Sabbath m Col. 2.16 17. but the Lord's Day are 1. Then Christ finished Redemption and Rose from the Dead n Mat. 28.1 Luke 24.1 2. Then he appeared after his Resurrection to his Disciples assembled o Joh. 20.19 3. On this Day the Churches held their Solemn Assemblies for Preaching and administring the Lords Supper and Contributions p Acts 20.7 1 Cor. 16.12 4. On this Day John was in the Spirit and it 's called the Lord's Day q Re. 1.10 because more peculiarly appropriated to his Service as the Lord's Supper § 10. It is not in the Power of Churches to set apart any stated times Yearly or Monthly to be observed for that would be Superstition and Will-Worship a Gal. 4.10 Col. 16.17 But Days of Fasting and Humiliation may be appointed by any Church of Christ according as weighty Reasons lead it thereunto b Acts 14.23 CHAP. XI Of Ordinances of Special Communion Kinds of Ordinances of Special Communion A Seal what it doth and signifies New Testament Seals but Two What Baptism is What the Lord's Supper is What is to be observed in its Administration § 1. HAVING shewed what are Christ's Ordinances in a Visible Church of General or more common Communion we come in the next place to speak of Ordinances of Special Communion peculiar only to such as are Church-Members and these are such Appointments of Christ as concern the Administration of the Seals or such as concern the Administration of the Keys § 2. A Seal of the Covenant under the New Testament is a visible and sensible Ratification thereof wherein Christ our High Priest doth eminently shew forth unto us the glory of his Priestly Office in makeing himself a Sacrifice for Sin bearing the Charge and Curse of Sin satisfying God's Justice reconciling us to God and procuring Eternal Salvation to us a 1 Pet. 2.9 Heb. 9.26 Col. 1.21 22. Heb. 9.12 who as such is the great Condition of the Covenant of Grace b Isa 42.6 i. e. of Abraham's Covenant c Ro. 4.13 Gal. 3.17 whereby we have upon Profession right to claim all Church-Priviledges Mystical and Visible in the State of Grace and that of Glory hereafter d Gal. 3.9.28 29. In all the Old Testament Seals and in the New especially Christ in the Covenant of Grace is in a most lively manner represented and shewed forth in the Church e 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26. Col. 2.11 12. as to Condition and Promises he being not only the great Condition but the Yea and Amen of all the Promises f 2 Cor. 1.20 which are therein Applied and Sealed at least Ministerially g Gen. 17.7 10. Rom. 4.11 12. Gal. 3.27 § 3. The Seals of the New Testament are Two and no more Baptism and the Lord's Supper which are the only Instituted Rites or Ceremonies in a Church that are ordained by Christ to continue till he come a Matt. 28.19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 c. All Jewish Ceremonies are vanisht as Shadows and abolished b Heb. 8.5.13 2 Cor. 3.14 as all Ceremonies attending the bestowing Miraculous Gifts are also ceased c 1 Cor. 13.8 such as Imposition of Hands on well or sick Vnction washing of Feet this being but a didactical Ceremony used by Christ to teach the Apostles Humility and not to Lord it over his Churches and was never intended for a standing Ordinance And as none of these which many are fond of and even Idolize some one and some another and upon as good Grounds all as any for each one had any Sanction for continuance so their significancy ceasing the Sign also comes to nought § 4. Baptism is a Sign and Seal of the Righteousness of Faith wherein Washing with Water into the Name of the Father Son and Holy Ghost a Mat. 28.19 doth represent and shew forth at least Ministerially a Sinners washing from his Sins in the Bloud of Christ b Rev. 1.6 Act 2.38 his New Birth and Renovation by the Spirit of Christ c Titus 3.5 and his Covenant Obligation to be the Lords d Gal. 3.27 28. eib 3.9.26 The Subjects of this Seal are all those who by Profession of Faith in Christ e ib. 3.9.26 which is Abraham's Faith are become Covenant-Members accordingly of a Visible Church and their immediate Infant-Seed f Act. 2.39 they being blessed with faithful Abraham g Gal. 3.7 8 14. and having all essential Church-Blessings come upon them And therefore the Blessing of Membership to the professing Body of Christ h Rom. 15.8 9. ch 4.11 12 and Gospel Church Priviledges as they belong to one or other respectively are Ministerially to be applied of which Baptism is none of the least being the Ordinance of Christ in which only a Believer can bring his Infant-Seed to Christ and he cannot bring it to Christ out of an Ordinance therefore it being his Duty to bring it to Christ it must be in this Ordinance to be blessed with Abraham's Blessing spiritually as he and his Seed are Ecclesiastically the reason that Christ gives for his Command of bringing Infants to him i Matt. 19.14 15. Mark 10.14 16. Luk. 18.16 is That they are Church Members of such is the Kingdom of Heaven and it 's known that Christ means his visible Church in the days of the Gospel by the Kingdom of Heaven and he took them in his Arms received them visibly laid his Hands upon them which is more than for any Ministers to Baptize them and blessed them And doth Christ Bless with any Blessing besides the Blessing of Abraham that comes on the Gentiles § 5. The Lord's Supper is a special Ordinance of Church Communion a 1 Cor. 10.16 instituted and continued by Jesus Christ b 1 Cor. 11 26. wherein by the Giving and Receiving the outward Elements of Bread and Wine c Mat. 26.26 Mar. 14.23 Luke 22.19 1 Cor. 11.23 the Death Satisfaction and Merits of Christ are in a lively manner shewed forth and he who through Christ is a worthy Receiver doth spiritually and really by Faith partake of his Body and Bloud with all the high Benefits thereof and not Ministerially only as he doth who is only an outside professed Member It is called the Lord's Supper d 1 Cor. 11 20. because it is of the Lord's Institution and for this end to shew forth his Death e 1 Cor. 11 26. and because he first Celebrated it the Evening before his Death f ib. v. 23. § 6. This being instituted for so spiritual and solemn Ends and Purposes a 1 Cor. 11 24 25 26 27. Luk. 22.19 cannot be administred or attended upon for any other Purposes such as to qualifie Men upon a secular account without great Prophanation thereof b Mal. 1.11 12. John 6.26 27. Ex. 20.4 7 Rev. 13.16 17. § 7. In the Administration of this Ordinance these things according to the Primitive
b 1 Cor. 12 12. Rev. 1.20 2. It 's a Company of Men not of Angels for Angels are no where called a Church tho a Company c Heb. 12.22 but they surround the Church d Rev. 5.11 and consort in their Adorations with the Church The Angels were not Redeemed by Christ's Blood neither of the Nature of the Head and therefore not the Body of Christ as the Church is e Heb. 2.16 3. It 's a spiritual Company in contra-distinction to humane and civil Societies or Companies gathered together occasionally or statedly f Act 19.39 4. It 's separated from the World all the World is not a Church but it 's called and separated out of the World g John 17.10 15.19 2 Cor. 6.17 as Christ the Head is separate h Heb. 7.26 2 Pet. 2.20 Deut. 14.2 Titus 2.14 so must the Body be 5. They are not a company of scattered Sheep but gathered into a Fold i John 10.16 Stones not lying here and there but brought into a building k 1 Pet. 2.4.5 6. They are embodied or incorporated with the Corner-Stone and to one another and as Members are knit to the Head and one another l 2 Thes 2.1 Eph. 4.16 Ps 122 3. 1 Thes 1 1. Hence Union to Christ the Head and to one another is essentially necessary to the Church of God m John 15 to which Union is requisite cutting off from the old Stock and Implantation into the new n Rom. 11.24 connection knitting and coalition of Head and Members together Members to the Head and they to one another o Eph. 2.21 and lastly an aptitude order and fitness to each other to compleat the whole in usefulness and comeliness p 1 Cor. 12 11 12 13. Eph. 4.16 2.21 § 11. Hence it plainly appears what a Church of God is in the general Nature thereof It is a spiritual company of men separated from the world a 2 Cor. 6.17 congregated and incorporated in Christ Jesus b 1 Cor. 12.12 Congregation is a Genus to Church it 's a spiritual Congregatiion and there is no Church but is so in some sense or other the words in the Old and New Testament always signifie so Cohel and Ecclesia But Congregation seems to be a remoter Genus than Corporation for every Congregation is not incorporated neither is every incorporated Congregation a spiritual Body c Acts 19.39 and therefore a Church but every Church is a Congregation incorporated by the Union afore-mentioned and it 's for the end of him whose it is viz. his Glory in communion with him and of one Member with another CHAP. II. Of the Catholick Church A Church defined A Spiritual Corporation how distinguisht Corporation what How belonging to Christ What Persons a Church is made up of How Membership comes Communion Distribution of Church The Catholick Church Catholick Vnion Communion It s not the Subject of Ordinances No Catholick Visible Church § 1. FROM what hath bin said in the former Chapter it appears that a Church is thus defined viz. That it is a Spiritual Corporation or Body of Christ a Eph. 1.23 Col. 1.24 1 Pet. 2.9 the Head to which many select persons b Tit. 2.14 separated from the World c 2 Cor. 6.16 17. are gathered d 2 The. 2.1 and united e Eph. 5.23 30. and accordingly fitly joined one to another f ch 4.16 for holy Communion in the Lord g 1 John 1.3 § 2. Corporation or a Political Body is the next common Nature to a Church and not Congregation or Assembly for Congregation is either occasional a Act 19.39 41. or fixed and stated by incorporation and this either civil or spiritual a civil is nothing appertaining to our present concern but the spiritual is for a Civil is that which belongs to a Secular or Republican State but spiritual is that that belongs to a Spiritual or Ecclesiastick State b 1 Cor. 10 4. Gal. 6.1 Matth. 7.6 1 Cor. 7.32 33. hence spiritual here is not confin'd to the sence of invisibility but is meant of that which is of a heavenly sacred and supernatural Nature c 1 Cor. 15.40 Heb. 8.5 9.23 1. Pet. 2.5 wherefore a spiritual Corporation or Body Politick is either mystical and invisible or visible professed and manifest to the World § 3. A Corporation is a Community constituted by Law or Charter granted by a Supream Power whereby it is invested with Priviledges and a Governing Power regulated by and subordinated to the Honour and Interest of the said supream Power such are Kingdoms Cities Housholds or Families or any number of persons bound together in any sociable Bond is a Society of this Nature whether implicite or explicite of these the Conjugal is the least though the first and most ancient yea the most honourable of all Civil Societies being the Root from whence they spring wherefore the Relation between Christ and his Church is represented thus to us by the Spirit of God in a most lively manner a Eph. 5.31 32. § 4. The Government Liberties and Priviledges of the Church are given as by Charter to the Lord Jesus Christ by the Father a Psa 2.6 Mat. 28.18 ch 2.6 the administration of which Power by him is either internal and immediate by his Spirit in the hearts of his People and according to the measure of Grace given to every one and of the same nature in the whole Body b Col. 3.15 Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.8 17. Gal. 5.16.18.25 1 Pet. 1.2.22 of Christ c Rom. 12.3 1 John 3.24 and is universal and invisible or Christ administers more externally visibly and mediately in particular visible Bodies Politick by his Word instituted Officers and Ordinances for the sake and edifying of his Universal Church d Eph. 4.12 § 5. Every Church of Christ is made of select Persons and separated from the World a 1 Pet. 2.9 Tit. 2.14 2 Cor. 6.16.17 either by Effectual Calling and thereby become Members of the Mystical Body of Christ b Eph. 4.4 1 Cor. 12.12 or by a visible Profession and Confederation and thereby become Members of the visible particular Churches c 2 Cor. 7.13 § 6. A People may be gathered together yea to Christ so as to hear him or his Messengers a Act 13.43 Matt. 13.2 and not thereby become Members of the Body of Christ under any consideration But they must be so gathered to Christ the Head as to come into the bond of the Covenant b Eze. 20.37 Col. 2.19 1 Cor. 6.17 either by receiving Christ by Faith and thereby restipulating personally to the Covenant of Grace and so joining to the Lord. Or it is when a Person doth upon his Profession actually covenant with a particular Church by the first he becomes a Member of the Mystical Body c Col. 3.11 and by the second of a
more Glorious the Ministration of the Spirit and not of the Letter w 2 Cor. 3.6 the faithful Dispensation of the Son over his own House x Heb. 3.2 6. wherein he is more to be prized and worthy of more honour than Moses a servant could ever be capable of y Ibid. Christ's being a more excellent Ministry in that he was a better Mediator of a better Testament z Heb. 8.6 confirming and sealing it with his own Bloud a Heb. 9.16 17. and now liveth in the full execution of this last Will and Testament b Heb. 8.25 Eph. 4.11 and the glorious Witness thereof before God Angels and Men c Rev. 1.5 18. standing now our High-Priest set down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High a Minister of the Sanctuary and true Tabernacle which God pitched and not Man d Heb. 8.1 2. § 7. The Constitution of the Church of Israel tho it was National a Exo. 19.6 Gen. 35.11 as being made up according to that part of the promise peculiar to Abraham's natural Seed yet it was Congregational b Exod. 12.6.47 Lev 4.13 1 Kings 8.5 14. 2 Chro. 6.3 according to the other part of the Promise not to be shaken or removed c Heb. 12.28 Gal. 3.8.17 29. Jer. 30.32 37. 33.26 because it was incorporated into one Church by a visible profession of and subjection to Abraham's Covenant d Exo. 34.27 for such as were Infant-Church-Members received the Seal of the Righteousness of faith and when they became adult and stood not to this Profession they forfeited their Church-Membership and thus it was with Ismael and Esau e Gen. 21.10 12. Gal. 4.30 upon which both with their Seed fell off from the Church tho the natural Seed of Abraham and Isaac f Gen. 25.31 And afterward when the Seed of Israel grew up into a National Church in all their Apostacies they were charged with the breach of Abraham's Covenant g Deut. 31 16. Ezek. 16.8 Jer. 11.10 or that made with their Fathers which was the same as therein going a whoring from God and forfeiting the Right of Church-Membership and becoming a Loammi Moreover in all their great Reformations we find their returning to the said Covenant and often their publick renewing and recognition thereof h 2 Chron. 34.31 Psal 105.4 5 c. Ezra 10.3 2. It appears in that all the House of Israel as to their stated Church-Worship worshipped under one visible Pastor in their State after Moses his Settlement one High-Priest and at one Altar in one place i Lev. 1.3 Deut. 12.14 14.23 16.2 7.11 15 16. Josh 22.18 23. and therefore the stated Church-Worship was attended in one Assembly Tabernacle or Temple Thrice every Year where the whole Congregation had Communion in one and the same Worship and acts of Worship k Deut. 16.16 3. This People were a separated People from all others in the World l Lev. 20.24 Deut. 4.7 34. cap. 7.6 14.2 Psa 135.4 4. Jeroboam's Apostacy was condemned by God as an actual Rent and Schism from the visible Church that statedly worshipped God at Jerusalem m 1 King 11.30 31. 5. The Synagogue-Worship was not the Church-Worship neither was the daily Sacrifice or others nor any holy Convocations belonging unto them any more than the meer reading of Moses and the Prophets and Exposition thereof at most sometimes n Act 13.15 6. All Church-Worship of special communion as offering Sacrifices elsewhere than at the place chosen by God for that purpose was condemned witness the frequent complaint made against their High-Places under the Reign even of their best Kings o 1 King 22.43 till Hezekiah's time that destroyed them all p 2 King 18.4 § 8. That a Congregational Church is of Divine Institution appears by these Reasons 1. Either a Congregational Church is of Divine Institution or else God hath no instituted Church for there is no other visible Church of God's Institution spoken of in Scripture 2. The Church of Israel was Congregational as hath bin proved and none will deny that to be of God's Institution 3. The express Type of a Congregational Church under the Gospel was of God's Institution therefore the Antitype or thing Typified much more a Rev. 1.20 Heb. 8.5 6 3.5 6. 4. This Church is Prophesied of by the Prophets of old b Isa 56.5.6 7. Eze. 43.11 Mal. 1.11 12. 5. Christ and his Apostles planted such Churches as appears throughout the History of the Acts. 6. These Christ and his Apostles owned to be his truly instituted Churches not only by the Epistles wrote to them by the Apostles but by those sent to them by Christ himself c Rev. 2. 3. CHAP. IV. Of a Gospel Visible or Congregational Church Restipulation to Abraham 's Covenant double A Gospel Visible Church defined A visible Church always particular not Catholick The Catholick not the Genus of a particular Church but a distinct Species of Church in general Corporation distinguisht into its Species The Political relation of a Church to Christ The immediate matter of a visible Church What is the form of it Separation inseparable from it The immediate Infant-Seed Members by Covenant Communion the end of Church-Vnion § 1. HAVING shewed what a Visible or Congregational Church is in general when the first Institution of it was and where founded viz. in Abraham's Covenant of Circumcision that for the substance of the said Covenant it was immutable both as to the Person Natures Offices Ministry Sacrifice and Exaltation of Christ the Head both Mystical and Political a Gal. 3.8 cap. 4.26 27. so as to the Body of Christ the Church in its Catholick b Eph. 3.5 6. Acts 15.7 9. or Visible relation to him c Deut. 14.2 1 Pet. 2.9 setting aside only the difference of Oeconomies and the Administration thereof called the Old and New Testaments d Heb. 8.6 9.15 it is the everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure e 2. Sam. 23.5 2. Cor. 3.11 to which as to the more mysterious and hidden part under the efficacious work of the Spirit every sincere-hearted Believer doth restipulate when he becomes an actual Member of the Mystical Body f 2 Cor. 11 2 3. Heb. 12 22 and as to the more External Visible and Political part he doth visibly restipulate by confederation and embodying to Christ the Political Head g Isa 56.6 7. 44.5 and with a particular Congregation a Political Body of Christ § 2. The Ecclesiastical Blessings as belonging to the visible State Standing and Priviledges of a Congregational Church unalterable under either Dispensation are these especially First It s Foederal Constitution a Isa 61.8 9. Gen. 17.9 10. Secondly It s Divine Institution b Ibid. Thirdly The Nature of its Church-Membership c Rom. 4.11 12 16. Gal. 3.27 28 29. and the