he is the high Steward and great Dispenser in God's Kingdom All power is given unto him in heaven and in earth Observ 3. That that Prophesie which comes from so sure an Author as Jesus Christ must infallibly be true and come to pass for he is and always was the great Prophet of his Church it was he that gave visions and Prophesies to the Prophets Isaiah Ieremiah Ezekiel Daniel somtimes by his ministring spirits the Angels somtime by himself in the appearance of the likeness of the son of man Ezek. 1. v. 26. And all know that their prophesies stood sure and were accomplished in their respective seasons But as unto the stedfastness and faithfulness of this book of Prophesies see what Christ himself testifies in Rev. 3.7 14. and in ch ult v. 6. These things saith the Son of God who is the faithful and true witness therefore of most sure performance in God's appointed seasons From the words which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass Observe 1. That Christ's servants are very privie to Gods counsels and knows much of his designes This Christ hath verified First From that ground of union which is between Christ and his members for being once become his members or servants then they in Christ and Christ in them and according to that 1 John 2.20 They have an unction from him that is holy and they know all things so that they that have the Son have the Father also for they both are one in will counsel power and essence John 17.21 22. And the secrets of the Lord are with those that fear him 2. They know much of the mind of God in all the combustions changes and revolutions of this world Many think that they come by chance ill fortune or for want of foresight in management of State affairs but the servants of God know that the hand of God is in all those revolutions and State-shakings and that there can no evil befal unto the City but that there is the providence of God in it directing and over-ruling it unto its end so that they do foresee that this change and that alteration in the world will come too and can rightly conclude that all tend as in a chain of providences to bring about God's great end in the exaltation of Christ's Throne and the pulling down his enemies Observ 2. God reserved the more full revelation of all things concerning the changes and revolutions of the Church and State and the end of all unto the day of Christs exaltation in glory Christ on earth was not so glorious as Christ in heaven he had not so full commission to send out so much of his Spirit while he was on earth as when he was in heaven John 7.39 So in like manner it is no sin to say that God had not communicated unto Christ's manhood whiles here on earth the compleat knowledge of times and seasons and the end of all for he is said to grow in knowledge and therefore according to his manhood whiles here on earth might be ignorant in some things But yet it is clear the Father revealed it to him when he ascended into heaven that he might reveal it to his Church as the due reward of all his sufferings chap. 5. 9. Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain c. Which must shortly come to pass See vers 3. on these words The time is at hand And he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John From these words you may observe That God reveals these Prophesies not immediately from himself but mediately and by instruments First God gives this Revelation to Christ Christ gives discovery partly himself and partly gives commission to his Angels for the same Thirdly The Angels instruct John Fourthly John directeth the same to the seven Churches And fifthly From the seven Churches they are left to all the Churches of Christ for information unto the end of the world The infinity of God and the finiteness of creatures are not compatible therefore God uses instruments sutable to our capacities for discovery of his mind Observ 2. From the Messenger or Angel by whom partly this prophesie was sent Observe That Christ employs Angels in great services for his Church Angels were the first publishers and preachers of Christs birth an Angel tells the Apostles that Christ should return in that manner they had seen him go up to heaven Acts 1.11 Angels tells Abraham and Lot what God would do to Sodom Christ tells John Rev. 22.16 That he sent his Angels to testifie those things in the Churches The Angels are made ministring spirits for the service of the church and their service is more manifest in these particulars 1. They inform us of God's will and God of our ways they ascend and descend Zac. 1.11 Gen. 18.19 2. They oppose the enemies of Christ and his Church Rev. 12.7 Dan. 10.20 Numb 21.22 3. They execute the judgements of God upon his enemies Exo. 12.23 Gen. 19.11.13 c. Isa 37 36. Rev. 16. throughout 4. They defend the godly both against wicked men wicked spirits and wicked practises Rev 7.1 2 3 c. Psal 34.7 and 91.11 Gen. 32.1 2. 2 King 6.14 15 c. 5. Next after the spirit of Christ they comfort the afflicted in their distresses Luke 1.30 Acts 10.4 and 27.24 Dan. 6.10 11 12. Luke 22.43 6. They are God's reapers and gatherers of God's elect at the end of the world Mat. 24.31 From the person to whom this prophesie was sent and revealed by the Angel under this relation of his servant John what this Iohn was is made fully to appear in the preliminary discourse unto the Title it was Iohn the brother of Iames our Lord's kinsman the beloved disciple a great Pillar and Apostle in the Church of Christ and yet he is here described under the title and relation of servant not only so by right of creation but of redemption special right covenant and service From which observe That to be related to Christ by way of service is a higher priviledge then any outward relation to him Better be Christ's bondman then his kinsman inward priviledges are more honourable then carnal Mary was happier in carrying Christ in her heart then in her womb Iohn glories more to be Christ's servant then his cosin Mat. 12.47 48 c. Christ professeth that they are his kindred who shall do the will of his father and he that is related to Christ in grace and faith is as sure of his love and acceptation as any of his nearest friends or kinsmen Observ 2. It is man's greatest honour to be Christ's servant It was a curse upon Cain Gen. 9. to be a servant of servants but to be Christ's servant is not only free but noble Iohn though he was a great pillar a prophetical Apostle the darling Disciple yet Christ calls him but his servant Paul
his church for the service thereof God first fills them with his Spirit When John was but upon entring upon his prophetical office God ravishes him with his Spirit and fills him therewith to fit him for this office When men in the Apostles days were to be chosen but for the lowest services in the Church as for the over-sight of the poor and the like yet they must be men full of the holy Ghost and wisdom Acts 6.3 Much more then for the highest places as Prophets Pastors Teachers and Elders c. It is said Paul and Barnabas were filled with the holy Ghost and therefore to be separated unto the work Acts 11.24 and 13.2 The Offices of the churches of Christ are for those that have the Spirit of Christ in them in some fulness of it those places are not for such as are filled with the spirit of envie covetousness pride the world contention ignorance and antichristian lording such have not the spirit of Christ in them it may be well said of such that they run for profit here and the like but the Lord sent them not Jer. 14.14 and 23.21 They flatter themselves and think they are called and sent of God because God hath given them some common acquired gifts and parts yet want all the especial graces of the Spirit as meekness self-denial contempt of this world humility bowels of compassion ready to forgive sound knowledge in the truth and holiness and righteousness in their lives and conversations they that want those graces in the truth of them are neither fit for those high functions in the church nor can satisfyingly perswade themselves or others that they are called unto it Let this be as a memento to all such that climbe over the walls into those holy Functions and are well satisfied with a call from men when they were never called of God I say let all such fear and tremble lest God spew them all our together with their flocks that would have it so in his wrath for ever John was rapt in Spirit on the Lord's day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek Whether this day be here called the Lord's day for the great discoveries of those visions made unto John upon this day or because it was the Lord's day for the assembling of the Saints to perform their services unto God it being the same day with that which the Apostles call the first day of the week and our christian Sabbath I shall not much contend but rather am enclined unto the latter for these two reasons First Because the great work of Christ's resurrection on that day wherein he was manifested Lord and Conquerour over hell and Satan purchased it that Title of the Lords day Secondly Because the observation of the Sabbath with all christian publique services were transferred to that day and so is called the Lord's day 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or according to the Scottish dialect the Kirks day the Churches day because they held their assemblies and performed their publique services upon that day Hence note Observ That the Lord's day or the day of the great and publique assemblings of the Saints is the fittest time for God's highest discoveries of Grace and Truth John received here on this day his high irradiations of spirit and Prophesies This is God's great Market day wherein there is a constant and mutual Exchange or Bartering of heavenly and divine commodities the Saints come with the returns of their improvements of mercies in praises prayers and thanksgivings God gives out in return farther supplies of grace and greater measure of knowledge in his ways and truths Therefore sure most happy most knowing and most gracious are those Saints that are most found in this way O! this should make all of us that are not in this way to wail for it as David in his absence and exile from the church of God that being the special habitation of God's glory Psal 96.6 and to breath after it even as the Hart brayeth after the fountain streams for this is the day of the Saints assemblings wherein the Angel comes down the Angel of the New Covenant Christ in spirit to stir upon the waters of Bethesda upon the hearts and affections of all his people When John was in this rapture of spirit on the Lord's day then he heard behind him a mighty voice as it were of a Trumpet loud and terrible The Trumpet being a warlike Instrument whose sound is to prepare unto Battel and to the terror of the adversary God's publique admonitions are so unto his church it not only prepares his own unto repentance but is also of terrible signification unto all his impenitent enemies But here comes in a question fit to be discussed John had here his raptures of spirit extasies and heard a great voice as of a Trumpet The Quere will be How shall we know Divine raptures extasies or visions from diabolical For Satan is God's Ape and hath his raptures possessions strange apparitions sounds and voices also For answer first know that God's visions are given either in the sleep as unto Jacob when he saw a ladder reaching from earth to heaven and Angels ascending and descending in Gen. 28. but such are more properly called Divine Dreams Or secondly When the person is awake as here when Iohn was at Patmos on the Lord's day doubtless either in God's services or holy contemplations he received those visions and raptures of spirit and those extasies or raptures of spirit do cause a great alteration upon the person that receives them he is as it were taken out of himself that is in this posture and frame and therefore it is called a rapture or extasie quasi extra se raptus being in that posture not master of the faculties of his own soul which are wholly in the power and motions of the Spirit that acts them and this is common to both sorts of raptures whether from the good or evil spirit Now to discern what spirit moves in such raptures or visions observe first Whether the person passive or that is under such raptures of spirit were always or for the most part of their lives faithful witnesses unto the word of God and of Jesus Christ such have not only the promise of the holy Spirit to teach them all things 1 Iohn 2.27 but to be preserved against the evil one in their bodies souls and spirits Secondly Observe the matter of their visions in such raptures whether it be to denounce God's judgments against sinful practises or not for surely Satan will never be divided against himself if we will believe our Saviour for so his kingdom could not stand though I have read a story in some old Popish Mass-monger that the divel once in the shape of a Priest preached a very catholique sermon but being discovered by some Saint in presence it seems one of an excellent endowment in discerning spirits asked him how durst Satan to appear in that presence with so sound holy
hence ariseth to Christ's churches That if they be zealous of God's glory and their own well-being that they suffer not peaceably amongst them either evil doers or false Teachers both equally tending if tolerated to their destruction and ruine Observ 2. It is often a matter of great trouble and travel for the churches of Christ to deal with evil doers and false teachers in the church When the corrupted part is become a great Interest in the church how difficult is it for the sound part to meddle with it Witness the present state of our churches in England and elsewhere amongst the Nations desiring Reformation from Antichristian errors and idolatry what a matter of trouble it is and somtimes of much affliction and sufferings to divers precious and sound christians when they go about to reprove the false teachers and evil workers the great hinderers at present of a thorow Reformation in the Ordinances and Doctrines of Christ How they fall upon such as the troublers of Israel Not considering that their lusts are the principal causes thereof and if Christ's witnesses speak against them in faithfulness they are presently branded as troublers of their peace and factions and often suffer for it The church of Ephesus had their portion herein of travel and patience for their integrity unto Christ and his Truth against these teachers and wicked persons in that primitive age so neer Christ's time and the pouring forth of the Spirit and therefore no marvel if under the falling away and Antichrist's dominion Christ's faithful witnesses have a share therein also But to proceed And thou hast tryed them which say they are Apostles and are not and hast found them lyars It seems Ephesus had pseudo-Apostles or false Apostles as well as Corinth and other churches 2 Cor. 11.13 who pretended themselves to be true Apostles of Christ who under that pretence came with deceitful and soul-destroying doctrines as That the Resurrection was past already That the Mosaical Law was to be joyned to faith in Christ for justification That the community of all things and women were lawful which they called spiritual marriages which the sect of Nicolaitans held These were the errours of the false Apostles of the primitive days Now the Apostles of Christ were extraordinary Officers sent by him so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies one sent to his service for the publishing the Messias and his doctrine over the whole world and so were universal Officers and could act in and over all churches by their Apostolical authority but for others to argue from their practise that are ordinary officers and of an ordinary spirit that they may act as they did is a meer non sequitur Now the false Apostles would it seems needs arrogate the same authority to themselves in imposing their dictates upon the churches but the church of Ephesus had so much spiritual wisdom as to try and examine them and so found them false ones and liars Hence note That it is a most commendable practise and duty in Christ's churches to make a diligent and narrow inquisition into the truth of all doctrines and teachers that come among them The church of Ephesus was very famous for this very thing and an Euge given them by Christ for this action And indeed how could they or any other churches find out the deceitfulness and falsity of those that were false Apostles and false Teachers unless they had tryed and examined their doctrines Paul accounted the Bereans more noble then others for this very thing for the enquiry into the truth of his doctrine whether things were so or no as he delivered unto them for indeed it argues a most stupid kind of disposition to receive all things that comes from men without enquiry either into the truth thereof or at least the integrity faithfulness and the authority of the Relator thereof for as some truths lie deep and every common person or member cannot fathom it yet every one though never so weak that cannot satisfie their consciences by their own sight in the entertainment of a truth yet can in part acquiesce in the ability and fidelity of their Teacher and so may get much satisfaction unto themselves from the authority of their guides and teachers therefore it is a duty incumbent on all First for the more spiritual and quick-sighted christian to try all things and to hold fast what is good Next for the weaker christian to try the faithfulness and integrity of his Teachers and to hold fast what he commends unto him in things disputable and not of easie discernment Query But a Question may be moved who shall try judge and examine false Apostles false Teachers and their corrupt doctrines I answer First every private or particular christian may do it Judicio discretionis by a judgement of discretion and of private discerning But secondly to try them Judicio Authoritativo by a judgement of authority and juridically it must be done by that whole church wherein they are risen up and maintained for in them lies the plenary judicial power and authority of judging all doctrines and teachers which is usually called the power of the Keys Neither is this power in the Officers or Eldership of the church when distinct from the Body as some would have it but collectively in the whole church Officers and Members though unto the Presbyterie or Officers I should grant the precedency in many things yet the Body collective is above the Officers for the Officers are ordained more principally for the Body but not the Body for the Officers but the head cannot say unto the body I have no need of thee nor the body unto the head but all joynt together makes up a compleat harmony and an organical Body Officers and Members in a church make up a compleat christian or microcosm or commonwealth wherein all the Laws of Christ are juridically administred and who have the full power of trying censuring and judging all false Teachers and doctrines that shall rise amongst them For if the juridical power were solely in the Presbyterie or Officers of the church then the church of Ephesus would not collectively deserve that Eulogie and approbation for their zeal against false Apostles but it would rather be attributed to the Angel of the church or chief Officers or Overseers of the church only but here the whole church of Ephesus is praised and approved for their non-toleration of evil persons and for their trying of and sifting out the false Apostles therefore it argueth very strongly that the power of censures and trying is not singly in the Officers but in Officers and members joyntly as making up one organical Body politique which is Christ's highest Judicature on earth to decide and judge of all Doctrines rising in his churches that will not hold weight according to the shekel of the Sanctuary A farther instance ye have pregnant to this purpose in the church of Thyatira in verse 20. following where the reproof is
Disciples should be offended because of him and that they should be cast out imprisoned reviled and suffer many persecutions for his names sake And the ground or reason of all this is from that promise in Gen. 3. That God would set enmity between the seed of the woman and the seed of the serpent and this enmity hath abided ever since and will ever abide between those two mystical seeds until the seed of the woman Christ and his members shall become absolute conquerors in the binding up the old serpent who is the father of all enmities and mischiefs This informeth God's people that it should not seem strange unto them when the world and their enemies do rage against them Here a question may come in Whether christians when they are called unto it are bound in duty to suffer for the profession of all the Truths of God To clear this question I shall premise briefly That Truths are either about fundamentals or circumstantials Fundamentals are such as without the knowledge thereof we cannot ordinarily be saved and they are conversant either about the very being of a Saint and Christian or secondly about the well-being in preserving and building up this Christian in his holy faith and these are called principles or rudiments of Religion Heb. 6.1 You know no one can proceed to be an Artist in any Art or Science or come to any perfection therein without some certain rules and principles to proceed by so none can become a true Christian or Artist in that heavenly Science of Christianity without some first laid principles And amongst those Fundamentalls which are necessary to the Being of a christian I believe as some have been too large in the description of their Fundamentals so some have been too narrow and therefore seeing they are not precisely determined by any universal assembly of christians but are left to be gathered up here and there in the Word of God by parcels I shall not be so presumptuous to define their certain number only I say thus much That that Creed which is called the Apostolical setting a qualified sense on that article of Christ's descent into hell to be the exactest square and rule of principles that relates unto the very Being of a Christian that is this day extant and he that is not ready to suffer for the profession thereof is not worthy the name of a Christian Now secondly other Fundamentals are about the well-being of a christian and such are all the Ordinances of the Gospel As Baptism Lord's Supper Prayer Thanks-givings all Church Orders and Fellowships Preaching Exhorting Reproving Overseeing and the like And if it be in our power we are rather to forbear the use of one of them then to defile our souls or consciences under corrupt administrations of them but if at any time we were called to suffer for the essential truth of them we are bound to suffer and to bear them a testimony as a part of the Truth and Word of God But for every opinion that arises about the right administrations of the latter or manner of understanding of the former principles which are but the circumstantials of Religion to set bonds upon the conscience therein it savours rather of a spirit of contention heat and passion then of found judgement and christian wisdom This is to make hard knots where there is none and Christ calls his yoke easie this were to make it burdensom and intollerable The substantial part of Christian Religion is plain and easie and the blinde may walk therein and a lamb may wade thorow This is life eternal that they may know thee the only true God and Jesus Christ whom thou hast sent John 17.3 It is true there are mysteries high questions and deep things of God in the word these are for the exercise of our spirits and gifts not of our faith no further then as part of the revealed mind of God and therefore we believe them to be truth though we understand them not which are reserved until the day of the revelation of all things when we shall know as we are known and when all our ignorances and imperfections shall be done away This sets a check upon some hot spirits of these times that rather then lose or part with their wilde opinions or let them lie unvented would break all the bonds of peace charity and communion amongst Christians and so utterly deprive the churches of Christ of all the benefit which otherwise their gifts and parts might stand in stead for I doubt all sorts of christians of our times are too far baptized into this errour and Satan hath too great a stroke in it to divide the hearts of Christians about circumstantials when as they hold one and the same fundamentals joyntly together The Lord in mercy to his churches remedy this great evil and sin of our times Vers 10. I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day and heard behind me a great voice as of a Trumpet In the Greek copie it is no more but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I was in the Spirit which in Beza's translation is rendred correptus in Spiritu I was rapt in Spirit It was indeed a rapture of spirit an extasie wherein John received this Vision and so it hath been with all the Prophets of old they were acted by the Spirit in all their visions and prophesies they were lift up above themselves and out of themselves when they were to have cognizance of Divine things and this was by the Eternal Spirit of God working mightily in their spirits Observ That the Spirit of God does as it were set a violence on those persons he employs about the high mysteries and discoveries of his choicest Truths Paul that great light of the Gentiles he had his raptures into the third heaven whether in the body or out of the body he could not tell Exekiel when he was to receive those high Visions he oft reports of the Spirit entring into him and taking him up cap. 3.12 and 2.2 John for his better accomplishment to receive those divine Visions he is here said to be rapt in Spirit And the reasons of this is First That he might be the better enabled to take a clear and full view of those divine discoveries which were about to be shown unto him When we would show one things distinctly we use to place him up on high for the better sight Secondly That he might have satisfaction in his own spirit that those his visions were from God seeing he had so extraordinary taste of the Spirit in the first place he might well conclude he was now as it were to become the mouth of the Spirit unto the churches Lastly That his thoughts and heart might have been sequestred from things below and his contemplation raised higher on things divine as a true Prophet of God ought to have Another Note from hence is as a corrollary to the former That when Christ sets up any eminent Officer or Light in
hitherto from the beginning been God's method in the representations of himself under shapes figures and similitudes fitted to the capacity of the creature 't is true I confess Saints in heaven and Angels have a greater manifestation of the Glory of God then Saints on earth by reason of their glorified Organs fitted to receive that high measure of glory to compleat their vessels with all true and perfect blessedness but still remember they are creatures and will be still so though glorified and immortal ones Now how a finite creature can see or comprehend an infinite Glory or Majesty I know not otherwise then by condescensions to their capacities and finite natures If a finite creature as Angel or glorified Saint could see and comprehend an infinite then what is seen or comprehended it were not infinite and if an infinite could be comprehended of the finite the finite would it self become infinite Neither can infinite be seen in parts for it is not possible therefore not to be seen at all Therefore I am of opinion that God and his essential glory is seen of Angels and glorified Saints not as in himself infinitely glorious but by way of condescension in some resemblance likeness figure or representation above our reach to consider But I conceive the glory of God will be most eminently seen to glorified Saints in the face of Jesus Christ God did always appear in the likeness of the Son of man when he did appear to his Prophets before the Incarnation of Christ the Saints saw God in the face of Jesus Christ when he was on earth for he was the express Image of his Father And they that hope to see God and his glory at the resurrection shall see him most gloriously and most eminently in the face of the Son of man Rev. 22.3 4. The Throne of God and the Lamb shall be in it and his servants shall serve him and they shall see his face and his name shall be in their foreheads Object But some may say Do not the Angels behold always the face of the Father in heaven Matth. 18.10 I answer It is true they are in the special presence of God and have a most high and eminent fruition and communion with God but the manner unutterable and inexpressible for in this sense you must understand it and not literally for God hath not a face in heaven and consider as before they are creatures and the Father is infinite and invisible Object 2. But did not Moses and Jacob see God and talked with him face to face and mouth to mouth Exod. 33.11 Gen. 32. Numb 12 8. I answer Those Prophets and Patriarchs did see God but how Not essentially but under divers resemblances for in his own nature he is invisible as that of 1 Tim. 6.16 Whom no man hath seen or can see and that of John 1.18 is downright No man hath seen God at any time either by corporeal vision or by intellectual natural vision for they are weak and imperfect and cannot comprehend that which is most infinitely perfect in it self And for this reason also the blessed celestial Spirits cannot comprehensively see God by reason of their imperfection comparatively to that most perfect Divine Being who only is able to comprehend himself unto perfection Secondly I answer Moses nor Jacob never saw the Divine Essence nor any other Because that is pure unmixt and always alike but that of God they saw was under some resemblance somtimes of a cloud somtimes of the likeness of fire somtimes of man c. that under the exhibition of those visible and sensible figures they might perceive God who was invisibly represented to the understanding by these visible glories Thirdly and lastly To see God face to face in Scripture imports only two things First a familiar converse as that of Exod. 33.1 Deut. 5.4 the Lord speaks to Moses face to face and mouth to mouth as a friend speaks with his friend Secondly it signifies a more clear sight of God with greater perspicuity and clearness Some saw God in Dreams and Visions which were in dark resemblances but Moses had more clear and illustrious visions of God To this purpose is that of 1 Cor. 13.12 Then shall we see face to face that is in heaven we shall enjoy and see God more perfectly and more fully then here on earth and then we shall see God in like manner or in some such way as the life of man is now seen by the bodily eyes by the intervention of somthing else and so do become sensible and perceivable to the understanding Jesus Christ will be the great and special mirrour wherein glorified Saints will see the Deity and the Father Object 3. But do not all Divines hold that in heaven we shall enjoy the beatifical vision And doth not that of 1 John 3.2 import so much We shall see him as he is I answer first The highest Saint in glory will not be able to see all of God in eternal life though to see and know this little of God that we see here is life eternal Secondly I answer It is true in heaven we shall see God in that manner and thorow those mediums he is pleased to manifest himself in And that we shall see him as he is that is as he is to be seen in a new and unexpressible way of glory We see now the Sun beams and we sensibly perceive the light efficacy and vertue of the Sun yet we cannot possibly behold the nature of it In like manner in heaven the blessed souls shall see the beams and rays of the glory of God and shall live in the light and power thereof but shall never comprehend the nature of it O Lord grant that we may so live here to thy glory that in the world to come we may be partakers of thy self and glory who will then resolve us of all our doubts and will also unvail so much of thy self unto us as will make us most perfectly blessed When John was in this humbled state and consternation as dead at the feet of the glorious apparition of Christ in the likeness of the Son of man then he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me Fear not I am the first and the last The hand of the Lord hath divers senses in Scripture First for judgment or punishment The hand of the Lord shall be upon thee and thou shalt be blind saith Paul to Elymas Acts 13.11 Secondly It is taken for prophesie When God stirred up the sons of men to prophesie then it is said That the hand of the Lord was upon them as Ezek. 1.3 And the hand of the Lord was upon me that is God stirred up mightily on my Spirit to Prophesie Thirdly It is taken for the Spirit of God as the hand and especially the right hand is the symbole of the strength of man so the Spirit is the strength and power of the most High In these two latter senses Christ lays his
only temporary and for that age and season wherein the Gospel was first promulgated and planted and for this purpose do urge that other text of Paul in 1 Cor. 12.28 And God hath ordained some in his Church as first Apostles secondly Prophets thirdly Teachers then them that do miracles after that the gifts of healing helps governments diversity of tongues and therefore hence do argue That because some officers that are here numbred up are but temporary and for that first age as the gifts of miracles healing c. Therefore the Apostolical gift and function is ceased also with them which was as they say for the first planting of the church not for its growth and continuance To which I answer first By distinguishing between times and persons and grant that Officers since Christ's time have not that measure of Unction and Spirit of infallibility as the first Apostles had yet withal assert that for all what the contrary minded say is but petitio principii for they only affirm that the Apostolical office was but temporary for the first age but prove it not and though they rank it up amongst some of the primitive Gifts and Offices that are interr'd yet to perswade the ingenious they should inform where in the Temple I mean God's Word is their grave to be found They may from this last Scripture as justly argue that the gifts and functions of Teachers Prophets Helps and Governments are also ceased in the church because the gifts of healing miracles c. are ceased in and amongst which catalogue they are also ranked Secondly This Tenent of the Opponents is the ready way and I presume had a great influence of late in hatching and cherishing the sect of the Seekers and anti-Scripturists for when it is asserted and maintained by the reputed Orthodox that most of the primitive offices as Apostles gifts of Miracles Healings c. are ceased to the church under the defection and falling away by the rise of antichrist They forthwith rejoyn and object Why If some gifts are evacuated in the church and no vertue in them as you confess why not the rest of the same foundation and catalogue as well as they and so upon the same grounds that some are ceased they pertinaciously affirm that all other offices and ordinances are null and defunct also being only for that age and ministration and to that end do interpret that promise of Christ's spiritual support and presence with his Church in the last of Matthe◠That he would be with them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which we render to the end of the world or all generations yet they for their own interest render to the end of that age and so consequentially deny the Word and Ordinances and the Being of a church for how should there be a church without VVord and Ordinances and how should the VVord and Ordinances be administred without Officers according to that of Rom. 10. How shall they believe unless they hear And how shall they hear without a Preacher And how shall they preach unless they be sent This hath been the sad consequence of asserting that relaxation of some Offices and gifts in the church and not evidencing where their graves lie or their repeals Thirdly I answer That Eph. 4.11 12 c. is strongly convincing for the contrary for all those offices that are there recounted which Christ gave unto the church there is not the least intimation that some were for the church then in being of that present age and the rest for futurity to continue but rather the contrary is evinced And he gave some Apostles c. Cuibono To what end For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the faith c. Now I would anti-query Are the Saints all perfected Is the work of the Ministry at an end Is the church the body of Christ so sufficiently edified and confirmed that they are all come to the unity of faith and to perfect knowledge and to a full measure and stature of Christ I hope none will affirm it unless the Perfectists and Quakers But here again they will say VVe grant ordinary Officers as Pastors Teachers Elders c. are still continued in the church for this work until we all come to be a perfect man in Christ but extraordinary officers as Apostles c. are ceased I answer again This is asserted and not proved therefore it is a begging of the question Secondly I affirm That those which are called the standing ordinary officers as Pastors Teachers Elders c. were in their first institution of an extraordinary Spirit and of the same Unction though differing in measure with the Apostles themselves and somtimes Apostles Pastors and Elders were taken as Synonima's though really differing amongst themselves in gifts and offices as to instance James the first Pastor or Bishop of Jerusalem was also a pillar and an Apostle John the great and beloved Apostle is in his Epistle called the Elder And in that great Synodical assembly Acts 15. the Elders are in joynt commission with the Apostles and being men of an extraorindary spirit also as appears by all those of the first unction as Stephen Ananias Barnabas c. and the rest of the brethren who went abroad upon the persecution of the church and preached and wrought miracles every where Acts 8. Object But here some may say this is to level all officers and to make the Apostles themselves but of equal authority with the ordinary offices of Pastors Teachers Elders c. I answer Not at all for though I grant some purity in their gifts being both extraordinary in their first unction yet the first twelve in some acts of their offices were to excel all others as is evident by Acts 1.22 when the eleven chose Matthias into Judas Bishoprick Peter urged that one must be ordained to be a witness with them of the Resurrection that was conversant with them from the baptisme of John to the time of Christ's resurrection as this was a great part of their office to bear witness of the life death and resurrection of Christ unto the world and this they could attest as truth as eye witnesses being with Jesus all the time he went in and out amongst them and herein they surpassed all others that came after Secondly They excel all other officers in that they had their commission immediately from Christ to convert disciple and baptize all Nations into the faith but all other officers had it derivatively from them Thirdly They had the pre-eminence in gifts of miracles which was most frequently adjoyned to their Ministery for the confirmation of their Doctrine But it is very inconsequent that the whole Apostolique office is quite ceased to the church because some of the most eminent gifts and endowments of that office as it was in the Apostles of the first institution are ceased which
denied the instrumentality of his Spirit be sure that in stead of a Zion such will erect a Babel and being ignorant where the green pastures of the Gospel lies they will like idle Shepherds either starve the sheep of their flocks or at least poyson them with unwholsome herbage And these I account as sufficient rules to try and examine false Apostles and Teachers by and to find them liars Object But an Objection may here arise from him that hath the first call of abilities from God That if I count it so necessary for him to denominate him Orthodox in his call to have the additional call of the church also But then saith he to what church shall I repair to receive this call seeing there are so many that are pretenders to be the true and right churches of Christ and that the alone ordaining authority is in them and not in others This is indeed locus lubricus a slippery question and I should be loth to deal with it lest I should offend the contrary minded by ventilating my judgement herein but I profess ingeniously it was neither men nor parties self interests nor by-affections that did lead me first to this undertaking but only the general good of christians unto which the Lord moved my heart with much singleness of Spirit being clearly unbyassed and not so over-much engaged to any of the new parties of these times but that I can reserve my judgement free to close with truth wheresoever I can find it And therefore I think it not amiss but to prosecute my first intendment in the singleness of heart to endeavour to clear up truth according to the scantle of my judgement not as walking in the clouds but in plainness and perspicuity though for my reward I may have his hire that traced truth so near at the heels that had his teeth dashed out for his pains but if I be a fool herein yet being reputed a fool for the promotion of truth it will be some comfort and if I suffer loss herein yet this consideration will consolate Magnis tamen excidit Ausis First then to the business Understand that the word Church in Scripture is ordinarily taken to avoid all criticizing upon the word to be the company of the faithful gathered out of all Nations by the ministry of the Word and Spirit and this I conceive to be the genuine definition of the church which may abundantly be made good both by good authority and Scripture Now this church is either more improperly first called the invisible church or secondly more properly the visible church The invisible church comprehends only the elect and seeing their number to us are unknown therefore they are denominated invisible But secondly The visible church is either to be taken for the visible universal catholique church or secondly for a visible particular political church Now the question is concerning the church in this last notion for 't is apparent the invisible church as invisible hath not to do in visible and outward ordinances Neither secondly the visible universal church can by themselves or others their representatives convene for the institution of Officers for how can it stand with conveniency or with the least shew of reasonableness that all the churches of Christ dispersed and planted in the various and far distant corners and Ilands of the world should either by themselves or their representing Officers meet together in one catholique assembly for the disposing and conferring of all mediate calls and Offices And therefore Christ hath ordained that All wise order and gubernation in and over his mystical body the church that every part of this universal body I mean every particular christian assembly of the church catholique for every particular is part of the whole should have within their own limits and jurisdiction a full power to exercise all the offices and ordinances which Christ hath given and instituted for the good and edification of his church unto the end of the world Neither is the church to be called catholique in respect of any her Officers for we know no such office since the first Apostles that were so extraordinary gifted as to have the denomination of Catholique authority over the universal church though they may be accounted to have Jus ad rem fit to be officers of any parts of the catholique church and so to have a potential right thereunto yet actual they have not before their particular calls does invest them into Jus in re as well as their gifts and abilities does to Jus ad rem But the profession of that catholique universal faith which is one and the same in all churches over the whole world that gives denomination to the universal or catholique church therefore the results and conclusions of combined Churches Provincial or National may be only admitted as prudentially binding and obliging as Ecclesiastical Laws and Canons but not as having a divine authority stamped upon them though agreeable to the divine truth it self so that such constitutions are to be received and embraced not solely virtute authoritatis convocation is sed virtute veritatis propositae which if the same conclusions were enjoyned by a particular christian political church were to be received by all of that church not only for the truths sake therein but in submission to the divine authority of the church that commands and institutes them Such is the difference between prudential Ecclesiastique Edicts and Ecclesiastique divine Institutions the one is humane and binding only prudentially the other is divine and obligeth conscienciously These considerations being cleared I come to answer the question to what particular visible church must a candidate apply himself for a mediate authoritative call and mission to receive it rightly and according to the mind of God and satisfaction of a good Conscience I answer and take leave here first to distinguish and take notice between the bene esse and the esse of a call There may be particular churches which I cannot deny but to be truly churches of Christ but not true ones that is they may have being in Christ by faith as branches in the Vine yet mixed with much rottenness and unsoundness and as a leprous person is a man yet a sorry one so a church holding the faith which is as the soul and life thereof yet entertaining much corruption and errour may be truly called a christian church but a sad one So the Ministerial call does answer the constitution of the churches from whence they proceed It s observable that the off-springs constitution do follow the parents temperature strong issues are not to be expected of sickly parents Fortes creantur fortibus as Seneca so in politique bodies of particular churches if they are found and healthy in the faith their off springs are strong and healthy also then their officers and ordinances will be lively efficacious and virtual If ootherwise be with them they will lose much of their vigour life and vertue and
Mountains to fall upon them and hide them from the face of him that sits upon the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb. This is the terrible and unknown name of Christ which no man knoweth but Christ himself which one day he will manifest when all his enemies are made his footstool and takes the Kingdom unto himself O let this thy Kingdom come and blessed is he that shall sit down with Christ in his Kingdome Observ 2. Christ is very zealous and intense on the punishment of delinquent Churches Christ comes all in a fiery posture against Thyatira and withall tels her ver 22 23. that for suffering Jezabel within her Behold I will cast her into a bed and them that commit adultery with her into great Tribulation except they repent of their deeds And I will kill her children with death c. Christ when he whipped out of the Temple the buyers and sellers Jo 2. did it so zealously that for that very act it was formerly prophesied of him The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up How zealous was Christ in his carriage and ready to punish all those delinquent Asian churches He tels Ephesus in the first place Except she repent and recover her first love and do her first works he will come quickly and remove her candlestick out of its place To Pergamus he saith Repent or I come quickly against thee with the sword of my mouth How zealous was Christ against the zeal-fallen church of Laodicea cap. 3. 15 16. I know thou art neither hot nor cold I would thou wert cold or hot so then because thou art lukewarm I will spew thee out of my mouth You see Christ will not spare his delinquent churches but come quickly against them except they repent And this proceeding of Christ with his Churches answers to this apparition of his to Iohn who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire and feet like burning brass cap. 1. 14 15. Vers 19. I know thy works and charity and service and faith and thy patience and thy works and the last to be more then the first All those graces here mentioned by the Spirit and found in the church of Thyatira are to be understood of true â—eal graces not only so in appearance and opinion but in truth and sincerity and therefore Christ before he fals on the charge against her first he gives an approbation and an encouragement to her graces and in effect tels her 'T is true O church of Thyatira I must acknowledg thy works of grace as thy true love towards me which hath produced and brought forth in thee the happy fruits of thy zealous service and thy faith enlivened by love together with thy constant patience under sufferings for my names sake and by this it appeareth that thou hast received the truth in the love thereof and withal I must add unto thy praise that there is a growth and improvment in those gracious works and the last to be more then the first That is Though thy first works were done out of much zeal yet the latter were done on more certain and sober grounds of knowledg and sincerer ends then the first and therefore as thou hast made an improvement of thy graces so thou art more in esteem and thy works also then at the first By the way here Observ We may Observe Though the Church of Thyatira be never so blame-worthy yet Christ will give her her due and set too his Seal of approbation to all that is sound and righteous in her It seems there were graces sufficient in Thyatira to denominate her a golden candlestick and a church of Christ notwithstanding Christ had a few things to say against her it savors not of the Dove-like spirit of Christ and love when any shall be so rigid as will not acknowledg such societies to be churches of Christ because some imperfections in them either in doctrine or manners though otherwise abounding in works of holiness as love to God and his Saints and faith towards Jesus Christ zeal towards God's worship and service and in suffering for Christ's sake Doubtless with some rigid persons in these days the churches of Pergamus and Thyatira would be unchurched and anathematized by them had they but authority over them though Christ had set his Seal upon them and marked them as golden candlesticks As in a natural body some members may be rotten and dead and yet a lively body So in those spiritual bodies politiques there may be som members rotten and dead at the root yet the body still an organical body and no great hinderance to the whole And again in a natural body there may be a catholique disease seasing upon every part and member of the body which may render it very uncapable for its seruices and yet still a lively body So it may be in a church a body politique it may be catholiquely sick and infected with some venomous disease some pestifferous doctrine or other and yet a church still though a decrepid infirm and lame one but when the disease comes to be mortal leaprous or incurable it is time then to cry out Sum impurus sum impurus Procul hinc procul ite For the words I know thy works and thy loue c. Here we see the good works that God does approve of in his people and does also render them as approved Saints both unto themselves and the whole world Christ alone is the publique approved person in the room of all his members in the sight of God as unto justification and perfect righteousness yet before these graces does appear in the Saints to evidence their calling they are but the children of wrath as well as others Election does secure our eternal estate but before the spirit of grace comes to evidence it by faith that worketh by love sin and death hath dominion over us And though we are heirs of all in God's predetermination yet differ we not at all from servants in the state of unregeneracy yea therein we are slaves and captives to sin and Satan These gracious works are called thy works though they are the gifts of God and wrought by his spirit in us yet God's goodness does call them ours because they are acted by the instrumentality of our souls as passing through our wils affections and understandings and here love or charity is put in the first place among all the graces of the Spirit Whether love in order of nature is before faith I shall not here dispute only thus much I say that all generally grant that faith's first act is an assent to the truth as unto a proposition now unless love come in to ingrediate the affection unto the truth proposed it will only be but a bare opinion and never come to a lively faith Secondly I say love is here proposed as first in order as being the most excellent Gospel grace 1 Cor. 13. throughout Now abideth faith hope and charity but the greatest of