best way where she according to her raised expectation has received more of the Holy Spirit and of influences from Christ as a living Member under this Church as the only Head and as the Supream Material Cause of the Church then neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Christ in all this c. Therefore This was drawn from the Material Cause of the Church Supream A further Argument shall be drawn †1 Cor. 6. 15 12. 27. Eph. 1. 22 23. 4 4 12. 5. 23. 30. Col. 1. 18 24. 2. 19. Joh. 10. 16. 1 Cor. 1. 2. and the Titles of Paul ' s other Epistles to the Churches Heb. 12. 23. Eph. 4. 16. from the inferior Material Cause of a Church of Christ which are the Elect Believers and Saints who are the Members and the Body of Christ and have mutual care of and for one another Communion with one another and are jointly helpful to each other and do faithfully and friendâ—â—y discharge the Gospel Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one anotheâ— such as mutual considering of one another c. It is here thus argued If this Sister have joined her self there in Church-Fellowship with them amongst those whom she charitably hopes may be such living Fellow-Memberâ— in Christ with her more and better suited to her Spirit in such a Church-way of Spiritual Incorporation where she has more freedom and better agreement in her 〈…〉 an more Spiritual Communion more really expressed and acted helpfulness as to Spirituals more enjoyment of the Gospel-Duties of Church-Fellowship mutually towards one another than in that Society where she was before and all this as the Inferior Material Cause of the Church then neither she non they c. But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Formal Cause of a Church of Christ The Formal Cause or Form or * Eph. 4. 3 4. Acts 2. 41 47. 4. 32. 9. 31. 1 Cor. 12. 12 13 27. 10 17. 1. 10 11. Phil. 2. 1 5. Eph. 1. 21 22 23. 3. 17. 2. 19. Rom. 8. 9. 1 Joh. 4. 13. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Eph. 5. 32. that which doth give a spirited Life Being and Motion is the uniting Spirit of the LORD enlivening the church-Church-Body and that Union of Believers in the Spirit with Christ as the Head and with and another as Fellow-Members of the same Mystical Body The Argument thus presenteth it self to be considered If the Spirit of this Sister in Experience according to the Word both were before Admission and hath been and still is since her Admission amongst such more knit and united by the Holy Spirit in Holy Spiritual Union to Christ and to these Fellow-Members where she has more of spirited Life Being and Motion than when amongst those with whom she walked in Society withal before which was broken off and taken away from her as to the quickness and comfort oâ— it as to the former Church in whose fellowship she could not any longer to any good satisfaction continue and where she had little or no expectation after much proof and long waiting to have it otherwise as the Case was circumstanced she being now made more sensible that her Spirit doth more close with and is more one in Union and Communion with the Spirit of that Church in this Church-way of Ordinances with whom she is joined and all this as the Formal Cause or Form or that which doth give a Spirited Life Being and Motion to a Church then neither she nor they c. But the Spirit of this Sister c. And therefore From the Final Cause a strong Argument may be drawn and its right words are forcible †Isa 43. 7 21. Jer. 13 11. 14. 21 Eph. 5. 26 27. 4. 11 12 13 15 16. 1 Cor. 12. 13. 10. 16 17. Luke 12. 32. 1 Cor. 14. 3 26 40. 10. 16 17. 2 Cor. 13. 10 The Final Cause or the great End or Ends for which Jehovah Aelohim has formed his Church and for which Christ gave and delivered up himself in respect of him is his Glory the Honour of his Name in the World that it may be as a Throne of his Glory the purging and cleansing of his Church and People their enjoyment of Spiritual Priviledges and Benefits purchased by the Blood of Christ their nourishing growing more up into and further perfecting in Christ their receiving more of all Spiritual Supplies from Christ their mutual Edification being built up more and more in their most holy Faith their possessing of signed sealed witnessed delivered free gracious Grants from the Father through his Son by his Spirit in the word of his Truth of Grace and at the last their everlasting Happiness in a clear sight and full enjoyment of the Heavenly Glory in his Eternal Kingdom in the better Country In the mean time the giving and receiving of Spiritual Alms Bread and Wine to hungry thirsting Souls as necessary Provision in their Voyage whilst here in the way The Argument is thus formed If this Sister after long Experience and much waiting and earnest Praying could not attain the forementioned Ends of Church-Fellowship in that way wherein she walked before whereas since she passed into Church Communion with others the LORD has graciously given her to enjoy in growing Measures much of these desired Ends and some good Beginnings as she hopes of the filling up of these in the Heavenly Country where she longeth and waiteth prayeth and prepareth to be with her LORD in the most pure and Glorious Church then neither she nor they c. But this Sister after long Experience c. Therefore Two other Arguments may be drawn from the just Right and due Property of this Sister * 1 Cor. 3. 21 22 23. Deut. 18. 6 7 8. The Gifts and Graces and Experiences of all the Faithful Ministers of Christ in the same City especially being one with Christ and his Word in the Faith and Order of the Gospel are a part of every Believers Portion there which they may use as their own especially when actually really more to their Ediâ—â—cation as Providence doth give opportunity From hence it is thus argued If this Sister in this have acted but as her just Right and due Property is to enjoy this part of her Spiritual Portion and if they have but done her Right in granting her what is her own as due unto her then neither she nor they c. But this Sister in this has acted c. Therefore Also from her lawful Liberty This Sister reserved a Liberty if she found in Experience that her continuing there were not to her Satisfaction and Edification that then it should be free to joyn her self to some other Church of the same Faith and Order in the main of 〈◊〉 Believers and Seventh-day-Sabbath-Observers where she might be more to her Soul-profiting â— and †Rom. 13. 7 8. Prov. 3. 27
Teacher of others who much needed to have been instructed himself though he had a great Name amongst Ministers and People The Forms of Prayer were gone the Fire had turned them into Ashes He had composed many of those Forms of his own upon several Cases with great variety most Hearers could scarce discern it to be a Form of humane composure but the LORD took him at his Word and he must now trust to the assistance and inworking of the Spirit of Grace and of Supplication who has not been thus far wanting when aright depended on About seventeen years since when the Act for Vniformity came forth and the Profession of Assent and Consent and Subscriptions were required the LORD soon stated the Case and resolved the Question upon Shem's Mind and Heart not so much as to touch that unclean Constitution of humanely invented Worship and so he has continued ever since a total thorow Nonconformist though Afflictions and Persecutions have abidden him from that time After this the LORD honoured him with somewhat of a Vision in the Spirit wherein two of the choicest Revelations were made manifest to him and in him For in a very dark evening whilst a Prisoner a little before his going to his Lodging he bowing his knees in Prayer was on a sudden taken up in his Spirit as if he had been actually in Heaven This was about fourteen years ago answering somewhat to that of Paul * 2 Cor. 12. 1 4. where he had a clear view of Christ in his Glorified Humanity by an Eye of Faith He sitting in the sides of the †Iob 23. 3 4 8 9. 26. 6 7. Psal 48. 1 2 3. 75. 6 7. Isa 14. 9 15. North which was as real to him as if he had conversed with Christ personally in the flesh and it is still so when he is in a right worshiping Frame being led to him as to the one Mediator and Advocate to carry on all his Affairs in the Court above The other was ‖ 2 Cor. 13. 14. 1 Joh. 1 3 7. Mat. 28. 19. John chap. 14 15 16 17. 2 Cor. 3. 18. Ps 11 7. Their Faces or His Faces His or their Aspects See Ainsworth in loc Numb 12. 8. Heb. 6. 19. 20. 10. 19 22. A Self-evidencing view of those Glorious Appearances of Father Son and holy Spirit and distinctness of Communion with each of these in their several subsistences shining forth in the Face of Jesus This sight covered his Spirit with such a shining Light and bright Glory that their faces viewing him was such an heavenly Manifestation of unveiled Aspects as dwells with him to this hour and is more or less in every solemn Duty of Instituted Worship a guiding of his Spirit into that within the Veil whither Jesus the Fore-runner is for him entred And this has been revealed to him to be his being baptised with the holy Spirit Mat. 3. 11. Act. 1. 5. 11. 16. This Object raised him into an higher way of Later-Day-Glory-hymnifying than his former way of singing by Mens Forms read out of a Book could reach unto And thus it is through continuance of special Favour with him to this day and will ever live with him for it espoused and somewhat married his whole Man Body Soul and Spirit to each of these Three in One Jehovah * Isa 54. 5. Psa 149. 2. Job 4. 17. 35. 10. Eccles 12. 1. as to his Husbands Creators and Makers To the Father as the Father to the Son as the Son to the holy Spirit as the holy Spirit Makers Husbands Creators PAVL * Act. 26. 16 17 18 19 20. Gal. 1. 1. Eph. 1. 1. 3. 7 8. Act. 9. 15. Ro. 11. 13. 1 Tim. 2. 7. Gal. 1. 16 17 18. He had such a Call to the Office and Work of the Ministry as was not common for he was an Apostle by the Will of God and not of Men neither by Men but by Jesus Christ neither was the Gospel which was preached of this Servant of Christ according to Man for he neither received it of Man neither was he taught but by the Revelation of Jesus Christ who at that very time when he so remarkably converted Paul called him hereunto saying to him Arise and stand upon thy feet for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose To make or ordain thee a Minister and a Witness both of those things which thou hast seen and of those things in which I will appear unto thee delivering thee from the People and from the Gentiles unto whom I now send thee To open their Eyes and to turn them from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God That they may receive Forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance amongst them who are sanctified by Faith that is in me Whereupon he was not disobedient unto the heavenly Vision but shewed first unto them of Damascus and at Jerusalem and throughout all the Coasts of Judea and then to the Gentiles that they should repent and turn to God and do Works meet for Repentance This preaching Office he presently set about Immediatly he conferred not with Flesh and Blood neither went he up to Jerusalem to them that were Apostles before him being * 2 Cor. 11. 5. 12 11. Eph. 3 8. 1 Cor. 15. 8 9 10. 3. 5 6 7 22. nothing inferior to the chief of the Apostles yet calleth himself the least of the Apostles and an Abortive and pronounceth himself unworthy to be said to be an Apostle because he persecuted the Church of Christ He was but a Minister by whom many of the People believed yet appointed of God for those great Ends of bringing in of Sinners to Christ and of building them up in Christ that the LORD might have all the Glory for Paul was not any thing in and of himself The LORD wonderfully owning him and blessing of his Labours in such large-spreading and deep-rooted Conversions in planting of New-Testament-Churches and many other ways false Apostles and others envying and opposing of him do now call into * 1 Cor. 9. 1. 2 3. 2 Cor. 13. 3 4 5. question his Call to the Ministerial Office and Work whether it were lawful and right or not because it was not some way as theirs was which they would have imposed upon him to which he could not submit This puts him upon making of an †1 Cor 9. 3. Apology to defend and magnify his Office wherein if he were a Fool in glorying if any so thought or judged him it was chargeable on those who so compelled him thereunto that the Minds of young Converts might not be troubled nor the Work of the Gospel other ways hindred Those Arguments which among others he doth urge for the Proof of the Lawfulness of his Call were drawn from his being * Gal. 1. 15 16. So was Jeremiah ch 1. 5. So was John the Baptist Luk. 1. 15 16. So Christ and so Isaiah
Christ in two Generations had been utterly extinct However the Case was with Paul Shem Acher has been very unkindly and injuriously dealt withal about his Marriage with Gnezri-jah When he with some other Ministers had the Honour to be so many years the LORD's Prisoner at Dorchester it came upon and into the Heart of Gnezri-jah from the time of his and their first Confinement to be as a common Stewardess and Nurse to make and bring in Provision of Food and of other outward Necessaries for them her Spirit and Soul being much drawn forth in Compassion towards the LORD's suffering Servants in fellow-feeling of their Hardships and with great longings after the daily enjoyment of Communion with Father Son and holy Spirit by the LORD's Blessing upon his and others Ministerial Labours at which time â—ho she then had an aged Mother to maintain she did pinch and straiten her self in diet and other-ways to serve and be helpful unto those Ministers which was afterwards understood by Shem Acher and considered by him After some time the other Ministers having obtained their Liberty Shem Acher's Imprisonment was continued for several years all which time this Gnezri-jah was a succourer of him and did continue friendly faithful to him in all his Temptations and was very useful not only to him but also to many other of the Prisoners in divers cases When he was set free his Heart was engaged to preach the Gospel abroad and having need of help Gnezri-jah sometimes travelled with him This being envied and maligned by some to prevent or remove any occasion of Scandal or offence he declared unto some of the Church that he was willing to take Gnezri-jah to him for a Wife according to the Word she being every way the fittest for him she being a Sister in the same way of Church-Fellowship and a Virgin modest and chast many ways look'd upon as excelling almost all of her Sex in the whole Town of Dorchester for Humility Patience Mortifiedness Diligence Faithfulness Zeal and such Commendablenesses as these in the Judgment of all spiritual Discerners who had any intimate acquaintance with her and she having undergone so many Hardships and Difficulties for him and after so many years experience of her fittedness for such a Yoke-fellowship Shem Acher married her When this was made known the Tempter bestirred himself and set some upon opening of their mouths both against him and her that he had married one who had been a kind of Servant to him one much beneath him for Birth a poor Maid without a Portion which was so odiously and unjustly aggravated and spread abroad by some who should have been more friendly both he and she before then and since having been friendly unto them that his Ministry was in a great measure rendred much useless and successless in those Parts which purpose of Marriage a little after compleated together with the Advice of several of the Friends in Fellowship with him to publish a Treatise in the Defence of the Cause of the Seventh-Day-Sabbath was somewhat of the occasion both of his coming to and continuing near and in the City of London Thus must any thing a little colourable serve for a Charge against Shem Acher who has met with a passage in Clarks Lives where he makes mention of a Commendable Act of one Minister of Christ who having bin helped by a mean Handmaid a Virgin during his sore Imprisonment for the Gospel's sake when he was set at Liberty thought he could no other way so requite her as by marrying of her This is recorded to the praise of that Minister but if Shem Acher do the same it must be look'd upon by many as a Scandal and Crime in him As for a Portion he prizeth Grace at a very low rate who doth not really in a case of competition esteem and prefer it above and beyond many Bags of Earthly Treasure And altho Shem Acher might possibly have had several Thousands with another Woman where there was not such a suitableness in other respects yet it was a sweet sensible Evidence upon his Heart in his Conscience about that time that being closely held to that †Psal 119. 72 127. Scripture-term he readily complied with it and conformed to it in the strength and supplies of the holy Spirit The Law of thy mouth O Jehovah is better unto me than Thousands of Gold and of Silver Therefore I love thy Commandments above Gold yea above fine Gold Shem Acher having an Annuity of Fourscore pounds by the year setled upon him during his Life This provided Food convenient and other outward Necessaries for him and out of the rest he was ready to distribute out of the Decimation and otherwise to the Necessities of others proportionably as far as it would go so that now after twenty years or more enjoyment of that Annuity he has not laid up one shilling out of that Means if he die before Gnezri-jah what he has to leave her is mostly his Study of Books and some Houshold-stuff They have not wanted Conveniencies since they came together neither shall either of them want when they are parted asunder by Death for they have Bonds by gracious Covenant under the Hand and Seal of the faithful God to be cared and provided for But Shem Acher not having an Estate to settle any Jointure upon a Wife if she survived he never had any considerable Proffer made him neither did ever meet with any pure Virgin so every way a meet help for him The common corrupt practice amongst many of the Gentry being to settle almost all their Estate upon their Eldest Son which has brought a Curse upon and has bin the Ruin of many Antient and Honorable wealthy Families the LORD in the way his Providence frowning upon such an unscriptural distribution He allowing a * Deut. 21. 17. double portion of their Father's Goods to the First-born whereas younger-Brothers are often put off with some small Allowance to keep them alive This Shem Acher doth mention not at all out of discontent at his Allotment for he doth write as he hath long experienced that his Annuity is the wisest and best Portion and Provision for him it bringing in unto him a Competency and discharging him from Worldly Cares and Earthly Incumbrances all his labour about this being once a Quarter to receive Twenty pounds and to give an Acquittance Only he brings in here this Testimony against the fore-mentioned common corrupt Practice As for Gnezri-jah's Family and Relations An ancient Justice of Peace did declare that her Grandfather was one of the First who appeared for a Reformation against the Superstitions and other Corruptions of the Times to the endangering of his Liberty and Life and that he and a Kinsman of his did lend one hundred pounds to Mr. White of Dorchester for his encouragement who was one of the first and foremost and forwardest of all the Puritane-Ministers in the West publickly by Preaching and otherwise
him for it is where seriously throughly and discerningly performed one of the most solemn Actions in this World As to a Covenanting with the LORD On the part of Jehovah * Deut. 29. 10 14. 30 1 2 3. 26. 16 19. Ps 110. 3. He sets his Faces before the convinced Sinner who is now about to turn unto him He shews his readiness to pass into a Covenant-State and Relation with the returning Sinner Jehovah makes gracious Offers and precious Promises to such a returning Soul upon certain equal Terms if it voluntarily by his enabling and making willing thereunto choose and approvingly agree to and readily close with those Terms He declares to such a Soul that it will be accursed if it either refuse this Offer or be falshearted in its profession of Assent and Consent to these Terms He raiseth up and establisheth the Soul in some great expectation of receiving some special Good from Jehovah He shews himself forward to take such a Soul to himself and to acknowledg such a one for one of his own peculiar People Jehovah engageth to be a God to such a Soul if the returning Sinner give in the supplies of the Holy Spirit unfeigned Assent and Consent to all this so equal a Proposal so every way for the covenanting Convert's Good He refers this reâ—urning Sinner as to what Jehovah hath spoken to his own Conscience for all this He confirms all these Offers and Promises to such a Soul by Oath Jehovah sits upon the Throne of his Grace expecting an answer from this returning Sinner unto all this On the returning Sinners part This Soul sets it self before the Faces of Jehovah Upon serious deliberation this returning Sinner is by a day of Christ's Power upon it made willingness voluntarily to choose and readily to like all the Terms of this Covenant of Grace This Soul passeth over actually into Covenant with Jehovah and acknowledgeth him for its God This covenanting Soul submits to the justness of the threatning Curse if the Soul be false-hearted unfaithful in this Covenant The Soul is made sensible of Jehovah's great Kindness in making so free and gracious an Offer to it The covenanting Convert doth present give and resign up his whole Self Body Soul and Spirit to this Jehovah to be wholly one of his altogether and only at his Command Will and Disposal The Soul believingly particularly applyeth this Jehovah to it self as its own God in Covenant This Soul takes this Jehovah at his own Saying being well persuaded that his Word so confirmed by his Promise and Oath which are two immutable things is true concerning all this and upon this Word bottometh its Faith and adventureth it Self its Salvation it s All. This covenanting Convert expecteth that Jehovah will make good all this and fulâ—â—l and acomplish it in a Scripture-way as his Word is The Soul is duly humbled under all this going out of it self off from all meer Creatures and away from all dependance on any Duty it doth perform to receive all its Wisdom Righteousness Sanctification and Redemption from the Father freely through Christ purchasingly by the Holy Spirit in workingly giving all the Glory to Jehovah Aelohim resolving in his Strength to know keep and do all the Words of this Covenant Somewhat of the manner of Spiritual Espousing at that remarkable time of inward Vision and Revelation was thus Shâ—m Acher having a distinct view by an Eye of Faith in a more than ordinary way and manner of the Father as the Father of the Son as the Son of the Holy Spirit as the Holy Spirit did orderly pass being helped from on High thereunto and assisted therein into a distinct mutualness of such solemn Contract between him and every one of these which took up some time in his particular application severally to each from that Scripture Isa 54. 5. Thy Husbands thy Maker Jehovah Aelohim so commending Himself his Beauty his Goodness his every-way Amiableness and Loveliness to Shem Acher's choise so utterly altogehter unworthy of such an unexpressible Favour in such a way of condescending Grace drawing Shem's Heart with such Bands of a Man and such Cords of Love in working and outcalling such answerable Affections from him towards each of them and so knitting and uniting his very Heart and Soul to every one as his Tongue cannot utter the whole of he had rather leave the rest to the admiring Meditations of experienced Believers who have in any good growing measures felt and enjoyed the same than to expose any more of this at present to publick view Only so it was that Jehovah himself approved of what then passed between him and Shem the sealing witness whereof was never wholly withdrawn since that time to this day but still abides and lives there tho he have been exercised with many humbling Providences buffeting Temptations boistrous Corruptions blasphemous Suggestions and distressing Cases since that signal Honour The LORD hath since that Contract all along provided for Shem as for one wedded to him and the espousing knot between them is declared indissoluble He doth not by this say that the LORD was never graciously at work upon his Heart before for he has brought in some other Testimonies for that in some choice Experiences before this more eminent Favour and Honour tho for several years in his younger time the work were more from a Spirit of Bondage to Fear as has also been expressed one time more especially when upon Fasting and Prayer as he remembers being under the Terrors of the LORD he was summoned to appear before the Bar of God's Justice to answer unto such Charges as were to be brought in against him which were so many so heinous and criminal that seeing himself before the actual passing of the Sentence condemned in the Court of the transgressed Law in the Court of Divine Justice and in the Court of his own guilty Conscience he was close and home put unto it Whether he would submit to the Sentence of the Judg were it for everlasting Condemnation by an Act of Justice or for Eternal Salvation by an Act of Grace and Mercy and whether he would acknowledg God to be just and righteous therein if he should condemn him by an irreversible Sentence to be deservedly miserable Those whoever were thus exercised cannot but apprehend what Horrours and Fears did now surprize and overwhelm Shem Acher yet was it not long before the Holy Spirit framed him to such a submission and acknowledgment which with Tears and broken Language he expressed and declared and so threw himself all along with his Mouth in the Dust as at the Feet of his Judg not knowing at first whether he should be struck dead and damned upon the place or not But the LORD quickly after pronouncing how justly Shem had deserved to be cursed for ever yet that Christ was made a Curse for him and presently an Act of Grace in the free and full forgiveness of his many and great
say in Truth to the Glory of Jehovah the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit that his Aelohim hath done wonderful things for and upon him and marvellous Works by him for and upon others as to healing Cures both upon Spirit Soul and Body and also as to the executing of very sore threatned Judgments against and upon divers of his implacable Adversaries whereof there be Witnesses as to what was open and publick the particulars whereof would make this Narrative too long only one Experience he shall impart which was a great secret of the LORD Christ's using him as his Administrator upon himself Having by much labour in his work in the forementioned Town about twenty years since broken his Strength which caused a Rupture he used such means for a Cure as the most skilful Physician and some others most experienced in such cases could help him to all which proved ineffectual whereupon his Thoughts were inwardly at work upon this Enquiry whether there were not some other way for his Cure to be sought after This was brought upon his Heart that * Jam. 5. the Ordinance of Anointing the Sick had not been used he was convinced of the need and use of this Ordinance of the standing preceptive and promising part of it but knew not whither to his satisfaction to go or send for a right Administrator the Ministers generally in those parts at that time eirher not having Light or Faith therein and some of them openly opposing of it hereupon a secret Voice whispers that as a Messenger from Christ he should administer it upon himself the case being so circumstanced which accordingly he did and felt the healing strengthning Effect of it quickly which has continued for many years so that he knows not but that †Joh. 3. 25 26 27. Sanative Virtue having been drawn down from Christ by a touching of him by the Hand of Faith in a way of believing on him and on his Word he is well healed though still under and for Christ he use apt means for the continuance of this great Mercy in order to Service all the praise be to him for his Mercy and for his Truth So that what John the Baptist said in the same case both as to his Baptism and Ministry A Man can receive nothing except it be given him from Heaven Shem Acher doth apply to his own Case who hath not in this Matter so far as the Resemblance here doth answer taken what is lawful and good but what has been given unto him thus from above In the Hypothesis or Supposition that one special Argument or Matter upon which John was then disputing those Words are referred to what went immediatly before relating to the Ministerial Office of Christ or of John or of both as to Teaching and Baptizing Both John the Minister and Christ the Master having received Gifts Graces and a Call from Heaven to exercise this honourable Function or delegated Employment they both having been owned and dignified with a Divine Testification from above which gave and confirmed them in their lawful Authority so to act Mat. 21. 25. John 1. 23. 3. 11 25 26 27 32 33. These right Words altho more generally laid down have great force of strong Reason and of convincing Argument in them to prove That a Man can receive nothing take nothing to himself as to such a Call and Office and the Execution thereof in a regular way and right manner by due Commission and warranting Authority except it were first given him from Heaven For tho legitimately to give and legitimately to receive are related to each other and so are together at once yet in order to give is first And therefore tho the Verb be in the Present Tense 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3 Sing Praes Subj yet the Participle is in the past Time 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Partic. Nâ—ut Praet Pass Not any no Man of right good Conscience Heb. 5. 4. is to take this Honour to himself but he who is called of God ordained and appointed thereunto by his Word-Warrant Numb 16. 10. 1 King 13. 33. Luke 3. 2. Acts 23. 5. Not any taketh As to the matter of Right none can justly take none ought to take tho many as to matter of Fact have taken and do take without Gift from Jehovah Aelohim the great Lord over all It being a Function of Divine Institution and of special Favour of great Honour and of weighty Charge both ordinary and extraordinary Ministers must be able to prove their Call Heb. 5. 4. 3. 2. Jer 17. 16. Amos 7. 15. Rom. 1. 1. 1 Pet. 1. 1. 1 Tim. 4. 14. Ephes 4. 11. Exod. 28. 1. 2 Chron. 13. 9 10. 1 Cor. 12. 28 29. 1 Sam. 23. Where any have upon their own Heads set themselves a running or have been pushed forwards by others whom the Lord never sent it concerns them to consider how they will answer it And this is one Ground and Reason for this present * 1 Cor. 9. 3. Apology which is an Answer with a Defence as to Men's false chargings †1 Cor. 4. 1 2 3 4 5. wherein he can justify himself and plead his Office in their Day and Court though in some particular Circumstances of his Case the Searcher of Hearts and the Tryer of Reins can find matter enough against him for which to condemn him O how much Wisdom and Love has the righteous Judg manifested towards Shem Acher in that he has found out a way wherein to justify him from that wherein he can and doth comdemn himself He has patiently born the secret Artifices and open Attempts of some to defame him and to decry his Ministry for about these six years last past as being made willing to deny himself to take up his Cross dayly and so to follow Christ but having long observed that such do still trouble the minds of divers who have been hopefully coming on and do lay stumbling-blocks in the way for the hinderance of others whereby Gospel-work has been at a stand the Sabbath Cause wronged many Souls prejudiced and the Honour of our LORD at least darkned to say no more he doth now judg it high time having had several louder Calls thereunto of late to do publick and open right to this Cause and to some other after Causes and Cases where others have done it such publick and open wrong which is but an act of warrantable regular love towards himself and towards others and also an act of due Equity and of distributive Justice for the wiping off of unkind Calumnies and injurious Aspersions imputed and cast upon an honourable Office about which he hath been many and many a time * Prov. 18. 13 prejudged and condemned as also in other cases before his Matters of Fact and of Right have been known or he himself heard thus has his silence in this cause been misinterpreted a confession of Guilt If any ask why this had not been brought
is not willing to insist upon as being loth to exasperate the Spirits of any concerned imparted it to the Friends in Gospel-Fellowship who upon due consideration and serious deliberation unanimously received her into Church-Communion the healing comforting Effects whereof were quickly felt in her Spirit Soul and Body too through Grace Upon this Case as to the Matter of Right ariseth this Question Whether under these Circumstances either this Sister in so coming off from that former Church or the Church with Shem Acher in so receiving of her have sinned and transgressed the Laws and Rules of Christ That neither she nor they are under Guilt in this Matter Shem Acher and the Friends with him do give these following Scripture-Arguments and Reasons bottomed upon Scripture-Grounds and Testimonies One Argument is drawn from the Principal Efficient Cause of a Church who is Jehovah Aelohim He it is * Psal 100. 3 102. 18. 149 â—2 Isa 43. 1 7 15 21. 44. 2 21 24. 51. 13. 54. 5. 1 Cor. 1. 2. Psal 47. 2. Acts 20. 28. Zech. 2. 8. Rev. 2. 1. Isa 27. 2 3. Deut. 32. 28. Isa 43. 1. 63. 16. Act. 20. 21. Gal. 1. 3. Eph. 5. 25 26 27 29 30. Col. 1. 14. Heb. 13. 20. Rev. 1 5 6 17 18 19 20. 5. 9. 14. 4. Prov. 9. 1. Mat. 16 18 19. Heb. 3. 3 4 6. who createth and maketh a Church He calleth it purchaseth iâ— He feeds it he loves it as the Apple of his Eye He walketh in the midst of it He protecteth it He doth all things for it He dwelleth there He formeth and frameth it He is the Father of it As the Father and his Son and Holy Spirit is thus to his Church so also is Christ the Mediator the Redeemer of his Church its Saviour Deliverer Purchaser Buyer Builder To this Jehovah Aelohim she has * 2 Cor. 8. 5. given up her self which is the Primary Chief and Special Relation on which all higher Church-Communion and Fellowship is firmly and principally founded it is to supersede and over-rule all secondary meaner commoner and subservient Relations on which all lower Brotherly and Sisterly Communion and Fellowship is more remotely subordinately and less principally founded No after-inconsiderate-Obligation to any People can take away a former higher Obligation whereby a right doth accrew to another especially this other being the Supreamest over all The Argument runs thus If Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and Holy Spirit if the LORD Jesus Christ God-Man who is the principal Efficient Cause of his Church who createth it and maketh it c. If he have this way evidently disposed of her where she may most and best honour and enjoy him in all Church-Ordinances and Church-Administrations according to Word-Rule she having thus given up her self to him in a primary chief and special Relation then neither she nor we are under Guilt so far in this Matter But Jehovah Aelohim in Father Son and Holy Spirit the LORD Jesus Christ God-Man who is the Principal Efficient Cause of his Church who createth it and maketh it c. has this way evidently disposed of her where she may most and best honour and enjoy him in all Church-Ordinances and Church-Administrations according to the Word-Rule she having thus given up her self to him in a primary chief and special Relation And Therefore neither she nor they are under Guilt so far in this Matter Another drawn from the Instrumental Efficient Cause of the Church of God which is * 1 Pet. 1. 23 24 26. Col. 1. 2 7. Acts 2. 41 47 4. 4. 5. 14. 6. 1 7. 8. 4 12. 9. 31. â—1 21 24. 13 49. 14. 1. 16. 5. 17. 4 12 34. 18. 4 8. 19. 19 20. 20. 28. Mat. 24. 45. Joh. 21. 1â— 16 17. Act. 20 28. 1 Pet. 5. 2. 1 Tim. 3. 1. Heb. 13. 7 17. 1 Pet. 51 5. both sound Doctrine grounded firmly upon the Word and faithfully Preached by which the Church is born and propagated and also the Minister or Ministers of Christ who preach this sound Doctrine and do administer in the Church who do feed the Church who oversee it who watch over it who rule and discipline it who pray for it and such like They argue thus If this Sister have put her self in the same City under such sound Doctrine grounded firmly upon the Word faithfully preached and under such a Ministry which is the instrumental Cause of a Church of Christ where she has wholesome Food more proper and suited to her Cases by which she is better nourished is every way more advantaged more profited better cared and provided for in all Spirituals as to a Church-State-and-Relation for Doctrine Worship Discipline and Conversation having all instituted Ordinances more fitted to her Spiritual State Frame Acting and Appetite her Soul-cases more directly spoken unto there being more of a sweet Spiritual Accord in Principles and other ways between her Spirit and the present Church with whom she walketh which she could not for several years so enjoy in the other Society then neither she nor they are undeâ— Guilt so far in this Matter But this Sister c. Therefore Another is drawn from the Material Cause * Eph 1. 22. 4. 15 16. 5. 23. Col. 1. 18. 2. 19. Heb. 2. 15 16 17 18 4. 4. 15 16. Rom. 8 9 11 14. Eph. 4. 3 4 5 6. Song of Songs throughout Isa 33. 22. Eph. 5. 23. Joh. 10. 14 Heb. 3 6. 10 21 â—2 or 11. 2. Eph 4 4 15 16. ver 11 12 13. Mat. 11. 20. 28. 18 19 20. The LORD Jesus Christ is the supream Head of his Church the material Cause of the Church of the same Nature partaker of the same Flesh and Blood with all the living Members of his Church made like him in all except Sin the same holy Spirit who is in Christ refideth in the Church and in all and every of the regenerated Members thereof who by this Spirit are united to Christ animated ensouled by this Spirit from this Christ doth flow all Spiritual Life and Motion to his Church he is by far more excellent than the Church he has the Empire and Government over the Church he gives Laws to the Church he is the Saviour of it he doth acknowledg it and is acknowledged by it he is indissolubly united to it by the strongest closest Bond no other besides him is Head of the Church he is the Husband of it he fitly joyns the Members of it together into one Body he doth gift the Church and its Officers he is always present with it having all Authority and Power in Heaven and on Earth given to him for these holy good Purposes It is here thus argued If Christ in all this have so framed inclined and led this Sister and accordingly she have in all this thus submiâ—ted unto Christ in the fittest and