Ecclesia Enucleata The Temple Opened Or A Clear DEMONSTRATION Of the True Gospel-Church IN ITS Nature and Constitution According to the DOCTRINE and PRACTICE OF Christ and his Apostles By I. C. In that day seven Women shall take hold of one man saying We will eat our own bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy Name to take away our Reproach Isa 4.1 London Printed by George Larkin at the lower End of Broadstreet next to London-Wall 1684. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Candid Reader TRue Religion and the Church of Christ are Twins they were conceived and born together and have grown up together in the World and I may say of them as of all the Sons of God in particular That they are born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh nor of the will of Man but of God John 1.13 They are only from God and for God and his revealed mind and will In his Word is the great prescribing Rule of both and the only Touch-stone for an unerring Tryal of the Truth of either All Pretentions of humane Wisdom Law and Authority must here vail their Bonnet for if these could justly claim a binding Power in matters of this Nature I know no Reason why the Great Turk hath not as strong Arguments for his Religion in all his Dominions as Christians have any where for theirs We find whatever Prerogative Secular Powers lay claim to that they are fully assured that Religion never takes place upon mens minds by their Authority only they must pretend to at least a Divine as we see The Turk must have his false Prophet Mahomet and his Mufti and the Ten-horned secular Beast must have his two-horned Ecclesiastical Brute So the Heathen Kingdoms and Pagan have always had their Diabolick Priests to influence the Minds and sham the Consciences of Men by the awe of some Divinity or supposed Divine Authority into a Reverend esteem of that Religion they designed to establish suitable to their own carnal designs and advantages Since the knowledge of the True God and the breaking forth of the light of the Gospel in the Kingdoms of the darkness of this world the Devills Mask hath bâ—en much removed he is found to be what he is His wiles and deceits whereby he hath so long imposed upon the minds of men are very much discovered in so much that it may be said of him in these latter days that he is fallen as lightning from heaven since the Reforming Angels mentioned Rev. 14. have been employed in the Wilderness the three Gospel flying Angels to bring in that glorious light and the two Sicle Angels that cut down the Harvest and Vintage the Thickâ—ts and shading poysonsome Antichristian Trees have been in a great measure in many places cut down yea Reformation hath been carried on to such degrees that the Angels have been seen having the seven last Plagues and those that have got the Victory ovcr the Beast over his Image and over his Mark and over the number of his name standing on the Sea of Glass having the Harps of God and singing the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb c. Yea the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony hath been open and I doubt not but the seven Vial-Angels are coming out of the Temple though Smoak fill it at present from the glory of God and his power In answer to the old enquiry Where was your Church according to Article 19. of the Church of England before Luther We say It hath been for above 1200 years in the Wilderness it was before that ever since the Apostles timâ—s under the Draconick Tyranny and Persecution till it fell under the Beast and False Prophet in the midst of Spiritual Egypt Sodom and Babylon out of which it hath been bringing under the conduct of the Angel that was with the Church in the Wilderness by several removes steps and degrees of Reformation sometimes too wofully lusting and turning back again But God will be a Refiners Fire to all the Sons of Levi he will throughly purge away all the Churches dross and take away all her Tin he will wash away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion and purge the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of Burning by his trying Providences and bright shining searching Light of the Gospel In order to the last I have presumed to cast in some fire from the Altar have run to and fro a little â—hat knowledge may encrease and â—hat many may be purified and made â—hite Reader what thou seest of â—arkness and ignorance of the Mind â—nd Will of Christ concerning a Subâ—â—ct of so great concern overlook it of but lend thy Light also as thou â—ast received from the Lord Jesus â—hrist and remember partiality is to â—e laid aside and who ever decreaâ—eth Christ must encrease If thou â—st no other Argument to resist the â—ght offerd then that the Cross attends â—ruth deny thy self and take up â—e Cross and Truth and follow â—â—rist this Life World is but for a â—tle while take heed of bâ—ggling â—th Conscience and sophisticating â— Word of God by shifting Glosses to make it serve thy own corrupt designs and ends the Word of God â— pure and consonant to it self Christ is and will make it manifest and confest at last notwithstanding all opposition that he is the only Lawgiver his Church he seeks such Woâ—shippers as shall serve him iâ— Spirit and in Truth he hates aâ— abhors all Whorish Babylonish Drâ—ses of his Worship and Ordinance Let Christ be found and embraceâ— his Church sought out in the place â—che Wilderness where it hath honourished Get true Union to Cbrâ— the Head becoming a Member of â— Mystical Body and maintain tâ— Gospel-communion of Saints â— none can harm you The noise that some men make â—e World of Schism and Separation â— nothing but some of Antichrists â—ust that he throws into the eyes of â—ose that he cannot quite blind for â—ere was never any Schism in the Mystical Body of Christ his Vesture â—as never divided and there was neâ—â—r any true constituted Gospel-Church â—t by Separation and as for Schism it concerns Visible Churches there none spoken of in the New Testaâ—ent but such as was found in a â—â—rticular Congregational Church and â—â—ey but superficial Divisions that â—re soon healed He that walks in â—e bond of peaceable communion with â— particular Gospel-Church of Christ â—ll never be hurt by all the Nick-â—â—mes of Schismatick or Dividing-â—eparatist that any of the Worshippers of the Beast or his Image or oâ— any carrying the mark or number oâ— his name can cast upon him It 's aâ— easy thing for men of corrupt minds tâ— call what they please by the name oâ— Church and then to stigmatize thâ— Servants of Christ in not holding communion with it by all reproachfâ— names of the Devils invention It â— the
18.1 ch 22.12 16 18. 2 Chr. 6.3 Ezra 2.64 And the whole Congregation together 42360 these more or less made up one Assembly these were Preached to by Ezra and whatever the number of the Nation was they were to meet all together in one place And so we have the word applyed to the Church in the New Testament that it alwayes signifies a Congregation that doth ordinarily meet together for their edification if it be meant of a Particular Church but if an Universal such a Church as shortly shall Assemble and always sit together in a lasting sinless and uninterrupted communion So that a true Church of Christ under whatever Notion you take it must be and is a Congregation of Saints visible invisible or both that do meet together in one place for the Worship of God in Christ and communion in one body 4. We infer that we have part of the differencing form in that Description viz. where the pure word is Preached and Sacraments duely Adminstred c. for it distinguisheth the true Church distinguisheth the true visible Churches from false and erroneous it distinguisheth a particular Church from the Catholick for there is no Church but a particular Congregation capable of having the word preached to it and Sacraments duely administred in one Congregation but a particular Church when the Catholick Church assembles there will be neither 5. We find not the least word in Old or New Testament of a Representative Congregation or Church-Representative the Congregation of the Jews was to be by a Personal Appearance of all the Males the Females were exempted upon Gods special Dispensation by reason of their unfitness for Travel as from circumcision by reason of incapacity But we find that every visible Church of Christ still appeared before the Lord personally for actual communion in Church Ordinances in that way and method that God appointed in his Respective Dispensations and we are fully assured there is no Representative Church of Christs institution either Councels or Synods or Presbyteries We read not of any Presbytery i. e. Association of Elders called the Church but the Church is always spoken of distinctly from them If there had been any Reason to have called any Eldership the Church there had been Reason to have called that so in the Apostolick Church which had so many famous Apostles Prophets and Evangelists in in it but they are named distinctly in that great Councel held at Jerusalem Act. 15.22 It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church 6. The Universal Church doth comprehend all the particular Congregations in all Ages and places being simular and co-ordinate parts of it of the visible Saints where by the Institution of Christ the Head all the Ordinances are placed and by his influence there is a supply of Graces and gifts for the Edification of his Body as likewise all Officers and Offices as appears Eph. 4.11 12. of which there were Extraordinary and Ordinary 7. The extraordinary Officers were instituted for an extraordinary Occasion viz. the first Plantation of the Gospel-churches They were Apostles Prophets Evangelists the call of these the works and Qualifications was extraordinary These continued no longer than the first Age of the Church 8. The Ordinary remaining Officers are no more than Presbyters which some make a little distinction of Pastors Teachers Ruling Elders but there is no need of multiplication of Titles and Offices where the work doth so much correspond and is of the same nature and Deacons the first sort to give themselves principally to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word and Government the latter to mind the matters of more external concern called Tables as the necessities of the Poor the providing Elements for Sacraments conveniencies for Church-assemblies and whatever is necessary upon such Occasions These Officers are no where found with a capacity to exert their Power as such but in particular Congregations tho' they be members of the Catholick Church they are not Catholick Officers Christ is now the only Catholick Officer being the Head of the whole Body 9. All the Officers of the gospel-Gospel-church were placed in the one Catholick Church primarily and immediately relating to Christ Mystical secondarily and mediately to the several visible militating parts thereof in particular Congregations and their Office-work was either for the planting and gathering in to them or for the edification of those gathered The Extraordinary had an extraordinary call furnished with an extraordinary measure of the Spirit as with an extraordinary Commission the Ordinary had not these but sufficient both of the Spirit and commission for answering Christs glorious ends and designs in building his Church in future Ages and gathering more 10. It appears that the true actual members of the visible Church are visible Saints and Believers none that were adult were ever counted so in the Gospel-sence but under-the Notion of the Profession of Faith and Practice of Holiness True Faith makes a man a true Member of the mystical Body of Christ but cannot instate a man in foro Ecclesiae in the rights of visible communion till it manifests it self with credibility unto those to whom the Preservation of these Rights and Priviledges are committed the actual Officers and Members of a visible Church The Rule that Christ hath given for knowing and judging of others is by their Fruits and if the Church be mistaken for want of Infallibility which the Apostles themselves came short in Simon Magus and Judas being not known to them but by the Discovery of overt Acts God chargeth them not culpably with it that being a Prerogative that Christ reserves to himself and none ever Pretended to it but the false Prophet the great Spiritual Usurper and it appears that our Saviour reserved this Diadem to himself in the Embrio of the Gospel-church by his Behaviour towards Judas admitting him to visible communion meerly upon an outward Profession though he knew his Heart leaving his Practice as an Example to his Ministers and Churches carrying himself as a visible Pastor and dealt with men in the case of receiving to or rejecting from communion according to the visibility of their Profession therefore leaving it as a standing Rule to his Church for future proceeding in this kind not that he esteemed Hypocrites any part of his mystical Body but yet the present Profession giving them by his own Rules a right to all External Priviledges and a Reputation nothing inferiour to others he speaks of them in some Phrases which to minds not throughly informed in the Truth create much difficulty as John 17.11 Holy Father keep through thy name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are i. e. all those that thou hast given me to be of my mystical Body that they may be united in Participation of the Divine Nature as we are one vers 12. While I was with them in the World as a visible Pastor among them I kept them in thy Name of those thou
this constitute a Church of Christ or a Synagogue of Satan what are all his Admidistrations but an Usurpation As to the efficacy of the Act done it s not my Province to determine here I shall onely say as to the matter of Baptism I roundly affirm That I believe it no more effectual than if a Cobler Tinker or Midwife had done it with some competent Solemnity Hence it evidently may be concluded That the Administration of Sacraments constitutes not a Church of Christ much less makes a Parish a Church But in the foremention'd instances the whole proceeding of Ministers and People are a meer usurpation of Communion in Church Ordinances and is no better then Jeroboams worshipping Dan and Bethel and Conformity thereto no better then the Israelites Conformity thereto in obedience to their lawful civil Governours in that which is a declared Abomination to the Lord. Obj. You do hereby Vnchurch many an eminent Church where there hath been a Faithful Parish Minister and holy good people walking as his Parishioners in Communion with him Ans We unchurch no true Church of Cbrist by this means for i◠one thing to say a thing is Church and that it 's occasional of a Church I deny not but many Ministers Parish-Relation and Peoples cohabitation have been ocasions of many Reforming Churches which Christ hath accepted in their degrees of Reformation but we affirm they were not Churches of Christ as such i. e. as Members of a Parish but as a faithul people related by a Spiritual Bond of Union to Christ and one to another in Communion of the Word purely Preached and Sacraments duely Administred CHAP. V. Of the Catholick Visible Church THose that speak of a Catholick Visible Church speak some at one rate and some at another If they mean that the Catholick Church is Visible in the largest sence as such we deny it for it is not visible to us nor can be till all the Elect are called in and so must be onely at the General Assembly and Church of the First-born for at present the most eminent part of it is triumphant many true Believers that are militant not seen or known to us And so to say the Catholick Church is Visible is to set our words and sences at variance By Catholick Visible some will say they mean not the whole Universal Church but so much of it as is visible but this cannot for that reason have the denomination of Catholick Church because it s but a very small part of it and part cannot be called the whole besides if it be limited to the Visible Saints militant I say the universality of them are never visible either in any congregation or in communion of any Ordinance or under any Visible Pastoral Jurisdiction neither are the particular Members of the Church militant visible at the same time there being no such time when all true Believers are known by their visible Profession Some understand by the Catholick Visible Church an Organized Church with a visible Pastoral Head and furnished with Officers suiting a Catholick Ruling Power over all Churches and Saints on Earth and this is the meaning alwayes of the Papists when they speak of the Catholick Church calling themselves Catholicks as Members of it which Church they say Rome is wherein this universal Pastor and Jurisdiction is placed But it is by a cloud of Witnesses asserted that Christ never Ordained any universal visible Pastor nor ever promoted Peter above the rest of the Apostles neither did ever the greatest contender for the Popes Headship and Supremacy over all other Pastors and Churches ever make seeming fair proof of it for though he sent sorth his Apostles as extraordinary Officers with an extraordinary presence for working Miracles and healing in order to the first propagating the Gospel and Plantation of Churches yet they had but a co-ordinate power neither were they fixed as standing and lasting Officers in the Church neither was their Apostolick power conveyed to any Successors but dyed with them leaving only ordinary Officers in the Church Lastly can you read the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 any where to import in the New Testament a Church of this nature viz. a Catholick Visible Organized Church Christ rather pofitively forbad it and reproved that spirit of Ambition that was one thing that our Saviour saw working in them labouring to be Dignitaries But he that will be chief among you let him be your Servant Mat. 20.17 23.11.10.24 25. Which Reprimand the Mother of Zebedee's children received when she enquired who should be greatest among her children There are six or seven sorts of Churches in the latter dayes that entitle themselves the Churches of Christ which the Gospel makes no mention of viz. Catholick Organized Visible such the Church of Rome Patriarchal National Provincial Diocesan Archdeconary Parochial These seem to be the seven women spoken of Isa 4.1 that shall take hold of one man The Lord Jesus Christ Saying we will eat our own bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach They will have the name of Christ that they may not be Reproached as the Churches of Antichrist and yet will be at their own provision for Worship and Ordinances by humane inventions But for all this tho' these whorish women make a shift by a common vogue to carry the name of the True Gospel Churches throughout the world his True Spouse though small and contemptible as to outward appearance shall be glorious ver 2. In that day the branch of the Lord shall be beautiful and glorious and the fruit of the earth shall be excellent and comely for them that are escaped of Israel ver 3. And it shall come to pass that he that is left in Zion in that great Apostacy and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem See what follows from ver 4. to the end This I take to be the true meaning of that place for 1. Women in the Prophetick phrase are Churches as frequent instances may be given 2. The number may be definite for an indefinite 3. The Prophecy is manifestly of the latter dayes and the Churches state therein which none will deny CHAP. VI. Of the most usual acceptation of the word Church in the New Testament WE have shewed that in one place the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is taken for any common Assembly lawful or unlawful Acts 19.32 39. and likewise that it 's once taken for a National Church Acts 7.38 But in all other places it 's either taken for the Universal Church of Christ or for particular Congregations and for no other sorts of Churches The Universal Church of Christ is one Organized Body Christ being the Head and all the Saints Triumphant and Militant the Members united together either by a real Bond visible or invisible or both This Church of Christ either is mentioned in
the New Testament in the most general consideration or more particularly referring to it in the mystical part of it or to the Visible Externally Organized parts of it which are the particular Churches I shall briefly go through the places of the New Testament where it 's used for the Readers satisfaction It is taken for the Body of Christ under the most general and comprehensive signification and so it 's to be understood of a Body consisting of Head and Members made up of visible and invisible real and professing only The places carrying it in this sence are Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock will I build my Church i. e. my whole Spiritual Fabrick shall be built upon that Person and Doctrine which thou hast born witness to in this Profession Ephes 1.22 23. Hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head over all things to his Church which is his Body the fullness of him that filleth all in all Col. 1.24 Who now rejoyce in my Sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the Afflictions of Christ mystical in my Flesh for his Bodies sake which is the Church Note that where the Church is called the Body of Christ it is meant of the Universal Church for the most part Eph. 3.10 To the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places might be made known by the Church the manifold Wisdom of God i. e. by the whole Church both militant and triumphant by the eminent Grace and Glory shinning forth in them even to the admiration of Angels even to see ver 9. The Fellowship of the Mystery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God c. And ver 21. Vnto him be Glory in the Church by Jesus Christ throughout all Ages world without end Ephes 5.25 He hath loved his Church and given himself for it ver 27. to make it a glorious Church 29. No man hateth his own flesh but nourisheth it and cherisheth it even as the Lord the Church i. e. the whole Church for we are Members of his body of his flesh and his bones ver 32. This is a great Mystery but I speak of Christ and his Church Heb. 12.23 To the General Assembly and Church of the first born which must be understood of the Universal Church in its purest and most glorious state both militant and triumphant to which every true Believer comes when he is united by Faith to Christ the Head 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there is the only word in the New Testament can be rendred Catholick Assembly 2. Church is taken in the New Testament for the visible part of the Catholick Church 1 Cor. 12.27 28. Ye are the Body of Christ and Members in particular and God hath set some in the Church first Apostles then Prophets c. In this and such like places Church is taken primarily for the Universal Church though there be many things applyed thereto which more immediately belong to the visible parts of it in particular simular Congregations and differing Members in respect of Office Grace or Gifts And so i 's to be understood in the place last quoted as also Eph. 4.11 12 13. a Parallel Place and such is Rom. 12.4 5 6 7. Lastly 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou may'st know how to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of God i. e. in a particular part of the Universal Church which is the pillar and ground of truth i. e. the Universal Church is the pillar and ground of Truth in the world to defend and maintain it and hold forth the light of it but every particular Church is a Candlestick to hold the Candle of the Gospel-Light and Profession and Ordinances among which Christ walks These are all the places so near as I can find which have reference to the Catholick Church where Ecclesia or Church is mentioned unless those that speak of Pauls Persecuting the Church which may be understood not only actual Persecuting the Particular Church of Jerusalem but of the whole Body of Christ because 1. that Church was all as yet Planted and 2. because Christ takes his rage and enmity to be levyed and managed against his mystical Body Acts 9. Saul Saul why Persecutest thou me The places are these 1 Cor. 15.9 Gal. 1.13 Phil. 3.6 Acts 8.3 CHAP. VII Of a Particular Church I come in the next place to shew what the word Church importeth in all other Texts of the New Testament were it is used not yet mentioned which is far the greater part And to make it evident that no other Church is by them intended then such an one which is described in the 19th Article of the Church of England viz. A Church is a Congregation of Faithful Men where the pure Word of God is Preached and the Sacraments duly Administred according to Gods holy Ordinances which can have no other understanding then that of a Particular Church I need not descant upon it it carryes so much plainness and correspondency to the genuine sence of a Church in all places of the Gospel where a particular Church is intended that there is no room for exception The first Text is Mat. 18.17 Tell the Church which is the particular Congregation of faithful men c. It s nonsence to suppose that a National or Provincial Church is here meant that upon every offence between brother and brother an address must be made to a Council Synod Archbishop or Bishop and where have we Counsels or Synods or Pastors called Churches in any place of the New Testament If any man preâ—end to object that our Saviour here â—ntended the Church of the Jews â—nd that to tell the Church was to tell the Sanhedrim Let such an one give one instance that the Sanhedrim is called the Church in Old or New Testament I am sure not in the New neither is it rational to suppose that our Saviour gave here Rules for the Oeconomy of the Jewish Church which was so soon after to be dissolved as to its whole constitution our Saviour never intending the erection of a National Church more 2. The next Texts are Acts 2.47 Of the Church of Jerusalem And the Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved This was without dispute a particular Congregation for there was as yet but that one which was that CXX which Christ left together at his Ascention This was the Congregation of the Faithful which was added to which is the same Church that was spoken of Acts 5.11 Fear fell upon all the Church or Congregation of the Faithful The first multiplying of Churches was occasioned by Sauls Persecution after the stoning of Stephen scattering a great part of this Congregation now grown too big for one Acts 8.1 3. There was a great Persecution against the Church which was at Jerusalem against this Church in particular Sauls Persecution was breathed which he mentions afterward 1 Cor. 15.9 Gal. 1.13 Phil.
gavest me that is the charge of as a visible Pastor and that I took upon their visible Profession I have lost none but the Son of Perdition So John 15.2 Every branch in me in the Church by a visible Profession that beareth not fruit he taketh away verse 6. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withered So 1 John 2.19 They went out from us as a visible Church but were not of us as part of the Catholick Body 11. Churches of Christ are and may be in Nations Provinces Diocesses Parishes though those limits of co-habitation are not so as such Jerusalem Corinth Antioch Ephesus Smyrna Coloss c. were not Churches as such though there was a Church or Churches in each of those Towns or Cities therefore we read of the Church in Corinth and when he speaks of Provinces or larger Tracts he saith the Churches of such a place in the plural number viz. Churches of Galatia Macedonia Judea c. and therefore the Language of the Spirit of God now if he spake as then would be to say The Churches of England France Spain and not the Church supposing all the Churches in such a Province or Nation to be Organized into one Body under one visible Pastor according to our corrupt Dialect and Understanding 12. Hence lastly it is manifest that however it came to pass that by the subtile insinuation of the Mystery of Iniquity several Antichristian Fabricks have had the Reputation of the Churches of Christ yet it appearing that they are nothing so indeed by Christs constitution They are justly separated from by all truely informed in the mind and will of Christ And that this Separation is so far from being any thing of Schism or culpable Separation that it is a high and Eminent Duty that all they that are growing up to the Stature of the Fulness of Christ should be ambitious of and they need not fear the Unchurching of them that Christ never made Churches CHAP. IX Of the Bond of Vnion in the Church 1. WE have shewed that the Church of Christ is of the Nature of a Body-corporate whether considered in its mystical â—r visible State and therefore must â—ave a Bond of Union there being â—o body Physical or Politick but â—ath some peculiar Bond that uâ—ites all the parts whether simuâ—r or dissimular into one Body â—e Integrum or whole being made â—p of all parts brought into muâ—al conjunction and communion â—y the said common Nexus which 〈◊〉 the Principle of the Life Office Motion and Action of each part in its due Respect to the whole 2. The Church of Christ coming under this twofold consideration of Catholick and Visible in particular Congregations and Polities we must look upon the Bond or Nexus to be agreeable to each consideration the Spirit of God having so adjusted it 3. Hence the Spirit of Christ is the real true fundamental and indissoluble Bond of Union in this Catholick Body between Christ and his Church and every part and member thereof in Heaven and in Earth in all Ages and Nations of the World so that this whether visible or invisible is all but one Body though as for the visible part in all Ages attended with various Manifestations Dispensations and Regiments according aâ— Christ in his infinite Wisdom waâ— pleased to carry on and reveal the Glory of his Gospel-mysteries in the World Three States of the Church for its Oeconomy hath appeared First In Families as it continued from the beginning of the world till the increase of Abrahams Family into a Nation and then arose by some steps to a National Typical Church by Christs own constitution furnished with a higher Degree of Glory then the former State and inferiour to what was to follow The third and last was of all most clear perfect and glorious which was the Gospel Establishment freed from Vails Types Figures Shadows both in respect of the true Doctrine leading to Life and Salvation the Sun of Righteousness shining forth in his full Brightness no way overshadowed and in respect of Worship and Order of his House wherein he excell'd all that Moses or any before him could do in right Ordinances and Statutes for the managing the Form and Regiment thereof 4. This Bond of Union is purely mystical and no more visible than the Vital or rather Animal Spirits that vivifies the whole man in uniting the Soul and Body together whereby every part conjoined is quickned and inabled to Act in its due place and kind this we say is the Spirit of Christ as it will appear from the express words of the Scripture 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man caâ— say Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Verse 4. Now there be diversitâ— of Gifts but the same Spirit Verse 5. And there are difference of Administrations under the Oâ— and New Testament but the same Lord and Head of the Church therefore the same Church Essential Verse 6. There are Diversities of Operations as in distinct Members which operate according to their particular Forms and Measures but it is the same God that worketh all in all i. e. God by the same Spirit Verse 7. To another Faith by the same Spirit to be understood of Faith of Miracles or more then ordinary measures of Saving Faith exerting it self in an eminent manner as Abrahams did in particular trying cases To another the gift of healing by the same Spirit he goes on to enumerate not only the extraordinary but ordinary gifts and graces of the Spirit those given forth in the Primitive Times and those that are since continued and saith vers 11. All these worketh that one and the self same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will and then he goes on to tell us that the Spirit doth not only diffuse it self throughout and influence all the Members from the Head with every Gift and Grace but that it ties all the Members together to Christ the Head and one to another vers 12. For as the Body i. e the Natural Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body i. e. Mystical vers 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles the Jews before Christs coming were baptized spiritually into this Mystical Body whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit i. e. all partakers of the operations and influences of one Spirit in Regeneration and Justification Now having shewed that the Spirit unites the many Members into one Body and is the common Nexus he goes on to shew from whence the diversity of parts in form shape use and office doth arise and the harmony and agreement yea the necessity of this variety in kinds and degrees for the good of the whole vers 14. For the
This Communion in the Holy Ghost runs through the whole Catholick Church in all Ages and Countries for where the common Bond of Union is this Communion must be 3. To make Communion in the Body compleat there must not only be this Participation in a common good by all the Members but a Communication of all good to each other mutually as they are capable and fellow-feeling with each other in all Sufferings The Spirit of Christ thus influencing all the Members appears and manifests it self in Graces and Gifts variously working towards this mutual fellowship of Parts both in good and evil of each other which are called the Operations of the Spirit as for Graces the Principal wherein the Catholick Communion doth consist are Faith and Love and by these they Communicate with Christ the Head receiving from him and making return to him as it were in a reciprocation as also a mutual communication to and with each other for Faith is the leading Grace of Communion for our present state by it we receive of the fulness of Christ for Justification and Sanctification John 1. and by Faith the Saints have communion one with another for as it is the foundation of the love of God in the heart so it is of our love to our Brethren believing them to be Justified in Christ Jesus and Members of his Body for Love founded on the Faith of the good estate of another is properly Charity the credibility of anothers Profession gives ground of Faith that he is what he professeth and this joyned with Love makes Charity wherefore the Apostle takes it in this sence when he saith Philemon 5. Hearing of thy Love and Faith which thou hast toward our Lord Jesus Christ and all Saints Moreover by Faith the Saints visible have a kind of Communion with those that went before and who are to come after it being the substance of things or persons in futurition hoped for and the evidence or demonstration of the Truth of things not seen i. e. removed from sence by timen parterition or place in absence so thereby we see the Saints and those Truths attested by them in Ages past 4. As for Love it 's not only the most eminent Grace of actual communion between Christ and his Members and of them with each other in the state that we are in here but it 's almost the only remaining when we go hence 1 Cor. 13.13 John treats much of the transcendent excellency of this Grace throughout his Epistle c. 1 John 4.11 If God so loved us we ought to love one another 12. If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is made perfect in us by this Grace we have communion with all Saints Militant and Triumphant 1 John 5.1 Every one that loveth him that is begot loveth him that is begotten of him 5. Now by Communion in these two Graces the Church grows up to its full perfection the Apostle saying Ephes 4.12 That the Ministry and Ministration is for the Building up of the Body of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agreement in all points of Faith and Profession of it and to the knowledge of the Son of God the Head to the perfect man to the measure of the Stature of the fullness of Christ Mystical filling up his Body and receiving influentially of his Fulness by Faith and v. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do grow more and more sincere in Love this Love shews it self in its fellow-feeling also that it works in us whereby we communicate in each others Sufferings and supply each others wants for the good of the whole this part of Communion is fully discoursed by the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.13 14 c. yea in the most part of the Chapter 6. Thus far Communion belongs to the Church under its Catholick consideration in its Mystical State there must be some external actions and things that are visible whereby the Communion of these Graces must be manifest in Ministry Offices Gifts Ordinances but all for and from the Spirit and these eminent Graces of Faith and Love 7. Communion then of particular Congregations must be by Christ's Ordination visible in those sacred Means and Ordinances appointed by Christ for its growth confirmation and building up in Grace and Truth God having made his Church in its visible state the Nursery of Grace and the Knowledge of the Truth Eph. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ i. e. in the militanting visible part 13. till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Verse 14. That we should be henceforth no more Children 8. The Edification of the Church being appointed by Christ in a way of Communion we are to consider 1. wherein this visible communion doth consist 2. what is the ground and end of it 3. where and between whom it is 1. Wherein doth it consist It doth consist first in participation of some common benefit and advantages which a particular Congregation are capable of and have frequent fellowship together in and these are Church-Gifts and Church-Ordinances Acts 2.42 They continued stedfast in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship in Breaking Bread and in Prayers and for this end hath Christ furnished his Church with Ministry and Ordinances Ephes 4. Ministry by erecting extraordinary and ordinary for the planting of his Church our Saviour thought meet to send them with extraordinary Commission and qualifications those that were such were especially Apostles Prophets Evangelists 1 Cor. 12.28 First Apostles secondarily Prophets Eph. 4.11 These were all to be Witnesses of the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus and confirm their Doctrine by Miracles had their inspiration of the Holy Ghost special Presence of God and power in the Churches wherever they came especially the Apostles 9. The Apostles were XII which waited upon our Lord during his Ministry on earth before his Sufferings Judas then falling from his Ministry when our Lord Ascended he left eleven to which Matthias was added by Lot and Election of the Church Act. 1. to these two more were added afterwards by special command of the Holy Ghost to the Prophets in the Church at Antioch Act. 13.1 2 3. compared with chap. 14.14 Which when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of and before that Ordination Barnabas was but a Prophet sent from the Church at Jerusalem to assist them that were there before as appears chap. 11.22 23. and chap. 13.1 10. The Prophets I apprehend to be such who were furnished with Gifts and Graces and extraordinary inspiration their Call and Commission being such for the calling of the Gentiles and gathering the Churches And I suppose them to be those Brethren of the 120 that waited together at Jerusalem till they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire being all equally with the
Apostles furnished with the gift of Tongues though secondary to them in their power for the dispensing the Gospel to all Nations and therefore upon the scattering the Church of Jerusalem after Stephens Persecution these Prophets mostly began the Churches of the Gentiles by their Ministry at first My Reasons for it are 1. That its evident all the Brethren as well as the Apostles were extraordinarily furnished for the Ministry Act. 2.4 They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other tongues c. Now this was for special ends that they were capacitated to speak to all Nations in their own Languages 2. We find upon Stevens Persecution Act. 8.1 that they were all scattered except the Apostles not the whole Church for we read often of that Church still but all the Brethren of the 120 were scattered throughout the Regions of Judea Samaria by whole means Churches of the Jews were gathered as it appears verse 14. and Acts 9.31 After God had taken off that great Informer Saul then had all the Churches rest throughout all Judea Galilee and Samaria Likewise we find that the Church of Antioch the first among the Gentiles that we read of was Planted by their Ministry see Acts 11.19 20 22. compare with ch 13. 1. More might be said on this point but I must keep to the present design only naming the several Offices 11 The third kind of extraordidary Officers were Evangelists such as Steven Phillip Luke Mark Timothy c. they were men no doubt extraordinarily qualified and were called Evangelists as being Assistants to the Apostles and travelled with them and sometimes alone as Philip It may be doubted whether the seven Deacons were of that 120 Brethren for they were men full of the Holy Ghost ch 6. 3. and afterward being pitched upon for eminent Service to the Church were called now Evangelists but being not of the number that were together at our Saviours Ascention and Pentecost and though their work might be the same with the Prophets yet their dignity was inferiour to the Apostles and Prophets as Eph. 4. Some Apostles some Prophets some Evangelists but we need not lay much stress now upon the differences of those Offices ceased those Officers especially Apostles and Prophets are irrecoverably ceased from the very nature of them for an Apostle it were requisite to be one who had seen the Lord and a Prophet according to what we endeavour to prove one of those that were baptized with the Ghost and Fire at Pentecost As for an Evangelist it 's most probable to remain if any because the work still remains necessary to the encrease of the Church viz. Preaching to Unconverted people and gathering of Churches tho' none can be expected since the Primitive Times with any more then ordinary qualifications which any stated Church-officer hath such Evangelists such Deacons cannot be had But to supply those Offices necessary now in the Church those that are to be mentioned are sufficient 12. The Ordinary Officers remaining in the Church now may be reduced to these two heads Elders and Deacons Elders for Ministry and Government Deacons to serve Tables to look after the necessary charges for the Ministry Ordinances Assemblies Poor c. I shall not enlarge here it being evident to every one acquainted with Scripture 13. The Ordinances of Ordinary Communion are Prayer Preaching the Word Sacraments Acts 2. Collections The Lords Supper is still spoken of as the most eminent Ordinance of Communion 1 Cor. 10.16 14. If we enquire for the ground and end of Communion in these Ordinances it is That this is the way appointed by Christ for the edifying his Body for the encrease of Faith and Love in the Members of Christ those Ordinances being designed indeed as to the Church for edification for it s not to be supposed that a Church-Member should be an unconverted person if a hypocrite creep in he hath nothing of true end and design of Communion So that by Communion the Body of Christ is nourished strengthened and perfected towards its fullness of stature in Christ 15. If it be enquired where Church Communion is and between what kind of persons I answer Church Communion in Ornances can be but in one particular Congregation at the same time where all may meet for edification in one place we read of no other in the Primitive Church tho some would have that of Jerusalem to be greater then so after the addition of 3000 but it s expresly said that they were all together in Fellowship and met together still before the dispersion Acts 2.42.44 also chap. 5.12 and other places but this great Church was scattered afterwards by Gods Providence ordering it for the great advantage of the Gospel and propagation of Churches 16. If it be inquired between whom Church-Communion is exercised The answer is easy It 's between particular Members that ordinarily have fellowship in the same particular Congregations as likewise between one particular Church and another all Churches comunicating in this that they are of the same universal Body have the same Head Bond of Union Graces Ordinances Priviledges as in the one intire Catholick Body as every individual person in fellowship is a Member in particular so every individual Church is a part of that Integrum compacted by that vvhich every joynt supplyeth Ephes 4.16 according to the effectual working in the measure of every part c. 17. Communion we have said as it stands in copartnership in some common good so in communication between Member and Member what of peculiar good is in any part is communicable to the rest or fellow-feeling of the Sufferings of each other As there is a common design carri'd on by every part for the good of the whole so by all parts for each other The Apostle tells us this at large 1 Cor. 12. Eph. 4. 18. The mutual communication that is visible in order to spiritual advantage stands in giving and receiving by the exercise of spiritual gifts and graces in the Word and Prayer by mutual advice and counsel by admonition and Church-censures where required by contributions to the wants and necessities of each other any way arising Spiritual or Temporal This Communion is practicable between Church and Church also not only by occasional participation in the Word and Ordinances with each other but in the matters before mentioned of advice and supply of each others wants In the former case we have the example of the Church of Antioch advising with the Church of Jerusalem in the latter that 1 Cor. 16.5 2 Cor. 9.3 4. Gal. 6.6 c. CHAP. XI The Conclusion BEing not minded to enlarge this discourse any further at this time I shall only lay down a few Corolary Assertions briefly to obviate some objections that may rise in some mens minds against what hath been spoken which we shall be ready to defend if occasion requires 1. That that only is a true constituted Church of Christ which is a house of Gods Building it 's not mans fancy or pretentions that renders any thing so 2. That a Christians actual Communion with any one true Visible Church of Christ makes him a Member in Communion with all the Churches of Christ though he doth not at present nor hath occasion to communicate with any Congregated Body besides what he is actually and immediately in Communion with 3. Hence barely Non-Communion as to immediate Participation in Ordinances with this or that Church doth not Unchurch them as some men phrase it i. e. condemn their standing neither is it any part of Schism or culpable Separation 4. There is a Separation that is absolutely necessary to every True Visible Church of Christ there can be none without it and it is the duty of True Churches and Members to practice it 5. This Separation is from the World Flesh and Devil and therefore from all the children of these and from all false Churches whatsoever 6. That all Antichristian Churches as well as absolutely Heathen are Idol-temples and therefore Communion with them is fellowship with Belial and his Idols 1 Cor. 6. 7. That Christ hath had his true Worshippers and Churches during the whole time of the Antichristian Reign and Rage but in a Wilderness especially as to Visible Form and Constitution yea trodden down by the Gentiles for the most part preserved notwithstanding by Christ in some times and places in its essential mystical state at least without any visible lustre in Externals as the Church of Old in Egypt and Babylon in other times and places he hath secured them in some retirements so far as to have opportunity to erect Tabernacles of true Gospel constitutions in form and fashion as he primitively appointed 8. And thus the true Churches of Christ hath stood during the time of the Womans militating in the Wilderness under its several Scatterings Deformations and Reformations under which God hath owned them all the dayes of their wanderings in the Wilderness 9. God hath had his degrees of Reformation and Purity of his Church especially during the last part of the Beasts Reign and that all such degrees have been progresses in Separation as to Purity of Ordinances and Worship till at last there shall be a perfect full and clear Redemption of Zion from all her Captivity in this Spiritual Egypt and Babylon 10. Schism is a thing talked more of then understood we only affirm this concerning it 1. That Separation from a manifestly false Church is no Schism 2. Non-communion with a suspected Church is no Schism but a duty 3. That all Schism spoken of in Scripture is actually and immediately in some particular Congregation being a Visible Politick Body and those there mentioned are not all amputations or rentings asunder most of them are but divisions in some matters of judgment and affection without a destruction of the whole as in the Church of Corinth though there may be some tendency thereunto 11. Manifest Corruptions in Worship persisted in especially if such as are taken up again after they have been abundantly witnessed against and purged out by former degrees of Reformation are to be separated from and witnessed against and such Churches as maintain them Yea such Separation is so far from a just charge of Schism that it is a necessary Duty of all those whose Minds and Consciences are informed in the truth of the Gospel FINIS
upon grounds more evident believed then any reasons brought to prove the contrary by that worthy person wherein he acknowledgeth himself almost singular in this undertaking and lays his first and greatest stress on that expression 1 Cor. 11.22 Here saith he I take the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Church to note not the Assembly but the place appointed for sacred duties and that from the opposition thereof to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own houses these are places proper for common and ordinary repast and not the Church or housâ— of God This is the only argument which he brings besides some obscure passages of some Fathers whose opinions will not sway here but as in other things so far as we see them consonant to the truth manifest in Scriptures compared together and it seems strange that the word should have a tropical meaning in this place and every where else a proper one and besides the reason from the opposition will not hold especially if we consider what Mr. Mede understands those Oratories or Churches of theirs to be It is not to be imagined that in the first three hundred years before Constantines time that they were such goodly and stately structures as the Church had after the Empire became Christian At the first some capable and convenient Room within the walls or dwelling of some pious Disciple dedicated by the religious bounty of the owner to the use of the Church and that usually an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upper room or Caenaculum It 's very probable that all the Disciples houses were at the service of the Churches but that any one house or room in a house was dedicated so to that religious use as to be separated for it from common uses when the Church met not is not probable at all for in times and places of Persecution if Churches meet in any certain house or place though in a private house they shall be sure to be interrupted and broken in upon by Persecuting Officers and Informers The only place met in for some time considerable that we read of was Pauls own hired house at Rome but we find not that it was consecrated or called a Church I am sure consecrated Barns Garrets Cellars or Dining Rooms would be esteemed by our devout Ecclesiasticks a great Abomination But how will the Opposition hold if the Room called the Church was in the same house they eat and drank ordinarily in He should have rather said Have ye not Kitchens or Parlours of common use to eat and drink in but you must despise or put a Prophanation on the Garret which is the Church of God Besides if that Addition had not been made to the Church I should much rather have enclined to Mr. Mâ—des sence if he had said only despise ye the Church But I take it that it would be a very audacious and highly abusive Expression to say Tâ—at a Meeting-house is a Church of God or a Church of Christ And why is not the Opposition as full thus Have you not houses to eat and drink in or Families for so the word is used But you must do it in the Church-Assemblies for they made their Love-feasts in their Assemblies It is evident enough that the Apostle takes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Assembling of the Church together as vers 18. where its used when you meet together in Assembly i. e. when you are Congregated together I hear that there have been Divisions or Schisms among you and those he means had the Divisions who were the Church for the Gospel ascribes culpable Schismes no where but to Body Politicks or Assemblies not to Houses But if we grant Mr. Mede all that he so industriously labours to squeeze out of the Text only to favour the Relative Holiness of such places it s not to be supposed that he intended that they were real and proper Churches but only Metonymical Churches by a Trope and improperly so named no otherwise allowable names putting the Continens pro contento to distinguish places allotted to convenient assembling in Religious Worship from Town-halls and other houses of meeting together for publick concerns or more private Society and Conversation And so we lose nothing by it if such a place be called improperly a Church it s not the Church of Christ intended in the Gospel which Christ purchased with his blood nor built of living stones nor such as Christ is the Head of nor such as Paul wrote his Epistles too nor the Church of Corinth which he exhorts rebukes and commends in the Epistles that he wrote And therefore we may with the greatest assurance conclude that no place where Religious Assemblies frequently use to be is a Church of Christ or may properly be so called They that plead the Expression in the Ephesian Town-Clerks Speech Act. 19.37 Ye have brought hither these which are neither Robbers of Churches Shew their little skill in the Original Text the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Robbers of Temples such as were dedicated to the Heathen Gods and Godesses to which they ascribed not only Relative but inherent Holiness and therefore adapted that name to them CHAP. III. Of a National and Provincial CHURCH CHrist never instituted any such Church under the Gospel Administration as a National and Provincial or Diocesan there is as much for one as for the other there 's no seeming pretence can be made for any of them from any Gospel Expression when I say this I mean not a Church in a Nation Province or Diocess nor all the particular Churches in such place collectively and co-ordinately considered But I mean in the usual acceptation of such Churches in our day as of France of Spain of Denmark c. and in the sence that a National Church was taken in under the Old Testament viz. an Organized National Provincial or Diocesan Church that have Officers or Members suited to their respective Natures and Constitution as Pastors and other Officers Exercising National Provincial or Diocesan Jurisdiction in Ecclesiastical Courts or elsewhere and Members quatenus Natives of such places being therefore said to be born within the Pale of the Church or by vertue of such Nativity have immediate right to baptism and made so I say that that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no where signifies such a Church in the New Testament except when there is mention made of the Church of the Jews and the word is but once used in Application to them Act. 7.38 This was he who was in the Church in the Wilderness this we own was a National Church but elsewhere in the New Testament I know not of one place where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can with any fair pretence be understood of a National Church Besides it may be argued from undeniable reasons that Christ instituted or intended not such a Church for the days of the Gospel If it be duely weighed that Christ by his Death put a full Period to the whole Jewish
as hath been shewed being his design mostly to shew the Beauty Glory and Mystery of Christ Mystical c. He directs his Epistle to Philippi Church of Philippi in the same manner and mentions the word Church but twice the first is where he speaks of his Zeal in Persecuting the Church i. e. of Jerusalem Philip. 3.6 and 4.15 where he saith No Church communicated with me as to giving and receiving but ye only So that the Saints at Philippi were the Church The Epistle to Coloss is directed to the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ who are at Coloss Church of Coloss chap. i 2. i. e. the Congregation of the faithful there where this Epistle was to be first read and then in the Church of Laodicea chap. 4.16 He mentions also the Church in the House of Nymphas every where else the word relates to the Catholick Church in this Epistle as hath been shewed The Apostle directs his second Epistle to the Thessalonians verse 1. To the Church of the Thessalonians Church of Thessalonica and such a Church as took their pattern from the Churches of God in Judea 1 Thess 2.14 and therefore he saith 2 Thess 1.4 We our selves glory in the Churches of God for their Patience and Faith in all our Persecutions The Epistle to Timothy speaks of particular Churches 1 Tim. 3.5 If a man know not how to rule his own House how shall he take care of the Church of God i. e. such a one as falls under a Pastoral care in a mans capacity of Government as a Family doth and 1 Tim. 5.16 Let not the Church be charged that is the particular Congregation where Church charges arise as the Context shews In the Epistle to Philemon he speaks of the Church in his House i. e. that did usually assemble there as indeed all the Church-Assemblies were in those times in private Houses and this is the third Church in a private Family that is expresly mentioned by Paul there was Aquila's Nymphas's and Philemon's The Epistle to the Hebrews hath the word Church but twice the first is chap. 2.12 I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Church I will sing Praise unto thee a place taken out of the Psalms where in the next and Primary Signification the Psalmist so far as he means himself it s to be understood of a particular Congregation where God is praised and so far as it s Prophetically applyed to Christ it s meant of the Catholick Church in the fore-going verse saying He that sanctifieth and who they are sanctified are all one for which sake he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying c. And chap. 12.23 He speaks expresly of the Catholick without dispute The Apostle James speaks of the Elders of a particular Church expresly James 5.14 So John's third Epistle verse 6 9 10. John in the Revelations makes mention of the Word in the singular and plural number no less then nineteen or twenty times and always to be understood of particular Churches I will only name the Texts that the Reader may inspect at his Leisure Revel 1.4 11 20. Chap. 2.1 7 8 12 17 18 23 29. Chap. 3.1 6 7 13 14 22. Chap. 22.16 I find the word Church used in the New Testament about 85 times in this sence viz. of a particular Congregation and cannot by any candid Reader be supposed to have any other meaning nor with the least shew of reason be understood of any Meeting-house National Provincial Diocesan or Parochial constitution but only of a Congregation of Saints by mutual consent ordinarily assembling together for Attendance on Christ in all his Ordinances CHAP. VIII Of the Inferences necessary from the Fore-going Chapter IT being discovered in what sences the word Church is taken in the New Testament it s an idle and vain thing for Christians to trouble and concern their heads and Consciences about humorsome conceipts and imaginations of mens brains managed for the most part to serve their carnal Interests or darken the Truth Let men give up themselves and Understandings impartially to the plain and genuine Sence and meaning of the Spirit of God without squeezing or wresting it to a design or prejudicate Opinion or favouring any beloved Lust and the truth of the Gospel would shine with full Evidence and Demonstration And therefore notwithstanding mens great swelling and words of Vanity from Pulpit and Press in matters of this nature we shall make bold to lay down these following Assertions as undeniable plain Conclusions from what hath been spoken 1. That the Gospel Church Established by our Lord Jesus Christ in the dayes of the New Testament is or can be no where understood of any other Church then the Catholick Church or particular Congregations of faithful men c. and that there is no one place that can have any fair pretence to be understood of any other constitution of Churches 2. That where-ever the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used it always signifies a Congregation or Assembly of men met together at least occasionally upon some civil spiritual or sinful Account and that we need not be beholding to any Tropical Sences or ungrounded supposal of things and meanings of Words so remote when in the plain and ordinary way of Understanding things present themselves to our Reasons and Senses If we be not blinded with Pride Passion Prejudice and Estrangement from the true way of Spiritual Understanding by comparing Scripture with Scripture and consonacy of things to the Analogy of Faith 3. We infer That a Congregation of faithful men is the generical material part of a Church because it comprehends all the matter that is ever found in any Gospel Church of any kind all fit matter for such a Congregation are such as are really so or visibly in foro mundi or both And also because there is no Church of Christ spoken of or mentioned in Old or New Testament but is so called under the Notion of being a Congregation to be sometime or other Assembled all together the Catholick Church is so under that Notion as being all gathered together actually and mystically in Christ and shall all appear one day in a glorious Congregation Heb. 12.22 23. Where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be understood as R. St. renders it Publicus conventus a general Publick Assembly likewise wherever the Spirit of God speaks of a Church of his own constituting it s always so The Old Testament Church was called so under that notion though National yet was required to be still Congregational all the Males being required thrice a year to appear before the Lord in a Visible Congregation at the Tabernacle therefore called the Tabernacle of the Congregation or at the Temple where it was in standing and it is so often called the Congregation of the children of Israel the Reader may turn to these places at leisure Exod. 16.2.10 Levit. 4.13 ch 14.2 20.1 22. Jos
Body is not one Member but many c. and vers 24. God hath tempered the Body together viz. with this diversity of Gifts of Parts of Knowledg For what end To make a Schism No but that the deficient parts should have the more honour verse 24. and not be trampled upon abused and exposed to shame and verse 25. That there should be no Schism in the Body but that the Members should have the same care one of another yea a sympathy and fellow-feeling should be established among all Parts verse 26. much less any hatred detestation and enmity betwixt them We argue then That which works all Gifts and Graces and knits together all the Members diversifyes all the Parts and brings them into an harmonious office and agreement for the good of the whole Mystical Body of Christ under the Old and New Testament is the Bond of Union of that Body but it appears the Spirit of Christ doth this Ergo it's the Catholick Bond. I might mention many other places I 'll only name two or three more Eph. 4.1 The Apostle exhorts to walk worthy of their vocation and mentioning many Christian Graces he tells them in the exercise of them they should keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Unity notwithstanding all diversities is the ground-work of all Uniformity among Christians There is one Body one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling c. and remarkable is Ephes 2. from the 13th verse to the end where he tells us that Christ having abolished in his Flesh all enmity between God and us and between Jews and Gentiles those that were a far off are made nigh he hath made in himself being the common Head of twain i. e. Jew and Gentile one new man i. e. Christ Mystical so making Peace c. see verse 17. and ver 18. For through him we both Jews and Gentiles have access by one Spirit unto the Father and then he goes on to tell them that they are no more Strangers c. but made a Spiritual Building upon the best Foundation fitly framed together growing up into an holy Temple in the Lord in whom also ye are builded together i. e. the whole Catholick Body for a habitation of God through the Spirit which is the great Cement of this Spiritual Building that unites all the parts together and every particular part to the Head 5. The eminent uniting Graces which are wrought by the Spirit is Faith and Love Faith to our Lord Jesus Christ and Love to one another Love indeed is the most extensive Union-Grace because it reacheth the whole Mystical Body both the Church Militant and Triumphant Faith is an Eminent Grace of unspeakable use to Saints but it 's only for their Militant State 1 Cor. 13. But by Love both Saints Militant and Triumphant dwell in God and God in them 1 John 4.7 16. And hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit verse 13. But whilst we are here Faith must be primum movens as to our Love we must see him some way or other that we love nay we must be made nigh reconciled in our minds and embrace him and this closing yea first tasting of Christ is by Faith hence the Gospel Ministry and Ministration Eph. 4.12 is for the building up the Body of Christ further and further till all that do belong to him do come verse 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the one-ness of Faith or full agreement in the Faith of Jesus to the knowledge of the Son of God the Head to a perfect man i. e. to make up the perfection of the Mystical Manhood of Christ as Paul speaks elsewhere of filling up in his Body the Sufferings of Christ that remain the calling in the Elect is the perfecting the Mystical Body of Christ that henceforth ye be no more Children c. But speaking the Truth in love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 truthing it away in love or walking sincerely in love doth grow up towards him or upon him in all things who is the Head even Christ verse 16. From whom i. e. from the indwelling of whose Spirit the whole Body is fitly articulated conjoyned and compacted together so the words signify by the supply of every Member receiving of the distributions of the Spirit for the particular Shape Use Dignity and Office of each part determined according to the effectual working 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Energy or in-operation viz. of the Spirit in every part We have also here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the same word Philip. 1.19 This shall turn to my Salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the influence or supply of the Spirit this influential supply is the cause of that excellency and beauty that appears in every part for the good of the whole 6. Having proved the Spirit of Christ to be the common Nexus or Bond of Union in the Mystical Body or Catholick Church it is not hard to evince a bond of Union also in every particular Church As the totum contains all the parts and the parts make up the whole So the Catholick Church contains all particular Churches and the same Bond that tyes the whole together tyes and limits each part but as the Catholick Church is yet Mystical and not Visible because its Bond of Union is such so when ever any part of this Church becomes visible there must be a manifestation and discovery as much as is possible of this Bond of the Spirit working by Faith and Love 7. For conveniency of edification Christ hath instituted several Congregations or Apartments in his Church with a power of choosing their own Officers and enjoyment of all Ordinances according to Christs Will and Appointment These particular Congregations must each of them as they are parts of the Catholick have a manifestation of the Bond of the Spirit uniting them to Christ and to his Body which manifestation is the visible form of a particular Church and Church Membership 8. This manifestation if it proceed so far as to be a Bond of Union in a particular Spiritual Body Politick it must be first A probable Profession of this inward Bond of the Spirit working by Faith and Love that the person or persons so professing may rationally according to the Rules of Charity be esteemed of the number of the Faithful which Professing Faithful Ones are the only matter of a Particular Church of Christ this is doing as Christians in the same manner as Paul did as a Minister 2 Cor. 4.2 Renouncing the hidden things of darkness c. by manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God but of this before viz. That the true matter of a Particular Visible Church is visible Saints 2. There must be something or other to determine a man a Member of this or that Congregation more
then another all men that speak of Churches say so As some say Baptism some say Cohabitation and that Baptism only unites him to the Catholick Church but Cohabitation determines him to this or that particular But we say it must be a voluntary and free submission of a mans self to this or that Society of Christs Flock and the Discipline thereof that can give him or be to him the form of Visible Church Membership it 's not â—ational or natural that any man â—hould be a Member or be capable to claim the priviledges of any Society in the world of what nature soever it be without his consent It 's therefore a free voluntary consent and agreement which is the true and proper external form of a particular Church or Church-Membership Profession is a visible qualification of the matter but it 's consent and agreement which is the Copula or Nexus For I challenge any man to give me one instance where Christ or his Apostles ever attempted to force any man to hear the Word much less to believe it when they heard it or to be of this or that Church Besides it 's a natural freedom to every man to choose what Government he will put himself under as to his temporal Concerns though when he hath done it he be bound by the Laws thereof much more a Christian Liberty in respect of Spiritual Regiment 3. God desires nor accepts of any forced Service but requires the greatest freedom and voluntary resignation of themselves in this kind 4. I shall make it evident that all the Primitive Churches were so gathered For the Apostles had no external force in any place of the Earth it was not by power or might i. e. humane but by the Spirit of God which wrought with the Word Preached whereby their hearts were brought with freeness to embrace it and with boldness to profess and practice it in the midst of all opposition and accordingly with the greatest chearfulness and alacrity to consent to a subjection to Christ and all his Precepts and Institutions in his Church See in the first most Apostolical Church the 120 that Christ left together at his Ascention Acts 1.14 And all these continued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. with one consent unanimously in Prayer c. Chap. 2.41 And as many as received the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chearfully or gladly yielded and submitted to the Truth Preached and advised by Peter these were baptized and added to the Church by the Apostles Doctrine and in Fellowship which they would not have done if they had not freely and upon choice and profession embraced it The first Church of the Gentiles that was gathered was at Antioch See how they came to be a Church Acts 11.19 20. And they that were scattered upon the Persecution that arose about Steven Travelled so far as Phenice c. verse 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians Preaching the Lord Jesus verse 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them The Spirit and Power of Christ and a great number beleived i. e. freely embraced the Truth and turned unto the Lord. Now when Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to aid and encourage this great work verse 23. When he came and had seen the Grace of God he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord that is that they would freely voluntarily and sincerely without any hypocrisy submit themselves to Christ and his Ordinances with manifestation of the fullest assent and freest consent that might be now you find vers 26. that they were immediately a Church upon this cleaving to the Lord with whom Paul and Barnabas assembled Preaching unto much people that attended their Ministry besides which were not yet of that gathered Church I need not enlarge on this Point any further the assertion being not only most agreeable to the best reason but it being so clear that this was the only way of Gathering Churches used by the Apostles and all their Coadjutors in the times of the Primitive Purity If any hath practiced otherwise since we are not obliged to be of their minds or follow their examples Corruptions of the Church proceeding from Antichrist and not from Christ This is the day wherein the Lord is washing away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion The Churches of Christ and is purging away the Blood The Antichristian Pollutions of Worship of Jerusalem from the midst of her by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of burning Isa 4.4 And all the seven women that have laid hold on the Skirt of Christ and called themselves by his name shall appear to be Harlots yea as for thee O Aholibah thus saith the Lord Thou hast walked in the way of thy Sister therefore I will give her Cup into thy hand thou shalt drink of thy Sisters Cup deep and large thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision Ezek. 23.31 32. It containeth much CHAP. X. Of Church-Communion 1. UNion according to its Nature Physical or Politick or Oecumenical naturally produceth a Communion suitable thereto that which we are about to speak of is of a Spiritual at least of an Ecclesiastical Nature we have shewn what is the primary Bond of Union in the Church of Christ that it is the Spirit of Christ that animates knits and tyes his whole Body together and that this is Mystical But exerting it self in vital motions and operations in all the Members it produceth a second Bond proper and necessary to the establishment of a particular Visible Church which is a manifestation of this Spirit in a credible Profession and free consent to the Regiment and Ordinances of Christ with a resignation of our selves thereto and this becomes the Bond of Church-Fellowship and the Foundation of an orderly Communion Communion is participation in one common benefit or its mutual Participation or Communication of good things by various subjects So Spiritual Communion is first a common participation in one general good or benefit of a Spiritual Nature and here where all the Members of Christ's Body partake of the same Head the same Spirit as their Unity consists in respect of connexion of Parts so their Communion consists in it in respect of Participation and this is the Communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 It s fully expressed as a Mystical Communion 1 John 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you may have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This Communion in the Spirit is set forth unto us at large in that forementioned place 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7 c. where he shews that all the Graces Gifts Members Operations Offices in the Body according to their several diversifications flow from the same Spirit all the streams take indifferently from the same Fountain