the Oeconomy erected by Christ and his Apostles was sufficient to answer all Intents and Purposes of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction without dependance upon the States and Princes of the World for the execution thereof and was fully practical under any Civil Powers who would but permit the Profession of Christianity according to Mens Consciences 2. If any Alledge That the Congregational Practice abridgeth the People of their Liberty We answer 1. If by liberty be meant liberty to sin this all Religions must profess to restrain that which doth not is not to be called Religion and this is no more than all Christian Magistrates ought to do Besides a liberty to Sin is the most Diabolical Slavery in the World 2. Our Way deprives Men of no lawful Civil Liberties 3. It doth no more deprive Men of Spiritual Liberties than a Civil Corporation-Government deprives Men of Civil Liberties For 1. Both the one and the other have the most desirable Immunities and Priviledges granted by Charter in their respective kinds 2. There are no Members made by a coercive power all voluntarily offer themselves 3. There are no Members admitted or cast out by an Arbitrary and Despotick Power but all is done by the consent of the Body Politick 4. A Church is made a Prison to none but any one may depart to another orderly and regularly when called thereto 5. As all Members are admitted so all Ministerial Officers are chosen by Consent and Agreement of the Body none are imposed 6. As all Tryals of offending Persons in a Civil Corporation are by the Neighbourhood as to matter of fact so in a Spiritual Corporation all such Judicial Proceedings are in a way of Tryal first in the Church by the Brotherhood upon whose Judgment of Guilty or not Guilty the Elder passeth Sentence of Condemnation or Absolution 3. If any object Strictness of the Terms of Admission It is Answered 1. All Vertuous Persons like those Societies best that stand upon the strictest Terms of Admission for they are likely to be purest 2. Have not all Families Companies Corporations their Terms of Admission which they will stand upon Is it not fit you should be qualified as the Society expects and submit to the Laws of the Society by express Agreement Is it fit you should enjoy the Immunities of a Family or other Society without a due qualification and obligation Without the first you are unmeet without the latter ungovernable 3. The Terms are reasonable and as easie as possible for a Spiritual Society a houshold of Faith as is made appear in the following Treatise And whatever slight Terms of Admittance you are for whilst a non-Member if you have the true Grace of God in your heart when you become a Member you will not be willing others should be so admitted lest it should make such a foul House as your self will not be able long to endure 4. Some one will say or think I am loth to come under the Observation Obligation and Charge of Church-Membership I hope I shall go to Heaven without it tho I would willingly have my Child baptized Ans 1. Take this altogether and it 's a great question whether such an one hath Grace in his heart or hath any good grounds of Hope that he shall go to Heaven For it argues loosness of heart and life and Covetousness which is Idolatry yea and plain Hypocrisie that he would have his Child baptized meerly for form and Reputation sake For I would say to such an one 1. Is not one Seal of the Covenant of as much weight to a Believer as another Wilt thou baptize thy Child as thy duty and neglect the other Seal for thy Worldly Advantage and so indulge thy self in Sin By what right dost thou claim Baptism for thy Child Is it by vertue of Abraham's Covenant And dost thou openly profess it and wilt not stipulate to the said Covenant How art thou such a Child of Abraham as the Blessing is come upon surely not the Blessing of Church-Membership Obj. But I hope my Infant hath right to Baptism tho I am no Church-Member Ans He that himself is such as that if he were un-baptized he hath no right to Baptism cannot plead right for his Child But no non-Member can plead right to any Seal the Seals of the Covenant being given to the Church and not to the World nor one Seal to the World and the other to the Church Obj. But I am a Member of the Catholick Church by my Personal Covenanting with God Ans 1. Who knows what thy private and secret actions be to verifie the Truth of what thou saist the Church calls thee to Covenant with God and them If thou wilt partake of the Priviledges of the Church and if thou hast bin serious in Covenanting privately thou wilt be as willing to Covenant openly with God and his Church for he that Covenants socially Covenants but personally and he that Covenants with Christ Covenants with him socially tho secretly for he takes him as Head of the Mystical Body So that the Notion of Personal and Social Covenanting makes not a legal distinction having no sufficient dissentaniety of parts they differing but ratione only and so are but diversa not ratione re so as to be vera opposita 2. Such personal Covenanting as you intend if it be real makes you but a Member of the Mystical Body of Christ not of any visible Church which alone is the subject of the Seals and other Ordinances 3. The Proselytes publickly embraced Abraham's Covenant and joined to the Church thereby under the Old Testament before they were circumcised and under the New Testament before they were baptized For the first see Deut. 29.11 12. where the Stranger covenanted publickly with the Lord and socially with that Church in the Land of Moab just before they passed over Jordan and were circumcised by Joshua ch 5.2 3 4. For the latter see Acts 2.39 41. Peter makes them that manifested their Repentance to stipulate publickly to Abraham's Covenant before they were baptized And as many as declared their glad receiving and embracing the Promise for themselves and Seed were baptized for they who did not explicitely declare so much were not baptized as appears by the Text. In a Word Dost thou profess to be a Christian to have received Christ by Faith for righteousness and life and to live Godly in Christ Jesus It is thy Duty then to join thy self in Church-Fellowship and thou sinnest greatly against God if thou dost not For 1. Church-Membership is one of the great parts of Abraham's Blessing And wilt thou exclude thy self from any part of so great a Gift 2. Church-Membership is a Spiritual Blessing that a Believer is blessed withal in Christ Jesus And shall not that be valued by thee 3. A Believer in Christ hath right to Church Blessings And wilt thou loose thy Possession for want of Claim 4. If thou art a true Believer Christ is precious to thee in all
Sabbath m Col. 2.16 17. but the Lord's Day are 1. Then Christ finished Redemption and Rose from the Dead n Mat. 28.1 Luke 24.1 2. Then he appeared after his Resurrection to his Disciples assembled o Joh. 20.19 3. On this Day the Churches held their Solemn Assemblies for Preaching and administring the Lords Supper and Contributions p Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.12 4. On this Day John was in the Spirit and it 's called the Lord's Day q Re. 1.10 because more peculiarly appropriated to his Service as the Lord's Supper § 10. It is not in the Power of Churches to set apart any stated times Yearly or Monthly to be observed for that would be Superstition and Will-Worship a Gal. 4.10 Col. 16.17 But Days of Fasting and Humiliation may be appointed by any Church of Christ according as weighty Reasons lead it thereunto b Acts 14.23 CHAP. XI Of Ordinances of Special Communion Kinds of Ordinances of Special Communion A Seal what it doth and signifies New Testament Seals but Two What Baptism is What the Lord's Supper is What is to be observed in its Administration § 1. HAVING shewed what are Christ's Ordinances in a Visible Church of General or more common Communion we come in the next place to speak of Ordinances of Special Communion peculiar only to such as are Church-Members and these are such Appointments of Christ as concern the Administration of the Seals or such as concern the Administration of the Keys § 2. A Seal of the Covenant under the New Testament is a visible and sensible Ratification thereof wherein Christ our High Priest doth eminently shew forth unto us the glory of his Priestly Office in makeing himself a Sacrifice for Sin bearing the Charge and Curse of Sin satisfying God's Justice reconciling us to God and procuring Eternal Salvation to us a 1 Pet. 2.9 Heb. 9.26 Col. 1.21 22. Heb. 9.12 who as such is the great Condition of the Covenant of Grace b Isa 42.6 i. e. of Abraham's Covenant c Ro. 4.13 Gal. 3.17 whereby we have upon Profession right to claim all Church-Priviledges Mystical and Visible in the State of Grace and that of Glory hereafter d Gal. 3.9.28 29. In all the Old Testament Seals and in the New especially Christ in the Covenant of Grace is in a most lively manner represented and shewed forth in the Church e 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26. Col. 2.11 12. as to Condition and Promises he being not only the great Condition but the Yea and Amen of all the Promises f 2 Cor. 1.20 which are therein Applied and Sealed at least Ministerially g Gen. 17.7 10. Rom. 4.11 12. Gal. 3.27 § 3. The Seals of the New Testament are Two and no more Baptism and the Lord's Supper which are the only Instituted Rites or Ceremonies in a Church that are ordained by Christ to continue till he come a Matt. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. All Jewish Ceremonies are vanisht as Shadows and abolished b Heb. 8.5.13 2 Cor. 3.14 as all Ceremonies attending the bestowing Miraculous Gifts are also ceased c 1 Cor. 13.8 such as Imposition of Hands on well or sick Vnction washing of Feet this being but a didactical Ceremony used by Christ to teach the Apostles Humility and not to Lord it over his Churches and was never intended for a standing Ordinance And as none of these which many are fond of and even Idolize some one and some another and upon as good Grounds all as any for each one had any Sanction for continuance so their significancy ceasing the Sign also comes to nought § 4. Baptism is a Sign and Seal of the Righteousness of Faith wherein Washing with Water into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost a Mat. 28.19 doth represent and shew forth at least Ministerially a Sinners washing from his Sins in the Bloud of Christ b Rev. 1.6 Act 2.38 his New Birth and Renovation by the Spirit of Christ c Titus 3.5 and his Covenant Obligation to be the Lords d Gal. 3.27 28. eib 3.9.26 The Subjects of this Seal are all those who by Profession of Faith in Christ e ib. 3.9.26 which is Abraham's Faith are become Covenant-Members accordingly of a Visible Church and their immediate Infant-Seed f Act. 2.39 they being blessed with faithful Abraham g Gal. 3.7 8 14. and having all essential Church-Blessings come upon them And therefore the Blessing of Membership to the professing Body of Christ h Rom. 15.8 9. ch 4.11 12 and Gospel Church Priviledges as they belong to one or other respectively are Ministerially to be applied of which Baptism is none of the least being the Ordinance of Christ in which only a Believer can bring his Infant-Seed to Christ and he cannot bring it to Christ out of an Ordinance therefore it being his Duty to bring it to Christ it must be in this Ordinance to be blessed with Abraham's Blessing spiritually as he and his Seed are Ecclesiastically the reason that Christ gives for his Command of bringing Infants to him i Matt. 19.14 15. Mark 10.14 16. Luk. 18.16 is That they are Church Members of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and it 's known that Christ means his visible Church in the days of the Gospel by the Kingdom of Heaven and he took them in his Arms received them visibly laid his Hands upon them which is more than for any Ministers to Baptize them and blessed them And doth Christ Bless with any Blessing besides the Blessing of Abraham that comes on the Gentiles § 5. The Lord's Supper is a special Ordinance of Church Communion a 1 Cor. 10.16 instituted and continued by Jesus Christ b 1 Cor. 11 26. wherein by the Giving and Receiving the outward Elements of Bread and Wine c Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.23 Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23 the Death Satisfaction and Merits of Christ are in a lively manner shewed forth and he who through Christ is a worthy Receiver doth spiritually and really by Faith partake of his Body and Bloud with all the high Benefits thereof and not Ministerially only as he doth who is only an outside professed Member It is called the Lord's Supper d 1 Cor. 11 20. because it is of the Lord's Institution and for this end to shew forth his Death e 1 Cor. 11 26. and because he first Celebrated it the Evening before his Death f ib. v. 23. § 6. This being instituted for so spiritual and solemn Ends and Purposes a 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26 27. Luk. 22.19 cannot be administred or attended upon for any other Purposes such as to qualifie Men upon a secular account without great Prophanation thereof b Mal. 1.11 12. John 6.26 27. Ex. 20.4 7 Rev. 13.16 17. § 7. In the Administration of this Ordinance these things according to the Primitive
professing Right thereto to the Believing Parent covenanting and his immediate Infant-Seed in him d Isa 65.23 chap. 44.3 Gal. 4.28 Fourthly The Seal of the Righteousness of Faith given to both Parent and Seed Fifthly The Ministry of the Gospel with all other Ordinances of Christ's Institution which each is capable of for spiritual advantage in the communion of the respective Members thereof e Gal. 3.7 8. § 3. A Visible Church is a spiritual a 1 Pet. 2.5 Body b Rom. 12.4 5. of Believers c 1 Cor. 1 2 with their immediate Seed d Gal. 3.26 27 28. 4.28 separate from the World e 2 Cor. 6.17 and given up unto Christ and one another in a Publick Covenant f 2 Cor. 8.5 Isa 56.6 7. for fellowship g 1 John 1.3 7. Phil. 1.5 1 Cor. 11.20 in all instituted Worship and Ordinances h Mat. 28.20 in one place i 1 Cor. 14.23 to the Glory of God k 1 Cor 10.31 and their own Salvation l Phil. 1.9 11. § 4. A visible Church is always particular a Rev. 1.20 Col. 2.5 a Catholick being not visible as hath bin shewed for a Visible Church is not a Society gathered together and made up of all the select People in the world there is none such can be here but it s such as is limited to a People and Place and is the subject of the Ministry and Ordinances there b 1 Cor. 11.20 14.23 Act 2.41 And though it should be supposed that there is a Catholick visible Church which cannot be granted it is to be observed that the Spirit of God speaks always of Churches in their respective places as distinct Churches each one entire in it self c 1 Cor. 1 2 1 Thes 1.1 not one Epistle wrote to any under the Name of the Catholick visible Church nor to any Church or Congregation as part of it but we read of writing to a Church in such a place d Revel 3.1 c. 1 Cor. 1.1 and divers Churches in a place as Country or Province we find distinguisht by the places where they were as Town City in which they were e Gal. 1.2 Rev. 1.4 Again each particular Congregation had its proper Elders relating to it f Act. 20.17 Phil. 1.1 Act 14.23 and not to others or to a Catholick visible Lastly the Church at Jerusalem the first Primitive was indeed the biggest and largest we read of but to make it any other than a particular Congregation is as weak Divinity as it is Logick for it continued to Assemble together in one place g Act 5.12 and was called but one Church and was not the Church that was visibly Catholick for it contained not the Churches of Samaria h Act 9.31 and Antioch i ib. 15.2 3 soon after gathered § 5. Wherefore the Subject defined by us is a particular Church not because the Catholick is a Genus of it but because the Catholick and a Particular are two distinct Species of Church by proper Adjuncts e. gr A particular Church is visible here on Earth in coetu a Act 5.12 which the Catholick Church is not It assembles in one place b 1 Cor. 11.20 which the Catholick cannot here It 's the subject of external Ordinances Officers and Discipline c Phil. 1.1 1 Cor. 5.4 which the Catholick is not The Members are known by visible Profession and confederation d 2 Cor. 9.13 which the Members of the Catholick are not known by § 6. The next general Nature as we have shewed to a Church is a Body Politick or Corporation for Body is thus distributed in Scripture Acceptation it is Natural or Political Political is Civil or Spiritual the Spiritual is a Church which is a spiritual Body Politick and that is invisible and Catholick or visible and Particular Here we are on a Particular Congregation which we say is a spiritual visible Body Politick a Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Co. 12.27 That it is a Body in a Political sence is most manifest for the Scripture calling it so it must be concluded that it cannot be so in any rational sence but as it is a Body Corporate not Civil but Spiritual it being of spiritual Matter b 1 Cor. 3. 1 Gal. 6.1 spiritual Form c 1 Pet. 2.5 and for spiritual Ends d 1 Cor. 12 3.3 7.8 Eph. 5.19 1 Pet. 2.5.9 Neither is it invisibly spiritual for spiritual things are both visible and invisible e Col. 1.16 18. 2.5 1 Pet. 2.5 but its spiritual in opposition to civil Hence the Church we are speaking of is a visible spiritual Body-Politick and as such having a special and peculiar Relation to Christ the Political Head f Heb. 3.1.6 wherein the special Glory and Excellency of this Church doth ly § 7. The great Concern therefore of this Body is its true Political Relation to Christ as the head thereof a Eph. 4.15 16. that it be by its visibility at least Christ's Corporation b 1 Cor. 12.27 1. By his Purchase c Act. 20.28 2. By his Charter and Institution being founded upon his Doctrine Rules and Appointments d Mat. 28.20 3. That the Dispensation be Christ's so that all things therein transacted be in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ e Col. 3.17 and to God's Glory by him f Eph. 3.21 4. That the Matter of this Church be visibly approved as Members of Christ's Mystical Body and so in Christ Jesus by Faith visibly at least g Phil. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.15 16. 5. That their association into one Body be by explicite Covenant first to Christ the Head and to one another as visible Members of Christ supposed faithful and Loyal to him h Rom. 15.6 7. Isa 56.7 1 Pet. 5.9 6. The great ends of it are 1. A freedom in Christ i Gal. 5.1 and the Spirit k 2 Cor. 3.17 from all other Political Heads as such in this spiritual relation and all pretendedly Ecclesiastical l 2 The. 2.4 or Civil m Isa 26.13 or Pastoral compulsion and Arbitrary Government within themselves n 1 Pet. 5.3 3 John 10. 2. The great enjoyment of the Presence and Blessing of Christ o Rev. 3.1 Eph. 1.3 3. Their communion in Christ with one another p 1 Cor. 10 16. and thereby their edification in Grace q 1 Cor. 14 26. and continued growth in Christ r Eph. 4.15 in the solemn and sacred use of all his holy Institutions and Appointments All which they look upon not as Bondage but their desirable Enjoyments and Priviledges granted to them by the Charter and Seal of the New Testament ſ Eph. 1.3 Col. 2.19 Eph. 1.18 19. § 8. As it is and ought to appear a spiritual Body a 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore visible it must be made up of such Members