is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. USE III. Of Advice unto the Church of Christ and all her true Members 1. Let their imperfection keep them humble There is not a Soul without a stain nor a Grace without a mixture nor a Duty without a failing nor a Saint without some sin remaining All therefore nay the very best of all have reason to be low in their own eyes The more humble we are the more our hearts are suited to our present imperfect state and the more of Gods reviving Presence notwithstanding our imperfection will be vouchsafed For thus saith the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 2. Let the Churches Members hunger and thirst after a greater measure of righteousness Those that to do so are blessed for they shall be filled sayes he in whom all Fulness dwells Mat. 5. 6. This is an hunger truly sacred that never ends in starving but in satisfaction We should long more for the Waters of Life the Soul should thirst more vehemently for the living God desiring to behold his glory and to be changed more fully into his glorious Image Such kind of desires widen the Souls capacity and make it meet for a larger participation both of Grace and comfort 3. Let the Church believe and long for that enlargement and glory that is promised in the latter dayes but especially to be translated unto those Mansions above which her Head is gone to prepare for her Let her long that her Warfare may be well accomplished her course faithfully finished and the Crown of Life and Righteousness received And to this end let all her Members tear the Air and pierce the Heavens with their cryes Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22. 20. Thus of the Second Proposition That the Body of Christ is imperfect in this World and therefore continually should be encreasing Proposit III. The Third Proposition follows That the Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Before the Apostle had used the Metaphor of a Body now he uses another Metaphor of an Edifice or Building The Church is to edify it self but the Power to do this is from God and her Lord who acts and strengthens her in this action lays a just claim to all the glory The Church is an Edifice or an House but a Spiritual one therefore called a Temple Eph. 2. 21 22. In whom that is Christ all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an habitarion of God through the Spirit This Temple is holy for God hath set apart such as are godly for himself The Stones are lively for all Saints are quickened to live to God and act for him In this Temple Sacrifices are offered but they aâ—e spiritual Prayers Praises other Duties and the Heart of him that performs them And though these Sacrifices are never so spiritual yet they are not accepted upon their own account but they are acceptable unto God througâ— Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. In the further handling of this Proposition I shall First Shew upon what foundation the Church is to Edify it self Secondly To what end this Edification must be Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to shew upon what foundation the Church is to edify it self 1. The Knowledge of God is styled a Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his God has from eternity foreknown and chosen his Church in Christ that she should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1. 4. This is a Foundation laid before the Foundation of the World and will endure infinitely longer than the World shall The Churches Members should give all diligence to make their calling and Election sure for if they do these things they shall never fall but an abundant entrance shall be administred to them into the everlasting Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. Now Election is made sure by hearkening to and obeying the call of the Gospel and departing from Iniquity 2. Christ the Rock is called a Foundation 1 Cor. 3. 11. Other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Though he was set at nought by the Jewish builders yet he is the head Stone of the Corner neither is there Salvation in any other The Churches Faith must be firmer in Christ her hope in him more and more abundant and she may build without fear for the Foundation will never fail the Superstructure 2. The Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is also styled a Foundation Eph. 2. 20. Both were inspired by the Holy Ghost and the harmony and agreement between Apostles and Prophets between the Old Testament and the New makes the Foundation more sure The Church that she may edifie her self is to eye the Scripture then she will build according to the right rule Vnwritten Traditions that would impose upon her Faith what the Scripture has not revealed are to be rejected and that light within that would lead her away from the written Word is no more to be followed than a foolish Night-fire If she has Scripture for her Faith and Practice she has good ground for both and both may be justified before the Judge of all the World 4. Obedience and good Works are called a Foundation 1 Tim. 6. 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal life This is done by doing good by being rich in good works Though good works are not meritorious for Eternal Life is the Gift of God yet they are necessary to evidence out Faith and that the Promises may be fulfilled Glory and Immortality is promised to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for it Rom. 2. 7. He builds firm that builds his house upon a Rock and he builds thus who hears the Words of Christ and does them But he that hears and does them not is a foolish man and builds his house upon the sand and when the rain descends and the winds blow and the floods come and beat upon his house it will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 24 25 26 27. In the second place I am to tell you to what end this Edification of the Church must be 1. The Church must Edifie it self that it may grow Stronger The stronger her Faith is the more will she Glorifie that God in whom she believes Rom. 4. 20. 't is said of Abraham He staggered not at the Promise of God through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God The stronger her Love the more it will constrain her to labour in
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 THE More Excellent Way TO Edifie the Church of CHRIST OR A DISCOURSE CONCERNING LOVE The Design of which is to Revive that Grace now under such decays among Protestants of ALL perswasions By NATHANAEL VINCENT M. A. Minister of the Gospel 1 Pet. 4. 8. And above all things have fervent Charity among your selves Phil. 4. 5. Let your Moderation be known unto all men the Lord is at hand Gal. 5. 15. But if ye bite and devour one another take heed ye be not consumed one of another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrysost in 1 Cor. London Printed by J. A. for Tho. Parkhurst at the Bible and three Crowns in Cheapside near Mercers Chappel and at the Bible on London-Bridge near the Gate 1684. TO THE READER READER ALthough my Name be in the mouths of many and Tongues have scourg'd it most severely and most false Reports have been spread concerning me both in City and Countrey yet I could more patiently have born the killing of my Reputation if the Honour of God had not been at all concerned A regard to his Name and his Gospel's Credit prevails with me to break silence and Love to others makes me fear their being scandalized to their prejudice There is a design driven on by Hell and Rome to introduce Atheism in order unto Propery to make men really of no Religion that they may not stick to profess themselves of the Romish when they shall apprehend 't is for their Secular Interest Now because some mens lives by the Grace of God have been unblameable and tended to convince the World that there is a reality and power in Godliness these upon this account are singled out and loaded with Calumnies and Reproaches that being represented as Hypocrites all Religion may the more easily be suspected as a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Pet. 1. 16. cunningly devised Fable Let not those who have stupified their own Consciences think that I have acted of late against Mine Though I think I ought not to keep at such a distance from the Church of England as I did yet I have no preferment in it neither can I submit to the terms of such preferment Nay I have exceedingly hindred my own secular advantage by my Moderation which is not the way to thrive in such a Violent Age as this A moderate man is like one that parts two which are fighting instead of being thank'd he is lik'd by neither he has blowes from both for wishing them no worse a thing than Peace From prophane tongues I expect lies and slanders That Master whom I serve met with no better usage He was called a Wine-bibber a Friend to Publicans and Sinners nay said to have a Devil But though the Slander be never so gross it shall not hinder me from praying for the Slanderer and I hope I shall be enabled to live so still as that no body shall believe him If Professors who are Non-conformists speak against me and censure me as a Temporizer My Answer is That with me 't is a small thing to be judged of them or of mans judgment My own Conscience speaks other kind of language and in that one I have Mille testes a thousand Witnesses of my Integrity God is convincing me of the vanity of popular Applause and how soon that kind of wind may turn and change And if a Conviction of this makes me more humble and low in my own eyes Dishonour will do me a far greater kindness than Praise I will say to Humility O praesidium dulce decus meum my safety and sweet Ornament and next unto Heaven expect the greatest rest to my Soul in the exercise of this lovely Vertue The fury of those who have been most enraged against me has but heightned my love to them I have poured out more prayers and tears for them than they are aware of and they will know what a true Friend I have been to them when they come into another World Those whose Heads are hotter than their Love shall not move my anger but my pity and sorrow And let them call me what they please I shall own what is good in them and requite their Censures with Supplications that their Light and Faith their Humility and Love may be encreased and that they may do nothing unbecoming the Children of the God of love and peace nothing prejudicial to the Church or to themselves I have preached heretofore to multitudes while I was permitted For all the Churches in London not being able to hold the tenth part of all the Inhabitants I thought they had better hear a Doctrine agreeable to the Articles of the Church of England from my mouth than not hear at all But it never was my practice to preach up a party and it troubles me to see how much of Religion is placed in smaller things as appears by mens eagerness about them As if some thought a Church others thought a Conventicle like the Ark of Noah out of which 't is impossible to escape drowning in Perdition My design all along was to bring men to God by Faith in Jesus and that their hearts might be purified and to perswade them to be holy in all manner of Conversation I confess I am somewhat altered from what I was but 't is in the extensiveness of my love But I am perswaded that this is an alteration for the better and makes me more to resemble Christ Who can justly blame me for imitating the blessed Jesus who loves all sincere Protestants of all perswasions and has Communion with them all I add no more but that of the Apostle Rom. 15. 7. Wherefore receive ye one another as Christ also received us to the glory of God EPH. IV. 16. latter part Maketh Increase of the Body unto the Edifying of it self in Love IF I had a voice as loud as Thunder I would cry Fire Fire with a wish that all England might hear A Flame is kindled much worse than that which burnt down London which threatens both Church and State with ruine and that is the Flame of fierce Contention Mens Hearts are as hot as Hell their Tongues do set on fire the course of Nature such wrath such bitterness such animosities every where appear as plainly shew the body Politick and Body Mystical are in a dangerous fermentation and Feaver which I wish may not issue in dissolution and destruction That Prediction of our Lord is fulfilled Iniquity shall abound and love shall wax cold Lust indeed breaks out into a flame mens Passions are hot unto the highest degree and fury makes them abound in transgression but a deadly damp has seiz'd on Love No wonder that the Churches pulse does beat disorderly no wonder that she is languishing and ready to dye for Love is the cause of her increase and Edification Is there no Balm in Gilead is there not a Physitian there are the spots and symptoms such as shew the disease is mortal and that
there no remedy Though the case be deplorable 't is not desperate Were my Text but minded in it might be found a sure Recipe Christ is the Churches Head and Healer and were but Love revived it would quickly bring his Body to a better and more healthy temper Light may do much but Love will do more Love covers a multitude of sins Love cures a multitude of Maladies The Church encreases and edifies it self in Love Though the Apostle was a Prisoner yet we find his Heart enlarged towards the Ephesians Having before discoursed concerning the Mysteries of Faith in this Chapter he presses Vnity and Love with the greatest vehemency and in order hereunto he exhorts to all lowliness and meekness He knew that pride is the cause of contention and that humility and love are the way both to the Souls and to the Churches Rest He uses great strength and cogency of Argument that he may prevail The Saints are Members of one Body They have been regenerated and are acted by one Spirit who hath effectually called them to a lively hope of one and the same incorruptible Inheritance And in that Inheritance there is not there cannot be the least discord They serve one Lord who is best served when his Servants best agree together They are instructed in one Gospel justified by one Faith baptized in one Name Finally that God is one who is a most compassionate and indulgent Father to them all And from so many Premises how strongly and undeniably may we conclude that all Saints should be of one Heart and of one Soul The Apostle in thus preaching Love and Peace shewed he had a very great regard to the glory of Christ the Head who is ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and that he had a great concernedness for his Body the Churches edification For according to my Text it increases and edifies it self in Love In the Words there are four Propositions worthy of our observation First The Church of Christ is compared to a Body Secondly This Body of Christ is imperfect in this world and therefore continually should be increasing Thirdly The Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Fourthly The more Love abounds among the Members of the Church the more the whole Body will be edified Proposit 1. I begin with the first Proposition The Church of Christ is compared to a Body The Scripture often uses this Metaphor of a Body now a Metaphor is a similitude in a word and indeed there is a great resemblance between an Humane Body and the Church of Christ as by and by will be made evident Believers are sometimes called the Brethren of Christ Joh. 20. 17. which intimates a very near relation Sometimes they are called his Spouse whom he has betrothed to himself for ever Hos 2. 19 20. and that 's a relation much nearer and signifies a more intimate and dear affection and familiarity Sometimes they are called Branches Joh. 15. 1 2 3 4. and this expresses a nearer Union still and that both the life and fruitfulness of Christians depends upon their being and abiding in Christ the true Vine But because Branches though they grow are without sense and feeling so that neither themselves nor the Vine feel any pain when they are cut or broken therefore Believers are stiled Members the Church a Body and Christ is the Head who is very much concerned both in it and for it Eph. 5. 2 3. Christ is the Head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the Body So Eph. 3. 6. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Again Col. 1. 18. And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning and first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence Zanchius upon this Text takes notice of two things 1. That by the Body we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phorius in scholiis to understand Verum Christi Corpus Mysticum the true Church the true mystical body of Christ This Church is made up of them that are really sanctified of this Hypocrites are not members for tho' such are visibly Saints yet in truth they are under the dominion of sin and shall receive for their hypocrisie greater damnation Tho' hypocrites profess themselves Christs members yet really they are not united to him Christ lives not rules not acts not in them as he does in sincere Christians Let them seem to be his followers let them pretend never so highly to be his friends yet really they are strangers whom Christ will profess at the great day he never knew Luk. 13. 26 27. Then shall ye begin to say We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know you not â—hence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity 2. By the Church we are to understand the Church Militant that part of the body of Christ which is militant on earth not which is triumphant in Heaven The Church above needs not exhortations to grow and increase in Knowledge and Grace it needs not the means of edification Sermons of love are not to be preached there Glorified Saints have not the least sinful defect they see God face to face and Christ as he is and their love to their Father and Redeemer is answerable to the sight they have and as much as they are capable of And being refined from all remainders of sin they are become such lovely Creatures that they cannot but love one another with a most pure and perfect love 'T is the Church of Christ on earth the Apostle speaks of this is the Body that is to be edified and alas in how many respects how certainly in all respects does it stand in need of edification In the handling of this Proposition I shall first of all shew the great resemblance that iâ— between the Church of Christ and a Body Secondly What kind of body the Church of Christ is Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to shew the great resemblance between the Church of Christ and a Body 1. The life of the Body depends upon its conjunction with the Head Christ is the Churches life and the Nos Christo adglutinamur non sicut populus Principi sed sicut membra bumani corporis suo Capiti Church could no more live without Christ than a body could remain alive after the head were severed from it Our Lord calls himself the Way the Truth and the Life also Joh. 14. 6. By his blood he frees his Church from the sentence of death and condemnation which sin had brought her under and makes her spiritually alive by his quickning Spirit So that the Church breaths after God walks with him labours in his work and service all which are evidences of life spiritual We read 1 Joh. 5.
12. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life They that by faith receive the Lord Jesus are purified are regenerated and shall live for ever but as many as through unbelief reject him remain dead in sin and doom'd to Hell Union with Christ is a most necessary a most happy union The Churches life from this has its beginning and continuance unto consummation 2. The Head has a mighty influence upon the Body There is a powerful influence from Christ upon his Church and what good it does is done by vertue of this influence He is said to be exalted far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Eph. 4. 10. Whatever grace and strength and comfort is communicated to believers it is really and all from Christ He fills Ordinances with efficacy mercies with sweetness afflictions with light and usefulness and Souls with greater degrees of Grace and Holiness out of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all-fulness it has pleased the Father should dwell in him Col. 1. 19. Our Lord tells his Disciples they must abide in him for separated from him they can do nothing Joh. 15. 5. No wonder the Apostle professes That Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 11. Though the Body the Church should be never so much increased a deficiency in the Head Christ need not be feared neither is it indeed possible for in him there is all the fulness of the Godhead And consequently his Rightousness and Grace must needs be sufficient for the whole 3. The Body has many Members and these members have different Offices The Church likewise has various members and their different stations relations callings diversify their work and duties and yet the doing of these duties is both comely and advantageous and the more every one does his own work the more all are benefited Rom. 12. 45. the Apostle tells us That as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ And from thence infers that All should use the gifts they have received which are differing according to the grace and good pleasure of God the Giver It would be unreasonable for the Ear to attempt to speak like the Tongue or the Hand to see like the Eye The several members have their uses and work proper to them All are not Apostles all are not Prophets all are not Teachers all are not Governours 1 Cor. 12. 29. There are many indeed most in the Church that have need to be taught and governed and those that think themselves wise enough to instruct and govern themselves and so despise their spiritual Guides usually are the most ignorant and unruly and hugely need the help and conduct of others The members must abide in their place and calling Masters Servants Parents Children Husbands Wives Magistrates Subjects Pastors People doing their duties which the Scripture in their several stations and relations calls for 4. The Body is fitly joyned and thus fitly joyned is the Church of Christ The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies that there is a congruous order among the members of Christ Without Order an Army would be a Rout and not an Army a Kingdom would become a confused self-destroying multitude The Churches God is the God of Order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. There is a rule for Order and Government and a subordination in the Church 't is not a body of levellers if there were a perfect parity all would affect to rule none would care to be ruled The reproof of two or three is more than the reproof of one the Churches admonition and censure is still with greater authority The flock is to submit themselves â—o their Pastors who are over them in the Lord. Heb. 13. 17. and both Pastors and people are to submit especially unto Christian Magistrates who are prophetically promised in the Old Testament that they should be Nursing Fathers to the Church under the New A right Order in Churches and Families will have a mighty influence to make believers stedfast against temptations both to Error and Wickedness The Apostle rejoyced in the Colossians chap. 2. 5. when he beheld their order and the stedfastness of of their faith in Christ 5. The Body is compact together so is the Church of Christ the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shews that the Church is firmly knit unto Christ the Head and the members one unto another The hypostatical Vnion between the Natures of Christ shall never be dissolved neither shall the mystical union between him and his members and if so then his true members must needs remain closely knit together There are ligaments joynts bands whereby the Body of Christ is held together The Spirit of Grace and Love unites the body to Christ and members to members The Ministers of Christ are subservient unto this union and ought to be preaching and commending love which is a grace of an uniting nature The Apostle had a concernedness for the Colossians which he expresses by a great conflict and that which he wisht so vehemently for was this that their hearts might be comforted beingknit together in love Col. 2. 1 2. Where is the member of the natural Body that grows weary of its fellowship and is willing to be cut off The Arms the Hands the Leggs the Feet are desirous to keep their places and and nature makes them abhor to be severed True grace makes the members of the Church to dislike separation As they believe so they very well like and are desirous of the communion of Saints A very black mark is set upon them who are of a contrary inclination 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest they were not all of us 6. God hath set the Members in the body as it pleased him the different gifts and graces which are in the Church of Christ and the members of it are according to Gods will and pleasure He bestowes larger gifts upon some and less upon others and yet those that have less are not unuseful Some Saints receive greater measures of Grace others smaller but all have that grace which is true and which at last will end in glory Some members of the Church are higher others lower and yet they should not envy or despise one another for God has assigned their place unto both the higher may direct the lower the lower may serve the higher The eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of thee nor the head to the feet I Have no need of you and those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary 1 Cor. 12. 21 22. By the grace of God the members of Christ are what they are They have nothing but what they have received and the more
when he withdraws but rejoyce exceedingly when they enjoy his presence and see his face who is altogether lovely They should value his Word and Ordinances in which he is to be found and delight themselves in the contemplation of his fulness and that great and everlasting Salvation whereof he is the Author Their very Souls should love him Cant. 3. 4. which expression intimates both the truth and the strength and fervency of affection and truly our Lord is so excellent that there is no danger or possibility that Love to him should be excessive 2. The Members of Christ should endeavour to promote his Honour and Glory They should be very zealous that their Head may be advanced and have the preeminence over all things Their tongues should be shewing forth his praises commending him to the World as the best of Princes as the only Saviour and declaring the unreasonableness of the Worlds prejudices against his yoak and burthen which are so easie and so light Mat. 11. ult They should earnestly desire that Christ their Lord may be the Worlds Universal Monarch and that all Earthly Kings and Emperors may cast down their Crowns before him and willingly submit to his Scepter and Government 3. The Members of Christ should obey all his Commands Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my Commandments And v. 21. He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me It is a monstrousness in Nature if any of the Members should not be placed under the Head Surely then all the Members of Christ should readily be subject to him Thus to be Subject is to Reign Obedience is the great Sacrifice to be offered under the New Testament the Saints are styled Priests Kings as well as Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. So that to obey the Lord Jesus contains in it no less than a Regal Honour He should be reverenced all his Commands performed He that hears Christs sayings and doth them is the wise Builder whose House shall never fall is indeed the blessed man and is in the right way to Life and Immortality Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the gates into the City 4. The Members of Christ should live by faith upon him They are to expect the Remission of sin and deliverance from wrath to come no other way when they have done their best and most they must look unto Jesus that they through him may be accepted For there is no way to be accepted but in the Beloved Eph. 1. 6. In all their Temptations Sorrows Sufferings they are to depend upon him for succour joy and Grace sufficient The Body is secured and in the Spiritual Warfare has both conduct and conquest by acting Faith in Christ the Head Every Member therefore should imitate the Apostle who said Gal. 2. 20. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 5. The Members of Christ should do nothing unbecoming his Members The Glory and Name of Christ and the Credit of the Gospel should be very dear to them and they ought to be blameless and harmless without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation and shine as lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. They should manifest that they abide in Christ by walking as he walked they should he patient meek and lowly as Christ was contemn the world as he contemn'd it count it their meat and drink to do the will of God as he did and since Christ endured the contradiction of sinners against himself so should they Though the Foes of Christ are numerous and oppose his interest with never so great force and fury yet his members must never be ashamed to own their Head nor afraid to follow him It becomes them and it concerns them to cleave to him with full purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. For to leave him is to be lost for ever and to bid farewell to blessedness and life eternal USE II. Let the Members of this Body the Church consider the relation they have one to another They are indeed very near and should look upon themselves as very near one to another And this Relation should be of mighty efficacy to perswade them to perform those mutual Duties which are incumbent upon them In the general All particular Members should consult the good of the whole Church They believe the Holy Catholick Church and their Love should run parallel with their Faith and care will be an effect of true Love A private Spirit is very prejudicial to the Body of Christ whilst only one part is minded and not another 'T is just as if there should be an endeavour to make one member of the Body natural great and strong with an unconcernedness how weak and feeble and small soever the other Members remain 'T is lamentable that there are so many Parties in the Christian Church but 't is more to be lamented that these Parties are so selfish and so little mind the common interest which being neglected their private interest cannot be regarded so truly as it should be For if a whole Town be burnt down to the ground no particular house escapes the fury of the flames No mans Cabin can be secured if the Ship be cast away and sinks to the bottom of the Sea There are several Counsels which I would intreat the Members of the Church to follow that it may be the better with the Church and with themselves 1. Let not the higher Members despise the lower You that are higher what have you that you have not received why then should you glory as if you had not received it 1 Cor. 4. 7. That 's a Scripture whose sharp point should prick the bladder and let out pride and self-conceitedness Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Moses the holiest and most useful man in his time was the meekest man upon earth Numb 12. 3. The Apostle Paul though he laboured more abundantly than all the Apostles to spread the Gospel and Faith of Christ yet in what an humble style does he write of himself and surely his Heart and Pen went together 1 Cor. 15. 9. I am the least of the Apostles that am not worthy to be called an Apostle Nay he abases himself beneath all Saints as well as all Apostles and ventures the Critick's scoff in coyning the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew how low he was in his own thoughts Eph. 3. 8. Vnto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 2. Let not the lower Members of the Church be discontented Every Member is highly favoured highly honoured every
that God would teach him that God would open his eyes and give him understanding Psal 119. which expressions shew a remainder of ignorance in him a trouble at it and a desire after a more perfect instruction 2. Holiness at present is imperfect in the best of men as well as Knowledg Other Graces cannot be perfect if Knowledge be not He that does not know the evil of sin so fully as he ought cannot hate it so much as he should He that is imperfect in his knowledge of God and Christ must needs fall short in his Faith and Love and holy Fear and Reverence There is not one sanctifying Grace in us but needs further degrees The Apostle makes it the constant work of Believers here below to be cleansing themselves from all filthiness both of the flesh and spirit and to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 3. The victory over spiritual enemies is not yet fully obtained by militant Saints They are combating but they have not conquered they resist Satan and force him many times to flee but he returns again and renews his assaults and the God of peace has not yet done it though he has promised to tread him under their feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. They have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts but though the flesh is fastened to the Cross of Christ and therefore the old man is said to be crucified with him yet the flesh struggles upon the Cross the Body of Sin is not quite destroyed some fleshly and worldly lusts and affections are stirring which are not totally mortified Militant Saints are not as yet compleat Conquerours for their enemies still make a head and continue the war though at length they shall be made more than Conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8. 37. 4. The Joyes of believers also are imperfect All tears shall at last be wiped away from their Eyes but at present their Eyes are full of them The worlds wickedness and folly in that wickedness professors degeneracy the Churches divisions and distresses and corruptions the dreadful tokens and signs of Gods displeasure if not of his departing finally their own spiritual distempers which are so far from being perfectly cured alas these are enough to hinder their joy from being perfect 5. Their Happiness is as yet but an imperfect Happiness All the world are miserable besides and the Saints are the only happy ones and yet these by many degrees are not so happy as they shall be This sad effect sin has by coming into the world that not a man not the best man can be fully happy till got out of the world The Churches true members are happy indeed because God is theirs Psal 144. ult because Christ is theirs but they must needs be happy only in part because God and Christ are but in part enjoyed In the second place I am to shew in what sense the Church should be continually increasing I. The Church should endeavour to increase in numbers and that the stone cut out without hands may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth Dan. 2. 34 35. 'T is the worlds misery that it hates and keeps at a distance from the Church of Christ But if this world were but taken into the Church and were brought to believe in the same Jehovah in the same Jesus and to yield Subjection to the same Gospel what a New and Happy world would there be presently This increase of the Church in numbers is to be endeavoured several wayes 1. Prayer should be constant and very fervent for this increase All the Sons and Daughters of Sion should be importunate that the City of God may be enlarged that the Church may not have a barren womb or dry breasts but that by reason of her numerous Offspring she may enlarge the place of her tent and without sparing she may lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes and stretch forth the curtains of her habitation Isa 54. 2. There is mercy enough in God though the miserable sinners that come to him are never so great a multitude The fulness of Christ is so infinitely unmeasurable that 't is sufficient to supply and to enrich the whole empty and beggar'd race of Adam Heaven is of capacity to contain millions of inhabitants more Let us therefore pray that the conversion of Souls may be by thousands and that they may flie as a cloud and as doves to their Windows Isa 60. 8. 2. The promises of the Churches increase are to be believed and pleaded In what a strain does God speak unto his Church what Promises does he make her Isa 60. 3 4 5. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising Lift up thine eyes round about and see all they gather themselves together they come to thee Thy Sons shall come from far and thy Daughters shall be nursed at thy side Then shalt thou see and flow together and thy heart shall fear and be enlarged Because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee And the Forces of the Gentiles shall come to thee And v. 11. Thy Gates shall be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that still there may be greater confluence And v. 16. Thou shalt also suck the Milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breasts of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty One of Jacob. These and such like Promises are certain that God who has made them is easily able to make them good His Glory and Name and his Sons Honour are much concern'd in fulfilling them And he is delighted to see his Saints desirous with a respect to his Name that these Promises may be performed 3. The Church is to be increased by the powerful preaching of the Gospel This Preaching by all means is to be encouraged for Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. Those that most preach Christ and least themselves are likeliest to enlarge the Church of God Those that are most skilful to convince men of sin that are wise to win Souls that know Christ themselves and how to reveal him to others and with greatest zeal do press the love and practice of Holiness these are the Pastours after the Heart of God and are likely to do as Jacob did to Laban vastly to increase the Flock of Christ The Apostle was so far from hindring the preaching of the Gospel that he was glad it was preached by those that did not preach sincerely Surely the Church may have some benefit and enlargement by such Phil. 1. 15 16 17 18. Some preach Christ even of envy and strife and others also of good will the one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds but the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel What then I Notwithstanding every way
should be continually increasing 1. This increase is for the Fathers glory the more Saints there are God is honoured by the more and the more any are Saints he has still the more glory from them The stronger the members of Christ grow their Faith in God is firmer their fear more filial they love him more with their heart and Soul and strength they walk more humbly with him all which shews what right apprehensions they have of him and that they glorifie him as God believing his presence power mercy truth and righteousness That our Lord might perswade unto fruitfulness and increase he sayes Joh. 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples 2. This increase of the Church is for the honour of Christ the Churches Head The largeness of a Dominion and the multitude of Subjects is the honour of a Prince The more sincere Christians there are the Kingdom of our Lord is the more enlarged and He himself is magnified the more The Redeemer is glorified when the Everlasting Gospel runs when his word which is the Scepter of his Kingdom is believed and obeyed when Souls by whole multitudes come flocking to him to be justified by his blood sanctified and healed by his grace and saved to the uttermost How was Christ honoured when after the ten first Persecutions the Roman Empire submitted to the Faith the Eagle gave way to the Cross and Constantine the Great threw down his Crown at the feet of the Lamb of God Then was that Scripture signally fulfilled though a further accomplishment is still to be expected Isa 55. 5. Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee 3. In this increase of the Church the operaetion of the Spirit is very illustrious He wrought the miracles for the confirmation of the Gospel and made it at first to be entertained in the world Wherever there is true Faith it is of his bestowing Those that are regenerated are said to be born of the Spirit Joh. 3. 6. The renewing of a Soul is of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. All spiritual gifts all true grace all solid comforts are from the Spirit The more therefore Light is spread the more largely gifts are distributed the more plentiful communication there is of grace the more peace and joy abounds the greater is the Spirits glory The Nicene Creed calls the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord and Giver of life Quot Membrae tot Miracula So many members as Christ has so many miracles there are of the Spirits working for he has raised them all to life who were once dead in sins and trespasses as well as others 4. This Increase is for the Churches advantage therefore it should be endeavoured 'T is matter of joy and praise to Saints to behold sinners converted and sanctified to see Prodigals coming to themselves and coming home to their Fathers House to see strangers and forreigners made fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 2. 19. And when these Saints perceive that more of light is imparted to themselves and that they are filled fuller with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Glory and praise of God they must needs apprehend this to be for their profit if the truest riches may be called gains and Pearls of the greatest price be of any value 5. The World is benefited by the Churches increase Not a Soul gathered out of the World but something is secured of greater value than the World If a City were on fire and burning apace to the ground the more persons are saved the more Goods are secured the greater kindness is done to that City because these Persons these Goods escape the fury of the flames Sin is ruining the World apace but all that in time come out from the World and touch not the unclean thing and are incorporated into the Church of Christ are safe as in a Sanctuary shall be delivered from the common destruction and scape the vengeance of eternal fire in which all the wicked must burn for ever 6. The Angels themselves are concerned at the increase of the Church The Apostate Ones are confounded when by all their subtilty and strength they are not able to hinder the increase of Christs Government nay that they are so over-ruled that they are made to promote his Kingdom by those very means which were designed to overthrow it And the Elect Angels are affirmed to rejoyce at the Repentance and Conversion of a Sinner Luk. 15. 10. Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth And if they are so glad at the Conversion of one what an accession would it be to their joy to behold thousands and millions added to the Church of Christ 'T is pleasing to the Angels to behold peace on Earth and Gods good-will expressing it self in the Salvation of Men Luk. 2. 14. and upon this account they cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory be to God in the highest The Application follows USE 1. Of Reproof to them that hinder the Churches increase The furtherers of it I am sure are few the hinderers many therefore the more are concerned in the Reprehension 1. Enemies without endeavour with might and main to hinder the increase of the Body of Christ They hate the light and would fain hinder it from shining they are grieved that Jesus is preached are angry as well as grieved for they are unwilling his Subjects should become numerous The World upon this account raises Persecution and how many at such a time do fall away Mat. 13. 21. Cyprian laments the pressure of that Persecution which had so wofully wasted the Flock he was over and sayes that positi erant inter plangentium ruinas timentium reliqutas inter numerosam languentium stragem exiguam stantium paucitatem L. 4. Ep. 4. Many were ruined the rest feared the Church languished and few did stand against so furious an assault We have large Martyrologies but if all Apostates were registred how vast would be the Catalogues of them 'T is well Tribulation lasts but ten dayes a short time else the World might tread the Church under But the Worlds rage is without reason against the Church of Christ which will do no harm and desires to do the World the greatest kindness 2. Hypocrites within are to be reproved for they hinder the Churches increase fitly compared to Vipers which are said to eat the bowels in which they were bred Our Lords anger is very hot and his words sharp against Hypocrites Mat. 23. 13. For they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men they refuse to go in themselves neither suffer they them that are entring to go in They profess high but when
they fall and notoriously discover their unsoundness they wound the reputation of Religion unto the Churches grief and disadvantage and the hardning of the Ungodly in their wickedness their Convictions hereby being quite and clean extinguished 3. The Churches increase is likewise hindred by imprudent Members Such are not so careful to avoid appearances of evil themselves and they blaze abroad the Infirmities of others which love should find a Mantle to cover nay many times they hear and report the most errant lies and slanders whereby not only the Person slandered but likewise Religion and the Church suffers These fools deserve to be lash'd severely for their inconsiderate talkativeness and uncircumspect walking And they should remember that the Disciples of Christ are to be wise as Serpents and harmless as Doves Mat. 10. 16. 4. Erroneous Members and Church-dividers are deeply guilty of hindring the increase of the Church Errour has a natural tendency to division for they that speak perverse things endeavour to draw away Disciples after them Act. 20. 30. And Division is a grand Impediment to edification The Church of Christ after the giving of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost did grow exceedingly and one reason was because the Multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul Act. 4. 32. But division weakens the Churches strength and turns her own Members against her by turning them one against another The Apostle severely rebukes the Corinthians upon this score 1 Cor. 3. 3. For ye are yet carnal for whereas there is among you envying and strife and divisions are ye not carnal and walk as men q. d. This unpeaceable and dividing temper makes you act not not like Members of Christ but like Men of the World whom Christ bids his Disciples to beware of as Enemies to his Interest and Kingdom Indeed the Corruptions of others are not to be approved yet what is good and sound is to be own'd and we are to be taken with the Image of Christ in whomsoever we see it shining 5. Slothful unfaithful proud and selfish Paâ—tours deserve as sharp a rebuke as any because the Churches increase is hindred by these with a witness Such seek their own things not the things of Christ their own profit not the profit of many that they may be saved 'T is ordinary with them to make the heart of the righteoâ—â— sad whom God has not made sad and to strengthen the hands of the wicked that he should not return from his wicked way by promising him life Ezek. 13. 22. The Prophet prophesies sharply against the Shepherds of Israel Ezek. 34. 2 3. 4. Woe to the Shepherds of Israel who feed themselves not the flock The diseased have ye noâ— strengthened neither have ye healed that which was sick neither have ye bound up that which was broken neither have ye brought again that which was driven away neither have ye sought that which was lost but with force and with cruelty have ye ruled them Now if the flock be thus neglected 't is likely to be lessen'd and the Church to be brought very low Oh dreadful account that such Pastours have to give both of themselves and of the flock unto the Great Shepherd at the last day USE II. Of encouragement unto the Church of Christ notwithstanding her Imperfection Her Spirit should not sink into despondency because perfection is not yet attained to but several truths may be offer'd as grounds of support 1. That Righteousness which is imputed to the Church of Christ is perfect Though their Faith though their evangelical obedience be imperfect yet the Righteousness of Christ which their faith layes hold on is every way compleat The obedience of one that is the Son of God is sufficient to make many righteous though never so many do believe Rom. 5. 19. By one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Heb. 10. 14. The Apostle indeed is ashamed of his own Righteousness and afraid to be found in it and desires to be found in Christ and that he might have on that Righteousness which is of God by faith The obedience and sufferings of Christ are the Righteousness imputed to them that believe and 't is called the Righteousness of God because God contrived it and accepts it and Christ who obeyed and suffered is not only man but over all God blessed for ever Christ has done and suffered enough to satisfie divine justice to ransom and save souls and to obtain eternal Redemption for us and here is a firm ground for the Churches consolation 2. The Sins of the Churches Members are all pardon'd not so much as one is unforgiven Col. 2. 13. Having forgiven you all trespasses Psal 103. 12. As far as the East is from the West so far hath he removed all our transgressions from us Vxori lis non intenditur The Church is espoused to Christ and he has satisfied the Law and Justice for all her offences it may joyfully be said therefore There is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus Rom. 8. 1. Her Head and Husband having paid the Churches debts payment from her is not expected shall not be demanded 3. Though the Churches members are imperfect yet the least degree of true grace shall be owned The smallest Stars are Stars and are fixt in Heaven as well as the greatest The weakest Saints are Saints and as such shall be regarded 'T is said of Christ He shall feed his flock like a Shepherd he shall gather the Lambs with his Arm and carry them in his bosom Isa 40. 11. The feeblest of Christians stanâ— in need of cherishing and they shall have â—hat they need Our Lord will not break the bruised reed nor quench the smoaking flax untill he sends forth judgment unto victory Mat. 12. 20. 4. The Church of Christ notwithstanding her imperfection is in a safer state than Adam was in Innocency The Union between his Creator and Him was not so indissoluble as the Union between Christ and true Believers Life was promised to him upon condition of his perseverance in obedience but he had not a Promise of Grace to make him persevere But the Saints have such a Promise God has said He will put his fear in their Hearts that they shall not depart from him Jer. 32. 40. That he will strengthen and uphold them with the right hand of his righteousness Isa 41. 10. That none shall pluck them out of the hand of Christ nor out of the Fathers hand who is greater than all Joh. 10. 28 29. That nothing shall be able to separate them from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus their Lord Rom. 8. ult Adam was intrusted with a Treasure in his own keeping but he lost it and beggar'd himself and his whole Progeny Believers therefore are not thus trusted both themselves and their Treasure are in the hands of him that is able to save to the uttermost and so both are secured Their life
Love to unite Christians and to make them one since divisions strike at Christ himself and harden the World in its infidelity 5. Love enlarges the Heart and frees it from the bonds of selfishness and makes its desire others welfare as well as our own Love to our Neighbour breaths forth in servent wishes that it may be well with him both in Time and to Eternity We are in every respect to consider our Brethren and true love will make us long that every way they may be benefited that they may not want any needful fecular comfort and encouragement especially that they may be blessed with all Spiritual blessings And above all that they may attain Eternal Happiness and Salvation The Apostles love vents it self in a Prayer for the Corinthians temporal prosperity and increase 2. Cor. 9. 10. Now he that mimistereth seed to the Sower both Minister brend for your food and multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your Righteousness So St. John writing to his beloved Gaius wishes him health and prosperity 3 Joh. 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayst prosper and be in health even as thy Soul prospereth But the Apostles wishes that Souls might be sanctified and saved were most vehement and most pathetically expressed Rom. 10. 1. Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved Phil. 1. 8. God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ Gal. 4. 19. My little Children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you Behold how the Apostle loved Souls I don't wonder that he wishes his love as a blessing to the Church 1 Cor. 16. 24. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus Amen 6. Love is the fulfilling of the Law the doing of which is so much for our Neighbours benefit Rom. 13. 8. He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law As love to God includes the whole first table of the Law so love to our Neighbour includes the second with reason 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fulfilling of the Law for it causes an affectionate and obediential respect unto every Commandment of the second table and there is not one of these precepts but 't is hugely for the good of Mankind 1. Love has a regard â—o the Honour and Authority of Others That honour which is due to Natural Parents love is ready to yield They that were instrumental in giving us our very Being and that nourished us with such tenderness and care when we were not ablâ— to shift for our selves may rightfully challenge obedience from us Upon a supposition that Parents are fallen into decay that piety that Children shew them in relieving them is called a Requiting them 1 Tim. 5. 4. so that Childrens disobedience as 't is unnatural so it has a great deal of ingratitude in it Love ascends higher than our Natural Parents and reaches the very Thrones where Kings and Princes are placed Kings are Patriae Patres Fathers of their Countrey all the inhabitants of a Kingdom are the Children of the King and as a Common Father their very hearts should love and reverence him It was not a Court complement or a strain of Rhetorick but an expression of religious Loyalty when the Prophet call'd the Anointed of the Lord the breath of the peoples nostrils Lam. 4. 20. and signifies how dear his life should be unto them all Love will cause tribute and custom to be willingly paid fear and honour to be rendred Rom. 13. 7. Christian Princes according as it was prophetically promised Isa 49. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Ecclesiae Nutritij the Churches Nursing Fathers The Church of Christ in this world is not arrived to such matâ—uity but it stands in need of nursing the Magistrates care is needful and his Authority is a good fence unto the Christian faith And if the Doctrine of the Gospel has a legal establishment how should this endear the Supream Magistrate unto all inferiours Where Christian love reigns in the hearts of Subjects there Christian Kings will reign with greater security Love and rightly informed Conscience wherever found will do more than Rods and Axes though these are also necessary to support and defend the Civil Government 2. Love has a regard to the Lives of Others The guilt of blood is great the cry of blood is loud Murther how does it wound the Murtherers Conscience and defile the very land which receives the blood of him that is murthered Love utterly abhorrs cruelty and slaughter It considers the meekness and gentleness of Christ When James and John would by miraculous fire have consumed a Samaritan village that would not receive their Lord He rebukes them and sayes ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luk. 9. 55 56. Love is so far from thirsting after blood that it will not allow of malice in the heart nay rash and causelefs anger it dislikes for that will make a man in danger of the judgment Mat. 5. 22. Were but love every where revived it would put an end to the Iron one and cause the Golden age to return Swords would be beaten into Plough-shares and Spears into Prâ—ning-Hooks and Nations would not learn Warr any more 3. Love will not violate others chastity Lust is strongly inclined to such a violation but the grace of love is of an holy and clean nature and abhorrs all obsceneness It is so far from consenting to defile anothers body that it will not allow the heart where 't is by a filthy thought or desire to be defiled for our Lord sayes Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5. 28. Love looks upon the bodies of Christians as Members of Christ as temples of the Spirit now the Members of Christ are not to be polluted the temples of the Spirit are not to be profaned How little of true love is there in this lustful Age in this adulterous generation An affection that is indeed Christian is rarely to be found but a reprobate and brutish concupiscence is very rise both in City and Countrey though hereby both are ripening apace for vengeance Jer. 5. 7 8 9. They assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses they were as fed Horses in the morning every one neighed after his Neighbours Wife Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nature as this 4. Love will not steal away the substance of another It abhors to be injurious to any it is for following that which is altogether just It is ready to distribute willing to communicate to the poor according to that charge 1 Tim. 6. 18. and the poorer any are it is so much the more communicative Love is liberal for he that
beareth and endureth all things It bears the greatest injuries from the World and yet wishes the World well and it endures unkindness from Brethren still remaining kind to them it is not transported by the fancied intolerableness of any injury so as to render evil for evil it minds that of the Apostle 1 Thes 5. 15. See that nonè render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and towards all men Oh Love How much want is there of thee in the Church of Christ and how much does this Church feel for this want it groans it languishes it dies daily because of thy absence Return O Love return Repair breaches restore paths to dwell in edifie the old waste places and raise up the Foundations of many Generations for after all the most politick contrivances Thou wilt be found the Master-builder Having done with the reasons which demonstrate that Love is for the Churches Edification I am in the fourth place to shew the vanity of those excuses that are made for the want of Love 1. Some say they are bound to contend earnestly for the Faith and therefore Mildness and Love in this case are but urged unseasonably strive they ought and strive they will I Answer That sincere Protestants of all perswasions agree in the same Faith and their disagreeing among themselves is the way not to uphold that Faith but to destroy it The Controversies between them is about Circumstantials and external modes of Worship they all own the same Doctrine of the Gospel in opposition to the Corruptions and Heresies of Rome That 's a bad Contention that does exclude Love He that believes the Gospel of Christ to be the Gospel of Peace cannot but follow after Peace Fides Amor quam benè conveniunt How well do Faith and Love agree both together make the Breast-plate of a Christian 1 Thes 5. 8. Whereby his Heart is armed and secured 2. Others say they will not halt between two Opinions they will follow God and not Baal they are for Christ and not for Antichrist and are resolved to have no Charity for the Beasts Worshippers nor any Communion with them I Answer Do not call that Idolatry and Antichristianism which Christ calls not by such a Name To charge all Conformists with Idolatry is an â—eavy Charge as bold as heavy and as unreasonable and uncharitable as either I am sure the Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes though Conformists were enabled to suffer the rage of Rome and loved not their Lives unto the Death that they might bear their Testimony against the Idolatry of Antichrist Those that affirm a Form of Prayer to be a Spiritual Image and consequently a breach of the second Commandment seem to me to discover a greater strength of Phancy than of Judgment I grant the Second Commandment forbiddeth the Worship of the true God by a false medium or means and such a false means is an Image for by this means the Glory of the incorruptible God is changed into the similitude of a corruptible Creature which we are forbidden to fall down to and Worship so that the medium or means forbidden in this Law is an object as well as means Now those who are most for Forms of Prayer will deny them to be the objects of their Worship their Worship is directed to God alone and only in the Name of Christ the Mediator That Reverend Author who asserts a Form of Prayer to be an Image forbidden in the Second Commandment yet does grant That a Christian Man whether Minister or of private place may by the Gift of Prayer which he hath received compile to himself a set Form of Prayer and may use the same for his Prayer whether in publick or in private according to his place But if a Form were indeed forbidden by no means 〈◊〉 a man make such a Form of Prayer for himself Further Let me add that all who cry out against Antichristianism should beware of Vncharitableness which is a great part of it Rome is full of Cruelty censures and condemns all that are not of her way and affirms 't is impossible that they should be Saved Those in whom Christian love does most abound I am sure are come furthest out of Babylon and are likeliest to hinder a return thither what animosities and divisions will do I wish that time may not too soon manifest 3. Others plead that they are for a thorough Reformation and the purging of all impuritie out of the Church of Christ and they cannot endure such as do things by halves only I Answer That 't is the Glory of the Protestant Churches that they are Reformed ones and none of them are so pure but Reformation may be advanced to an higher degree The Compilers of the Common Prayer in the Commination acknowledge that in the Primitive Church there was a godly Discipline which is wanting among us and they wish that it may be restored So that a need of Reformation in Discipline is here plainly confessed and the thing desired But a Reformation is regularly to be endeavoured no man using unwarrantable means nor transgressing the bounds of his vocation And while we are talking against Impurity in adminisâ—â—â—â—ions which the more exactly according to the Word of God the purer and the purer the better and more effectual let us not overlook some of the worst impurities of all Pride and Envy and Hatred and Wrath are the Impurities of the Devil himself other sins may have more of the Bruit or of the Child but these have more of Beelzebub 'till thou art reconciled to thy Brother ' think not that thy Offering will be accepted Mat. 5. 24. while thy Heart is full of bitterness and Self-conceit and Strife do not imagine thou canst be a pure Worshipper 4. Others say What shall we Love a Company of Apostates that are for returning to the Onions and Garlick of Aegypt and will receive the mark of the Beast it self I Answer That the Scripture should be Studied and understood or else it may easily be misapplyed 'T would better become men solidly to prove a thing to be Antichristian than loudly and boldly to call it so Shall he be branded as an Apostate who manifests in his whole Conversation a fear of God that loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity that owns the great fundamental truths of the Gospel and is willing if called to it to seal them with his blood shall he I say be branded as an Apostate because to give a legal satisfaction and shew he is no Papist he sometimes hears the Prayers of the Church and Scriptures read in a known Tongue Certainly the Censurer iâ—â— greater Apostate from Love than this man is from Truth Though the well-meaning of Persons is to be well taken and whatever of God is in them is to be loved and encouraged yet this is to be disliked that differences between Protestants are made to seem greater than they are It does not
argue an healing Spirit to call every thing we dislike Egyptian and Babylonish This uncharitable Censuring if it be not the mark of the Beast 't is the mark of one as bad you know who is styled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Accuser of the Brethren 5. Others say That many who pretend to Religion and Conscience are Schismatical and Rebellious and Love and Countenance does but harden and encourage them in their pernicious wayes to the Prejudice both of Church and State I Answer Particular persons who are culpable let them hear the blame but why should all Dissenters be judged Rebels how peaceably have they carried themselves for these many Years how fervently do they Pray for the Kings Life and Prosperity To Assassinate his Majesty or the Duke of York they look upon as an action most abominable and are perswaded that every one that names the Name of Christ should utterly abhor such a Villanous Iniquity They look upon Solomon not as speaking like a politick Prince but as declaring the mind of thâ— Holy Ghost when he sayes My Son fear thou the Lord and the King and meddle not with them that are given to change Prov. 24. 21. They are sensible that the false Teachers in the latter dayes have this Character that they despise Government that They are presumptuous and self-willed and are not afraid to speak evil of Dignities 2 Pet. 2. 10. Let those who are full of bitter Invectives against Dissenters as if they were Enemies to Government consider what the Assembly of Divines at Wesiminster have declared and the Congregational Divines at the Savoy say the same Confession of Faith Chap. of the Civil Magistrate It is the Duty of People to Pray for Magistrates to honour their Persons to pay them Tribute and other Dues to obey their lawful Commands and to be subject to their Authority for Conscience sake Infidelity or Difference in Religion does not make void the Magistrates just and legal Authority nor free the People from their due Obedience to him from which Ecclesiastical persons are not exempted much less hath the Pope any power or jurisdiction over them in their Dominions or over any of their People and least of all to deprive them of their Dominions or Lives if he shall judge them to be Hereticks or upon any other pretence whatsoever And as for the Charge of Schism the Dissenters wish there were no such thing in the Churches of Christ that Terms of Communion might be only Scriptural and that all occasions of Division might be taken away They Pray for the peace of Jerusalem and that she may have more True Lovers and That all may prosper who Love her I come in the last place to the Application USE I. Of Information If Love be for the Churches Edification then 1. Hence we may be informed that Hatred Variance Emulations Wraths Strifes and such works of the Flesh tend to the Churches Ruine they that harbour such sins as these and are not concerned about the mortification of them they are frantick Christians who cast Fire-brands and Arrows and Death doing much mischief to others but most to themselves 2. No wonder that Satan who labours to destroy Churches endeavours to kill Love He is the envious one that sows ill Weeds he is the Father of Lies and Errors he knows Errour tends to Division he sets an Edge on the Passions of men and makes them more sharp and keen he is the grand incendiaâ—y in Churches setting all in a flame and he hopes this flame will consume all before it nay burn at last to the lowest Hell 3. Those Principles are truest and best that tend to the begetting and increasing of Love The Church of Christ is little beholding to those who are of narrow Principles that mind only a part but not the whole The Apostle blamed the Corinthians for being of such a narrow Spirit 1 Cor. 1. 12. Now this I say that every one of you saith I am of Paul and I of Apollo and I of Cephas whereas all true Believers should reckon themselves one in God and Christ and consequently should be for one another 4. Hence we may be informed that Love is the more excellent way Rigour and Fury may force men to a dissembled Compliance but Love is the way indeed to win them I don't think it a Credit to the Alcoran that it must be seconded with the knocking argument of an iron Mace the Spanish Inquisition shews the weakness of that Religion which cannot stand unless it has the help of such Cruelty to support it Certainly that Church which is fullest of Love is the truest and wisest and most likely to be enlarged The Apostle preferrs Charity before the Faith of Miracles though these Miracles mightily confirmed the Authority and Verity of the Gospel nay he preferrs it before the Gift of Prophesie though Prophesie was the most Edifying of all the Gifts of the Spirit 1 Cor. 14. 1. He was indeed a Prince among Preachers and supposes himself better than he was and to speak with the Tongue of an Angel yet sayes he Without Charity I am become as sounding Brass or a tinkling Cymbal nay If I have not Charity I am nothing 1 Cor. 13. 1 2. USE II. Of Caution in several particulars 1. Take heed of what is contrary to Love as that which is contrary to Edification Unmercifulness Cruelty Rage Revenge Bitterness are so far from becoming Christianity that they are against Humanity it self When first sinful Passion begins to stir in thy Heart obsta principiis quench the spark for behold how great a matter a little fire kindles Jam. 3. 5. What is contrary to Love is contrary to thy own Peace and may make thee a Disturber of the Churches Peace 2. Take heed of sinful Self-love This causes perilous times to overtake the Church of Christ 2 Tim. 3. 182. This know also that in the last dayes perilous times shall come for men shall be lovers of their own selves Self-love turns Godliness into a Form argues a want of the Power it makes Religion to be subservient unto base and selfish designs and hereby the Gospel comes to be suspected Atheism grows rampant and the Church must needs languish Self-love will make you unconcerned for the Honour of God for the good of man it will produce a carelesness in you of others welfare and hinder you from truly minding your own He that loves no body but himself and matters not what harms befall others so himself can but scape is a pest of the World unfit for Christian nay for humane Society Antiquity has censured that Speech as infamous 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If I were dead no matter though the World were all a fire The Self-lover is of the same temper if he can but keep what he has and sleep in a whole Skin he is not at all affected with others Calamities and Afflictions 3. Take heed of scandalizing any 'T is the great work of Satan to cause
things wherein they agree than of those wherein they differ And be sure to deafen your ears to Tale-bearers whose business is to destroy Love and sow Discord The words of a Tale-bearer are as Wounds and how deep do they go Where no Wood is the Fire goeth out and where there is no Tale-bearer the Strife ceaseth Prov. 26. 20. 6. Let this be your frequent Petition That you may be taught of God to love one another Pray that the Word which commands Love may be more deeply engraven in your Hearts and rule there at all times and that all exasperating thoughts and surmises all unruly passions which are contrary to Love as enemies to you to the Church to God himself may be brought into Captivity unto Christ the Prince of Peace USE V. Of Consolation to the distracted drooping desponding Church of Christ and all the sincere Members of it The grounds of Comfort are these 1. The Church of Christ shall be upheld noâ—withstanding all her Divisions What heats what Heresies in the Primitive times If one reads the Catalogue of Errours in Epiphantus and St. Augustine which men professing Christianity embraced and what rents these Errours made it will be just matter of wonder that the Church was not torn to pieces by her own Members Satan has been striking at Faith and Charity and yet still there is a Church and when he has done his worst there will be one 2. The Love of Christ towards his Church is unchangeable The Members may fail in their duty one towards another but the Faithfulness of the Head never fails His care is constant he is the same yesterday and to day and for ever Heb. 13. 8. 'T is said Joh. 13. 1. That Jesus having loved his own that were in the World he loved them to the end And this love secured them to the end 3. There will be no want of love in Heaven Though Christians may not fancy to travel in one anothers company yet they are all going towards the same Countrey and place of eternal rest and when they are once come thither they shall rest from sin and contention as well as from trouble and affliction In that glorious place and state there will be no errour no culpable ignorance remaining both light and love will be in their perfection and because perfect love is there perfect peace and joy will be there also Jerusalem above is a City indeed that is compact together strongly founded for its builder and maker is God Heb. 11. 10. and 't is to last for ever and is built accordingly The triumphant Saints that inhabit there how near are they brought unto God who is all in all How closely and inseparably are they knit together in love St. Paul and Barnabas will no more fall out being both in Heaven and Luther and Zuinglius are perfectly agreed When St. Augustine as he tells us in his Confessions had been discoursing with his Mother concerning Heaven the Crown the Joys the Peace the Pleasures there his Mothers heart grew warm with Sacred Fire and that warmth at length was heightned into an Heavenly Rapture making her cry out Quid hic faciam What shall I do here below How shall I with patience stay in a vale of fears who have had such a sight of the glory such a taste of the joyes of the New Jerusalem Certainly it should make sincere Christians long to be above and it should comfort them that it will not be long ere they are above when they behold the Church on Earth so rent and torn by Pride and Ignorance and unruly Lusts and Passions and when withall they remember that among the innumerable Company of Angels and all the glorifyed Saints there is not the least discord but a compleat and everlasting Harmony I have finished my Discourse concerning Love and the Churches Edification I shall add a few Verses which I made when Prisoner in the Marshalsed I find that Musick relieved Saul when the Evil Spirit came upon him and composed the Spirit of a Prophet when it was ruffled and out of order and perhaps Poetry may have an effect of the like nature The Versâ—s are these Now use thy liberty my Mind Who art not in the least confin'd The whole Earth over thou may'st go And view the All that it can shew And that great All which thou can'st see Is not enough to satiate Thee From Gades to Ganges thou may'st run Thy thought 's much swister than the Sun And in thy travel nothing spy But what is vexing Vanity The greedy Worldling spares no pains The morâ— he has the less he gains To profit others does refuse Nay locks up all from his own use Sensual pleasures mixed be With an inward Anxiety The brutish part they only please But are the Mind's snare and disease Th' Ambitious Man strives to climb high That he may stand more slippery The glist'ring Crowns which Monarchs wear Have less of Honour than of Care Vain World produce even all thy store Thou art indeed a thing but poor Nay Heavens Heirs have felt thy rage In this as every former Age. If not by an excessive love An Idol made of thou do'st prove A Hell or Shambles unto them Who dare thee with thy all contemn The Church is too much like the World Into a strange confusion hurl'd Envy and Wrath and Pride and Strife Imbittering this present life By all is plain enough exprest Arise depart here 's not thy Rest Trample on Earth then take thy flight Immortal Soul Things out of sight Above the Sun or any Star Are worthy'st of thy thoughts by far Let not thy Senses Jaylors be Nor what suits them infatuate thee Open thy eyes behold thy God Rise with thy Lord that thy abode May be with him that 's Light and Love Nay All in all that are above The Persecution most fierce Can no way hinder thy Converse With Heaven Though in a Dungeon deep As the Earth's Centre Foes should keep The Body close yet thou art free And thy best Friend to visit Thee The joyful tokens of his Love Prisons are Palaces do prove Nay Paradises of Delight Although they silly Nature fright Sorrow is Joy and Pain is Pleasure Disgrace is Honour Loss a Treasure The World when worst is best of all To those God does to suffer call The New Jerusalem comes down Is clearly'st seen when Men most frown And with the sharpest Thorns thee Crown Take up thy Cross which is thy Tryal And taste the Sweets of Self-denial God is thy Father and thy Rest Abide with him and thou art blest The Following Poem was more lately Composed A Welcome to Disesteem I. THe World 's a Syren and its sweetest Song The greatest Wrong Th' Applause of Men the Prais'd endangereth Like poysonous breath The Wings of Fame like those of Icarus Pernicious He that Ambitious is of Estimation Shews himself fond of Peril and Temptation II. I' th most of Men a change is seen as soon As him i' th' Moon A word a look can quench the hottest Love And anger move The fondest Friend oft turns the worst of Foes And fury blows Whoso does think to make men alwayes kind He may as well attempt to hold the Wind. III. On Mountains high the Tempests fiercest are And nothing spare The tops of loftiest Buildings in a Town Are soonest down He that 's Above is envied to Death By those beneath Ambition does prove a fatal Charm And makes a man expose himself to harm IV. Vnconstant World how low should wise men deem Thy high esteem To better bad men Honour has no force Makes good men worse Honour is fitly styl'd the Foolish Fire That flies desire But fondly follows such as scorn and fly it That they may be misled and ruin'd by it V. What peace and safety is in being low The Prudent know Christs Head did fly the Circle of a Crown And great Renown The whole World offered He did refuse And Meanness chuse To follow Wisdoms Pattern can't be folly Dishonour's no just ground of Melancholy VI. False World thy ill report I 'le not deserve It shall me serve Thy frowns and slanders shall a kindness do Not make me rue When Friends turn Foes and Foes more Foes I see It weaneth me From things below and kills excessive Love Where doating my destruction might prove VII I will the Rage of Froward Men and Spight With Love requite It troubles me to see Professors Ire Burning like Fire I wish I were all Tears to check the Flame And quench the same If Wrath shut ears against my Ministry I will to God for all the louder cry N. V. THE END
whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and therein I do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce 4. The avoiding of Scandal is much for the Churches Increase The Scandalous and loose lives of Professors make the World conclude the Gospel but a cunningly devised Fable and harden the men of it in Irreligion and a profane contempt of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent The evil works of such as are called Christians for many of these latter Ages has been a great impediment to the spreading of Christianity Our Lord sayes Woe to the World because of offences Mat. 18. 7. for the World hereby is confirmed in prejudice and Wickedness and at last more certainly ruined But when the Members of the Church do work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling and shew a vehement desire after the Worlds Salvation also this is the way to gain the World to Christ and to turn it unto righteousness 5. The Church is mightily increased by the exemplary conversation of her Members When Believers are zealous of good Works and without rebuke and blame When they are patterns of Piety Justice Mercy Meekness Patience Self-denial when they go about doing good and by the heavenliness of their discourse and carriage declare plainly that they seek a better countrey than is to be found in this World hereby they adorn the Gospel and render it more lovely in the Worlds eye and more likely to be entertained the ignorance of wicked and foolish men is silenced by well doing 1 Pet. 2. 15. nay they be forced to a confession that God is in his Church of a truth and may at length consent and desire to be Members of that Church where there is so much of God and of his presence visible and apparent 2. As the Church should increase in numbers so all the Members of the Church should strive to increase more and more in grace and goodness They should strongly be induced to this because of their own imperfection in Grace which imperfection fills them many times with inward trouble and tormenting doubts and fears and makes outward affliction but highly necessary Besides Holiness is of such an excellent nature and so perfective of the Nature of man that the strongest desires are to be justified the most diligent endeavours after it to be commended Grace is increased in the Members of Christ several wayes 1. By a Serious and frequent engaging in those Ordinances which he has instituted He that has instituted these has promised his blessing and adds the efficacy Prayer Fasting giving of thanks receiving the Supper of the Lord attending upon the Word preached and searching the Scriptures and the like means of Grace when seriously used do exceedingly promote the growth of a Christian making him to become strong in Spirit The Church is the Garden of God the Saints are planted there the Word and Ordinances of Christ are like the showers from Heaven and the Husbandmans pains which makes these Plants to thrive and flourish Psal 92. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God But still it must be remembred though means are to be used yet we must look beyond them unto him that has appointed them else they will never attain their end 1 Cor. 3. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 2. Grace is increased by the improving of Providences The Dispensations of Providence were various towards David he was exercised with great Severity and likewise with great Goodness we read Psal 116. 3. That the sorrows of Death compassed him and the pains of Hell gat hold upon him he found trouble and sorrow and v. 10. He was greatly afflicted in this distress he calls upon that God who is merciful and gracious for deliverance and his calling is heard and his Soul is delivered from Death his Eyes from Tears and his Feet from Falling And now how is his Heart affected his Graces strengthned He is filled with Love he is resolved to give himself to Prayer as long as he lived his Soul is at rest in God who had dealt bountifully with him he offers the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and he cryes out Oh Lord I am thy Servant truly I am thy Servant v. 16. as if he should say Lord thou art a Master beyond all comparison and as it is my firm resolution so 't is my Happiness and Honour as well as Duty to be a Servant to thee 3. The Covenant of Grace is to be Studied and the Promises applyed in order to a Christians increase God has assured his People that he will perfect that which concerns them and that he will not forsake the work of his own hands He has said that his Servants shall Spring up as among the Grass and as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 4. That the Righteous shall hold on his way and they that have clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. That they shall bring forth fruit even in Old Age and even then be flourishing and this shall be to shew that the Lord is upright Psal 92. 14 15. Such Promises being prized and applyed will make the New Creature full of vigour and perseverance will be certain Heark to the Apostle Phil. r. 6 7. Being confident of this very thing that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ even as it is meet for me to think this of you all 4. Grace is increased by Having recourse unto that fulness which dwells in Christ Therefore growing in Grace and growing in the Knowledge of Christ are joyned together for Christ is full of Grace and Truth and out of his fulness sayes St. John We all have received and Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 14 16. that is Grace answerable to that Grace which is in him Grace is his purchase he has it in Possession he gives it to all that have it and every new degree is from the same hand He is the Object the Author and the Finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. They are the most growing and established Saints that are least taken with the World that have least confidence in themselves that do best understand and most look unto Jesus 5. All impediments of increase must be carefully shunn'd as Pride and sloth and earthliness carnal and corrupt affections if these or things of like nature prevail they will prove to the Soul what Diseases are to the Body and make the Members of Christ to be feeble and languish depriving them both of their Strength and Beauty These are like peccant humours which must be Purged if we would have our Souls healthy and prosperous These are like weights which must be laid aside if we will run the Race that is set before us so as to obtain the Prize Heb. 12. 1. In the third place I am to produce several reasons why the Church