26.16 19. these are sufficient intimations of what care and diligence we ought to use in attending unto what God hath appointed in his worship and although now under the new Testament he doth not ordinarily proceed to the inflicting of temporal judgements in thâ— like cases of neglect yâ—â— he hath not wholly left us without instances of his putting forth tokens of his displeasure in temporal visitations on such miscarriages in his Church 1 Cor. 11.30 For this cause saith the Apostle many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep From all which it appeares of what concernment it is unto the glory of God and the salvation of our own souls to attend diligently unto our duty in the strict and sincere observation of the worship of the Gospel for he lets us know that now a more severe punishment is substituted against such transgressions in the room of that which he so visibly inflicted under the old Testament Heb. 10.25 26 27 28 29. Qu. 16. Is there yet any other consideration that may stir up Beleivers to an holy and religious care about the due observation of the institutions of the Gospel Answ. Yea namely that the great apostacy of the Church in the last dayes foretold in the Scripture and which God threatneth to punish and revenge consists principally in false worship and a departure from the institutions of Christ. Rev. 14.4 5. Chap. 17.1 2 3 5. Explication That there is an Apostacy of the Church foretold in the book of the Revelations is acknowledged by all who with sincerity have inquired into the minde of God therein The state of things at this day and for many ages past in the World sufficiently confirm that perswasion And herein sundry things in general are obvious unto every sober consideration thereof First the horrible evils troubles and confusions that are to be brought into and upon the World thereby Secondly the high guilt and provocation of God that is contained in it and doth accompany it Thirdly the dreadful vengeance that God in his appointed time will take upon all the promoters and obstinate maintainers of it These things are at large all of them foretold in the Revelation and therein also the Apostacy it self is set forth as the cause of all the plagues and destructions that by the righteous judgement of God are to be brought upon the World in these latter dayes Now as God doth earnestly call upon all that fear him not to intermeddle nor partake in the sins of the Apostates lest they should also partake in their judgements Chap. 18.4 I heard a voice from Heaven saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins and that ye receive not of her plagues So he doth plainly declare wherein the apostacy and sin it self should principally consist and that is in the corrupting and contaminating of the Ordinances of his worship or the introduction of false worship joyned with the persecution of them who refused to submit thereunto For this cause is the sin it self set out under the name of fornication and whoredome and the Church that maintains it is called the Mother of Harlots Chap. 17.5 That by fornication and whoredome in the Church the adulterating of the worship of God and the admission of false self-invented worship in the room thereof whereof God is jealous is intended the Scripture every where declares It is easie then to gather of how great concernment unto us it is especially in these latter dayes wherein this so hainous and provoking sin is prevalent in the World carefully to attend unto the safe unerring rule of Worship and diligently to perform the duties that are required therein Quest. 17. Which are the principal institutions of the Gospel to be observed in the worship of God Answ. 1. The calling gathering and setling of Churches with their Officers as the seat and subject of all other solemn instituted worship 2. Prayer with thanksgiving 3. Singing of Psalms 4. Preaching the word 5. Administration of the Sacraments of Baptism and the Supper of the Lord. 6. Discipline and rule of the Church collected and setled most of which have also sundry particular duties relating unto them and subservient unto their due observation 1. Matth. 28.19 20. Acts 2.41 42. 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephes. 4.11 12. Matth. 18.17 18 19. 1 Cor. 4.17 1 Cor. 7.17 Acts 14.23 Titus 1.5 1 Tim. 3.15 2. 1 Tim. 2.1 Acts 6.4 Acts 13.2 3. 3. Ephes. 5.19 Colos. 3.16 4. 2 Tim. 4.2 Acts 2.42 1 Cor. 14.3 Acts 6.2 Heb. 13.7 5. Matth. 28.19 Matth. 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 6. Matth. 18.17 18 19. Rom. 12.6 7 8. Rev. 2.3 Explication These things being all of them afterwards to be spoken unto severally and apart need not here any particular Explication They are the principal heads wherein Gospel-worship consisteth and whereunto the particular duties of it may be reduced Qu. 18. Whereas sundry of these things are founded in the light and law of nature as requisite unto all solemn worship and are moreover commanded in the moral Law and explications of it in the Old Testament how do you look upon them as Evangelical institutions to be observed principally on the authority of Jesus Christ Answ. Neither their general suitableness unto the principles of right reason and the dictates of the light and law of nature nor the practice of them in the worship of God under the Old Testament do at all hinder them from depending on the meer institution of Iesus Christ as to those especial ends of the â—â—â—ry of God in and by himself and the edification of his Church in the faith which is in him whereunto he hath appointed them Nor as unto that especial manner of their performance which he requireth in which respects they are to be observed on â—he account of his authority and command only Matth. 17.5 Matth. 28. â—0 John 16.23 24. Heb. 3.4 5 6. Ephes. 1.22 Chap. 2.20 21 22. Heb. 12.25 Explication The principal thing we are to aim at in the whole worship of God is the discharge of that duty which we owe to Jesus Christ the King and head of the Church Heb. 3.6 Christ as a Son over his own house whose house are we 1 Tim. 3.15 That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God This we cannot do unless we consider his authority as the formal reason and cause of our observance of all that we do therein If we perform any thing in the worship of God on any other account it is no part of our obedience unto him and so we can neither expect his grace to assist us nor have we his promise to accept us therein for that he hath annexed unto our doing and observing whatever he hath commanded and that because he hath commanded us Matth. 28 20. teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you and loe I am with you alwayes even
case there be not the success aimed at obtained in these several degrees of private admonition it is then the will of our Lord Jesus Christ that the matter be reported unto the Church that the offender may be publickly admonished thereby and brought to repentance wherein is to be observed First That the persons who have endeavoured in vain to reclaim their offending Brother by private admonition are to acquaint the Elders of the Church with the case and crime as also what they have done according to rule for the rectifying of it who upon that information are obliged to communicate the knowledge of the whole matter to the Church This is to be done by the Elders as to whom the preservation of order in the Church and the rule of its proceeding do belong as we have shewed before Secondly The report made to the Church by the Elders is to be 1. Of the crime guilt or offence 2. Of the Testimony given unto the truth of it 3. Of the means used to bring the offender to acknowledgement and repentance 4. Of his deportment under the private previous admonitions either as to his rejecting of them or as to any satisfaction tendred all in order love meekness and tenderness Thirdly Things being proposed unto the Church and the offender heard upon the whole of the offence and former proceeding the whole Church or multitude of the Brethren are with the Elders to consider the nature of the offence with the condition and temptations of the offenders with such a spirit of meekness as our Lord Jesus Christ in his own person set them an example of in his dealing with sinners and which is required in them as his Disciples Gal. 6.1 2. 2 Cor. 2.8 Fourthly The Elders and Brethren are to judge of the offence and the carriage of the offender according to rule and if the offence be evident and persisted in then Fifthly The offender is to be publickly admonished by the Elders with the consent and concurrence of the Church 1 Thes. 5.14 1 Tim. 5.20 Matth. 18.16 17. And this admonition consists of Five parts 1. A declaration of the crime or offence as it is evidenced unto the Church 2. A conviction of the evil of it from the rule or rules transgressed against 3. A declaration of the authority and duty of the Church in such cases 4. A rebuke of the offender in the name of Christ answering the nature and circumstances of the offence 5. An Exhortation unto humiliation and repentance and acknowledgement Eleventhly In case the offender despise this admonition of the Church and come not upon it unto repentance it is the will and appointment of our Lord Jesus Christ that he be cut off from all the priviledges of the Church and cast out from the society thereof or be excommunicated wherein consists the last act of the discipline of the Church for the correction of offenders and herein may be considered First The nature of it that it is an authoritative act and so principally belongs unto the Elders of the Church who therein exert the power that they have received from the Lord Christ by and with the consent of the Church according to his appointment Matth. 16.19 John 20.23 Matth. 18.18 1 Cor. 5.4 Titus 3.10 1 Tim. 1.20 2 Cor. 2.6 And both these the Authority of the Eldership and the consent of the Brethren are necessary to the validity of the sentence and that according to the appointment of Christ and the practice of the first Churches Secondly The effect of it which is the cutting off or casting out of the person offending from the communion of the Church in the priviledges of the Gospel as consequently from that of all the visible Churches of Christ in the earth by virtue of their communion one with another whereby he is left unto the visible kingdom of Satan in the World Matth. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.2 5 13. 1 Tim. 1.20 Titus 3.10 Gal. 5.12 Thirdly The ends of it which are 1. The gaining of the party offending by bringing him to repentance humiliation and acknowledgement of his offence 2 Cor. 2.6 7. 2 Cor. 13.10 2. The warning of others not to do so presumptuously 3. The preserving of the Church in its purity and order 1 Cor. 5.6 7. all to the glory of Jesus Christ. Fourthly The causes of it or the grounds and reasons on which the Church may proceed unto sentence against any offending persons Now these are no other but such as they judge according to the Gospel that the Lord Christ will proceed upon in his finall judgement at the last day For the Church judgeth in the name and authority of Christ and are to exclude none from its communion but those whom they find by the rule that he himself excludes from his Kingdom and so that which they bind on earth is bound by him in Heaven Matth. 18.18 And their sentence herein is to be declared as the declaration of the sentence which the Head of the Church and Judge of all will pronounce at the last day only with this difference that it is also made known that this sentence of theirs is not final or decretory but in order to the prevention of that which will be so unless the evil be repented of Now although the particular evils sins or offences that may render a person obnoxious unto this censure and sentence are not to be enumerated by reason of the variety of circumstances which change the nature of actions yet they may in general be referred unto these heads First Moral evils contrary to the light of nature and express commands or prohibitions of the moral law direct rules of the Gospel or of evil report in the world amongst men walking according to the rule and light of reason And in cases of this nature the Church may proceed unto the sentence whereof we speak without previous admonition in case the matter of fact be notorious publickly and unquestionably known to be true and no general rule which is not to be impeached by particular instances lye against their proceedure 1 Cor. 5.3 4. 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4 5. Secondly Offences against that mutual love which is the bond of perfection in the Church if pertinaciously persisted in Matth. 18.16 17. Thirdly false doctrines against the fundamentals in faith or worship especially if maintained with contention to the trouble and disturbance of the peace of the Church Gal. 5.12 Titus 3.9 10 11. 1 Tim. 6.3 4 5. Revel 2.14 15. Fourthly Blasphemy or evil speaking of the wayes and worship of God in the Church especially if joyned with an intention to hinder the prosperity of the Church or to expose it to persecution 1 Tim. 1.20 Fifthly Desertion or total causeless relinquishment of the society and communion of the Church for such are self-condemned having broken and renounced the covenant of God that they made at their entrance into the Church Heb. 10.25 26 27 28 29. Sixthly The time or season of the putting forth
A BRIEF INSTRUCTION IN THE WORSHIP of GOD AND DISCIPLINE OF THE CHURCHES OF THE NEW TESTAMENT BY WAY OF QUESTION AND ANSWER With an EXPLICATION and Confirmation of those Answers Printed 1667. A Short Catechism with an Explication upon the same Q. 1. WHat doth God require of us in our dependance on him that he may be glorified by us and we accepted with him Answ. That we a Worship him b in and by the wayes of his own appointment a Matth. 4.10 Rev. 14.7 Deut. 6.13 chap. 10.20 b Lev. 10.1 2 3. Exod. 24.3 Gen. 18.19 Joshua 23.6 8. Zach. 14.16 Explication By the Worship of God inquired after not that which is naturall on morall which is required in the first Commandment is intended Such is our faith and confidence in him our fear of him our subjection of soul and conscience unto him as the great Soveraign Lord first cause last end Judge and Rewarder of all men the Law whereof was originally written in the heart of Man and hath been variously improved and directed by new Revelations and Institutions And this Worship is called naturall upon a double Account First Because it depends on the nature of God a due perception and understanding whereof makes all this Worship indispensibly necessary for none can know God but it is his duty to glorifie him as God that is to believe in him love him trust him and call upon him which all are therefore cursed that do not Psalm 79.6 2 Thes. 1.8 And Secondly Because it was in the principle of it concreated with the nature of man as that which suited directed and enabled him to answer the Law of his Creation requiring this obedience of him in his dependance on God And this Worship is invariable but it concerneth those outward wayes and means whereby God hath appointed that faith and love and fear of him to be exercised and expressed unto his glory And this kind of Worship though it depend not upon the nature of God but upon his free and arbitrary disposal and so was of old liable unto alterations yet God did ever strictly require in the several states and conditions that his Church hath gone through in the World And this is that which most commonly in the Scripture is called by the name of the worship of God as that whereby all the acceptable actings of the souls of men towards him are expressed and the only way of owning and acknowledging him in the World as also of entertaining a visible intercourse with him This therefore he calls for and requires indispensibly of all that draw nigh to him and that because he is the Lord our God Rev. 14.6 7. Mat. 4.10 Deut. 10.12 13. For his observance hereof doth he so approve of Abraham Gen. 18.19 And sets it down as an everlasting Law unto all others that in a holy observation thereof he will be sanctified in all that draw nigh unto him Lev. 10. 1 2 3. his commands also concerning it are multiplyed in the Scripture with the approbation of all those that attend unto them We may not think to find acceptance with God or to inherit the promises if supposing our selves to adhere unto him in Worship internall and naturall we neglect that which is externall and of his free appointment for besides that we renounce thereby our inward dependance on him also in not observing his commands as Adam did in transgressing an Institution we become wholly useless unto all the ends of his Glory in the World which is not the way to come to an enjoyment of him Neither do we only express and profess our inward morall naturall worship of God hereby by which means it becomes the principall way and instrument of faith and trust exerting themselves in our obedience but also it is a most effectual help and assistance unto the principle of that natural worship strengthening the habit of it and exciting it unto all sutable actings unto its increase and growth Qu. 2. By what means do we come to know that God will thus be worshipped Answ. That God is to be worshipped and that according to his own will and appointment is a a principall branch of the Law of our creation written in our hearts the b sense whereof is renewed in the second Commandment but the wayes and means of that worship depend meerly on Gods c Soveraign pleasure and Institution a Rom. 1.21 chap. 2.14 15. Acts 15.16 17. Acts 17.23 24 25 26 27 28 29. verses b Exodus 20.4 5 6 c Jer. 7.31 Exod. 25.40 Heb. 3.1 2 3 4 5 6. John 1.18 Explication These two things all men see by nature First That God however they mistook in their apprehensions of him would be and was to be worshipped with some outward solemn worship So that although some are reported to have even cast off all knowledge and sense of a divine being yet never any were heard of that came to an acknowledgement of any God true or false but they all consented that he was constantly and solemnly to be worshipped And that not only by individuall Persons but by Societies together that so they might own and honour him whom they took for their God And thus far outward worship is required in the first Commandment namely that the inward be exercised and expressed When we take God for our God we take him to worship him Deut. 10.12 13. Other thoughts namely of inward worship without outward expression at all or any time or in any way are but a covert unto Atheism And Secondly This also they are lead to an apprehension of by the same light whereby they are a Law unto themselves Rom. 2.14 that God would be worshipped in the way and by the means that he himself appointed and approved whence none among the Heathen themselves undertook to appoint wayes and Ceromonies of Worship but still they pretended to derive the knowledge of them from the Gods themselves of whom they reckoned that every one would be worshipped in his own way And because notwitstanding this pretence being left of God and deluded of Satan they did invent false and foolish wayes of worship not only not appointed of God but such as were unsuited unto those inbred notions which they had of his nature and excellencieâ— the Apostle convinces and disproves them as men acting against the light of nature and principles of reason Rom. 1.21 they might have seen that in their Idolatry they answered not their own inbred conceptions of the Divine power and Godhead so as to glorifie him as God And in the like manner doth he argue at large Acts 17.23 but beyond this the inbred light of nature could not conduct any of the Sons of Men This alone is contained in the first Precept that God was to be worshipped they knew and that he was to be worshipped by wayes and means of his own appointment they knew but what those wayes and means were they knew not These alwayes depended on Gods Soveraign will and pleasure and
he made them known to whom he pleased Psalm 147.19 20. And although some of the wayes which he doth appoint may seem to have a great compliance in them unto the light of nature yet in his worship he accepts them not on that account but meerly on that of his own institution and this as he hath declared his will about in the second Commandment so he hath severely forbidden the addition of our own inventions unto what he hath appointed sending us for instruction unto him alone whom he hath endowed with Soveraign Authority to reveal his will and ordain his worship John 1.18 Matth. 17.5 1 Chron. 16.13 Qu. 3. How then are these wayes and means of the worship of God made known unto us Answ. In and by the written word only which contains a full and perfect Revelation of the will of God as to his whole worship and all the concernments of it John 5.39 Isa. 8.20 Luke 16.19 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 1.19 Deut. 4.2 chap. 12.32 Joshua 1.7 Prov. 30.6 Rev. 22.20 Isaiah 29.13 Explication The End wherefore God granted his word unto the Church was that thereby it might be instructed in his mind and will as to what concerns the worship and obedience that he requireth of us and which is accepted with him This the whole Scripture it self every where declares and speaks out unto all that do receive it as 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. with the residue of the testimonies above recited do declare It supposeth it declareth that of our selves we are ignorant how God is how he ought to be worshipped Isa. 8.20 Moreover it manifests him to be a jealous God exercising that holy property of his nature in an especial manner about his worship rejecting and despising every thing that is not according to his will that is not of his Institution Exod. 20.4 5. That we may know what is so he hath made a Revelation of his mind and will in his written word that is the Scripture and to the end that we might expect instruction from thence alone in his worship and act therein accordingly First he sends us and directs us thereunto expresly for that purpose Isa. 8.28 Luke 16.19 John 5.39 and not once intimates in the least any other way or means of instruction unto the end Secondly He frequently affirms that it is sufficient able and perfect to guide us therein 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. 1 Pet. 1.19 Psalm 19.7 8 9. and whereas he hath expresly given it unto us for that end if there be any want or defect therein it must arise from hence that either God would not or could not give unto us a perfect Revelation of his will neither of which can be imagined Thirdly He hath commanded us to observe all whatsoever he hath appointed therein and not to make any addition thereunto Joshua 1.7 Deut. 4.2 chap. 12.32 Prov. 30.6 Revel 22.20 And Fourthly Peculiarly interdicted us the use of any such things as are of the institution or appointment of Men Isa. 29.13 14. So that from the Scriptures alone are we to learn what is accepted with God in his worship Qu. 4. Have these wayes and means been alwayes the same from the beginning Answ. No! But God hath altered and changed them at sundry reasons according to the counsell of his own will so as he saw necessary for his own Glory and the Edification of his Church See Gen. 2.16 17. Gen. 17.10 11. Exod. 12.3 4 5. Exod. 20. Chap. 25.9 Heb. 1.1 Heb. 9.10 11 12. Explication The externall worship whereof we speak being as was shewed before not naturall or moral arising necessarily from the dependance of the rationall creature on God as its first Cause chiefest Good last End and Soveraign Lord but proceeding from the meer will and pleasure of God determining how he will be honoured and glorified in the world was alwayes alterable by him by whom it was appointed And whereas ever since the entrance of sin into the World God had alwayes respect unto the promise of the Lord Christ and his mediation in whom alone he will be glorified and faith in whom he aimed to begin and increase in all his worship he hath suited his Institutions of the means thereof to that dispensation of Light and knowledge of him which he was pleased at any time to grant Thus immediately after the giving of the promise he appointed sacrifices for the great means of his worship as to glorifie himself expresly by Mens off ring unto him of the principal good things which he had given them so to instruct them in the faith and confirm them in the expectation of the great sacrifice for sin that was to be offered by the promised seed Gen. 4.3 4. Heb. 11.4 These were the first instituted worship of God in the World after the entrance of sin Hereunto he nextly added Circumcision as an express sign of the Covenant with the grace of it which he called Abraham and his seed unto by Jesus Christ Gen. 17.10 11. And to the same general end and purpose he afterwards superadded the Passeover with its attendant institutions Exod. 12.23 24. And then the whole Law of institutions contained in Ordinances by the Ministery of Angels on Mount Sinai Exod 20. So by sundry degrees he built up that fabrick of his outward worship which was suited in his infinite wisdom unto his own glory and the edification of his Church untill the exhibition of the promised seed or the coming of Christ in the flesh and the accomplishment of the work of his mediation Heb. 1.1 for unto that season were those Ordinances to serve and no longer Heb. 9.10 11 12. And then were they removed by the same authority whereby they were instituted and appointed Col. 2.14 18 19 20. So that though God would never allow that Men upon what pretence soever should make any alteration in the worship appointed by him by adding unto it any thing of their own or omitting ought that he had commanded either in matter or manner notwithstanding that he knew that it was to abide but for a season but commanded all men straitly to attend to the observation of it whilest it was by him continued in force Mal. 4.4 yet he alwayes reserved unto himself the Soveraign power of altering changing or utterly abolishing it at his own pleasure which authority he exerted in the Gospel as to all the meer Institutions of the Old Testament Whilest they continued he inforced them with morall reasons as his own holiness and Authority but those reasons prove not any of those institutions to be morall unless they ensue upon those reasons alone and are no where else commanded for being once instituted and commanded they are to be inforced with morall considerations taken from the nature of God and our Duty in reference unto his Authority So saith he Thou shalt reverence my Sanctuary I am the Lord which no more proves that a morall Duty then that enjoyned upon the same foundation Levit.
43 45. Deut. 14.23 Psal. 133.3 Math. 18.20 Rev. 21.3 5 Exod. 20.5 Deut. 4.23 24. Josh. 24.19 Ezek. 16. 6 Levit. 10.1 2. Num. 16.3 8 9 32 35. 1 Sam. 2.28 29. 2 Sam. 6.6 7. 2 Chron. 26.16 19. 1 Cor. 11.30 Explication For the most part the instituted worship of God is neglected and dispised in the World Some are utterly regardless of it supposing that if they attend after their manner unto moral obedience that neither God nor themselves are much concerned in this matter of his worship Others think the disposal and ordering of it to be so left unto men that as to the manner of its performance they may do with it as it seems right in their own eyes And some follow them therein as willingly walking after their commandments without any respect unto the will or authority of God But the whole Scripture gives us utterly another account of this matter The honour of God in this world the tryal of our faith and obedience the order and beauty of the Church the exaltation of Christ in his professed subjection to him and the saving of our souls in the wayes of his appointment are therein laid upon the due and right observance of instituted worship and they who are negligent about these things what ever they pretend have no real respect unto any thing that is called Religion First therefore in every state and condition of the Church God hath given his Ordinances of worship as the touchstone and tryal of its faith and obedience so that they by whom they are neglected do openly refuse to come unto Gods tryal In the state of innocency the tryal of Adams obedience according to the law of nature was in and by the institution of the trees of life and of the knowledge of good and evil Gen. 2.16 17. And the Lord God commanded the Man saying of every tree of the garden thou maist freely eat but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil thou shalt not eat of it for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die This was the first institution of God and it was given unto the Church in the state of innocency and purity And in our first Parents neglect of attending thereunto did they transgress the whole law of their creation as failing in their duty in that which was appointment for their tryal in the whole Chap. 3.11 Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat c. And the Church in his family after the fall built upon the promise was tryed also in the matter of instituted worship Nor was there any discovery of the wickedness of Cain or approbation of the faith of Abel until they came to be proved in their sacrifices a new part of Gods instituted worship the first in the state and condition of sin and the fall whereinto it was brought Gen. 4.3 4 5. In process of time it came to pass Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the Lord and Abel he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof and the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering but unto Cain and his offering he had not respect The ground whereof the Apostle declares Heb. 11.4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain by which he obtained witness that he was righteous God testifying of his gifts In the observation of that first institution given to the Church in the state of the fall did Abel receive a testimony of his being justified and accepted with God Afterwards when Abraham was called and peculiarly separated to bare forth the name of God in the world and to become the spring of the Church for future ages he had the institution of circumcision given him for the tryal of his obedience the Law and condition whereof was that he who observed it not should be esteemed an alien from the covenant of God and be cut off from his People Gen. 17.9 10 11. God said unto Abraham thou shalt keep my covenant thou and thy seed after thee in their generations This is my covenant which ye shall keep between me and you and thy seed after thee every man-child among you shall be circumcised Verse the 14 and the uncircumcised man-child whose flesh of his foreskin is not circumcised that soul shall be cut off from his people he hath broken my covenant And in like manner so soon as ever his posterity were to be collected into a new Church state and order God gave them the Ordinance of the Passover Exod. 12.24 Ye shall observe this thing for an Ordinance to thee and to thy Sons for ever and that upon the same penalty with that of circumcision to these he added many more on mount Sinai Exod. 20. all as the tryals of their faith and obedience unto succeeding generations How he hath dealt with his Church under the new Testament we shall afterwards declare In no state or condition then of the Church did God ever accept of moral Obedience without the observation of some instituted worship accommodated in his wisdome unto its various states and conditions And not only so but as we have seen he hath made the observation of them according unto his mind and appointment the means of the tryal of Mens whole obedience and the rule of the acceptance or rejection of them And so it continues at this day what ever be the thoughts of men about the worship which at present he requires Besides God hath appointed that his Ordinances of worship shall be as effectual means as to instruct us in the mysteries of his will and mind so of communicating his love mercy and grace unto us as also of that communion or intercourse with his holy Majesty which he hath graciously granted unto us by Jesus Christ. And this as it is sufficiently manifested in the Scriptures quoted in answer unto this question so it is at large declared in the writings of those holy and good men who have explained the nature of gospel Ordinances and therefore in particular we need not here insist much in the farther proof of it Thus Abraham was instructed in the nature of the covenant of grace by circumcision Gen. 17.10 which is often explained in the old Testament by applying it in particular to the grace of conversion called the circumcision of the heart Deut 10.16 Chap. 30.6 Jer. 4.4 as also in the new Testament Coloss. 2.11 And by the Passover where the people taught not only the mercy of their present deliverance Exod. 12.23 24. but also to look for the Lamb of God who was to take away the sin of the world John 1.29 the true Passover of the people of God which was sacrificed for them 1 Cor. 5.7 how our incision or implanting into Christ is represented and signified by our Baptism the Apostle declares Rom. 6.3 4 5. as also our communion with him in his death by
Church was eminently reformed Now although the outward solemnity and ceremonies of this covenant were peculiar unto that people yet as to the substance and nature of it in a sacred consent for the performance of all those duties towards God and one another which the nature and edification of a Church do require it belongs to every Church as such even under the Gosple And this is the way whereby Beleivers or the Disciples of Christ do enter into this state the formal constituting cause of any Church This account doth the Apostle give of the Churches of the Macedonians 2 Cor. 8.5 And this they did not as we hoped but first gave their own selves to the Lord and unto us by the will of God before the performance of other duties and in order thereunto they first gave themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ or took upon themselves the observance of his commands and institutions which is the intendment of that expression Among these commands one was that they should give up themselves to the Apostles doctrine Rule and government in the order by Christ prescribed that is in Church order This therefore they did by the will of God according to his will and appointment This description doth the Apostle give of the way whereby the Believers of Macedonia were brought into Churches It was by their own obedience unto the will of God consenting agreeing and taking upon themselves the observation of all the commands and institutions of Christ according to the direction and guidance of the Apostles So did the Believers at Jerusalem Acts 2.41 42. Being converted by the word and making profession of that conversion in their Baptism they gave up themselves to a stedfast continuance in the observation of all other Ordinances of the Gospel Besides the Church is an house a Temple the house of God 1 Tim. 3.15 The house of Christ Heb. 3.6 The Temple of God Ephe. 2.21 22. Believers singly considered are stones living stones 1 Peter 2.5 Now how shall these living stones come to be an house a Temple can it be by occasional occurrences civil cohabitation in political precincts usage or custome of assembling for some parts of worship in any place these things will never frame them into a house or Temple This can be no otherwise done but by-their own voluntary consent and disposition Ephe. 2.19 20 21 22. Ye are fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the household of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone in whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the spirit Chap. 4.16 From whom the whole body fitly joyned together and compacted by that which every joynt supplyeth according to the effectual working in the measure of every part maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of it self in love From these and sundry other places it is manifest that the way and means of Believers coalition into a Church-state is their own obedience of faith acting it self in a joynt voluntary consent to walk together in an holy observation of the commands of Christ whence the being and union of a particular Church is given unto any convenient number of them by his Law and constitution Qu. 21. Seeing the Church is a society or spiritual incorporation of persons under rule government or Discipline declare who or what are the rulers governors or Officers therein under Jesus Christ An. They have been of two sorts 1 extraordinary appointed for a season only and 2 ordinary to continue unto the end of the World Qu. 22. Who are the extraordinary Officers or Rulers or Ministers of the Church appointed to serve the Lord Jesus Christ therein for a season only An. 1 The Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ with 2 the Evangelists and Prophets indowed with extraordinary gifts of the holy Ghost associated with them and employed by them in their work and Ministry 1 Math. 10.2 3. Acts 1.26 1 Cor. 12.28 Ephe. 4.11 2 Luke 10.1 2 Tim. 4.5 Titus 1.5 Acts 11.27 28. Acts 21.9 10 11. 2. Cor. 1.1 Explication That the Church is a Spiritual corporation attended with rule and government is evident from the nature of the thing it self and testimonies of Scripture Only as the Kingdome of Christ is not of this World or Worldly so this rule and government of the Church is not mearly external and secular but spiritual Neither doth this rule at all belong unto it merely as materially considered in men yielding obedience unto the call which is the foundation of the Church nor absolutely as it is formally constituted a Church by the consent and agreement described but moreover it is required that it be organically compleat with Officers or rulers now to the constitution of such a society or corporation there is required First that the persons whereof it is constituted do consent together into it for the attaining of the ends which they design Without this no society of any kind can exist This is the form of mens coalescencie into societyes And that there is in the Church such a consent and agreement hath been shewed Secondly that there be Rules or Laws for the guidance and direction of all the Members of the society in order to their pursuit of the proper ends of it That such Rules or Lawes are given and prescribed by the Lord Christ unto the Church will afterwards appear in our consideration of them in particular so that the Church is a society of men walking according unto Rule or Law for the attaining of the ends of the society Thirdly that there be Authority instituted for to see to the due Observation of these Rules and Lawes of the society which consists in this 1 That some be appointed to Rule and Govern in the Church 2 Others to Obey and be Ruled or Governed both according to the Laws of the society and not otherwise And both these are eminently found in this Church-state as we shall see in the ensuing Question with their Answers and Explications Now that these Officers or Rulers should be of two sorts both the nature of the thing it self required and so hath our Lord Jesus Christ appointed For when the Church was first to be called gathered and erected it was necessary that some Persons should 〈◊〉 extraordinarily employed in that work for ordinary Officers antecedent unto the calling and erection of the Church there could be none And therefore these pesons were in an extraordinary manner endowed with all that power which afterwards was to reside in the Churches themselves and moreover with that which was peculiarly needful unto the discharge and performance of that special duty and work that they were appointed unto But when Churches were called gathered erected and setled for continuance there was need of Officers suited to their state and condition called in an ordinary way that is
to be members of a visible Church of Christ was before declared and that is that which the Lord Jesus hath made the indispensible condition of entring into his Kingdom namely of being born again John 3.33 This worke being secret hidden and invisible the Church cannot judge of directly and in its own form or nature but in the means effects and consequents of it which are to be testified unto it concerning them who are to be admitted unto its fellowship and communion it is required therefore of them First that they be of a conversation free from blame in the world for whereas one end of the gathering of Churches is to hold forth and express the holiness of the doctrine of Christ and the power of his grace in turning Men from all ungodliness unto sobriety righteousness and honesty it is required of them that are admitted into them that they answer this end And this the principle of grace which is communicated unto them that believe will effect and produce For although it doth not follow that every one who hath attained an unblameable honesty in this World is inwardly quickened with a true principle of saving grace yet it doth that they who are indowed with that principle will be so unblameable And although they may on other accounts be evil spoken of yet their good conversation in Christ will justify it self Secondly competent knowledge in the mysteries of the Gospel is another means whereby the great qualification inquired after is testified unto the Church For as without this no priviledge of the Gospel can be profitably made use of nor any duty of it be rightly performed so saving light is of the essence of conversion and doth inseparably accompany it 2 Cor. 4.6 God who commanded the light to shine out of darkness hath shined in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Where this is wanting it is impossible for any person to evidence that he is delivered from that blindness darkness and ignorance which all men are under the power of in the state of nature Such a measure then of light and knowledge as whereby men are enabled to apprehend aright of the person and offices of Christ of the nature of his mediation the benefits thereof and the obedience that he requires at the hands of his Disciples is expected in them who desire to be admitted into the fellowship of the Church Thirdly hereunto is to be added soundness in the faith For the unity of faith is the foundation of Love and all the duties thereof which in an especiall manner are to be performed towards the Church called therefore the house-hold of faith There is among the members of the Church one faith Ephes. 4.5 The common faith the faith once delivered unto the saints Jude 3. Which is the sound doctrine 1 Tim. 1.10 Which those that will not endure must be turned from 2 Tim. 4.3 the faithful word that is to be held fast Tit. 1.9 1 Tim. 1.19 And which we are to be sound in Tit. 1.13 Contained in a form of sound words as to the profession of it 2 Tim. 1.13 And this soundness in the unity of the faith as it should be improved unto oneness of mind and oneness of accord in all the things of God Phil. 2.2 Though it may admit of some different apprehensions in some things wherein some may have more clear and distinct discoveries of the mind and will of God than others which hinders not but that all may walk according to the same rule Phil. 3.15 16. So it is principally to be regarded in the fundamentall truths of the Gospel in and by the faith whereof the Church holdeth on the head Jesus Christ Coloss. 2.19 And in the fundamentall principles of Gospel worship the joynt celebration whereof is the next end of the gathering the Church for without a consent of mind and accord herein no duty can be performed unto edification nor the peace of the Church be preserved and these principles are those which we have explained Fourthly it is required that these things be testified by them unto the Church with the acknowledgement of the worke of Gods grace towards them and their resolution through the power of the same grace to cleave unto the Lord Christ with full purpose of heart and to live in all holy obedience unto him They come to the Church as Disciples of Christ professing that they have learnt the truth as it is in Jesus which what it infers the Apostle teacheth at large Ephes. 4.20 21 22 23 24. See also Acts 11.23 Acts 8.21 22 23. And this by themselves to be testified unto the Church First that they may be received in love without dissimulation as real partakers in the same faith hope and salvation with themselves as living members of the mystical body of Christ. Secondly That on all ensuing occasions they may be minded of their own profession and engagements to stir them up thereby unto faithfulness stedfastness and perseverance Hereupon are the Elders of the Church to judge by the rule of truth in Love and meekness concerning their condition and meetness to be laid as living stones in the house of God so as that they may 1. Reject false hypocritical pretenders if in or by any means their hypocrisie be discovered unto them Acts 8.20 23. Titus 1.10 Jer. 15.19 2. That they may direct and encourage in the way such as appear to be sincere instructing them principally in the nature of the way whereinto they are engaging the duties dangers and benefits of it Acts 18.26 Act. 14.22 1 Cor. 3.22 23. 3. To propose them their conditions their desires their resolutions unto the Church after their own expressions of them to be considered of in love and meekness Acts 9.26 27. Whereupon those that are approved do give up themselves unto the Lord to walk in the observation of all his commands and ordinances and to the Church for the Lords sake 2 Cor. 8.5 abiding in the fellowship thereof whereunto they are admitted Acts 2.41 42. Quest. 51. Wherein doth the especial form of a particular Church whereby it becomes such and is distinguished as such from all others consist Answ. In the special consent and agréement of all the members of it to walk together in the observation of the same Ordinances numerically hence its constitution and distinction from other Churches doth procéed Exod. 19.5 8. Chap. 24.3 7. Deut. 26.17 2 Cor. 8.5 Acts 14.23 Acts 20.28 Heb. 13.17 Explication It hath been before declared what especial agreement or covenant there ought to be among all the members of the same Church to walk together in a due subjection unto and observance of all the institutions of the Lord Christ. And this is that which gives it its special form and distinction from all other Churches In the general nature of a Church all Churches do agree and equally partake There is the same law of the constitution
of them all they have all the same rule of obedience all the same Head the same end all carry it on by the observation of the same Ordinances in kind Now besides these things which belong unto the nature of a Church in general and wherein they all equally participate they must also have each one its proper difference that which doth distinguish it from all other Churches and this gives it its speciall form as such Now this cannot consist in any thing that is accidental occasional or extrinsical unto it such as is cohabitation which yet the Church may have respect unto for conveniency and farthering of its edification nor in any civil or political disposal of its members into civil societies for civil ends which is extrinsecal to all its concernments as a Church nor doth it consist in the relation of the Church to its present Officers which may be removed or taken away without the dissolution of the form or being of the Church but it consisteth as was said in the agreement or covenant before mentioned For First This is that which constitutes 〈◊〉 a distinct body different from others for thereby and no otherwise do they coalesce into a society according to the law of their constitution and appointment Secondly this gives them their especial relation unto their own Elders Rulers or Guides who watch over them as so associated by their own consent according unto the command of Christ. And Thirdly From hence they have their mutual especial relation unto one another which is the ground of the especial exercise of all Church duties whatsoever Quest. 52. Wherein consists the duty of any Church of Christ towards other Churches Answ. 1 In walking circumspectly so as to give them no offence 2 In prayer for their peace and prosperity 3 In communicating supplyes to their wants according to ability 4 In receiving with love and readiness the members of them into fellowship in the celebration of the Ordinances of the Gospel as occasion shall be 5 In desiring and making use of their counsel and advice in such cases of doubt and difficulty as may arise among them 6 In joyning with them to express their communion in the same doctrine of faith 1 1 Cor. 10.32 2 Psalm 122.6 Ephes. 6.18 1 Tim. 2.1 3 2 Cor. 8.4 6. Acts 11.29 30. Rom. 15.26 27. 4 Rom. 16.1 2.3 Ep. Joh. 8 9. 5 Acts 15.2 6 1 Tim. 3.15 Explication Churches being gathered and setled according to the mind of Christ ought to preserve a mutual holy communion among themselves and to exercise it in the discharge of those duties whereby their mutuall good and edification may be promoted For whereas they are all united under one Head the Lord Christ Ephes. 1.22 23. in the same faith and order Ephes. 4.5 And do walk by the same rule they stand in such a relation one to another as is the ground of the communion spoken of Now the principal wayes whereby they exercise this communion are the acts and duties enumerated in the answer unto this Question as First Carefull walking so as to give no offence unto one another which although it be a moral duty in reference unto all yet therein especial regard is to be had unto other Churches of Christ that they be not in any thing grieved or tempted 1 Cor. 10.32 Give none offence neither to the Jews nor to the Gentiles nor to the Church of God Secondly In constant prayer for the peace welfare edification and prosperity one of another Rom. 1.9 Colos. 1.9 Ephes. 6.18 And this because of the special concernment of the name and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ in their welfare Thirdly In communicating of supplyes for their relief according unto their ability in case of the outward wants straits dangers or necessities of any of them Acts 11.29 30. Rom. 15.26 27. 2 Cor. 8.1 2 3 4 6 14. Fourthly The receiving of the members of other Churches to communion in the celebration of Church Ordinances is another way whereby this communion of Churches is exercised Rom. 16.1 2.3 Ep. Joh. 8.9 For whereas the personal right of such persons unto the Ordinances of the Church and their orderly walking in the observation of the commands of Christ are known by the testimony of the Church whereof they are members they may without farther enquiry or satisfaction given be looked on pro tempore as members of the Church wherein they desire fellowship and participation of the Ordinances of Christ. Fifthly In desiring or making use of the counsel and advice of one another in such cases of doubt and difficulty whether doctrinal or practical as may arise in any of them Act. 15.2 6. And from hence it follows that in case any Church either by errour in doctrine or precipitation or mistake in other administrations do give offence unto other Churches those other Churches may require an account from them admonish them of their faults and withhold communion from them in case they persist in the errour of their way and that because in their difficulties and before their miscarriages they were bound to have desired the advice counsel and assistance of those other Churches which being neglected by them the other are to recover the end of it unto their utmost ability Gal. 2.6.11 And hence also it follows that those that are rightly and justly censured in any Church ought to be rejected by all Churches whatever both because of their mutuall communion and because it is and ought to be presumed untill the contrary be made to appear that in case there had been any difficulty or doubt in the proceedure of the Church they would have taken the advice of those Churches with whom they were obliged to consult Lastly Whereas the Churches have all of them one common faith and are all obliged to hold forth and declare it to all men as they have opportunity 1 Tim. 3.15 to testifie this their mutual communion their interest in the same faith and hope for the more open declaration and proposition of the truths of the Gospel which they profess and for the vindication both of the truth and themselves from false charges and imputations they may and if God give opportunity ought to joyn together in declaring and testifying their joynt consent and fellowship in the same doctrine of faith expressed in a form of sound words Quest. 53. What are the ends of all this dispensation and order of things in the Church Answ. The glory of God the honour of Iesus Christ the Mediator the fartherance of the Gospel the edification and consolation of Believers here with their eternal salvation hereafter Rev. 4.9 10 11. Chap. 5.12 13. 1 Cor. 3 22.23 Ephes. 4.11 12 13. Finis