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
Institution seem necessary to be observed 1. That it be administred to the whole Church met together a 1 Cor. 11 20. in one place and not to particular Persons or to the Church in distinct parts it being an Ordinance of Communion of a Body of Christ b ib. 10.16 2. That it be not dispensed to Members that are not capable to discern the Lord's Body or to Examine themselves c 1 Cor. 11 28 29. 3. That each Element be distinctly blessed and apart by it self by calling upon God in Christ for a Blessing d 1 Cor. 11 24 25. 4. That after Consecration the Bread broken is to be delivered with the Words of Distribution directed to the whole Church e Mat. 26.26 27. at once and by them divided among themselves and not carried up and down from Party to Party or from Seat to seat After the pouring out the Wine and blessing it it ought to be dispensed with the words of distribution in like manner to the whole Church f Ibid. and not carried up and down as aforesaid which practises came from the Church of Rome and not from Christ or his Apostles 5. The Posture of Receiving is sitting g Mat. 26.20 as Christ and his Disciples not kneeling or standing because its a Feast and signifies our eating and drinking Spiritually with joy and gladness and though Prayer accompany it wherein may be Praying Gestures as in other Ordinances yet Giving and Receiving here is a distinct Ordinance from Prayer 6. The Pastor of the congregation h Mat. 26.26 is to administer and not the Pastor of another who hath no administring Power out of his own Congregation neither hath Christ ordained any Administrators General to his Churches For the Pastor also to take in a Partner in Administration is Will-Worship and Humane 7. When the Elements are blessed by the Church the People ought not to betake themselves to their secret Prayers as if the Table had not bin blessed already none doth so at their ordinary Festivals § 8. Christ hath not in either of these Seals precisely determined the quantity of either Element to be made use of neither what quantity of Bread and Wine each should take or how much Water should be used in Baptism for our eating and drinking in the Lord's Supper is not to satisfie our natural Hunger and Thirst a 1 Cor. 11 21 22. nor is the Washing with Water in Baptism to put away the outward filth of the flesh b 1 Pet. 3.21 But our Saviour having told us what is spiritually intended and signified it is sufficiently manifest that so much of each Element in both Seals as doth hold forth to us the thing signified is enough tho never so little for Christ hath not brought his Churches in the New Testament under a Mosaick Tutorship so as to bind them up to such quantities and qualities of externals in manner as he did the Church of Old § 9. The Administration of the Seals belongs not to any but Teaching Elders being most appropriate to the Pastoral Office to feed the Flock in this peculiar manner for Christ when a Pastor on Earth administred it and therefore other Pastors whom he substitutes when ascended ought to do it Hence no private Member may be occasionally called thereto by the Church if so it renders Christ's Office needless and precarious Nor no Pastor of another Church may for the Pastor to one Church is no Pastor to another nay he hath no power to Vote and therefore not so much as a private Brother to Administer CHAP. XII Of Admitting Church Members The Ends of the use of the Keys What they are How distinguished The Key of Knowledge Of Government How given to Peter Elders for the due Management but primarily given to the Church Women not to exert Ruling Power The Church with Elders useth the Keys Ministerially Admittances ought to be with Exactness with the giving a reason of their Hope and an account of their Knowledge Their Conversation to be enquired into The Manner of Receiving in The Person received gives up his Children He may not Desert He ought to bring his Children Of Occasional Communion and of receiving recommended or dismist Members § 1. HAVING spoken to the Seals of the New Covenant we come to speak to the other Ordinances of Special Communion which concern the use of the Keys in all matters of Church Government a 1 Cor. 12 28. they being Christ's and committed by him to every Visible Congregation to be used according to his Rules and Directions in his Name b 1 Cor. 5.4 and to his Glory The great ends of which Dispensation of his Headship in this kind are the due increase of his Churches c Isa 9.7 Acts 2. ult and their Peace d Psa 122.7 Heb. 7.2 Zach. 6.13 Joh. 20.21 26. 1 Pet. 1.2 5.14 and Purity e Rev. 2.1 18. Ezek. 43.10 11. Isa 5.2 § 2. The Keys are the Power of Christ a Isa 22.22 Rev. 3.7 which he hath given to every particular Congregation to open and shut it self by b Mat. 16.19 and to do all things that belong thereunto in order unto the said ends it being Christ's House c Heb. 3.6 holy Temple d Eph. 2.21 Garden e Cant. 4.12 Vineyard f Isa 5.1 Walled in Hedged and Enclosed § 3. The Keys of Christ are to be distinguished they are his Keys of Hell and Death or his Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven i. e. of the Church His Keys of Hell and Death are the Power by Conquest which he hath obtained over Sin Curse Natural Death and Satan himself a Rev. 1.18 1 Cor. 15.54 55. Mat. 28.20 Heb. 2.14 The Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven b Mat. 16.19 are they that he manageth his Visible Churches by and gives a power of opening and shutting a Visible Church by These Keys are that of Knowledge c Luke 11.52 and that of Discipline d Rev. 3.7 § 4. The Key of Knowledge is the Gospel Preached a Lu. 11.52 Mat. 10.7 2 Cor. 2 12 1 Cor. 16.9 the Spirit of Christ working inwardly to open the heart to receive it b Acts 16.14 in this respect this seems to be one of the Keys which our Lord gave to Peter in that he had the Honour of turning the first Key of Conversion after our Lord's Ascention both to Jews c Act. 2.41 and Gentiles d Act. 10.34 11.8 Eph. 3 4 5 6. § 5. The other Key given unto Peter is of Government and Discipline a Isa 9.6 neither of which Keys were given unto him as to a single Person or ruling Head of the Visible Churches neither that of Knowledge nor Government but unto the Church in him tho unto him with the other Apostles as the first Managers thereof their Names being put down in Christ's Charter granted to the Churches b Matt. 28
belong to this and not to other m Heb. 12.23 § 13. The Catholick Church is but one onely a Eph. 4.4.5 1 Cor. 12.12 and it cannot be visible as Catholick for the greatest part are not seen by us being Saints in Heaven b Eph. 1.10 3.15 Elect Infants and many not known by Profession and if Men apply Catholick to the Professors of Christianity living at the same time upon the Earth and call them the Catholick Visible Church it is a mistaken Appellation for they are neither a Visible Church nor Catholick Not a Visible Church because 1. Christ hath instituted none such 2. They are never seen in coetu or in a Congregation as a Visible Church is nor can be till the last Day c Mat. 13.41 3. Christ never gave Ordinances for such a Communion 4. All these are not under any visible bond of Confederation together which is the form of a Visible Church Profession is no Bond but a proper requisite only thereto 5. Christ never instituted such a Church Ministry but what were set in a particular Church and exercised in such The Apostles Christ's extraordinary Ministers were first set in the Church at Jerusalem d Eph. 4.11 1 Cor. 12.28 and were first Officers there and tho their Commission reached to the Planting and Governing other Churches that should succeed yet they exercised not their Ministry or Apostolick Power to any supposed Catholick Church Visible nor wrote to such but gathered particular Churches out of the World and in them settled a distinct Ministry and Ordinances peculiar to each wherein they exercised their own power as far as necessary for their Settlement and Edification Again there is no Catholick Visible Church for 1. If there be there is two Catholick Churches which is a contradiction and contrary to that Creed called the Apostles 2. All visible Professors if a Church cannot be Catholick because they are not all the Members of Christ on Earth and they that profess at large at least are not Members of Christ many if not most of them 3. It is not a Catholick Church because it 's not a Body-Corporate in any visible manner nor are capable of answering the ends of such in Government Order or Priviledges 4. If there be a Catholick visible Church it 's rational there should be a Catholick visible Pastor and from these Principles arose the Pope and the Papal Jurisdiction established throughout the professing World In the first Ages after Christ each particular Church called it self Catholick from the Profession of that Doctrine which was called the Catholick Faith because received by all the Churches Afterward the Word Catholick was applied to a supposed Universal Visible Church and became not only serviceable to the rising of the Mystery of Iniquity but a great Foundation of the Antichristian Fabrick which was afterward built thereon with all the Ecclesiastical Tyranny and Papal Superstitious Pomp imaginable The Protestants that have cast off the Universal Pastorship of one and will not endure a Catholick single Pastor do most of them retain the Notion of an Universal Visible Church as also of divers Catholick Pastors dividing that Catholocy which they will not allow the Pope among themselves each one exercising the Office and Power of a Catholick visible Pastor where-ever he comes having bin ordained by a Presbytery of a Catholick Constitution to a Catholick Pastorship to the Catholick Church To conclude Our best Protestants in opposition to the Papists have still denied the being of a Catholick Visible Church amongst whom was Famous Dr. Whitaker whose Arguments upon this Question against Duraeus are Quoted by Mr. Hooker in his Survey ch 15. p. 265. Our Savoy Confession allows the Name but denies the Nature Ch. 26. § 2. Institution of Churches § 6. for it saith it s not entrusted with the Administration of any Ordinances nor hath any Officers to Rule and Govern as such and what a kind of Visible Church is that that is neither the subject of Ordinances or Officers Mr. Hooker saith Church is the Genus of all particular Churches but a Visible Church in the generical consideration can no more be found existing out of individual particular Churches than a Man can be found existing under the generical consideration of Man out of individual Men. But that a totum aggregatum of all Churches in this World can be made and be a visible Church he denies upon Learned and convincing Reasons which will stand their Ground against all contradiction To whom for brevity sake we refer the Reader where also he evinceth that there 's no Catholick Visible Church considered as a totum Representativum i. e. as a Representative Church in all the Pastors that there cannot be a Catholick Visible Representative Church and that there is no such thing as a Representative Church of any kind of greater or lesser extent § 14. What the Scripture speaks of a Church is either of a Church in general and indefinitely belongs to any or of a Church in Specie either Catholick and invisible or particular and visible but saith nothing of a Catholick Visible CHAP. III. Of a Congregational Church in General Of Christ's Dispensation as Head A visible Church defined Revealed Worship exercis'd first in Families then in Instituted Churches The Foundation of visible Churches laid in Abraham's Covenant Two parts thereof The Church of Israel First Essential then Organized The difference between the Mosaical and Gospel Oeconomy The Church of Israel Congregational § 1. THE Lord Jesus Christ exerts his Headship not only by the more immediate Administration of his Spirit a 1 Cor. 2.11 12. 12.4 7.13 Eph. 4.3 7. internally in the hearts of his People whereby he constitutes his Mystical and Catholick Body but also as the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession b Heb. 3.1.2 6. by external Means of Grace Constituting and Ordaining particular visible Churches and in them Ministry and Ordinances suited to the State and respective Ages of the World c Heb. 9.1.8.10 Deut. 29.1 for the filling up and edification of his Mystical Body d Eph. 4.12 13. and blesseth such accordingly to his great Glory and good of his Chosen e Eph. 3.21 Ps 106.45 Exo. 20.24 Deut. 4.8 § 2. A Visible Church is a Particular Assembly of Professing Believers a 1 Cor. 1.2 visibly embodied in Christ b 1 Cor. 12.27 for a stated and holy Communion c Act 9.31 in one place d 1 Cor. 11 20. with God and one another in all instituted Ordinances e Act 2.42 appertaining to themselves and their immediate seed f Act. 2.39 Isa 61.9 65.23 Eph. 6.4 for God's Glory in Christ g Eph. 3.21 and their mutual Edification h 1 Cor. 14 5.12.26 § 3. God's External Worship by Revealed Religion was first celebrated in Adam's Family a Gen. 4.3 4. and continued in the Families of the Faithful till the time of Abraham
were to snatch the Sinner as a firebrand out of the fire waiting for a well-grounded and tried evidence of his unfeigned Repentance under the Censure the first and great End whereof is the Sinners Salvation not his Destruction c 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 10.8 1 Cor. 5.5 § 12. In case of Sins not so notorious and more privately committed the Churches proceeding must be more gradual by all endeavours in the spirit of meekness to restore such an one to Repentance a Matt. 18 15 16 17 which being obtained there 's no occasion for further proceeding as to Censure § 13. And here Admonition is of great use which is an holy tender and wise Endeavour to convince the offending Party of matter of fact and of the sin of it with the aggravating circumstances attending as also to lead him to his Duty thereupon charging it upon his Conscience in the sight of God with due application of the Word of God which concerns his condition And this belongs not to the Elders in the first and second degrees of proceeding in this Case but to all private Members in their places as matters may concern them and are known unto them more or less a 1 Thes 5.12 Rom. 15.14 2 Thes 5.14 Gal. 6.1 2 Tim. 9.25 Heb. 12.15 § 14. There are three degrees of Admonition a Matt. 18 first by a single Brother or Sister that is first acquainted with the Sin committed The second is upon the non-Repentance of the offending Party whereupon the first Admonisher takes to him one or two more and admonisheth the offender the second time which Admonition taking no effect the Church is to be acquainted with the offence And the Church by the Elders gives a third Admonition which if the Sinner receives not but continues impenitent the Church proceeds to Censure b Ibid. v. 15 16 17. unless the Church see reason to wait longer And it follows from hence 1. That every Church Member tho of private capacity only has somewhat to do in his place as well as the Elders c Heb. 12.15 2. That in case of private offences it is preposterous to publish them or acquaint the Elders therewith before the two lower degrees of Admonition are duely proceeded in and not heard by the Offender 3. That when Matters come to the Elders Ears all private proceedings cease and all things are to be laid before the Church 4. When matters come before the Church the Offendor rejecting the first and second Publick Admonition at most is to be judged incorrigible d Titus 3.10 11. § 15. This great Censure is to be proceeded to in this manner the Question is put by an Elder Whether the Church adjudge the person offending all due means having bin used according to the Rules of Christ to be guilty of matter of fact as charged and remain incorrigible Which being answered in the Affirmative the Judgment is fallen into the Pastor's or Elder 's hand as after the Verdict of a Jury into the hands of the Judge and accordingly he goes on to pass Sentence as the Duty of his place requires And first with much Solemnity after he hath laid open the Sin with several aggravations he shews likewise the Awful Nature of this great Censure and the main End thereof for the Salvation and not the Destruction of the Sinner and accordingly calls upon God for his gracious Presence and Blessing upon this Sacred Ordinance that the great end thereof may be obtained still expressing the deep sence the Church hath of the Fall of this Brother with great Humiliation of the Church with remorse for the Sin thus committed and persisted in Lastly In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ before the Congregation whether the offending Brother be present or withdrawn the Elder cuts off and secludes such an one by Name from the Union and Communion of the Church declaring the said Exclusion carries in it the sense of our Saviour See Mat. 18.17 c. 1 Cor. 5.4 5 6. 2 Thes 3.14 1 Tim. 1.10 in saying He shall be as an Heathen Man and a Publican and the full sense of the Apostle's Charge to the Corinthians to deliver up such an one to Satan c. Which is no more than the putting him out of Communion of the Church the Kingdom of Heaven into the World the Kingdom of Satan for the humbling and breaking of him in the sight and sense of his sins which is all that 's meant by the destruction of the flesh § 16 A Member thus judicially cast out may through the Grace of God blessing this Ordinance be brought to a great sight of his Sin and remorse for it with great longing desires to return to the Communion of the Church again In this Case Christ's Keys are to be used to open the Door and receive the excluded Party into the Church again For after a full proof of the truth of the Sinner's Repentance he is brought by the Elders to make his Publick and Solemn Manifestation of his deep Remorse c. Which acknowledgment being received by the Church with satisfaction and tender compassion towards him he is by an Elder absolved from the aforesaid Censure See Mat. 16.19 18.18 and re-admitted into full Communion with the great joy of the Congregation and Expressions of thankfulness unto God Thus he that was bound is now loosed § 17. Besides this direct way of proceeding against an offending Member there is another much of the like nature which we call indirect because the Church puts not the Party out of its Communion before the Party hath secluded himself and not by any regular way but indirectly and contrary to all Rules of Order For it is when a Church-Member by reason of some offence taken at the Church or some Member thereof not discharging his own Duty withdraws himself and separates from the Communion of the Church A Person having thus Excommunicated himself as it were the Church ought to consider what is their Duty and though a particular Member or more hath usurped to himself the power of the Keys See Rom. 16.17 2 Thes 3.6 the Church ought not to acquiesce therein but maintain that Power which Christ hath committed to it and tho it cannot hinder the inordinateness of a Brother's unruly Passions and ungovernable Temper when God leaves him to it but that he will run away from the Church rend himself off breaking all Order and Covenant Obligations in opposition to all fraternal endeavours to stay him in the place that Christ hath set him in the Church is bound to shew and assert the power of Christ which he hath entrusted it with and judicially shut the Door and turn the Key upon so sinful and disorderly a Departer from them declaring that he having sinfully departed from the Communion of that Congregation he is no longer under its Care and Watch and is not to return to the Communion of the Church as before
particular Congregation d Act. 2.41 § 7. The end of Church-Union is Communion which is with Christ the Head and one another a 1 Joh. 1.3 This is in the Spirit b Phil. 2.1 and belongs to the whole Catholick Body or it is expressed by a visible communion in the Ordinances administred in particular Bodies and is the Communion of particular Churches c Act. 2.43 1 Cor. 10.16 § 8 According therefore to the Dispensation of the Fulness of Christs Headship a Joh. 1.16 Eph. 1.19 3.7 Col. 1.19 20. internally and mystically by his Spirit b John 14.26 16.13 14 15. or externally and ministerially as the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession c Heb. 3.1 8.6 10.1 12.23 Eph. 4.12 The Church and Body of Christ hath its standing mystical and invisible or instituted and visible § 9. The Catholick Church is the Mystical Body of Christ made up of all saved ones Militant and Triumphant a Heb. 12.23 24. Eph. 3.15 united together in one Spirit b 1 Cor. 6.17 for communion therein accordingly c Phil. 2.1 Or It is all the Company of saved ones Militant and Triumphant embodied in Christ Jesus d Ro. 12.5 1 Cor. 12.12 It is called the Mystical Body from that hidden standing which it hath in Christ e Col. 3.3 1 Pet. 3.4 Psal 83.3 every Member being undiscernably as to Men united to Christ and one another f 1 Cor. 12 13. Eph. 4.3 and have communion in the Mystery of God of the Father and of Christ they all eat and drink the same spiritual Meat and Drink g 1 Cor. 10 3 4. whence the matter and form of this Body being not infallibly known to any on Earth h 2 Tim. 2.19 either the particular Members Militant or Triumphant or their bond of Union or their Heavenly communion in the Spirit this Church is fitly called the Mystical Body of Christ to distinguish it from all other considerations of a Church and hence it hath these distinguishing Properties 1. Invisibility as to Men a Heb. 12.22 23. 2. Universality as containing all saved ones on Earth and in Heaven b Eph. 1.10 3.15 3. Perpetuity as to particular Members union and communion their Names being all written in Heaven c Heb. 12.22 23. Luk. 10.20 § 10. The Catholick Union is that whereby a person being cut off from his corrupt standing in the old Adam a Ro. 11.24 he is created b Eph. 2.10 and implanted in Christ Jesus c Ro. 11.24 for righteousness and life d 1 Cor. 1.30 Eph. 4.24 personally restipulating by Faith to the Covenant of Grace made in Christ Jesus e Gal. 3.22 26.29 such an one becomes vitally f Gal. 2.20 conjugally and federally united to Christ the Head g Eph. 4.23 5.23 Jer. 31.33 32.40 Rom. 12.5 and therefore consequentially and really is a Member of the whole Body of Christ and of every part being so united to the Head h Eph. 1.23 § 11. Catholick Communion of Saints is that which is also invisible a Phil. 2.1 and is not only of the Saints Militant one with another but of the Militant and Triumphant in one body b Heb. 12.22 23. and consists in a coparticipation of the fulness of the Grace of God in Christ c Joh. 1.16 being all Elected Redeemed and Sanctified in him d Eph. 1.4 5 6. gradually here e Phi. 3.13 and perfectly conformed to him hereafter f Heb. 12.23 all partakers of the same Spirit in the measure of each one g 1 Cor. 12 4.11 blessed with the same spiritual Blessings for kind h Eph. 1.3 growing up under the same means of Grace for substance i Eph. 4.15 As likewise it consists in the exercise of the same Faith towards the Lord Jesus Christ and Love towards one another k Eph. 6.23 2 Cor. 4.13 1 Joh. 4.7 11 12 2 Tim. 1 13 Coloss 2.2 with all the fruits of both as the matter may require whereby there is always a mutual Heart-Communion at least between all the Saints on Earth l Col. 1.4 and they are come to an actual Communion as well as Union with the glorified Spirits of Just Men made Perfect m Heb. 12.22 c. according to their respective degrees of attainment n Ro. 12.3 more or less whereby they arrive at last in due season to such a determined degree of Sanctity which is their prepared fitness and stature in Christ for the inheritance of the Saints in Light o Col. 1.12 Eph. 4.13 being changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory by the Spirit of the Lord p 2 Cor. 3.18 § 12. The Catholick Church as such is not the subject of Officers or Ordinances nor it being not visible can be Christ never instituted any Officers whose Power was of an universal extent except the Apostles and them only in visible Churches nor any Ordinances for a Catholick visible Communion in which all the Saints living in the same Age were to assemble and meet together a 1 Cor. 11 20. for the visibility of a Church is always in some Assembly But the Catholick Church tho it be not as hath been said hath many things peculiar to it wherein it hath its preheminence above all visible Churches In that therein the Administration of Grace and Dispensation of the Rule and Government of Christ is immediately by his Spirit b 2 Cor. 3.3.8 Gal. 5.25 Eph. 3.16 Gal. 6.18 2 Tim. 4.22 1 Pet. 1.2.22 1 Joh. 3.24 2. In that there are many saved ones in this Church that were never Members of any visible Church c 1 Pet. 1.1 3. That all the saved ones of any visible Church belong to this Church d Rev. 13.8 Heb. 12.27 4. That the Institution of visible Churches and Ordinances is for the sake of this Church e Eph. 4.11 12. 5. All adult Persons that are admitted to Membership in a particular visible Church ought to be such as are supposed by their Profession to be Members of this Mystical Body f 1 Thes 1.1 2 ep 2.1 Col. 1.2 6. That of all Churches this shall never be dissolved or one person lost out of it g Mat. 16.18 Psalm 125.1 John 10.28 29. 7. That as this Church is sometimes preserved and fed without instituted Ministry and Ordinances as the Jewish Church in Babylon and the Gospel-Church in the spiritual Babylonish Wilderness h Rev. 12.6 so it shall be most Glorious without them when it hath arrived at its perfect fulness i Rev. 19.8 9. 8. There is no false or superfluous Member in this Church tho many in others some it may be in the best k Eph. 5.27 Col. 1.21 22. Rev. 14.4 9. Death separates from other Churches but not from this l Rom. 8.35 38. 10. The Glorified Saints