writting of Church-Letters who hath no name in Christs Church-Book of life which is the honour of holy ones Isa 4.3 He that is left in Zion and he that remaineth in Jerusalem shall be called holy even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem And Rev. 22.19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take his part out of the Book of life and out of the holy City and out from the things that are written in this Book 10. The tenth and last is that which knocks loudly at the gates of godly hearts to be weekly contributing and openly bringing their Tribute royal rent and spiritual Subsides to the Lord of their soil and souls on the Lords day as they are directed to do who would be deemed free Members of a reformed Church in the Scriptures of truth Deut. 16.10 16 And thou shalt keep the Feast of weeks unto the Lord thy God with a Tribute of a free will-offering of thy hand which thou shalt give to the Lord thy God according as he hath blessed thee And verse 16. They shall not appear before the Lord empty Also 1 Cor. 16.1 2. Let every one upon the first day of the week lay by him in store as God hath prospered him And vers the 1 As I have given order to the Churches of Gallatia so do you Is not Jesus Christ the King of the blessed Gentiles as well as of the believing Jews And is not he as worthy of Subsidy as of Sovereignty Or are those persons likely to present him with voluntary contribution that do not list themselves among his skirmishing and contending Souldiers or sworn Subjects in his visible Camp and Kingdom As 't is prov'd that none but such believing Christians as come under the bond of the Covenant amongst Church Members are in an uncondemnable posture or as yet in a capacity to observe and keep either every one or any one of those ten aforementioned remarkeable Gospel Precepts so 't is as plain that all those Persons which are not compleatly come to that promotion together with such Professors of godlinesse as do not firmly continue and persevere in that place cannot warrantably without presumption make use of as to apply to themselves any one of ten mercifull and memorable Gospel Promises although there case and condition should never so much require or their souls desire the same They are these 1. The Promise of a Place among excelling Saints 2. Of pardon of sin under Seal 3. A princely prizing of Christians as Christians 4. Prosperity of Spirit 5 Freedom from fear 6. A New Name 7 Childrens good education 8. Spiritual Joy 9. Outward goods 10 and lastly A Promise of a true title to Divine Teachers and reformed Pastors The first whereof is the Promise of a place amongst Saints that excell in vertue such as Christ doth professe his delight is in as 't is shewn in that golden prophetick Psalm Psal 16.3 concerning which happinesse he hath past his Royal Word in both his Testaments namely in Isaiah 56.3 c. Let not the son of the stranger that hath joyned himself to the Lord say The Lord hath separated me from his people nor let the Eunuch say I am a dry tree For thus saith the Lord to the Eunuches that keep my Sabboths and chuse the things that please me and take hold on my Covenant even unto them will I give in mine House and within my walls a Place c. Is the preferring to such a place such a Priviledge and appertaining to such contrite-hearted persons as do so take hold on Christ who is the summe and substance as wâ—ll as the Surety of the Covenant of Grace as that they both make and keep Covâ—nâ—â—â— with God among his holy and Houshold Servants then tell me I pray what evil else or lesse then downright exclusion or direfull keeping out and staying off from coming to Christs Church-Camp can be the expectation of carelesse wretches and unclean waiters among Church-neighbours according to that awkening and wounding Commination Rev. 21.27 There shall not enter into it i. e. the reformed Church any thing that defileth nor any thing that worketh abomination or maketh a lye And what save disconsolate excommunication from Communion and continuance in Christs spiritual Kingdom will be the Portion of unconstant and unconscionable walkers therein If Christs own mouth may be credited which doth manifest as much Mat 8.11 c. Many shall come from the East and West and shall sit down with Abraham Isaac and Jacob in the Kingdom of Heaven Is' t no grief to non-comers to any Church of Christ that they have no place there Or is' t no disgrace to non-continuers in Church-communion that the red Dragon and rending Devil hath with his fawning tayl or froâ—â—â—â—â— teeth drawn or drag'd them thence 2. The second is the Promise of pardon under Seal or a feeling assurance of forgivenesse of sins which is sweetly spoken of in several Scriptures as Isaiah 33.20 24. Look upon Zion the City of our Solemnities their eyes shall see Jerusalem a quiet habitation and the Inhabitants shall not say I am sick the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquities Of which special favour Christ himself speaks very fully Mat. 26.26 c. And as they were eating Jesus took bread and blessed it c. And he took the cup and gave it to them saying Drink ye all of it for this is my blood of the New-Testament which is shed for many for the remission of sinnes Is such an unfeigned assurance ordinarily found in any souls save only in such as have a name or a nail in Christs spiritual House whereof his loyal and visibly holy Houshold Servants are the lively stones Would you O my friends have Christ to give you a full and free forgivenesse of all your former sinnes while you sinfully and wilfully withhold or withdraw your personal presence from the Lords soul-feasting Supper Can ye possibly receive Christs sealed pardon and withall keep your selves out of the reach of Christs sealing appointments Can you procure under his hand a non-obstante or toleration for your absence from his House and non-appearance at his door posts Farre be it from you to confound the Ordinances of the Lord with the Lord of Ordinances and to say That the creating-Ruler and his created Rules are not to be distinguished but are the same I do beseech you for his sake whose your souls are let that be the frantick conception if they will needs have and hold it only of those deplorable Objects of pitty I mean the * These creatures when they came first swarming from the North were called Quakers CONFOUNDERS and of such unreasonable fellows as have no Faith or are worse then Infidels in forsaking the Faith which they professe to have God forbid that you should be any of that sort or sect that dare apply the sacred Institution of
and that Christianity it self is lesse legible in their lives who walk so quite contrary to Christs Church waies as 't is mavelous plain by this one eminent particular which is such a piece of inaequity that I say not iniquity that if my heart were not very bad it would wish that it might even weep teares of blood to think thereupon knowing by experience that such of your Church-neighbours as have but so much humanity or civil honesty as was in the former Pharisees the contemners of Christ who did not do not dare not for their very necks take from the worst of their foes as much as will amount to the value of thirteenpence halfpenny contrary to the Lawes of the Land Yet not a few as I have been faithfully informed of the Church-members that have left the Church with you who had publiquely bound their souls if not explicitely yet implicitely by a Curse and by an Oath to be Covenant-keepers with Christ and with his Church in the presence of God Angels and men as you cannot chuse but acknowledg and confesse in case you have any more then ordinary acquaintance with the Name and Nature of a Church-Covenant as 't is held out for our Information and Imitation in Deut. 29.12 That thou shouldest enter inter into Covenant with the Lord thy God and into his Oath which the Lord thy God maketh with thee So Ezek 20.37 I will bring you into the bond of the Covenant Also Jer. 50.5 They shall ask the way in Zion with their faces thither-ward saying Come let us joyn our selves to the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that shall not be forgotten And Neh. 10.29 They clave to enter into a Curse and into an Oath to walk in Gods Law c. Who notwithstanding all their such Bonds and Obligations make no bones of bereaving I know not how may of their best friends and Brethren in fellowship of their good Names which are rated above riches or Inheritance and that in the judgment of the Eldest Sonne of wisdom Prov. 22.1 A good Name is rather to be chosen then great riches When I am given to understand that you in conformity to the counsell of the wonderfull Counsellor Joh. 8.46 Which of you convinceth me of sinne So Mat. 7 5. Thou Hippocrite first cast out the beame from thine own eye and then shalt thou clearly see the mote in thy Brothers And Gal 6.1 If a man be overtaken restore him in the spirit of meeknesse I say when I am given to understand that you in conformity to these Scripture Rules do study and strive to restore such of your Covenant-Brethren as you conceive to be Covenant-breakers by convincing them solidly that this or that PRACTICE is a regulary condemn'd sin and that this or that PERSON among them is a regulary accus'd sinner then Christ asisting me I shall desire and indeavour openly to appear to be one that is engaged to approve of and to plead for such a Christian proceeding In the mean time I beseech you to bear with me for my taking so much boldnesse as out of my inward loyalty to my glorious Saviour and out of my unfeigned love to your precious souls to bear witnesse that ye are as yet so farre from being very regular walkers as that as long as ye continue either against Church-Covenant or out of Church-Communion so long you cannot be groundedly conceived to be in a capacity to keep any one of ten remarkeable Rules of Christ which we are commanded to keep as heedfully as we should the Apple of our eye Prov 7.2 And for the presumptuous breaking of the least of them we should expose our selves to be not only very contemptible persons but also which is farre worse to be found notorious guilty ones and lawlesse livers as 't is to be seen by what is testified in Mat 5.19 Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least Commandements and shall teach men so he shall be call'd the least in the Kingdom of Heaven So James 2.10 He that keepes the whole Law and offends in one point he is guilty of all And least I should seem to slander you or any other by affirming That such Professors of Christianity as knowingly refuse either to come into Church-Covenant or to continue in Church-Communion are as yet not in a capacity to obey any one of ten very remarkeable Commands which all that would be blessed and regular walkers are found to walk by consider seriously how I confirm that Affirmation Oh that you were but half so well pleased to peruse and ponder upon them as I am willing to take the paines to point them out and to penne them for you 1. The first is about the avouching of the God of Christ and of the Church to be your God in Covenant by your presence and profession in the publique Congregation according to the commendable pattern in Deut 26 17 c. Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his waies and he hath avouched thee c. So Isaiah 44.5 One shall say I am the Lords and another shall call himself by the Name of Jacob and another shall subscribe with his own had to the Lord and sirname himself by the name of Israel Also Jerem. 50.5 Ezek. 20. the 37. Acts 2.46 47. Rom. 12.1 2 Cor. 8 5. c. Is' t possible for any person to discharge that publique duty that doth ordinarily decline the publique Meeting-place 2. The second is that which binds Believers to be admitting such as be in the Faith into Church-fellowship in conformity to Christs command in Rom. 14.1 3. Him that is weak in the Faith receive but not to doubtfull disputation for God hath received him Where Christ doth enjoyn this service what Christian dares omit the same either to neglect to offer his own self to Christ and to the Church or to be absent when he should be present at the receiving of others that Christ hath received Only such a one as domineering Diotrephes dares to do so Joh 9 10. I wroâ—e to the Church but Diotrephes who loves to have the preheminence among them receives us not c. 3. The third is concerning the Electing of Church Officers by lifting up of the hand as oft as occasion requires viz. of TEACHERS PASTORS RULERS and DEACONS in immitation of those circumspest Walkers recorded Acts 1.23 And they appointed two c. So Act. 6.3 Wherefore fore Brethren look ye out among you c. And verse 5. The saying pleased the multitude and they chose Stephen And Chap. 14.23 According to the Queens translation And when they had ordained them Elders by Election in EVERY Church and prayed and fasted they commended them to the Lord in whom they believed So 1 Tim 3.10 Let these also be first proved then let them use the Office of a Deacon Are they capable to have a lifted up hand in the Church-Officers Election who have no heart to continue 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