to it but the Name of Mass and to call it the Sacrifice of the Mass there are many Promises in the Scripture that there shall be much light in the last dayes Knowledge shall abound 7. A particular Church is a company of visible Saints that join themselves voluntarily together to enjoy the Ordinances of the Lord Jesus among themselves and to build up one another in their most holy faith this appears by the Epistles to the Church of Rome Corinth Ephesus the rest where they are called Saints faithful Brethren sanctified in Christ Jesus such as the Lord had begun a good work in Phil. 1.6,7 The Apostle saith it was meet to think so of every member of that Church yea he calleth the members of the Church of the Thessalonians Elect 1 Thes 1.4 and giveth the Reason ver 5. because that the Gospel came to them not in word only but with power and the Holy Ghost and much assurance not but that in those Churches there might be some that in the sight of God might be unbelievers but when they were taken into to those Churches they had such knowledge and Grace that so far as the Church could judge they could own them to be effectually called Many shifrs may be found out to withstand the Truth but if the Epistles to the Churches be weighed and the practice of the Apostles in the first Churches they are of no weight 8. Whatsoever corruption crept into the Church of Corinth other Churches doth no way alter the case for they were all visible Saints when they were first gathered and the Incestuous person and such were to be Excommunicated 1 Cor 5. else their Church-state would soon have been destroyed for such leaven would soon have leavened the whole lump and though that incestuous person was suffered a while yet upon the Apostles writing to them he was cast out and God so blessed that dreadful Ordinance of Excommunication to him that he repented and was taken in again And for their disorders at the Lords Supper they so repented and reformed upon the writing of that Epistle that the Apostle charges them not with those disorders in his second Epistle to them yea the Apostle in his second Epistle to the Corinthians giveth them great commendations as Ch. 7.12,13,14 Ch. 9.14 he speaks of the exceeding Grace of God in them 9. The more evidence of Grace and satisfaction in every member the purer the Church is at its first gathering 10. Most people amongst us make not so much as an outward profession of Religion how many either hold fundamental Errors or are grosly ignorant or are prophane and scoffers at the Spirit of God and power of godliness yet the Apostle giveth a direction to Timothy to teach the Church what they should do in case of profession that if men have a Form of godliness and deny the power of it declare themselves plainly by their conversations to have no Grace in their hearts he bids us from such to turn away 2 Tim. 3.5 11. The creeping in of corrupt members into Churches the best Churches is so far from being an Argument to lay aside all Rules and care of the Church in admitting members that its a strong Argument to put them upon all Christian care if so many enemies get into the Garrison when every man that cometh in is questioned what will there be when there is no watch nor care at all because that Believers after all their watching praying and believing have some sinful weaknesses should they neglect all care and duty this were a strange Argument Nay but therefore watch and pray and strive and believe for power against corruption 12. The way to come out of confusion into Church order is by godly mens joyning together as a Church of Christ upon good satisfaction of one anothers Grace and so to chuse their Officers that are to be their Overseers in the Lord the choice of whom by the Church is part of their liberty wherewith Christ hath made them free that society of people is no longer fit to be called a Church that must have their Officers imposed on them 13. In the common way there is little like Church-fellowship instead of watching over one another to keep one another up there is watching for one anothers halting rejoycing in them instead of Heavenly Discourse swearing and cursing 14. Though the generality of people amongst us do not in words deny Christ and the Doctrine of the Gospel but in words agree to it as it is the Religion of their country commonly here professed yet they no otherwise profess it then they would do any other Religion if it should be publiquely commanded as the main Body in King Henry the eighths time and Edward the sixt Q. Mary and Q. Elizabeth turned four times in twelve years therefore let not wise and gracious men lay weight upon such a sandy verbal Profession of men that hath no signs accompanying it of Grace and sincerity in their hearts 15. When Believers enter into Church-fellowship what can be said against a Holy Covenant thereby professing and declaring the full purposes of their hearts to walk in all the Ordinances of Christ and in the fellowship of that Church as God shall give them light assistance and opportunity such engagements in all Politique Bodies have their use 16. Although living together be convenient for those that joyn in Church-fellowship especially some of them for to manage Church Affairs that they may be alwayes present yet rather then to live without the Ordinances all our dayes in a way satisfying to our own consciences we may joyn to the nearest Churches till God open a door of opportunity for us at home 17. The Church is not the Officers but the Body of the Saints Acts 15.4 And when they were come to Jerusalem they were received of the Church and of the Apostles and Elders so that the Apostles and Elders were not counted the Church and ver 22. then it pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church so the Apostle in his Epistles to Rome Corinth and the rest calleth the Body of the Saints the Church I know not how any Officers of the Churches can be the Church Representative as some phrase it except they be Deputed and appointed by a Church to be their Messengers to transact any business for them and in their stead and of Messengers of the Churches in that sense we read in the Scripture 18. If that one thing were done among the godly in the Nation that visible Saints embodied together and chose their Officers to go out before them in the Lord all other differences about the power of particular congregations and the jurisdiction of Synods and the like would either by light or love among the Churches be sweetly composed but while many godly Ministers stand so stiff upon their former ordination that will look for no solemn Call from those Churches they count themselves Pastors of and observe no way of
their natural estate and have been very wicked chap. 20 READER What literal faults escaped either in the copy or the printing let your Candor and understanding in reading mend them the Author being so far from the Press must be excused Some Books printed and sold by Thomas Brewster at the three Bibles near the West end of Pauls AN Epitome of all the Common and Statute Laws of England in Fol. The Faithful Counsellor or the Marrow of the Law in English in 4. to The Priviledges of the People vindicated in 4. to All three by William Sheppard Serjeant at Law The Retired Mans Meditation or the Mysterie and Power of Godliness by H. Vane Knight The Prerogative of Popular Government A Political Discourse in two Books the former containing the first Preliminary of Oceana enlarged interpreted and vindicated The second concerning ordination against D. H. Hammond Dr. L. Seaman and the Authors they follow In which two Books is contained the whole Common-wealth of the Hebrews or of Israel Senate People and Magistracy as also the different Policies introduced into the Church of Christ during the time of the Apostles by James Harrington Esquire Vindiciae Justificationis Gratuitae Justification without Condition or the free Justification of a Sinner Explained Confirmed and Vindicated by W. Eyre Minister of the Gospel at New-Sarum Mr. Baxter's Aphorisms of Justification Examined and Answered by J. Crandon in 4o. Seasonable Instructions for these evil times also Christ as a Father sitting up with his Children in their swooning state being the sum of many Lectures painfully preached upon the 1. Chap. of Paul to the Colossians c. by Nicholas Lockyer Mr. of Arts. An Exposition of the whole Book of Canticles wherein the Text is explained and useful Observations raifed thereupon by J. Robotham in 4o. The Extents and Limitation of Gospel-liberty wherein is laid down an exact way to end the present dissentions and to preserve future Peace among the Saints whereunto is added good news from heaven to the worst of sinners on earth Gospel-holiness or a Saving Sight of God and the glorious Priviledge of the Saints Both by Walter Graddock Preacher of the Gospel in 4o. A Description of Jerusalem and the Suburbs thereof as it florished in the time of Jesus Christ with a Map by H. Jesse in 4o. A Little Cabinet richly stored with all sorts of heavenly Varieties and soul-reviving influencs wherein there is a remedy for every Malady viz. Milk for Babes Meat for strong men being an abridgment of the Sum and substance of the true Christian Religion No Power but of God and yet a Power in every Creature wherein is shewed that the Almighty God is not wanting to us in impowering of us but we are wanting to him in not improving our Talents for him Both written by Robert Purnel A Store-house of Provision for further Resolution in several Cases of Conscience viz. of living above Ordinances of walking in Fellowship with the unbaptized of Laying on of hands c. Also a small Catechism for Babes and little Ones all three by H. Jesse Zions Glory discovered in the Churches and Ordinances before the fulness of the Jews come in by J. Proud A Treatise containg three things viz. A Discovery of the unsupportable Burthen of sin to a heart that is throughly convinced of sin 2. The Restlesness of a soul to return to God who is so sensible of his with-drawing 3. A Discovery of the sweet entertainment that wandring hearts meet with in their Returns to God by P. Hobson The Right Constitution of a Common-Wealth with some Errors of Government and Rules oâ— Policy as laid down by Machiavel and others in 8o. A Brief History containing most of those notable Occurrences and Revolutions that happened in those late Contests between King and Parliament being a short mention of things from 1637. to 1648. by T. May Esquire Milk for Bubes in Christ or Meditations Observations and Experiences with divers cases of Conscience resolved the glorious Priviledges of them that are Christs with the way to know whether we are of that blessed number Also Election before the foundation of the world asserted and the Faith of Gods Elect what it is by Martin Finch Preacher of the Gospel and Pastor of the Church of Christ at Tetney in Licoln-shire 8o. An Anti Diatribe or the Apologie of some Ministers and godly people asserting the Lawfulness of their administring the Lords Supper in a select Company proving also the necessity of Examination in order to a more holy Church fellowship being an answer to Mr. Humphrey's general Admission by H. Saunders Minister of Hollesworth in Devon Lazarus and his Sisters discourse of Paradise or a Conference about the excellent things oâ— the other world A Discoverer of some plots of Lucifer and his Councel against the Children of men An Essay upon two of Virgil's Eclogues and two Books of his Aeneids translated by James Harrington Esquire The Gate of Tongues unlocked and opened or a Seed-time of all Tongues and Sciences being a Short way of teaching and throughly learning the Latine English French c. Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus his Divine Pimander in 17 Books together with his second book called Asclepius containing 15. Chapters with a Commentary done into English by Dr. Everard Some Sermons preached on several occasions by P. Sterry viz. The clouds in which Christ comes in a Sermon from Rev. 1.7 The Teaching of Christ in the soul from Mâ—t. 23. and 10. The coming forth of Christ in the power of his death from Psal 18.1 Divine Astrologie or a Scripture Prognostication of the sad Events which ordinarily arise from the good mans fall by death being the substance of a Sermon preached at the Funeral of Col. Will. Vnderwood by George Cokayn Preacher of the Gospel Soper-lane London Christian Experiences from Scripture-evidences under these several heads viz. 1. Comfort for Believers against their fears and dismayings 2. Comfort for Believers from their spiritual Incomes 3. Mans fruitlesness without saving faith 4. Counsel unto Saints as sojourners and strangers 5. Mans folly in determining by present Events or State of things by R. Coler Preacher of the Gospel in Wiltshire A Lamenting word shewing how there is a Dissertion come upon us and what are the Evils with whom they are found that have procured it unto us A Collection of the Armies Declarations Engagements Remonstrances c. These written by T. Collier viz. The Right Constitution of a visible Church of Christ with its Order and Ordinances The Day Dauning relating to the Calling of the Jews and Christs second Coming The Confession of Faith of several Churches of Christ in the West signed by several Officers of the said Churches A Catechism for the Instruction of youth A Dialogue between a Minister of the Gospel and an enquiring Christian about the Authority of the Scriptures and the Principles of the Quakers The Personal Appearing and Reign of Christs Kingdom on the Earth stated An Antidote
the Volume of thy Book it is written of me Lo I come to do thy will O God that is I come to give thee satisfaction according to thy own heart by that which we agreed upon My own death 2. They agreed of the time of payment therefore it is said Gal. 4. when the fulness of time was come God sent his Son that is when the time that was agreed upon between the Father and Christ was come then Christ was sent forth not that Christ had time given him because he was not able to pay our debt before but God saw that the fittest time after the Church had been so long under Ceremonies and hard services then Christ comes forth to purchase a Redemption from sin and those things to that we might see more of the great Benefits we have by him 3. It was agreed what power the Lord Jesus should have to carry on the work of Redemption and all power was given to him Mat. 28. and John 17.2 Thou hast given him power over all flesh that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given him Now Christ as God had of himself power over all things but now as Mediatour God the Father gives him power over all flesh and so Ephes 1.22 God the Father is said to have given Christ to be Head over all things to the Church Now Christ as God was Head over all things without any giving of it to him but Christ as Mediator hath it given to him to be Head over all things to the Church that is for the benefit of the Church that so the Lord Jesus is the Head over all things hath command over the good Angels Devils men and all creatures for the good of the Church whose Head he is in another manner then he is Head of all things so I say this was agreed that the Lord Jesus should have universal power and dominion for the managing of this great Work 4. It was agreed in this Covenant between the Father and Christ that the sins and failings of Christs members should not break the Covenant that the Father and Christ had made for their salvation therefore it is said in that 89. Psalm from 23. to 32. that the Covenant should stand fast with Christ and saith God if Christs children break my Commandements I will visit their Iniquity with a Rod I will have liberty saith God to chastise them and whip them home when they play the Prodigals and wander from my House but then it shall not break the Covenant that they sin against me but I will pardon their iniquities and remember their sins no more Upon the account of this Covenant between the Father and Christ the Lord Jesus is said to trust God the Father as Mediatour Heb. 2.13 Behold I put my trust in him and again behold I and the children which God hath given me Christ as Mediatour trusted God the Father to carry him through the great work of his Mediation 2. He trusted him that he would accept of his death 3. He trusted him that in the appointed time he would bestow all the good things purchased by his death upon them for whom he died which good things were especially forgiveness of sins the Spirit Sanctification and eternal life God the Father had trufted Christ with the salvation of his people with which he would not have trusted all the Angels in Heaven and therefore Christ might well trust God the Father in this matter Christ knew Gods infinite Love to those for whom he died and knew the Covenant between the Father and him on their behalf and so trusted the Father fully in the business relying upon the love and faithfulness of God his love to the Elect and his faithfulness to keep Covenant with him CHAP. XIV The Saints Comfort against Death DEath in it self is the King of Terrours a very terrible thing 1. In it self it is part of the curse in the day thou eatest thereof thou shalt die thou shalt be lyable to temporal and eternal death when I please to execute it but indeed death is not kept up to the Saints as a curse but as a servant to carry them home to their Fathers House 2. Death is an abhorrency to Nature that nature dreads it exceedingly it parts the soul and body that have been such intimate acquaintance it leaves the body to be a dead carcass fit for nothing but to be laid among the clods of the earth 3. It s terrible to flesh and blood as it depriveth men of the comforts of this present life it carrieth us from all the comforts of wife children friends estate Sigismund the Emperour when he was near death charged them that were about him that they should not name death in his hearing belike the thoughts of it were very terrible to him 4. Death is terrible to many mens thoughts in respect of the suddeness of it sudden death comes sometimes 1. by a sudden decay of nature such diseases as the Apoplexy may be breeding in the body that shall pluck down this earthly Tabernacle in one moment 2. Sometimes by Accidents from without as fire enemies falls and the like 3. Sometimes by a sudden stroak of Gods hand when there is no natural cause but men might live a great while Thus God cuts off many in the midst of their dayes not but that all men live to the time appointed and set down by God but that the Lord cuts them off from that time when they might according to the course of nature live a great while-longer Thus the Lord smote Herod suddenly with death the hundred and fourscore and five thousand of the Assyrians in one night Esay 37.36 5. The unavoidableness of death makes it terrible to the thoughts that the stoutest spirits see they cannot grapple with it what man is he that liveth and shall not see death who can deliver himself from the power of the grave Psalm 89.48 Death fetches a General out of his Tent when he lyeth environed with armed men Death fetches the Prince out of his Palace goes through all his Life-guard and none can withstand him so that men of brave and stout spirits have no courage to deal with death but their valour is turned into fear and amazement 6. The pains and pangs of death make it terrible to the thoughts of flesh and blood to think what a strange confusion then will be in the spirits when the eye-strings and heart-strings crack and man can exercise no more his spirit and understanding 7. That which above all makes death terrible unto many is the consequence of it that after death comes the Judgement the particular day of Judgement presently O saith many an unwakened conscience O what shall I do to appear before God to make up my accounts to him so that the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 15. that the sting of death is sin and the strength of sin is the Law that is that the greatest sting of death is for a
admission of members to maintain purity and will manage all by themselves as it were without either presence or consent of the Church it may be a great inconvenience and hinder communion of their and other Churches which might else more comfortably own one anothers Church state notwithstanding other differences those things are urged by the New England men with many Arguments and that of the holiness of those that are to be admitted into Churches is excellently defended by Mr. Cotton in that Book of his called The Holiness of Church members in which he answers all that is usually brought against it so that he that would with small expence either of money or time see that point cleared that may get that Book 19. To say that there hath been true Churches in England heretofore no way proveth that there is a true Church in every Parish for though there might be true Churches in some Parishes it doth not follow that therefore there was in all and because that there was a Church in such a place a hundred years ago it doth not follow that therefore there is now for God giveth Churches a bill of divorce many times what is become of the Churches of Asia the Church of Rome Hath not the Lord taken away their Church-state yet Rome still holdeth Christ that died at Jerusalem to be the true Christ the denial only of which some conceive will only unchurch a people and not their prophaness and wickedness otherwayes be it never so great a very strange notion it is but the Lord threatens to unchurch the Church of Ephesus for other grounds besides such gross Infidelity as was intimated yea though they had many excellent things in them yet Revel 2,4,5 I have somewhat against thee because thou hast left thy first love remember therefore from whence thou art fallen and repent and do thy first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent where we may observe to our present purpose 1. That God doth sometimes remove a peoples Church state for so I think all acknowledge that by Candlestick is meant their Church-state for the seven Candlesticks were the seven Churches Revel 1.20 2. It shews us plainly that though a people do not deny Christ that died at Jerusalem to be the true Christ but outwardly acknowledge and own him yet if the Church generally leave their first love and grow formal and carnal that there is to be seen no difference between them and unregenerate men God will unchurch them will own them no more after some time of his patience and waiting for their Repentance to be a Church and house of his 3 That God doth not use to stay generations before he unchurch a people that fall off from him for he saith in this place he will come quickly to remove his Candlestick except they repent God will not have Churches now look for such for bearance as the Church of the Jews which was an extraordinary thing and not to be paralleld but saith he I come quickly not to wait now many hundred years as I did upon the people of Israel 20 Although the Officers of Churches have a power of order yet they have not all Church-power for the Church of Corinth were to consent to put forth that Church act of excommunicating the incestuous person 1 Cor. 5.4 Though some officer for order-sake be the mouth of the Church in the managing of it they are by most allowed to choose their own officers without which they should fall short of the priviledge of most societies and relations in the world and this is some act of power that most grant is seated in the Church and thus was an Apostle chosen Act. 1. and the Deacons Act. 6.3 and Elders Act. 14.23 In that Synod they were not chose neither by Magistrates or by the Officers of the Churches only but by the body of the Church Act. 15.2,3 and so when any great affairs are to be transacted with another Church the persons commonly called the Messengers of the Churches are sent not only by the Officers but by the whole Church Act. 15.23 2 Cor. 8.19 and these do represent the Church indeed from which they are sent therefore he saith in that place verse 24. shew ye to them and before the Churches the proof of your love to shew that what is done before them when they are thus delegated and appointed by the Churches is done before these Churches and the Church must say to Archippus Take heed to the Ministry which thou hast received of the Lord and fulfill it Col. 4.17 but for a man to come only by a Patron into a place that he looks upon as a Church and is not solemnly chosen by them and then will take all church-Church-power to himself is far from being according to Rule 21 Believers may join together in Church-fellowship though they do not agree in every thing if they agree in the main Churches gathered upon rigid Principles of uniformity in every thing makes way for breaches if men be sound in the faith and not of turbulent but peaceable Spirits some mistakes about lesser matters may be born with until God shall reveal these things unto them 22 It s observable that godly Ministers in most parts of the nation begin more and more to be unsatisfied with the common way of taking all to the Lords Table though yet they differ what is the way of Reformation but this serveth not only to countenance the peaceable and sober separation that is practised by some but promiseth much that God will reveal these truths of discipline more fully then hitherto we know that the godly in the Bishops times first began to scruple one Ceremony and then another and so light came in by degrees it is a good thing to see that men cannot bear such prophaning of Gods Ordinances as hath been amongst us and that they labor for purity of ordinances though they do not presently come into Gospel-order in every thing 22 The Pastors of the Churches must be godly It is a greater mischief then many are aware of that many that are publique Preachers and count themselves Pastors of Churches are not gracious men yea by those that put them into that work and those that sit under their Ministry it is not regarded whether they be godly only that they have some learning and parts 1 John 21.15,16,17 Christ saith to Peter Lovest thou me then feed my Lambs Christ doth not send others to seed his Lambs that neither love him nor them 2 Mind the description of a Pastor or Bishop which are all one 1 Tim. 3. He must be sober no drunkard apt to teach from some gifts of knowledge and utterance that God hath bestowed upon him he saith he must not be greedy of filthy Lucre Oh how many have entred upon the ministry meerly for filthy Lucre to get a living he saith he must not be a Novice 〈◊〉