A CONFERENCE M r. John Cotton HELD AT BOSTON With the ELDERS of NEW-ENGLAND 1. Concerning gracious conditions in the soule before faith 2. Evidencing Justification by Sanctification 3. Touching the active power of Faith Twelve Reasons against stinted forms of prayer and praise Together with The Difference between the CHRISTIAN and Antichristian Church Written by FRANCIS CORNWELL a Minister of Jesus the Christ London Printed by J. Dawson and are to be sold Fr. Eglesfield at the Signe of the Mary-gold in Pauls Church-yard 1646. TO THE HONOVRABLE AND True-hearted lover of his Countrey Sir HENRY VANE Junior Knight sometimes Governour of New-England Treasurer of the Navie Royall and a Member of the House of COMMONS Sir THe Churches of the Saints and the World may not bee unfitly compared to the Pearle and the Pebble though both of one naturall substance earth yet the one of rare price whose beauty is the sun-beames inclosed the other wanting it is cast away as refuse What maketh the Saint more excellent then his neighbour seeing both are borne of flesh both subject to the same corruptions sicknesse death but this The Saints excellency is nothing else but the Image of Jesus Christ the Sunne of righteousnesse shining in him For as the moone and starres derive their light from the sunne so all the wisdome righteousnesse holinesse a Saint hath hee deriveth from Christ Hence David the King doth so prize their fellowship All my delight is in thy Saints thine excellent ones that are in the earth and them that excell in vertue Yea it is a sure note of a Citizen of Sion that hee honours them that feare the Lord Whereas worldly men without grace are rendred in his eyes as vile Hence the Spouse acknowledgeth that all her excellency cometh from plantation Let my Beloved come into his garden and eat his pleasant fruit Yea Christ declareth to Nicodemus that a beleevers holinesse cometh from regeneration that in Christ hee may onely glory How doth the Lord discover this his excellency to a beleever by his calling till that time hee lieth amongst the refuse of the world as foolish disobedient deceived serving divers lusts and pleasures living in malice and envie hatefull and hating one another But then the kindnesse and love of God to man appeared by delivering him out of the kingdome of darknesse and translating him into the kingdome of his deare Sonne By which it is manifest that hee is one of the Chosen generation the royal priesthood the holy nation the peculiar people whom hee hath called out of darknesse into his marvellous light But when doth the Lord discover the truth of his calling to his conscience Then when hee giveth him precious faith for that onely distinguisheth him form the world that lieth in sinne Gal. 3. 22. The Scripture concludeth father mother sonne daughter nay the infant that is borne of the most holiest parents all under sinne that the promise by the faith of Jesus Christ might bee given to them that beleeve So that in that same houre the Lord giveth him faith hee giveth him an evidence in himselfe that hee loved him in Christ before he was borne before hee had done good or evill that hee hath justified him from all those things hee could not be justified by the Law that hee hath purged his conscience from all dead works that his person is accepted his sinne discharged and he hath a right to the purchased inheritance amongst them which are sanctified Thus the love of Christ revealed to dye for him to take away his iniquity and reconcile him to God the Spirit given to take away his heart of stone giveth him an heart of flesh to cause to walke in his flatutes yea and draweth his heart to yeeld obedience to every commandement of Jesus the Christ The truth of this grace given Right Worshipfull you can give a true testimoniall for you were once in your naturall condition as well as others till it pleased God who separated you from the womb to call you by his grace to reveale his Sonne in you you consulted not with flesh and bloud but left your native soyle in the persecuting times of the Prelates chusing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God according to the light they had received then to remaine in England and enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season Yet there the Lord exalted your Worship to bee the Governour And in that dawning light coming forth out of mysticall Babylon the Lord discovered much spirituall knowledge of the riches of his free-grace in Jesus Christ amongst you you being freed from the yoke of the Task-Masters heere the Bishops that kept you in bondage you had liberty there to debate those Questions which the naming onely of them heere would have rendred a man odious But Satan that envieth the peace of the Saints stirred up a spirit of contention amongst you especially when these Queries came to be debated 1 Whether there are any gracious conditions or qualifications wrought in the soule before faith 2 Whether any man can gather his evidence of the assurance of his Justification from his Sanctification 3 Whether there bee an active power of Faith and other gifts of grace in a Christian conversation The one side would not beleeve themselves justified no farther then they could see themselves worke making their Markes Signes and Qualifications the causes of their Justification The other side laid the Evidence of their Justification onely by Faith in the free Promise for there are foure things that makes remission of sinnes perpetuall to a beleever First The cause of Remission the sacrificed Body of Christ on the Crosse or accursed Tree Heb. 10. 4. By one offering hee hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified Secondly The ground is a free promise tendred to us from God as to Adam The Seed of the Woman shall breke the Serpents head Gen. 3. 15. John 3. 16. 1 John 4. 10. Thirdly The meane is Faith apprehending it Phil. 3. 9. Fourthly The Spirit of Christ sealing of it Ephes 1. 13. This truth revealed for the comfort of poore drooping Saints found great opposition But the good Lord stirred up your gracious spirit to countenance and defend them in the midst of strong opposition and though you were sleighted and set light by at the ende of your Government as not worthy to be an assistant with many other Instruments more yet the good Lord stood by you and strengthned you and delivered you from the hands of your opposers perserved you from the dangers of the Sea and though at your returne to your Native Soyle you lived like Joseph a while in a despised condition yet the Lord raised you up to sit amongst Princes So that though you were willing to lose life friends preferment for Christ found you not then life peace joy in the Lord Jesus which was better to you then all worldly
specialâ— mercies and particular experienceâ— that the Lord hath done for a beleever when his soule was broughâ— into great adversity and when the Lord delivered him the Spirit oâ— God in the dayes of his mirth bringeth into his mind and causeth him with heart and lips to blesse thâ— Lord in the Congregation for his mercies received Thus Hannah that was barren â—he Lord made to keep house and â—o be the joyfull mother of a sonne â—ingeth her song of praise 1 Sam. 2. â— My heart rejoyceth in the Lord my â—orne is exalted in the Lord my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies because â— rejoyce in thy salvation Mary the mother of Jesus singeth her Magnificat My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit rejoyceth in God my Saviour Luk. 1. 46 47. So when the Lord had made good unto old Zacharias what hee had foretold him concerning his sonne John Luk. 1. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20. being filled with the Spirit breaketh forth into his Eucharistia of praise Luk. 1. 68. Blessed be the Lord God of Israel for hee hath visited and redeemed his people Yea and old aged Simeon singeth his Nunc dimittis Lord let thy servant depart in peace for mine eyes have seene thy salvation Nay King David upon his harâ— warbles out the speciall mercies and favours and deliverances Goâ— had done for his soule Psal 103 Blesse the Lord O my soule and 〈◊〉 within mee blesse his holy Name Blesâ— the Lord O my soule and forget 〈◊〉 all his benefits Who forgiveth all thiâ—â—â— iniquities who healeth all thy diseases Who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with lovinâ— kindnesses and tender mercies â— Nay the Psalmist exhorteth thâ— Traveller the sicke man and thâ— Mariner to praise God for theiâ— speciall mercies received Psal 107. Hence holy Paul saith I will praâ— with the spirit and I will pray witâ— understanding also I will sing witâ— the spirit and I will sing with underâ—standing also Else when thou shalâ— blesse with the spirit how shall he whicâ— occupieth the roome of the unlearned say Amen at thy giving of thanks â— Cor. 14. 15 16. So that to sing blesse and give thanks in the language of holy Scripture is all one Hence as spirituall Prayer is a Sacrifice Psal 141. 2. offered up unto God our Father in the name of Christ to comfort solace and cure a sad and grieved spirit so spirituall praise is a Sacrifice tendered to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ through Christ Heb. 13. 16. by a merry and rejoycing Spirit for the speciall mercies and blessings spirituall and temporall that the Lord hath bountifully bestowed on him According to that of the Apostle Iames Is any afflicted amongst yoâ— let him pray Is any merry amongst you let him sing James 5. 13. 3. Thirdly Sacrifice is a broâ—en and a contrite heart for his sins and his dayly failings he hath committed against a crucified Jesus when God powreth upon his people the Spirit of grace and supplication Zech. 12. 10. The more the Spirit of Christ openeth the eyes of their spirituall understanding to looke up by faith upon a Jesus who for their sinnes was peirced the more will their hearts bee pierced with godly sorrow for their sinnes which bringeth repentance to salvation never to be repented of 2 Cor. 7. 10 11. and to loath themselves in their owne eyes for all their spirituall and corporall abominations Ezek. 36. Hence beleeving David the King that sorrowed after a godly manner for all his iniquities said The sacrifices of God are a troubled spirit A broken and contrite heart for sinne oâ— God thou wilt not despise Psalm 51. 17. 4. Sacrifice is a free ready and cheerefull contribution to the poorâ— and needy members of Christ Hebr. 13. 16. To doe good and distribute forget not for with such a sacrifice God is well pleased Phil. 4. 18. 5. Sacrifice is an holy life which the Spirit of Christ formeth in us Rom. 12. 1. I beseech you brethren upon the mercifulnesse of God that yee present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service 1 Cor. 6. 20. Yee are bought with a price glorifie God therefore in body and spirits which are Gods Thirdly The Altar that sanctifieth the person and the Sacrifice and maketh them both acceptable unto God Is Jesus the Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. Yee also as lively stones that have received life from Jesus the living stone are built up a spirituall house and holy Priest-hood to offer up spirituall sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ To this Spirituall House or Church of the New Testament gathered according to the royall Commission of King Jesus Matth. 28. 18 19 20. as the Churches in Judea in Rome Corinth Galatia Ephesus c. were constituted The Promises were made First that God would bee a Father to all those that did obey his voice and come out from among the Jewes Heathens and Gentiles and separate from their false waies and superstitious worship and touch not the uncleane thing and he will receive you And yee shall be his Sonnes and Daughters saith the Lord the Almighty 2 Corinth 6. 17 18. Secondly for all the defects that these commit against his Spirituall worship they have this promise The bloud of Iesus Christ his Sonne clenseth them from all their sinnes 1 Iohn 1. 7. 1 Iohn 2. 1 2. Thirdly So many as have been bâ—ptized into the name of the Lord Jesus that is into the profession of Faith that the Apostles taught to wit that men should beleeve in a Crucified dead and risen Jesus whom God hath exalted to be Lord and Christ had the promise of receiving the gifts of the holy Spirit How prove you that to this Faith and Baptisme the gift of the holy Spirit was granted Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gâ—fts of the holy Spirit For the promise of giving the holy Spirit is to you and to your children as Joel the Prophet foretold I will powre out my spirit upon all flesh and your Sonnes and Daughters shall prophesie and your old men shall dreame Dreames and your young men shall see Vâ—sions and also upon the servants and upon the handmaides in those daies I will powre out my spirit Joel 2. â—8 â—9 And all that are a farre off even so many as the Lord our God shall call verse 29. and to the twelve in Asia â—he promise was made good Acts 19. 5 6 7. And when this Spirit is come he will guid thee into all truth for he shall not speake of himselfe but whatsoever he shall heare that shall â—ee speake and he will shew them things to come John 16. 13. Yea to be to the whole Church as a River that shall make glad the City of God Psal 46. 4. compared with John 7. 37. If any man thirst let him come
her husband should bee spoyled of any of his royall dignities either his Kingly or Propheticall as well as Priestly Offices Shee cannot with harlot Rome bee content with a divided Christ but with the true mother shee must joyn onely with them that will have a whole Christ or no Christ Christ her King and his Commission to bee eternall Mat. 28. 18 19 20. Christ her Prophet whose voyce shee must onely heare as the Father of glory hath given her in charge to doe Mat. 17. 5. Yea and the extent how farre in all things whatsoever hee shall say Act. 3. 22. Knowing the danger followeth her soule shall be cut off from his people Act. 3. 23. reckoned no sheep of his fold Joh. 10. no Spouse of her royall husband Ephes 5. 24. as well as her eternall Priest to make intercession for her Heb 7. 25. because shee knoweth Christ divided becometh no Christ to the divider And this according to the Vulgar Latine is solvere Jesum to dissolve Jesus to receive him onely in part and not in the whole which is the spirit of Antichrist c. Lastly The Christian Church Christs loyall Spouse knoweth that her royall husband is jealous of his glory and will not endure his Worship should be corrupted with the inventions of man therefore shee deserteth the communion of all such as have forsaken Christ the fountaine of living waters and dig to themselves cisternes broken cisternes that will hold no water Hence it is as possible for light and darknesse to agree in one subject and the Temple of God and Iâ—ols as the Church that hath Christ for her head and the Word to bee the rule of her Doctrine and Government And those Congregations that are governed partly by the Word of Christ and partly by their owne T. aditions should have communion together But have Gods Elect in Babylon any power of themselves to returne out of the Land of their spirituall Captivity under Antichrist Nay Untill God enlighten them that are darke and quicken them that are dead and cause them to returne by being obedient to a Gospel Ministery as formerly he brought in our fore-fathers which were Gentiles aswell as wee and strangers from the common-wealth of Israel and Aliants from the covenant of Promise having no hope and without God in the world by opening their blind eyes and turning them from darkenesse to light and from the power of Satan unto God that they might receive the remission of their sinnes and an inheritance amongst them which are sanctified by Faith in Christ Jesus Acts 26. 18. Now as many as shall bee obedient to the voice of the Lord will be unequally yoaked no more with unbeleevers but wil become obedient unto the voice of the holy Spirit and come out from amongst them and be separate and touch no more any of the uncleane thing and then the Lord will make good his promise To be a Father unto you and yee shall be his Sonnes and Daughters Having therefore these Promises dearely beloved Let us clense our selves even so many poore Iaphets as God shall perswade to dwell in the Tents of Shem from all filthynesse both of the flesh and of the spirit perfecting holynesse in the feare of the Lord 2 Cor. 6. 14 17 18. Chap. 7 1. If all Churches come out of Babylon by degrees then you condemn all Churches that are not of your judgement We condemne no Churches that are built upon the tryed stone the precious Corner Stone the sure Foundation Esay 28. 16. Jesus the Christ Seeing other foundation can no man lay save that is layd Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3. 11. Whom Paul calleth the corner stone Ephes 2. 20. Peter the living stone 1 Pet. 2. 4. Yea the chiefe corner stone elect and precious 1 Pet. 2. 6. For there is salvation in none other Acts 4. 12. 2 And that holdeth the Gospell Faith namely that they beleeve in a crucified dead and risen Jesus through whom they obtaine remission of sinnes whom God hath exalted to be Lord and Christ viz. eternall King Priest and Prophet and head of the body of his Church Ephe. 1. 22 23. which must be preached among all Nations beginning at Jerusalem Luke 24. 46 47 48. And constituted according to the Commission given to the Apostles Math. 28. 19 20. which is left as a rule for the gâ—thering of all Churches to the ends of the World seeing the Word of Christ is eternall The word of the Lord endureth for ever and this is the Word which by the Gospell is preacheâ— unto you 1 Pet. 1. 25. Yea and after their apostasie under the spirituall Babylonish captivity to reforme any errour crept into the Churches of the old and new Testament It was their holy custome to reduce all things to their first Institution Quod primum verum thâ—t which was first is true according to ertullians jâ—dgement For instance so 〈◊〉 David in the miscarriage of the Arke of God 1 Chro. 15. 2. 12. 13. And it was zealous Iosiahs rule whom the Spirit of God so commeâ—deth in Scripture that none was like before him for his Reformation 2 Chrâ— 34 31. The like example tooke Nehemiah after his returne from the Babylonish Captivity Neh. 10. 29. To observe all the Commandements of the Lord and the Statutes which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them to keepe So in reforming of the particular Churches of the New Testament whereof Jesus the Christ is head King and Prophet if ever they be rightly brought out of their Spirituall Babylonish captivity under Antichrist we must reforme all the Innovations as the Lord Jesus himselfe reformed the long-spread errour of Bygamie and Polygamy Non fuit sic ab initio From the beginning it was not so Matth. 19. 7 8. Yea and we must so follow Paul as he followed Christ 1 Cor. 11. 1. in reforming the abuses crept into the Church of Corinth reducing all things to the first Institution With a what I râ—ceived from the Lord that I delivered unto you 1 Cor. 11. 23. We condemne none that are comming out of Babylon that make enquiry after truth as the daughters of Ierusalem did of the Spouse Cant. 5. 9. What is thy beloved more then another beloved oh thou fairest among women What is thy beloved more then others beloveds that thou dost so charge us And truâ—h being râ—vealed to them joyne with us in the practise of truth as the Daughters of Ierusalem did with the Spouse Cant. 6. 1. Whither is thy beloved gone oh thou fairest among women Whither is thy beloved turned aside that we may seeke him with thee The Spouse giveth them a gentle and a loving direction Cant. 6. 2. My beloved is gone into his garden to gather Spicâ—s to feed in the garden and to gather Lillies But wee onely condemâ—e those that deny Jesus the Christ though they owne him their eternall Priest that ever liveth to make intercession to God for them Hebr. 7.
Christ I Iohn 2. 22. and will be partakers of their sinnes wee shall bee partakers of their plagues Revel 18. 4. And for our unbeliefe in persisting to persecute them that contend for the faith of Jesus the Christ Math. 16 16 17 18. The wrath of God abideth on them 1 Thess 2. 14 15 16. Fiftly There is no promise to any people that deny the Faith and Baptisme of Jesus the Christ that they waiting shall receive the gifts of the Spirit But rather that they shall be given up of God to strong delusions to beleeve a lye 2 Thess 2. 10. Because they received not the love of the truth that they might bee saved Verse 11. For this cause God shall give them up to strong delusions to beleeve a lye Verse 12. That all might bee damned that beleeve not the truth but have pleasure to continue in unrighteous practises 2 Thess 2 10 11 12. But there is a promise to all poore enquiring soules that in the time of their ignorance and unbeliefe have denyed Jesus the Christ their eternall King and Prophet aswell as Priest and now by the Spirit of God being convicted that they are lyars and Antichristian that deny the Father and the Son 1 Iohn 2. 22. And being pricked at the heart now trembling cry out Men and brethren what shall we doe The Spirit of Christ in the inspired Scripture saith Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Iesus for the remission of sins and yee shall receive the gifts of the holy Spirit Acts 2. 38. We have an instance of twelve Disciples found at Ephesus baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus and and Paul laid his hands on them and they spake with new tongues and Prophesied as Ioel the Prophet foretold Ioel 2. 28. I will powre out of my Spirit upon all flesh c. But were those Disciples Paul found at Ephesus that had beene baptized by Iohn the Paptist rebaptized by Paul In answering this objection I conceive First there was a vast difference betweene Faith and Baptisme Iohn preached before the suffering death and resurrection of Christ And the Faith and Baptisine Christ commanded his Disciples to preach after his Resurrection Luke 24. 46 47. Secondly Iohn the Baptist preached the Baptisme of repentance saying that they should beleeve on him that was to come after him Acts 19. 3 4. Whom Christ himselfe declareth to his Apostles being come in the flesh that he must goe up to Ierusalem fall into the hands of sinners bee killed and the third day rise againe but thâ— Disciples understood it not though it were declared to them and they were afraid to aske him Mark 9. 31 32. Much more John understood not that Christ should dye and rise againe from the dead First because it was not revealed to him though John sent two of his Disciples to demand of him Whether it were he that should come or shall we looke for another Christ answereth Goe tell John the blind see he deafe heare the dead are raised and the poore the Gospell is preached and lessed is he that is not offended in me Math. 11 2 3 4 5 6. Secondly Christ saith of John This was that Elias that was to come â—hat should prepare the way before him Mal. 3. 1. Thirdly Hee was the greatest Prophet borne amongst women for he saw him come in the flesh and said to two Disciples Behold that Lamb â—f God which taketh away the sinnes of he world John 1. 29. Yet hee that is he least member in the kingdom of heaven is greater then John because after the death and resurrection of Christ they could preach and declare that great mystâ—ry of godtinesse 1 Tim. 3. 16. that Iohn the Baptistnever knew But the Apostles after the resurrection of Christ he having opened their understanding that they might understand the Scriptures said unto them That it behoveth Christ to suffer and rise againe the third day that repentance and remission of sinnes should bee preached in his name amongst all Nations beginning at Ierusalem and yee are witnesses of these things Luke 24. 46 47 48. Again Iohn the Baptists baptisme was the Baptisme of water onely but had no promise of the holy Spirit annexed as himselfe confesseth Math. 3. 11. I indeed baptize you with water to repentance But he that commeth after mee is mightier then I he shall Baptize you with the holy Spirit and with fire Secondly The holy Spirit waâ— not to bee given in his full measure untill Christ was glorified Iohn 7. 39 compared with Acts 2. 33. But to the Faith and Baptisme the Apostles preached after the death and resurrection and ascention of Christ into glory there was a promise of giving the gifts of the holy Spirit Acts 2. 38. Repent and bâ— Baptized every one of you in the namâ— of Iesus for the remission of sinnes and yee shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit as the Prophet Ioel foretold Ioel 2. 28. and the twelve at Ephesus received Acts 19. 6. I affirme that the twelve at Eâ—hesus that had beene Baptized by Iohn or his Disciples Ministry were re-baptized by Paul or them that were with him in the time of his Ministery for these ensuing Reasons First In respect of the different dispensations The Faith and Baptisme that these twelve had received from Iohn or his Disciples Ministerie though it was a saving Faith all the dayes of Iohn and his Disciples Ministry yet it was not a saving Faith after the death and resurrection and ascention of Christ into glory in the time of Pauls Ministery For Iohn and his Disciples preached the Baptisme of Repentance saying that they should beleeve on him that was to come after him that was in Jesus Christ that was to bee crucified But Paul and Timetheus preached that Jesus indeed is come and crucified dead and risen through whom all that beleeve shall have remission of sinnes Acts 13. 38 39. 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Secondly Because this Faith that they had received from Iohn or his Disciples in the time of Pauls Ministery would not save them Because they denyed the Resurrection of Christ from the dead Looking onely for him to come and to be crucified and were ignorant that he was crucified dead and risen And then according to the doctrine of the Holy Spirit by the mouth of Paul 1 Cor. 15. 14. If Christ be not risen our Faith is vaine and our Preaching is vaine Thirdly If the Faith and Bapâ—isme of Iohn that declared that there was a Jesus to come to bee Crucified and the Faith and Baptimse of Paul that declareth that Christ dyed for our sins according to the Scriptures and rose againe the third day according to the Scripture 1 Cor. 15. 3 4. Be all one for substance as some of the Learned amongst us affirme then are wee found false witnesses of God because wee have testified of God that he hath raised up his Sonne Iesus