is the head of the Church which is most true and yet withall that the Pope is the head of the Church The Church then is a body that hath two heads And those make Christ yet more monstrous that setting up so many Independant Churches as there be Christian Congregations in the world which they call each severally the mysticall Body of Christ do make Christ a head that hath so many bodies but there is but one Body all particular Churches make up one Church and visible universall society in which Church he saith not Churches God hath set Apostles Prophets Teachers Miracles gifts of healings helps Governments diversities of Tongues Therefore many of us also must beware of that and such like sins of Divisions that defiled the Church at Corinth for the Ax of this Sentence in this Text is by the Apostle laid also to every of our roots While therefore these words are handled according to the truth Look not on me as if I spake of my self look not off your selves blesse not your selves under the vain thoughts of Gospel-Grace that you will hear and only that or Gospel-graces and gifts wrought in you or your freedom from other grosse-sins as if this of falling into divisions were no sin but consider who speaks How and to whom And the Lord Iesus Christ make all saving to you though for the present it should not favour you The Substance of the Text hath three words to be opened 1. The Temple of God He means not hereby the materiall Temple in Jerusalem first or second nor the Tabernacle built in the wildernesse but the latter end of this verse sheweth clearly he means Christians which Temple are ye every particular Christian every of you and ye the Church of Christians both then at Corinth and also every where not only the Christian that hath truth of grace and is so inwardly as well as outwardly but the Christian by outward calling for to these he wrote also not only every particular member but chiefly the Church the Society This word ye referred to all in Corinth called to be Saints and to all in all the world that call on the name of the Lord Iesus Christ doth fully evince thus much They are called Gods Temple continuing the Metaphor of a building considered severally and in a Church-society with Relation to the typicall Temple to shew that the truth of that type is now remaining 2. Defil◠Destroy The Greek word is but one in divers tenses it signifieth both to Defile and Destroy to corrupt and violate the Greek is thus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The translation would render the Originall more naturally if we retained one English word either thus If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God defile or thus If any man destroy the Temple him will God destroy It is an Elegancy and not barely so but pregnant in instruction for it teacheth that the punishment of such offenders shall be in justice proportioned to their offence Defiling for defiling violence for violence degree for degree if they 'le be dilapidating and corrupting Gods house they shall have enough of it God will dilapidate and corrupt them 3. If any man him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 If any do it that same man shall feel it whoever he be Teacher or hearer of high esteem for place in the Church or for gifts and graces this man God will certainly meet withall this his sin shall finde him out Now from hence arise three Doctrines worthy our through perusall and attention 1. Doct. Every Christian professing the true Faith much more every true Professor of that true Faith is the Temple of God And every particular visible Church or Society of these Professors and the whole Church or universall society of Christians professing the true faith are the Temple of God This from the word Temple in the sense here used 2. Doct. Many there are yea many within the visible Church that are defilers and Violaters of this Temple of God 3. Doct. God will certainly punish every and all the defilers and violaters of this his Temple with punishments proportionable to their sin in violating and defiling the same For the first of these Note the difference I put between a Professor of the true Faith and a true professor of that true Faith One may professe the truth and not truly professe it he may be a hypocrite in his profession A Professor is visible and profession of the Faith may be discerned by men from profession of falshood but a true Professor and the truth of his profession is to be desired and prayed for but is not so easily discerned God onely that searches the heart can infallibly judge of this Again I use the word Society as the Genus of a Church not an Assembly for a Church is no lesse a Church when the Assembly is dismissed then when they are Assembled in the use of any Ordinance of God Nor a Congregation that word is too narrow it agreeth not to all the kindes but the word Society that agrees to a particular visible Church and to the whole visible Church to the Church in a house the Church in a Village of one Congregation the Church in a City consisting of many Congregations as the Church of Ierusalem of Ephesus of Corinth the Church in a Kingdom or Nation committed to the profession of the Faith of Christ the Church in the whole world the Church in her Officers gathered together to hear complaints the Church in her Members assembled to worship and serve the Lord according to the Gospel of Christ It is weak and a poor quarrell my opinion is it is so to deny a National Church under the New Testament for under the old its beyond all question and to plead there is no other visible Church then Congregationall The Church at Ierusalem was not Congregationall in that sense that is it did not consist of one Congregation that could meet in one place all the Members of it have one Pastor preach to them at one time and use other Ordinances of Worship as the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper Baptisme Publique Prayer and fellowship together twelve Apostles were not able to discharge to them the duty that belonged to the word and Prayer without the help of seven Deacons to take off them the care of distributing of the Church Almes Act. 6 1 2 3 4. It is hard to make clear proof that the word Church in all the History of the New Testament is given to a Congregation I desire to see it And why may not a Nation professing the Faith be called a Church as well as all the world of Professors be called a Church Why not now as well as under the Old Testament The word Church is applicable to every Society of men that professe the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ We read of Churches in the New-Testament because we have severall Societies and Nations of men converted and become the people of God
And whereas I hear of some that say did ye ever hear of Nations converted in the Scripture those be strange conversions the conversions of whole Nations I answer did you ever read the Scripture and yet passe by those famous prophesies concerning the Church under the New Testament All Nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee O Lord And shall glorifie thy name Psa 86. 9. Again In the last dayes the mountain of is by the same spirit and rightly by true Christians called a Church It is base and from a spirit of foul-tonguednesse to call it a steeple-house it is a familiar trophe and most significant to call the thing containing by the name of the thing contained And on the contrary do you not say significantly the Pot boiles when you meane the Broth in the Pot And you have not bread to finde your house And we call those publique places of Iudicature where publique Courts use to be kept by the names of those Courts as the Common-Pleas the Chancery the Court of Wards it is no abusive or improper speech That Place is Publique whereunto any one may resort without leave of any and without danger of being a trespasser and liable to an action of Trespasse Such is this place we are now in but such is not this or that mans House Parlour or Barne Christ requireth and loveth the publike Wisdom cries without in the streets in the chief place of concourse in the opening of the gâ—es Prov. 1. 20. 21. Though the private meetings of Christians used Christianly have a promise yet Gods glory and power was never so seen there as in the publique Psa 63. 2. nor have they such a promise Mat. 28. 20 21 And publique Ordinances are for the publique not for the private thus of the Morall use of the Temple The Ceremoniall use was for Sacrifice for receiving all the instruments and furniture of the worldly Sanctuary in all it was for signification and for shadow so the thing signified the truth remains though there be no Temple God hath now four Temples Heaven the Heaven of the blessed Heb. 8. and 9. Heb. 9. 11. Christ Ioh. 2. 21. the Christian the Church The two last are meant in this Text. See beloved your calling your dignity it is no small moment to preserve from all manner of sin if we knew our dignity we would not debase our selves we would avoid all unworthy acts all carriage that is below us this is your dignity every Christian is Gods Temple the true Temple the substance of that shadowish Temple The Temple had four things considerable 1. The Fabricke 2. The Furniture 3. The Glory 4. The Ministery that served there 1. For the Fabricke 1. There were the doors or Porch the gates very glorious These signified the hearts of the faithfull made glorious by faith to receive Iesus Christ Psa 24. 8 9. Rev. 3. 20. 2. There was the holy place and the holy of holies answerably 1. The bodies of Christians are Gods Temples his holy place 1 Cor. 6. 19. 2. The Soules of the humble and poor in spirit that tremble at Gods word are the holy of holies or the most holy place Isa 66. 1 2. 2. For the Furniture 1. The mercy-Seat or propitiatory is Christ and his blood apprehended by faith as the Apostle saith Rom. 3. 25. God set forth Iesus Christ to be a Propitiatory 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Properly notes the instrument of propitiation and fitly agrees to Christ by whom God is appeased and pacified through faith in his blood by faith is Christ brought into and dwells in our hearts Faith in Christs blood is that which sets up this Mercy-seat in the Temple of every particular Christians heart Christ by Faith in his blood is the Propitiatory he that believeth in Christ to have Redemption Remission and salvation only through his blood sprinkled and applied to his soul and conscience by Faith and therefore draweth near layeth hold on Christ and applyeth his death and sacrifice unto himself he hath the Mercy-seat set up in his soul otherwise though there be a Christ though there be blood for expiation though both Christ and his blood be proposed of God yet there is no Temple nor Mercy-seat set up to thee or me because thou hast not or I have not this Faith in Christs Blood This Propitiatorie Ex. 25. 17. 1 Kiâ— 8. 9. Heb. 9. 4. or Golden Cover was put above upon the Ark of the Testimony which Ark was a Coffer in which was put the two Tables of stone in which the Law was written this Ark was the Symbole of Gods gracious presence among the people of the Iews it was made of Shittim-wood overlaid within and without of pure gold Two Cherubims covering the Mercy-seat with their wings were set on the two ends of the Mercy-seat from above this Mercy-seat from between these Cherubims God gave his Oracles Answers and he was known and prayed unto under this name and notion O thou that dwellest between the Cherubims Ps 80. 1. this signified God in Christ reconciling the world to himself not imputing the transgressions trespasses against his holy Law but accepting their persons imperfect obedience to his Commandments presented to him through Christ the Mediator and in Christ beholding them with favour acceptation passing by their sins as expiated covered in whom also their Prayers are heard answers are given to them their hearts find feel him teaching ruling them the holy Angels attend on theÌ„ guard them are their ministers now in the believer this presence of God in Christ on a throne of grace is set up in his heart 2. The Altar of incense placed before the vaile that was by the Ark before the Mercy-seat Ex. 30. 1. 6. 2. This signified Christs intercession and the Golden Censer and Odours of his meritorious sacrifice with which he appears before God as our high Priest Rev. 8. 3. this Altar Censer Odours and high Priest the Believer through the word of Faith even the Gospel receiving and imbracing presents himself and all he doth to God therewith that God may smell a favour of rest towards him he offereth all to God in Christs name in the hands of this consecrated Priest and on this Altar that can sanctifie his gift he puts his prayers into this Golden Censer The vertue also of Christs intercession is in him in the spirit of Prayer 3. The Altar of burnt-offering signified Christ bearing our sins and making reconciliation in whose sacrifice of himself a whole burnt-offering is found ful satisfaction a perfect ransom and price plentuous and eternall Redemption This Altar Heb. 13 10. 10. 5. 8 9 10. is set up in the Christian who by Faith presents before God this Lamb and his Redemption for his Iustification and while he apprehends this Redemption in his soul offers through Christ himself a whole burnt offering to God and all other his spirituall
be unequally yoked with the Idolater It is to have fellowship with them Hoc nou est consentire male facientibus esse cum cis in ecclesia sed mala facta â—orum approbarc atque laudare Aug. Tom. 7. Contra. Epist Parmen l. 1. c. 3. in the unfruitfull works of darknesse that the Apostle disswadeth us from and not from the fellowship with Christ in his fruitfull Ordinances and with his people in duties of publique worship of the true God because an incestuous brother is there present and through none of thy approbation of his wickednesse or of his presence but through neglect of the Church and those officers in whom the power and execution of the power lyeth for excommunication of such scandalous brethren is suffered to be there Lastly he truly in the Apostles sense doth separate from the unclean thing that cleanseth himself from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit 2 Cor. 7. 1. That is purifying from all his sins inward and outward and not he that to avoid communion with the world shuts himself up in a Monastery lives an Hermite in a wildernesse nor he that to avoid Communion with Swearers and Drunkards forsaketh the Assemblies of Orthodox Christians using Christs own Ordinances of the Word and Sacraments to hold fellowship with Swearers and Drunkards in their Swearing and Drunkennesse and drunken meetings is to go to plough with them and to tumble with them in the filth but to hold the fellowship of the Gospel if these come to the same assemblies with us and sit there as Gods people is to hold Communion with Christ and they have fellowship with us outwardly in Christs Plough and yoak we have none with them but with Christ and his Saints and with them in the Profession and duty of Saints 13. But now the same Text doth condemne as Temple-Defilers those that are unequally â—oked together with unbelievers in Idolatrous worship and Idolatrous feasts 2 Cor. 6. 17. that have communion with them in the Idol-service What fellowship hath the Temple of God with Idols Those that separate not from such that is from the assemblies of Idolaters they partake of the table of Devils 1 Cor. 10. 21. and cannot partake of the Lords Table Those that separate not from the Popish assemblies and that separate not from their false Catholick Church do also touch the unclean thing and sin against the Apostles command for separation We must separate from them that hold not Christ in all things wherein they hold not Christ and no farther 14. It is a â—ore pollution of the house of God to set up mens Commandements and inventions for Doctrine Matth. 15. 9. Col. 2. 18. 20 21 22. These be the births of mens fleshly mindes which are begotten and quickned by a spirit of Whoredomes These are heathens brought into Gods holy Temple 15. The prophanation pollution or contempt of Gods Ordinances Discipline or Government is the defiling and wasting of Gods Temple hitherto you may referre the prophanations of the Lords Supper in divided Communions and in comming without examination and selfe-judging 1 Cor. 11. 16. Ranke with these such as disgrace the publique and solemn Assemblies either troubling them by barbarous confusion 1 Cor. 14. 26. Every one hath a Psalm un interpretation a Doctrine a Revelation Our new disturbers boast of a falâ— gift in these particulars though they have not yet they will have an Interpretation a Psalm a Doctrine a revelation they cannot have the face yet to say a Tongue and if they may not have liberty to speak in the publick Assemblies having no such gift they will deny their presence to the Publick fling dishonour upon them all they can or else despising the Church 1 Cor. 11. 22. or place of the Publick assemblies like unto these are such also as puldown Churches and set up their Chamber-meetings David complaineth they have burnt up all the Synagogues of God in the Land Psal 74. 8. It was the Centurions Luk. 7. 4 5. high commendations to our Lord Iesus he is worthy for he â—â—veth our Nation and hath built us a Synagogue Such also as deny the maintenance Neh. 13. 10 11. of the publick Ministery solemn worship and places for publick worship such as devour things Holy and Consecrated or convert them to private ases Abhorrest thou Idols Rom. 2. 22. and yet 〈◊〉 thou sacriledge Why should any Tobiah live in the chambers of the Temple Neh. 13. 5. and eate up the Tythes all which belonged to Gods instituted Ministery There yet remaine foure notorious Temple-Defilers that make Gods house their prey it shall suffice to name them 17. Persecutors Tyrants and oppressours of Gods Heritage of whom we have that mournfull complaint Psal 79. 1 2 3. O God! the Heathen are come into thine inheritance thy holy Temple have they defiled they have laid Ierusalem on heapes the dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the Fowles of the Heaven the flesh of thy Saints unto the beasts of the earth their blond have they shed like water round about Ierusalem and there was none to bury them This is exemplified in the Antichristian rage of Papists and other our enemies at this day in these three Kingdomes especially in Ireland 18. Hinderers of Reformation and of the Reformers God raiseth up these like Iannes and Iambres withstand our Mosesses I meane all the Sticklers for any errour and the resisters of that blessed worke of the Nationall Covenant whereby these three Kingdomes may become one according to Christ Iesus Shall Hell that now opens her mouth wide shall Satan that can make use of a Peter and make him a Satan Mat. 16. 23. shall heights or depthes of white or black Devills swallow up that Covenant or dead that Covenant-care which cannot but make Rome and its Conclave to shake Why is not our Covenant prosecuted 19. Sensuall Separatists Iâ—de 19. that walke after their lusts Mockers that jugling with the Scriptures broach bruitish-damnable Tenets such as that that the soule dyeth with the body whereas it goeth to God that gave it and is either as Dives's was presently sent to Hell and is there in torments or else as Lazarus's in Abrahams bosome as Pauls with Christ as the beleeving Thiefes in Paradice as all beleevers present with the Lord cloathed upon with their house from Heaven possessed of an house not made with hands eternall in the Heavens 2 Corinthians 5. 1 3 6 8. Scoffers 2 Pet. 3. 3 4 12. that by their impostures would illude the Doctrine of the last Iudgement and say where is the Promise of his coming and take off from the hearts of the unwary and unstable the terrour of the Lord 2 Cor. 5. 11. and the looking for and hastning unto the coming of the day of God Diseased fancifull minds that have itching eares and will not endure sound Doctrine but heape teachers to themselves 2 Tim. 4. 3 4. 20. The Machiavilian Politicians in a Christian State