Church-ordered Communion 4. The fourth is that which doth declare a Christians duty to be duly edifying some Church of Christ by his personal presence Prayers and paines as 't is clearly manifest by what is written in 1 Cor. 14.1 Follow after charity and desire spiritual gifts but rather that ye may prophesie And verse 12. Seek that ye may excell to the edifying of the Church So Eph. 2. verse the 19 20 21 22. Ye are fellow-Citizens with the Saints built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone in whom all building is fitly framed and growth together unto an holy Temple In whom ye are also builded togethe for an habitation of God through the Spirit So 1 Pet. 2 5. Ye also as living stones are built up a spiritual house an holy Priesthood to offer up spiritual Sacrifice acceptable to God by Jesus Christ And Jud. 20. Building up your selves on your most holy Faith praying in the holy Spirit Are they in a capacity to conform to these commands who do not close with and conjoyn in the Church-covenant You know that they are farre from being Church-edifiers who are Church defamers much more Church-despisers which I trust you are not or at leastwise you should abhor to be 5. The fifth is that which exhorts and necessitates a Christian to be informing the Church in their solemn Meetings of the obstinacy of an offending Church Member in order to that memorable instruction Mâ—t. 18 17. But if he shall neglect to hear them then tell it to the Church Can any be commissioned to be a witnesse as upon Oath against wrongfull walking who is himself an Alien or an unworthy and unwarrantable walker 6. The sixth is that which fairely and fully institutes Christs Covenant-servants to be spirituall Judges of such souls as are either to be excommunicated from Church-consociation or else to be absolved from Church-excommunication as it appeares by what is extent Psal 149 8. To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with sletters So 1 Cor 5.12 Do you not judge them that are within So 2 Cor. 10.6 Having in readinesse to revenge all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled c. And Chap. 2.6 Sufficient to such a man is this punishment Is' t possible that such a person should be in a capacity to partake of such high honour as hath not a nail or Name in Christs house no more then Sanballat the Horonite or Tobiah the Ammonite noted with a black coal in Neh. 2.19.20 But when Sanballat the Horonite and Tobiah the Ammonite and Geshem the Arabian heard it the laught us to scorn and despised us c. 7. The seventh is that which goades and spurres faithfull Parents to offer their Infants to fellowship with the Church in the first Seal of the Covenant of Grace which doth seal their grafting into Christ as it appeares by many memorable prescriptions and Praedictions as Cant. 1.8 Feed thy Kids by the Tents of the Shepherds So Chap. 47. Thy teeth are like a flock of Sheep whereof every one brings forth twinnes And Chap. the 6. 5 The same words So Isaiah the 49.22 They shall bring thy Sons in their arms any thy daughters shall be carried upon their shoulders And Chap. 59 21. My Spirit that is upon thee and my words which I have put into thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed Mark 10.14 15. But Jesus said Suffer little Children to come unto me for of such is the Kingdom of God And Act. 15.10 Now certain arose saying That 't was needfull to circumcise But Peter said unto them Why tempt ye God to put a yoke upon the neck of the Disciples Note that Children of eight daies old are here called Disciples of Christ and 't is granted by all that Disciples of Christ may be baptized Are not the Infants of Believers to be accounted believing Infants seeing he stiles them so who spake as never man spake Is there not a passive as well as an active Faith Iâ— not the first before the second in all Christs Flock yea in young Infants as well as in old folks Hath he not told and taught you that 't is by such a Faith as is in Believers Infants which is a passive Faith that the Kingdom of God is received If it be a truth that the least Child is a rational creature as well as the eldest man though not in respect of the act or exercise yet in regard of the habit and root of reason which is a reasonable Spirit Is' t not as true that the least child of the Covenant of Grace is to be acknowledged a Christian and a gracious child although not for or from any act or exercise of grace of Christianity yet for and from the root and ground thereof which is the gracious spirit of Christ If he emboldneth to bring such Babes to himself who dares withhold them from him Or are they in a capacity to present their seed to the Church who absent themselves from the same 8. The eighth is that which helps feeble and forgetfull Saints to encrease in heavenly-mindednesse and in holinesse by eating often of Christ body by Faith at the Love-Feast of the Lords-Supper which is the Seal that Seals their growth in grace to which end 't is ordained to be used and observed Luk. 22.19 And he took the bread and gave thankes and brake it and gave unto them saying This is my body which was given for you this do in remembrance of me Likewise also the Cup saying This is the Cup of the New Testament in my blood which is shed for you So Joh. 6.53 Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood ye have no life in you And 1 Cor. 11. the 24 25 26 verses After the same manner he took the Cup saying This Cup is the New Testament in my blood this do yet as often as ye drink it So verse 26. For as often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup c. Can such persons be deemed fit guests at such Church-Feasts which have not admittance and abode in Church-fellowship And how can the eat often at the Lords Table who do not eat once in a year or in their life time 9. The ninth is that which interests Christs Members in voting about sending of Church-Messengers and in writing of Church-Letters which in such cases ought to be conformed unto by all conformable Christians as most evidently appears by what way practised Act. 13.22 23. Then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the WHOLE Church to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch and wrote Letters after this manner c. So 2 Cor. 3.1 Need we as others Epistles of commendation Can one be a chuser of Church-Messengers that is not himself chosen to be a Church-member Or hath he a vote in
were those gracelesse companions that are condemned in the Gospel of Luke 19.14 7. The seventh is that which assures converted Parents must evidently of the hopefull Education and heavenly Election of their Children as 't is apparently promised in Isa 65 19 22. And I will rejoyce in Jerusalem and joy in my people and the voice of crying shall be no more hoard fâ—â— as the daies of the tree are the daies of my people and mine Elect shall enjoy in old age the work of their hand they are the sâ—â—â— of the blessed of the Lord and their buds with them Who can affirm that those Infants dâ— relate to Christs Elect Flock whose Father have relinquish't Christs Fould and do love to live out of it Shall not the sinnes of such Parents be visited upon their children when his sanctifying Spirit that is in his Covenant-Servants shall rest in their seed and seeds seed from generation to generation according to what is recorded Isa 44.34 I will pour my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thy Off-spring and they shall spring as among the grasse as willows by the water-courses So Chap. 54.13 And all thy Children shall be taught of the Lord and great shall be the peace of thy Children And Chap 59.20 The Redeemer shall come to Zion and to them that turn from transgression in Jacob For this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord my Spirit that is upon thee and my words that I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy seed nor out of the mouth of thy seeds seed saith the Lord. But if the Mother live a Jezallells life will not Christ kill her Children with death and cause ALL the Churches thereabouts to know that he himself hath been the searcher for the foul offences of such Mothers or Fathers as are Church desiâ—ers as 't is threatned in Rev. 2.22 23. 8. The eighth is that whereby God is engaged to free from forrow and to fill with Joy the souls of his Covenant-Servants in Church-fellowship as 't is to be seen in expresse termes Isa 65 13 14 17 18 19. Behâ—â—â— my Sâ—rvants shall rejoyce but ye shall be ashamed they shall sing for joy of hâ—â—â—â— but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart and howle for vexation of spirit Be glad and rejoyce for ever in that which I create for behold I create Jerusalem a rejoycing and her people a jâ—y and the voice of weâ—pinâ—â—â—all be no more heard nor the voice of crying c. Have they either Rule or Reason to rejoyce that refuse to relate to the heavenly Jerusalem or to spend their whole time in his spiritual Temple with the eminent triumphers mentioned in Revel 7.9 10 15 17. After this I beheld a great multitude which no man could number of all Nations â—nd Kindred and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the Lamb cloathed with White Robes and Palmes in their hands crying with a loud voice Salvation to our God Therefore they are before the Throne of God and serve him day and night and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes So Chap. 12.12 Rejoyce therefore ye Heavens and ye that dwell therein Who besides notorious flatterers dare affirm that they are heavenly Christians or perswaded with Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shâ—m with Christ who dare affront and disobey his Combinational Churches May they be said to be regular rejoycers in the King of Saints who refuse either to walk with or work among his conformable Subjects Truly those and only those children of men that dare give the lye to God will stand to such an Assertion 9. The ninth is that which laies down a ground of hope for to enjoy a considerable quantity of outward goods and earthly comforts as 't is found affirm'd and confirm'd Psal 23. the 1 5 6 verses The Lord is my Sheapherd I shall not want Thou preparest a Table before me thou anointest my head with oyl my Cup runnes over Surely goodnesse and mercy shall follow me all the daies of my life and I will dwell in the House of the Lord for ever So Isa 65.21 They shall build Houses and inhabit them they shall plant Vineyards and eat the fruit thereof They shall not build and another inhabit they shall not Plant and another eat And Ezek. the 34.25 26. They shall dwell safely in the wildernesse and sleep in the woods and I will make them and the places round about them blessing and will cause the shower to come down in his season there shall be showers of blessing Though sometimes the best of the Lords Covenant Servants as Elias and Paul may be brought to a very low ebbe for the things of this life yet was there ever any want of food convenient or any other necessary good to such as were faithfull dwellers that is to say weldoers in the House of God Although the Dew of Heaven and the fatnesse of the Earth doth often fall out to be the share of an Esau who falls away from Christs little Flock in Isacc's Family for to live alone as an out cast Cain in in Mount Seir or the Land of Nod which is the place of Vagrants yet is' t not easie to observe that that large cut that is so carved to him and his is such an unsatisfied superfluity as doth but fatten them for the day of slaughter And such persons prosperity is an usuall fore runner of sore perdition as it appears Psal 73 12. Prov. 1.32 Doth God at any time shower down his true blessings but about the blessed Sheapherds Tents where his tame and tractable Sheep and Lambs have their abode Can you shew that any persons are so persued with such devouring distresses such perplexing poverty such fearfull Afflictions as unthankfull Church Members and evil Church-neighbours are It being but the fearfull fulfilling of what was fiercely foretold in Deut. 28.47 48. Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulnesse of heart for the abundance of all things thou shalt serve thine enemies in hunger thirst and nakednesse and in want of all things So Isa 8 21 22 When they shall be hungry they shall fret themselves and curse their King and their God They shall look to the earth and behold trouble and darknesse dimnesse of anguish So Jer. 12.13 14. They have sown Wheat but shall reap thornes and put themselves to pain but shall not profit because of the fierce anger of the Lord And they shall be ashamed of your revenues Thus saith the Lord God against his evil NEIGHBOVRS 10. The tenth and last of those Gospel-Promises which persons that are out of Church-Covenant are not in a capacity to close with or to take comfort from is the Promise of an undoubted title to Divine Teachers and an unfeigned propriety to reformed and reforming Pastors of which singular mercy solemn mention is made in both Testaments as in Isa 30.20 Thy Teachers shall not be removed any more into a corner but thine eyes shall see thy Teachers So Jer. 3.15 I will give you Pastors according to my own heart who shall feed you with understanding and knowledge And 1 Cor. 3.5 9 22. Who is Paul and who is Apollo but Ministers by Whom ye believed For we are Labourers together with God ye are Gods Husbandry ye are Gods Building Whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas or the world or life or death or things present or things to come all are yours and ye are Christs and Christ is Gods So Heb. 13.17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch over your souls as they that must give an account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is not profitable for you Is' t probable that their souls shall be preserved from going astray after Satan who unthankfully refusing to attend on the teaching of publique Teachers do reject Gods ordinary means of preservation Are they not to this day running on in Apostacy who are not related to any Pastors Or is' t any wonder that they dare so wretchedly to wrest the Sacred Scriptures and to wallow in open sinnes who will have no Church Officers to watch over their souls NOW I appeal to any professing person that is endued either with conscience or common sense whether it be not a known duty which is due to Christ from all those creatures who would be accounted Christians both to obey these Ten memorable Precepts and also to embrace these Ten mercifull Promises that are pointed at in this present Paper and whether any one of all the children of Adam is in a capacity to answer his expectation in any measure in an ordinary manner that is not either in very deed or at least in desire and endeavour both converted to Christ and also in Covenant with some one or other of his Congregational Churches Thus not doubting any thing at all but that every one of you that is well gathered to Christ and well grounded on Christ will be very willing to be guided and governed by Christ This labour and these lines of love are left with you all and all of you with the Lord by him who is Yours to be commanded in any service that shall be according to Christ MARMADUKE MATTHWS ANd now let me implore and request every one of you to be so far tender of Gods not to be stained Honour and that glorious Profession you have taken upon you as to eschew both the Name and Nature of a RENDING CHURCH-MEMBER its repute as well as the reallity Resolving by Gods assistance for the future to be rebuilding not rending Christs growing Temple and in the first place to suffer your selves to be REGULARLY RECAL'D and in the interim to joyn both heart and band in sending up unanimous Ejaculations to petition his Divine Majesty that himself will be pleased to condescend so low as to bow the Heavens and to put unto these uncomfortable beginnings a comfortable END
he said Come and see my zeal for the Lord. But in Hos 1.4 't is counted cruelty I will avenge the blood of Jezrel upon the House of Jehu or that provoking to vertue which was expressed by Judas and such as he in Mat. 7.22 Many will say Lord Lord have we not in thy Name cast out Devils and by thy Name done many great works c. In short 't is such an abhominable Sacrifice as is the shedding of mans blood if the blessed God be worthy to be believed in what he saith in Isaiah 1.15 When ye make many Prayers I will not hear your hands are full of blood And Chap. 66.3 He that kills an Ox is as if he he slew a man he that sacrifizeth a Lamb as if he cut off a dogs neck he that offers an oblation as if he offered swines blood he that burneth Incense as if he blesseth an Idoll Yea they have chose their own waies and their soul delights in their abominations As 't is a truth that none dare deny that separation from prophane sinners though professing Saints is such a service for the MATTER of it as Christ doth command as 't is to be seen by what is already shewn So 't is no falshood to affirm That such a separation for the MANNER thereof is not a Christian or commendable separation â—f it be not carried on according to Scripture Precepts or Patterns as 't is most clear by what is expressly required by the Almighty himself in several places as Act 7.44 Heb. 8.5 See that thou do all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the Mount And 1 Cor. 14.40 Let all things be done decently and in order And wast never observed by any of you that though Vzza and Vzziah did observe a right ORDINANCE in the carriage of the Ark and offering of Incense yet the one was destroyed and the other disgrac't and degraded for the meer miscarriage that was manifested thereabouts in not observing a right ORDER as all may see in that terrible-treble Looking glass that is left for Church-Ministers for Court-Magistrates and for Church Members to look upon in 1 Chron. 15.13 The Lord our God made a breach upon us because we sought him not after the due order And 2. Chron. 26.16 But when Vzziah was strong his heart was lifted up to his destruction for he transgrest against the Lord his God and went into the Temple of the Lord to burn Incense on the Alter of Incense So Chap 30.18 20. For a multitude of the people even many of Ephraim and Manasseth Izzâ—char and Zebulon had not cleansed themselves yet did they eat the Passover otherwisâ— then 't was written But Hezekiah prayeâ— for them saying The good Lord pardon every one And the Lord hearkened to Hezekiah and healed the people Or can it be but confest and acknowledged by all of you that the only Orthodox Order in making of seperation from Church-Communion is That it may not be till after the first and second Admonition be administred and that by such 〈◊〉 power as is superior to to the party offending except you disapprove which God forbid of what Christ doth prescribe Mat. 18.15 16 17. If thy Brothers shaâ—â— trespasse against thee go and tell him his faulâ— between thee and him alone and if he heâ—â— thee thou hast gain'd him So Joh. 8.17 'T is also written in your Law that the Testimony of two witnesses is true So 2 Cor. 13.1 In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be establâ—shed And Tit. 3.10 A man that is an Heretick after the first and second Admonition reject And for the Assumption which is the second part of the Argument which by your Questions you seem to urge 't is utterly destitute of any proof whether you mean the whole body of the Congregational Church whereof ye are Members and which was for a long time owned as by others so especially by your selves to be one of those reformed Churches of Christendome which in Scripture-language are called Queens as in Cant. 6.8 There are threescore Queens and fourscore Concubins and Virgins without number And therefore know it and that not so much from the Pen of a dying man as from the Spirit of the living God That no Queen or such a Church is by deffamation or any other way to be defiled by any person upon pain of dreadfull destruction to the defiler witnesse what is on Record on that account 1 Cor. 3.17 If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are That is to say the Church of Corinth Or whether you would be understood by your writing to point at some of the particular Members of that Political body 't is very apparent I think that orderly proof of any disorderly practice among them was never yet produced Is it not rational and regular that they should have a fair and open tryal together with a clear conviction that the accused ones are barren branches Joh. 15. and 26 Twice dead trees Jud. 12. Rotten Members Gal. 5.12 Choaking thornes Mat. 13.22 Or wallowing swine 2 Pet. 2.22 before they can with any good grounds good conscience or according to Christ be disfranchized of their Citizens freedome deprived of their Church-Priviledges much lesse dismembred from the body supplanted from the Vineyard rooted from the Field drived from the Fold and Flock to which they do relate and belong least of all is the whole Body Field or Fold to be deserted but boâ—h the one and the other is to be participated with in what is of good report and faithfully and frequently provok't to what is good by all such of their fellow members as would not be esteemed wilfull villifiers of Christs blood disobeyers of his directions despisers and despiters of his holy Spirit From all which the good Lord deliver us least otherwise we might perish with the Apostates which you read are indicted arrained and threatned to be executed in Heb. Chap. 10 25 26 27 28 29 verses Not forsaking the assembling our selves together as the manner of some is but exhorting one another and so much the more as ye see the day approaching for if we sinne wilfully after that we have receiv'd the knowledge of the truth there remaines no more Sacrifice but a certain direfull looking for of vengeance and fiery indignation which devoures the Adversaries Of how much more sore punishment suppose ye shalle he be thought worthy who hath trodden under foot the Son of God and hath counted the blood of the Covenant wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing and hath done despight to the Spirit of grace Therefore the Conclusion which is the last part of the Argument which was urg'd concerning Church-members qualification and Communion concludes nothing more then this one thing viz That the charity of some old and sundry young Professors of Christianity is so little that 't is scarce visible to ordinary eyes