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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
sense_n	church_n	member_n	visible_a	3,354	5	9.6016	5	true

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A78217	Ichnographia. Or A model of the primitive congregational way: wherein satisfaction is offered, by unfolding (according to the Scriptures) what the right order of the Gospel, and way of the saints in the visible worshipping of God is, in the dayes of the New Testament. And how the saints in these dayes may walk up to it, notwithstanding their present hindrances. Together with the maine points in controversie, touching the right visible church-state Christ hath instituted under the Gospel, with the extent of church-officers, and power of particular visible churches, and continuance of divine ordinances and institutions under the defection and apostasie of Antichrist. By W. Bartlet, Minister of the Gospel, at Wapping.	Bartlet, William, 1609 or 10-1682.	1647 (1647)	Wing B986; Thomason E381_17; ESTC R201418	140,788	175

about it as the Apostle did Timothy 1 Tim. 6.14 and this he doth two wayes 1. Partly from feare of their being seduced 2 Cor. 11.2 3. 2. Partly that he might prevent their seducing Col. 2.4 18 19. and so much for Scripture 2. For examples We may reduce all to three heads 1. To what hath been 2. To what now is 3. To what shall be 1. To what hath been and so two wayes 1. To the Apostles times As the Churches of Corinth Rome Ierusalem Antioch 7. Churches of Asia the Churches of Iudea Macedonia Galatia 2. Next after the Apostles death which we find recorded in the works of ●useb Hist ●l l. 4. c. 22. ●6 ●r l 7. c. 26. ●t in pluri● suis opusc ●or in Epist ●b de habit ● ● Hom. 5. l. ● de morib ●es ●om li. 5. c. ● with many ●rs that have ●e collect●y Daneus ● other Mo●e Authors ●eir systems ●ivinity Eusebius and other Ecclesiasticall writers and were in the dayes of Ignatius Iustin Martyr Ireneus Tertullian Origen Cyprian and others all which were under this visible Church order and politie wee speak of 2. What now is not only in this Kingdome but in New-England and other reformed Churches abroad in the world 3. What shall be and cannot be farre of when the Iewes shall be called and the fullnes of the Gentiles brought in which the Scriptures speake out abundantly 3. For reason and Argument to cleare this point I shall referre all to these six heads 1. Because it is agreeable to the Law of nature and nations for we find by experience that there is scarce in the whole world any Nation whether Turks Indians Romans but they have still had their externall and visible order of worship and government they have their Temples Priests Lawes Ordinances Sacrifices Ceremonies which they visibly observe and conforme themselves to the observation of Now doubtlesse Iesus Christ is not behind heathens in his Church and Kingdome 2. This is no other then is suitable to the practise of the Church of God in all ages and conditions before the comming of Christ 1. In Paradise before the fall of Adam there were two sacramentall trees the tree of life and the tree of knowledge of good and evill which were not simple trees but trees set a part by Gods appointment and divine institution as water in Baptisme c. 2. After the fall before the Law was given while the Church of God was in Families then they had externall worship sacrifices Priesthood first borne c. 3. When the Law was given in the wildernes there was an externall forme of worship and Ordinances suteable to their condition a moving Tabernacle c. and after the Israelites came into Canaan there was a fixed Temple at Ierusalem and a compleate forme of Worship in externals that God had prescribed to Moses and after revealed to David by the Spirit 1 Chron. 28.11.12.19 Answerable to which though in another kind Iesus Christ hath laid downe and given out to his Saints a platforme of Church order under the Gospell as the Apostle holds forth plainly in his Epistle to the Hebrewes as Heb. 7.12 where he shewes that the old Law will not serve a new order but we must have a new one and he proves tha● Moses and Aaron are met together in Christ For Christ is not only a Priest as Aaron but a law-giver as Moses and he did both their works a high Priest to succeed Aaron and an Apostle to succeed Moses as Heb. 3.1 Christ is Aaron in point of offering up sacrifice and Moses in point of prescribing lawes for holy worship With many other places 3. This Church order and sacred politie is most consonant to the Church of Christ as t is his visible Kingdome City House or Temple Now a visible Kingdome and House or City must have an order and government equivalent as all men grant * Ecclesia es● domus Dei ait Paulus 1 Tim. 3.15 atque in dom● Dei nihil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 conf●fieri debet i● docet idē Pa●lus 1 Cor. 1● 40. sed omni● 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 e● politia aliqu● in ea opus e● ut decenter ordine omni● fiant ger●tur Daneus Eccles 4. It is requisite in reference to Christ himselfe the master of this house and King of this Kingdome in which the glory of his power wisdome and goodnes abundantly shines forth even to the am●zement of men and Angels 5. It is necessary in respect of the Saints fellowship and communion together in the worship and service of God 1. In respect of the exercise of their graces which cannot so well nor so conveniently and with that advantage to one another be performed as in this order as the Apostle holds forth in 1 Cor. 14. per totum For as it is in Civill society or Politie so it is in Ecclesiasticall Now in Civill Government that Politicall vertue that is in a man cannot be so wel exercised and managed in a confused multitude alone by himselfe as in a society So here these gifts and graces which Christ hath bestowed by his Spirit on the Saints cannot be so well exercised singly by themselves alone as when they are united together into a Church state and order as 2 Cor. 12.7 2. In respect of their enjoying the ordinances for its worth our serious knowledge and observation that the ordinances of Christ are not due to Christians meerly as Christians or Beleevers but to Beleevers as in a Church State for a Beleever is to come under a double consideration as a man is Now a man is considered two wayes either as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is as he is rationall or politicall that is as he is a man by himselfe or as he is joyned to some society or Corporation So a believer is to be lookt upon either as a believer or member of Christ singly by himselfe or as a member of some visible Church of Christ and in this latter sence only is he capable of enjoying fellowship with Christ in his visible ordinances and worship The reason is this because the same Christ that inwardly unites him by the Spirit and faith to himself doth outwardly also call him to his body the Church to worship and serve him in the use of his Ordinances 3. In respect of those many singular helps and encouragements that in this Church-state they enjoy as I shall hereafter in particular shew Which without it they are deprived of for a man cannot possibly be so happy alone as he is in company especially when that society proves a helpe not a hinderance to him as this doth we now speake of We find that in the very state of innocency God saw that it was not best for Adam to be alone now if society were good for man in a perfect state how much more then in an unperfect state as the Saints are now in whiles they

carelessnes of those that were set over the Field to keepe it Mat. 13.39 So that if they be in the church he hath no hand in it t is not by his allowance much lesse his appointment and ordination and therefore to make this more cleare I adde this 2. reason that if Jesus Christ never ordained that wicked men should be matter of his house stones in his building because if this should be true then all those commands of Christ for casting them out of his church when they are discovered to be in should be void to no purpose for if that wicked men which are the Tares be the true matter of a church of the true constitution of a visible Church then they are to be let alone not cast out lest in so doing we destroy the church sin against the commandement of Christ So that notwithstanding what is said for the matter of the parish churches we see they cannot be found to be according to the first constitution of the Gospell and I feare those that go about to set up a new building of Reformation upon this rotten foundation will find in a short time that all they do will fall about their own eares 3. Again it may be further demanded how these parish-churches do answer to the church we have formerly spoken of in respect of their union and knitting together by a free and voluntary consent which is the forme of a true visible church of Christ hath there ever been such a knitting and combination of the Officers and Members in an holy and unanimous consent and agreement to walke together as we have formerly shewed according to the rule of Christ in the Gospell c. Is not the contrary evident For 1. Have not those parishes been time out of mind under one visible Antichristian church-government and rule for the outward worship of God and dispensation of Ordinances 2. Have not Prelates and Patrons imposed preachers over those parishes without yea many times against the approbation and consent of the People 3. Have not the godly with the wicked in those parishes been alwayes mixed together in the ordinances and worship of God making up one church frame and constitution without any separation 4. Hath not co-habitation and comming within the bounds and precincts of a parish been sufficient to make a person a member of the Church in their sence though never so notorious a liver so he be not poor and through his charge of children burthensome to the parish never enquiring whether he be capable of communion with Christ and his Saints in the enjoyment of the Ordinances 5. Wherefore else is it that now in these times of greater light and liberty that many of our Presbyterian bretheren do beginne to gather the godly in their parishes into a body of themselves separating the precious from the vile in a way of acknowledging what worke of grace the Lord hath wrought in them of which there would I conceive be no need if they were already united and embodyed together 4. Lastly to speake nothing of the rule by which they walke in the worship of God it may be demanded how these parish Churches do answer to the pattern before set down according to the Gospell in point of Discipline and government do they enjoy the priviledges of church power within themselves without subordination to others Have they not generally to this day been without it standing formerly under the authority of the Lord Bishops and their Courts that used them at their pleasure and led them captive to their wills Did not both Priest and people dance after their pipe And if the classicall government do now take place is it not to be feared that they will be poore soules In statu quo priùs under as great bondage if not greater then before But for that we leave it till time the discoverer of all things make the truth known in this particular 5. Another inference from the former position is this to shew how great the sinne is of those that are called Seekers that have been professed members of such a particular church of Saints rightly constituted according to the order of the Gospell but now have left it denying any such church or churches and Ministery to be and so have left all communion with Christ and his Saints in the ordinances of his worship expecting a Ministery accompanied with the gifts of Miracles as in the Apostles dayes But such men do not see how much Sathan hath blinded their eyes I shall speake more largely and directly to them in the fourth chapter of this Treatise 6. Then it will follow in the last place that the bretheren of the congregational way are not guilty of all those foule crimes of errour heresie blasphemyes and of making schismes and rents in the church of Christ as they are accused by the tongues and pennes both of Preachers and professors in the Presbyterian way for the judicious Reader may see by what hath been already and is yet further to be laid downe that those that walke in this Separated Church-state from the world do not swerve from the way of the Lord which he himselfe hath instituted and commanded nor from the judgement and practise of those that have been some of the famous lights that have shined in this Kingdome and therefore after all those former aspersions have been laid and cast upon them they will be found in the truth and God will make their enemies ashamed that ever they should write such volumnes and waste so many precious houres to oppose and vex their righteous soules for Magna est veritas et praevalebit CHAP. III. That the severall administrations of this Church-state especially for Seales and Censures are now in these dayes since the death of the Apostles and extraordinary Church-officers and governours limited to and bounded within every particular Church the Officers of one Congregation may not ordinarily in common as the Apostles did administer the Seales and Censures that belongs to another Congregation Now the truth of this I shall endeavour to make out in these ten following Conclusions 1. THat all Ministeriall power for administration of Seales and execution of Church censures was first given in commission to the Apostles only as these Scriptures hold forth Mat. 20.19 Joh. 20.21 22 23. 1 Cor. 11.23 And therefore we read oftentimes of Peters baptising Cornelius and others Acts 10. and Pauls excommunicating of Alexander 1 Tim. 1.20 and such like acts of theirs which they did by themselves alone as the first Subjects of this executive Church-power 2. That these Apostles were immediately called and extraordinarily gifted by Christ for this worke and employment of their Ministery Joh. 20.21 22. Gal. 1.1 Act. 2.4 1 Cor. 12. 3. That these extraordinary officers were only Protempore and so were the last as well as the first subject of this power and authority so that when they dyed their extraordinary call and commission together with their

the power of government within particular Churches themselves without standing in subordination to others 42. Eight Impedime●ts that stand in the way of the Saints and hinder them from comming into the right order of the Gospell discovered and removed 112 Indepency a terme most pro●er to God 27. in what sense Divines give that term to particular Churches 41 margent foure things that discover those of the Congregationall way not properly Indep●ndents 27. Why they are so stiled 28. they allow of civill government and reverence and yeild rea●y subjection thereunto in the State 137. God will cleare their innocency ibid. K. Five things that concerne the Knowledge and practice of those that enter into a right visible Church-state and Gospel order 107. to 112 L. Lawes and Ordinances of Christs visible Churches and how they are to be administred 97 98 L●berty of particular Churches where in it consists 1●9 110. M. Magistra●es duty in and about the matters of Religion and worship of God set forth in five things 22 23 24 25 Mar●inus a french Bishop against punishing errou●s with death 26 Matter of true visible Churches De j●re only such as are godly 30 31 Men the best of them in●ufficient for ordering the spiritual matters of Christs church 12 13 14. No power to bind the conscience not so much as in things that are indifferent and of a lesse concernment 17 Proper meanes by which the true visible churches of Christ are gathered 96 Ministers Multitudes of th●m without either learning or godlinesse in the church of England 118. f●w have the teach●ng of the Spirit ●bid few renounced their Antichristian Ordination 119. what makes a true and lawfull Minister of the Gospel 121 Extraordinary gifts of Miracles not necessary to church officers now 92 93 94 N. A Nationall politica●● church-state not instituted by Christ under the Gosp●l 51 52 O. O●jection touching the power of greater assemblies in Classes and Synods over particular churches fully answered in foure particulars 46 47 48 Order of the Gospel according to Christs ap ointment what and wherein it consists 102 1 3. ●04 Ordinances of Christ to be administred to Bele●vers as united together in a church-state and not otherwise 8. they best subsist in a church-state 9 Ordination of church officers by imposition of hands not of absolute nec●ssity 107 108 Ordination of Ministers by the Prelats in former tim●s to be renounce now and the reasons why 119. objection to the contrary answered 120 P. Parish-Churches defective in the essentials of their constitution 56. 1071. their false constitution not to be allowed of nor continued in though conversion and salvation may be had in them 116 117 Master Parker for the power of particular churches within themselves 40 Master Perkins for the power of particular churches within themselves 40 41 Power of church-government within each single congregation without standing in su●jection and subordination to the classes or Synods proved by Scripture testimony of learned men and argument 36. to 50. 98. Presbyterians found to confesse the power of government within particular chu●ches six wayes and so yeeld the cause to the congregationall party 45 46 Presbyterians in the Preface to their late Booke styled Jus Divinum R●g m. E cles found in a manifest untruth touch ng the Independents 4● ma●g Greatest Powers on earth bound to submit themselves to the Lawes Christ hath already made touching his visible church and order of worship and not to make new to themsel●es or others 17 Some Promissory engagement necessary to church union 106 Corporall punishments for mentall evils a pernicious invention 26 Purity to be preserved in the churches of the Saints and by what means 109 Q. A Question worth debating in these times of Reformation touching the visible church-state of the Kingdome of England in Epist Ded. marg R. Practice of Re-baptizing altogether without warrant 70 71 72. not necessary when Beleevers are to enter into church fellowship having beene baptized formerly though the manner of externall administration corrupt 105 Master Robinson for the power of particular churches within themselves 43 Reformation of England from the very beginning onely in point of doctrine not in their Antichristian church state and order of worship and government Epist D●d no ground for comfort to those that reforme evils in the chur●h when they proceed meerly out of subj●ction to the commands of men and not out of a particular hatred of those evils and respect to the honour of God 114 136 S Saints have a liberty given them from Christ to refuse whatsoever is not agreeable to the word of God 17 Scriptures sixte●ne wayes give the authority power of appointing a visible Church-state with Officers Ordinances and worship sutable thereunto to Christ only excluding the creature wholly 15 to 18 Nine wayes they take away from us whatsoever may be thought to ●e a warrant to us from men to worship and serve God by 17 They are for the power of particular churches exercising government within themselves 35 36 37 Separation twofold 121. Congregational men separate not from the doctrine of faith is received in England but from their false church-state and order of worship government 122. Englands separation from Rome only in matters of doctrine Ep. Ded. Se kers under a great sinne in leaving Church-fellowship 60 85. 86 87 Doctor Sibbs for the Power of particular churches within themselves 44 Submission to the order of the Gospell proved lawfull from the practise of the Saints in the Primitive times many other wayes 88 89 90 Synods and Councels the very best of them since the Apostles dayes subject to errours and seldome or never of any good use 23. of little account amongst the most illuminated and choicest servants of Christ for learning and godlines 23 24 T. Temple of God usually understood in Scripture for his visible Churches 79 Tolleration of all Religions not allowed of by them of the congregationall way 124 125 126 V. U●ion of Saints in church fellowship set forth by nine resemblances and from many words in the originall Text. 32 33. An excellent helpe against temptations 8 Universall visible politicall church no such instituted by Christ under the New Testament 51 W. Doctor Whitaker ten things that he observes concerning Councels and Synods 23. For the power of particular churches within themselves 43 Wicked persons no fit matter for a true visible church 31 to 104 Will of God revealed in the Scriptures the only rule to the Saints in worshiping of God 34. Not to be departed from in the matters of Gods worship upon pain of Gods highest displeasure 18 Five things to be observed in the right order of Gods visible worship by those that enter into church-fellowship 106 The Heads of the Treatise Chap. I. That there is unde● the New Testament a sacred visible Church-state order and polity instituted and appointed by Jesus Christ and him onely to the observation of which Beleevers are every where bound

the Scriptures as the only Umpire and Iudge in matters controversall and dubious Or Lastly scorne to accept from men what they bring to them with the Image and Superscription of Christ upon it the Lord helping them by his Spirit with the eyes of their own understanding to see it I say if these things could be fairly made out against those of the Congregationall way it were something then I confesse our brethren as in words they professe themselves might justly accuse us before heaven and earth of Pride and Arrogancy of presumption Blasphemy and impudency as they are pleased many of them in the heate of their wrath and indignation to do but for ever blessed be the Lord this they cannot do Wherefore is it then that the furnace of their displeasure is seven times more heated against those of the Congregationall way then formerly and this title of Independency so abusively given them For my own part all unavoidable infirmities incident to man excepted I know no other reasons then these either because they wil not subject themselves to their high Presbytery to their Classicall provinciall and National Churches and their absolute power of government over single Congregations of Saints or secondly because they will not say God speed to all such as bring the doctrines of blind obedience and teach the fear of God by the precepts of men to them For as for those foule aspersions which are cast on the prime assertors of the Congregationall way by the sonnes of the high and lofty Presbytery v●z of error heresie blasphemy c. are they not well known to truly ingenuous and sober minded men to be no other then the fruit that comes from the wombe of envy hatred and discontent Do not they themselves know what ever they beare the world in hand to the contrary that neither Antipaedobaptisme Rebaptisme Antinomianisme Arminianisme Arianisme c. that are made the common evils of the times can justly be laid to the charge of the former persons in old England or New no not all this while they have appeared in this cause of Christ Let the records of the Assembly be searcht or any other places and see whether any thing of this nature can be found against the dissenting bretheren living or dead or those that are of the same judgement with them touching the right order of the Gospell and point of visible Church-fellowship and government What though divers that are erroneous and hold such Tenets as are destructive to Church and State do shelter themselves under the name of Congregationalists shall the way therefore and those that are the chiefe assertors and practisers of it suffer for it Is this faire and honest dealing there are many now possibly among the multitude that are for the Classicall way that are abominable livers Drunkards Swearers Extortioners Oppressors Persecutors Scoffers if not exact malignants and some of them it may be also hold as grosse errors as any of the former if not grosser shall we therefore presently condemne those that are the great Champions for it to be such Would not the world cry shame of us as of men wanting both Reason and Religion And yet thus the precious servants of Jesus Christ must be dealt with that are asserters of the Congregational way by those that are Presbyterians It seems those Presbyterians that are now so hot and violent against those that are not of their own tribe have forgotten the Prelats practice to themselves of late and yet men will not see the unreasonablenes and irreligiousnesse of their proceding in this manner But certainly if they belong to Christ he will bring them to see it and make them ashamed of all their hard Speeches they have uttered this way Wherefore to close this Chapter however wee shall be dealt withall by the Tongues and Pennes or any other wayes of our opposers wee shall not be discouraged but sit down with our aflictions as with our Crown blessing Jehovah that he will count us worthy to suffer for his Name and Sonnes sake Being assured that those that suffer with him shall also raign with him but those that deny him shall be denyed of him at the last day 2 Tim. 2.12 CHAP II. That this visible Church-state Order and Politie which Jesus Christ onely hath instituted and ordained under the New Testament to the observation of which c. is a f ee society or communion of visible Saints embodyed and knit together by a voluntary consent to worship God according to his Word making up one ordinary congregation with power of Government within it selfe onely HEre lyes the stresse of our businesse and therefore I shall endeavour to steere my course the more exactly Chr●sto duce auspice Christo Two things I shall in the strength of Christ undertake 1. To cleere and confirme this Proposition 2. To draw some inferences from it Touching the first of these There are six things to be opened and cleared up to us 1. The matter 2. The forme 3. The end 4. The rule 5. The quantity and extent 6. The priviledge and prerogative of this Church-state All which particular Heads hold forth to us a Summary of the Congregationall way in the right understanding of which Christians may abundantly satisfie themselves and their friends about this way of the Lord 〈◊〉 Materia ●oetas fideliū so generally cryed down and opposed I shall open the particulars in order 1. I call this Church-state a society or fellowship of visible Saints to note the matter or persons that are both to enjoy and exercise it For we are not to imagine that the Kingdom of Christ is of this world but chosen out of the world t is in the world but not of the world That is as the world is taken in a morall evill sense for the wicked of the world but for those that are called from amongst them to a A visible ●●●gregation ●●om the world ●●d a visible ●●●gregation to ●hrist is neces●●ry to Church ●ion com●union Vide ●oyes Temple ●easured in p. ●6 visible profession of and subjection to the Gospel of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ And this is no more then is evident in the Scripture For we find that the members of visible Churches according to their first constitution were all Saints by calling as appeares Rom. 1.7 1 Cor. 1.2 Philip. 1.1 7. Col. 3.12 and 1 Thes 5.27 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which was a calling separatim conjunctim as Junius observes a * And this is agreeable to the signification of the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in English Church 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ab ●vocando Leigh Critic Sac. calling of those Saints to fellowship in a visible Church externally as well as to Christ invisibly and internally And hence it is that those Churches which were planted and gathered by the Apostles in the first and Primitive dayes of the Gospel are styled The Churches of the Saints 1 Cor. 14

are commonly slandered with but only after satisfaction is given demand their willingnes to give up themselves to the Lord his Church to walke together in the mutuall discharge of those duties that concerneth such a Church-state and Gospell relation upon the manifestation whereof they are admitted to fellowship and use of the ordinances 6. If any are not found fit upon tryall they are only desired to wait a while till God shall bring them into a further capacity Some Spirits I confesse when they see they cannot obtaine their ends fly out and leave walking with those they would have joyned speaking evill of the way of Christ and his servants that walke in it and for no other cause that is truly discovered but this that they cannot have their own wils though it be made upon good grounds evident that they are not fit for such a condition Now what shall be done in such a case Either those of the Congregationall way must act so as to please Christ or the creature now if they strive to do the first then they incurre the displeasure of the last and if they should in a sinfull way seeke to the pleasing of the creature then they displease Christ but this will be their comfort so long as Christ helpes them to discharge their consciences towards him they need not regard how the creature deales with them In the world we must have tribulation but in Christ wee shall have peace Joh. 16. ult And as our tribulations abound for him so our consolations shall abound also in and by him 2 Cor. 1.5 O●j But they will not come into publique Ans 1. Jesus Christ saith wheresoever two or three are met together in his name there he will be present with them Mat. 18. ● he will owne them and blesse them he hath taken away all difference betweene places under the Gospell there is not one more holy then another but all alike now Jesus Christ his Apostles indifferently shewed their practise this way in the Synagogue Temple Field Chamber and doubtlesse where ever the Church meets to worship there is a publique not private Assembly 2. They shut not the doors where they meet for the most part but seave them open for all to come behold their wayes unlesse they come to make disturbance 3. Some Churches are in publique as you call it and others have been but have been forced back againe and all would be more publique then they are in that sence as you cal publique if they might enjoy their liberty and not endanger their peace or purity let but Authority allow us that liberty they do the Presbyterians as in conscience they stand bound we walking peaceably to dispense the ordinances of Christ without molestation and then see whether we would refuse it Alas alas that ever men should find fault with us for that we cannot remedy but count our affliction CHAP. IIII. That this Church-state with the Officers Ordinances and administrations thereunto appertaining is of perpetuall use to the comming again of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ the instituter of it without either alteration or cessation BEfore I enter on the evidencing and making clear of the truth of this Proposition I desire to premise this one thing to wit that by this Church-state I do not here understand any one particular and single Congregation residing in any one place or countrey but the instituted state of Christs visible Church in one place or other consisting of few or many whether in liberty or bondage in purity or corruption according to its severall and various conditions to which it is subject and in which for the essentiall and integrall parts thereof it is kept and preserved by the Almighty power and presence of Jesus Christ for doubtlesse in respect of this or that particular Church and single congregation it may cease and be utterly lost but in respect of the essentials of that instituted Church-state and order of Christ revealed to us in his word and delivered to us by the Apostles and left by them upon record for us to follow and practice so it is not lost but remains and continues to the Saints to his comming again Now that this is the truth of God I shall endeavour to make out 1. from Scripture 2. from Argument 1. For the Scriptures that hold out this truth they are of three sorts 1. Prophesies as Esay 9.6 7. and 59.21 Psal 110.1 compared with 1 Cor. 15.25 Luk. 1.33 2. Promises Mat. 16.18 1 Cor. 11.26 and Ephes 3.21 4 11 12 13. 3. Precepts Mat. 28.20 1 Tim. 6.13 14. to which I might adde the judgements of many learned men it there were need All which do clearely shew the perpetuity and continuance of this Gospell Church-state in all ages to the comming of Christ 2. For the Arguments that confirme the perpetuity of this Church-state and confute the contrary that is affirmed by many viz. the cessation of it they are such as these 1. If the government of Christs church which the Father hath given him and he hath accepted shall never have an end then it must of necessity follow that this Church-state cannot cease to which this government hath relation unlesse we can suppose that Christ can be a King without a Kingdome a Head without a Body a Husband without a Spouse which once to imagine is exceeding dishonourable to him and little lesse then blasphemy Esay 9.7 Luk. 1.33 But now the Scriptures are cleare that the government of Christ in his Church shall never have an end as we have shewed before therefore c. 2. If this Church-state which Jesus Christ hath instituted for the essentialls of it should cease and not be continued in all ages then it would follow that there would be a time when the gates of Hell should prevaile against it and his presence with it Mat. 16.1 to the end of the world should not continue Mat. 28.2 and so all his promises to the contary should be void and of none effect But this cannot be for he is faithfull that hath promised and not one jot or tittle of his word shall perish or be made void and therefore there must needs be a perpetuity and continuance of this church-state 3. If the Temple of God which is his visible Church as appeares from 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Rev. 3.12 and 11.1 2. doth remain where Antichrist sits even as the Church of Pergamus did where the seate of Sathan was Rev. 2.13 then this Church-state is not ceased but remaines to this day But this Temple of God is where Antichrist himselfe sits as appeares by the Apostle 2 Thes 2.4 who opposeth c. So that he is as God sitteth in the Temple of God where the greeke word for Temple sc 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is one and the same with that of 1 Cor. 3.16 17. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God so v.