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
many times So that there is great need of the witness of the Spirit besides all our evidences to put the matter out of doubt that we are effectually called and so it is writen Rom. 8.15 The Spirit himself witnesses with our spirits that we are the sons of God He makes a heart-affecting discovery of the love of God in Christ to the soul Rom. 5.5 excites and stirs up Faith in the heart to act afresh upon the Lord Jesus works some joy in the soul from the apprehension of our Acceptance in Christ The Holy Ghost sometimes in assuring us of Gods love in Christ takes Promises in the Scriptures and sets them with power upon the heart as I am He that blotteth out thy Transgressions for my own Names sake and will remember thy sins no more Not that all words of Scripture that are cast into our minds are from the Spirit of the Lord but sometimes from Satan sometimes Promises come into our minds in an ordinary way as other things come to mind that we have read or heard but when any word of Scriptute is given in and applied in a way of comfort to our spirits from the Spirit of God 1. It will take some Impression though it may be that when the Spirit comes to comfort and witness he many times comes not with such irresistibility as when he comes to sanctifie yet some Impression it will have upon the heart if not to fill it with joy and Triumphing of spirit yet some way to support it and bear it up 2. If it come from the Spirit it will be suitable and seasonable to our condition as if a poor Saint be in affliction and the Holy Ghost should give in such a word as that in Heb. 12.9 He afflicts us for our profit that we might be partakers of his Holiness this is a seasonable word but many will say that such a Scripture was given in to them in such a condition when as the Scripture was nothing suitable to their condition but they mistook the meaning of the place 2. When the Spirit giveth in Scripture usually though not alwayes it is when the soul is in some strait some great strait and then he giveth them in some word upon which he causeth them to hope 4. Such words of Promise as the Spirit applies thus to a soul are very dear to the soul ever after yea it makes the whole Word of God more dear to them and such words do abide upon the memory very long 5. They raise up thankfulness in the heart 6. They do not cherish us in any way of sin if you thought you had any word from the Lord to put you upon any thing that the Word saith is sin then you were mistaken Somtimes the Spirit of God in comforting and witnessing to us doth not make use of any particular places and Promises but makes a general Discovery of the Gospel and New Covenant and applies that to the soul and shews him that he hath an Interest in the New Covenant that he is one of those whose Names are written in heaven and is sprinkled with the blood of Christ which cleanseth him from all sin This also I would here note that the Spirit of God doth speak peace to the consciences of many Believers that yet think they have no peace and question the truth of Grace in their hearts I say though it comes not so high as Ravishments of spirit yet the Holy Ghost in some more secret way hath quieted their hearts How comes it to pass else that those Believers notwithstanding all their doubtings yet do really and experimentally find that they can go to God as to a Father in prayer they are carried out to put all their cases to God and trust him with all their concernments and they find that the rancour of their spirits is taken off against the Lord these things declare plainly that in some secret way the Spirit of God hath quieted their hearts and given them some satisfaction concerning their sincerity and Truth of Grace though it hath not been so plain as to some other Saints that have had full assurance and abundance of joy in the Holy Ghost thereupon Let not the Saints be impatient and fret to do evil if the Spirit don't presently give them assurance neither let them think that they shall never have assurance because they have been long without it The Lord oftentimes lets things come to the worst before he sends help Peace and Assurance may be very near when thou thinkest that there is almost now no hope yea this is observable that when the Holy Spirit shall give assurance after much doubting that assurance oftentimes is more lasting then others that have had comfort sooner But God lets some even spend their dayes in sighing and their years with heaviness and even mourn out their eyes and hearts and find no rest and peace in Believing the Lord makes known to us by such examples the bitterness of sin the power of his Terrours the danger of backsliding and that he only can speak peace Let Christians beware of getting a habit of complaining and doubting as I have known some have got such a habit of complaining that upon all occasions and in all company they must be laying out their doubtings not but that Christians should make known their troubles and fears in suitable times one to another both that others seeing the straits that they are in may pray the more for them and might comfort them with the comforts wherewith they have been comforted of God but I say many have such a habit of complaining that I had almost said whether they have doubts and troubles upon their spirits or no they think it not well if they have not some complaint to make and think that their godly friends expect it alwayes from them Some not considering what Faith is viz. the souls being brought off from all other things to depend and relie upon the Lord Jesus for eternal life they bear false witness against themselves that they do not believe in Christ thinking that faith is nothing but some high Ravishments and almost perfection whereas ask such souls Hath the Lord convinced you of your miserable estate by nature both in respect of the damning and domineering power of sin and they can truly say yea the Lord hath convinced me of this Ask them further Hath the Lord shewn you that all your own Righteousness can never save you nothing but a crucified Christ can do it the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath powerfully convinced me of this ask the soul further Hath the Lord ever made you truly sensible that you could not believe in your own strength but Faith was the Lords free gift and the soul can truly say yes the Lord hath made me sensible of this and you ask further Did you ever find an Almighty power of Gods Spirit drawing your heart to Christ to take him for the Lord your Righteousness so that