any have received the more humble and diligent they should be for where much is given much will also be required 7. In the Body Nourishment is conveyed unto the parts and the whole is hereby sustained The body of Christ also by joints and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2. 19. The Church of Christ has food to eat which the world knows not of it has spiritual senses a spiritual appetite and its food is spiritual The word of God is compared to food here is milk for Babes and stronger meat for more grown Saints No food so profitable and nourishing no food so pleasant no food so necessary Heark to the profession of Job chap. 23. 12. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food David cries out How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter than hony to my mouth Psal 119. 103. And the Prophet speaks to the same purpose Jer. 15. 16. Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart The body of Christ is nourished by his Word and other Ordinances are appointed for the increase of this body A famine of this word deserves to be dreaded as a very sore judgment The better the food if it be well digested the better the chyle and the purer the blood and the body will be more prosperous and healthy the more purely and sincerely the word of God is dispensed the members of Christ will become stronger and the inward man be the more renewed day by day As Christ gives his word so he vouchsafes himself to be food to his members His flesh is meat indeed his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. And by this they are nourished unto that life which is eternal It might also be added that Christ is the cloathing as well as the nourishment of his Body his Righteousness is the Robe which covers their guilt and nakedness his Grace beautifies and adorns his Saints therefore they are bid to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 14. 8. In the Body the Members and parts are operative and active for the good of the whole in the Church there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 effectual working in the measure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phot. of every part that the whole may be increased The new Nature which is in sincere believers inclines them unto action suitable to that nature sloth is exceedingly opposite unto Religion God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him to seek him negligently is indeed to neglect him The members of Christ are industriously to do their duty towards their Father and their Head and likewise towards one another hence it is that we read of the labour of love which the Apostle requires and encourages Heb. 6. 10 11 12. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which you have shewed towards his Name in that you have ministred to the Saints and do minister and we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises The members of Christs Church are to be active but in their place and calling for if they act irregularly that action will be against the Body and to its prejudice not to its edification Every part has its place and that place it must keep and not aspire higher without a call and that measure of grace which it has received it must faithfully exercise with a regard to the Churches good as well as its own 9. The whole Body and all its members are animated by one Soul and the Church with all its true members are animated by one and the same Spirit We read Eph. 4. 4. There is one body and one Spirit and again 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit The same Spirit which is in the Head is in all the members which are joyned to him And the Apostle sticks not to say If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. All that light which the members of Christ have is from the Spirit he has caused a marvellous light to shine into their hearts which before were under the power of darkness he likewise is the worker of that liberty and ability which they have unto what is good whereas before they had a freedom but it was only to evil continually These members of Christ are all changed into his image which is their glory but the beginning of that change and the progress of it unto greater glory is from and by the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirits of the Lord. The Spirit dwells in all true believers and Christ has promised that he shall abide in them for over Joh. 14. 16 17. Soul and Body indeed may be separated but the Spirit and the Saint shall not The very bodies of believers are affirmed to be the Temples of the Spirit where he dwells and abides 1 Cor. 6. 19. What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which you have of God and ye are not your own And if the body be his Temple surely the Heart and Soul should be as it were the sanctum sanctorum the holyest of all fill'd with light and grace that it may be also fill'd with peace and joy 10. The Body is under the Souls conduct and command the Church is conducted and ruled by the Spirit of Christ The eyes do see the ears hear the hands work the feet move according to the Souls will and pleasure and as it has despoticum imperium the command and government of the members so it acts them and their operations are from the Souls presence for if the Soul were gone the body would immediately become a clod of Earth and the members be deprived of all strength and motion The Spirit of Christ commands and acts his Members he makes them to see the invisible God and that world which is invisible he makes them hear the voice of Christ so as to obey his call he makes the hands holy having first purified the heart and employes them in working Righteousness He turns the feet into the way of Gods testimonies and strengthens believers so as that they run and are not weary they walk without fainting A Christians conversation is styled a walking in the Spirit Gal. 5. 16. This I say then walk in the Spirit in his
Member is under the Head's care and shall at last be fully happy in and with Christ Jesus To be a Door-keeper in the House of God was look'd upon as an honour and Priviledg by a King of Israel Psal 84. 10. The least degree of true Grace is more worth than all the Gold and Silver that God has made Saints are to be blamed when discontented because they are not of the highest rank for all Saints are Children all are Heirs all are first-born therefore the Church is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Church of the first-born Heb. 12. 23. nay they are all even the meanest of them advanced to Kingly Dignity Rev. 1. 5 6. To him that hath loved us and washed us from our sins in his own blood and hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever 3. Let the Members of the Church be sensible of the need they stand in one of another How much are the higher Members of the Body beholding to the Feet which are the lowest of all the Body could not go without them but only lame and a Cripple God has ordered it so in his Church that as the Members are to have their main and principal dependance upon Christ their Head so they are to have some kind of dependance upon one another and the reason is that those two excellent Graces of Humility and Love may flourish among them Though the Hand by the Philosopher be fitly stiled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the most useful Member yet it cannot do every thing It cannot see like the Eye nor speak like the Tongue and if a man should attempt to go upon his Hands he would walk after a sorry and odd fashion The strongest Saints nay the ablest Ministers are beholding to the meanest Believers the stronger are encouraged when the meaner do their Duty A word sometimes from a weak Christian may be much to the edification of a Christian more grown The Apostle says he lived if the Thessalonians stood fast in the Lord 1 Thes 3. 1. And a beggar could not beg more heartily for an Alms than he did for the Prayers of the Saints at Rome Rom. 15. 30. Now I beseech you Brethren for the Lord Jesus Christs sake and the love of the Spirit that you strive together with me in your Prayers to God for me 4. Let the Members of the Church have the same care one of another that they have of themselves 1 Cor. 12. 25. In the natural body it is thus if the Face be struck at the Arm endeavours to ward off the blow if the Body be in danger in one place the feet are ready to carry it to a place of greater strength and safety Christians should be concerned for their fellow Christians as for their fellow Members and mind that of the Apostle more 1 Cor. 10. 24. Let no man seek his own that is his own only but every man anothers wealth 5. Let the members of the Church sympathize with suffering members We are commanded to weep with those that weep Rom. 12. 15. The sorrows of afflicted Christians should be ours and we should feel their burthens 'T is the glass eye that sheds no tears 't is the wooden Arm and Leg that feels nothing Every Member of Christ should be full of Bowels The Injunction is plain Remember them that are in bonds as bound with them and them which suffer adversity as being your selves also in the body Those were upbraided and threatned severely for their carnal security and hardness of heart who were at ease when Zion was in trouble and were not at all grieved for the Afflictions of Joseph Amos 6. 6. 6. Let the members of the Church be concerned about such fellow members that are sinfully distempered If any part of the body natural aile any thing all the other parts are ready to afford the utmost relief and assistance they are able And why should Christians be careless of Christians as if they were of Cains temper who said Am I my Brothers keeper If a beast be fallen we pity him and are ready to help unto the lifting him up again and should not a member of Christ who has fallen into sin and hurt himself so much by his fall move our compassions We are indeed carefully to avoid infection by those that are lapsed yet 't is our duty to restore them in the Spirit of meekness considering our selves lest we also be tempted Gal. 6. 1. 7. If one member of the Church be honoured all the members should rejoice with it Is the hand envious at the eyes quickness or the ear envious at the hands activity Envy is as unreasonable in the body mystical as in the body natural We ought to rejoice in the gifts of others and in their graces and in their usefulness else the Spirit of God who has given these gifts and graces and has made them thus useful will be grieved and we shall hinder our selves of that profit which we our selves might reap from them 8. Let there be no discord among the members of the Church but they should perfectly agree together By that Apologue concerning the unreasonableness of the Members falling out with the Body Menenius Agrippa did put an end to a contention that was likely to prove fatal between the Roman Senate and the common people How unreasonable would it be that the hand should envy the eyes and endeavour to put them out that the feet should take it amiss that they are lowermost and should fall a kicking all the parts which are within their reach Discord among Saints is such a kind of unnatural and foolish contention If Abraham the Father of the faithful said unto Lot Let there be no strife between Me and Thee for we be Brethren Gen. 13. 8. surely Christians à fortiori may argue with one another Let there be no strife among us for we are Members 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 12. 5. USE III. Let the World take heed how they deal with the Church which is the Body of Christ 'T is Luthers observation That if any part of the Body be hurt and pained the signs of feeling appear in the Head the Brows are contracted the Tongue cryes Oh! the Visage is altered Christ the Head knowes all the sorrows of his Church nay in all her Afflictions he is afflicted When Saul made havock of the Body on Earth the Head in Heaven cryes out as having felt his fury Saul Saul why persecutest thou me Act. 9. 4. Let the world be wise and the highest and greatest in it for whatsoever injuries are done to Christians for Christs sake he accounts them as done to himself in hurting his Body they strike him there where he is most tender most sensible and such blows without Repentance will be dreadfully revenged Christ who is the Churches Head is to be the Worlds Judge and if when the Lord comes with ten thousands of his Saints hard speeches
is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. USE III. Of Advice unto the Church of Christ and all her true Members 1. Let their imperfection keep them humble There is not a Soul without a stain nor a Grace without a mixture nor a Duty without a failing nor a Saint without some sin remaining All therefore nay the very best of all have reason to be low in their own eyes The more humble we are the more our hearts are suited to our present imperfect state and the more of Gods reviving Presence notwithstanding our imperfection will be vouchsafed For thus saith the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 2. Let the Churches Members hunger and thirst after a greater measure of righteousness Those that to do so are blessed for they shall be filled sayes he in whom all Fulness dwells Mat. 5. 6. This is an hunger truly sacred that never ends in starving but in satisfaction We should long more for the Waters of Life the Soul should thirst more vehemently for the living God desiring to behold his glory and to be changed more fully into his glorious Image Such kind of desires widen the Souls capacity and make it meet for a larger participation both of Grace and comfort 3. Let the Church believe and long for that enlargement and glory that is promised in the latter dayes but especially to be translated unto those Mansions above which her Head is gone to prepare for her Let her long that her Warfare may be well accomplished her course faithfully finished and the Crown of Life and Righteousness received And to this end let all her Members tear the Air and pierce the Heavens with their cryes Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22. 20. Thus of the Second Proposition That the Body of Christ is imperfect in this World and therefore continually should be encreasing Proposit III. The Third Proposition follows That the Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Before the Apostle had used the Metaphor of a Body now he uses another Metaphor of an Edifice or Building The Church is to edify it self but the Power to do this is from God and her Lord who acts and strengthens her in this action lays a just claim to all the glory The Church is an Edifice or an House but a Spiritual one therefore called a Temple Eph. 2. 21 22. In whom that is Christ all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an habitarion of God through the Spirit This Temple is holy for God hath set apart such as are godly for himself The Stones are lively for all Saints are quickened to live to God and act for him In this Temple Sacrifices are offered but they aâ—e spiritual Prayers Praises other Duties and the Heart of him that performs them And though these Sacrifices are never so spiritual yet they are not accepted upon their own account but they are acceptable unto God througâ— Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. In the further handling of this Proposition I shall First Shew upon what foundation the Church is to Edify it self Secondly To what end this Edification must be Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to shew upon what foundation the Church is to edify it self 1. The Knowledge of God is styled a Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his God has from eternity foreknown and chosen his Church in Christ that she should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1. 4. This is a Foundation laid before the Foundation of the World and will endure infinitely longer than the World shall The Churches Members should give all diligence to make their calling and Election sure for if they do these things they shall never fall but an abundant entrance shall be administred to them into the everlasting Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. Now Election is made sure by hearkening to and obeying the call of the Gospel and departing from Iniquity 2. Christ the Rock is called a Foundation 1 Cor. 3. 11. Other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Though he was set at nought by the Jewish builders yet he is the head Stone of the Corner neither is there Salvation in any other The Churches Faith must be firmer in Christ her hope in him more and more abundant and she may build without fear for the Foundation will never fail the Superstructure 2. The Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is also styled a Foundation Eph. 2. 20. Both were inspired by the Holy Ghost and the harmony and agreement between Apostles and Prophets between the Old Testament and the New makes the Foundation more sure The Church that she may edifie her self is to eye the Scripture then she will build according to the right rule Vnwritten Traditions that would impose upon her Faith what the Scripture has not revealed are to be rejected and that light within that would lead her away from the written Word is no more to be followed than a foolish Night-fire If she has Scripture for her Faith and Practice she has good ground for both and both may be justified before the Judge of all the World 4. Obedience and good Works are called a Foundation 1 Tim. 6. 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal life This is done by doing good by being rich in good works Though good works are not meritorious for Eternal Life is the Gift of God yet they are necessary to evidence out Faith and that the Promises may be fulfilled Glory and Immortality is promised to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for it Rom. 2. 7. He builds firm that builds his house upon a Rock and he builds thus who hears the Words of Christ and does them But he that hears and does them not is a foolish man and builds his house upon the sand and when the rain descends and the winds blow and the floods come and beat upon his house it will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 24 25 26 27. In the second place I am to tell you to what end this Edification of the Church must be 1. The Church must Edifie it self that it may grow Stronger The stronger her Faith is the more will she Glorifie that God in whom she believes Rom. 4. 20. 't is said of Abraham He staggered not at the Promise of God through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God The stronger her Love the more it will constrain her to labour in
his love to others He must not have persons in admiration because of advantage nor allow of any Hypocrisy which Conscience cannot chuse if tender but condemn Therefore sayes the Apostle Let love be without dissimulation Rom. 12. 9. Conscience observes whether our inward affection answers our speeches our shews and our pretences and should be able to bear witness of our integrity Our love to our neighbours should be for Christs sake and should make us to pursue the ends for which Christ died on their account 3. Love must flow from faith unfeigned In that fore-cited place 1 Tim. 1. 5. Now the end of the Commandment is Charity out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith unfeigned There must be a firm belief of Gods good-will towards men of Christs love to his Church so as to give himself for its Redemption and Salvation and that he much insists upon this Command that Christians should love one another and when love is the product of this belief then 't is right then 't is acceptable The Apostle gave thanks without ceasing in the behalf of the Ephesians when he heard of their faith in the Lord Jesus and love to all the Saints Eph. 1. 15 16. How can he refuse to love any one Saint who unfeignedly believes that Christ died for all especially if withall he be upon good grounds perswaded that Christ loved him und gave himself for him 4. Love must be fervent 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing ye have purified your Souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto the unfeigned love of the Brethren see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently 'T is ill with the Body if the natural heat abates it argues a dangerous decay in the new Creature if Love wax cold If Christians Love one towards another languish proportionably there will be also a languishing of their love to Christ himself and this is very perillous When there was not a fervency but lukewarmness in Laodicea Christ threatens to spue her out of his mouth Rev. 3. 16. When Ephesus had left her first love he sayes I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of his place except thou repent Rev. 2. 4 5. The great love of God in Christ his frequent injunctions that love may continue the excellency sweetness usefulness and even absolute necessity of love for the Churches conservation all this should be as perpetual fewel to maintain this holy fire 5. Christians Love must be Brotherly Christ sayes to his Disciples All ye are Brethren Mat. 23. 8. The whole Body of Believers is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Brotherhood 1 Pet. 2. 17. Christians are all Children of the same heavenly Father who by one Spirit according to his abundant mercy has begotten them again to a lively hope all of them have Christ to be their Elder Brother and are born again of the same seed which is incorruptible how reasonable then are those injunctions Love as Brethren 1 Pet. 3. 8. And let Brotherly love continue Heb. 13. 1. Alas for woe that the sinful Defects and Passions of Brethren are to be found among Professors but not the Affection Multitudes at this day resemble the Brother spoken of by Solomon Prov. 18. 19. A Brother offended is harder to be won than a strong City and their Contentions are like the bars of a Castle 6. Love should be extended so as to become Catholick and the more extensive 't is the more it makes a Man resemble God himself 1. Love is to be extended to the whole Church to all Saints When Love is limited to a party 't is Imprisoned as it were which ought to enjoy the greatest Liberty 'T is common and needful to distinguish between Conversion to a party and Conversion to God There is a distinction likewise to be made between Love to a party and Love to the Church of God 'T is but too apparent that men place too much in being of such a party and Perswasion and therefore all Receeding though done with a clear Conscience and for the Churches Peace is nick-named Apostacy And though a man walks as closely with God lives as well as ever loves more Saints and Saints more than ever yet because he is not rigidly of such a way he is censur'd belyed reproacht and shunn'd as if he were an Heathen man or Publican Oh Love why sleepest thou awake awake wherever thou art planted revive and flourish and bring forth the fruits of kindness peaceableness tenderness and moderation All true Saints of all Perswasions are beloved of God and purchased with his blood and nothing shall be able to separate them from the Love of God which is in Christ Jesus their Lord Rom. 8. ult Disaffections therefore and distances one from another are very unseemly very sinful Though God does love all his Children freely yet they are all worthy of one anothers love and this love is a just Debt which they owe one to another If Saints are loved as Saints all Saints will be loved à quatenùs ad omne valet consequentia And if we love not all 't is but too plain that we love none at all truly 2. Love is to be extended to the Jews if they are beloved for their Fathers sakes Rom. 11. 28. Christians should love them and express that love by Prayer that they may not still abide in their Unbelief but look unto Jesus whom they have pierced and obtain Mercy 3. Love is to reach unto the uncalled Gentiles The worlds blindness and wickedness should move our Compassion and since the Mercy of our God is so unconceivably large we should desire that more may partake of it and since Christ is a Propitiation sufficient for the sins of the whole World 1 Joh. 2. 22. We should pity the millions of Souls that never heard of him and beg that the sound of the Gospel may come to their ears and that through this Jesus they may be reconciled and saved 4. Love is to be extended even to enemies and Persecutors Christians must not render evil for evil reproach for reproach cursing for cursing but if they are reviled they are to bless if they are defamed they are to intreat and they must endeavour the Worlds benefit though they are made the filth of the World and the off-scouring of all things 1 Cor. 4. 12 13. A Saints Patience should alwayes be greater than the Passion of a Persecutor a Saints love than a Persecutors hatred 'T is an excellent Spirit and the right Spirit of Christian charity to be meek and kind to those that are most bitter against us to speak the best of those who speak the worst of us to Pray that our most spightful Enemies may be forgiven and that the injuries which are done us being Pardon'd may not do an eternal harm unto the Injurers 7. Love should never fail but more and more increase It must be a constant fire never to be extinguished nay it
12. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life They that by faith receive the Lord Jesus are purified are regenerated and shall live for ever but as many as through unbelief reject him remain dead in sin and doom'd to Hell Union with Christ is a most necessary a most happy union The Churches life from this has its beginning and continuance unto consummation 2. The Head has a mighty influence upon the Body There is a powerful influence from Christ upon his Church and what good it does is done by vertue of this influence He is said to be exalted far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Eph. 4. 10. Whatever grace and strength and comfort is communicated to believers it is really and all from Christ He fills Ordinances with efficacy mercies with sweetness afflictions with light and usefulness and Souls with greater degrees of Grace and Holiness out of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all-fulness it has pleased the Father should dwell in him Col. 1. 19. Our Lord tells his Disciples they must abide in him for separated from him they can do nothing Joh. 15. 5. No wonder the Apostle professes That Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 11. Though the Body the Church should be never so much increased a deficiency in the Head Christ need not be feared neither is it indeed possible for in him there is all the fulness of the Godhead And consequently his Rightousness and Grace must needs be sufficient for the whole 3. The Body has many Members and these members have different Offices The Church likewise has various members and their different stations relations callings diversify their work and duties and yet the doing of these duties is both comely and advantageous and the more every one does his own work the more all are benefited Rom. 12. 45. the Apostle tells us That as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ And from thence infers that All should use the gifts they have received which are differing according to the grace and good pleasure of God the Giver It would be unreasonable for the Ear to attempt to speak like the Tongue or the Hand to see like the Eye The several members have their uses and work proper to them All are not Apostles all are not Prophets all are not Teachers all are not Governours 1 Cor. 12. 29. There are many indeed most in the Church that have need to be taught and governed and those that think themselves wise enough to instruct and govern themselves and so despise their spiritual Guides usually are the most ignorant and unruly and hugely need the help and conduct of others The members must abide in their place and calling Masters Servants Parents Children Husbands Wives Magistrates Subjects Pastors People doing their duties which the Scripture in their several stations and relations calls for 4. The Body is fitly joyned and thus fitly joyned is the Church of Christ The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies that there is a congruous order among the members of Christ Without Order an Army would be a Rout and not an Army a Kingdom would become a confused self-destroying multitude The Churches God is the God of Order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. There is a rule for Order and Government and a subordination in the Church 't is not a body of levellers if there were a perfect parity all would affect to rule none would care to be ruled The reproof of two or three is more than the reproof of one the Churches admonition and censure is still with greater authority The flock is to submit themselves â—o their Pastors who are over them in the Lord. Heb. 13. 17. and both Pastors and people are to submit especially unto Christian Magistrates who are prophetically promised in the Old Testament that they should be Nursing Fathers to the Church under the New A right Order in Churches and Families will have a mighty influence to make believers stedfast against temptations both to Error and Wickedness The Apostle rejoyced in the Colossians chap. 2. 5. when he beheld their order and the stedfastness of of their faith in Christ 5. The Body is compact together so is the Church of Christ the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shews that the Church is firmly knit unto Christ the Head and the members one unto another The hypostatical Vnion between the Natures of Christ shall never be dissolved neither shall the mystical union between him and his members and if so then his true members must needs remain closely knit together There are ligaments joynts bands whereby the Body of Christ is held together The Spirit of Grace and Love unites the body to Christ and members to members The Ministers of Christ are subservient unto this union and ought to be preaching and commending love which is a grace of an uniting nature The Apostle had a concernedness for the Colossians which he expresses by a great conflict and that which he wisht so vehemently for was this that their hearts might be comforted beingknit together in love Col. 2. 1 2. Where is the member of the natural Body that grows weary of its fellowship and is willing to be cut off The Arms the Hands the Leggs the Feet are desirous to keep their places and and nature makes them abhor to be severed True grace makes the members of the Church to dislike separation As they believe so they very well like and are desirous of the communion of Saints A very black mark is set upon them who are of a contrary inclination 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest they were not all of us 6. God hath set the Members in the body as it pleased him the different gifts and graces which are in the Church of Christ and the members of it are according to Gods will and pleasure He bestowes larger gifts upon some and less upon others and yet those that have less are not unuseful Some Saints receive greater measures of Grace others smaller but all have that grace which is true and which at last will end in glory Some members of the Church are higher others lower and yet they should not envy or despise one another for God has assigned their place unto both the higher may direct the lower the lower may serve the higher The eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of thee nor the head to the feet I Have no need of you and those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary 1 Cor. 12. 21 22. By the grace of God the members of Christ are what they are They have nothing but what they have received and the more
when he withdraws but rejoyce exceedingly when they enjoy his presence and see his face who is altogether lovely They should value his Word and Ordinances in which he is to be found and delight themselves in the contemplation of his fulness and that great and everlasting Salvation whereof he is the Author Their very Souls should love him Cant. 3. 4. which expression intimates both the truth and the strength and fervency of affection and truly our Lord is so excellent that there is no danger or possibility that Love to him should be excessive 2. The Members of Christ should endeavour to promote his Honour and Glory They should be very zealous that their Head may be advanced and have the preeminence over all things Their tongues should be shewing forth his praises commending him to the World as the best of Princes as the only Saviour and declaring the unreasonableness of the Worlds prejudices against his yoak and burthen which are so easie and so light Mat. 11. ult They should earnestly desire that Christ their Lord may be the Worlds Universal Monarch and that all Earthly Kings and Emperors may cast down their Crowns before him and willingly submit to his Scepter and Government 3. The Members of Christ should obey all his Commands Joh. 14. 15. If ye love me keep my Commandments And v. 21. He that hath my Commandments and keepeth them he it is that loveth me It is a monstrousness in Nature if any of the Members should not be placed under the Head Surely then all the Members of Christ should readily be subject to him Thus to be Subject is to Reign Obedience is the great Sacrifice to be offered under the New Testament the Saints are styled Priests Kings as well as Priests 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Royal Priesthood 1 Pet. 2. 9. So that to obey the Lord Jesus contains in it no less than a Regal Honour He should be reverenced all his Commands performed He that hears Christs sayings and doth them is the wise Builder whose House shall never fall is indeed the blessed man and is in the right way to Life and Immortality Rev. 22. 14. Blessed are they that do his Commandments that they may have right to the Tree of Life and may enter in through the gates into the City 4. The Members of Christ should live by faith upon him They are to expect the Remission of sin and deliverance from wrath to come no other way when they have done their best and most they must look unto Jesus that they through him may be accepted For there is no way to be accepted but in the Beloved Eph. 1. 6. In all their Temptations Sorrows Sufferings they are to depend upon him for succour joy and Grace sufficient The Body is secured and in the Spiritual Warfare has both conduct and conquest by acting Faith in Christ the Head Every Member therefore should imitate the Apostle who said Gal. 2. 20. The life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me 5. The Members of Christ should do nothing unbecoming his Members The Glory and Name of Christ and the Credit of the Gospel should be very dear to them and they ought to be blameless and harmless without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse Generation and shine as lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. They should manifest that they abide in Christ by walking as he walked they should he patient meek and lowly as Christ was contemn the world as he contemn'd it count it their meat and drink to do the will of God as he did and since Christ endured the contradiction of sinners against himself so should they Though the Foes of Christ are numerous and oppose his interest with never so great force and fury yet his members must never be ashamed to own their Head nor afraid to follow him It becomes them and it concerns them to cleave to him with full purpose of heart Acts 11. 23. For to leave him is to be lost for ever and to bid farewell to blessedness and life eternal USE II. Let the Members of this Body the Church consider the relation they have one to another They are indeed very near and should look upon themselves as very near one to another And this Relation should be of mighty efficacy to perswade them to perform those mutual Duties which are incumbent upon them In the general All particular Members should consult the good of the whole Church They believe the Holy Catholick Church and their Love should run parallel with their Faith and care will be an effect of true Love A private Spirit is very prejudicial to the Body of Christ whilst only one part is minded and not another 'T is just as if there should be an endeavour to make one member of the Body natural great and strong with an unconcernedness how weak and feeble and small soever the other Members remain 'T is lamentable that there are so many Parties in the Christian Church but 't is more to be lamented that these Parties are so selfish and so little mind the common interest which being neglected their private interest cannot be regarded so truly as it should be For if a whole Town be burnt down to the ground no particular house escapes the fury of the flames No mans Cabin can be secured if the Ship be cast away and sinks to the bottom of the Sea There are several Counsels which I would intreat the Members of the Church to follow that it may be the better with the Church and with themselves 1. Let not the higher Members despise the lower You that are higher what have you that you have not received why then should you glory as if you had not received it 1 Cor. 4. 7. That 's a Scripture whose sharp point should prick the bladder and let out pride and self-conceitedness Phil. 2. 3. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Moses the holiest and most useful man in his time was the meekest man upon earth Numb 12. 3. The Apostle Paul though he laboured more abundantly than all the Apostles to spread the Gospel and Faith of Christ yet in what an humble style does he write of himself and surely his Heart and Pen went together 1 Cor. 15. 9. I am the least of the Apostles that am not worthy to be called an Apostle Nay he abases himself beneath all Saints as well as all Apostles and ventures the Critick's scoff in coyning the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew how low he was in his own thoughts Eph. 3. 8. Vnto me who am less than the least of all Saints is this Grace given that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ 2. Let not the lower Members of the Church be discontented Every Member is highly favoured highly honoured every
shall be remembred Surely the Worlds hard usage of his members shall not be forgotten shall not pass unpunished If at the great day the not feeding and cloathing of hungry and naked Saints will be punished with everlasting fire oh what a sin will it be found to take away their food and rayment from them if Christ will be so angry with those who visited not believers in Prison Mat. 25. 42 43. where shall they appear that were the Imprisoners of them The World should not be cruel to Christians since Christ will quickly appear to judge the World in Righteousness So much for the first Proposition That the Church of Christ is compared to a Body Proposit II. The second Proposition is this That this Body of Christ is imperfect in this World and therefore continually should be encreasing Hence it is that Christians are exhorted to grow in Grace and in the Knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ 2. Pet. 3. 18. and not only to be stedfast and unmoveable but always to abound in the work of the Lord 1 Cor. 15. 58. In the handling of this Proposition I shall first shew in what respects the Church of Christ here on earth is imperfect Secondly In what sense the Church should be continually increasing Thirdly I shall produce several Reasons for this Increase of the Church Lastly I shall give you the Vses that may be made of it I begin with the first of these and shall shew in what respects the Church of Christ here on Earth is imperfect Two things are here to be considered First The number of the Churches Members is not yet compleated Secondly Those Members which actually are of the Church are imperfect the very best of them as long as they remain in this World 1. The number of the Churches Members is not yet compleated There are more still to be called out of the World and brought home to Jesus All are not gathered which the Father has designed to give him Joh. 10. 16. And other sheep I have who are not of this Fold them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice and there shall he one Fold and one Shepherd 1. Many 't is to be hoped who have heard the Gospel shall be converted though as yet they are not Though they have hitherto resisted the Holy Ghost yet at last they shall yield unto his Call and striving When once the day of power and the time of love is come they shall be made willing to receive a Saviour to be the Lords and to serve the Lord though now never so great an obstinacy and unwillingness is discovered Psal 110. 3. 2. Many who are in the loyns both of Believers and Unbelievers shall in due time be born and born again The Church shall never quite discontinue it may indeed sometimes be less visible but it always has a Being God will have a Seed to serve him in every future Generation Psal 22. 30. 3. The Natural Branches are to be graffed in again to their own Olive-tree Rom. 11. 24. For if thou wer 't cut out of the Olive-tree which is wild by nature and wer 't graffed contrary to nature into a good Olive-tree how much more shall these that is the Israelites which be the natural branches be graffed into their own Olive-tree Blindness in part is happened to Israel but they are still beloved for their Fathers sake and at length the veil which is upon their Hearts shall be taken away and they shall look unto him whom their Fathers crucified and be saved by him For he is the Messiah the deliverer that is come out of Sion and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob Rom. 11. 26. Now when Israel shall be added to the Christian Church how will this Church be encreased it will be a very glorious augmentation like a Resurrection from the dead Rom. 11. 15. For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the World what shall the receiving of them be but life from the dead 4. The Kingdoms of the world are to become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ Rev. 11. 15. I grant this is in part already the Gentiles have been preached to and have obeyed the Gospel Christ according to the Fathers Promise has had the Heathen given to him for his Inheritance and some of the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession but we may rationally conclude after the destruction of Antichrist and the utter overthrow of his power and usurpation that many more Kingdoms of the world will submit unto the Lord Jesus and his Church hereby will have a vast increase We find Rev. 18. Babylon destroyed the Kings of the earth and the Merchants that committed Fornication with her crying Alas alas and lamenting her sudden and utter downfall The Heavens and the holy Apostles and Prophets rejoycing over her because God had avenged them upon her And then it follows Rev. 19. 12. that upon the head of Christ were many Crowns which shews the subjection of many Kings to him and v. 6. there is a voice of a great multitude as the voice of many waters and as the voice of mighty thundrings as if all the World did joyn together in saying Alleluia for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth From all this it appears that the Church as yet is incompleat and that greater numbers of Converts are to be expected and how should the Promises of the Churches enlargement in the latter dayes be thought upon with joy and how earnestly should we pray that those Promises may be accomplished 2. Those Members which actually are of the Church are imperfect the very best of them as long as they remain in this World How plainly does the Wise man speak Eccl. 7. 20. There is not a just man upon Earth that doeth good and sinneth not There is many a just man upon earth and every just man his practice is to do good but there is not one that so does good as not to be chargeable with the least evil The Apostle James that is so much for joyning good works with faith yet acknowledges in many things we offend all Jam. 3. 2. And the Apostle Paul that great Saint and Preacher speaks thus of himself and surely he would not tell a lye through abundance of humility Phil. 3. 12 13. Not as though I had already attained either were already perfect but forgetting the things which are behind and reaeching forth to those things which are before I press towards the mark for the prize of the high calling of God The imperfection of the Saints and Members of the Church on Earth will be evident in several respects 1. The Knowledge of the Saints is imperfect He that knew as much as any sayes We know in part and prophesy in part and now we see through a glass darkly 1 Cor. 13. 9. 12. David who was wiser than his enemies who had more understanding than all his Teachers than the Ancients yet prays still
to suffer any of his faithful labourers and servants to want encouragement David had it in his heart to build him an house and God establishes the house of David 1 Chron. 17. 23. and his family was upheld till Christ the Son of David came I have done with the third Proposition That the Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Proposit IIII. The fourth and last Proposition is this The more Love abounds among the members of the Church the more the whole Body will be edified or more briefly thus Love is exceedingly for the Churches edification I might be large in discoursing of Love to Christ and manifest how this will constrain all in whom it is to endeavour the edification of his Body and to seek the welfare of those for whom he died One who loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity how can he chuse but love all Saints though of different perswasions since notwithstanding that difference they are all so dear to him that he gave his life a ransom for them all and the blood of God was shed for every one of them that there might be a price paid sufficient for their Redemption But the Apostle is to be understood in my Text of Christians love one to another This is that Charity which the Scripture calls so loudly for Joh. 13. 34. A new Commandment I give unto you that ye love one another as I have loved you that ye also love one another the command is doubled and called a new commandment because though delivered long before yet here 't is delivered with a new example that of Christ himself as I have loved you and consequently with a new and strongly enforcing motive The Apostle Peter gives this charge 1 Pet. 4. 8. Above all things have fervent charity among your selves Gifts though excellent may be abused and perversely employed to instill Errour and rend the Church of God Knowledge if it be alone will not profit but puss up him that has it But Charity edifieth 1 Cor. 8. 1. Love is greatly beneficial its acts are pure and peaceable and gentle full of mercy and good fruits and 't is against the very nature of it to work ill to any In the handling of the Proposition I shall First Discourse concerning the Nature of Love Secondly Discover the Properties which the Scripture attributes to it Thirdly Demonstrate how it is for the Churches Edification Fourthly Shew the vanity of those excuses that are made for the want of love Lastly Apply In the first place I am to discourse concerning the Nature of love There is a fourfold Love Carnal Natural Civil Spiritual 1. Carnal and impure Thus Amnon loved his fair Sister Tamar 2 Sam. 13. 1. and Sampson fell in love with Delilah but this impure affection cost both these their lives and brought the one and the other to an untimely end This may more properly be called Lust than Love and in whatever heart 't is harbour'd how does it defile and harden If but a spark of lust be let alone what a flame may quickly follow which may consume the Estate the Reputation the Body and the Soul it may indeed be extenuated but 't is threatned with the wrath of God Not only for fornication but for evil concupiscence cometh the wrath of God upon the Children of disobedience Col. 3. 5 6. When Lust is suffer'd to conceive and bring forth actual Adultery how do the Adulterer and his Strumpet shew their hatred one to the other The mischief they do themselves is inconceiveable and how do they defile each the others Body wound each the others Conscience and delight in that whereby they damn each the others Soul 2. There is a Love which is Natural I mean Natural affection To have this natural affection is a duty for 't is planted in the heart by the wise and gracious God as that which has a mighty tendency to the conservation of Mankind therefore to be without natural affection the Apostle makes one of the crimes of them who were given up to a reprobate mind to do those things which were not convenient Rom. 1. 28 31. Natural affection we owe unto Relations which debt if we refuse to pay we shut our ears to the dictates of Nature as well as the word of Christ and become worse than Infidels nay worse than the beasts that perish Parents must love their Children Children their Parents Husbands and Wives be full of affection to one another But Grace should spiritualize this Natural affection Not only the persons of our Relations must be loved but their Souls and their eternal Salvation most earnestly desired and endeavoured and if we cannot bear the thoughts of a Parents Husbands Wives or Childs pain poverty slavery starving the thoughts of their being eternally damn'd should be much more intolerable and all means should be used to prevent it 3. There is a Love which may be styled Civil This is one of the great bonds of Humane Societies whereby they are kept together whereas hatred and discord do first divide and then destroy them This Amor patriae love to our Countrey the more it prevails the more will our Countrey flourish In a Kingdom the whole should be concerned for every individual and every individual for the whole and all the parts for one another No member should hastily be concluded a gangren'd one that is Ense recidendum ne pars sincera trahatur Presently to be cut off lest the whole Community be endanger'd Draco is not lookt upon as one of the wisest Legislators who made almost every Offence capital and therefore is said to have writ his Laws in blood A mild Government such as our English is does best suit with Christianity and is likeliest to attain the end of Magistracy the Highest Sovereigns glory the King and Kingdoms safety Love should make all the Subjects of a Kingdom to consider the Relation they have to and their concern in one another and no Plots and Conspiracies should be allowed but onely designs and endeavours of one anothers wealth and welfare especially the truest wealth and the welfare that is eternal I cannot but here bewail the want of this Civil love and the variance that is in my Native Country New Names of discrimination are invented which our forefathers knew not Breaches grow wide as the Sea who but the God of Love and Peace can heal them A perverse Spirit mingles it self among different Parties and differences are kept up and still increased with an unusual animosity When Phaeton had set the World on fire the Poet by an elegant Prosopopoeia brings in the Earth it self thus pleading Hosne mihi fructus hunc fertilitatis honorem Officiique refers c. And may not England which at this day is in a flame of Contention be introduced thus speaking to her Inhabitants O English-men what means this more than civil Discord and Fury among you In Me you have been born and bred And considering the
Love to unite Christians and to make them one since divisions strike at Christ himself and harden the World in its infidelity 5. Love enlarges the Heart and frees it from the bonds of selfishness and makes its desire others welfare as well as our own Love to our Neighbour breaths forth in servent wishes that it may be well with him both in Time and to Eternity We are in every respect to consider our Brethren and true love will make us long that every way they may be benefited that they may not want any needful fecular comfort and encouragement especially that they may be blessed with all Spiritual blessings And above all that they may attain Eternal Happiness and Salvation The Apostles love vents it self in a Prayer for the Corinthians temporal prosperity and increase 2. Cor. 9. 10. Now he that mimistereth seed to the Sower both Minister brend for your food and multiply your seed sown and increase the fruits of your Righteousness So St. John writing to his beloved Gaius wishes him health and prosperity 3 Joh. 2. Beloved I wish above all things that thou mayst prosper and be in health even as thy Soul prospereth But the Apostles wishes that Souls might be sanctified and saved were most vehement and most pathetically expressed Rom. 10. 1. Brethren my hearts desire and prayer to God for Israel is that they might be saved Phil. 1. 8. God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ Gal. 4. 19. My little Children of whom I travel in birth again until Christ be formed in you Behold how the Apostle loved Souls I don't wonder that he wishes his love as a blessing to the Church 1 Cor. 16. 24. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus Amen 6. Love is the fulfilling of the Law the doing of which is so much for our Neighbours benefit Rom. 13. 8. He that loveth another hath fulfilled the Law As love to God includes the whole first table of the Law so love to our Neighbour includes the second with reason 't is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the fulfilling of the Law for it causes an affectionate and obediential respect unto every Commandment of the second table and there is not one of these precepts but 't is hugely for the good of Mankind 1. Love has a regard â—o the Honour and Authority of Others That honour which is due to Natural Parents love is ready to yield They that were instrumental in giving us our very Being and that nourished us with such tenderness and care when we were not ablâ— to shift for our selves may rightfully challenge obedience from us Upon a supposition that Parents are fallen into decay that piety that Children shew them in relieving them is called a Requiting them 1 Tim. 5. 4. so that Childrens disobedience as 't is unnatural so it has a great deal of ingratitude in it Love ascends higher than our Natural Parents and reaches the very Thrones where Kings and Princes are placed Kings are Patriae Patres Fathers of their Countrey all the inhabitants of a Kingdom are the Children of the King and as a Common Father their very hearts should love and reverence him It was not a Court complement or a strain of Rhetorick but an expression of religious Loyalty when the Prophet call'd the Anointed of the Lord the breath of the peoples nostrils Lam. 4. 20. and signifies how dear his life should be unto them all Love will cause tribute and custom to be willingly paid fear and honour to be rendred Rom. 13. 7. Christian Princes according as it was prophetically promised Isa 49. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are Ecclesiae Nutritij the Churches Nursing Fathers The Church of Christ in this world is not arrived to such matâ—uity but it stands in need of nursing the Magistrates care is needful and his Authority is a good fence unto the Christian faith And if the Doctrine of the Gospel has a legal establishment how should this endear the Supream Magistrate unto all inferiours Where Christian love reigns in the hearts of Subjects there Christian Kings will reign with greater security Love and rightly informed Conscience wherever found will do more than Rods and Axes though these are also necessary to support and defend the Civil Government 2. Love has a regard to the Lives of Others The guilt of blood is great the cry of blood is loud Murther how does it wound the Murtherers Conscience and defile the very land which receives the blood of him that is murthered Love utterly abhorrs cruelty and slaughter It considers the meekness and gentleness of Christ When James and John would by miraculous fire have consumed a Samaritan village that would not receive their Lord He rebukes them and sayes ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of for the Son of man is not come to destroy mens lives but to save them Luk. 9. 55 56. Love is so far from thirsting after blood that it will not allow of malice in the heart nay rash and causelefs anger it dislikes for that will make a man in danger of the judgment Mat. 5. 22. Were but love every where revived it would put an end to the Iron one and cause the Golden age to return Swords would be beaten into Plough-shares and Spears into Prâ—ning-Hooks and Nations would not learn Warr any more 3. Love will not violate others chastity Lust is strongly inclined to such a violation but the grace of love is of an holy and clean nature and abhorrs all obsceneness It is so far from consenting to defile anothers body that it will not allow the heart where 't is by a filthy thought or desire to be defiled for our Lord sayes Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart Mat. 5. 28. Love looks upon the bodies of Christians as Members of Christ as temples of the Spirit now the Members of Christ are not to be polluted the temples of the Spirit are not to be profaned How little of true love is there in this lustful Age in this adulterous generation An affection that is indeed Christian is rarely to be found but a reprobate and brutish concupiscence is very rise both in City and Countrey though hereby both are ripening apace for vengeance Jer. 5. 7 8 9. They assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses they were as fed Horses in the morning every one neighed after his Neighbours Wife Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a nature as this 4. Love will not steal away the substance of another It abhors to be injurious to any it is for following that which is altogether just It is ready to distribute willing to communicate to the poor according to that charge 1 Tim. 6. 18. and the poorer any are it is so much the more communicative Love is liberal for he that
soweth sparingly shall reap sparingly he which soweth bountifully shall reap bountifully 2 Cor. 9. 6. But though it will give away pounds to them that are needy it dares not unjustly take away a penny or a farthing from another though never so wealthy Solomon tells us that a false balance is not good and divers weights are an abomination to the Lord Prov. 20. 23. and they are also an abomination unto Love No duty more clearly discovered by the light of nature than to do justly and what does God in his written word more expresly require the unrighteous being plainly threaten'd with the loss of the Kingdom of Heaven and what poor and petty things are their unjust gains compared with such a Kingdom Wronging another though it be in so slie a manner that humane eyes observe it not humane laws cannot punish it yet will be overtaken with divine Vengeance 1 Thes 4. 6. That no man go beyond and desraud his brother in any matter because the Lord is the avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified Love to our Neighbour implies a Love of Justice is to give our Neighbour his due Love can as soon cease to be Love as begin to be Injurious Nay if a man has heretofore been guilty of Injustice it will incline and constrain him to make restitution for The wicked must restore the Pledge and give again what he hath robbed and walk in the Statutes of Life then he shall live he shall not dye Ezek. 33. 15. 5. Love is very tender of others Names and Reputation It detests all manner of Lying as that which is an abomination to God Prov. 6. 17. and exposes the Lyar himself to the burning lake Rev. 21. 8. But a slanderous or malicious lye that wounds the Name and murthers the Reputation of another it hates exceedingly for this is an abomination most abominable and more against the very letter of the Law Thoâ— shalt not bear false witness against thy Neighbour The Name of a man ought to be very dear to him especially if he be a Christian because God and Christ and the Gospel are concerned in it A Christian cannot be aspersed without some aspersion on Christianity it self Love is very wary and that with great reason and will not cast into the precious Oyntment a dead Fly to make it send forth an evil savour Love hinders the Tongue from evil speaking and makes it subject to the Law of kindness Love is so far from raising a false report of another that it dares not take it up much less spread it all abroad The Citizen of Sion who shall dwell with God both here and for ever this is part of his Character He speaketh the truth in his heart he back-biteth not with his tongue nor doth evil to his neighbour nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour Psal 15. 2 3. Light may as well become darkness as Love be guilty of Lying and malicious Defamations Professors ears are ready to tingle when they hear the sound of hellish Oaths and horrid Execrations wretched men making bold with the Life of God the blood and wounds of Christ and hardly a sentence is pronounced without an Imprecation that God may damn them But these Professors would do well to consider that the same Mouth of Truth which has forbid and threatned Cursing and Swearing has forbid and threatned Lying and Slandering and if we observe how much injury may be done by a slanderous tongue we shall not wonder that the throats of such Slanderers are compared to open Sepulchers and their Tongues to whetted Swords and sharpned Arrows and the Poyson of Asps is said to be under them 6. Love is contented with its own and hinders us from coveting what belongs to another Sinful lustings and desires after that which is our neighbours precipitate unto those acts whereby he is injured thus Ahabs inordinate desire after Naboths Vineyard makes him a Murtherer of Naboth and that with many aggravations that he might enjoy it Love breeds contentation and instead of coveting what is anothers it wishes him both a quiet possession and an holy improvement and Love expelling these inordinate lustings it plucks up the very root of bitterness from whence do commonly grow all those injuries that the Sons of men do one to another Thus Love is Eagle-eyed to observe whatever God in his Law has commanded for our neighbours good and since the wise and gracious Law-giver has manifested his care of our neighbour in fencing his Life and all that is dear to him with so many Commandments Love rationally inferrs it ought to be our care not to break this fence but to keep all these Commandments without exception 7. Love breeds sympathy when our fellow Christians are in misery It makes us fear least harm befall the Church of God and when the Church is actually under Affliction it causes us in that affliction to be afflicted Love is the great Law of Christ and Chistian Sympathy is a fulfilling it Gal. 6. 2. Bear ye one anothers burthens and so fulfill the Law of Christ The Captive Jews their Harps were out of Tune and their Hearts had little list to Mirth and Musick nay By the rivers of Babylon they wept when they remembred Sion Psal 137. 1 2. Love easily melts the heart of a Saint into sorrow when other Saints are in sadness and calamity nay 't is reâ—dy to put on bowels when it sees any in misery This Sympathy of Love is a real thing and shews it self in a forwardness to relieve and help Love enlarges the Heart in Prayer for the distressed Church of Christ and all his Members it makes us in the Churches languors ready to faint and dye away our selves Love draws forth our Compassion towards the divided and distressed Land of our Nativity and in some it arises to so high a degree that they are ready such are their holy Agonies to wish Their Names blotted out of the Book of â—ife and themselves acâ—ursed from Christ rather than England should become desolate rather than God should depart and the glorious Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ be removed 8. Love makes us to delight in the Communion of Saints Sin has brought a great deformity and unloveliness upon Mankind the Scripture speaks thus of Men considered in their natural State They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14. 3. But the Grace of God lias made a difference between the Saints and other men they have put off the old man which is corrupt according to deceitful lusts and they put on the new man which after God is created in Righteousness and true Holiness Eph. 4. 22. 24. Now this Holiness makes them truly amiable Love makes us pity the World that lies in wickedness but to delight in those who by Regeneration are called out of the World and made New Creatures David though a King lookt upon Saints as
the excellent ones and his delight was all in them as the most eligible and suitable Society Psal 16. 3. Love is exceedingly pleased with the holy and unblameable and exemplary Lives of others it finds a Melody and Sweetness in their gracious and edifying Discourses when their Hearts are warm and their Graces are in vigorous exercise the delight is greatest when Saints are most like themselves discovering most of real Sanctity and least of sinful Infirmity Love is for Communion with all Saints though of different perswasions He that likes Saints of his own Judgment onely 't is a sign he is fond of his own Opinion and that his Complacency is not so truly in the Image of God wherever it shines 'T is want of light that makes Saints of different sentiments in Religion and 't is want of Love that makes them so shye to look so strangely to speak so strangely and to act so strangely one towards another 9. Love causes a joy in the good of others In the natural Body if one Member be honoured all the Members rejoyce with it 1 Cor. 12. 26. Christians in like manner are to rejoyce with them that do rejoyce Rom. 12. 15. It was an excellent Spirit in John the Baptist and it argued the Truth of his Love to the Messiah of whom he was the forerunner that he rejoyced to see Christ increase though he himself decreased Joh. 3. 29 30. The Apostle was perswaded of the Corinthians affection to him when he said I have confidence in you all that my joy is the joy of you all 2 Cor. 2. 3. The more Love abounds the more the joy of one Christian will be the joy of every one Love rejoyces to see the Spirit of God poured out in the most plentiful manner to see useful and excellent gifts distributed to others It is really glad of their highest attainments their enlargements their comforts their honour and esteem following upon all this We are all Members one of another and why should we not rejoyce in one anothers honour since we are really honoured one in another and the honour of all redounds at length to our Lord Jesus Christ who is the Head of all 10. Love covers a multitude of sins and Infirmitieâ— 1 Pet. 4. 8. Not that there is any merit in this Grace of Charity to deserve the pardon of sin in our selves but instead of spreading the faults of others it spreads a veil over them Love makes us tender-hearted and kind ready to forgive others as we our selves for Christs sake have been forgiven And indeed the offences and injuries done to us by others are but like the debt of a few pence compared with our offences against God which amount to many Millions of Talents The Apostle Peter asked Christ Lord how often shall my Brother sin against me and I forgive him till seven times Jesus saith unto him I say unto thee not till seven times but untill seventy times seven Mat. 18. 21 22. Some think that there is allusion to the custom of the Jews to shew favour every seventh year but especially in the year of Jubilee As there is a greater measure of light in the Christian Church than there was in the Jewish so ought there to be a greater measure of love We must not only forgive to seven times or seven times seven but seventy times seven a certain â—umber for an uncertain intimatinâ— we must pardon our trespassing Brother without any stint or limitation Our Lord calls the time of the Gospel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the acceptable year Luk. 4. 19. Christians should abhorr all manner of revenge and be as charitably inclined to pass by their Brethrens faults as if their life were a perpetual Jubilee Where is the love of those who not only harbour in their hearts a grudge against their Brethren but their mouths are like Trumpets to sound forth their failings Nay they tarry not to examine whether failings or no but boldly and blindly conclude them to be such and proclaim and exclaim against them Nay their eager tongues tarry not for a certain Information but whether reports to the disparagement of others be true or false they make them run like wild-fire What 's become of Love the mean while Love hiâ—es a multitude of sins but these persons won't conceal one Love covers real Crimes but these forbear not spreading false reports The Tongue by Drexelius is called Orbis Phaethon the Phaethon of the World that sets it in a flame If as the Apostle sayes an unruly tongue defiles the whole body and he that seems religious and bridles not his tongue does but deceive his own heart and his Religion is in vain Jam. 1. 26. Let a multitude of Professors at this day tremble and be astonished and cry out Who among us shall be saved 11. Love is projecting and designing the good of others Thus the Apostle abased himself that others might be exalted and sought not his own profit but the profit of many that they might be saved 1 Cor. 10. 33. Love worketh no ill to his neighbour but is very fruitful in contriving and operative in promoting his Neighbours welfare Love is not in not in word and in tongue only but in deed and in truth 1 Joh. 3. 18. It will not only say depart in peace be ye warmed and filled but 't is ready to cloath the naked and to feed the hungry nay it deviseth liberal and charitable things and considers the wants of Souls as well as Bodies cordially according to its capacity endeavouring that both may be supplyed The Apostles love to the Corinthians was very active notwithstanding a woful failing on their side 2 Cor. 12. 14 15. I seek not yours but you and I will very gladly spend and be spent for you in the Greek 't is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for your souls though the more abundantly I love you the less I be loved Thus have I explained the Nature of Love In the Second place I am to speak of the Properties which the Scripture attributes to it and requires should be in Love 1. Love must proceed from a pure heart 1 Tim. 1. 5. A heart must of necessity be made a new one before this Grace of Love can dwell there If Satan cannot make us hate our Brother he will endeavour to defile our Love There is need of the greater care that our Love be not defiled by selfishness or lust and filthiness Our affections should be pure and clean as Angels may be conceived to love one another All impure motions must be detested utterly and our hearts being first circumcised to love a God of Holiness must love Saints for their holiness sake Our love should alwayes have an holy aim and never degenerate so as to design the polluting of others or our selves with them 2. Love must be joyn'd with a good Conscience 1 Tim. 1. 5. A Christian should not be conscious to himself of any sinful or by-ends that he has in
should become stronger and purer continually Phil. 1. 9. And this I pray that your love may abound yet more and more in Knowledge and in all Judgment The true reasons of Love must be better and better understood and the expressions of Love must be still with more and more judgment and discretion that the end aimed at may be attained After the Apostle had acknowledged the Thessalonians taught of God to love one another yet adds We beseech you Brethren that you increase more and more 1 Thes 4. 9. 10. And if where Love did so much abound there was reason to press an increase Oh how much need is there in such an angry and contentious Age as this to blow up this fire which is so near to going out I have done with the Properties of Love In the third place I am to demonstrate how Love is for the Churches Edification 'T is for the Edification of Him that loves and for the Edification of those whom he loves A Christian Edifies both himself and others by Love First I shall demonstrate that he Edifies himself 1. The more he Loves there is the greater light in him The understanding is darken'd by those sins which are contrary to Love as Prejudice Passion Envy Hatred so that what is Truth is not easily discerned what is Duty is not readily apprehended in many cases The fore-mention'd evil Affections do biass the Judgment wrong Though the eye be good and the object not far off yet the eye cannot so plainly see the object if there be a mist between them Anger and Malice raise such a mist before the eye of the Judgment that 't is very prone to be mistaken but this mist is scattered by Love so that a Christian sees his way plain and is less subject to stumble 1 Joh. 2. 9 10 11. He that saith he is in the light and hateth his Brother is in darkness even until now He that loveth his Brother abideth in the light and there is none occasion of stumbling in him but he that hateth his Brother is in darkness and walketh in darkness and knoweth not whither he goeth because that darkness hath blinded his eyes 2. The more a Christian Loves there is the more of Gods Image in him he is the more transformed into the Divine Nature 1 Joh. 4. 7 8. God is Love and every one that loveth is born of God and knoweth God In Scripture God is said to delight in Merccy to rest in his love to be good to all to be kind to the unthankful and evil How does Love Edifie a Child of God making him resemble his Heavenly Father in these excellent perfections and how unlike to Satan does love make us Have we Knowledge how great an understanding has the evil one have we Faith The Devils also believe and tremble but if we have Love Satan has nothing of this in him he hates and tortures his own self he hates Gods Children and all his own Children he would destroy the former he will unless they cease to be his Children destroy the latter 3. The more a Christian loves he has the firâ—er evidence that he is indeed a Christian The Apostle tells us that the fruit of the Spirit is love joy peace The more love the more peace and joy Gal. 5. 22. We read Phil. 2. 1 2. of Consolation in Christ and Comfort in love Love builds us up in solid Comfort for we have the mark of Christs Sheep upon us if we love the whole flock That Religion has not truth that has not love in it pretences to light and purity without love are all vain But he that is full of love in this world shall not be sent to Hell in the other World where there is no love at all 1 Joh. 3. 14. We know that we have passed from death to life because we love the Brethren Secondly I shall demonstrate that Christians edifie not only themselves but others by their love and that 't is exceedingly for the Churches Edification 1. Love makes us concerned for the whole Church of Christ and enlarged in our supplications and intercessions for it This publick Spirit which is the effect of Catholick love is very pleasing unto God and mightily prevails with him God encourages us to an importunity for Zion He does not say as he did to Moses Let me alone that I may destroy but give me no rest until I save Isa 62. 6 7. I have set watchmen upon thy Walls O Jerusalem which shall never hold their peace day nor night ye that make mention of the Lord keep not silence and give him no rest till he establish and make Jerusalem a praise in the earth Love takes this encouragement and makes the Christian thus to resolve For Zions sake I will not hold my peace and for Jerusalems sake I will not rest until the Righteousness thereof goes forth as brightness and the Salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth The Churches Reformation and Righteousness is to be prayed for as well as it's Deliverance and Salvation The Apostle tells us if we will pray to purpose we must lift up holy hands without wrath and doubting 1 Tim. 2. 8. Wrath defiles him that prayes and fills the censer with strange fire mixing a sinful fervency and heat with prayer and so hinders its prevalency and acceptation But Love empties the heart of wrath and fills it with an holy fervour and how much does the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man prevail Jam. 5. 16. One Moses full of love to Israel and to the God of Israel zealous for Gods Honour desirous of Israels welfare he stands in the gap and by prayer turns away that Wrath that was breaking in and ready to destroy all the people Psal 106. 23. Therefore he said that he would destroy them had not Moses his chosen stood in the breach before him to turn away his wrath lest he should destroy them 2. Love strongly inclines us unto peaceableness and what is for the Churches peace is for her edification Rom. 14. 19. Let us follow after the things that make for peace and things wherewith one may edifie another I grant when we are pursuing peace we must have a special regard to truth and holiness Zach. 8. 19. Love the truth and peace Heb. 12. 14. Follow after Peace with all Men and Holiness But the Scripture must determine what is Truth and we must distinguish between the great Truths of the Gospel and those that are less important It was a truth which the Apostle was perswaded of by the Lord Jesus Christ that there was no meat unclean of it self and yet those who were otherwise perswaded he look'd upon as tolerable and not to be despised Nay he expresly forbids those of different Sentiments in this matter to judge one another Rom. 14. The Scripture likewise must inform us wherein purity and holiness lies for a mistake here may quickly draw forth such a furious zeal as may set the
beareth and endureth all things It bears the greatest injuries from the World and yet wishes the World well and it endures unkindness from Brethren still remaining kind to them it is not transported by the fancied intolerableness of any injury so as to render evil for evil it minds that of the Apostle 1 Thes 5. 15. See that nonè render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among your selves and towards all men Oh Love How much want is there of thee in the Church of Christ and how much does this Church feel for this want it groans it languishes it dies daily because of thy absence Return O Love return Repair breaches restore paths to dwell in edifie the old waste places and raise up the Foundations of many Generations for after all the most politick contrivances Thou wilt be found the Master-builder Having done with the reasons which demonstrate that Love is for the Churches Edification I am in the fourth place to shew the vanity of those excuses that are made for the want of Love 1. Some say they are bound to contend earnestly for the Faith and therefore Mildness and Love in this case are but urged unseasonably strive they ought and strive they will I Answer That sincere Protestants of all perswasions agree in the same Faith and their disagreeing among themselves is the way not to uphold that Faith but to destroy it The Controversies between them is about Circumstantials and external modes of Worship they all own the same Doctrine of the Gospel in opposition to the Corruptions and Heresies of Rome That 's a bad Contention that does exclude Love He that believes the Gospel of Christ to be the Gospel of Peace cannot but follow after Peace Fides Amor quam benè conveniunt How well do Faith and Love agree both together make the Breast-plate of a Christian 1 Thes 5. 8. Whereby his Heart is armed and secured 2. Others say they will not halt between two Opinions they will follow God and not Baal they are for Christ and not for Antichrist and are resolved to have no Charity for the Beasts Worshippers nor any Communion with them I Answer Do not call that Idolatry and Antichristianism which Christ calls not by such a Name To charge all Conformists with Idolatry is an â—eavy Charge as bold as heavy and as unreasonable and uncharitable as either I am sure the Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes though Conformists were enabled to suffer the rage of Rome and loved not their Lives unto the Death that they might bear their Testimony against the Idolatry of Antichrist Those that affirm a Form of Prayer to be a Spiritual Image and consequently a breach of the second Commandment seem to me to discover a greater strength of Phancy than of Judgment I grant the Second Commandment forbiddeth the Worship of the true God by a false medium or means and such a false means is an Image for by this means the Glory of the incorruptible God is changed into the similitude of a corruptible Creature which we are forbidden to fall down to and Worship so that the medium or means forbidden in this Law is an object as well as means Now those who are most for Forms of Prayer will deny them to be the objects of their Worship their Worship is directed to God alone and only in the Name of Christ the Mediator That Reverend Author who asserts a Form of Prayer to be an Image forbidden in the Second Commandment yet does grant That a Christian Man whether Minister or of private place may by the Gift of Prayer which he hath received compile to himself a set Form of Prayer and may use the same for his Prayer whether in publick or in private according to his place But if a Form were indeed forbidden by no means 〈◊〉 a man make such a Form of Prayer for himself Further Let me add that all who cry out against Antichristianism should beware of Vncharitableness which is a great part of it Rome is full of Cruelty censures and condemns all that are not of her way and affirms 't is impossible that they should be Saved Those in whom Christian love does most abound I am sure are come furthest out of Babylon and are likeliest to hinder a return thither what animosities and divisions will do I wish that time may not too soon manifest 3. Others plead that they are for a thorough Reformation and the purging of all impuritie out of the Church of Christ and they cannot endure such as do things by halves only I Answer That 't is the Glory of the Protestant Churches that they are Reformed ones and none of them are so pure but Reformation may be advanced to an higher degree The Compilers of the Common Prayer in the Commination acknowledge that in the Primitive Church there was a godly Discipline which is wanting among us and they wish that it may be restored So that a need of Reformation in Discipline is here plainly confessed and the thing desired But a Reformation is regularly to be endeavoured no man using unwarrantable means nor transgressing the bounds of his vocation And while we are talking against Impurity in adminisâ—â—â—â—ions which the more exactly according to the Word of God the purer and the purer the better and more effectual let us not overlook some of the worst impurities of all Pride and Envy and Hatred and Wrath are the Impurities of the Devil himself other sins may have more of the Bruit or of the Child but these have more of Beelzebub 'till thou art reconciled to thy Brother ' think not that thy Offering will be accepted Mat. 5. 24. while thy Heart is full of bitterness and Self-conceit and Strife do not imagine thou canst be a pure Worshipper 4. Others say What shall we Love a Company of Apostates that are for returning to the Onions and Garlick of Aegypt and will receive the mark of the Beast it self I Answer That the Scripture should be Studied and understood or else it may easily be misapplyed 'T would better become men solidly to prove a thing to be Antichristian than loudly and boldly to call it so Shall he be branded as an Apostate who manifests in his whole Conversation a fear of God that loves the Lord Jesus in sincerity that owns the great fundamental truths of the Gospel and is willing if called to it to seal them with his blood shall he I say be branded as an Apostate because to give a legal satisfaction and shew he is no Papist he sometimes hears the Prayers of the Church and Scriptures read in a known Tongue Certainly the Censurer iâ—â— greater Apostate from Love than this man is from Truth Though the well-meaning of Persons is to be well taken and whatever of God is in them is to be loved and encouraged yet this is to be disliked that differences between Protestants are made to seem greater than they are It does not