Christ a upon earth For to deny this is to deny an Article of the Christian Creed to accuse the holy Scriptures of folly and impertinences to defame our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ If there be no such thing as a Church of his upon earth what meant our Lord Jesus Christ when he said * Mat. 16.8 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church What meant St. Paul 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Cor. 1.1 when he directed his Epistle to the Church of God which is at Corinth Rev. 2. Why doth the Spirit write to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus of the Church in Smyrna Those therefore that deny a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth are not of so much worth as either to be named or disputed withall but they are to be rejected by all sober and judicious Christians as those that have together with their Faith made shiprack of their Reason also Section II. Containing an answer to the second Question What is the Church of Jesus Christ The word which in English is rendred a Church is in the Originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which word is used in the Gospel to signifie a Church of Jesus Christ And this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Church doth signifie A company Called out from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies to call out from among others And again this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we Translate a Church is sometimes used to signifie any assembly called together upon any occasion Act. 19.33 For the Assembly was confused the word then translated assembly is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the same word is rendred an assembly Act. 19.39 41. But this word Ecclesia or Church we in our speech do use to signifie a sacred assembly or meeting or combination of Gods people Our English word Church signifies an assembly of Gods people or those that desire to fear the Lord For it is very probable that our word Church com's from the German word Kirch which is derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifies the flock or people of God We use the word Church also by a Metonymie for the place or house where the Church or the people of God meet 1 Cor. 11.18 Calling that a Church But to speak properly the Church of Jesus Christ is his people built of living and not of dead and sensless stones 1 Pet. 2.5 and this Church of Jesus Christ is a company of people * Joh. 15.19 Rev. 18 4. call'd out of the world serving Jesus Christ as their Lord and King * 1 Thes 4 7. Rom. 6.17 Act. 2.42 Living under and submitting unto all his holy ordinances A true visible Church of Jesus Christ is not a profane wicked assembly an assembly of Notorious Drunkards Whoremongers Swearers and the like But an holy assembly called out from among these * 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are Sanctified Not an assembly of such as only serve their own bellies lusts passions sin satan the times but an assembly of such as turn from these Idols to serve the living and true God Not an assembly refractory and disobedient to Gospel-Ordinances mockers scoffers of holy things and duties But such as do submit themselves to the Laws commands ordinances of Jesus Christ as their duty and but * Rom. 12.1 Reasonable service Section III. Containing an answer to the third question How do a people become a true visible church of Jesus Christ at first A People become a true visible Church of Jesus Christ by entering into an holy covenant with the Lord to take him for their God and King to be ruled and directed by his word and to submit unto all his holy ordinances Thus we finde in the Scripture when God did constitute Abraham's Family a church I mean receive them into a church-estate it was by entering them into such a * Gen. 17. covenant as before of which circumcision was a seale That which they covenanted with God was * Gen. 17.1 To walk before him and be perfect and God covenanted with them to * verse 7. be their God and the God of their feed and so they came into a church-estate This was the way of the Apostles in their constitution of Churches Those people whom the Apostles did receive into a church-estate it was by engaging them to serve the Lord Jesus Christ and to submit to his holy ordinances This is plain if we read the 2. of the Acts v. 41. There were three thousand received into a church-estate which before neither were a church nor of the church of Jesus Christ And how came these to be a church why v. 41. v. 41. they gladly received the word preached to them according to that word v. 38. v. 38 they did evidence their repentance for Sin past which includes an engagement to serve God for the future and upon this they were baptized and became a church v. 41. So when the Apostles received particular persons into the Church which before were not of it these did covenant for to take the Lord for their God to own and serve him so they became added unto the church Acts 19. many became added unto the Church But we read that they were such as believed such as confessed their sins such as shewed their deeds such as burned their profane books Thus they covenanting to serve the Lord were received into the church Thus it is clear that a company of people do become a church by entering into an holy Covenant with the Lord their God to own him and serve him Therefore the church is called the * Cant 4.8 9 10. Spouse of Jesus Christ by which name the church could not properly be called had she not entred into an holy conjugall covenant
with Jesus Christ to be loyall and faithfull to him for this is essential to the relation of a Spouse or wife that she enter covenant with her husband to be loyall and faithfull to him And as the church is rightly called the Spouse of Jesus Christ by vertue of this her covenant so is the Lord also called the husband of his church or Spouse for he doth covenant with her Levit 26.12 Gen. 11 1. that he will be her God her sheild her exceeding great reward that he will never faile her nor forsake her The sum of the answer then to this third Question is this That a company of people become a church or under the relation of the wife and Spouse of Jesus Christ by entering into an holy covenant with him to take him for their Lord and God and to submit unto all his holy Ordinances without such a covenant their could be no such relation betwixt Jesus Christ and the Church as there is for all relations of that nature are founded upon Covenant Section IV. Containing the answer to the fourth question Whether the churches of England were at first rightly constituted IF the people of England were constituted a Church or gathered into a church-way in that way and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a church or Churches or gather a people into a Church-way at first then the people of England were at first rightly constituted a Church or gathered into a Church-way But the people of England were at first constituted a Church or gathered into a Church-way in that way and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a Church or Churches or gather a people into a Church-way Therefore the people of England were at first rightly constituted a church or gathered into a Church-way The major proposition is undeniable the minor I thus prove If the people of England were constituted a Church or gathered into a Church-way upon their receiving of the word forsaking of heathenish superstitions and idolatry and embracing the faith of Jesus Christ engaging to serve him Then they were constituted a Church or gathered into a church way Acts 2. chap. 19. in that way and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a Church or Churches or gather a people into a Church way But the people of England were constituted a Church or gathered into a Church-way upon their receiving of the word forsaking of heathenish superstitions and Idolatry and embracing the faith of Jesus Christ and engaging to serve him Therefore they were constituted a Church or gathered into a Church-way in that way and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a Church or Churches or gather a people into a Church way The sequel of the major proposition is undeniable The minor proposition is proved by all the histories relating to those times which declare that the Infidel Pagan people of England by the preaching of salvation through Jesus Christ were converted unto the faith forsaking heathenish superstition and Idolatry And indeed our own sence and reason must needs induce us to be perswaded of this for if this were not a truth how then came they our progenitors by the name and religion of Christians which we their successors do retaine to this day being derived from them to us The name of Christian by which they were called the exercise of Christian religion which they practis'd upon the preaching of the Gospel doth abundantly prove that relinquishing Paganisme and Idolatrous worship They did imbrace the faith of Jesus Christ And that they did also at that time covenant to take and own Jesus Christ as their Lord and only saviour by serving him and submitting to his holy ordinances the very act of their Baptisme is sufficient to informe and convince all intelligent and considerate persons For what Infidel or Infidels I mean such as were so brought up and so lived for many yeares were ever baptised before they had given evidence of their faith in Christ repentance and resolution to own Christ as their Lord and King for the time to come That the Apostles baptised none that were brought up in Paganism and Infidelity without such evidence and engagement as before is very clear in the Scriptures yea so evident that it is past doubt or question Shall we then think or dare to say that those who tooke upon them to be Ministers of Jesus Christ in those dayes when England was an Infidel Pagan Nation and were sent hither to preach the Gospel to this Nation then in such estate as before I say shall we dare to judge or think or speak that these baptis'd the people then of this Nation without evidences of faith repentance and engagements to own and serve Jesus Christ as their Lord and God I am sure if they did ever or could but read the Scriptures they could not be ignorant whom they ought to baptise and upon what evidence and far be it from me to judge or think that they would be wittingly and knowingly so injurious to the truth the Sacrament of Baptisme and practise of the Apostles as to baptise the then people of this Nation without some manifestations of their faith and repentance and resolutions to own and serve Jesus Christ for the time to come as their Lord and Saviour I can hardly believe that any man will censure the first converters Baptisers of our nation either to be men ignorant of or malitious against the truth one of which they must needs judge them to be if they say they baptised without such evidences of faith and repentance as before But if these first converters did by the preaching of Jesus Christ to the Pagans of England turn them from their Idols to embrace the said faith and upon the said evidences of faith repentance and resolutions to cleave to Jesus Christ as their only redeemer did admit them to be baptised then they did rightly constitute them a Church or gather them into a Church-way according to the manner and practice of the Apostles recorded in the Scriptures which that they thus did is both a probable and charitable judgment That they did not is a rash and unchristian like censure Ob. But the Church of England had its constitution from Rome therefore it was never rightly constituted neither is a true Church Sol. To this I answer that the antecedent is not altogether true possibly it may be grant it in relation to a part not in relation to the whole For ought I know or any one can disprove there might be a Church of Christ in England nere as soon as there was one in Rome The Scriptures do indeed declare that there was a Church in Rome in the Apostles times and therefore we may believe it The Scriptures do not deny that there was a Church of Christ in England in those dayes the Chronicles and Histories relating to those times affirme it and therefore I see not why it should be
2 47 4â—.49 But they were such as gladly received the Word as were pricked in their hearts at the sense of their sins such as continued in prayer and the exercise of other holy and Christian duties They were such as burnt their curious because prophane Books Acts 19.18 19. Such as confessed their sins and shewed their deeds Thus I Conclude in the first place that those which are received into the Church or continued in the same as members thereof ought to be such as at least wise in outward appearance abstain from evill as have a mark of Sanctification and holiness upon them Secondly Church-Members ought to be such as have some competent measure of knowledg I conceive they ought to be so instructed that they may be able in some measure to give an account of their hope and those fundamental truths that are necessary to be known for the praise and glory of Gods Grace and their own Salvation the Apostle would have all Christians be able to give a 1 Pet 3.15 reason of their hope Thirdly They that are received into or continued in the Church as its members ought to be such as are sound in the faith as hold fast the form * Tit. 2.2 of sound words that they make not a rent or Schisme in the Church therefore an Heretique saith the Apostle 2 Tim. 1.13 after the first and second admonition reject Sect. VII Containing an answer to the Seventh Question Quest What are the duties of Church-Members towards Jesus Christ and one another Sol. THe Church of Jesus Christ is call'd his body We are the body Mysticall Christ is our Head we are his Members Now the duty and office of the Members of this body Mysticall both towards their Head and one another may be more clearly seen into if we consider the office of the Members in the Body Natural from whence the Church which is called the body of Jesus Christ takes this sigurative denomination First The Members of the body Naturall have a very special care of the Head as of their principall and chief part without which they cannot subsist therefore the Members will endanger themselves to secure their head If a blow be made at the head the hand or arm will interpose it self and receive the blow or wound upon it self rather than it should fall upon the head So the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ ought to have a most speciall care of him their head Is Jesus Christ their head made at Do any go about to wound him by striking at his Person Natures Death Resurrection Ascension Justification by his blood O now it is time for all the Members to look about them to interpose betwixt their head and those that strike at him to vindicate his honour excellency person nature and the like as before against all his Enemies and Assailants that would wound him in any of these Though you may be in never so much danger of worldly loss or dammage by making such a defence yet care not where this blow lights so it be warded off your head It was a noble resolution of a French Martyr After many perswasions of worldly friends to recant his profession he considering how dishonorable this would be to Jesus Christ how his head would be wounded and grieved by such a revolt puts off all that perswaded him to so shamefull an action with this notable saying Vivat Christus pereat Servus Let Christ live let his Servant perish Every member of Jesus Christ ought to be so minded ready upon occasion at all times to say let me that am a poor and unworthy member of so honourable and excellent a head let me be cut off let me suffer in my name estate relations let me be imprison'd wounded bleed So my Lord Jesus Christ my head be not grieved o he live and be glorified by my bonds imprisonments scars bleedings reproaches rebukes let all these and a thousand more befall me Secondly The members of the body naturall are guided and govern'd and move by the direction of the head and follow it so the members of the body of Jesus Christ the Church they ought to observe the guidance motion and steps of their head to follow his example and tread in his paths to be heavenly in their discourse holy in their conversations as he hath given them an example every member of this body ought to walk the way of the * 1 Joh. 2.6 head Now as to the carriage and duty of Church members towards one another First The members of the body naturall they are united and at peace among themselves one arme doth not strike another one foot doth not spurne the other the eye doth not say to the hand I have no need of thee and so of the rest So the members of the body mystical the Church there ought to be a sweet harmony betwixt all and every member Envie Malice Hatred spurning at and reviling one another these things ought not to be heard of in the Church of Jesus Christ because they are all members of his body Secondly the members of the bodie natural if some be weak or wounded all the rest have a special care of the weak or wounded meÌ„ber the whole arme will bind up the broken one the strong leg will ease that that 's lame and feeble This mutuall respect there ought to be among the members of the body of Christ the Church the whole ought to binde up the broken the strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak that they may not faile nor be discouraged nor faint in the way and service of Jesus Christ Thirdly The members of the body natural are ready to save and support one another in case of any apparent danger as if one leg trip or stumble the other will hast to relieve and support it so the members of the Church of Jesus Christ they ought to be watchfull one over another to be ready to save support one another in case of apparent danger as if one member do stumble or is ready to fall into errours of opinion or practise the other should be ready to catch at such a falling member to releive and strengthen and support to hold him up that he may recover and not utterly fall into such temptations Fourthly The Members of the body Natural are ready to supply according to their power to each particular member what it stands in need of So the Members of the body of Christ the Church these ought to be ready to the utmost of their ability to supply and relieve the wants of other fellow-Members whose necessities crave it As we are men we are commanded to do good to all this is humanity as we are Members of the Church of Christ we are enjoyned especially to succour and relieve those that are of the same houshold This is Christianity In the Church of Jesus Christ we should not every one look only at his own proper interest but