Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	worship_n	worship_v	worshipper_n	161	3	11.1629	5	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57540	Ohel or Beth-shemesh A tabernacle for the sun, or, Irenicum evangelicum : an idea of church-discipline in the theorick and practick parts, which come forth first into the world as bridegroom and bride ... by whom you will have the totum essentiale of a true Gospel-church state according to Christs rules and order left us when he ascended ... : published for the benefit of all gathered churches, more especially in England, Ireland and Scotland / by John Rogers ...	Rogers, John, 1627-1665?; Rogers, John, 1627-1665? Challah, the heavenly nymph.	1653 (1653)	Wing R1813; Wing R1805; ESTC R850	596,170	655

so will leave you You shall finde the world a Book full of false prints as by men but at the End of all thousands of Errata's shall appear to your shame And being thus to part I shall say with Synesius I carry nothing from Purleigh of ΠΥP ΛAOΣ fire and people but bonam conscientiam malam valetudinem a good conscience an ill constitution and an empty purse being denied by you the bread I have earn'd with sweating brows yet the Lord shew you mercy and melt your hearts and if it be his will give you the breast and not the breach the blessing and not the blow and spare the Rod for those few sakes that like children long for full breasts of milk among you Wherefore flye Sirs flye from the Common-Law which will condemn you to that Chancery-Court the Communion of Saints where Christ sits as Judge to relieve you and there I will promise to meet you by faith and to plead for you by prayer though I never see you more face to face unlesse you meet me at home in our Fathers house And so farewel Dear hearts farewel Finally my brethren farewel be perfect be of one mind live in peace and the God of love and peace shall be with you all 2 Cor. 13.11 Amen Thus prayes Your affectionate Friend and late your Minister in the hot bowels of love to you yet ready to serve the meanest and worst of you in the work of my Master Jesus Christ. In and for whom I am JOHN ROGERS From my Study at Thomas Apostles Lond. March 25. 1653. A TABERNACLE For the SVN The Second BOOK CHAP. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hhacham That the persons entring into Church-society must consider what they do first and be sure they be upon good grounds being throughly satisfied and fully perswaded that the way they are entring into is the very way of Christ appointed for Beleevers to walk in WEE are come now to the very Gates of Wisdome Prov. 9.3 4. to the Towers and Palaces of Sion where the Lord is known to be her refuge Psal. 48.3 But before we enter in take some I●structions Be more ready to hear saith the Preacher then to offer the sacrifice of fools for they consider not 〈◊〉 to hear auribus cor●is corporis with head and heart-ears for these Lessons are to bee let in by both ears and concerne both the outward man for fear of judgement 1 Cor. 11.29 and the inward man for feare of damnation Mark 16.16 and Rom. 14.23 c. which is better then to offer the sacrifice of fools i. e. Such as are rash and preposterous and run post into Gods house without remembring or seriously resolving in their mindes what they are doing whither they are going why these content themselves with the outside forme and would be one amongst others though without sound faith or saving grace Such are the fools which we are fore-warned of in this Text for it is not enough for Pastor or Elder to try us but we must try our selves Wherefore keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God Eccles. 5.1 that is keep a watch over it as a prisoner who must not stir without his Keeper that is observe diligently whither thou art now going consider seriously that thou mayst go in safely and enter in rightly and reverently and orderly with humility and holinesse in devotion and full perswasion of heart Hence it is in Psal. 45.10 the very first instructions to the daughters of Sion are to hearken and consider i. e. in Heb. prudently to attend and skilfully or knowingly to minde Thus Psal. 48.13 Consider her Palaces The want of a solid and a serious consideration makes many runne into these assemblies of Sion and Church-wayes they know not how nor for what whereby abundance of trouble is brought upon them and upon the Church that so receives them I have considered my wayes Psal. 119.59 sayes David and I will consider thy testimonies Psal. 119.95 which is of such use and necessity that without it nothing is rightly ordered The Mariner considers his course by his Compasse and the Pilgrim puts on his Considering-cap continually in his journey whether or no he be in the right way Stat cogitat ipse secum utram debeat eligere nec prius adoriendum iter quam animo definierit pleniore mentis intentione deciderit And hee will resolve which is best before he foot it And must not wee consider what is before us beware of the sands if wee would have a good haven Doth it not much concerne us to consider our way when it lyes doubtfull between the Presbyterian and Independent so called Non omni● via dirigit ad Hierusalem illam quae in C●●lis est sayes Cooper on Psal. 119. Now if a Christian bee carelesse and consider not the way he goes to walke in as he may rashly runne in a false way and thinke hee is right so hee may wrongly runne into a right way and be in doubt whether he be in the Lords way or no Now to doubt is dangerous as wee shall shew by and by The Apostle Act. 17.23 tells the Athenians that they were too superstitious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and full of false religions like worshippers of Demon-gods for so the word will have it and why so whom ye ignorantly worship him declare I unto you Yee worship an unknowne God although hee bee the true God yet in ignorance to you for yee know not whom nor what nor inded how to worship him whom I declare unto you wherefore it is yee fall into false wayes and Worships And so it is with a people that worship the Lord in a way of worship that for all that they know may be false as wel as true therefore it concerns them to consider the way first Take heed to your selves said Moses to Israel and the same saith Jeremy to Judah and Christ to his Disciples Mat. 6.1 16.6 and 24.4 that no man deceive you and Paul sayes so to Timothy 1 Tim. 4.16 and Peter to all 2 Pet. 1.19 ye will doe well to take heed take ye heed watch and pray Mar. 13.33 what is more pressed in Scripture and Paul in 1 Cor. 3.10 sayes The foundation is laid but let every man take heed how he buildeth thereon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is adjicere oculos animi let him see with a serious and discerning eye what hee doth not with a light slight perfunctory glance but with an intent and attentive observation of what hee is about The want of this made so many dolefull complaints and sad invectives against Israel as Isa. 1.3 The Oxe knoweth his owner and the Asse his Masters crib he saith not the Dog knows his Master c. hee is more wity but the dull block-headed Oxe the stupid sloathfull Asse

Office of Preaching be denied any but that they have free Liberty yet if they transgress Gospel-bounds and will be seditious and fierce c. then it is your Lordships duty to suppress and banish them saying We will freely grant you to fight with the Word against all false Doctrines but we will restrain your hands and spirits from those things that belong to our Magistracy and Civil Power c. Either of these I say out of their orbs and places are of a Phaeton-spirit obnoxious to all and in such disorders as will set all on fire again Therefore such are said in Scriptures to be lifted up to their own destruction 2 Chro. 26.16 For such pride is never without a fall And till this be both Magistracy and Ministry must needs lie under much contempt both which in the restitution of times will be glorious at first Wherefore as Bishops had not best to storm that they are thrown down from their Lordships Judgeships Justices of Peace or the like neither let our Stately-Ministers be offended for calling them to and keeping them in the work of the Ministry of Christ whereinto they are called nor yet our honorable Rulers whose honor is to rule well within their sphere and not to meddle with matters of Faith which is an edge tool that will cut their fingers for Extorquere timidis commutationem possunt sed fidem inspirare non possunt Ambr. epist. 13. it is out of their orb Quest. But may not Magistrates suppress Errors c. Answ. Evil doings and practises as you heard before they may and must but they are not competent Judges of controversal points opinions and doctrines And thus that eminent servant of Christ Mr. Burroughs in his Vindication against Edwards answereth this Question he sayes That where the hainousness of the matter and turbulency of the carriage manifests stubbornness c. These hainous actions and turbulent carriages do come within their cognizance but they are not the fit Judges of controversies in Religion or matters of faith But why sayes hee for this should there be such a stirre and out-cry against that which is called the Independent way as if there must needs bee a confusion of all things if liberty in it bee but granted The Lord judge between us in this thing c. But as it is an intollerable wrong done to the truth Christ and his Churches to grade and grace Ministers with such a Power as we said before which is most properly the States so is it no lesse lamentable an injury done to Jesus Christ his Church and truth to gratifie Magistrates with such a Power which is most properly the Churches as to suppress sinne errours in opinions and judgements which is to bee by the word of Christ He is no Judge of Doctrine to pronounce which is true and which is not which shall stand and which shall not because as Mr. Dell sayes he is as liable to erre as any man Acts 14 14. vid. Owens Essay for Church government p. 72. Secondly Because he wil do all he can dentibus unguibus as wee may say to uphold his owne opinion and religion though never so false and to sentence others though ever so true as if they were false heresies blasphemies and the like as appears Acts 24.14 So did the Jewes Acts 28.22 and the Scribes and Pharisees sentence Christ and Christianity and all but their owne Thirdly Every Magistrate would make it his office to maintaine his owne Idol and what a world of false gods and false worships would be set up and worshipped then and in most places true Religion put into the Rack Object But they must have the advice of the Assembly of Divines or able Ministers Answ. 1. Then Magistrates must act upon an implicite answer 1 faith to see with their eyes and beleeve as they beleeve Secondly Then Magistrates were but the Ministers or Assemblies executioners a flat peece of Popery methinks Pilate stands for a Sea-mark before such to the end of the world who did but execute the Priests sentence upon Christ in crucifying him 3 This would take Ministers off the right means of ruining errour i. e. by the word of Christ and this would make them idle and neglect their duties in doing that by the word that such Magistrates would doe though they ought not to do by the sword but Fourthly Why Magistrates as Magistrates are not to suppresse errours c. is because Christ and his Apostles after him never medled as we heard before with secular powers to suppresse blasphemies c. neither was this Doctrine maintained or entertained as usefull in Christs Church for three hundred yeers after Christ. Fifthly Because Christ hath left other Lawes to suppresse Errours Heresies Blasphemies as appears in 1 Tim. 1.20 Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 5 c. Cum multis aliis c. and by those Lawes left us upon record in Primitive times were errours depressed and punished Query Whether a Member cast out of a Church-society comes not under secular Cognizance for punishment Answ. Affirm So far as Christians whether in or out of Church-fellowship are of the world they are under worldly government and powers but no further For worldly government reaches not out of the world but Saints as Saints yea as members of the Church visible are called out of the world and Christs Church though in the world yet they are not of the world Church-government is over men as Members of the Church and Civill government is over them as members of the State or Nation or Commonwealth The first is Christs the second Caesars It is Antichrist arrogates both and casts a Christian under the notion of a Hereticke erroneous person or the like out of one hand into the other We grant that a member whether in the society or out for it is all one for that for as much as he is a member of the Nation must needs come under Civill Cognizance but answer 2 Secondly Negative I can finde no warrant in the word for any Church of Christ to deliver up any be he never so bad to secular powers for punishment for either he must bee delivered up before or after he is cast out if before then he is yet under the government of the Church and if after then the Church hath nothing to do with him being without her Lines I doe not finde this to be in practise in primitive times till Popery was pretty ripe and then under pretence of Hereticks the dear Saints suffered death presently and frequently Secondly But if Magistrates doe take Cognizance of Blasphemers Hereticks c. let them take heed they out-run not Gods rule in inflicting mulcts and punishments though it be for actions I say that they goe not too far Luke 9.55 56. I see not how they can sentence to death any for mis-beleeving or not beleeving our points

Gods anger is against them that doe but company with drunkards c. for they are a shame to their father Prov. 28 7. and themselves Prov. 29.3 A very Plutarch could laugh at such as would have been counted as wise as Plato and yet in Alexanders company be drunke and indeed Nebuchadnezars judgement is some mens joy viz. to have fellowship with beasts But wee must beware for who can sleep with dogs and not bee full of fleas and so with sinners in continuall communion and not be full of sinne 3 It is to avoid the vices of their best Orders and Ordinances and to have no fellowship therein although they seem full of reason and Religion too Col. 2.20 21. Thus Rev. 18.4 Gal. 4 9. Away away with them now that are but poore 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 beggerly at best and no more able to support a soule then one Begger is to relieve another thus saith Paul Gal. 1.14 who was so hot so high for the Jewes Religion as I sayes he who traded so zealously in and for our Fathers traditions untill what untill verse 15.16 Christ was revealed in me and so unvailed to me and then I consulted no longer that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I asked no more counsell of nor comfort from these frothy fruitlesse things whereof we are now ashamed with flesh and blood but I bid farewell or fare-ill rather to all those Trumperies and Traditions which I doted on before and thus the Saints are the precisest Separatists By all which as it plainly appeares that Parishes want this part of Church-forme for the constituting of them true Churches so also might I by what appears presse the practicall part of this point from the pregnancy of the proofes produced being twisted together from the Prophesies Precepts and practise into a threefold cord not to be broken but if the Lord will blesse you of ability to bring you into Christs way of separation from Parishes and Traditions For you that will not separate from such false wayes worships and the world must bee separates from Christ sayes Mr. Owen my honoured friend in his Esh●Col or Cluster But mee thinkes some will say Sir as you alwaies have been in all things so in this you are too strict and precise for such Separates are Schismaticks and so many learned Ministers call them that leave off their comming to Church and following our Ministers c. 1 Such Separates as I have here given you an account of are not Schismaticks unlesse to Antichrist answer 1 but on the contrary such as doe not thus separate are Schismaticks to their owne soules A causelesse separation from a true established Church of Christ walking according to Gospel-order although it may be guilty of some sleight errours in Extra-essentials and Circumstantials or things of easie concernment is in Gospel-account a sad sinne 2 Tim. 4.16 Heb. 10.23.25.39 but a causelesse continuance in a false way Antichristian worship and disorderly discipline is no lesse at least as appeares before being contrary to so much positive Precept for such a separation from Parochiall constitutions which I have proved to be at best but as civill and at worst a Christ-wronging Christ-rending and Antichristian Church-state and from such unwarrantable wayes of worship and unruly Religion is but to obey the Precept of not partaking in other mens sins And thus the Saints are and ought to be Separates and not Schismaticks which Papists and Prelates have ever branded and stigmatized the deare Saints for in their separatings from them vide Zanche on Hos. 2.8 and which Popish trick trades with many yet who make merchandize of it answer 2 2 Suppose learned men be of that minde so were they learned that accounted Christ a Blasphemer and a fellow not fit to live Joh. 9.29 and that branded the Saints for Sectaries Acts 28.22 and seditious Act. 24.5 and Hereticks Act. 24.14 and in every age have such been Christs enemies in the graine and many for the tree of knowledge lose the tree of Life vide chap 9. lib. 2. are not the Jesuites learned too and who do more mischief For as Dr. Sutton said in 's Sermon for Magistrates page 11. as the Ape that saw a Chesnut in the fire and not knowing how to get it out spied a Spaniel by the fire side and snatched his foot to take out the Nut even so does the Devill many times make use of learned ones to fetch his food cut of the fire though they scorch for it whom he makes to serve him in it answer 3 3 If they do leave off your Parish-Churches as Parish-Churches yet it hath been proved and will be more abundantly that they are no Churches and therefore they ought to doe it or they sinne in not doing it and besides thereby they also wrong us that say wee gather Churches out of Churches for it is no such matter yet were it so as Mr. Burton tells Mr. Prin page 27. of his Vindication there is example for it both by John Baptist our Saviour Christ and his Apostles Matth. 3.5.7 John 4.1 Act. 2.40 who did all of them gather Christian Congregationall Churches out of the Jewish Nationall Church and so it may be yea and must bee in these semblable times of Reformation but wee say they are no Churches for matter and forme and so shall prove them all along to bee but Synagogues of Sathan And to say more with Mr. Hooker such are not of right matter because Parishioners for no civill rule can properly convey a Church-right to any man because they are in specie specifically distinct each from other therefore cannot meet no more then two direct Mathematicall lines not in the least oblique but that are distant and distinct from each other can meet though drawne out ad infinitum Besides most Parishioners oppose all that is in order to inchurch them and as Hart hath it in 's Char. p. 15. they converse with godly Gospel-Ministers about Religion as if they were in Spaine and a searching Ministry is as bad to them as the Spanish Inquisition and all the questions we can ask them are suspected for Examinations they are afraid of some secret that wil be picked out of them and that they shall be discovered such a bondage are the poore blinde people under and so kept by some pretending Ministers whereby the blinde lead the blinde into the ditch But wee have the word of God well preached and the Sacraments dispenced in our Parish-Churches This was answered in the former Chapter that the word preached makes not a true visible Church for then might the Natives-Irish here be called A true Church and the Heathens in the East or West-Indies but there must bee a yeelding due obedience thereunto and a visible subjection to Jesus Christ before they be fit for his Church The reason is because preaching the

all our Magistrates may know they are under Christs Discipline and Jurisdiction and not Christ under theirs Yet this may our Magistrates whom we honour ever know that it is their duty and proper to them to make provision for the Church of Christ principally and to improve their Authority for the preserving of Christs Kingdome and Gods Church and service And for this David Solomon Josiah Ezekiah and others of the Rulers of Israel were registred famous Not that they are in the least to force mens consciences into a consent and compliance with their own wayes or worships or to rack them into a Religion God forbid For Luke 9.5.4.55 56. Christ came not to destroy mens lives but to save them And wee must with all meeknesse instruct them that oppose if peradventure though it bee much in question that God will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth and to be recovered out of the snares of the Devill 2 Tim. 2.24 25 26. even as the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the hottest adversaries of the truth even such are deliberately to be dealt with and gently intreated unlesse the Laws should seize upon them on Civil accounts for transgressions and as Civil disturbers of the peace or the like but I meet with a stop by some sturdy stickler for Coercive Power Object Luke 14.23 The Lord sayes Compell them to come in that my house may be filled Ans. Who doth the Lord speake to They are the Lords servants who are commanded to it i. e. not Civill Magistrates but the Messengers of the Gospel sent out to gather Guests into the Kings house now this is not meant by prisons punishments or the like But 2 The word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. shew them a necessity vi efficacia rationum Grotius in loc of comming into my house Win them with arguments that as they that want bread see a necessity or are compelled to go to Market so may these And thus is it in Matth. 22.9 Bid them that is invite them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 call them with undeniable winning words and with forcing arguments in which sense wee are to compell them as much as wee may with the weapon of the word and strength of truth But before I finish this Chapter let not the Civill Magistrates imagine in the least that this Discipline of the Church doth derogate a tittle from their just rights which is the false suggestion of our Adversaries of old against us as Ezra 4.7 8. and verse 16. they said to the King if these men goe on then thou wilt lose thy right and portion Thus the Presidents conspired against Daniel Dan. 6.6.7 and accused him for a Rebell verse 12. But as wee have wee shall and will and dare not doe otherwise then be subject unto them even for conscience sake Rom. 13.1 But wee shall meet with more of this hereafter In the meane time Saints are compelled Secondly By the sweet insinuations and powerfull perswasions of the Spirit of Christ they are constrained into the vse 2 house of God and they are voluntarily knit together into one which Sibs sweetly shewes necessary in his Treatise before named page 91. Now when the Spirit prevailes they are to enter into practise and then they doe it with abundance of sweetnesse satisfaction freenesse and readinesse and this is requisite in all that would bee gathered according to the Gospel It is God which worketh in you both to will and to doe Phil. 2.13 And hee perswades Japhet to dwell in the Tents of Shem not otherwise forcing them so that wee grant such a kinde of compulsive powers But as all Controversies are about meum and teum even so it is as to this And a little thing will make the Magistrate challenge it because hee is for the most part inclined to it A little clap with the hand sets on an eager Mastive but the force of staves cannot loosen him wherefore I advise men to bee wise how they set on Secular powers to interpose or imp●se in matters of Religion as to tender Consciences some are busie herein who are like the Bustard in a fallow field that cannot rise high sine vi turbinis without the Whirlewind of such a Tempest for so I account it will bee to the Church and then like squibs in a throng they flye out on all sides But I hope our Magistrates will be more wise then to runne the hazard of so imminent wrath of God For as I have read of the Tyrians in Alexanders time when he had besieged them that the iron they put into the Forge for to use against the enemy even whilst it was in the fire was seen full of drops of blood sayes Quintus Curtius and so have been and will be the weapons that are used against consciences It is sad when ungodly great ones must sit as Judges of the greatly godly ones Many men are like the Lawyer that pleaded strongly for his Client but before the day of hearing hee was advanced to the Be●●ch and made the Judge but then he adjudged it to the other side saying before he was an Advocate and pleaded for his Client but now he was his Judge Thus Polititians doe who like A●●alus have planted many herbs to poyson true spirituall piety but to practise policy And like curious Cookes build up with their hands high but with their teeth tear low These like the Wolfe answer the Lambe that pleaded her innocency It is true thy cause is better then mine but my teeth are harder then thine But God is ingaged against such Powers and Policies vide chap. 13. Thus much for this Chapter CHAP. XII 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Halal and Hodh The End of Saints so embodied together as before being a true Church of Christ for Matter and Forme Object and Rule as before is the Glory of God and to set forth his praises in Christ and his Churches THe rightest-line is the shortest I would have mine both short and right wherefore I feare lest my too much haste make mee run awry Every wise man proposes to himselfe an End in all things and the more wise hee is in this point the more hee imitates and resembles the Lord hence said the Psalmist Psal. 37.37 Marke the perfect and up right for his end is peace And verse 38. The end of the wicked is to be cut off therefore marke him The End is the first and principall thing to bee minded and looked after not so much the present motion station or action as what the end of this or that will be or what it is is aimed at and intended For there is a Way that promises peace and prosperity to a man and all w●ll but the end is death Prov. 16.25 So a thing may be but hastily begun

said before being a type of this foundation we shall finde was to be laid by those whom the Lord had endued with most skill the chiefest and ablest of the laborers in that building and none are fit for this work viz. To lay the foundation principles and to fit out Christ to the capacity of the building in hand but such as are very wise experienced and filled with the Holy Ghost Others that are raw and unexperienced and not endued with divine skill and understanding for this work which will require the most accurate regard and judgement do but do what must be undone again and bring much discredit upon the work Therefore as Solomon sent to Hiram 2 Chron. 2. and about for able men so must we seek hard and send up to Heaven for the Holy Ghost to fall upon some who may be fitted for it This is another reason to me full of perswasion and power that many of our seeming orderly gathered Churches that yet are must be rifled and ript up to lay the foundation though it may be good yet more orderly and regularly and with more heavenly skill and wisdom then as yet it is laid But 2. In the next place the foundation of the Temple was also the choisest matter as being of most precious and permanent substance costly and curious stone 1 Kings 5.17 and 7.10 Christ is the most pretious tryed stone Isa. 28.16 8.14 Cut out without hands and elect for that use 1 Pet. 2.6 Most costly chary and continuing for ever Thus in Rev. 21. 19. the foundations of the New Jerusalem we finde garnished with all manner of pretious stones indeed all excellencies yea all manner of excellencies are in Christ the foundation of every particular Church 3. Furthermore when the foundation of the Temple was laid there were the largest and liveliest testimonies of joy that could be exprest Ezra 3.10 11 12. So is it to be at the laying of this foundation which is Christ to build upon it is to be done with shouting crying Grace grace unto it Zach 4.6 or as it is in Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with wide acclamations and cryes of rejoycing and gladness O shall they say the grace the wonderful grace of God in Christ And mark this That till the foundation be laid there is no such loud shoutings out grace grace The whole strength and stress of the building lies in the foundation so does ours in Christ who is also our City of Refuge Now let this stone which most builders have refused and which others have rejected become the Head of our Corner Amen Use 4. The last use then that I would make now of this is to inform us of these two necessary things in imbodying together vse 4 First to be well grounded secondly to be well united without both these better never to have been a building for the fall will be great This is exceedingly requisite and of all places I should pitch upon Dublin at present to press this for sure I am we have great need of laying a sure foundation First That ye be well grounded and founded upon the Rock how requisit it is you have heard before onely this I adde That such a building will never fall but last ever and is of perpetual use for the Saints to dwell in till the full appearance or coming of Christ without alteration or cessation This Church-state upon this foundation ceases not I say not but the superstructure may sometimes want mending ordering and repairing but the essentials of it shall remain for ever Dan. 7.14 Luke 1.33 Isa. 9.7 8. 59.20 21. Eph. 3.21 Till it be grown up into a perfect stature in Christ Eph. 4.11 12. and then it shall be translated into a state triumphant 1 Cor. 15.24 25. Therefore Paul charges Timothy to a special care of those Ordinances which are to continue till the coming of our Lord Jesus 1 Tim. 6.13 14. So see 1 Cor. 11 26. Christ hath promised his presence and personal assistance to the end of the world Matth. 28.20 Now Saints that are built up together upon this foundation cannot fall neither shall the gates of h●ll at any time in any age be able to prevail against them Matth. 16.18 Here is no room left for that erronious opinion of Mr. Prynne now for such States-Politicians that would make Christs worship like the weather-cock to serve every wind or his building but a Crane to serve the St●●e and to turn as they list and Religion like a nose of wax to stand which way they will and to be altered and formed into what fashion they think fittest for the State and most suitable to the Civil Government and Laws of that Common-wealth But let that policy power and those persons expect the rigor of his rod of Iron which is already reached out against such Politicians of our times who like the King of Navar to Beza profess not to stir a foot further for Religion then it promotes policy and agrees with his interest Let such call to the Mountains and Rocks to fall on them and hide them from the wrath of the Lamb. The great day of his wrath is come Revel 6.16 17. Neither in the next place can we read less then an apparent repugnancy to sound truth and to this sure foundation in that lean opinion of the Cessation of Ordinances which some hold at this day contrary to Eph. 3.21 1 Cor. 11.26 1 Tim. 6.13 14. Wherefore they forsake publick assemblies Heb. 10.23 24. Duties Ordinances and will neither build nor be built up pretending the day is not come as Hag. 1 2 4. and it is time enough wherein as one notes there is a double sin First Their negligence and pretending it not to be the Lords time to cover their sin and secondly their rashness in charging others that are about the work and in the building of Gods house as if they made too much haste and might better let it alone because the time is not yet come c. So that they would have all lie in their ruines till the Restitution of Miracles as was in the Apostles days and then to do it by an Apostolick-power and authority and not till then But O! what an error is here Have they any warrant in the Word for this Is not this an argument of a sensual carnal low spirit that must be confirmed by miracles Job 20.29 and of want of faith Heb. 11.7 Besides are not miracles fallible Nay are they not notes of deceivers and false Christs in these latter days Matth. 24.24 And doth not Christ call them evil and adulterous that do seek for such signs Matth. 12.38 39. before they will believe that they must go about this building In a word I think they are under a world of temptations and very unsound if not sinfully sensual that are of that judgement though I will judge

Knowledge Phil. 3.8 Jo. 7.3 and learning as the taught of God Isay. 29.11 and Isay. 50.4 John 6 45. Rev. 14 3. Rev. 5.5.6 and excelling all in the truest purest fullest sweetest and profitablest originall tongues and languages Dan. 1.17 Jo. 7.15 Viz. the language of Canaan the tongue of the spirit the purest originall Wherefore let not Sathan deceive us with his fair sides of Gifts and Parts so as to make us eat of them and chuse them before the tree of life And yet God forbid but that we should have gifts and parts and learning and languages in the Churches too for the service of the Church and to be under the spirit so that there is great reason that the tree of Knowledge should stand there though the Serpent do make it his Den and Tree of Temptation 10. It was the sixth day that man was put into Paradise by God and now a day is as a thousand years so that we live in the sixth day since the Creation and now God is restoring Paradise apace and he hath gathered some Churches his Garden is enclosed and he hath caused trees to grow there and the River to run there now it remaines that he by his own spirit do put man in we live in this day wherein he will do it as Ezek 36.33.35.36.37 Jer. 32.37 And I will gather them and I will bring them againe into this place Micah 7.9 He will bring me forth to light and I shall behold his righteousnesse Zach. 8.8 I will bring them and they shall dwell in the midst of Jerusalem and they shall be my People and I will be their God in truth and righteousnesse the Lord undertakes it himselfe by his owne hand to put men into his Churches and to bring in the sons of strangers and the outcasts of Israel Isay 56.6.7.8 and he will plant them Jerem 32.40.41 and bring all the good that he hath promised in his word upon them Jer. 32.42 and cause them to walk by Rivers of waters Jerem 31.9 Ezek. 34.13 c. 11. But to conclude the Type Paradise is the place wherein God did most familiarly appeare and acquaint himselfe to Man and manifest his love and glory Three wayes we read of by which God spake to men by dreams by visions or else face to face and in this manner whereby his Love and wherin his Glory did most appeare viz. face to face did the Lord manifest himselfe in Paradise although his face was seen but as in a Glasse 2 Cor. 3.18 under the similitude of an Angel or some other bodily appearance This signifies the singular appearances and presence of God which the Churches shall enjoy above all the world besides in these last dayes his presence is especially promised to appeare and his Love and Glory to be manifested in the Churches 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Such a speciall manifestation as is mentioned in John 14.21 which is promised in these last dayes shall be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the brightnesse of his glory Heb. 1.2.3 Jo. 2.11 Eph. 3.3.4 so is it in Psal. 102.16 when the Lord shall build up Zion then he shall appeare in his glory So Habak 2.14 Then shall they bee filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord. So Zach. 2.5 Rev. 21.11.23 The glory of God shall lighten the New Jerusalem viz. the glorious presence of God in it Then the Saints in the Churches shall have the most familiar presence of God discourses with him discoveries of him walking in the Garden as Cant. 8.13 and Cant. 7.11 So Cant. 6.2 my beloved is gone down into his Garden to the beds of spices particular Churches to feed in the Gardens to gather lillies There is Christ most and best to be found So Cant. 4.16 and 5.1 c. Psal. 63.2 and Psal. 27.4 yea the Angel of his presence shall be there Isay 63.9 and the name of them from that day shall be Jehovah Shammah the Lord is there Ezek. 48.35 Thus we have done with these Types that foretell the happy state of Saints in Gospel-fellowship and the Glory of the Churches of Christ in these latter dayes sparkling through many more Types then I have mention'd but these are sufficient for present proofe though every day will bring forth more and more excellent matter of praises and rejoycings whilst the Church comes out of the Wildernesse leaning on her beloved persumed with mirrh and frankinsence and the Saints shal have beauty for ashes and be called trees of righteousnesse the Lords own planting that he might be glorified Isay 61.3 But lastly that the Churches of Christ are to stand apparantly distinct from all others we have already prov'd it Chap. 6. lib. 1. c. besides severall Prophesies and Types we might bring forth but that 't is time to conclude and rest me as Numb 239. Lo they shall not be reckoned among the Nations and Rev. 18.4 Johu 15.19 Hosea 4.15 and 14 8. Ephraim shall say what have I to do any more with Idols yea so as an apparent difference shall bee known and own'd betwixt them and others Mal. 3.16.17 Jer. 15.16 for the Lord hath made the difference as from the first s Gen. 1.4 God saw the light was good and therefore divided the light from darknesse to be distinct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Sept. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. by an apparent difference to bee knowne by all and so will he make the Churches of Light distinct from them of darknesse so as it appeares in the Chaldee Paraphrase and tongue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and so in the Samaritan tongue that God made a manifest and bounded separation between them And this distinct separation or division of Gods make must stand It is then no new thing to be distinct from Parishes and all false Antichristian Churches wherein there is a mixture 2 Cor. 6.1415 and is not so distinct a separation as is and ought to be in all true Churches from false wayes and worships We find this too typified by Israel separated from all others Numb 16.9 and they were not to joyn in Religion and worship with the other Nations 1 King 11.3 Joshua 2.3 Exod 23.16 Deut. 10.8 and 32.8 but separated from the mixed multitude Nehem. 13.3 Ezra 10.16 yea in Deut. 23.1 2.3 c. you will read who might and who might not enter into the Church which much concerns us now v. 1. not such as cannot retaine the seed of the word as it is in Heb. Shophcah which sheds and loses that precious seed how can they beget others to the faith that lose the seed such are not to be received into the Congregation of the Lord O precious promises which will produce and procreate a most excellent distinction in the latter dayes when the Lord shall adde to his Churches such as have a fulnesse of his seed 1 Pet. 1.23 1 Io. 3.9 remaining in them and then as v. 2.