after vers 6. But Christ as a Son over his own house in which he is a chief corner stone and hath a greater Propriety then Moses had upon all respects whose house are we c. i. e. The faithful in the times of the Gospel are the house and Church of Christ and not this or that Nation or Province lying continually at the mercy and dispositions of the wills of Princes guided by carnal interests and acted by corrupt minds to the modelling of it by mutable Laws as they shall correspond most with their State-designs and purposes which had been a great ground to have suspected the faithfulness of Christ if he had left his Church under such a Proteus-like form and constitution as to be lyable to all the models changes and alterations of future ages that the powers of the world would form them into under a pretence of profession of Christianity when as very few of them if they were duely weighed in the ballance of the Sanctuary will prove to be much more then almost Christians Lastly The purpose and design of the Lord Jesus Christ by his Incarnation Sufferings Miracles wrought and Doctrine Preached by himself and Apostles was the gathering both Jews and Gentiles Elect into one Body his Church where-ever scattered or dispersed not respecting one Nation or people more then another any further then in respect of the Elect Ones among them nor designing any Kingdom as yet in this world with External Pomp and Grandeur but rather a continuation of a Suffering State with very little intermission under the powers of the Earth exercising the rage and cruelty of the Dragon against the Church and afterward the Tyranny and Usurpation of the Seven Headed Romish Beast and False Prophet neither designed he the calling of many wife men after the Flesh not many mighty not many noble 1 Cor. 1.26 otherwise then which he would certainly have done had he designed National Provincial Churches he would have said I design a Church that may top at least give check to earthly Kings Princes I will turn their heart make them mine both they and their Subjects Therefore I will call many wise men after the Flesh many mighty and many noble persons who shall rule manage and defend my Church which may be in after-ages but we see it quite contrary yet Ver. 27. God hath chosen the foolish things of this world to confound the wise and God hath chosen the weak things of this world to confound the things that are mighty and base things of this world and things that are despis'd to cary on his spiritual rule Believe it this matter cannot constitute a National Church it must be another sort of men Whatever men therefore may confidently assert and however they make a boast and vaunt themselves of National Churches Officers Members yea and National Jurisdiction and Judicature exerted in Spiritual Courts so called none of which were of Christ's Appointment and Institution but were the meer products of Humane Policies and meer Antichristian Shams put upon the poor carnal blind world whereby that Wicked One endeavours to carry away the eyes and hearts of the children of men from the true plain and Spiritual Spouse of Christ and go a whoring after Harlots that are agreeable to the fashions of this world in Pride Pomp Pleasures Covetousness c. And I say though such Ecclesiastical Powers as also Civil may deal very hardly upon this account with the true Followers of the Lamb and Deluding Pulpiteers may terrify and fright some more weak and less grounded Christians with ambiguous words mis-interpretation and false application of the Scriptures of Truth calling light darkness and darkness light calling what they please Church Charity Communion Uniformity Schism Separation Rebellion Disobedience to Laws Governments c. Yet through the mercy of the most High there are some that have bought the Truth in these latter dayes of light at dear rates of Sufferings with expence of Estates Liberties and Lives under the Antichristian Tyranny and tasted so much of the sweetness and excellency of it that they will not sell it so as to part with it for worldly interest or be affrighted from it by the open mouths of Roaring Lyons nor jugaled out of it by the Sham-Divinity of the slie Foxes that spoil the Vines We have nothing to say to such men but as Hannah spake 1 Sam. 2.3 Talk no more so proudly let not arrogancy come out of your mouth for the Lord is a God of Knowledge and by him Actions are weighed And as for some good old Ely's who are too much blinded with prejudice passion and interest keep a great sputter against Schism Separation from the Church c. and do not seldom grieve the hearts of Christs Members by their unwarrantable doctrines and practices in the great concerns of Gods Worship and but gently rebuke Hophni and Phineas we are very well assured that however they may have laid a a good foundation in some people yet their superstructure is but hay and rubbish which shall certainly be burnt and the day shall make it manifest what it is The only Plea that is made for a National Church that is worth our Observation is from the Prophesies of Old of calling in the Nations Sprinkling many Nations c. Isa 5.26 chap. 52.15 chap. 45.1 This Argument hath little in it to prove a Gospel National Church for these and such like Prophesies reser to the calling of the Gentiles the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is indifferently rendred Gentiles and Nations and it intends no more then the Conversion of the elect Gentiles scattered up and down in all Nations and if it be to be understood of some whole Nations becoming Christian it argues nothing of the necessity that the Nation should become one Church Organized but that the Gospel-Profession of Christianity and the Gospel-churches should overspread the most of a Nation or prevail upon the ruling part of it though very seldom to be brought in Subjection to the Crown Scepter and Laws of the Lord Jesus Christ Erected in visible Churches planted there And it s no hinderance but that christian and religious Magistrates have Scope enough to Exert that power which Christ hath entrusted them withal as such for his Honour and Interest in making and Executing Laws for Restraint of Sin and Encouragement of Vertue in all matters touching Natural Religion as likewise in taking care for the effectual Propagation as much as may be in a due way and manner of the Revealed Religion and by being Nursing Fathers to the Churches countenancing and encouraging them in all strict Observation of the commands of Christ and Exemplary conversation both as Churches and particular Christians defending them from the the Rage Malice and Persecution of the Professed Enemies of the Lord Jesus Christ But know that a christian Magistrate rightly informed in his Duty as Christian and Magistrate hath a Heart and Opportunity to use both those
upon grounds more evident believed then any reasons brought to prove the contrary by that worthy person wherein he acknowledgeth himself almost singular in this undertaking and lays his first and greatest stress on that expression 1 Cor. 11.22 Here saith he I take the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Church to note not the Assembly but the place appointed for sacred duties and that from the opposition thereof to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 their own houses these are places proper for common and ordinary repast and not the Church or housâ— of God This is the only argument which he brings besides some obscure passages of some Fathers whose opinions will not sway here but as in other things so far as we see them consonant to the truth manifest in Scriptures compared together and it seems strange that the word should have a tropical meaning in this place and every where else a proper one and besides the reason from the opposition will not hold especially if we consider what Mr. Mede understands those Oratories or Churches of theirs to be It is not to be imagined that in the first three hundred years before Constantines time that they were such goodly and stately structures as the Church had after the Empire became Christian At the first some capable and convenient Room within the walls or dwelling of some pious Disciple dedicated by the religious bounty of the owner to the use of the Church and that usually an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 upper room or Caenaculum It 's very probable that all the Disciples houses were at the service of the Churches but that any one house or room in a house was dedicated so to that religious use as to be separated for it from common uses when the Church met not is not probable at all for in times and places of Persecution if Churches meet in any certain house or place though in a private house they shall be sure to be interrupted and broken in upon by Persecuting Officers and Informers The only place met in for some time considerable that we read of was Pauls own hired house at Rome but we find not that it was consecrated or called a Church I am sure consecrated Barns Garrets Cellars or Dining Rooms would be esteemed by our devout Ecclesiasticks a great Abomination But how will the Opposition hold if the Room called the Church was in the same house they eat and drank ordinarily in He should have rather said Have ye not Kitchens or Parlours of common use to eat and drink in but you must despise or put a Prophanation on the Garret which is the Church of God Besides if that Addition had not been made to the Church I should much rather have enclined to Mr. Mâ—des sence if he had said only despise ye the Church But I take it that it would be a very audacious and highly abusive Expression to say Tâ—at a Meeting-house is a Church of God or a Church of Christ And why is not the Opposition as full thus Have you not houses to eat and drink in or Families for so the word is used But you must do it in the Church-Assemblies for they made their Love-feasts in their Assemblies It is evident enough that the Apostle takes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the Assembling of the Church together as vers 18. where its used when you meet together in Assembly i. e. when you are Congregated together I hear that there have been Divisions or Schisms among you and those he means had the Divisions who were the Church for the Gospel ascribes culpable Schismes no where but to Body Politicks or Assemblies not to Houses But if we grant Mr. Mede all that he so industriously labours to squeeze out of the Text only to favour the Relative Holiness of such places it s not to be supposed that he intended that they were real and proper Churches but only Metonymical Churches by a Trope and improperly so named no otherwise allowable names putting the Continens pro contento to distinguish places allotted to convenient assembling in Religious Worship from Town-halls and other houses of meeting together for publick concerns or more private Society and Conversation And so we lose nothing by it if such a place be called improperly a Church it s not the Church of Christ intended in the Gospel which Christ purchased with his blood nor built of living stones nor such as Christ is the Head of nor such as Paul wrote his Epistles too nor the Church of Corinth which he exhorts rebukes and commends in the Epistles that he wrote And therefore we may with the greatest assurance conclude that no place where Religious Assemblies frequently use to be is a Church of Christ or may properly be so called They that plead the Expression in the Ephesian Town-Clerks Speech Act. 19.37 Ye have brought hither these which are neither Robbers of Churches Shew their little skill in the Original Text the word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Robbers of Temples such as were dedicated to the Heathen Gods and Godesses to which they ascribed not only Relative but inherent Holiness and therefore adapted that name to them CHAP. III. Of a National and Provincial CHURCH CHrist never instituted any such Church under the Gospel Administration as a National and Provincial or Diocesan there is as much for one as for the other there 's no seeming pretence can be made for any of them from any Gospel Expression when I say this I mean not a Church in a Nation Province or Diocess nor all the particular Churches in such place collectively and co-ordinately considered But I mean in the usual acceptation of such Churches in our day as of France of Spain of Denmark c. and in the sence that a National Church was taken in under the Old Testament viz. an Organized National Provincial or Diocesan Church that have Officers or Members suited to their respective Natures and Constitution as Pastors and other Officers Exercising National Provincial or Diocesan Jurisdiction in Ecclesiastical Courts or elsewhere and Members quatenus Natives of such places being therefore said to be born within the Pale of the Church or by vertue of such Nativity have immediate right to baptism and made so I say that that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 no where signifies such a Church in the New Testament except when there is mention made of the Church of the Jews and the word is but once used in Application to them Act. 7.38 This was he who was in the Church in the Wilderness this we own was a National Church but elsewhere in the New Testament I know not of one place where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 can with any fair pretence be understood of a National Church Besides it may be argued from undeniable reasons that Christ instituted or intended not such a Church for the days of the Gospel If it be duely weighed that Christ by his Death put a full Period to the whole Jewish
Ceconomy Nationality being the form of its constitution Having Officers Members Assemblies and Ordinances suited to its Nature The Aaronick Priesthood was National a Type of Christs Priesthood relating to his universal Church this Priesthood with all the appertaining Sacrifices Ordinances Ceremonies the Manifestation of the Antitype abolished yea that kind of Church Membership was utterly abolished viz. that none could be a Member of that Church but a Jew born or one Proselyted to that Nation it being the only Nation in the Earth that God had chosen with Exclusion of all other till Christ came and brake down the Partition-Wall between Jew and Gentile after which no man was any longer to be reckoned ever the more a Church-member because he was a Native of this or that Country Col. 3.11 But in the conforming to Christs likeness There is neither Greek nor Jew Circumcision nor Vncircumcision Barbarian Scythian Bond or Free but Christ is all in all and therefore of whatever Nation a man be of if he believe on the Lord Jesus Christ he shall be saved and becomes a capable Member of the visible Church and where-ever he is born without Faith in Christ he cannot be saved neither is without a visible credible Profession thereof capable of communion with the Visible Church in all Ordinances Moreover Christ Jesus abolished all the National Church Assemblies and Ordinances for the Jews as they were one Organized Church so they were to be but one Congregation which is not known now of any one Nation assembling together for the Worship of God in one place where their Ark of the Covenant was and therefore the Tabernacle of Publick Worship was called the Tabernacle of the Congregation where all the Males were required to appear before the Lord thrice a year Exod. 14.23 24. whereby they shewed themselves assembled and a Congregated Nation all in actual communion in the same Church-Administrations and in one place all which was duly to be observed during the time of the Tabernacle and standing of the Temple and though they corruptly retained their high places for offering some Sacrifices during most of that time till the full Reformation in Hezekiahs and Josiahs days yet the Lord still charged it on them as their great sin and witnessed against it by his Messengers the Prophets as such And though they had their several Synagogues they were but for reading of the Law not for Sacrifice or Burnt-offering which were National Services and were to be dispensed only at the Tabernacle of the Congregation or at the Temple yea all Sacrifices Expiations Purifications c. appertaining to particular Levitical Uncleannesses or moral transgressions were there to be performed Now our Lord Jesus Christ never erected such a Gospel-worship after this was abolished either for matter or form neither a National Congregation nor a National Pastor as Aaron nor Ordinances adapted to a National communion as the Sacrifices of old were he never intended in this way or manner to edify his Gospel-Church Besides As Christ established the Church of the Gospel it was not capable of such a constitution such being impossible to be sustained without the countenance if not the compulsive power of civil powers and we see that de facto it came into the ruines when ever in the Jewish Nation Wicked Kings swayed the Scepter we well enough are assured that our Saviour and his Apostles formed the Gospel-Churches every where under Heathen Princes and Governours who were for the most part severe Persecutors of them witness their Sufferings in the Apostles days and during the Christians bloody Persecutions till Constantines time for 300 years at which time of prosperity this National or then rather Provincial corrupt grandeur of Church-constitution began to enter proceeding from the corrupted minds of Church Officers aspiring to the accumulation of riches honours Soon after they fell under the Arrian Heresy under which the same Church pomp continued and proceeded to grow with much Persecution and confusion and distraction in the world with the daily increase of all manner of corruptions in doctrine and worship even to the introduction of Heathenish Abominations in the worship of God till the mortal wound was given to one of the seven heads of the Romish Empire and was healed by the eighth which was the false Prophet the Grand Church Imposter under which the great Apostacy hath so manifestly prevailed and during whose Usurpation the true Church of Christ hath been in the Wilderness and the Witnesses Prophesying in Sackcloth So that our Blessed Lord and Saviour seeing the present state of his little Flock when he ascended and foreseeing their future Suffering State for so many Ages to come under Rome Heathen and after pretendedly Christian constituted such a frame of Gospel churches that were capable of being Spiritual Polities under Heathen and Antichristian Princes and Governours and fitted Officers and Ordinances for their communion and edification suited to such a state which constitution was to last by his commission to the end of the world not alterable to another kind by the will of man in the ensuing prosperous estate that the Church might he blessed withal in after ages which hath been very rare hitherto nor much to be prejudiced as to its truly intended Oeconomy by the afflictions and sufferings that it was destined by faith and patience to encounter withal Hence it will appear there being a Politick Impossibility that the Church-constitution Established by Christ and his Apostles could be National because of the Power of the Dragon raging so much against it in Governours and Rulers of the Earth during the time of the first Ages of it and afterward for the most part by reason of the Tyranny and Usurpation of the false Prophet And when that any time in any Nations it was favoured with the countenance of Christian Kings and Princes had it been National it must have been subject to all the Alterations Additions and Diminutions in Form and Worship which the corrupt and changeable minds of men in Power would invent and impose especially upon change of Governours and Governments though Christian yet divers in their Tempers Understandings and Opinions concerning Gods true Worship as also in their Interests and carriages towards the Church that it would be the most difficult thing in the World to have known the manner and Fashion of Christs house Wherefore the Apostle saith Heb. 3.1 Holy Brethren Partakers of the Heavenly calling Consider the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession Christ Jesus vers 2. Who was faithful to him that appointed him as also Moses was faithful in all his house i. e. in all things appertaining to the Worship of God in his Church vers 3. For this man was counted worthy of more Glory then Moses in as much as he who builded the house hath more Honour then the house vers 5. Moses verily was faithful in all his house as a Servant for a Testimony of those things that were to be spoken
gavest me that is the charge of as a visible Pastor and that I took upon their visible Profession I have lost none but the Son of Perdition So John 15.2 Every branch in me in the Church by a visible Profession that beareth not fruit he taketh away verse 6. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withered So 1 John 2.19 They went out from us as a visible Church but were not of us as part of the Catholick Body 11. Churches of Christ are and may be in Nations Provinces Diocesses Parishes though those limits of co-habitation are not so as such Jerusalem Corinth Antioch Ephesus Smyrna Coloss c. were not Churches as such though there was a Church or Churches in each of those Towns or Cities therefore we read of the Church in Corinth and when he speaks of Provinces or larger Tracts he saith the Churches of such a place in the plural number viz. Churches of Galatia Macedonia Judea c. and therefore the Language of the Spirit of God now if he spake as then would be to say The Churches of England France Spain and not the Church supposing all the Churches in such a Province or Nation to be Organized into one Body under one visible Pastor according to our corrupt Dialect and Understanding 12. Hence lastly it is manifest that however it came to pass that by the subtile insinuation of the Mystery of Iniquity several Antichristian Fabricks have had the Reputation of the Churches of Christ yet it appearing that they are nothing so indeed by Christs constitution They are justly separated from by all truely informed in the mind and will of Christ And that this Separation is so far from being any thing of Schism or culpable Separation that it is a high and Eminent Duty that all they that are growing up to the Stature of the Fulness of Christ should be ambitious of and they need not fear the Unchurching of them that Christ never made Churches CHAP. IX Of the Bond of Vnion in the Church 1. WE have shewed that the Church of Christ is of the Nature of a Body-corporate whether considered in its mystical â—r visible State and therefore must â—ave a Bond of Union there being â—o body Physical or Politick but â—ath some peculiar Bond that uâ—ites all the parts whether simuâ—r or dissimular into one Body â—e Integrum or whole being made â—p of all parts brought into muâ—al conjunction and communion â—y the said common Nexus which 〈◊〉 the Principle of the Life Office Motion and Action of each part in its due Respect to the whole 2. The Church of Christ coming under this twofold consideration of Catholick and Visible in particular Congregations and Polities we must look upon the Bond or Nexus to be agreeable to each consideration the Spirit of God having so adjusted it 3. Hence the Spirit of Christ is the real true fundamental and indissoluble Bond of Union in this Catholick Body between Christ and his Church and every part and member thereof in Heaven and in Earth in all Ages and Nations of the World so that this whether visible or invisible is all but one Body though as for the visible part in all Ages attended with various Manifestations Dispensations and Regiments according aâ— Christ in his infinite Wisdom waâ— pleased to carry on and reveal the Glory of his Gospel-mysteries in the World Three States of the Church for its Oeconomy hath appeared First In Families as it continued from the beginning of the world till the increase of Abrahams Family into a Nation and then arose by some steps to a National Typical Church by Christs own constitution furnished with a higher Degree of Glory then the former State and inferiour to what was to follow The third and last was of all most clear perfect and glorious which was the Gospel Establishment freed from Vails Types Figures Shadows both in respect of the true Doctrine leading to Life and Salvation the Sun of Righteousness shining forth in his full Brightness no way overshadowed and in respect of Worship and Order of his House wherein he excell'd all that Moses or any before him could do in right Ordinances and Statutes for the managing the Form and Regiment thereof 4. This Bond of Union is purely mystical and no more visible than the Vital or rather Animal Spirits that vivifies the whole man in uniting the Soul and Body together whereby every part conjoined is quickned and inabled to Act in its due place and kind this we say is the Spirit of Christ as it will appear from the express words of the Scripture 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man caâ— say Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Verse 4. Now there be diversitâ— of Gifts but the same Spirit Verse 5. And there are difference of Administrations under the Oâ— and New Testament but the same Lord and Head of the Church therefore the same Church Essential Verse 6. There are Diversities of Operations as in distinct Members which operate according to their particular Forms and Measures but it is the same God that worketh all in all i. e. God by the same Spirit Verse 7. To another Faith by the same Spirit to be understood of Faith of Miracles or more then ordinary measures of Saving Faith exerting it self in an eminent manner as Abrahams did in particular trying cases To another the gift of healing by the same Spirit he goes on to enumerate not only the extraordinary but ordinary gifts and graces of the Spirit those given forth in the Primitive Times and those that are since continued and saith vers 11. All these worketh that one and the self same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will and then he goes on to tell us that the Spirit doth not only diffuse it self throughout and influence all the Members from the Head with every Gift and Grace but that it ties all the Members together to Christ the Head and one to another vers 12. For as the Body i. e the Natural Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body i. e. Mystical vers 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles the Jews before Christs coming were baptized spiritually into this Mystical Body whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit i. e. all partakers of the operations and influences of one Spirit in Regeneration and Justification Now having shewed that the Spirit unites the many Members into one Body and is the common Nexus he goes on to shew from whence the diversity of parts in form shape use and office doth arise and the harmony and agreement yea the necessity of this variety in kinds and degrees for the good of the whole vers 14. For the