for these Reasons first many of the Church are chosen that are not yet called as Paul an Elect vessell before his conuersion and yet not called and so all the Elect before their conuersion nay many are chosen that shall neuer be called as the Angels which belong to the Church too and are a part of it And therefore the Church in the nature of it is to be described by their choosing and not by their Calling Secondly many are Called that are not chosen so saith our Sauiour and therefore if we should describe them by their Calling we should make such to be of the nature of the true Church which are not chosen and so are no true members of Christ nor shall euer enter into the heauenly Ierusalem Thirdly those which are chosen are called too their Election and chusing is the cause of their Calling and not their Calling the cause of their chusing Rom 8.30 whom he predestinated them also hee called Therefore in these respects it is fittest and most agreeable to the nature of the Church to be described by their election rather then by their Calling And so much of the first part of the Description namely the efficient Cause of their being The second thing they are described by is their number the whole company c. Which wee musâ— vnderstand thus First that all that are of the Church are God chosen and none else and that all that are chosen are of the Church none excluded as who should say the whole company of Gods chosen all these and none but these Here may be an exception made for you will say Are the elect of the Church before they are Called Yes sure in the purpose and account of God though they bee not so in their owne account nor in the account of thâ— World though they be not as yet actually assembled to the Church yet they are in the way and first or last they shall certainely haue an effectuall Calling whereby they shall bee made actually of the Church both in faith and in their owne knowledge and account And secondly we must vnderstand that all those together make vp one Church the whole Company of God Choseâ—â—s his Church as they are considered all together as members of one body and incorporated into one societie or Company and not as they are members apart And also so â—ll togâ—â—her as that all the chosen of all times and places and kinds make vp one only Church So much of the second part the number they are described by The third thing they are described by is the places where they are in heauen and in earth And so we do first fetch in all Gods Saints whether liuing or departed whether fighting on earth or triumphing in heauen As also secondly the Angels that haue kept their habitation in heauen are all comprehended together as so many seuerall parts of the Church to make vp the whole Body So yee haue the particular heads of the Description expounded and inlarged the whole company of Gods chosen in heauen and in earth Now that the holy Angels are parts of the true Church because yee shall not thinke that it is a deuise of mine owne braine yee shall see that the Apostle vseth the same words Eph. 1.10 That in the fulnesse of time he might gather together in one all things both which are in heauen and which are in earth And Eph. 3.15 Of whom is named the whole family both in heauen and in earth And Col. 1.20 To reconcile to himself through him I say all things which are in heauen and which are in earth All which places must be vnderstood not onely of the Saints departed that rest in heauen but also with reference to the holy Angels in heauen that fell not who hauing a benefit by Christ the mediator as well as wee are therefore to be seated with vs in the society and body of the Church Doctr. Now to make this matter more plaine I will draw it into an obseruation and that is this Namely That the holy Angels that kept their first estate are parts and members of the true Church as well as we are The Scripture is plaine for this First in expresse wordes secondly by necessary consequence First by expresse words Heb. 12.22 23. But ye are come to Mount Sion c. and to the innumerable company of Angels Where the Apostle speaking of the Church takes the holy Angels as Limmes of that Body and members of that Company And Reuel 19.10 The Angell tels Iohn I am thy fellow Seruant one of thy Brethren I haue the testimony of Iesus the Spirit of Prophesie I am thy fellow Seruant as who should say A fellow of the same House and Family with vs that is the Church A Brother as hauing the same Father God and the same Mother the heauenly Ierusalem that is the Church hauing the testimony of Iesus that is communicating in the same gifts and graces of the Spirit as the Spirit of Prophesie which is peculiar to the Church onely as 1. Cor. 12. So wee see by expresse Scripture that they are members as well as wee Secondly by necessary deduction and consequence First the Angels are elect 1. Tim. 5.21 and therefore they are parts of the Church Secondly Christ is their Head Col. 2.10 yee are complete in him that is in Christ who is the head of all principalities and Powers therefore they must be parts of his Body Which is his Church Thirdly the Angels peepe and prie into the misteries of our redemption by Iesus Christ 1. Pet. 1.12 therefore except we will make them busi-bodies to prie and meddle with that which they haue not to doe in which is vtterly against their wisedome and vprightnesse they must needes be parts and members of the true Church and so much of the Proofes The Reasons are these First the Church is the most excellent Reas 1 and glorious and blessed Assembly that is as wee haue shewed before the Angels therefore that excell in strength and beautie and glorie and absolute happinesse must needs be members of it Secondly the Church is that fulnesse of Christ that filleth Reas 2 all things Eph. 1.23 If the Angels be left out where is that fulnesse Thirdly it is against the bountifulnesse of Christ and Reas 3 the worthines of his obedience that any Creature should know and embrace the Doctrine of the mediation of Christ and yet not receiue benefit thereby for themselues But the chosen Angels do know and embrace it worshipping him and doing him all the seruice they could in the dayes of his flesh whilst he was working this mediation And therefore they haue benefit thereby to themselues And so consequently they must needes bee parts and members of the Church For to them are all sauing benefits peculiar and properly belonging Fourthly the euil Angels that fell away are a part of the Reas 4 malignant Church of the Sinagogue of Sathan as our Sauiour Christ giues vs
Mediatour whom we haue There were the Cherubins And haue not wee Angels in the Church that are ministring Spirits for our good There was God speaking out of the Mercy-seate And haue not we the Word of God directing and instructing vs There was a Table And haue not we a solemne Inuitation to the feast of peace of Conscience and ioy in the holy Ghost which God hath prepared for the faithfull Pro. 9.1.2 There was the Shew-bread Aâ— what figured that but Gods people because they alwayes and before God Lastly there was the golden Candlesticke with seuen branches which signified the manifold gifts and graces of Gods Spirit which hee bestowes vpon his Church And if the Church was thus glorious being shadowed vnder the Law how much more glorious is it now in the time of the Gospell The Apostle making the comparison in Hebr. 12. shewes plainely that the Church now in the time of the Gospell is farre more glorious then in the time of the Law In the 22 23 and 24 verses he saith But yee are come to Mount Sinai the Citie of the liuing God the celestiall Hierusalem And to the Company of innumerable Angels And to the Congregation of the first borne which are written in heauen And to God the iudge of all And to the Spirits of iust and perfect men And to Iesus the mediator of the new Testament And to the blood of sprinckling that speaketh better things then that of Abel See how glorious the Church is here for here is whatsoeuer may make vp a perfect glorie And thus glorious and beautifull is Gods Church looke vpon her which way soeuer ye will either within or without If ye looke vpon her within why then it is said Ps 45.13 the Kings Daughter is all glorious within If without it is said in the same Psalme Her garments are all of broidered gold You shall see her glory further in these foure things First in her profession secondly in her practise thirdly in her order fourthly in her vnitie First in her profession it is a glorious profession for they renounce and disclaime all other Religions and professe the onely pure and glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ So secondly in regard of their practise it is glorious and beautifull for they are religious to God wise to themselues charitable to their brethren mercifull to all depending on God beleeuing in Christ obeying his Spirit praying blessing exhorting instructing comforting both themselues and others making conscience of all their waies hauing and keeping themselues vnspotted of filthinesse and vncleannesse and of the corruptions of the times wherein they liue and offering their soules and bodies a cleane pure and glorious sacrifice to God in Christ so their practise is glorious Thirdly for their order they are glorious and gracious Psalm 68.24 25. They haue seene O God thy goings the goings of my God and my King which are in the Sanctuary The Singers going before the Players of Instruments after In the midst were the maides playing with the timbrels This was but in a shadow much more is it so in the true Church Cant 4.2 the Church is compared to a flocke of Sheepe which goe vp in good order from the washing Now wee must vnderstand this spiritually for it is not the orderly standing in the Church but when euery one keepes his owne ranke not being rebellious nor meddling in other mens businesse not loose nor negligent in their owne place but euery one is carefull to doe his duty imposed on him the superiours they rule with modestie the vnderlings they obey reuerently and Christ himselfe as their King keepes them all within their compasse The Apostle 1. Cor. 12. in the whole Chapter speaking of this order shewes what an excellent thing it is euen as it is in the body of a man there is the eyes and the hands and the feete c. Now shall the foote say to the head I am aboue thee or the eye to the hand I haue no need of thee no but euery member keepes his ranke and is carefull to do the office imposed vpon it and so it is in the Church and therefore in this respect it is a glorious Church Rom. 12.3 4. c. Fourthly in respect of their vnitie Psal 122.2 3. The Prophet saith that Ierusalem is built as a Citie that is compact or at vnitie together in it selfe meaning that Gods Church the heauenly Ierusalem whose members are all knit together by a neere vnion being one body hauing one Lord one Faith one Baptisme Ephes 4 5 6. hauing a sweet and louing communion all of them with Christ their Head and each of them with another Behold saith the Prophet what a goodly thing it is for brethren to dwell together in vnitie Psal 133.1 2 3. So the Church yee see is blessed and beautifull for the vnitie that is amongst the members for they pray and giue thankes to God one for another they reioyce for the good one of another and are sorrowfull and mourne for the hurt one of another And so much for the proofe of the Point The Reasons of the Point why they are so beautifull and Reas 1 glorious are many The first and the summe of all is this because they haue the Lord to be their God Psal 144.15 Blessed is the people whose God is the Lord. They haue God to be their Lord First in respect of God he promising and performing to them that hee will be their God and giuing them many tokens of his loue Secondly in respect of themselues they being his by couenant and obedience and therfore they are blessed and glorious because God is their Lord. Secondly Christ is theirs and they are his as it is in Reas 2 Cant. 6.2 I am my Welbeloueds and my Welbeloued is mine and together with Christ God hath giuen them all things Rom 8.32 Christ is theirs and whatsoeuer else may make for their blessednesse or glory is conferred with him Iesus Christ is present in his Church and he inlightens them with his glory Reuel 21.9 and therefore they are glorious He washes them with his owne blood and therefore they are gracious Hee clothes them with his righteousnesse and therefore they are beautifull He couers and imputes not their sinnes therefore they are blessed Psal 32.1 2. yea they being his owne body therefore as his naturall body was farre more excellent then any mans else so his mysticall body the assembly of the Saints is farre more glorious then all the World besides Thirdly Gods Spirit hee teacheth them a gracious carriage Reas 3 hee perswades them to obedience hee bridles them from sinne he quickens them to righteousnesse hee supplies and helpes their wants and infirmities Their hearts and consciences are sprinckled with the holy Ghost they are cleansed sanctified and made partakers of the Diuine Nature and so are most glorious and beautifull Fourthly they are most beautifull and glorious because Reas 4 all the liuing members of the
Church are new Creatures Gods Image is repayred in them that wisedome and righteousnesse and holinesse is renewed in them which they had in their first Creation If Adam had continued in his innocency and so all his posteritie till now what a glorious Sight and company would they haue beene Adam and so many of his posteritie as are of the Church of God are in some measure renewed to Gods Image as it was at the first And therefore what a glorious and blessed assembly is the Church of God the assembly of the Saints The vses of this point are these First it shewes the loue of God to his Church and people and his delight in them First his loue to them in that first he is pleased to communicate his owne beautie and graces to them to make them beautifull he fastens on them many pledges of his fauour he vouchsafeth them his protection blessing grace and saluation all his promises both for this life and that which is to come yea and that for them alone he thinks nothing too good for them he affords them his owne presence and the comforts thereof he bestowes his owne Sonne vpon them and all his merits and benefits hee giues them his owne Spirit and all the gifts and graces and operations of the same What should he doe more for his Vineyard as hee speakes in Isai 5. and what could hee doe more for his Church to make vp the perfection of her Beauty Psal 87.2 The Lord loueth the gates of Sion more then all the habitations of Iacob Secondly his loue appeares to them in that he accepts of them as if they were perfectly glorious for they are but men I speake of such members as most concerne our selues for the Angels are members too and therefore though God giue them neuer so much they can receiue it but in some measure so farre as they are capable of it Besides they haue many sinnes wants and infirmities the least whereof if it were straightly stood vpon in the censure of iustice would deface all their glory and cut them off from all their grace and blessednesse but the Lord passeth by and winkes at these blemishes beholding them in the face of Christ couers all their defects with the Mantle of loue and ouerspreads them with the white Robe of Christs righteousnesse and freely forgiues them all their sinnes so that nothing may impeach their blessed and glorious estate Secondly God delights in his Church being so beautifull and glorious as he himselfe saith Psal 132.14 This is my rest for euer here will I dwell for I haue a delight therein And Psal 45.11 The King shall haue pleasure in thy beauty God delights in their persons graces welfare and obedience all their prayers blessings meditations true and holy indeauours are a sweet smelling sacrifice in the nostrils of God wherewith he is well pleased in Christ Cant. 7.1 2. The second vse Is the Church so gracious and so glorious Vse 2 Then first we also must loue it too and secondly we must labour to be of it First we must loue it so many graces as God hath bestowed vpon her are as so many baites to intice and allure our affections to her therefore let her beauty satisfie vs and her glory ravish our hearts Thus Dauid professeth his loue to Gods Church Psal 26.8 Oh Lord I haue loued the habitation of thine house and the place where thine honour dwelleth And Psal 84.1.10 Oh Lord of Hoasts how amiable are thy Tabernacles and A day in thy Courts is better then a thousand elsewhere And so likewise we should shew our loue to her in bewailing her desolations as Ieremy doth Lament 1.4 the wayes of Sion lament c. And Lament 2.6 7. and 5.17 18. Therefore our heart is heauie for these things our eyes are dim because of the mountaine of Sion which is desolate And so we should shew our Loue to her in bewailing our absence from it as Dauid doth Psal 42.4 when I remembred these things I poured out my very heart because I had gone with the multitude and leade them into the House of God c. Thus Dauid laments his absence from Gods Church and thus should we doe when by persecution or any other such let we are forced to be absent Secondly we must labour to bee of it For so we haue a speciall Commandement Deu. 12.5 6. But you shall seeke the place which the Lord your God shall chuse out of all your Tribes to put his Name there and there to dwell and thither shalt thou come and thou shalt bring thither thy burnt offerings c. And this was the onely desire of the Prophet Dauids heart Psal 27.4 that hee might dwell in the House of the Lord all the dayes of his life And Psal 84.2 his Soule longs and faints for the Courtes of the Lord and in verse 10. hee preferres it before all other states whatsoeuer A day in thy Courtes is better then a thousand elsewhere I had rather be a doore-keeper in the House of the Lord then to dwell in the Tabernacles of wickednes Thus did Dauid delight in it and desire continually to be of it and so should we for then it is a sweete and comfortable thing to speake of the blessednesse and glory of it when wee haue our parts in it And we should not onely ioyne our selues to it but we should also labour to bring others to it we should say as it is prophesied of the Church in these last dayes Isai 2.3 Come let vs goe vp to the Mountaine of the Lord to the House of the God of Iacob Hee will teach vs his wayes and we will walke in his pathes Gen. 9.27 Cant. 8.8 Vse 3 Thirdly then we should liue and behaue our selues worthy so blessed and glorious an estate beware of errors in Faith for they dishonour thy state and deforme thy beauty and if they be fundamentall errors and persisted in they will ouerthrow thy blessednesse and cut thee off as a rotten member from this glorious Body beware also of sinne and disobedience in life for that will make thee filthy and vncleane and if it be not soundly repented of and redressed thou hast no part neither in the Churches grace nor in her glory Consider that thou art a member of Iesus Christ and wilt thou take the members of Christ and make them the members of an harlot the members of sinne and wickednesse God forbid these courses are fit for the world that foule polluted beastly vgly Assembly and must not be found in the glorious Assembly of the Saints Vse 4 Fourthly here is matter of comfort exceeding great comfort to all those that vpon good ground doe find themselues to bee members of the true Church that surely they are Gods dearlings such as are pretious and glorious before him first here is comfort against their sinnes that they shall be done away as if they had neuer been and though they be as red as scarlet yet they
to vnderstand when he saith Math. 25.41 Goe ye cursed into euerlasting Fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels As who should say as you had your part with them here in sinne so you shall haue a part with them in punishment now if the euill Angels bee a part yea a great part of the Church malignant then the good Angels must needes be a part yea a great part too of the gracious and glorious Church of God Fifthly they must needes be a part and members of the Reas 5 true Church because they haue many necessary Imployments in the Church about the faithfull It is said of them Heb. 1.14 that They are ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for their sakes that shall be heyres of Saluation And in Luk. 15.10 that They reioyce ouer one sinner that conuerteth c. And Ps 91.12 It is said that They beare vs in their hands And Math. 24.30 that At the last day they shall gather the Elect together from the foure windes Now therefore they must needes bee parts and members of the true Church that so they may minister to vs the more cheerefully and reioyce ouer vs the more affectionately and beare vs in their hands the more charily and gather vs together at the last day the more earnestly as knowing they doe it not as Seruants and slaues altogether for others but somwhat respectiuely for themselues for the aduancement oâ— the good of that body whereof themselues are members Vse 1 The vses are these First this teacheth vs the wonderfull Loue of God towards mankind In that he vouchsafeth and is pleased to associate and sort vs with the blessed company of heauenly Souldiers the holy Angels incorporating them and vs both together in one and the same mysticall body they are of a farre nobler stampe wee are of a baser yet God hath been pleased to ranke them and vs fellow members of the same Body What a wonderfull loue and fauour of God is this to vs Yea they neuer sinned we are defiled with many sinnes and much wickednesse yet such is Gods loue to vs that he hath been pleased to ranke vs sinfull men with sinlesse Angels Yea further whereas some of this noble company had sinned the Lord passed by them and let them perish and separated them for euer from their companions by nature and Creation and neuer receiued them to mercy againe whereas many of vs of this baser kind that haue sinned as well as they yet the Lord did not sort vs with our fellow-sinning Angels the damned Spirits but hath made vs fellowes with the sinlesse Angels the blessed Spirits and them with vs. Oh what wonderfull loue of our God is this to vs What thankefulnesse doth this require of vs What Care and endeauour must there be in vs to leade Angels liues in all holinesse purenesse and innocencie seeing the holy pure and innocent Angels are our fellowes and parts of â—he same body with vs The second Vse is for matter of comfort to as many of Vse 2 vs as bee of the Church for first though wee haue many Angels against vs that be our aduersaries yet we haue many for vs too that be our friends and fellowes and those that are against vs are damned and wretched Spirits those that are for vs are most holy and glorious in themselues and pretious and gracious in the sight of God Secondly here is comfort to vs in that they being fellow-members with vs they doe not carelesly or vnwillingly labour for vs but they affect our businesse thorowly and take our welfare soundly to heart as their owne and as feeling members of the same body they are very sensible of euery good thing that befalls vs and reioyce in it as much or rather more then we our selues knowing it will turne to their benefit they being members of the same body with vs. The third Vse shewes vs the disablenesse of the Angels Vse 3 in themselues to merit or effect their owne saluation they must be found in Christ their Head else there is no saluation for them If God looke vpon them with the pure eyes of his Iustice and behold them as they are in themselues they cannot stand Iob 4.18 He laid folly on his Angels meaning the good Angels they are not vpright in regard of Gods perfect iustice but when God beholds them in the face of Christ whose righteousnesse is as pure as the eyes of the Lord himselfe then they find fauour with him If so be then that they bee not able to merit their owne saluation but must be saued by Iesus Christ then consequently it is folly in men to repose any trust in themselues for their saluation or to pray to them or to worship them no inuocation or worship is due to theÌ„ no they vtterly disclaime it as robbery against God they being not Gods but Gods seruants and disparagement to our selues they being but fellow-seruants and members of the same body with vs Reuel 19.10 Vse 4 The last vse This may shew and set forth vnto vs the infinite worthinesse of the Merits of Christ that is not auaileable onely for Men but euen for the Angels in heauen also they are partakers of the same saluation But some will here except and say Obiect That Christ is not said in Scripture to be Mediator betwixt God and Angels but betwixt God and Man then why doe you say That he is their Mediatour too Answ I answer That it is true he is so vsually called in Scripture and the reason is First because that is the mediation that concernes vs most to know Secondly because the most sensible workes and offices of his mediatorship are most apparant in that reconciliation that was made for Man yet this hinders not but that hee may be a Mediator for the Angels too for it is no where denied in Scripture though the other onely be expressely affirmed The Case is thus Their estate differs from ours in many kinds and the mediation must bee answerable to the estate of the parties that are mediated for and therefore Christs mediation for them in some maine circumstances is diuers from ours too and it differs in two maine things first in the worke secondly in the meanes First in the worke There is not the same worke done for them as for vs as Redemption for they neuer fell and therefore need no Redeemer wee are fallen and therefore he is the Mediatour for vs he must redeeme vs else wee can haue no saluation Secondly it differs in the meanes for that is not the same for whereas some of the Angels fell as well as we that was but a personall fall onely chargeable on them that did fall but when Adam fell besides his personall sinne it was the common sinne of all mankind we being all wrapt in Adams loynes and therefore he that was to mediate for vs was to take our very nature on him and to be incarnate that so according to the course of Gods
Iustice the same nature that sinned might bee punished and make satisfaction for our sinnes These bee the differences betwixt vs and them in regard of the worke and the meanes of it But yet they also haue their part in Christ and in his mediation so farre as is agreeable to their estates and that in two respects first in the things done to vs which redound to them secondly in the things done more directly to themselues First the things done to vs that redound to them for first by this mediation done for vs their knowledge is aduanced Ephes 3.10 To the intent saith the Apostle that now vnto Principalities and Powers in heauenly places might bee knowne by the Church the manifold wisedome of God Now this is a singular benefit to them that they haue more knowledge by this meanes Secondly their ioy is increased by our conuersion for if they reioyce ouer one sinner that is saued Luk. 15.10 how much more then when a doore is opened for many sinners to come to saluation by Thirdly by this meanes their seruice and office is inlarged for if wee were not redeemed what vse were there of them either in regard as they are Messengers seeing they bring their messages onely or chiefly to the faithfull or of them as they are Ministers this being their taske chiefly if not onely to minister for their sakes which through Christ are heires of saluation Fourthly by our redemption through Christ this benefit redounds to them that their ruines are made vp their number is filled vp againe by many Men which are saued by Christ in stead of those Angels that fell away Secondly some things are done more directly to themselues by Christs mediation for first they are elected 1. Tim. 5.21 they are called Elect Angels and that no doubt in Christ in whom we were elected Ephes 1.4 for the worke beeing the same both to them and vs therefore the ground must needes bee one and the same They are chosen and who chose them but God And in whom are they chosen but in Christ for all that are chosen are chosen of God in Christ Secondly their creation is by Christ that excellent estate of theirs which they had by creation they did not deserue it no they had it bestowed vpon them respectiuely to Christ who is called The first-borne of euery Creature Colos 1.15 because euery Creature had their being by him Thirdly their preseruation is by him that they did not fall when their fellowes fell and their confirmation in the estate of Grace that they neither shall nor can fall away is because they are vpheld by Christ and by his mediation they haue assurance that they shall neuer fall else in reason these might haue fallen as well as the other the other being as excellent and hauing freewill as well as they and therefore if these had not been vpheld by Christ they had fallen too Lastly their glorification shall be fully perfected by the finishing of Christs mediation at the last day when aâ—l things shall be subdued vnto him and when he shall bee an absolute and perfect Conquerour 1. Cor. 15.24 then shall the blessed Angels triumph ouer the wicked Spirits for as the euill Angels though they be damned already yet they are not fully and perfectly tormented till after the Iudgement day for then they shall haue it in full measure they shall be then stowed vnder the hatches and as it were fettered in the Dungeon so the good Angels though they bee already glorified yet their glory is not fully perfected till the last day when our glory is perfected then shall theirs bee perfected also And so much for the first Point That Angels are parts and members of the true Church Now we come to that part of Gods Church and chosen which consists of men and is found amongst them for that doth first more neerely and properly concerne our selues secondly it tends more directly to the opening of the question propounded And because these are partly in heauen and partly on earth wee will God willing speake of both And first we wil speak of that part of the Church which is in heauen secondly of that part on earth and thirdly of both together First of those in heauen that part of Gods Church which is in heauen are the soules of the iust and perfect men that haue finished their pilgrimage and departed this life Doctr. I will draw it into an obseruation and that is this namely that heauen is the place of receipt for all Gods chosen after they haue departed this present life It is Christs promise that it shall be so Ioh. 14.2 3. He will goe and prepare a place for vs that where he is there we may be also but hee is in heauen therefore there must wee bee too that is the place of receipt for the faithfull after this life So likewise it is his prayer Ioh. 17.24 Father I will that those whom thou hast giuen me be with me euen where I am that they may behold my glory You shall see this likewise by example Whither went Helias at his departure He was carried vp into Heauen 2. King 2.11 and whither went Lazarus but into Abrahams bosome Luk. 16.22 by which is meant Heauen And whither went the Thiefe vpon the Crosse after his departure but into Paradise Luk. 23.43 And surely this is the Lure and baite which God holds forth vnto vs to prouoke and draw vs to come to him and to obey his will Matth. 5.10 12. Blessed are they that suffer persecution for righteousnesse sake for theirs is the Kingdome of Heauen Reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in Heauen And Luk. 18.22 Sell all that thou hast and distribute to the poore and thou shalt haue treasure in Heauen And this is true that Heauen is the place of receipt for all the faithfull after this life not onely in respect of their soules but also in respect of their bodies too though in a diuers manner the soule neuer dying presently after it is departed out of the body as the soule of Lazarus Luk. 16.22 the body dying and turned to dust yet it shall bee raised againe at the last day by the power of the Lord Iesus Christ and so vnited to the soule and placed in Heauen Iob 19.26 Though after my skinne wormes deuoure this body yet shall I see God in my flesh And both these are verified in Christ already his soule went presently into Heauen his body after his resurrection So that Heauen is the place of receipt for all Gods chosen of their soules presently after their departure and of their bodies after the resurrection The Reasons of the Point are these First Heauen is Gods Reason 1 owne seate as the Prophet saith and place of speciall residency And in his presence is our fulnesse of ioy and at his right hand our pleasures for euermore Psal 16.11 there God hath stored vp for vs the good things which hee
Apostle speakes of that Church wherein was the vse of the Word and of the Sacrament of Baptisme as we may see in the 26. verse which are onely in vse in the visible Church And in Colos 1.18 there is Christ the head of his Church and there is the Church the body of Christ Now the Apostle speakes of that Church whereof hee was a Minister as we may see vers 25. which is a visible Church And that it may appeare that these Collections are not strained against the meaning of the holy Ghost you shall find that the Apostle in the 1 Cor. 12.27 speaking to the visible particular Church of Corinth saith plainely Yee are the body of Christ and so intends necessarily that Christ is the head of that particular visible Church And as it was with the Church of Corinth so it is too with all true visible Churches else Reuel 1.13 there the head and the body is described together there was the seuen golden Candlesticks the seuen particular visible Churches and there was also the Son of Man walking in the midst of them that is Christ the head of them And no question but the Iewish Church in the former Testament was Christs Spouse and so Christ was her Husband and consequently her Head for how often did God threaten to cast them off and to giue them a Bill of Diuorce shewing thereby that hee was the Head euen of their visible Church then much more of our particular visible Churches so that Christ proportionably is the Head of a true visible Church The Reasons of the Obseruation are these first Christ Reas 1 liuing vpon the earth was of the visible Church but not as an inferiour or a member for then some other visible member must be his head which is impossible therefore while he liued vpon earth he was the head of the visible Church Now what he was he is he was so then and therefore he is so now Secondly all power is giuen to Christ both in heauen Reas 2 and earth Matth. 28.18 and he is the head of all principalities and powers Colos 2.10 And in what respect is he the head of all but that he might be the head of the Church as the very reason is implyed Ephes 1.22 And hath made all things subiect vnder his feet and hath appointed him ouer all things Why to be the head of his Church And this is that we meane in that Article of our Faith when wee say I beleeue that Iesus Christ sits at the right hand of God that is that hee hath power giuen him to rule ouer all things specially ouer his Church to rule and gouerne it and to conuey all good things to it as the head to the body Reas 3 Thirdly he giues life to the members and holds all the body together Col. 2.19 and Ephes 4.15 16. therefore he is the head of the body Reas 4 Fourthly the Church is guided by the Lawes of Christ both for doctrine and manners therefore he must needs be the head of the Church Reas 5 Fifthly he is the Sauiour of the Church Ephes 5.23 and therfore he is the head of his Church for it is the office of the head to defend and to see to the safety of the whole body Reas 6 Sixthly he is the onely vanquisher of all the Churches Enemies and he doth so vanquish them as that he himselfe is freed from Satans and all other enemies harmes Ioh. 14.30 The Prince of this World commeth and hath naught in me yea he breakes the Serpents head Gen. 3.15 And in the Reuelation there is Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon and his Angels and they ouercome them Now Christ is this Michael that ouercommeth the Diuell and all the enemies of his Church therefore he is the head of his Church Reas 7 Seuenthly he giues the Spirit to his Church therefore he must needes be the head of his Church and hee giues the Spirit not onely in regard of ministeriall duties as Iohn 20.22 where he breathed on the Apostles and said Receiue the holy Ghost but also in regard of sanctification and inward graces as Act. 2.4 this he doth for euer Eph. 4.11 12. Now it is the head that conueyes Spirit and motion to the body Therfore seeing euery visible Church receiues the Spirit from Christ then he must needs be the head of them Reas 8 Eighthly and lastly hee is the King the Husband the Shepheard the eldest Brother or first borne of the Church therfore the head of the Church So much for the Reasons Vse 1 The vses are these The first Vse is matter of Refutation against the Popish Church for this is a maine point of difference betwixt vs and the Church of Rome Wee say and haue proued it that Christ is the head of the visible Church they say the Pope is the head of it and as they meane it it is worse than it seemes to be for therein they affirme a double blasphemy against God and giue two maine blowes to Iesus Christ to cut him off from being head to his Church at least they take his Crowne from his head And this they doe first in regard of the Body the Church secondly in regard of the Head Christ First in regard of the Church for they say the Pope is the head not of the Church of Rome onely for that were tolerable if hee would content and containe himselfe within his owne Diocesse neither would we much contend with him about his Bishopricke But he lookes high and gapes wide and saith like his lying father the Diuell All is mine that he is the head of the vniversall Church through the world A proud challenge easie to be made but impossible that it should bee maintained You see that it is proued to be Christs due only by right to be head of the visible Church if then the Pope wil be head either he must take it from Christ against his will and so he is plaine Antichrist as indeed and in truth he is or else he must haue it by Christs grant and this he pretends to be his Title But first he hath it not by Christs grant for Christ neuer gaue him any such matter for many hundred yeares after Christs ascension this headship of the Popes was neuer heard of Yea but say they he gaue it to Peter and so to the Pope I answer No Christ gaue it not to Peter nor yet euer meant to giue it him much lesse to the Pope First hee gaue it not to Peter for the places which they alleage to proue this point serue nothing to this purpose as Matth. 16.19 Whatsoeuer thou shalt binde on earth is bound in heauen and whatsoeuer thou shalt loose on earth shal be loosed in heauen This is spoken equally to all the rest of the Apostles as well as vnto Peter Ioh. 20.23 Whosoeuer sinnes ye remit they are remitted c. Where now is the headship of Peter ouer the whole
Church gouerned by the word not else And in this sense the good Kings both of Israel and Iudah were alwaies the head of the Church not in deciding matters of Faith and Religion for that Gods Word decides But this word Head of the Church must be warily vsed because it is not found in the Scripture but chiefe Gouernor is and therfore in that sense the King may be said to be head of the Church within his dominions because vnder Christ he is chief Gouernor Secondly they except say the vniuersal visible Church hath a visible head Now where is this visible Head Christ is not visible I answer Yes Christ is visible for first though he be not actually seene in this dispensation of time yet he may be seene If the King after he is crownd should keep himself in his Closet all his life time yet hee is a King and a visible King too though he be not actually seene of his subiects So Christ he is the King of his Church and is now in heauen where the Saints see him and where wee shall see him too and that with these eyes of ours and therefore he is visible though he be not actually seene of vs now Secondly I answer that in some sort he is visible daily in his Church in the Word and in the Sacraments especially in the Lords Supper in these Christ is amongst vs and in our sight crucified Gal. 3.1 Thirdly hee was once visible and seene on earth for many yeeres and shall bee seene by euery eye at the last day and that as the head of the Church Fourthly his Ministers together with lawfull Magistrates doe in some sort visibly represent him amongst vs. So that Christ and not the Pope is the head of the visible Church though he be not actually seene euery day amongst vs. And so much for the first Vse The second Vse is matter of comfort to Gods Church in Vse 2 that Christ is their head and that many wayes First it shewes the excellency of the Church secondly the neerenesse it hath with Christ lastly it shewes the safety of the Church First it shewes the excellency of the Church for seeing it hath such a glorious Head as our Lord Christ is therefore the body must needs be glorious too the greatest Kingdomes and Monarchs in the World come infinitely short of the excellency of the Church euen as farre as their Gouernors come short of the excellency of Christ that is as farre as mortall and sinfull man comes short of the eternall and blessed Sonne of God As Christ hath a Name aboue all names to bee the Head of heads that is the most excellent and glorious head so hath the Church in her measure a name aboue all names the body of bodies the most excellent and glorious body in the World Secondly it shewes the neere coniunction the Church hath with Christ and is matter of comfort to the Church in that respect There is no coniunction so neere as this let any or all the Societies in the World shew me such a neere coniunction betwixt them and their Gouernours as is betwixt Christ and his Church Seruants haue their Lords Companies their Masters Cities their Maiors Subiects their Kings Sheepe their Shepheards c. yea but the Church hath Christ to be her head and this is the neerest coniunction that can be Other Gouernours of other Societies those that are vnder them or conioyned with them in the same Company may haue hurt and yet they not know of it or if they know it they doe not affect it at least if they doe affect it it is but for conscience of their place onely But Christ knowes the harmes and wrongs that are done to his Church and affects them as done to himselfe Act. 9. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me saith our Sauiour he tooke the iniury that Saul offered to his Church as done to himselfe And of necessity Christ must needs be sensible of the harmes done to his Church as the head is of the hurt done to the body It is imposible but that the head should be sensible of the hurt done to the body and that in regard of it selfe as well as of the members This the Church considers and receiues inestimable comfort by the consideration thereof for by this they are assured of Christs neerest presence to them in their afflictions by meanes of this neere coniunction and also they are assured that he will releeue them of the wrongs and iniuries done vnto them and reuenge them on their enemies as done to himselfe And also he will mercifully recompence all our releeuers as if they had releeued him on earth in his greatest extremity This point is maruellous comfortable to all such as know themselues to be liuing members of his body the Church Thirdly this is matter of comfort to vs in regard of our safety which wee haue by meanes of this neere coniunction Christ is our head therefore we shall be safe the gates of hell shall not preuaile against vs we are builded vpon the Rocke and that Rocke is Christ and they shall neuer preuaile against vs if they can preuaile against Christ then they may preuaile against vs too but the one is impossible and so is the other too Secondly it assures vs that we shall preuaile against them nay it is past doing for it is done already for Christ our head hath ouercome the World the Diuell and all the powers of darknesse the head being aboue water the body cannot possibly be drowned I haue ouercome the World saith our Sauiour Thirdly it assures vs that certainly we shall liue and reigne in heauen for where the head is there the members shall be also Ioh. 17.24 yea wee are already by communication with him in heauenly places Ephes 2.6 because he being our Head is there already The third vse is for instruction that seeing Christ is the Vse 3 head of a true visible Church then we must labour so to esteeme him and to beleeue in him to reuerence him and to obey him as our head First therefore seeing it is the nature of the head to conuey life sense and motion to the Body let vs therefore waite vpon our head Iesus Christ and call vpon him for his life and Spirit and for his direction in all our actions both for matter of Doctrine and manners and discipline too and also let vs defie all other directions and all other counsels that doe not agree either particularly or at least in the generall with his reuealed will all directions therefore that are against Christ and against his Word though it were brought to vs by an Angell from heauen we must not receiue it but stand at defiance with it and we must submit our selues intirely to the Scepter of the Word and Spirit of our Head Christ It was Israels peruersnesse 1 Sam. 8.7 and the Iewes wilfulnesse Luk. 19.14 that they did refuse to haue Christ to be their head
these priuiledges are Surely they are more greater then can be spoken or vnderstood yet because though we doe enioy them they are not such a comfort to vs except we know them Therfore I will labour to giue you some tast of them They are of two sorts some are humane that are granted by men and some are diuine granted by God himselfe First some are humane granted by men as by Kings and Emperours Councels and States either politicke or Ecclesiasticke yea somtimes by Heathenish States as well as Christian for somtime God stirred vp Heathen men to be beneficiall to his Church these priuiledges were outward either of their persons from war or of their goods from taxes or the places consecrat to religious vses were freed from arrests such like hence came priuiledged places But these as they came from men so there is no such excellency nor comfort in them they were intended only or chiefly to Churchmen as they call them that is the clergy But yet euen in these things let vs obserue Gods loue to his Church for as it was the Lord that gaue Israel fauour in the sight of the Egyptians that they gaue them their iewels c. Exod. 11.3 so it was the Lord that inlarged the hearts of those Princes States to be beneficial to his Church but the priuiledges we seek are much more material excellent and are cōmon to the whole Church people as well as ministers these are diuine priuiledges granted immediatly by God himselfe And these are of diuers sort generally they are of two sorts The Church of God is priuiledged partly in respect of others and partly in respect of themselues In respect of others they are priuiledged First in regard of their friends whom God blesseth for them and also in regard of their enemies whom God curseth for their sakes as in Gen. 12.3 I will blesse them that blesse thee and curse them that curse thee Yea they are priuiledged in respect of the world it selfe whose substance standards they are Isay 6.13 It was made and is preserued continued altered and shall bee destroyed for their sakes As it was a great Priuiledge of the Arke of God that where it entred and was well esteemed and vsed as it was in the house of Obed Edom the place and persons were blessed by it where it was not worthily esteemed as amongst the Phylistims they were accursed by it So it is a great priuiledge to the Church that they that are friends vnto it are blessed by it at least in outward things and that they that are Enemies to it are cursed and plagued for it Secondly they are priuiledged chiefly in respect of themselues whereby they fared the better in their owne persons And these Priuiledges are of two sorts some concerne their outward and temporall estate others concerne their inward and spirituall estate First some concerne their outward and temporall estate as first protection and defence against Aduersaries Isay 4.5 6. there the Church is called the Glory and there is a promise of vniuersall Protection to it so also defence from ordinary Euills that befall others as Psal 91. and likewise they are priuiledged in regard of victory ouer their enemies as Psal 149. verse the last That they may execute vpon them the Iudgement that is written This Honour shall bee to all his Saints Last of all the continuance of the very outward being of the Church through all Ages to the worlds end is a Priuiledge to it as in Psal 46.5.6 the Prophet saith God is in the middst of it therefore it shall not bee mooued Let the world doe what it will yet it cannot depriue the Church of the outward being of it it may waxe and wane as the Moone doth yet as that hath alwayes a being so shall the Church euer bee These are temporall Priuiledges The second sort are such as concerne our spirituall and eternall estate and they also are of two sorts such as are common to all the members of the Church Hypocrites as well as true Beleeuers as the vse and profession of the Word Sacraments Prayer Fasting Gifts of the ministry Profession of the Gospell Knowledge of Gods Will and outward conformitie and obedience thereto as also Historicall and temporary Faith and some tast of heauenly things Heb. 6.2 and such other common gifts of the Spirit These in the godly tend to their eternall good but in the wicked and reprobate to their eternall condemnation Secondly such as are proper to Beleeuers onely as the Spirit of Adoption and such like and these are also of two sorts First matters of present possession secondly matters of future certainty First matters of present possession and they consist of diuers kinds First wee are priuiledged in respect of God Secondly in respect of the Creatures Thirdly in respect of Gods ordinary dealings in the world Fourthly in respect of the workes hee doth for vs Fiftly in regard of the graces hee workes in vs Sixtly in respect of the comfort hee impartes to vs And lastly in regard of the liberty he giues vs. First they are priuiledged in respect of God hee is theirs and they are his God the Father is their Father Master and Preseruer they are his Children Creatures and Charge Iesus Christ is their Head they are his members hee is their husband they are his Spouse hee is their Sauiour they are his redeemed hee is their Aduocate they are his Clyents hee hee is their Sheepherd they are his Sheepe yea they in some sort are one with him and hee with them so likewise the holy Ghost he is their master they are his Schollers he is their Leader they are his followers he is their Counsellour they are his Clients he is their Sanctifier they are his Temple hee is their Quickner they are his frame and workemanship to a new Creature Yea the whole blessed Trinitie doe most graciously concurre by their personall Actions in euery part of our Saluation here is a singular priuiledge if we had no more but only this it were enough to stirre vs vp to glorifie God and to comfort vs against all our present afflictions how truely then may we say with the Prophet Psal 144. last Blessed are the people that are in such a case yea blessed are the people whose God is the Lord. Secondly we are priuiledged in respect of the Creatures the holy Angels are seruants and attendants vpon the Church they are ministring Spirits sent forth for their sakes The Saints in Heauen acknowledge vs to bee Members of their Body the Catholique Church and doe instantly desire the full accomplishment of our saluation that they and we may be perfected together The Saints on earth loue vs pray for vs reioyce at our good sorrow at our harmes The wicked of the world oftentimes reuerence and admire vs for our holinesse and the good things wee haue though otherwise we be most odious to them
conueying life and Spirit into them and they like liuing members receiuing this life and performing their seuerall Offices both to him and one to another Many other Titles there are of the like kinde all tending to shew not a Communion onely as my Beloued is mine and I am his but an vnion rather as they being one with him and hee with them their sinnes are his by Imputation and so his righteousnesse is theirs yea they are called Christ 1. Co. 12.12 so much of the second sort of Titles The third sort are giuen with reference to the faithfull as in Micah 4.8 It is called the Tower of the flocke as who should say all the flocke of Christ resorts to the Church as to a strong hold or Tower and if they recouer that there is perfect safetie so saith the Prophet Isa 14.32 The Lord hath stablished Sion and the poore of his people shall trust in it So in Gal. 4.26 she is called the mother of vs all shee is a fruitfull mother hauing many Children not the mother of one Nation onely as Agar but of all nations in the world and she is a very louing mother giuing her children sucke out of her owne breasts the two Testaments and thereby nourishing and bringing them vp till they be of greater strength yea till they be of a perfect and full age in Iesus Christ The fourth sort of Titles are giuen with reference to the world in generall and in this respect the Church is called the substance of the World Isa 6.13 So long as the holy seed stands so long the World stands when it decayes the substance is gone and the World perisheth so in this respect the Church is called the ioy of the whole earth Lam. 2.10 when the Church thriues the whole earth is the better for it howsoeuer many men grudge at this when the Church prospers yet they should reioyce at it themselues hauing no right to any blessing on earth but by their fellowship In this respect also it is called a Lillie amongst thornes Can. 2.2 which shews two things first the great and goodly grace and beautie of the Church how farre it exceedes all the Congregations in the world besides as the Lilly that is farre more glorious then Salomon in all his Royaltie exceedes the brambles the bushes and thornes And secondly it shewes also the tendernesse of the Church much adoe to be hatched and easily hurt in the world euen as the Lillie is amongst the thornes and so it shewes the harshnesse and troublesomenesse of the world to the Church that are like pricking thornes and scratching Brambles to her The last sort of Titles are such as haue reference to the truth of God and in this respect the Church is called The Pillar and ground of Truth 1. Tim. 3.15 we must not take it as the Papists doe as if the truth were bâ—ilt on the Church and the Church were the foundation of that for Christ alone is the foundation and the Truth is rather the foundation of the Church Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock saith Christ wil I build my Church that is vpon this Truth which Peter had professed of Christ before will I build my Church therfore we must expound it thus The Pillar and ground of Truth that is the supporter and vpholder and maintainer of it to keepe it in sure and safe custody that neither Sathan nor all his instruments should euer be able vtterly to ouerthrow it but that it shall liue and abide in the hearts of the faithfull for euer and in this sense the Church is called a Candlesticke Reuel 1.20 not as being the foundation of the Light but the bearer vp and holder forth of the Light of Gods Truth to the view of the world and so much of the last sort of Titles Now that wee haue past ouer the Titles giuen to the Church and shewed them in their seuerall rankes wee will draw them into a head in an obseruation and that is this Namely That the Church of God that is the Company Doct. 2 and Assembly of the faithfull is the most gracious and blessed beautifull and glorious assembly that is in the World The Scripture is plentifull in this argument to teach vs that we must enlarge our hearts and thoughts to the more ample and full vnderstanding of it Besides the Titles we spake of before which all proue this there be many other proofes in the Scripture I will giue you one place which is not in the Canonicall Scripture which though it bee not to bee read in the Church yet you may reade it priuately and that is in the 2. Esdras 5.22 c. And I had a desire to reason againe and I began to talke with the most High againe And I said Oh Lord of euery Forrest of the Earth and of all the Trees thereof Thou hast chosen Thee one onely Vineyard and of all the Landes in the World thou hast chosen thee one Pit and of all the flowers of the ground thou hast chosen thee one Lillie c. In Exod. 19.5 God saith to the Iewes and so to the whole Church that they should bee his chiefe Treasure aboue all people as if many Pearles and pretious Stones were enameled in beaten Gold and framed together into one body would not this be a glorious body But such is the Church in the eyes and acceptance of God God doth more highly esteeme of the Church then of all the World besides all the rest are but trash drosse and dung the Lord sets nothing by them in comparison of the Church Isai 4.5 The Lord shall create vpon euery place of mount Sion and upon the assemblies thereof a Cloude and smoke by day and the shining of a flaming fire by night for vpon all the glory shal be a defence that is the glory of God and the glory of all the world the whole body and euery part thereof is glorious yea glory it selfe all other pompe and glory without the glory of the Church is basenes and smoke and miserie See the glorious estate of the Church as it was shadowed in the Law Exod. 25.8.9 by the Sanctuary or Tabernacle First there was the Arke verse 10. Secondly there was the Testimony put into the Ark. Vers 16. Thirdly there was the Mercy-seate Vers 17. Fourthly the Cherubins Vers 18. Fifthly God speaking from betwixt the Cherubins ver 22. Sixtly the Table Vers 23. Seuenthly the Shew-bread Vers 30. Lastly the golden Candlesticke Vers 31. These did all figure out the glorious estate of the Church vnder the Gospell There was the Arke that is God himselfe and haue not we the same God There was the Testimony in the Arke which was a witnesse or euidence of Gods presence that he euer was and would be present there And so we haue the Word and the Sacraments to witnesse Gods continuall presence with vs. There was the Mercy-seate and what was that but Iesus Christ the