motives aims and ends of their hearts and Souls should be to please and honour Jesus Christ their Lord and Master and to edifie and profit his Church Acts 20. These are some of the necessary qualifications that all Pastors of Churches should bring with them and labour to grow and encrease in them when they are there Fifthly They must be qualified with holy and blamelesse conversations and carriages also These are in part described in the 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. and elsewhere in the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus in the Acts and other Scriptures And it must needs be so namely that they be singular in all manner of holy conversation and Godlynesse 1 Tim. 4.7 But exercise thy self unto Godlinesse for they are appointed and set in the Church to be their Lights and Guides to be Examples to Believers and all men 1 Tim. 4.12 Mat. 5.16 1 Pet. 5.3 c. They will by blamable walkings more dishonour Jesus Christ and his Gospel more grieve and afflict the hearts of good Men scandalize and harden the hearts of evil men than a hundred times as many private Christians and pull great reproach and comtempt upon the Ministry of Christ in his Churches They are more eyed and observed and are nearer Jesus Christ than others are and greater things are expected from them than from others Therefore they should shine forth in all Grace and be found though not without their failings in the practice of every good Work as men Christians and Ministers of Christ It is not enough for them that they be not such and such negative professors but they must be such and so in practical holynesse They must not only abstain from that which is evil and forbidden but they must do that which is good and commended otherwise they cannot be blamelesse But if they are indeed of such Spirits as aforesaid they will be of holy and blamelesse conversations and walk as Gospel real true Lights Guides before all but if they want these heart and internal qualifications they will not long if at all be blamelesse walkers If they are of proud peevish cross and fretful of sowre angry and wrathful Tempers and carriages they are not blamelesse If they are of hot testy fiery rash and quarrelsome Tempers and Carriages they are not blamelesse If they are Back biters and Defamers of men or Hearers and Receivers of evil reports against good men they are not blamelesse If they are coveteous worldly persons in their words and deeds they are not blamelesse If they are excessive in their cloaths houses eating or drinking they are not blamelesse If they are censorious and rash Judges of others they are not blamelesse If they are cheaters or detainers of others dues from them they are not blamelesse If they are vain and light persons and given much to frothy idle talk and jestings or to Idleness they are not blamelesse If they are carelesse of and negligent in relative duties and the worship of God in their families they are not blamelesse If they are not diligent in their callings and works but are addicted to walk abroad sleep or otherwaies spend away their pretious time vainly and unprofitably they are not blamelesse I might instance in many more but that I study brevity as well as Truth The Ministers of Christ must not only be free from the practice of such and such Sins but they must be eminent and singular in the practice of all duties incumbent on them towards God and men also unavoidably infirmities excepted Sixthly They must also have and be endued with natural Gifts as ability of body and the Gift of utterance For although a man may have a great stock of Graces Gifts and Truths laid up in his head and Heart yet if he want abilities of Body or speech to utter plainly declare them unto others how can he profit the Church or minister to their edification which is the great end of those Gifts c. and the Ministry Therefore they must not be only qualified within but without also they must be able to speak as they ought Eph. 6.20 as well as to judge as they ought to judge of and understand divine matters Sevently They must be sound in the Faith too For if they be leavened with corrupt Doctrine and their Faith and Judgments tainted with it they may easily corrupt and leaven the Church of Christ by sowing such Tares and stinking Weeds as all the men in the world will never be able to pull out again A little leaven of corrupt Doctrine leavens the whole Lump Gal. 5.9 And when once false doctrines are got into the Head they will quickly defile and corrupt the whole heart and conversation And therefore to prevent such evils in the Churches the Apostles laboured exceedingly with the Churches and assoon as they perceived any Tares of corrupt doctrine sown in the Churches they presently endeavoured the pulling of them up and weeding of them out either by preaching or writing And Paul charged Titus to see that Teachers were sound in the Faith and Doctrines of the Gospel Tit. 1.9.13 and that they speak sound Doctrines chap. 2.1 2. that they were of sound Minds 2 Tim. 1.7 and also that they hold fast the form of sound Words vers 13. and also wishes all corrupt and unsound Teachers cut off Gal. 5.12 Therefore they must not be erroneous in their Faith and Judgments but sound in the Faith of the Gospel that are together with the aforesaid particulars rightly qualified Ministers of Christ And you may be sure that Jesus Christ hath more care of and respect unto his Name Gospel and Churches which he hath purchased with his Blood than to set over them erroneous and corrupt Teachers Eighthly Humane learning is not to be slighted and desp sed in a Minister as it is too much by some who know not the good of it for although the Word and Spirit of God can sufficiently prepare qualifie a man for the Ministry without it yet experience shews that it is singularly useful to holy men in their Ministerial Work It helps to make them more able men though not Christians it is usefull to their heads who know how to use it if not to their Hearts it is a good servant to wait on Divinity though a bad master when it is exalted above it as to many shamefully and sinfully do It is well know that we come to the knowledge of the Spirit and mystery of divine Truths by the letter wherein it is held forth and we come to understand the mind and intention of a Superior by the words he speaks to us so that if we understand not his words we cannot know his mind and will or what he would have us believe do or receive And is it not the same with respect to the Word of God how can we know his mind and will concerning us but by his Word and how by his Word or Words except we understand their sense
his Gospel-Ordinances in Obedience to his Holy Will for his Glory and their own Spiritual profit Rom. 1.5 6. 2 Cor. 8.5 Heb. 3.1 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.21 22. 2 Cor. 4.6 1 Pet. 2.9 Eph. 2.1.5 Col. 2.6 2 Thes 1.5 This Church so united and built is called a Church a House a Temple Habitation of God and Jesus Christ and they own it as their own call it by their own Names and confirm it with their Presence in it And as such a Church it is the proper seat and subject of all the Gospel-worship and ordinances of Christ in the world as will appear in the other Chapters and therefore I shall not insist on it here Onely take these sew hints of this Church along with you 1. It is an Instituted Church of Jesus Christ namely a Church of his own appointment and erection of his own making and forming according to his own will and pleasure by his own Authority and Approbation 2. The materials or persons constituting this Church are said to be holy persons called out of their old worldly state of death blindness and unbelief unto the knowledg that is the saving knowledg of Christ and his will and unto the Obedience of Faith 3. The Instruments that call them and work them for this state and that is the Word and Spirit of Christ 4. The form of this Church namely their own free special and voluntary agreement among themselves giving themselves to the Lord before each other and then to one another by the will of God entering into a holy band or Engagement to live and walk together through divine assistance in Love peace and in the celebration and practice of all the Laws worship and ordinances of Christ in the Church in obedience to his holy Will 5. The ends of their so doing namely the Glory of Christ and their own spiritual profit These are some of the chiefest things to be observed in this definition of an Instituted Gospel-Church All which I shall through God's help prove and demonstrate hereafter under several heads 2. Quest Of what Extent should an Instituted Gospel-Church be or how many persons should it consist of Answ It should be formed of so many persons as may capacitate them to perform all necessary-Church Acts in pursuance of Christ's Laws and Rules by which the Society ought to walk Mat. 18.15 16 17. and of no more than may conveniently meet together in one place for the celebration of all Gospel-Ordinances and the Edification of the whole Church Now How many persons precisely are requisite to make and constitute such a formal Church I cannot determine but undoubtedly there ought to be such a number as may orderly and regularly deal with and proceed against a delinquent-member according to that Rule in Mat. 18. And as the Church should consist of so many so it should have no more persons in it then as was said may comfortably and conveniently meet or assemble together for the worship of God and profit of the whole Church in one place and that 1. because they are one congregation by their own consent and agreement and so ought not to devide and separate themselves one from another in the worship and ordinances of God but there at the same times with one heart and one mouth glorify God Rom. 15.6 2 Because the whole Church is bound at all times excepting extraordinary cases to wait and attend on the administration of their own Officers by virtue of Christs Law Heb. 13.17 enjoyning them so to do and also by virtue of their own engagement and relation they stand in to them 3 For their own comfort and edification in the Church and ordinances of God This is one of the great ends of Churches and the worship and ordinances of God there namely the profit and edification of all 1 Cor. 14.3 31. But how can it be unless they can all hear and joyn one with another in the ordinances 4 Because a Church ought to observe ordinances and worship God as a Church and not as or under the notion of single and individual Believers but as an united Body and society they must all at once and in the same numerical duties and ordinances in one place joyn together as with one Heart Mouth Mind and Judgment designing aiming at and carrying on the same holy Ends in all the worship of God Therefore a Church of Christ may not exceed such a number of members as may conveniently meet altogether in one place 1 Cor. 5.4 But I shall not enlarge on this head CHAP. II. Shewing that a particular Church of Believers is of divine Institution 3. QUestion Whether particular Churches of Believers be of divine Institution or whether they be of God Answ They are appointed and Instituted of God by Jesus Christ which will appear in or by these particulars First The Scripture tells us that the Spirit is the former and builder of them The Text is clear for it in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit vers 22. These are the words of Christ by Paul unto the particular congregational Church of the believing Ephesians as is clear in the 20 Chapter of the Acts 27 28. Rev. 2.1 Where the Lord Jesus calls them a distinct Houshold Church or Body of Saints gathered or joyned together in his name for his glory the celebration of his worship ordinances and appointments I say Christ stiles them a Church and speaks to them as a Church and distinct Body or house of Saints from all other persons or Churches whatsoever and this Church was not formed and built by man but by the will power light and direction of the holy Ghost therefore the particular congregational Church of Ephesus is called the House of God 1 Tim. 3.15 and the Church of the living God in the same vers and the distinct particular Churches are called the Churches of God 1 Cor. 11.16 2 Thes 1.4 2 Cor. 1.1 and the Churches of Christ Rom. 16.16 Act. 20.28 And the Lord added to the particular Church at Jerusalem such as should be saved Act. 2. vlt. The holy Spirit by the appointment and with the consent and Authority of God the Father and Christ his Son who is also God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 prepares materials for a Church and then he joyns them together and makes them a holy and glorious Temple or Church of God Eph. 2.21 22. and Chap. 5.27 So that we have enough to confirm this Truth viz. that particular Churches of Believers are of God in this one particular namely Because God himself is the former and builder of them Mat. 16.18 Isa 43.21 Secondly It further appears by the Lord 's owning of them promising and vouchsafing his presence with them which he would never do if they were not of his Institution and appointment But now the Lord declares his owning of and promises his presence and abode with them as his Churches Jesus Christ doth not only by
Churches but who ought to be there Not who thought themselves worthy and crept in of their own accord but who Christ called there and came in in obedience to him I am sure they were not welcome to Christ or his People the Apostles wishes such were Cut off Gal. 5.12 and exhorts Believers to withdraw from them that walked disorderly 2 Thes 3.6 and to turn away from them 2 Tim. 3.5 to mark and avoid them Rom. 16.17 and the Lord Jesus gives in charge to his Churches that they prosecute his Laws against disorderly Church-members even to the casting of them out of the Church in case they repent not Mat. 18.17 and threatens the evil Members of the Churches of Sardis Laodicea severely Rev. 3. and therefore surely if they were Hypocrites he would not have found them there to dishonour his name and grieve his People as they did And as for the instances of the Tares and bad fishes brought into the Kingdome of Heaven no more can be said for the justifing them in what they did than of the other before minded and answered and the same Answer will refell these two likewise But if you mind it you will find that the Tares there if meant of Persons and not of doctrines which is a question are said to be the Children of the wicked one and he that sowed them was the Devil vers 38 39. So that these Tares or Members were not of Jesus Christ his bringing there but of the Devils and who will say then that they ought to be there Will Jesus Christ have the Devils hand and help to enlarge his Church or will he accept and approve of such persons for his Church-members to help forward the building of his holy Temple for the habitation of God that are chosen and sent by the Devil As for others it is expresly said vers 37. that he that soweth the good Seed is the Son of Man and in opposition thereunto it is said his Enemy the Devil sowed Tares in the same field which was hurtfull unto the good seed Therefore as I said before that Hypocrites are not called nor sent by Jesus Christ into Churches but by the Devil which is a good Reason against their being there And to what purpose are they there but to grattify the Devil and their own Lusts to afflict and grieve if not corrupt the good Seed to dishonour Christ and encrease their own misery As to the good and bad Fishes there need no more be said concerning them then that Hypocrites and rotten hearted men will croud into the Churches of Christ amongst his good People but they ought not so to do for they are not called to come because they are of Satans Kingdome of darknesse and have no part or portion with the true Children of God and heirs of his Kingdome So that I think there hath been enough said as to that namely that none ought to be Members of Christs particular Churches but real Believers And now I should proceed to speak of the form of a particular congregated Church of Christ but that I think it necessary to speak a little unto two Questions first 5. Quest What fitness or qualifications should Believers find in themselves for their own satisfaction before they enter into fellowship become Church-members or joyn themselves as members to some Church of Christ Answ First they should have a well grounded hope of their Regeneration or new state in Christ that they have seen their need of Christ singled him out by grace and chosen him upon his own Terms that they have received a measure of his anointings Grace Spirit light and Life and that they are accepted in the Lord Jesus that they have put off the Old Man and put on the New and are renewed in measure by the word and Spirit after the Image of Christ I say they should have at least a well grounded hope For many gratious hearts have such a hope that have no assurance who hold their Title and claim to Christ and Heaven but had never the seal of it on their hearts or if they ever had it they have by their own carelesness lost it and so have only hope left And this indeed will hold their Souls in Life by the Spirit though not in comfort and satisfaction Heb. 6.19 and the Apostle tells such that they are saved by hope Rom. 8.24 and that they are the Children of hope which puts them upon that great and Noble Work of purifying themselves as he is pure 1 Joh. 3.3 and stirs them up to perfect holynesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 As faith that precedes it doth Act. 15.9 This Hope is not a dead but a lively hope it is not idle but operative and working it is active and laborious in purging out of Lusts and getting in of Holyness and Grace 1 Pet. 1.3 1 Joh. 3.3 as a sound special Faith is Jam. 2.18 And the Apostle tells us that it is an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast Heb. 6.19 so when God promises mercies unto his People he tells them that he will give them a door of hope Hos 2.15 which hope is Christ in them Phil. 1.27 And therefore if you have this Hope you are in a happy State and ought to joyn your selves unto some Church of Christ give up your selves in universal obedience to Christ and wait in a house of God for his Seal and the full assurance of his love to your Souls But more particularly and briefly I desire you to examine your selves and see how you can answer these few Interrogatories try your selves effectually and throughly by them 1. Can you say indeed that you do seriously and heartily desire chuse and endeavour to see and be more deeply and powerfully convinced of your own vileness and sinfulness of your own weaknesse and wretchednesse and of your wants and nothingnesse and that in order to your deep and Spiritual humiliation and self debasing that you may be more vile in your own eyes and Jesus Christ and free grace more precious high and honourable more sweet and desirable that your hearts may be melted into Godly sorrow and that you may be moved thereby to abhorr your selves and repent in Dust and Ashes Job 42.5 6. 2. Can you say that you do seriously and heartily desire chuse and endeavour to believe in Christ and to receive and accept him upon his own Terms such as you find in Mark 8.34 Luke 14.26 27 28. and elsewhere Do you so desire chuse and endeavour to have him with his Yoke and Cross Matth. 11.28 29. and do you so Deny your selves of your sinful self and righteous self and worldly self and supposed able and powerful self and all other carnal and Spiritual selfs that Christ may only be exalted that you may be nothing in your lustification and Salvation but that Jesus Christ and free Grace may be all and in all things Col. 3.11 Phil. 3.7 8. do you desire chuse
fear or love him or his Church sincerely to watch over them and impart his secrets and counsels to them surely no. And therefore they must be fitted and qualifyed with saving Graces as well as Ministerial Gifts for office power and work in the Church of Christ I might argue this point very largely and copiously did I intend a large discourse as I do not but to use all possible brevity in all things I shall mention and present to consideration in the whole of the discourse 3. And therefore Thirdly they should not only have and be qualified with spiritual Gifts and special Grace but with the holy Ghost also It is not such Gifts and Grace that will sufficiently qualifie and enable men to discharge their ministerial work in the Church without the Spirit They will not be willing ready nor apt to teach without the Spirit 1 Pet. 5.1 2. 1 Tim. 3.2 Neither will they be able to divide the word aright without the Spirit 2 Tim. 2.15 And therefore hath Jesus Christ promised to be with them in an especial manner in their Ministerial work who are his Ministers Mat. 28.18 20. Joh. 14.15 and 16. chapters They must preach and pray by the Spirit watch over feed and water the Church by the Spirit for their Gifts and Graces can do nothing in this matter but by the Spirit And therefore the holy Spirit is promised to help them to teach warm strengthen and quicken them to comfort lead and Guide them and whenever Christ sends any Shepherds into his Sheepfold in love and mercy he sends them and they come there with the holy Ghost in their hearts Look over Pauls Epistles to Timothy and Titus and to the particular Churches and you may find this Truth confirmed Thus God promised his New Testament Churches long before they subsisted or had a being in the World Jer. 3.15 And I will give you Pastors according to mine own heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding It is the Spirit that makes men able Ministers of the New Testament and Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 not created Grace and Gifts only The Apostles spake the word of God as the Spirit gave them utterance Acts 2.4 and as they were moved or carried forth by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 A Temple of God is built by the Spirit for the habitation of God Eph. 2.21 22. all the Laws and Ordinances of the Temple are given forth by the Spirit from Christ Joh. 16.13 14 15. all the Grace and Gifts bestowed on men are by the Spirit their Life strength and successe is by and from the Spirit their work and authority in the Church is given them by the Spirit and therefore the holy Spirit will accompany and abide with his own Ministers there Fourthly They must be qualified and adorned with singular Spirits with excellent and choice Spirits and frames of Heart they should excel others in such qualities and virtues as these First they should be singular and excelling in knowledge and Spiritual understanding to discern the difference of things that differ and to judge of Spiritual things Spiritually 1 Cor. 2. They should abound in heavenly wisdome and prudence in conformity to their Lord Christ Secondly They should be eminent and singular in Gospel simplicity and sincerity too 2 Cor. 1.12 2 Cor. 2.17 Thirdly They should be eminent and singular in Humility in all meekness humbleness of mind and conversation 1 Pet. 5.1 6. Of all men in the world they must not be proud and lofty in their hearts and carriages but meek and lowly Mat. 11.29 2 Tim. 2 25. Fourthly They must be eminent and singular in Gentlenesse and peaceablenesse they must not brawl nor strive 2 Tim. 2.24 1 Tim. 3.3 Fifthly They must be eminent in Self-denial and curbing the Flesh keeping under carnal worldly self and crossing the desires of the Flesh and of the Mind 1 Cor. 9. ult Sixthly They must be eminent and singular in patience and contentation they must not be soon angry or moved to passion and wrath 1 Tim. 3. Seventhly They must be eminent and singular in a sober serious holy chearfulnesse and sweetnesse pleasantnesse and affability they must not be of vain and frothy Spirits nor of froward sullen lumpish and sad carriages and deportments for these things are hateful in all Christians much more are they so in such as are set in the Church for lights and Examples to them This is a part of that good behaviour the Apostle says they must be endued withal 1 Tim. 3.2 Eightly They must be eminent and singular in zeal and fervency also For if private Christians should abound in it Rom. 12.11 2 Cor. 7.11 then much more should the Ministers of Christ Tit. 2.14 Rev. 3.19 Ninthly They must be eminent and singular in Love pity and bowels of compassion to Souls they must not be of hard and insensible Spirits but full of tender earning bowels towards their flocks Col. 3.12 1 Pet. 3.8 Rom. 12.15 So was Jesus Christ and so was Paul towards all sorts of men they had to do withall excepting obstinate Sinners who trampled pearles under their feet and so must Ministers be now Be ye kind one to another tender hearted says Paul Eph. 4. ult Tenthly They must be eminent and singular in Heavenly mindednesse they must not be covetous nor greedy after worldly things which the Apostle calls filthy lucre 1 Tim. 3.3 Tit. 1.7 1 Pet. 5.2 They must declare as much as possible that in the midst of earthly enjoyments they are heavenly minded and live above them They are holy men of God and therefore must flee those things 1 Tim. 6.11 2 Pet. 1. ult and follow after heaverly Eleventhly They must be singular and eminent in gavity and solidity they must not be vain light and frothy talkers and of foolish jesting Spirits and carriages but grave and serious 1 Tim. 3. Twelfthly They should be apt to teach set forward and entertain holy and profitable discourses as they have opportunity which will not now be easily found I fear amongst professors However they should be alwaies ready apt and willing to do their duty although others are not to do theirs 1 Pet. 5.2 1 Tim. 3.2 Eph. 4.29 Col. 4.6 Thirteenthly They should be well armed with Wisdome Faith and Patience to endure and stand fast against all oppositions and Temptations and to bear up under all the great discouragements they may meet withall from friends and foes for they will be tryed by both Hence the Apostle charges Timothy to follow after Faith and Patience 1 Tim. 6.11 and in 1 Tim. 4.12 says he be thou an Example to the Believers in Faith c. Therefore they should come to their work well armed and fenced with Faith and Patience for it will be tryed to the utmost as sad experience shews Fourteently They should be eminent and singular in setting up high and noble ends in their eies and hearts in their office and work in the Church The great
they are sent Authorized Graced Gifted and qualified by Christ do his work represent him stand in his stead 2 Cor. 5.20 and as they are his Ministers for good to you Well then mind your duty and the will of Christ in this matter and love them sincerely and heartily strongly and fervently fruitfully and constantly for they love you study pray and labour to do you good And know that if you do not love them you do not love Christ whose they are whom they represent and serve And if you hate slight and despise them you do hate slight and despise Christ himself in them Secondly It is the will and appointment of Christ your duty to honour and respect to reverence and esteem them in their faithful diligent discharge of their Trust and performance of their work amongst you They are the Embassadors and Commissioners of your great Lord and King and sent by him from Heaven to you as was shewed 2 Cor. 5.20 Eph. 4. and that about most high and honourable work yea the highest work and service that Creatures are capable of in this World They come from and are sent to you by the King of Kings from Heaven and therefore they must be honoured They are his Embassadors and Commissioners and therefore you must honour them They are sent and come to you as with his Image of Authority so of Grace Gifts and Holiness and therefore you must honour them They are sent by Christ to you on and for the service of your Souls and therefore you must honour them and they represent Christ and stand in his stead to you and therefore you must honour them They do give up themselves to be your servants and thereby do honour you 2 Cor. 4.5 and they chearfully serve the interest of your Souls as your spiritual servants and therefore you must honour them Christ requires you to esteem them and that is not all but to esteem them highly yea very highly too 1 Thes 5.13 and therefore you must do it Christ will not suffer you to slight or despise them no more than Kings will endure that any should slight or despise their Embassadors If you have low base thoughts of them in your hearts you slight and despise them If you slight and despise their labours and administrations you despise them If you villifie and speak slightingly of them behind their backs and devulge their supposed or real weaknesses you despise them If you carry your selves saucily and imperiously before their face in words deeds or deportments you slight and despise them and if you controul them and disregard their Judgments Censures Admonitions or Reproofs you slight and despise them when you turn a deaf ear to their Counsels Instructions and Exhortations you slight and despise them and when you disregard their power Authority and their exercise thereof in the name of Christ you slight and despise them In these and many other wayes and instances Church-Members do not only neglect their indispensible duty of honouring their Teaching-Elders but they do slight and despise them also And they do not only slight and despise them but as was said the Lord Jesus his Laws Image work and Authority also For he that despiseth you despiseth me says Christ Luk. 10.16 And by these and such like slighting and contemptible words and carriages towards them they do greatly provoke and discourage them they weaken their hands and distract their minds and so hinder them in their work They are honoured by Christ and honourable in his eye and he strictly charges and commands his Churches to esteem them most or very highly and to give them double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and Doctrine Give says the Apostle to every man his due fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13.7 It is their due by the Law of Christ and he expects you should give it to them not as they are such or such men but as his Embassadors Ministers c. Thirdly It is the will and appointment of Christ that Churches should pray for their Pastours or Teaching Elders and that in a more than ordinary manner and measure I mean more than they do or are bound to do for others 1 Thes 5.25 Heb. 13.18 Rom. 15.30 you must be earnest and importunate wrestlers with God at the Throne of Grace for them that God would pour out abundance of his holy spirit on them and by his teachings quicknings and anointings make them able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter only but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 That they may open their mouths boldly have the gift of utterance and speak the Truth sincerely clearly impartially and constantly make known the mystery of the Gospel Eph. 6.18 19. Col. 4.3 That they may be kept from Snares and Temptations or be enabled to encounter them and with the Sword of the spirit to overcome and conquer them and that they may be eminent shining lights in the world That they may be able to divide the word aright diligent in and faithful to their Trust That they may be wise zealous and glorious Patterns of Piety all Godliness and be kept unspotted of the world and that they may abound in all grace gifts works of holiness and righteousness That they may Preach powerfully and profitably and in all their wayes words and carriages adorn the Gospel of Christ Tit. 2.10 That they may be found in the faith of the Gospel and hold fast the profession of the faith without wavering Preach sound Doctrine clearly plainly and closely Tit. 2.1 and in all things approving themselves the true Ministers of Christ That God would give them the spirit of Discipline and Government for the order and well being of the Churches and the orderly management of their concerns and that they may in all things walk by their Lords Rules and aim at design and uprightly intend his glory and the profit of his people and all others that hear them There are many reasons inforcing this duty on them to your Pastours I le name a few 1. Because it is the will of God that you should do so as the aforesaid Scriptures shew 2. Because they stand in need of your earnest prayers If the Apostles themselves did stand in need of the Churches prayers much more must ordinary Teachers need them Their work is hard and difficult who is sufficient for it 2 Cor. 2.16 Their discouragements are many and great and their Temptations many strong and powerful They have mysteries to unfold continually and they have stronger Temptations to grapple with all than others have therefore they should have your strongest and most importunate prayers Little do Churches know what they see feel and experience in their work and therefore are apt to imagine that their Teachers have an easie and sweet life of it and stand in little need of their assistance But surely they
you will And know for certain that if you are really willing to know these and other causes in your selves and shall deal truly with your own hearts and consciences in the case you will find what I have said to be a great truth And whether or no you will know and own it yet be sure that God the great heart-searcher doth know it is so And let me advise and counsel you in the fear of God to hasten to find out these plagues of your own hearts and ways and get deep convictions of them humble your selves before God unfeignedly for them confess your Errours and sins and take the blame and shame to your selves for harbouring such Vipers in your bosoms falsly blaming and charging your Teachers with your own evils justifying the guilty your selves and condemning the just your Ministers which the Lord abhors Sue out pardons in the blood of Christ and do all you can towards the removal of all the hindrances of your profitting by your own Ministry out of the way and get a meek humble hungering and thirsting Spirit a heavenly and spiritual frame of heart love to Christ his Word and Ordinances to your own Teachers and their Administrations and see if the case do not alter Prove if their Ministry do not profit you and if God do not indeed bless and prosper their labours to you If you shall in good earnest do these things and come in obedience to hear them as to an Ordinance of Christ for your good look unto and depend on him for his presence and blessing on your attendance on their Ministry set your selves in sincerity of heart before the face of God to receive his word and the blessed power and efficacy of it on your Souls and give diligent attention to what you hear and resolve unfeignedly and endeavour with all your abilities as you are bound to do to practise and rightly improve all you hear to your own and others profit and the glory of God in all I dare boldly assure you that you shall find the blessing of all Ordinances Administred by them to your Souls Therefore try and prove it so as you ought and may do and your own experiences will fully and clearly answer the objection and remove all difficulties out of the way Obj. But we find the Ministry of others more profitable to us Answ That 's strange and no less than a grosse delusion for can you indeed believe on a Scripture foundation and evidence that God hath commanded you to obey him to your loss detriment God hath charged his Churches to assemble themselves together namely with their own Teachers Heb. 10.25 and to obey them that have the Rule or oversight over them Heb. 13.17 and to know them which labour among them and are over them in the Lord and to esteem very highly in love for their works sake 1 Thes 5.12.13 here is your duty And if so then be sure God intended all he commanded you for your profit and advantage and in no case to your disprofit he that hath with your own free consent set you in such a Church given you such a Ministry enclined your hearts to make choice of it and them for your Ministry and Ministers sealed their Ministry to others if not to you for the abovesaid Reasons commanded them to feed you and watch over you and given them hearts to do it from time to time did undoubtedly know what was best for you and design your profit and the good of the whole And if he had had an intention to have made use of others rather than of those you have to your greater advantage he would in season have directed you to them or else they to you and not have setled you where you are and have bound you there to abide in love and peace and in a dependence on him for his presence and blessing to your wrong and prejudice as the objection intimates This objection sets the Precepts and Orders of God at discord and variance with his promises of his presence and blessings with his people For if he hath enjoyned you to assemble together and keep to your own fold under the Teaching and oversight of your own Ministers as he hath done and yet as you say he blesses another Ministry in an other place that hath no such Relation to you as your own hath Then I say if that were true as it is not that God doth so bless that strange Ministry only in pursuance of his promises so to do And if so then his promises calls you out of your place to enjoy the good of them elsewhere when his Rules and Precepts direct and engage you to wait on and worship God in your own Church But who that are not under strong prejudices and delusion can believe it that God should deal so with his people or who durst affirm in cold blood that the only wise and righteous God is contrary to himself or that his Laws should thus contradict his promises or that his peoples duty and work lyes in one place and the good of the promises in another or that they must do their duty in one place and yet expect the blessings of the promises in another at the same time yet this and much more is implyed and included in the Objection Is not this a charging God with folly can any men in their sober moods believe indeed the matter of their own Objection or the reason of their pretence for leaving their own Ministers and Ministry and the Congregation to which they are with and by their own free consent united I think not neither dare they say in the presence and fear of God that they do so But in truth it is but a pretence to blind others eyes and stop their mouths against their just reproofs for want of better Arguments which such Transgressors are wholly destitute of yet something they will and think they must say for themselves and the justifying of their disorderly and scandalous practises in deserting their own chosen Teachers and Congregations although it be never so absurd and base But sad experience shews what they profit by such as they pretend to be more profitable to them than their own Teachers are Their words and carriages are loud proofs of it or rather that the Devils transforming themselves into Angels of light to them do together with their own pride prejudice c. perswade and entice them to such evil manners and Church-destroying practices and to put a fair face on a foul matter he helps them to defend themselves against checks of Conscience and Reproofs of their Brethren by such ridiculous reasons or rather pretences as these They care not how they charge God wrong their own Souls stumble and offend their Brethren grieve and sadden their own Ministers and cast contempt on the Church and the Ministry thereof so they may thereby but gratifie their own lusts their pride and prejudice their humours and passions and do
for him and his people he will not own us for his true Friends and Subjects Churches must deny themselves of 1. Their worldly Businesses and Interests that they may wait on God and celebrate his Ordinances of divine worship together They must not be in their Shops in the Fields or about their worldly Businesses and Recreations when the Church meets to worship God They may not must not be about and doing other things when providence calls them to worship God Neither may they stay at home to get the world and serve themselves when they should be in the Ordinances of God with their Brethren serving God and enriching their souls with his Spirit Grace and Truth But then God calls them to Self-denyal 2. They must deny themselves to reprove and admonish Offenders and adventure on their displeasure in doing it There are many difficulties in the way of this work within and without and it will require Self-denyal to do it as we ought Our hearts are averse to it our worldly interests are against it for we may lose a Friend as often as we do it to purpose 3. They must somtimes deny themselves to help and relieve their poor Brethren Eph. 4.28 The Rich to talk and hold friendly and intimate converse and communion with their Inferiors in gifts and worldly things Rom. 12.16 and others to supply the wants of the Poor and Needy which they are bound to provide for 4. They must deny themselves of the Garbs and Fashions of the times and places wherein they live when they may prove stumbling blocks unto the weak Rom. 14.1 Cor. 8. They must not please themselves only but their Brethren with the denyal of themselves for their good to edification Rom. 15.1 2 3. They must somtimes deny themselves of their own liberty lest the use of it prove a snare to others 5. They must deny themselves somtimes of living up to the height and top of their Estates especially when they have risen up from a low mean condition to a high and rich condition for their doing so is usually very offensive 6. They must somtimes deny their own natural tempers and dispositions also There are some persons very much disposed to talk much in Company they will have most if not all the talk they must as they think talk and others must hear them because they have a greater volubility and fancy that they can express themselves better and talk to better purpose than others can But in this they ought to deny themselves and to be as James speaks chap. 1. v. 19. swift to hear and slow to speak especially young Men and young Converts 2. Women especially with and before men 3. Inferiors with and before their Superiors for their much speaking to and before them gives great offence And here let me caution Wives to take heed and beware of that too much practised evil namely their too liberal and shameful talking before or in the presence of their Husbands For although they think they do thereby lay open their Wisdom yet their Auditors are satisfied that they do too imperiously lay open their shame and the like do other inferiors towards their Superiors So there are some Church-members who are naturally addicted to much Jesting and take much pleasure therein But they are called to and commanded self-denyal in this also Eph. 4.29 Eph. 5.4 Col. 4.6 They ought to be very sober and serious and to curb and restrain their natural bent inclination and disposition in this other matters 7. They must deny themselves somtimes of their own just rights and dues to avoyd scandal and reproach to the Gospel Jew Gentile and Church of God 1 Cor. 10.32 They must not be too severe on such as do them wrong either by detaining from them their dues of money or other things especially if they be poor or much decayed in their Estates Matth. 5.39 40 41. They must suffer wrong somtimes yea and that in many things rather than strive contend or dispute they must put up Injuries and sit down with loss for the preventing of greater evils to shew the excellency of their spirits and manifest before all men what their special grace can do 5. Churches must shine in Patience and Contentation they must learn in every state therewith to be content Phil. 4.11 and run their race with patience Heb. 12.1 Church-members may not shew a murmuring disquiet spirit or a contentious quarrelling spirit any way under any providence whatsoever Phil 2.14 but take all things well that God doth either by his own or the Creatures hands thus did Job Eli Aaron David Paul for which they are renowned Let your Conversation be without Covetousness and be content with such things as you have Heb. 13.5 and with patience possess ye your souls a meek and a quiet spirit is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3. An impatient discontented murmuring quarrelsome spirit is very hateful and abominable to God and Men. They are great scandals to men and make the guilty persons lothsome and undesirable Certainly this should be another of the Churches Ornaments and Jewels wherewith they should be clothed and wherein they should shine in the world and adorn their holy profession 6. Church-members should shine in Peace and Concord they must be Peace-makers not Peace-breakers where and with whom they live and converse They must not be Brawlers or sowers of discord but be lovers of Peace and followers of Peace and that with all men Stirs and strifes are most pernitious and hateful evils among Church-members they are the Devils Seeds-men and his Servants to sow his Seed for him Prov. 6.16 19. Peace-breakers are common Plagues and very scandalous and offensive to all sorts of men Oh! how often doth the God of Peace and Prince of Peace command and charge us to do the things that make for peace to follow peace with all men to be at peace among themselves and as much as in them is to live peaceably with all men They must be men of peaceable spirits carriages words and deeds that they may be blessed Matth. 5.9 and because God hath so commanded 2 Cor. 13.11 Rom. 14.19 Heb. 12.14 1 Thes 5.13 Rom. 12.18 I have mentioned this before among the duties of Church-members to one another But now I have a further aim namely to shew what spirits and practices should be found in Church-members towards all men but especially towards their Fellow-members and their Relations with whom they live 7. Church-members must shine in Vsefulness to men or in Fruit-bearing They should all of them bear Twins and there ought not to be a barren Member among them Cant. 4.2 They are not set in this world as reasonable Creatures and maintained in it to live unto themselves much less are they Created again in Christ Jesus called to and set in a Church-state enriched and dignified with all the priviledges and advantages thereof to live for and unto themselves No but they are united
to Christ and one to another in a Church-relation that they might live to God and be useful to men 2 Cor. 5.15 Gal. 6.10 Do good to all men especially to the Houshold of Faith Barren Church-members are Incumbrances in the world and are dead while they live they live undesired and dye unlamented they are like withered Trees in an Orchard good for nothing but to be out down and cast into the fire Joh. 15.6 Heb. 6.7 8. They must follow every good work 1 Tim. 5.10 in the Churches Families and places where they live They must not sâ—ck their own things but every one anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10.24 Phil. 2.4 Theya re indispensibly bound to promote the welfare holiness and happiness of their Churches Families Relations and all other Persons so far as they can and that zealously diligently faithfully and constantly They are Created in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 and they are set in the Church for the same 8. Churches should shine in and with courteous and affable spirits words and carriages too For they should be like their Head and Husband in this excellency also Church-members must not be of harsh sowre crabbed churlish spirits and behavior towards men for that will render them odious and contemptible but they must imitate and conform to the Lord Jesus in a holy sweetness kindness courteousness and affability towards Saints and Sinners that they may adorn the Gospel of Christ in all things Tit. 2.10 1 Pet. 3.8 A kind courteous and affable carriage and behaviour is a very comely and beautiful Garment for all such to wear about them for it commends their Persons and Religion unto men and makes them exceeding lovely desirable and acceptable in all Societies as also the good ways of God which they do profess to love and in which they walk 9. They should shine with sympathizing and forgiving spirits and practices Their fallen Brethren or Neighbours who have sinned by wrenging them may stand in need of their Pitty Pardon and Sympathy and then they should vouchsafe it to them and not be rash and severe unto them They must not lay on another load on their backs pursue them with rash Censures shews of Cruelty and Vengeance in words or deeds in wrath and displeasure but pitty them pray for them and give them the hand to raise them up again and bring them to Conviction and Repentance until they appear obstinate and stubborn in their sin The Servant that took his fellow Servant by the throat saying unto him pay me my dues is branded for a wicked man Math. 18.28.35 It is such a kind of cruelty as God abhors and all holy men hate and the world are stumbled at Persons as soon as they sin against us or any way wrong us are not presently to be the objects of our Contempt and Cruelty or of our Wrath Fury no but they ought to be the objects of our Pitty and Compassion of our Sympathy and Assistance and when they do seriously repent of any wrong they have done us although they cannot make any other restitution or satisfaction we ought to forgive them help and comfort them Eph. 4. ult Col. 3.13 Math. 18 ult 2 Cor. 2.7.10 10. Churches should shine in their orderly and dutiful Walkings in the Churches as also in the Families where they live and in and towards their several Relations Next to that mysterious and glorious Union and Relation that is between the Lord Jesus and his people that which is between his People in Church-fellowship and Relation is the nearest and greatest because 1. It is a spiritual Relation and Union 2. Because it is a Union and Relation on Christs account and with respect to him as their Head and King 3. Because it is an everlasting Union and Relation Therefore in this Communion and Relation we should be most precise and exact in our walkings and performing all the duties of it They must keep their places in the Church and constantly attend unto all the duties therein They should never neglect their Church-meetings excepting in extraordinary cases but be present at the Celebration of all divine Worship observation of all the Ordinances of Christ in the Church and demean themselves before God and Men as becomes the Gospel of Christ They must endeavour so to walk in the Church in their Families among and towards their Relations as that they may be blameless giving no offence Phil. 2.15 16. Col. 2.5 2 Cor. 6.3 11. Church-members must shine in Diligence and Faithfulness Slothfulness Unfaithfulness are scandalous sins but Diligence and Faithfulness in our trusts and businesses are Ornaments to our persons and professions and to the Gospel and Holy Name of Christ which we do profess to love and believe Church members are eyed and much observed and therefore they had need walk circumspectly Eph. 5.15 and beg of God to lead them in plain paths as David did because of their Enemies as or 't is in the Margin those which observe me Psal 27.11 They should be diligent in their work and business and what their hands find to do to do it with all their might Eccle. 9.10 2 Pet. 3.14 Heb. 6.12 And as they should be diligent so likewise faithful and trusty to all that are concerned with them so as to answer every ones reasonable expectation from them they must be faithful and true to one another in buying and selling in borrowing and lending in work and business and in counsel and friendship Whatever Trusts they commit to one another or is by any committed to them they are indispensibly bound to be as faithful and true to such as to themselves They must render to all their Dues Rom. 13.7 8. and not in any thing purloyn Tit. 2.10 Are they Buyers or Sellers Lenders or Borrowers or such as are intrusted by any men in any thing they must be faithful to their Trusts or they will reproach the Lord Jesus scandalize men and greatly dishonour their Profession These are some of the many good things wherein they should be as so many burning and shining Lights in the world and in the Churches Secondly They must design aim at and prosecute all the ends of God in appointing such a state and condition for them their cleaving to joyning with and walking therein God and they must joyn Issues and carry on the same ends and interests I have shewed you what ends persons should have in their eye in joyning themselves to the Churches of Christ or in walking in Church-fellowship and now I say that in this State they must practically pursue them and that with all possible diligence seriousness and faithfulness The Honour and Glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ their Head and King the happiness and salvation of their own souls are the two or rather as free grace hath laid it the one great end of their so doing for these ends are no more two but one and so to be believed and
respected by us This General includes many particular and subordinate ends which in pursuance and obtaining of the General we must have in our eyes and hearts in our walking in this state and relation I shall not mention them here but refer you to the next foregoing Chapter where you may find several of them Onely I shall add that you must sincerely and unfainedly keep these and all other Gods holy Ends in your eyes and hearts and pursue them with all your might until you have obtained them to the highest degree you may You must hold Communion together for these ends and you must discourse one with another hear the Word Preached Pray Sing and receive the Lords Supper together for these ends You must wrestle with God in secret quicken and provoke one another and prepare your hearts that you may so enjoy Ordinances and worship God together as to obtain them in the House of God Thirdly Church-members must walk humbly with God Micah 6.8 They must have a watchful eye against Heart-pride and being great in their own eyes because of their greatr Piviledges high Dignities their nearness to God and the distinguishing Character that is upon them All your glorying must be in God not in your selves or Priviledges 1 Cor. 1. ult for all you have is but lent you A humble heart and lowly spirit is a Jewel of great account in Heaven To such a person God looks with delight and complacency Isa 66.2 To him he gives more grace and fills his soul with good things 1 Pet. 5.5 Luk. 1.53 The meek and humble-hearted he will teach Psal 25.9 The lower any are in their own eyes the higher is God there The more humble-hearted any man is the more excellent and glorious he is the more like the most renowned Worthies in Scripture yea the more like Christ himself Matth. 11.29 The more humble and lowly any man is the more capable he is of Communion with God and of being enriched with his Grace and Truth If you indulge the Pride of your hearts or countenance Self-conceitedness in your selves you will grieve the holy Spirit and cause him to forsake you For as a humble heart gives God his due so a proud heart robs him of it and takes it to himself A humble heart is a growing thriving and profiting heart it will make happy earnings of all Gods Dispensations He that is of a meek and humble spirit is a gainer by all Providences is bettered by all Occurrences He gains by the Rod and also by the Word he gains by Losses Crosses Tryals Temptations Poverty Reproaches so likewise by Prosperity Honour Riches and all other smiling Providences If he loose without he gains within therefore you ought to put on as the Elect of God holy and beloved humbleness of mind towards God 1 Col. 3.12 as well as humble carriages towards men as you heard before For God loves to keep company with humble persons Fourthly Live by Faith on your God and Father on your Head and King and expect in the way of your duty and obedience to his Commands all the fulness of Christ and blessings of the Covenant Do not give place to distrusts doubts and fears or imagine that God will forget you or deny you that which he hath promised because of your personal unworthiness Consider that he hath called you into fellowship and formed you into holy Corporations put you under his Ordinances and made you his Housholds brought you into Order and set you near unto himself that he might visit you and walk with you that he might impart his Counsels to you distribute his Covenant-favours to your souls perform his Promises and fill you with all the fulness of himself Therefore do you hang about him and cleave to him for he is faithful that hath promised Heb. 10.23 and is able to perform all his Promises Rom. 4.21 yea and he is most freely willing to do it also Micah 7. ult Remember that God hath not brought you into his House to famish you or deal severely with you No but to nourish and feed you to strengthen and sanctifie you to comfort and refresh you to teach you build you up care for you and prepare you for eternal life God is ever mindful of his Covenant therefore do you remember to make him your stay and trust live upon him and expect all promised good from him He would have you do so he hath commanded it and therefore do it in obedience to his will Psal 37.3.5.7 Rom. 1.17 Heb. 11.38 1 Pet. 5.7 His hand and heart will be open to you and from his Fountain of Love Graces shall flow Rivers of living waters into your souls Zach. 13.1 He will always care for and watch over you for good he will water you every moment he will keep you night and day Isa 27. 3. Oh! then trust in him at all times and in all your ways acknowledge him and he will not fail to direct your steps Prov. 3.6 cast all your care on him for he careth for you and the peace of God shall keep you Phil. 4. Expect and look for your purchased and promised portions in your Fathers House in walking in his Family-order and under the Government thereof under the Laws and inspection of the great and gracious Lord thereof In all your waitings on him in every Ordinance of his be sure to believe hope and wait for his Presence and Blessings When-ever you ascend the Mountain of the Lords House to meet the God of Jacob and to present your King with a Thank-offering be sure to carry Faith with you go with much Faith and Hope unto him and do as Children do whilst in their Fathers House they live on their Father for Food Raiment and all other bodily supplys So do you in your Fathers spiritual House live on him for all provisions mind your duty and trust him with your promised all Fifthly Let your Praise wait for your God and King in Zion Psal 65.1 and do not neglect to go up to his Temples with your Sacrifices when the Tribes go or are called up thither then I say do you be sure to go up with them stay not behind nor tarry at home when others go up go with your Brethren when they go that it may be said as in Psal 84.7 Every one namely of the Church appeareth before God in Zion and be sure that when you go you go not empty-handed Exod. 23.15 Exod. 34.20 If you cannot present your King with a Lamb for a Thank-offering carry him two Turtle Doves with you if not able to carry two Doves then carry with thee two Mites as the Widdow the poor Widdow did Mark 12.42 43 44. But if thou hast not two Mites to carry with thee to present to thy God for a Free-will or Thank-offering then go abegging to him for one but in any wise go to your Church-meetings with your Brethren tarry not behind them For if you do neglect to