or other 3 Union of way for promoting this design working and walking together in the same work and way of the Lord speaking or doing nothing through strife or vain glory but truthing it in love so as seeking and striving to walk together in setting forth commending cleaving to and leading others unto the same one Lord and so the one faith and the one baptism that is of and by him and the glory of God as shined forth in his face unto and for all things and in teaching all things therewith Seeking I say to walk together in this way of understanding in their several gifts administrations operations c. studying and striving each of them and together in the light and strength of the Lord to speak the same thing and to be perfectly joyned together in one mind and one judgment that there be no divisions c. 1 Cor. 1. 10. and chap. 12. 6 12. with Ephes 4. 1. 15. And so 4 Union of accord and agreement such as in which all things by each one are sought to be done in charity and with the advice consent prayers and helpfulness of their brethren in the faith and patience of Jesus that they may be blessed out of the house of the Lord and grow by that which every joynt supplyeth and to that purpose the younger submitting to the elder and all of them one to another in the fear of God And so there is in it 5 An union of fellowship one wiâ—h another and that in personal society and companionship for fellowship in the Gospel and ordinances thereof for acquainting our selves with the joys and griefs of one another for stirring up and exhorting to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of themselvs together as the manner of some is who are sensual not retaining the spirit This of personal society with them that call on him out of a pure heart is to be prized and embraced as one of the choicest outward mercies and blessings of this life and of greatest advantage to the one thing needfull and to be striven for in all our seekings namely the faith of the Gospel and therefore the opportunities God gives for it with diligence to be apprehended and improved See Psalm 84. and 122. Acts 2. 42. 46. Hebrews 10. 23 24 25. with chapter 3. 12 13. And in communicating on with another by and diligent improving the helpfulness that we may enjoy from such persons as afore-said by that meanes when personal converse or society with them cannot be enjoyed Till I come saith the Apostle to Timothy give attention to reading c. Signisying That when the Apostle should be personally present with him it might be of more use and advantage to Timothy to apply himself to personal converse with him and to attend to what he might personally hear and receive from him But when opportunity for that is denyed the reading searching and studdy of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles and so the reading and considering the writings of such as have that lap of knowledge fore-mentioned the Word of God and testimony of Jesus and searching the Scriptures of truth whether those things be so and in such wise attending to those helps to our understanding and usefulness of the Scriptures and great things of Gods love conâ—ained in them that we may injoy from such persons is in the next place of great advantage and usefulness to the promoting these our main affairs Onely here be we admonished by the words of the wise given forth from one Shepheard That as no man can gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figgs of Thistles so neither can we expect to reap any good fruit or advantage but loss and pollution to the corruping our minds and manners from evil communication or the communication about the things of God from evil persons or such as love not the Lord Jesus Christ nor have that lip of knowledge that word of reconciliation in their hearts or mouths or in some measure having it yet are not so subdued by it to let fall their imaginations and high thoughts of comprehending and making out those things of the testimony of God by the wisdome of man or of this World and by the words which mans wisdome teacheâ—h not willing to become Fooles in themselves that they may have all their wisdome and strength in that evidence and demonstration of the Spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus The discourses or writings of such even of such as the last though they the best and most to be respected of the several sorts mentioned because they have in some measure the testimony of God though not subdued by it they seek to comprehend and declare it by mans wisdome or words as 1 Corinthians 1. 17. and 2. 1. 4. and 3. 18 19 20. 1 Timothy 6. 21. which makes that even such helps of either sort are little helpfull to those that through Grace have believed or to the convincing the ignorant and gain-sayers because they make it not their business nor doth their excellency lye there plainly to shew and demonstrate by the Scriptures Jesus the Christ and so other things in that demonstration of him by the Scriptures and so leave it on mens Consciences as his word and in his name But rather to shew and demonstrate those things by strength of reason or excellency of wisdome and of words which mans wisdome teacheth Compare the fore-mentioned Scriptures with Acts 18. 27 28. Those seeming helps may occasion to us much bodily exercise and such kinde of study as is a wearisomness to the flesh but the profit gained by them is but little and for a little while And if time were spared from such discourses and readings as in which chiefly the excellency of wisdome and of words is shewed in declaring and for demonstrating and making out the testimony of God we might have more to spend better and in more free and diligent attention to those helps that might be indeed helps and profitable to us But how much more are we to go from the presence of such soolish men as have not the lip of knowledge so soon as we perceive it to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge because not onely they are in themselves polluting but also that with more diligence and earnestness we may continue together in the Apostles Doctrine and sellowship striving together for the faith of the Gospel that in nothing we may be terrified by our adversaries When the wicked did gather together in bands and were therein more powerful to do mischief to rob and rend from David he then resolves to be a companion of all those that fear the Lord and of those that in their fear or worship keep his way his precepts as of great advantage to strengthen him against the bands of the wicked Psal 119. 61 63. So in the latter dayes when there are of those many sorts of walkers who are enemies to the Cross
come in the glory of his Father which he now possesseth in heaven with the father for us and to restore all things and then to fashion their vile bodyes unto the likeness of his glorious body And so the end of their conversation is Jesus Christ The same Yesterday and to Day and for ever as also before is shewed the thing they aim at and strive for in all their seekings and in which they seek righteousness and strength is the faith of the Gospel yea these are the true circumcision persons truely redeemed separated and devoted from men and from their vain conversation unto God the Israel of God that are so redeemed and congregated to him by the precious blood of Christ discovered in the Gospel and the grace of God therein commended who also have their rejoycing in Christ Jesus relinquishing for the excellency of the knowledge of him all confidence or rejoycing in the flesh Phil. 33. c. with Acts 20. 28. 1 Pet. 1. 18. c. Rom. 5. 1 11. The other sorts of walkers such as before mentioned for they are many and under many forms are so to be marked by us as to be distinguished from the true brethren and to be avoided and turned from as strangers Proverbs 5. 1. 8. and 14. 7. and 19. 27. John 1â— 5. Romans 16. 17 18. 2 Timothy 2. 17 21. and 3. 1 5. But with these all or any of these worshippers in the spirit that have their rejoycing in Christ Jesus so as for the excellencie of the knowledge of him relinquishing fleshly confidences that call on him out of a pure heart as 2 Tim. 2. 22. A spirit fixed and purified from double mindedness as to the spirit of the mind at least to seek righteousness and strength in Jesus having their hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience with the blood of Christ and therein set to seek all things pertaining to life and godliness there With these I say whatever differences in lighter matters or shortness in attainments or infirmities may be found with any of them and discerned by us yet we are to dwell and walk together with such as we have opportunity as brethren and fellow-labourers or helpers in our combate Strift or warfare The Unity of the Spirit to be endeavoured to be kept with such and so in which such are to dwell and walk together in their seeking the Lord and striving for the faith of the Gospel Hath in it 1. Union of love such as in which they love one another with such peculiar manner of love as with which they are beloved of God which is such as in which they are called Sons accepted in Christ as found in him delighted in and chosen to peculiar favour and fellowship so the love wherewith they are to love one another is such as wherewith they are not to love others That are yet of the world or are gon out again from them into the world as is signified 1 John 4. 1 7. Yea such as in which they are to love as brethren beloved of God 1 Peter 4. 8. with 1 Thessalonians 1. 4. Colosians 1. 4. To esteem receive and own another as brethren in a peculiar sense even of one and the same body and heirs together of the grace of life as they have been all baptized or washed from the errours and pollutions of the world into the faith and acknowledgement of that one body of Christ that was broken for us and through sufferings perfected and offered once for all and now glorified with the father for us and so united by faith unto it and to one another in it even as they are called in one hope of their calling 1 Cor. 12. 12 13. Ephes 4. 4. with chap. 5. 30. even so they are to love as brethren and heirs together of the same inheritance and on the same account and terms as members of the same body to be so respected cared for and delighted in for fellowship in the Gospel And so also to be more abundantly pitied and tendred in their infirmities and afflictions and the covering of infirmities bearing burthens and healing diseases to be sought with more abundant diligence and as our own in a peculiar sence more then others to whom yet that love of pity and compassion is to be extended even as God that is so abundantly gracious to all in his great love of pity and compassion wherewith he loveth them in and through Christ when they are yet dead in sins trespasses and so not peculiarly beloved by him with that manner of love in which he receiveth delights in and takes pleasure in persons is yet more abundantly rich in that his tender mercy pity and compassion unto them that call on him in truth that come to him by Christ whom also he accepteth receiveth and takes pleasure in them as they are found in Christ Psaâ—â—â— 103. 11 13. and 145 8 18 19. Romans 10. 12. with 1 Peter 3. 8 Col. 3. 9 13. This love is to be the same and indifferent to them as they are Christs in that peculiar sence without partiality or respect of persons as they are rich or poor bond or free And without dissimulation or hypocrisie to be in them one to another not so much in word or tongue as in deed and truth 'T is indeed too general an evil to lay so much of the stress of Religion in that loving which is in word and in tongue as in familiar calling Brother and Sister and the like that the loving indeed and in truth as brethren is neglected and forgotten as if all stood in word and tongue 2 Union of mind and design as of one heart and soul being made to drink into that one Spirit that testifies of Christ instructing and framing to like mindedness with him each minding and seeking the things which be Jesus Christs and so the things and good of one another without guile hypocrisie or partiallity yea with a neglect of themselves their own ends interests and things as distinct from these not regarding their own life that they may earnestly follow mind and promote the one thing needfull As we read of multitudes of men expert in War and that could keep Rank that were not of double heart but all perfect hatred yea of one heart to make David King 1 Chronicles 12. 33. 38. So also we read of the multitude of them that believed Acts 4. 32. Being of one heart and of one soul as likewise Acts 2. 46. This that prayed for John 17. 20 23. and instructed too Philippians 2. 1 5 20 29. and 4 2. And indeed there cannot be that one-ness or sameness of mind any other way but in the Lord meeting together there each to mind and seek the things which be Jesus Christs with a neglect each of their own For if each be seeking their own interests or things there can be no perfect joyning of them together because their particular interests or things will clash one with another in something
of Christ the power of godliness that creep into houses or gather into companies and societies like the Churches of Christ Then such as Timothy are advised with more diligence to follow their work and design together with them that call on him out of a pure heart 2 Timothy 2. 22. with chap. 3. 1. 6. And all of us to be followers together of the Apostles and mark them which walk so as they have them for an example considering the end of their conversation as afore-said and so knowing and owning them for our companions to strive together with Phil. 3. 17 18 19 20 21. with chap. 1. 27 28. and 2. 1. 6. c. And that in all our acts of seeking and striving for the faith of the Gospel in all our hearing speaking doing suffering yea in our prayers to God as Romans 15. 30. with Ephesians 6. 18. Acts 1. 14. and 12. 12. See the many instructions and earnest entreaties and exhortations to this seeking and striving together in the Scriptures already mentioned and in divers others Surely a good and pleasant thing is this unity of the Spirit and the generation of seekers dwelling together in it For there the Lord hath commanded the blessing even life for evermore Where ever two or three are gathered together in his name there is he in the midst of them rendring them comely as Jerusalem that is compact together and terrible as an Army with Banners Psam 103 Cant. 6. 4. Mat. 18. 20. This last branch of order in the manner of our seeking is fitly added to the latter part of the former branch For onely by Pride commeth Contention Envying and Strife And then follows confusion and every evil work Proverbs 13. 10. James 3. 13. 16. and 4. 1 6 10. Therefore our Saviour thus joyns them in his instruction and exhortation Mark 9. 50. Have Salt in your selves have peace one with another Meaning by Salt the humbling instructions of the Gospel and the reproofs of instruction and signifying that the retaining them and suffering their effecacy each of us on our Spirits is the way to have peace one with another hence also the Apostle instructs with all lowliness of mind to endeavour to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace for there can be no union or perfect joyning together without suffering the desires of vain glory to be subdued and our selves to be broken off from our own purpose and desire in which we are each minding and seeking his own things nor will there be any right submission of the younger to the elder nor of all of us one to another in the fear of the Lord without being cloathed with humility in the hearty acknowledgement of his glorious name Ephesians 4. 2 3 c. Philipians 2. 2 3 4 7 20 21. 1 Peter 5. 5 6. According to these last considerations of the due order in the manner of our seeking after which the Lord is to be sought by us They seek him not after the due order that are not gathered together to him in his name and so seeking him in the instruction encouragement and acknowledgement of it and in the unity of the Spirit in it or thus They that worship not in the spirit in the light teaching and instruction of that one spirit that is in and with the testimony of Jesus taking of his things and shewing them and so teaching all things and leading into all truth For as this is the spirit of prophesie so also of faith and of grace and supplication in which all the true worshippers worship God Rev. 19. 10. They therefore worship not aright that worship not in the spirit and so that have not their rejoycing in Christ Jesus who is the truth with a relinquishing and free giving up all Idols and rejoycings in the flesh for the excellency of the knowledge of him John 4. 23 24. Phil. 3. 3. Particularly thus 1. They that run not into that name of Christ in which is the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power for their light and instruction what to seek for in him and from him and how to seek but adhere to their own or some private spirit for that which will instruct and lead to seek and wait for in him or from him such things as God hath not put in him for us and therefore not promised to give with him to us as some such private assurances or speakings of peace and liftings up as are more suited to the sensual mind and may a little gratifie the flesh that desires ease or liberty or like things which instructions cause to err from the words of Knowledge and therefore neither can they stay upon or rest satisfied with the incouragement and strength which that spirit in the name of the Lord Jesus giveth to seek him to hope in and wait upon him and so not with that rejoycing which is onely in Christ Jesus because that gives no incouragement or strength to seek hope or wait for such things in him or from him or to seek in such a way as by their own or some private spirit light word or spark of their own kindling they are led to They therefore run to such sparks for light and heat and for a time may walk in the light of them stollen waters are sweet and bread eaten in secret places is pleasant But from all those sparks and rejoycings in them they must lye down in sorrow Nor can these persons while wilfully walking in this way heartily acknowledge his name or give glory to it in submitting and falling down under the discoveries and reproofs of its instruction because their deeds are evil Their principal works and wayes are so contrary to it and reproved by it nor can they be heartily united with those that fear his name and worship him in truth And truly any branches or rellicks of that way of iniquity above-mentioned will have answerable like effects of confusion and disorder upon those that retain and walk in them 2. Nor are they seeking after the due order that though in some good measure right as to the first branch That is as to the things they seek and look for in him and from him seeking according to his will yet are not content with that ground of incouragement and way of approach that is onely in and through his blood and powerful mediation with it and therefore instead of attending principally to seek farther assurance of understanding in that that their hearts might be comforted and strengthned therein are even seeking peeping into corners and waiting for some other private incouragement or ground of assurance in which to seek expect and wait for his righteousness in perfecting what concerns them and so unsatisfifyed if they cannot gather up or kindle something of that nature as if they were without hope in the World as if all that ever God hath done for them in his Son and for and to them through him were nothing to assure them
11. 14 15. As also for a witness of peace and reconciliation Gen. 31. 45. 51 52. And for a manifestation of Gods presence with a people and for a guide to them Exodus 13. 21 22. And as the law was appointed to be written on several pillars as on the Posts of their house and on their Gates Deut. 6. 9. and 11. 20. So this House of God which is the Church of the living God is the pillar appointed of God to bear up and keep in remembrance even to the view of others the glorious grace of the first appearance of Christ even till his comming again and to keep and bear upon them the witness or manifestation of that peace or reconciliation with God for men which he hath made and is become through his blood while so continued preserved among a people they are a witness of his merciful presence with them his nighness and waiting that he may be gracious to them 2 Cor. 5. 18. 20. with chap. 6. 1 2. Isaiah 55. 5 6. and 50. 1 2. and 30. 18. 20 21. And set and preserved for a light and guide to be observed and followed Matthew 5. 13 14. Hebrews 1. 3. 7 8. Phil. 2. 15 16. And to that purpose to bear upon them and lift up to the sight and view of others and so to hold forth to them that all men may see The manifestation of the truth of God in all his former Oracles and witnesses in the tipes and shadowes of the law as now come forth in the personal body of Christ raised from the dead whose name they are so to bear as they may therein shew the end of the law in him and so the body of all the former shadowes and truth signified in them and so him the fountain of all grace and truth the treasury of all Wisdome and Knowledge c. as before is shewed And this House of God the Holy Nation are also in many societies as they are in several places and so many pillars And so may be included in the sense of those seven pillars Wisdome hath hewen out Proverbs 9. 1. Those Gates and Postes of his Doors Answering to Deut. 6. 9. and 11. 20. At which whoso watcheth dayly and waiteth hearing him there is blessed Proverbs 8. 34. See what is said of the manifold use of pillars and the allusion to them in this business in the explicit declaration of the testimony of Christ by Thomas Moor senior Pages 287. 290. And so they are the ground or Tables on which its written in some sense answering to that Habbacuk 2. 2. That others may read it as the Corinths were the Apostles Epistle for as much as they were manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ the ground on which the minde and things of Christ are so written by the spirit of the living God evidencing and writing them in and through the Apostles Doctrine on the Tables of their hearts and fellowships that receive and abide in it that it may be seen and read of all men in their word and conversation in both which they are set to shine as lights in the World by retaining in them and bearing upon them that others may see and so holding forth the word of life even of Christ raised from the dead in a fair writing and faithful discovery of the tidings and patterns of it That others may behold all goodness and truth in it and so also in a subordinate sense instrumentally keeping maintaining and defending it and the goodness and truth of it amongst themselves and to the World against all adversaries striving together for the faith of the Gospel Philipians 1. 27. And so their work is with that word of righteousness The great things of his law as now come forth by Christ which are the main things to be kept looked to striven for and held forth by them in their whole Ministry for and unto all things I say with that to instruct reprove exhort comfort c. 2 Tim. 4. 2. Tit. 3. 11. 15. And as in all this they are instruments or vessels through whom he carryes the seed of his word and so conveyes his heavenly treasure to the hearts of others so their work instrumentally and through him is said to be to speak to the heart to be Ministers of Spirit to open the blinde eyes and turn men from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God that they may receive the forgiveness of sins and inheritance with them that are sanctified by faith that is in Christ yea they are a sweet savour unto God in them that are saved and in them that perish to the one they are the savour of death unto death and to the other the savour of life unto life Isa 35. 3 4. and 40. 1 2. 2 Cor. 2. 14. 17. and 3. tot and 4. 1 2. Acts 26. 18. And to this purpose 2. To them is committed the keeping and charge of holy and devoted things 1. Of Gods Ordinances of Divine Worship that are appointed for bearing and shewing forth the Lords Body that was broken for us and through sufferings is entered into his glory and so for witnessing repentance and râ—mission of sins in his name unto and among the Nations as the Preaching of the Cross and therein the shewing the things of Christ out of the Scriptures in the exercise of those gifts of prophesie or teaching as every man hath received the gift this work is committed to them even to the whole body of the Saints each to serve in it according to his several ability and therefore the gifts tâ— fit for it onely given unto them and ditributed among them according to his pleasure Ephesians 4. 7. 11 12. And so the other Ordinances in which the same things are to be shewed and holden forth in the Church and to the World The management of those affaires the teaching the Nations to observe and how to observe with them what was given to the Apostles in commandement that so they the Gentiles may rejoyce with his people these things are committed and given in charge unto them But to the wicked or unreconciled persons that are not reconciled to God by Jesus Christ and so have not that word of reconciliation viz. That God was in Christ reconciling the World to himself c. And the love of Christ thence constraining to perswade men with it To them God saith What hast thou to do to take my covenant in thy mouth that hatest to be reformed by my law His Saints are to be gathered together to him to keep and look to this charge even those that have made or entered into covenant with him by the Sacrifice of his Son Psalm 50. 1 2. 5 6. 14 15. 2 Cor. 5. 14. 20. 2. Of persons that are given unto the Church in his name or also called to be holy and devoted first to the Lord and then to them according to the will of God It is contained in their
any man love God the same is known of him 1 Cor. 8. 2. with John 14. 21. 23. And as in any measure so sealed so far forth are they approved and as it were set apart by God to peculiar service in the Gospel And to be called forth and approved by their brethren Such therefore Jude instructs and incourageth to contend earnestly for the faith of the common salvation in Christ as once delivered to the Saints to be kept held fast and held forth by them Such I say as were sanctified by God the Father Namely with this sanctification of the Spirit which is the way fore-known and approved by him from the beginning for sanctifying persons unto himself by Christ in these last Ages so sanctified unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus preserved sometime and so found stedfast in Christ and called approved fitted and so appointed to such pecnliar service in the Gospel as also to such suffering for his sake as might be occasioned by such service Jude 1. 3. with 1 Peter 1. 2 3. 2. There is a dayly sanctification of themselves in the light and strength of the Lord that sanctifies them in and unto this service necessary to render them acceptable and profitable therein answering to that dayly and continuall tipical sanctification from tipical uncleanness wherewith the Levitical order and Priesthood were to sanctifie themselves and be sanctified to their service in which they were to sanctifie themselves and be sanctified cleansed and separated from those things in themselves in their own bodyes their marriages and works which according to the law did but tipcally defile and render unclean And also to be seperate from so as not to have to do with or touch any thing or person declared unclean by the law As we read Leviticus 21. and 22. with other Scriptures So here in the sanctification of the Spirit having these great and precious promises That the Lord will dwell in them by his word and Spirit in it even to sanctifie them According to those many Scriptures I the Lord do Sanctifie you Exodus 31. 13. Leviticus 20. 7 8. and 21. 8. 15. 23. and 22. 9. 16. Ezekiel 20. 12. c. And will also walke in them to manifest the savour of his knowledge by them They are in the light and strength of the Lord in whom they are what they are as such a House and Priesthood to cleanse themselves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse so as in the feare of the Lord. 1. To lay aside put off and flee from those filthinesses and superfluities of naughtiness that are moved and rising up dayly from the old man the Law of sin still remaining and warring in the members the flesh lusting against the spirit as they have already in some measure been renewed in the spirit of their mind so to be alwayes putting off as concerning the former conversation the old man with his deeds and puting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and holiness of truth as the anointing even the word of truth which they have heard from the begining and received of him which abideth in them as that teacheth even so by minding the things of that spirit and walking in the light and strength of it as by the mercies of God therein put to remembrance displayed and commended they are moved and strengthened so to present and yeild up their bodies their whole man in all their Actings a living sacrifice to him that so that spirit in the testimony of Jesus which hath begun to renew the mind may dayly fashion and transforme the whole man in all his actings into likenesse to him according to that renewing of the mind Jam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1-3 Rom. 6. and 12. 1-3 According to those many instructions and exhortations Purge out the old leaven even as yea are unleavened for Christ our passeover is sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. Seeing yee have purified your souls in obeying the truth as in the previous sanctification forementioned see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Peter 1. 22. If we live in the spirit let us walke in the spirit seeing we have already crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to the spirit of our mind we have gotten victory and escaped the errors and polutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour so as not withstanding all those hinderances by the flesh with its affections and lusts we have knowne believed and owned him or rather been owned by him as his peculiar people let us not therefore suffer iâ— to reigne or yeild up our minds or members to it but let us resigne our selves to God according to the renewing of the mind as those that are alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto him Be not desirous of vaine glory c. Gal. 5. 16-24 25 26. with Rom. 6. So cleansing our selves dayly and in all our actings from all filthynesse of flesh grosser filthynesse as the lusts of the flesh and of the eye as Ephesians 5. 1-18 1 Tim. 6. 9-11 and 2. 22. And of the spirit the pride of life all those desires of wisedome strength and righteousnesse in our selves or of vaine glory to our selves c. Which doe all war against the soule and make us and our works uncleane they even defile our holy things 2. They are also to come out from amongst and be separate from uncleane persons and fellowships so as not to touch the uncleane thing that God may receive and own them as vessels in whom he takes pleasure to manifest himself in and through 2 Cor. 6. 14-17 18. with Isa 52. 11. Jer. 15. 19. To have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkensse but rather reprove them to forsake the foolish to stand up from the dead c. Eph. 5. 11. 14. with Prov. 9. 6. And in this also they are to cleanse themselves from all filthyness of flesh and spirit from fellowship with men in their evill and uncleane principles and practises whether more gross or more refined whether more openly or privily denying the Lord that bought them and being enemies to the Cross of Christ the power of Godliness so as not to touch the unclean thing 2 Tim. 3. 1-5 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Phil. 3. 17 18 19. Rom. 16. 17 18. Here this caution is warily to be observed vide that they are not to shut out such uncleane persons from them from listening to their word or doctrine or to forbid or hinder them from turning and coming in to them in their acknowledgement and worship but they the chosen generation are to separate and come out from them in their doctrines and fellowships principles and practises that are uncleane so as not to have any fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse They are to cease to heare the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge
they were of the first witnesses and preachers of the resurrection of Christ the Evangelists tell us and that they may as any of them is through grace sitted thereto both pray and prophecy and that in the presence of others in some assemblys of believers is clearly fignified 1 Cor. 11. 5. and in other Scriptures but the sense of the saying in both parts together is this They ought not nor is it seemly for them otherwise to speak either in praying or prophecying as the mouth of others or in propounding questions nor otherwise to act no not in the Church or any the assemblys thereof then so as therein they be under obedience and in quiet silence and subjection to the man so as in the Lord and therein to the wise and holy order and disposition of God They then are not capable of any office of rule or oversight in the Church as Elders and Deacons but to be in subjection Yea farther I suppose That in any assemblys of believers where there are men in presence fitted for speaking in prayer or prophecy or in propounding and answering questions for the edification of others it may be convenient for the women there to be silent yea a shame for them to speak unlesse in some extraordinary cases or on some particular occasione and so as desired or appointed as to the order and time of such their speaking by such brethren in presence with them or that are also over them in the word of the Lord as they may judge it needfull and convenient for the man was first formed then the woman likewise the woman was first in the transgression neverthelesse neither is the man without the woman nor the woman without the man in the Lord. But I forbear to urge my apprehensions of these things and leave what is said to correction by better judgement The women then for decency and ordersake observing such cautions as 1 Cor. 14. 33 34 35. 1 Timothy 2. 11 12. c. with 1 Cor. 11. 5 10. and so every one man or woman keeping their place and attending that place and service to which they are sitted and called The whole Church of unfeigned believers may all prophecy one by one as God hath dealt to them such a gift or exercise any other gift they have according to their severall abillity in this shift for the faith of the Gospell that all may learn and all may be comforted according as God hath dealt to every man For as there are many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ and every one members one of another to every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ he who hath set the members in the body as it hath pleased him divides to every man severally as he will for there are diversities of gifts but the same spirit and differences of administrations but the same Lord and diverfities of operations but it 's the same God which worketh all in all but the manifestation of the spirit is given to every one to profit withall according to his measure for to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisedom to another knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith c. And so these severall gifts were set in the Church Apostles Prophets Teachers rancked under five heads Ephes 4. 11. there were also other gifts added with these to the Church to accompany the first proclamation of the Gospell to the Gentiles by the first witnesses which gifts were not so set for continuance as the former unto which they were added and therefore not mentioned among those which were given to continue in the Church till it come to its perfect state compare 1 Cor. 12. 28. with Eph. 4. 11 12 13. Now the Apostles themselves as they were appointed and chosen to peculiar service that by them the preaching might be fully known and that all the Gentiles might hear so they were not onely immediately from the Lord but also peculiarly gifted with all spirituall gifts to fit them to that service they had all the scriptures of the Prophets so opened to them and their understandings so opened and strengthened to understand them and the revelation of the mystery even of the truth of all as fulfilled come forth and manifested in Christ raised from the dead so immediately and fully given them from the Lord himselfe and were so gifted with all wisedom knowledge and utterance that they was therein perfectly accomplished and therefore sent in his name to make known the mystery as now revealed and to make it known out of the Scriptures of the Prophets according to the commandment of the everlasting God for the obedience of the faith among all Nations for his name and so as wise Master-Builders to lay the foundation for others to the end of the world to build on and so their gift as it was peculiar to them is yet left us in the fruit of it in their word and doctrine confirmed and set in the Church And so also their gift even the gift of Apostles in a secondary and inferiour sense is still found in the prime degree of the gift of Prophecy as set in the Church which therefore is mentioned as the head or chief of the best gifts now to be coveted by believers by other believers since or besides the Apostles such as believe through their word 1 Cor. 12. 31. with câ— 14 1. of which gift there are degrees or diversity of measure and so of administrations and operations accordingly Whence it is expressed in that to the Ephesians under these two heads Prophets Evangelists The prime degree hath in it such an understanding of the Scriptures of the Prophets even as the Testimony of Christ witnessed by them as now manifested by the Apostles is confirmed in the heart As also such acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse vide The vision of all the great things of the Law or doctrine delivered by the Prophets and Apostles and as the foundation of and key of knowledge for opening all other things namely the testimony of Jesus as in which they are furnished and apted to a plain and cleare opening the foundation as laid by the Apostles and that out of the Scriptures of the Prophets by the revelation of the mistery given by the Apostles And so to shew the things of Christ by the Scrriptures even the things already done in his owne body which the Prophets said should come to passe and the powerfull efficacy of them with the Father for men and in the name of the Father unto then Through his powerfull mediation betweene God and men as also therein to shew the things yet to come in his glorious appearing and Kingdome and with this word of righteousnesse so distinctly and convincingly to instruct teach exhort reprove c. By the Scriptures of the Prophets as opened by