Conscientiously be atended to CHAP. VII The Gospel-Church-State with the Institutions Ordinances thereunto appertaining is annex'd unto and bottomed upon the New-Covenant Demonstrated from Scripture-Prophesie Isa 59.21 Ezek. 11.19 20. and 36.25 26 27. at large explained From several places in the New-Testament wherein 't is clearly asserted so to be Luk. 22.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. Heb. 10.16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25. Considered That they belong not to the Old Covenant proved The donation of the Spirit Faith Peace Joy c. From the New-Covenant these Communicated as we are found attending on the Lord in Gospel-Institutions These are given forth to the Saints for the trial of their Love Loyalty as they stand related are betrothed to him in the New-Covenant Jer. 3.14 15. Explained Demonstration VII THE Gospel-Church-state with the Institutions Ordinances thereunto appertaining is annexed unto bottom'd upon the New-Covenant Therefore it 's perpetual abiding The consequence is evident what is annext to bottom'd upon that which is permanent cannot be it self otherwise it must abide continue as that to which it 's affixt on which it 's bottom'd does The whole Judaick-Church-State with all its Ordinances Institutions was built upon that Covenant God of Old took Israel into Heb. 9.1 This Covenant was mutable changeble a time was fixt by the Lord for it's abolition Represented at first in the breaking of the Tables of Stone in which the Law or Covenant was writ Exod. 32.19 Yet so long as that abode the Institutions thereunto appertaining were in force therefore the Apostle being to prove the cessation of the Jewish-Church-state amongst other mediums makes use of this as one that the Covenant God took that people into was perioded abolished Heb. 8.6 7 8 9 10 13. So then if the Gospel-Church-state Ordinances are annext to the New-Covenant they are cannot but be permanent except that Covenant also be supposed and can be proved to be otherwise That the Gospel-Church-state and all the Ordinances thereof are annext to and bottom'd upon the new-New-Covenant is evident from 1. Scripture-Prophesie declaring that so it shall be Isa 59.21 As for me this is my Covenant with them saith the Lord My Spirit that is upon thee and My Words which I have put in thy mouth shall not depart out of thy mouth nor out of the mouth of thy Seed nor out of the Mouth of thy Seed's Seed saith the Lord from hence-forth and for ever 'T is the Covenant that God takes believers into the Gospel-Covenant that he speaks of This is my Covenant with them these are call'd Christ's Seed So Chap. 53.10 Concerning them he saith that the words which he puts into the mouth of Christ i. e. whatever he gave Christ as the great Prophet of the Church in charge to communicate to them all the Laws Institutions given forth by Christ were part of Gods words he put into his mouth Shall not depart out of their mouths i. e. they shall be found in the practice of subjecting to them whilst there are any Saints in this World they shall be so And this as a branch part of that Covenant God takes them into Ezek. 11.19 20. And I will give them one heart and I will put a new Spirit within you and I will take the stony-stony-heart out of their flesh and will give them an heart of flesh that they may walk in my Statutes and keep mine Ordinances and do them and they shall be My People and I will be their GOD. The former part of the words I will give them one heart and the latter they shall be my People and I will be their GOD are the sum and substance of the new-New-Covenant Jer. 32.29 Unto this then the Statutes and Ordinances do evidently appertain for the Lord takes them to be his People gives himself to them to be their GOD gives them one heart puts a new Spirit within them that they may walk in his Statutes keep his Ordinances and do them If there be any Saints under the new-New-Covenant if a new Spirit be put within them then are there also Statutes and Ordinances Gospel-Institutions for them to walk in and in their doing so they discover themselves to be Gods People as he is their God Ezek. 36.25 26 27. is fully to the same purpose Then will I sprinkle clean Water upon you and ye shall be clean from all your filthyness and from all your Idols will I cleanse you A new Heart also will I give you and a new Spirit will I put within you and I will take away the stony-Stony-heart out of your flesh and I will give you an Heart of Flesh And I will put my Spirit within you and cause you to Walk in in my Statutes and ye shall keep my Judgements to do them If the donation of the Spirit Regeneration Sanctification be a part branch of the New-Covenant the Statutes and Judgments of the LORD are so too and these such a part of it that there 's at least ground of Jealousie whether any are really made partakers of the former who are found except under the power of temptation in the total neglect rejection of these for the Spirit c. is given to cause them to Walk in Gods Statutes and to keep his Judgments And it 's worthy observation that God hath equally obliged himself to cause his People to walk in the wayes of his Institution as to give the Spirit c. to them So that evidently there must be a continuation of Churches Ordinances or there are no Saints there 's an end of the New-Covenant 2. And as it 's fore-prophesied of that in the dayes of the New-Covenant-oeconomy thus it should be so it 's evidently declared that upon the Introduction of that Ministration so it was Gospel-Institutions and Ordinances are plainly asserted to be annexed to the New-Covenant Christ himself intimates as much Luke 22.19 20. And he took Bread and gave Thanks and break it and gave unto them saying This is my Body which was given for you This do in remembrance of me likewise also the Cup after Supper saying This Cup is the New-Testament in my Blood which is shed for you As circumcision was call'd the Covenant as upon other acounts so because 't was a part or branch of it so is this institution of Christ call'd the New-Testament because a part or branch thereof And if it be Objected That this is only asserted of the Cup one part of one institution not of the whole much less of all Gospel-Institutions The Answer is easie what 's asserted of any one part is true of the whole and if the Cup be the New-Testament the Bread is so and if one institution be so every one is so too At the same rate the Apostle speaks after he had seen the Lord and convers'd with him 1 Cor. 11.24 25 26. And most evidently fully Heb. 10.16 to 26. where he tells us that our drawing nigh viz. to God in wayes of Gospel-Institutions the
Ministration of the Spirit we are to understand the whole Gospel-oeconomy or Ministration the Doctrine Worship Institutions thereof is evident 1. From its Antithesis unto the Ministration of the Letter or legal Mosaic observances call'd the Ministration of Death and Condemnation v. 6 7 9. which the Apostle tells us was done away now 't was that whole Ministration as made up of Institutions Ordinances peculiar to it that was done away 2. 'T was such a Ministration as the Apostles were Ministers of v. 6. i. e. which they Preach'd declared from Jesus Christ according to his charge to them Matth. 28.20 and were ministring to him and the Saints in 'T was not the Doctrine of the Gospel inward purity practick Godliness only that they declared as the mind of Christ but the Worship thereof institutions of his appointment thereunto appertaining No sooner were Persons converted to the Faith of Christ but they were gathered by the Apostles into a Church-state Acts 2.41 42 46. and 9.31 and 11.22 26. and 14.23 27. and 15.41 and 16.5 and 20.28 This is too evident to be denied 3. 'T was such a Ministration Wherein as in a Glass with open face compared to those vail'd dark sights they had in their Passover Sacrifices c. under the Mosaic Ministration they beheld the Glory of the Lord and were changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord v. 18. The first Primitive believers 't will not be denied attended upon the Lord in Gospel-Institutions 'T is evident they did so from the Scriptures but now quoted In their so doing they beheld the glory of the Lord had choice discoveries displayes of it grew up into a Conformity unto him in their conscientious waiting on him herein And whatever any say thousands of believers at this day that are found waiting upon the Lord in his own institutions such as the Church-Fellowship Breaking Bread Prayer c. meet with presence sights of Glory Divine Transformations renewals in the Spirit of their minds When any are found in institutions shaken in their minds touching them as the institutions of Christ that by virtue of His Soveraign Authority Command they ought to attend to 't is no wonder if they see not his Glory know nothing of his transforming power through them They come not in faith sanctify not his name in what they do therefore meet not with his blessing Quest The Question is upon what accounts this Ministration is called The Ministration of the Spirit Answ 'T is so called with respect 1. To it 's Super-eminent Super-excelling Glory For Excellency Glory far superiour unto any Ministration that went before it What compare is there betwixt Spirit and Letter that which hath life in it and that which hath none 2. To the Communication of the Spirit through it by it Gal. 3.2 Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith 3. To its being given forth by Christ through the Holy Spirit Acts 1.2 The Lord Jesus being constituted by the Father Mediator of the new-New-Covenant Prince Ruler Priest Prophet to the Church was to reveal the whole of his mind and Will to them as such For his inablement whereunto the Father pours out of the Spirit without measure upon him through this Spirit he gave Commandments to his Apostles relating to Gospel-Worship with a charge to them to Communicate them to others Matth. 28. ult Which also they did 4. To that Glorious effusion of the Spirit in the day of Pentecost Act. 2. at the beginning or first Publick setting up of this Ministration 5. To evince that 't is the highest last Ministration of institutions or visible Ordinances that Saints are to expect that when it s taken down there shall be no more nor indeed will there be need of any what Ministration can be supposed to be higher than the Ministration of the Spirit What can supersede it Yea the Apostle fairly intimates that it shall so remain not to pass away as the Ministration of the ter or Law that went before it 2 Cor. 3.7 which was to be done away For if that which is done away was Glorious much more that which Remaineth is Glorious And 't is not to be passed by in silence that the Apostle makes part of the excelling Glory above that of the Law of the Gospel-Ministration to consist in the duration of it If that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that fixed abiding unalterable Ministration 6. The managery of all the Worship Ordinances appertaining to this Ministration is to be in the Spirit Without whom all that 's done is not will never be acceptable to God 7. The means of its support upholdment continuance progress is the same Spirit 2 Cor. 10.4 The Weapons of our warfare are not Carnal but Mighty through God Antichrist hath other wayes to support promote his filthy Worship senseless traditions ridiculous fopperies viz. the arm of flesh Horrid Bloody Plots Conspiracies to massacre destroy cut off such as stand in the way of his devices Prisons Gibbets Stakes Flames to consume devour such as refuse to drink of the Cup of his Fornications but Lex nova non se vindicat ultore gladio the Law of Christ knows no such wayes methods for its support increase 'T is the Spirit Power of God by which it is ever was maintained a neglect of whom and turning aside to the Power Wisdom of Man warring after the flesh was the bane of Christianity and the first spring off the Antichristian apostacy Three things necessarily follow from hence 1. That a slighting undervaluing withdrawing from Gospel-Institutions is a slighting of the most glorious Ministration that ever was set on foot in the World 2. 'T is a contempt undervaluing of the Holy Spirit of the Lord whose they are and from whom they did proceed Let persons pretensions be what they will it cannot be otherwise Gospel-Institutions are of through the Spirit to slight these is to cast contempt upon him from whom they are 3. That the Spirit is obliged to support maintain them against all oppositions He remains with his People for ever for that end John 16.13 Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he shall guide you into all Truth v. 14. He shall Glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you And he hath actually done so hitherto keeping alive a blessed witness testimony to them for them in his called chosen witnesses more or less in every day Though sometimes this their testimony hath cost them dear viz. loss of Goods Enjoyments Friends Liberty Life it self yet they have Gloryed Triumph'd under all through this Spirit of Glory and of God that rested upon them and enabled them in this work The very truth is as the great controversie of Christ with the Nations of the European World hath been upon the account of their Spiritual fornications or false worship
profession of our Faith which lies eminently in our subjection to him therein the assembling our selves together to exhort one another which he would not have us forget is annext to bottomed upon the New-Covenant of which he is ex professo treating And a wilful rejection of these in open despight of Christ and contempt of his Authority he calls v. 29. A treading under foot the Son of God because it 's a high affront to his Soveraign Authority an accounting the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing not only because these Institutions are annext to that Covenant which was ratified by the blood of Christ but also because they have all their Foundation in that Blood our approximation to God in them our advantage by them is the issue of its effusion and a doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace because as hath been proved they are all the Ministration of that Spirit should God immediately by himself speak from Heaven to us and declare in so many words These Gospel-Institutions establisht by My Son are all of them bottomed upon annext to the New-Covenant we could not have a greater certainty that they are so than what is in that Scripture-evidence we have hitherto been discoursing of But 3. They belong to the Old-Covenant or the New There 's no medium To the Old-Covenant it 's most certain they appertain not Other manner of Ordinances which were only to continue to the Gospel-day as Circumcision Sacrifices appertained thereunto not the least notice under that Covenant as any part of the oeconomy thereof of particular Churches Baptism Breaking-Bread Christ came to put a Period to that Paedagogie and all the Laws Institutions thereunto appertaining and vertually did so by his Death actually by providential dispensations taking out of the way destroying that Temple to which they were peculiarly affixt And becoming a Mediator of a better Covenant established uppon better Promises as such he gives forth the Laws and Institutions we are pleading for of which afterwards 4. The Communications of Divine Life the Royal manifestations of the Love of GOD to us the bestowment of the Spirit upon us Divine peace comfort support upholdment with whatever Grace we are made partakers of are all conveyed in the way of the new-New-Covenant Now whatever any talk the communication of these as 't is promised to us as we have found attending upon the Lord in his own Institutions of which more anon so the Saints in every day at this day through wonderful riches of Grace are under the enjoyment of The Spirit is received Faith communicated Peace and Joy shed abroad upon the hearts of Believers as they conscientiously attend on these appointments of Christ Such as know not these things or having known them through the power of temptation slight undervalue them are to be pitied not attended to or regarded in their present apprehensions touching them 5. That God hath a people that he hath in the New and everlasting Covenant taken unto himself for a peculiar People will not be denied To these God gives himself as their GOD he betroths marries them to himself and they give up themselves spontaneously unto him as a People to own subject to his Authority Soveraignty and to profess their so doing by a conformity to whatever Commands Injunctions he shall lay upon them Gospel-Institutions he gives forth for the trial of their Love Loyalty to him charges them to be found in the practice of them as hath been proved Their obedience subjection hereunto he looks upon as a great part of their Loyalty to him in the Conjugal-Covenant he hath taken them into with himself Jer. 3.14 15. Turn O back-sliding Children saith the Lord for I am married unto you and I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion And I will give you Pastors according to mine Heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Where coming unto Zion or our attendment on God in wayes of his own Appointment is asserted to be that wherein our Marriage-relation to him stands Hence departing from these is call'd Whoredom Adultery and those that do so The great Whore the Mother of Harlots and fornications of the Earth The sum is Gospel-Churches Institutions are bottomed upon the New-Covenant therefore abiding CHAP. VIII The Churches that have been are are the Churches of Christ or Antichrist They are not the Churches of Antichrist proved The matter of Antichristian-Churches and of the present Churches The Form Foundation Doctrine Worship Nature Characters Properties of the one and the other considered 1 Tim. 4.1 The Daemons there mentioned what they are Their Original Office manner of Worshipping them the Doctrines of Daemon's the Doctrine of the Apostatick-Synagogue of Rome Demonstration VIII THat there have been persons under the profession of the Name of Christ congregated together for the solemnization of Ordinances from the first-times of the Gospel hitherto hath been before proved That there are so still cannot be denied Now these Churches must be either the Churches of Christ or the Churches of Antichrist There 's no medium A Church that was neither of Christ nor Antichrist was never yet heard of in the world since the first-dawning of the Gospel-day So then if we demonstrate that the present Churches are not Antichristian-churches we evince them to be the Churches of Christ and a continuation of the Gospel-Church-State at least hitherto is evidently discover'd That they are not Churches of Antichrist is easily demonstrated They wholly differ from the Antichristian-Church in respect of matter form foundation doctrine worship nature characters properties Touchching which it 's needful that we particularly discourse First then the Matter of the Antichristian-church is whoever own 's the Christian Faith make 's a Profession of it though never so deboysh vile wicked to every good work reprobate Notwithstanding all their pompous shews of Religion Forms of Godliness they are really such as have pleasure in Unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.12 Is this the matter constitutive of the present Churches Do they admit persons of so black a character into their Communion If any such spots are found amongst them do they tollerate indulge them Are not the rules of Christ prosecuted till they appearing to be persons of a reprobate mind are rejected out of their fellowship Is it not the avowed principles of all the Churches that such as these are not fit matter for any Church of Christ Can they be charged with walking contrary to their principles in this matter Who hath the confidence impudence thus to charge any one of them 'T is true now and then some scandalous persons are found amongst them and so there were in the Primitive Churches as in the Church of Corinth c. that crept in unawares but they are matter of grief humbling to them and they do not dare not cannot suffer them in their Communion 2. The Form if it may be so call'd of the Antichristian-Church lie's in a
In whom in the great Inquisition that God will make will be found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth Rev. 18.24 In a word the Antichristian-church is that part of the body of professors that the great Antichristian-Apostasy spoken of by these Apostles gather's up who is described character'd by her false Doctrine idolatrous superstitious Worship of which before immorality in conversation persecution bloody cruelty against the Royal Seed the Saints of the most high Who so sear'd hardened in heart and conscience as without a blush from a soul filled with deep consternation can bear the sight of a thought springing up to affix the characters of this Antichristian-church unto the present Churches So then these being in respect of Matter Form Foundation Doctrine Worship Nature Characters perfectly different from the Antichristian-church must of necessity be the Churches of CHRIST and accounted so by all who are not resolv'd against the plainest Demonstrations to hold their perswasion with a nunquam persuadebis etiamsi persuaseris except some Hermaphrodyte-Church that is neither of Christ or Antichrist can be found out CHAP. IX The Church-state Gospel-Institutions are bottomed upon the Mediatory Office of Christ Their continuation from thence dedemonstrated Of Christ's Prophetick Priestly Kingly-Office Christ as the great Prophet of the Church hath revealed the Gospel-Church-state with the Institutions and Ordinances Christ call'd an Apostle and why Said to be sent by the Father Such a Prophet as never was in the World before nor hath there or shall there be any like him What of the Father he revealed The continuation of Gospel-Churches evinced from hence Of the Priestly-Office of Christ Gospel-Churches Institutions bottomed upon it at large demonstrated Of the Kingly-Office of Christ Gospel-Churches bottomed thereupon Demonstration IX THe Church-State Gospel-Churches Institutions are bottomed upon the Mediatory Office of Christ from whence a continuation of them till his next second glorious coming doth necessarily follow To Christ as Mediator a threefold-Office whereinto by Solemn Unction he was inaugurated by the Father doth appertain viz. Prophetick Priestly Kingly Arguments from each of these might at large be insisted on to demonstrate the truth we are at present contending for I. That Christ is the great Prophet of the Church will not be denied Deut. 18.18 Act. 3.22 and 7.37 As a Prophet he is fully acquainted with the Will of God and hath perfectly Revealed it to the Church both in respect of Doctrine Worship and Discipline The truth is his whole work as a Prophet is to reveal the Will of God and therein to Teach and Instruct us He is also call'd The Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 The Prophetick-Office of Christ with respect unto his immediate Authoritative Mission from the Father is that which is intended by the expression He is said frequently to be sent by the Father Isa 19.20 and 48.16 and 61.1 Zach. 2.8 9. He whom the Father sent is the description he gives of himself Joh. 3.34 which is frequently repeated John 3.17 18 28 34. and 5.23 24 30 36 37 38. and 6.29 38 39 40 44 57. and 7.16 28 29. and 8.16 18 29 42. and 9.4 and 10.36 and 11.42 and 12.44 45 49. and 13.26 and 14.24 and 15.21 and 16.5 and 17.3 18 21 23 25. and 20.21 A Prophet he is and such a Prophet as never was in the World before nor any other like him was there to be and as a Prophet he reveals the Father himself John 1.18 And his Name Chap. 13.6 and 17.3 i. e. the mystery of the Covenant of the Grace of GOD his Love Kindness to the Sons of Men his Worship whole will respecting our Obedience and Salvation And for this work he was sent from the Father had his Authority from him and furnitures through the Spirit poured out upon him without measure for the dispatch of it So that he that hears Christ hears the Father and he that refuseth Christ refuseth the Father also because he acts in his Name Authority in this his Office That from hence the continuation of Gospel-Churches Institutions must necessarily follow is evident For 1. Christ as the great Prophet of the Church hath declared these to be one part of his Fathers Will that as such he was to Reveal as hath been proved That at any time it should be lawful for us to oppose the Will of the Lord thus solemnly revealed none will sure have the confidence to affirm 2. The Apostle to the Hebrews chap. 1. chap. 2. makes Christ's coming as the great Prophet of God one argument of the abolition of the whole Mosaick Paedagogy and the introduction of those Gospel-Institutions they were in the practice of God that spake in the Prophets hath spoken in his Son q. d. You expected a Prophet for so they did who should bring in a New-Ministration reveal the whole will of the Father to you this is He he is the Apostle sent from him for this end attend him consider him Heb. 3.1 Now certainly if the Apostle lookt upon this as a good argument for the same at least one of the same ends for which 't is produced by us 't will be immodesty for any to look upon it as impertinent incogent 3. Christ as the great Prophet when he Tabernacled in the World revealed this State the Laws Institutions relating to it Had we lived in the time when and been one of those to whom he had communicated them ought we to have believed obeyed subjected to them Sure 'T will not be denied but we ought Are not the same Laws delivered to the Apostles recorded in the Scriptures This will not be opposed What then Have the Laws of CHRIST by their being written lost their Authority This will not I am sure it cannot with any pretext of Reason be said It remains therefore that Churches with the Worship affixt to them being once of the discovery of CHRIST must still continue so to be and our practice suitable to that discovery necessitate precepti necessary 4. Is there any greater Prophet than Christ risen up Doth he come in his Fathers or in his own Name What 's his message that he brings Is he upon a new discovery of the Fathers will pouring contempt upon what hath been Revealed by Christ Every spiritual believer knows what reception he ought to have with him viz. neither he nor his Message to be received but rejected as an impostor a lye 2 John 10.11 5. Hath Christ ceased to be a Prophet Since he was signally inaugurated into that Office by the visible descent of the holy Spirit upon him in the form of a Dove Mat. 3.16 17 Shall he do so till he deliver up the Mediatory-Kingdom to the Father Neither the one nor the other will be asserted Doth he now any other wayes discharge that Office than by his written Word and Spirit opening the understanding of believers to perceive his Instructions contained therein Surely no. The