they are sent Authorized Graced Gifted and qualified by Christ do his work represent him stand in his stead 2 Cor. 5.20 and as they are his Ministers for good to you Well then mind your duty and the will of Christ in this matter and love them sincerely and heartily strongly and fervently fruitfully and constantly for they love you study pray and labour to do you good And know that if you do not love them you do not love Christ whose they are whom they represent and serve And if you hate slight and despise them you do hate slight and despise Christ himself in them Secondly It is the will and appointment of Christ your duty to honour and respect to reverence and esteem them in their faithful diligent discharge of their Trust and performance of their work amongst you They are the Embassadors and Commissioners of your great Lord and King and sent by him from Heaven to you as was shewed 2 Cor. 5.20 Eph. 4. and that about most high and honourable work yea the highest work and service that Creatures are capable of in this World They come from and are sent to you by the King of Kings from Heaven and therefore they must be honoured They are his Embassadors and Commissioners and therefore you must honour them They are sent and come to you as with his Image of Authority so of Grace Gifts and Holiness and therefore you must honour them They are sent by Christ to you on and for the service of your Souls and therefore you must honour them and they represent Christ and stand in his stead to you and therefore you must honour them They do give up themselves to be your servants and thereby do honour you 2 Cor. 4.5 and they chearfully serve the interest of your Souls as your spiritual servants and therefore you must honour them Christ requires you to esteem them and that is not all but to esteem them highly yea very highly too 1 Thes 5.13 and therefore you must do it Christ will not suffer you to slight or despise them no more than Kings will endure that any should slight or despise their Embassadors If you have low base thoughts of them in your hearts you slight and despise them If you slight and despise their labours and administrations you despise them If you villifie and speak slightingly of them behind their backs and devulge their supposed or real weaknesses you despise them If you carry your selves saucily and imperiously before their face in words deeds or deportments you slight and despise them and if you controul them and disregard their Judgments Censures Admonitions or Reproofs you slight and despise them when you turn a deaf ear to their Counsels Instructions and Exhortations you slight and despise them and when you disregard their power Authority and their exercise thereof in the name of Christ you slight and despise them In these and many other wayes and instances Church-Members do not only neglect their indispensible duty of honouring their Teaching-Elders but they do slight and despise them also And they do not only slight and despise them but as was said the Lord Jesus his Laws Image work and Authority also For he that despiseth you despiseth me says Christ Luk. 10.16 And by these and such like slighting and contemptible words and carriages towards them they do greatly provoke and discourage them they weaken their hands and distract their minds and so hinder them in their work They are honoured by Christ and honourable in his eye and he strictly charges and commands his Churches to esteem them most or very highly and to give them double honour 1 Tim. 5.17 Let the Elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the word and Doctrine Give says the Apostle to every man his due fear to whom fear honour to whom honour Rom. 13.7 It is their due by the Law of Christ and he expects you should give it to them not as they are such or such men but as his Embassadors Ministers c. Thirdly It is the will and appointment of Christ that Churches should pray for their Pastours or Teaching Elders and that in a more than ordinary manner and measure I mean more than they do or are bound to do for others 1 Thes 5.25 Heb. 13.18 Rom. 15.30 you must be earnest and importunate wrestlers with God at the Throne of Grace for them that God would pour out abundance of his holy spirit on them and by his teachings quicknings and anointings make them able Ministers of the New Testament not of the Letter only but of the spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 That they may open their mouths boldly have the gift of utterance and speak the Truth sincerely clearly impartially and constantly make known the mystery of the Gospel Eph. 6.18 19. Col. 4.3 That they may be kept from Snares and Temptations or be enabled to encounter them and with the Sword of the spirit to overcome and conquer them and that they may be eminent shining lights in the world That they may be able to divide the word aright diligent in and faithful to their Trust That they may be wise zealous and glorious Patterns of Piety all Godliness and be kept unspotted of the world and that they may abound in all grace gifts works of holiness and righteousness That they may Preach powerfully and profitably and in all their wayes words and carriages adorn the Gospel of Christ Tit. 2.10 That they may be found in the faith of the Gospel and hold fast the profession of the faith without wavering Preach sound Doctrine clearly plainly and closely Tit. 2.1 and in all things approving themselves the true Ministers of Christ That God would give them the spirit of Discipline and Government for the order and well being of the Churches and the orderly management of their concerns and that they may in all things walk by their Lords Rules and aim at design and uprightly intend his glory and the profit of his people and all others that hear them There are many reasons inforcing this duty on them to your Pastours I le name a few 1. Because it is the will of God that you should do so as the aforesaid Scriptures shew 2. Because they stand in need of your earnest prayers If the Apostles themselves did stand in need of the Churches prayers much more must ordinary Teachers need them Their work is hard and difficult who is sufficient for it 2 Cor. 2.16 Their discouragements are many and great and their Temptations many strong and powerful They have mysteries to unfold continually and they have stronger Temptations to grapple with all than others have therefore they should have your strongest and most importunate prayers Little do Churches know what they see feel and experience in their work and therefore are apt to imagine that their Teachers have an easie and sweet life of it and stand in little need of their assistance But surely they
no more Strangers and Forreigners but fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God and are built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit OUr Apostle having shewed the believing Ephesians what they were before their Regeneration and Conversion to Christ in the 1 2 3 5 11 12. verses he proceeds to shew them their present state and condition with the efficient meritorious and instrumental causes thereof And first he shews them what they are not vers 19. Now therefore ye are no more as once you were Strangers and Forreigners 2ly What they now were in what state and condition 1. You are saith he fellow-Citizens and that with the Saints 2. And of the houshold or family of God 3. You are in a happy and secure state for you are not built says he upon your own sandy foundation but upon the Rock of Ages namely 1. The Covenant of Grace the Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets 2. On Jesus Christ the chief Corner-Stone vers 20. The only foundation laid by God the Father and God the Son which by Them was laid before the world was 1. Cor. 3.11 Math. 16.18 2 Tim. 1.9 Tit. 1.2 and which is sufficiently able to uphold support and secure all that build and bear themselves upon it In the Text you have an account of the matter and form of a temple habitation or a particular Church of God together with the maker and builder thereof First The matter or materials wherewith God builds him a house to dwell in 1. They are quickened and enlivened persons vers 5. 2. They are Gods workmanship recreated or regenerated in Christ Jesus unto good works vers 10. 3. They are brought nigh to God by Christ his blood vers 13. 4. They are built upon Christ Jesus and the Covenant of Grace vers 20. 5. They are fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God that is of the Invisible Catholick Church of Christ vers 19. Secondly The form 1. They are said to be fitly â—ramed or formed together vers 21. That is these materials are joyned or glewed together into a house or body 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 In quo totum aedisicium congruenter coagmentatum Beza you are congruously and rightly laid into the building and so become an excellent and comely fabrick or house of God 2. They are said to be builded for a Habitation viz. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 3. You have an account of the Former and builder or the Agent imployed in the work of building a holy Temple or Church of God and that is the Holy Ghost vers 21. Now this he doth 1. By fitting and preparing materials It is not the work of men or Angels to make men fit matter for a Church or Temple of God but it is the work of the omnipotent Spirit It is his work and in the power of his hand only to quicken the dead to enlighten the blind to translate men out of the kingdom of Satan and bring them into Christ's 2. He doth it by shewing them their duty and the way to it by making their hearts willing and leading them in the way wherein they should go 3. By giving them Laws and Rules to walk by 4. By stirring up his Ministers hearts and tongues to move and perswade them to it 4thly We have here one of the great ends of the Spirit his building of Churches and that is for a habitation for God to dwell in As God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them 2 Cor. 6.16 Psal 132.14 Rev. 2.1 And as these things are here expressed so there are many things implyed and included which are not exprest as the Laws orders and ordinances of a house of God the duty of all Believers to joyn themselves to some Church of Christ as they have opportunity and their duties there as likewise the profit and advantage that will accrue to them in that state and the priviledge and honour of it and the glory and honour of Christ and several things that I shall discourse on in my proceedures God doth not set up Churches to stand empty and Idle only to have a name and to be gazed on but he hath instituted appointed and erected them for his Name Honour and Glory in the world and for the Soul-profit and benefit of his people that they should walk with him and He with them that they should obey and honour him and he supply and enrich them with his grace and for other glorious ends and purposes which shall be discoursed of the Lord assisting CHAP. I. Of an Instituted Gospel-Church and the Extent thereof MY purpose and design is to discourse only of a particular instituted Gospel-Church and in my proceedures I shall not concern my self with any Mens conceptions of a Church in any other sense but keep clôss to the subject or Church under consideration without medling with the controversies that are amongst learned men in their different apprehensions of Churches and their concernments For as I desire and hope I may without offending any to have liberty to declare and practise my own light faith and perswasion in these things so I think it most reasonable to leave others to their own perswasions expressions and practice in these matters without any Reflexions It is the profit of such as I am concern'd withall that I aim at and I judge my self obliged in duty to make known the whole will of God to those I have the oversight of according to my Light Abilities and Opportunities and that by all the regular ways and means I can find out and obtain the knowledge of And it is for them that I chiefly intend these Lines although they may probably fall into other mens hands Therefore waving the thoughts of men I shall proceed to acquaint you who shall read this discourse with the will of God in this matter so far as I know believe and as may be profitable for you which I shall do by way of Question and Answer 1. Quest What is a true Instituted Gospel-Church Answ A true Instituted Gospel-Church is a Society or Congregation of persons called out of the world or their state of death blindness and unbelief by the Word and Spirit of Christ to the knowledge of Christ and his will and unto the Obedience of faith or A company of Believers united together in a holy Band by special and voluntary agreement who by the grace and power of Christ in their hearts under the conviction of their duty do give up themselves to the Lord and to one another by the will of God to live and walk together as Saints in love peace and in the constant celebration and practice of all the Laws and worship of Christ and in the observation of all
them in some good measure And for your satisfaction therein I refer you unto the third Chapter of this Book beginning at page the 47th and ending at page the 55. where you will find ten qualifications requisite for Church-membership and helps to make a judgment of your selves if they be in you Therefore read them and try your selves by them and know that if you are so qualified or if you can find these signs of grace in you that then you are in a meet condition for Church membership and to partake of all the Ordinances of God's House what ever else you may want 2. But there is another sort of Neglecters of Church-fellowship and they are such whose neglects arise from their carelesness indifferency cold-heartedness stupidity and woful insensibility and not from scruples of Conscience or fears of their unworthiness They see not feel not their need of God's means and spiritual provisions they know not the worth neither do they see any transcendent excellency in them wherefore they should desire them And hence it is that they regard and desire them not they have back-slidden from God and He is departed from them shines not on their souls to keep them soft and tender nor waters them with Divine dews to make them compliant with his Will So that when they are called upon to consider their ways put themselves under all the Ordinances of Gods House and joyn in the nearest band of Communion with his People they turn a deaf ear to all that is said unto them and yet these will pretend strange things for their neglects also They will have their scruples and objections too and they cannot do so because of such and such things in the Churches They have their weaknesses miscarriages and defects and therefore they cannot joyn with them They have the sight of Beams or they see great Faults among such Congregations as otherwise they would congregate withal but they see none at home or at best but some little Motes in themselves They are too good for such Churches and the Churches are too bad for their Communion They see all the faults abroad none or very few at home in themselves and they think that this will excuse their Neglects but they are mistaken for if themselves are so good and faultless and the Churches faulty in this or that they should the rather joyn with them and by their goodness and abilities endeavour to better and mend them by their wise Counsels and holy Conversations as knowing that all Churches as Churches have their Buts as well as particular Believers their own personal Buts This is the careless Generation of Men who have lost their God and hearts in Earthly things and buried themselves and graces under the clods of worldly cares profits and pleasures and so are regardless of their own souls and indifferent what becomes of them This together with carnal self-love and sond affections to the good things of this world eager desires after the getting and keeping them and indulged fears of losing them lays at the bottom of all their neglects although other pretences there are or other obstructions are pretended for them to set a fair face on a foul matter This Conscience will tell them if they will hearken to it and give it leave to speak out all it hath to say in the cases against them Let me then exhort you in the Prophet's words Hag. 1.5.7 Lam. 3.40 Consider your ways and search and try your ways Ask the question in good earnest and put it home to your own Consciences and desire them to speak out plainly and tell you clearly what obstructions or matters they are that keep you from helping to build the Lord's House or Houses that hinder you from going up to the Mountain of the Lord's House from appearing before God in Zion and paying your Vows in the Mountain of his Holiness And see if that doth not hinder you which did hinder the Jews in Haggai's days what their hinderances were you may read in that Book at large And are they not the evils that hinder you from joyning your selves to the Churches of Christ and celebrating his worship and partaking of his holy Ordinances there Are not the greatest lets and impediments within you and some from a worldly concern without you Do you not consult flesh and blood and the will of the flesh in the case and not the will of God and do you not find a contest somtimes in you between Conscience and Self Conscience and the World Doth not Conscience somtimes bid you go and joyn your selves to the People and Ordinances of God and then you think of doing so and then appears Self and the World and forbids you calls you back again and puts you into another mood because you hearken to their voyce and not to Conscience which spake to you from God for God and your own Souls Well then do not stand any longer in your Neglects on vain and groundless objections and pretended scruples but stick to your duty Give your selves to the Lord and to his People by the will of God 2 Cor. 8.5 Acts 2.41 42 43. ult Fifthly You ought to joyn your selves to God's People and walk in the fellowship of the Gospel with them in the celebration of divine Ordinances of worship for the Lord Jesus Christ his sake for his Name Authority Interest and Glory's sake for that his Honour and Glory is concerned in your so doing as well as your own good You heard before that Gospel-Churches are his Temples Walks Palaces Delights and Habitations that they are his Golden Candlesticks the Seats and Subjects of his Gospel-Institutions the Beauties of his Holiness and that they are his great and living Witnesses in the World Now as a stately and well-built House affords much more honour and renown to a great man than ten thousand times as many materials whereof the said House is built whilst they lay scattered up and down in the world so a company of holy persons formed up into a holy Temple by the Word and Spirit do more honour and glorifie the Lord Christ than ten thousands of Saints can do whilst they walk up and down as scattered stones among others Christ accounts himself much exalted by his People when they do it together with one heare and mouth Rom. 15.6 We ought to cause our light to shine as clearly as possible before the World that they may see our good works adâ— glorifie God Matth. 5.16 The world knows not what to make of Professors whilst they wall promiscuously and confusedly in and with the world They cannot so well discern them from other men neither know they what to think of them and conclude them to be what they are who they are for and what they intend when they are as so many individuals as when they are knit together in fixed Congregations and walk live and converse worship God and serve one another together as a Family and Houshold of God As
to him for his love and grace to us to hold and enjoy Communion with him to grow in grace and to be filled with all the fulness of God to be warm lively and strong in our duties and performances and for such holy ends as God requires Thus you see that all Gods people are bound in duty to joyn themselves to and walk in spiritual fellowship with the Churches of Christ as also for what ends and to what purpose they should do so CHAP. XI Shewing how Church-members ought to walk and what Sins and Temptations they are obnoxious to in their Church-state with Rules and cautions against them Arguments and motives to perswade to practice the one and avoid the other Quest HOw ought Believers to walk in Church-fellowship Answ I have shewed already what their duties are and how they should carry themselves towards their Officers and towards one another in a Church-state and therefore shall not mention them here but shall answer the question in these following particulars First Church-members must walk exemplarily they should be like so many Stars in the Firmament of the Church They of all persons in the world ought to be burning and shining lights Their graces gifts words deeds and carriages should shine so clear and bright so gloriously and conspicuously as that they should have the force and prevalency of Laws on the minds of beholders so as that they may safely securely imitate follow them The Churches of Christ in the world are as so many Sea-marks Pilots Guides to Men they live more in the glory of Heaven as the Church is called in Rev. 13.6 in the beams of the glorious Son of Righteousness than others do and therefore they should give better and clearer light than others can They are much more eyed minded and observed than others are and men expect and look for more good in and choice fruits from them than they do from other men They do or may converse more with Christ and Christ with them than other men do and they are partakers of greater things from him than other men are and therefore they must be a singular People in all manner of holy Conversation and Godliness Church-members are highly dignified and greatly priviledged their holy Profession gives out bespeaks them to be a peculiar Treasure unto God and therefore they must declare before all men that they are such indeed and not in pretence only Their frames of heart words deeds and deportments must speak for them manifest them to be the same in Truth which they pretend to be Church-members words works and carriages must praise them in the Gate 1. They should be shining lights in Humility and Meekness Col. 3.12 Put on therefore as the Elect of God humbleness of mind meekness 1 Pet. 5.5 and be Cloathed with Humility Phil. 2.3 But in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves Matth. 11.29 Learn of me for I am meek and lowly in heart Church-members must not be high proud and lofty they may not think highly of themselves Rom. 12.3 nor cloath and deck themselves as others do They may not carry themselves strangely or disdainfully towards men but be meek and humble towards their Brethren and all men in their Apparel Words Deeds and Carriages for if this part of Christ's Image do not appear in some good measure on them they cannot have any at all A meek spirit carriage and deportment is one of their Ornaments It is in the sight of God of great price 1 Pet. 3. 2. They must shine in Zeal Fervency of spirit this holy fire should burn among them They must not be of dull stupid heavy and lumpish spirits worship God appear before him and hold Communion one with another indifferently coldly dully regardlesly and heavily as if they were rather driven to their work and duty against their wills than with their choyce love and desire but they must be fervent in spirit serving the Lord Rom. 12.11 for which some of the Corinthians were commended 2 Cor. 7.11 and Phinchas Numb 25.11.13 and David Psal 69.9 To this they are redeemed and for it they are purchased Tit. 2.14 not only to do good works but to be Zealous in and for them The Lord Jesus charges his Churches to be Zealous Churches Rev. 3.19 in imitation of himself whose Zeal to God did eat him up Joh. 2.17 Much holy Zeal governed and guided by much spiritual Wisdom makes a man an excellent shining useful acceptable and desirable man indeed This should be another of the Churches beauties and comely Ornaments wherewith they should still be cloathed decked and adorned in this world If this Diamond do not shine if they are not adorned with this rare Jewel what are they worth and what are they good for They will be like fire without heat and light as to their duty work and usefulness They will be like Drones or like Bees without stings namely of no considerable use in the world All that they do for God Men and their own Souls will be of little or no esteem and account 3. They must shine in Love and Charity too Love is the bond of perfectness Col. 3.14 the ligament and sinew the cord and instrument that tyes us fast to God and to one another See that ye love one another with pure hearts fervently 1 Pet. 122. and let Love be without dissimulation Rom. 12.9 Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart soul and strength Matth. 22.37 The internal motive or moving cause of all obedience and service to God must be love to him and our duty Joh. 14.15 1 Joh. 5.3 It is true that men cannot certainly discern this Love to God in one another but God and our own Consciences may and must Churches of Christ must be Churches of Love they should be acted and animated drawn and constrained to every good work by Love 2 Cor. 5.14 All the ways and workings of Jesus Christ to us all that he doth to or for us is Love Doth he instruct us or doth he correct us it is all in and from love Love to us is the bottom spring and cause of all his dispensations towards us His anger is provoked Love Love should knit our hearts fast to our God and Head to our duties and services and to one another in Church-fellowship But of this already else-where 4. Churches must shine in that great work and duty of Self-denyal when need requires He that will be my Disciple saith Christ must deny himself Mark 8.34 Matth. 16.24 Luk. 9.26 They should be eminent and singular in Self-denyal or in denying themselves of many things for Christ for their Brethren and for their own souls sakes Their Lord Jesus is the great copy pattern and examplar of Self-denyal and that for them to serve them and promote their happiness Phil. 2.5 6 7 8. Acts 20.28 and without this we cannot be his Disciples If we will not deny our selves
his Gospel-Ordinances in Obedience to his Holy Will for his Glory and their own Spiritual profit Rom. 1.5 6. 2 Cor. 8.5 Heb. 3.1 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.21 22. 2 Cor. 4.6 1 Pet. 2.9 Eph. 2.1.5 Col. 2.6 2 Thes 1.5 This Church so united and built is called a Church a House a Temple Habitation of God and Jesus Christ and they own it as their own call it by their own Names and confirm it with their Presence in it And as such a Church it is the proper seat and subject of all the Gospel-worship and ordinances of Christ in the world as will appear in the other Chapters and therefore I shall not insist on it here Onely take these sew hints of this Church along with you 1. It is an Instituted Church of Jesus Christ namely a Church of his own appointment and erection of his own making and forming according to his own will and pleasure by his own Authority and Approbation 2. The materials or persons constituting this Church are said to be holy persons called out of their old worldly state of death blindness and unbelief unto the knowledg that is the saving knowledg of Christ and his will and unto the Obedience of Faith 3. The Instruments that call them and work them for this state and that is the Word and Spirit of Christ 4. The form of this Church namely their own free special and voluntary agreement among themselves giving themselves to the Lord before each other and then to one another by the will of God entering into a holy band or Engagement to live and walk together through divine assistance in Love peace and in the celebration and practice of all the Laws worship and ordinances of Christ in the Church in obedience to his holy Will 5. The ends of their so doing namely the Glory of Christ and their own spiritual profit These are some of the chiefest things to be observed in this definition of an Instituted Gospel-Church All which I shall through God's help prove and demonstrate hereafter under several heads 2. Quest Of what Extent should an Instituted Gospel-Church be or how many persons should it consist of Answ It should be formed of so many persons as may capacitate them to perform all necessary-Church Acts in pursuance of Christ's Laws and Rules by which the Society ought to walk Mat. 18.15 16 17. and of no more than may conveniently meet together in one place for the celebration of all Gospel-Ordinances and the Edification of the whole Church Now How many persons precisely are requisite to make and constitute such a formal Church I cannot determine but undoubtedly there ought to be such a number as may orderly and regularly deal with and proceed against a delinquent-member according to that Rule in Mat. 18. And as the Church should consist of so many so it should have no more persons in it then as was said may comfortably and conveniently meet or assemble together for the worship of God and profit of the whole Church in one place and that 1. because they are one congregation by their own consent and agreement and so ought not to devide and separate themselves one from another in the worship and ordinances of God but there at the same times with one heart and one mouth glorify God Rom. 15.6 2 Because the whole Church is bound at all times excepting extraordinary cases to wait and attend on the administration of their own Officers by virtue of Christs Law Heb. 13.17 enjoyning them so to do and also by virtue of their own engagement and relation they stand in to them 3 For their own comfort and edification in the Church and ordinances of God This is one of the great ends of Churches and the worship and ordinances of God there namely the profit and edification of all 1 Cor. 14.3 31. But how can it be unless they can all hear and joyn one with another in the ordinances 4 Because a Church ought to observe ordinances and worship God as a Church and not as or under the notion of single and individual Believers but as an united Body and society they must all at once and in the same numerical duties and ordinances in one place joyn together as with one Heart Mouth Mind and Judgment designing aiming at and carrying on the same holy Ends in all the worship of God Therefore a Church of Christ may not exceed such a number of members as may conveniently meet altogether in one place 1 Cor. 5.4 But I shall not enlarge on this head CHAP. II. Shewing that a particular Church of Believers is of divine Institution 3. QUestion Whether particular Churches of Believers be of divine Institution or whether they be of God Answ They are appointed and Instituted of God by Jesus Christ which will appear in or by these particulars First The Scripture tells us that the Spirit is the former and builder of them The Text is clear for it in whom you also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit vers 22. These are the words of Christ by Paul unto the particular congregational Church of the believing Ephesians as is clear in the 20 Chapter of the Acts 27 28. Rev. 2.1 Where the Lord Jesus calls them a distinct Houshold Church or Body of Saints gathered or joyned together in his name for his glory the celebration of his worship ordinances and appointments I say Christ stiles them a Church and speaks to them as a Church and distinct Body or house of Saints from all other persons or Churches whatsoever and this Church was not formed and built by man but by the will power light and direction of the holy Ghost therefore the particular congregational Church of Ephesus is called the House of God 1 Tim. 3.15 and the Church of the living God in the same vers and the distinct particular Churches are called the Churches of God 1 Cor. 11.16 2 Thes 1.4 2 Cor. 1.1 and the Churches of Christ Rom. 16.16 Act. 20.28 And the Lord added to the particular Church at Jerusalem such as should be saved Act. 2. vlt. The holy Spirit by the appointment and with the consent and Authority of God the Father and Christ his Son who is also God blessed for ever Rom. 9.5 prepares materials for a Church and then he joyns them together and makes them a holy and glorious Temple or Church of God Eph. 2.21 22. and Chap. 5.27 So that we have enough to confirm this Truth viz. that particular Churches of Believers are of God in this one particular namely Because God himself is the former and builder of them Mat. 16.18 Isa 43.21 Secondly It further appears by the Lord 's owning of them promising and vouchsafing his presence with them which he would never do if they were not of his Institution and appointment But now the Lord declares his owning of and promises his presence and abode with them as his Churches Jesus Christ doth not only by
found fault withal for their being inchurched and incorporated into distinct congregations but they are often Commended for it Act. 2. Col. 2.5 For men to set up Churches Temples and Houses to be the seats and subjects of Gods Ordinances and Worship and then to entile the name Authority of Jesus Christ to them had been a most high and presumptuous wickedness indeed and such as he would never have wincked at but abhorred and rejected them as mens works Therefore particular congregated Churches of Believers are of God for if they had not he would undoubted have severely reproved them for their so walking Tenthly These congregational Churches must needs be of God because without such the worship and ordinances of God cannot regularly orderly be observed and performed by men in a solemn fixed and publique stated way and manner neither can the pastors overseers of them rightly and comfortably perform their work and administer the ordinances of Christ to men For all that are priviledged with Christ his Institutes and profess to own him for their Lord and Saviour ought to live under his Government and discipline and to subject themselves to all the orders and Appointments of Christ and to own and give up themselves to the guidance and Rule of such as he hath set over them and their Teachers and Elders are to take care of watch over and duely administer to such as Christ hath committed to their care inspection and charge Now how can they do it unless they are fixed formed and known Churches or Congregations unless they have mutually chosen each either to walk together in their several places and capacities as a stated Church or Family of God How can they be overseers of Churches and take care of them as such as Christ commands them Act. 20.17 28. unless they are first Churches and declare themselves to be such unto their Guides that they may take the care and charge of and administer to them as Churches of Christ If their officers are stated fixed officers to them then they must be stated fixed Churches to their officers How else shall they know who are their flocks their care and charge and who are not who they are bound to over-see and minister too as their own peculiar flocks what they are to do give or receive to or from them or how to discharge their ministerial work unto them and give an account of them unto their Lord and Master unless they are incorporated Societys who have engaged to walk together as Churches in all Christs-Ordinances and chosen them to administer to them in the name of Christ and by his Authority And how can they administer Church-Ordinances unto them as Church-Officers unless they are and they own and approve of them as the Churches of Christ and believe that they are set there by Christ as Church-Officers to officiate for him as such to his Churches as Churches what Authority can they claim over them unless with their own mutual consent they acknowledge and own each other as Churches and Officers of Christ to and in them How can they administer the Lords Supper to them authoritatively require their attendance on their administrations and reprove their neglects and how can their Teachers preach to them with all Authority How can they watch over and feed them and expect their Love Duty and Subjection and how can they exercise the power of the Keys and administer censures to and amongst them unless they are related to one another as Officers and Churches Ministers are charged to take care of their own flocks Act. 20.17 28. and to behave themselves so and so in the House of God committed to their Trust 1 Tim. 3.5 15. and such are pronounced Blessed Mat. 24 25 26 27. Who then says Christ is a Faithful and Wise Steward or Servant whom his Lord hath made Ruler over his Houshold to give them meat in due Season Blessed is that Servant c. These are some of the many Reasons and demonstrations that might be given to shew that particular congregated Churches of Believers are of God and not of men I might have added as many more to evince and confirm it but these may be sufficient to satisfy the Faith and Consciences of and encourage Believers in their walking in Church fellowship or congregating into distinct Churches and particular Societies CHAP. III. Of the matter of a Gospel-Church or the materials of Gods Holy Temple 4. QUestion What are the Materials of a House of God or how should persons be qualified for Church-fellowship or who ought to be Church-Members Ans Onely regenerate and converted Persons such as are married to and have put on Christ such as are savingly and powerfully enlightned and enlivened quickened and convinced of Sin Righteousnesse and Judgment Joh. 16.8 9. 2 Cor. 5.5 Eph. 2.1 5. Such as have choven Christ for their Lord and Saviour and resigned and made over themselves to Christ received him upon his own Terms Col. 2.6 1 Cor. 6.19 20. Such onely as are reconciled unto and are in favour with God as are justifyed by Faith sanctified by the Spirit and set a part for Holyness and unto Living to God and no more unto themselves Such as are the beloved of God called effectually to be Saints and have really and sincerely taken upon them the Yoke of Christ Jesus I say such persons and only such doth Jesus Christ account meet to be partakers of this priviledge and dignity Col. 1.12 and to make Heavenly Places Eph. 1.3 although men do not certainly know them to be such and by reason of their darknesse and fallable Judgments they may receive and admit others into Churches and unto their priviledges and immunities yet in truth they have no right unto them and ought not to be there For these Spiritual-Holy things are for and only for Spiritual and Holy Men Heavenly places are for Heavenly Persons and Spiritual works for Spiritual Men. Now the Churches of Christ are the only Holy Spiritual and Heavenly places and the Seats and Subjects of Holy and Heavenly things Christ prepares men by his Grace Word and Spirit to make them fit and meet materials and then he calls them to joyn together and become a Spiritual House for his Delight Service and Glory 1 Pet. 2.5 And therefore such and only such persons ought to be Members of a Church of Christ as will appear by these following particulars 1. Because God threatens and often declares his detestation and abhorrence of others being there and manifests his Indignation against them As to the man that came to the supper without the Wedding Garment Matth. 22.11 12 13. Then said the King to his Servants bind him hand and foot and cast him into outer Darknesse Isa 33.14 The Sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulness hath surprized the Hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting Burnings And the five foolish Virgins Mat. 25. and the
to the Churches and there the Lord Jesus comes and observes how they are received and obeyed Rev. 2.23 5. God hath Instituted and formed up Believers into Churches that he may feed and nourish them there as his flocks that he may water them as his Gardens support them as his Houses order and govern them as his Familys Housholds and that by his Spirit Ministers They are appointed to water them 1 Cor. 3.6 7. to feed and nourish them Act. 20.17 23. 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. and to rule govern and take the over-sight of them Heb 13.7 17. 1 Thes 5.12 They are to teach and instruct them to warnand caution them to reprove and exhort them to comfort them and build them up with the milk and strong meat of Spiritual sound Doctrine 1 Cor. 3.1 2. Heb. 5.12 13 14. and that by their speaking unto them as to their own flocks and peculiar Churches and charges from and under Christ the Truths of Christ in Love they may grow up into him in all things Eph. 4.15 So also for Believers regular and orderly walking Col. 2.5 God is a God of Order and he loves to see his People walking orderly and regularly conforming themselves to his Laws and Government And if earthly Governours by the Light of Nature are careful to set up and give unto their Subjects Laws and Orders for their regular and orderly walking and love greatly to see them so to walk under their Laws and Government in their Cities and politick Bodies how much more careful is Jesus Christ to set his People in order and method and how pleasing and delightful must it needs be to Jesus Christ to see his Subjects walk orderly and regularly in his Cities and Spiritual Bodies that are of his own appointment These are some of the ends of God in instituting and erecting of Churches Many other might be named and insisted on but that I may not exceed my Intentions Fourthly The Churches of Jesus Christ must consist of new-Creatures and sincere-hearted Believers Because they can and will answer and prosecute these aforesaid and such like holy ends of God in and by his Churches I say these can and will because they are fitted and qualified in measure by the grace and Spirit of Christ to aim at and effectually to prosecute these holy ends of God but so cannot others neither would they if they could because they have not the saving Knowledge nor practical Wisdome of Christ in them they are strangers in Heart to Jesus Christ and the Power of Godlyness All others at the best have but a name to live but are dead at the Root Rev. 3.1 Matth. 8.22 neither are they made a willing People to joyn Issues and comply with the holy ends of God Psal 110.3 because God hath not by reason of their wickednesse and obstinacy wrought in them to will and to do as he hath in his peculiar people they are not yet wrought by God for this self same thing as real Saints are Phil. 2.13 2 Cor. 5.5 they are not renewed in the Spirit of their minds after the Image of Him that Created them as Saints are Col. 3.10 But now real and peculiar Believers are fitted and framed moulded and pollished by the Holy Ghost for their growing up into a holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2.21 and so by the constant and promised guidance and conduct of their living head Jesus Christ with their Spiritual qualifications they are enabled to answer and perform the great ends of God in erecting and building them up in Churches When a wise man builds a House he will propound some ends to himself in his so doing and accordingly he will make use of and lay in such materials and so form and build it as that it may effectually answer his ends if he be able Now if he build it with hay and stubble or with rotten wood althought it may stand a while yet be sure it will not stand long nor answer his ends So the great master builder who is the Alsufficient and only wise God propounded great and holy ends to himself in Instituting and building of Churches and Temples and these such as should irrefrustrably be obtained notwithstanding all possible contingencies Interveniencies whatsoever for says God my purpose shall stand and I will do all my pleasure Isa 46.10 I will build Churches and Temples for my Glory to dwell in them and walk in them to have peculiar Love homage and service from them to have their free hearty and chearful obedience and Respects that I might enrich them with my Grace build them up in Faith and Godlyness delight in an refresh my self with them make them a praise in the Earth and Glorify the Houses of my Glory Isa 60.7 That there I may set my ministery and Officers and that among them I may set my Laws Rules and Ordinances But hypocrites and formalists will never answer nor prosecute these ends as I found by experience among the Old-Church-Members of the Jews I cannot look for it nor expect it from them for they are a people of an other Spirit they slight my Grace and reject my easy yoke and therefore they shall not be honoured with membership in my Churches in my particular Gosspel Churches but if they creep in as many will do I will loath and abhor their presence I will root them up cast them out and that into everlasting fire for whatever they profess to be yet I know that they are not for my Turn and will stand me in no stead there but to provoke me to wrath with their Hypocrisy and make fuell for the fire of my Jealousy Therefore my New-Testament-Churches shall be built only of Holy and Spiritual materials not of dead but living Stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.1.5 such as my Word and Spirit shall pollish and prepare for that work and Service that so by them I may obtain my Holy ends and carry on my great designes I know that my peculiar People will receive submit unto and obey my Laws that they will Love and honour me that they will shine as lights in the World and that they will give me kind and cordial entertainment and that will cleave to and not forsake me Therefore they shall be my Churches Fifthly Because all the Laws Ordinances and Works of Church-Members are holy Spiritual and Heavenly They are such as the natural Man understands not cannot discern what they are and that because they are such and they that are not taught of God savingly and powerfully to understand and make a Judgment of them do think and Judge of them carnally and vainly 1 Cor. 2.9 end But Believers have them written in their Minds and Hearts beforehand they have them not without Book I mean they have the same Laws of Christ written in the books of their hearts which they find in the Bible Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 11. Heb. 10.16 by which they are capacitated and in some measure enabled to
understand receive love and rightly obey the Laws and Ordinances of Christ without The Laws says Paul is Spiritual Rom. 7. and a real sound Believer is called a Spiritual Man 1 Cor. 2. Their Laws are Holy and Spiritual their works and businesses in a Church are so likewise John 4.23 24 Eph. 5 19. Col. 3.16 and a particular congregated Church is called a Holy-Temple and Spiritual House Eph. 2.21 1 Pet. 2.5 They have a Holy God who is a Spirit to Serve and Worship a Spiritual head to believe in and obey and Holy and Spiritual Work to do in their Church-state and therefore they had need be Holy and Spiritual Persons not without in profession only but within in Truth Almost all the Laws and Ordinances of Christ are committed to them and God expects his principal and choicest Worship from his Churches and they are all above and beyond the reach of carnal Men. God first makes Spiritual Men and then with them he formes Spiritual Houses and then as such he gives them Holy Laws and Ordinances and spiritual work to do and requires them to do it as spiritual Persons and Churches Christ doth not form them into Churches as reasonable men but as good Holy and Spiritual men and suits his Laws to their Capacities and States as at first he framed and suited them to his Laws Christ calls his People into Churches and incorporated congregated Bodies that they may as such receive and practice his spiritual and Holy Church Laws and Ordinances for his Glory and their good and they are spiritual Laws and Ordinances for spiritual men and therefore only such should be Members of Christ's Churches For what shall Hypocrites do in the Holy spiritual Temples and Churches of God and what use will they make of Christ's Laws and Holy Ordinances but to defile and polute them and eat and drink their own Damnation 1 Cor. 11. Sixthly Because the separation between Saints and Sinners begun here in this Life by the Lords calling men out of the World and forming them up into Holy Temples for himself is the beginning of that everlasting separation that shall be in the great day of Christ his appearing between the Sheep and the Goats Matth. 25.31 32 41. or at least a shadow and resemblance of it for the comfort of the Saints and terror of the wicked Says Christ hereafter I will come in Glory set upon my Throne before me shall be gathered all nations and then will I seperate them on from another as a Shepherd divideth this Sheep from the Goats 31 32. and then I will say to the Sheep come ye Blessed of my Father inherit the Kingdome prepared for you and to the other go ye Cursed into everlasting sire 34.41 Now because you wil not believe me nor what I say in this matter see what I have begun already in it you see a few seperated from you in this world before your eyes and formed up into Holy-Temples for me and this is not their own Work or done of themselves or of their own minds and carnal apprehensions or singular proud notions and Opinions as you falsly charge them no but this thing is done of me I will own it as my own Work for I have commanded them to separate and have called them out from amongst you who continue still in your Infidelity and unregenerate States John 15.19 2 Cor. 6.14 15 16 17. 2 Tim. 3.5 and bid them congregate together as my peculiar People and become my Spiritual Houses and Churches and I have by my Spirit made them willing and moved their hearts to do so as you see them do I own them and will stand by them in it for it is not so much they that have separated themselves as it is I my self that have done it and what they have done therein is in obedience unto me and that to convince you of the Truth of my Word for as certainly as you see these my People now separated from you so I will at the last day make an eternal seperation between them and you unless you repent and become my People in Season And as it is intended for the conviction and terror of the wicked so also for the comfort and confirmation of Believers for by the Lords separating them from the World and building them up into Holy-Temples he gives them a notable pledge and earnest of the assured and promised difference of that great and everlasting discrimination seperation that shall be between them and the wicked Now good men are apt to think that because all things seems to happen alike to all as Solomon speaks that there is no difference or very little between the wicked and them although there is indeed a vast difference upon many accounts between them now and so are apt to be discouraged in their duties and walkings but to chear them up and support their Spirits here says God is a very great distinguishing difference and a pledge of a greater between you and the World I have called you out of the World and brought you near unto my Self I have seperated you already from the Lions and Goats and made you my formal and publique habitations and Holy-Temples which is your honour priviledg and dignity I do not say that all that are not of such or such particular Churches are Goats or unbelievers no I cannot entertain such a thought in my Heart for as I think and fear that there are many hypocrites crept into Churches so I believe that there are many gracious Persons which to their own losse and Gods dishonour do live out of Church-fellowship so their are others that would joyn with them but cannot and others can but will not But I say that Jesus Christ will have his Churches made up of Saints only and not of such as shall be everlastingly seperated but of such as shall live and reign with Jesus Christ for evermore in the Church triumphant and that for this reason among others because it may comfort and confirm the Saints in their hope and walking with God and convince and terrify the wicked Seventhly The Churches ought to be built of Believers and regenerate persons because they may continue and stand fast in all Storms and Tempests and hold out unto the end as being built upon the Rock Jesus Christ For whatever Church is builded upon the Sand and not upon the Lord Jesus and by the Authority and help of his Word and Spirit will not stand long because it wants a bottome to bear up its weight They must all be built upon the Rock and chief corner-Stone the foundation that God hath laid Matth. 7.24 25. 1 Cor. 3.11 Matth. 16.18 the Lord Jesus tells us that upon this Rock that was himself and the Truths that Peter had confessed will I build my Church and the Gates of Hell shall not prevail against it Now Hypocrites are not built upon Christ for if they were that great promise of perseverance would belong to them and
then the stony Ground would be in as good and safe a condition as the good Ground but the contrary is apparent Matth. 13. and Matth. 7. But it is certain that they are not built on Christ by faith but are vocted in themselves and build their vain hopes on a sandy Foundation Job 8. Matth. 7. and in many other Scriptures is manifest Therefore if there persons are not built on Christ their Church-state is not but upon the Sand. Hence then it follows that only sound Believers are built on Christ and so they are the persons only that Christ will have built up into Holy-Temples because the Churches that Christ builds he himself says he will build upon himself that they may stand inpregnably in all weathers and that is only of such as are united unto him by Faith and have chosen him for their only Rock and Foundation by a lively Faith and not of such as do secretly reject him Obj. If it be said that the Text in Matth. 16. speaks of the invisible Catholick Church I Answer And I am speaking too of the Members of the Catholick Church and say that all particular congregated Churches of Believers are or ought to be such as are united unto and built upon Christ by Faith and that these ought to congregate and become Churches of God and none else and that according unto the directions of the Gospel of Christ and then if they be indeed such that promise in Matth. belongs to them and they shall be secured by it as well as the Catholick Church although they be formed up according to Christs his Institution into particular congregational Churches And although after they are thus formed they may be broken in a Sense and scattered as the Church at Jerusalem was Act. 8.1 yet they are still secured by that promise and have communion with each other in Faith Love tears and Prayers in Judgment and affection The Lord Jesus suffers in name and Glory by the fall of his Churches or such as pretend to be so as he that built his house on the sand is called a foolish man by Spectators Matth. 7. and if Churches should be so built either for want of a good Foundation or good matter or wise and carefull cementing and forming up the materials how greatly will the Wisdom and care of Christ suffer by the Tongues of his Enemies because such Churches took upon themselves the name of Christ and pretended to be his people and to walk by his Laws And as the fall of them will be a Reproach to Christ so it will be matter of grief and scandal to the weak Members of Christ also whether they were in or out of those Churches thus fallen and it will greatly harden the hearts of Sinners against the good ways of God and cause them to think that there is no reality in his Gospel Religion and therefore Christ cannot endure to see his houses fall to the ground but takes care that all that he builds by his Word and Spirit be so built and secured as that the Gates of Hell shall not overthrow them nor by any means prevail against them to destroy them and that because they are founded secured supported by his promise and Spirit I might produce many other Reasons for the proof and confirmation of this Truth that none but real Believers ought to be formed up into a Church of Christ As concerning the priviledges and promises that belong to a Church of Christ There are many of them which may be spoken of on an other head which are two high and glorious for the Inglorious professing Hypocrities and therefore they must be entayled only on the true heirs of them viz. the living Members of Christ and Children of God Hypocrites who refuse to have Christ on his own Terms and who preferr their Lusts before him and their own Righteousnesse before Christs and daily make him a Lyar 1 John 5. have nothing to do with them There is a little Remnant called out of the World to whom they do onely belong and they and only they may claim them as their own Again because only Believers are Christs willing subjects such as have freely put their necks under his Yoke and given up themselves in universal obedience to him and that have heartily chosen him for their Lord and Governour and his Laws for their Rule and practice But it is well known that all other men do reject him and yeild obedience unto the Devil and their Lusts They will have the Lord Jesus bow down to their Terms but they will not come up to his They say as those in Joh. 6.60 this is a hard Yoke who can bear it and therefore although we will professe him that we will not have him rule over us And therefore he doth not call them to partake of the Children of the Kingdomes Bread or to his true Subjects priviledges and Blessings whilest they continue such Moreover only true Believers are Clean and Pure all others are unclean They are strangers to him and his People unwashed and uncircumcized in Ears and Hearts They are not Justifyed nor Sanctifyed nor purged from their uncleannesse by the blood of the Lamb and therefore they may not come near to or touch the holy things of his Church which are holy pure things and sanctifyed unto the holy use of his enchurched-members I would not be tedious and therefore shall wave all further consideration of this matter although I could multiply Reasons to prove that only real true Believers should be Church-Members But I shall speak a few words for the removing of an objection advanced against this Truth which is this But we read of Tares in the field amongst the good wheat good and bad fishes caught in the neet of the Gospel and brought into the Kingdome which is the Church of God as also many evil members in several of the Congregational Churches mentioned in the Scripture and therefore Churches may consist of good and bad men All this may be true and yet the Truth insisted on not at all touched or weakened thereby It is true if there were evil members in those Gospel Churches and they proved evil Members indeed and great afflictions to blessed Paul and the good Members of them But what then ought they to have been there or were they known to be such indeed to the Apostles and other good men when they admitted them were they there by Christs call and with his approbation and allowance although he permitted them to creep in among his People Now unlesse it can be proved that they ought to be there that they were admitted when known to be such as afterward they appeared to be that it was their duty and priviledge while such and that Christ approved there being there I say until that be proved by the word of God we must conclude that they were Vsurpers and had nothing to do in the Churches of Christ I do not discourse of who were in the
Churches but who ought to be there Not who thought themselves worthy and crept in of their own accord but who Christ called there and came in in obedience to him I am sure they were not welcome to Christ or his People the Apostles wishes such were Cut off Gal. 5.12 and exhorts Believers to withdraw from them that walked disorderly 2 Thes 3.6 and to turn away from them 2 Tim. 3.5 to mark and avoid them Rom. 16.17 and the Lord Jesus gives in charge to his Churches that they prosecute his Laws against disorderly Church-members even to the casting of them out of the Church in case they repent not Mat. 18.17 and threatens the evil Members of the Churches of Sardis Laodicea severely Rev. 3. and therefore surely if they were Hypocrites he would not have found them there to dishonour his name and grieve his People as they did And as for the instances of the Tares and bad fishes brought into the Kingdome of Heaven no more can be said for the justifing them in what they did than of the other before minded and answered and the same Answer will refell these two likewise But if you mind it you will find that the Tares there if meant of Persons and not of doctrines which is a question are said to be the Children of the wicked one and he that sowed them was the Devil vers 38 39. So that these Tares or Members were not of Jesus Christ his bringing there but of the Devils and who will say then that they ought to be there Will Jesus Christ have the Devils hand and help to enlarge his Church or will he accept and approve of such persons for his Church-members to help forward the building of his holy Temple for the habitation of God that are chosen and sent by the Devil As for others it is expresly said vers 37. that he that soweth the good Seed is the Son of Man and in opposition thereunto it is said his Enemy the Devil sowed Tares in the same field which was hurtfull unto the good seed Therefore as I said before that Hypocrites are not called nor sent by Jesus Christ into Churches but by the Devil which is a good Reason against their being there And to what purpose are they there but to grattify the Devil and their own Lusts to afflict and grieve if not corrupt the good Seed to dishonour Christ and encrease their own misery As to the good and bad Fishes there need no more be said concerning them then that Hypocrites and rotten hearted men will croud into the Churches of Christ amongst his good People but they ought not so to do for they are not called to come because they are of Satans Kingdome of darknesse and have no part or portion with the true Children of God and heirs of his Kingdome So that I think there hath been enough said as to that namely that none ought to be Members of Christs particular Churches but real Believers And now I should proceed to speak of the form of a particular congregated Church of Christ but that I think it necessary to speak a little unto two Questions first 5. Quest What fitness or qualifications should Believers find in themselves for their own satisfaction before they enter into fellowship become Church-members or joyn themselves as members to some Church of Christ Answ First they should have a well grounded hope of their Regeneration or new state in Christ that they have seen their need of Christ singled him out by grace and chosen him upon his own Terms that they have received a measure of his anointings Grace Spirit light and Life and that they are accepted in the Lord Jesus that they have put off the Old Man and put on the New and are renewed in measure by the word and Spirit after the Image of Christ I say they should have at least a well grounded hope For many gratious hearts have such a hope that have no assurance who hold their Title and claim to Christ and Heaven but had never the seal of it on their hearts or if they ever had it they have by their own carelesness lost it and so have only hope left And this indeed will hold their Souls in Life by the Spirit though not in comfort and satisfaction Heb. 6.19 and the Apostle tells such that they are saved by hope Rom. 8.24 and that they are the Children of hope which puts them upon that great and Noble Work of purifying themselves as he is pure 1 Joh. 3.3 and stirs them up to perfect holynesse in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7.1 As faith that precedes it doth Act. 15.9 This Hope is not a dead but a lively hope it is not idle but operative and working it is active and laborious in purging out of Lusts and getting in of Holyness and Grace 1 Pet. 1.3 1 Joh. 3.3 as a sound special Faith is Jam. 2.18 And the Apostle tells us that it is an Anchor of the Soul both sure and stedfast Heb. 6.19 so when God promises mercies unto his People he tells them that he will give them a door of hope Hos 2.15 which hope is Christ in them Phil. 1.27 And therefore if you have this Hope you are in a happy State and ought to joyn your selves unto some Church of Christ give up your selves in universal obedience to Christ and wait in a house of God for his Seal and the full assurance of his love to your Souls But more particularly and briefly I desire you to examine your selves and see how you can answer these few Interrogatories try your selves effectually and throughly by them 1. Can you say indeed that you do seriously and heartily desire chuse and endeavour to see and be more deeply and powerfully convinced of your own vileness and sinfulness of your own weaknesse and wretchednesse and of your wants and nothingnesse and that in order to your deep and Spiritual humiliation and self debasing that you may be more vile in your own eyes and Jesus Christ and free grace more precious high and honourable more sweet and desirable that your hearts may be melted into Godly sorrow and that you may be moved thereby to abhorr your selves and repent in Dust and Ashes Job 42.5 6. 2. Can you say that you do seriously and heartily desire chuse and endeavour to believe in Christ and to receive and accept him upon his own Terms such as you find in Mark 8.34 Luke 14.26 27 28. and elsewhere Do you so desire chuse and endeavour to have him with his Yoke and Cross Matth. 11.28 29. and do you so Deny your selves of your sinful self and righteous self and worldly self and supposed able and powerful self and all other carnal and Spiritual selfs that Christ may only be exalted that you may be nothing in your lustification and Salvation but that Jesus Christ and free Grace may be all and in all things Col. 3.11 Phil. 3.7 8. do you desire chuse
water it for his use that it may bring forth fruit to his Glory And intending to imploy and make such use of them there he enriches all that he sends with his own Ministerial Gifts Eph. 4.8 10 11 12. When he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive and gave Gifts unto men He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all Heavens that he might fill all things And he gave some Apostles and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Here is an account of his Gifts and the person receiving them and also the end for which To the same purpose the Apostle speaks in Rom. 12.6 and 1 Cor. 12. as you may read there at large from the beginning to the end Where you have an account of the several Gifts themselves which are called Spiritual vers 1 2. The Authour or immediate Doner of them 7. as also the end of the Spirits giving them unto men and the place where they should be exercised and laid out 7 28. and in other verses there These Ministerial Gifts are not given to all Believers because they are not intended nor called to the work and Office of the Ministery in the Church but they are intended and given to them whom Jesus Christ sends into his Church and enclines the Churches hearts to call and accept them for their Officers and Ministers Secondly As they must be gifted with ministerial Spiritual Gifts so they must be graced also with special saving Grace for the spiritual and evangelical discharge of their Ministerial work in the Church or else they will never be able Ministers of the New Testament although they may be of the Letter 2 Cor. 3.6 They must be called out of darknesse into the marvellous saving light of Christ 1 Pet. 2.9 and be the Children of Light Eph. 5.8 before they can hold forth indeed the light of the Gospel and grace of Christ unto others They must be first taught of God themselves before they can spiritually teach others and be tutored in Christs School before they will be wise Builders up of the Body of Christ in the Mysteries of his Kingdome Mark 4.11 They must first have the Spirit of God in their own hearts to make them wise unto Salvation before they can make others wise unto Salvation They must not learn their Lessons without in mens or Gods Books but they must also experience and be able to read the Gospel within that they preach to others They must first learn and be acquainted themselves with and in the right way to Heaven before they can be good Pilots and Guides of others thither They must first be quickened and enlivened themselves by with the Life of Jesus before they can claim a right to the Ministry of Christ in his Church or hold forth and rightly communicate the word of Life to others Many think that Grace is not necessary in a Minister or for the Ministry where are ministerial Gifts and as they say a blamelesse conversation but surely the special Grace and Spirit of Christ are the only necessary and useful things if I may so speak for the fitting and qualifying a Gospel-Minister a Church-Officer and Guide But undoubtedly it is a mistake for how can they bring out of their Treasury things new and old for the profit of men if there be none laid in A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Matth. 12.35 And men cannot gather Grapes of Thornes and figs of Thistles Matth. 7.16 And what are Hypocrites but such Are they not in darknesse and doth not the Lord Jesus call the Scribes and Pharisees and Doctors of the Law Fools and Blind notwithstanding their great Gifts Are not all unregenerate and gracelesse persons ravening Wolves although covered with Sheeps-skins and doth not Christ caution his Sheep against them and charge them to take heed and beware of them Mat. 7.15 And when Christ sends forth labourers into his Vineyard says he to them I send you forth as Sheep in the midst of Wolves Matth. 10.16 Christ doth not say I send forth Wolves in Sheeps cloathing to convert nourish and build up my Sheep unto eternal life Moreover Ministers must not only preach to men from the head the subject of meer Gifts but from their hearts also from strong affections tender bowels of compassion and sincere Love to Souls which they cannot do until they are made new Creatures holy and gracious men For how can they love and pity others Souls who have no love and pity for their own and how can they affectionately perswade men who know not experimentally the terror of the Lord 2 Cor. 5.11 How can such open the Mystery and spirituality of the Gospel unto men who were never taught it themselves and how can they so preach the Gospel of Life who are yet dead in Sins themselves as to enliven others Therefore all the Ministers that Jesus Christ impowers and sends into his Churches in special love and mercy he first graceth with his special light life joyns and unites them to himself and puts some of his own Image Nature and qualities upon them before he sends them or will be with them and blesse them Can or will such take care of the Church of Christ as such to water and break the Bread of Life unto them who take no care about their own Souls nor care what becomes of them And if Jesus Christ will have none but real hearted Believers and living Members of his Body in his Churches as hath been shewed then certainly he will not allow or approve of Gracelesse and unregenerate Guides and Overseers in them and if his Churches are holy Temples appointed for his presence and residence his Glory and delight as they are as hath been shewed then assuredly he will not have carnal and unbelieving Stewards in them to manage all the affairs and concernments of them And if all his Laws and Ordinances which he hath given to his Churches be holy and spiritual as they are and Church-Officers I mean the Pastors and Elders are to be his mouths to them and the Churches mouths to him and to administer his holy and Spiritual matters and things in his Name to his Glory and the Churches Spiritual profit then surely they ought to be holy and spiritual Men. For will he own such for his Ministers as have no acquaintance with him or Relation to him who have no peculiar love for him nor dependance on him who have not hearts to obey him and make him the great end of their work and who never received the Truth in the love of it into their own hearts Will the holy and loving Head and Husband of his Church set over them Christlesse lifelesse and gracelesse men as all unregenerate persons are who neither
fear or love him or his Church sincerely to watch over them and impart his secrets and counsels to them surely no. And therefore they must be fitted and qualifyed with saving Graces as well as Ministerial Gifts for office power and work in the Church of Christ I might argue this point very largely and copiously did I intend a large discourse as I do not but to use all possible brevity in all things I shall mention and present to consideration in the whole of the discourse 3. And therefore Thirdly they should not only have and be qualified with spiritual Gifts and special Grace but with the holy Ghost also It is not such Gifts and Grace that will sufficiently qualifie and enable men to discharge their ministerial work in the Church without the Spirit They will not be willing ready nor apt to teach without the Spirit 1 Pet. 5.1 2. 1 Tim. 3.2 Neither will they be able to divide the word aright without the Spirit 2 Tim. 2.15 And therefore hath Jesus Christ promised to be with them in an especial manner in their Ministerial work who are his Ministers Mat. 28.18 20. Joh. 14.15 and 16. chapters They must preach and pray by the Spirit watch over feed and water the Church by the Spirit for their Gifts and Graces can do nothing in this matter but by the Spirit And therefore the holy Spirit is promised to help them to teach warm strengthen and quicken them to comfort lead and Guide them and whenever Christ sends any Shepherds into his Sheepfold in love and mercy he sends them and they come there with the holy Ghost in their hearts Look over Pauls Epistles to Timothy and Titus and to the particular Churches and you may find this Truth confirmed Thus God promised his New Testament Churches long before they subsisted or had a being in the World Jer. 3.15 And I will give you Pastors according to mine own heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding It is the Spirit that makes men able Ministers of the New Testament and Spirit 2 Cor. 3.6 not created Grace and Gifts only The Apostles spake the word of God as the Spirit gave them utterance Acts 2.4 and as they were moved or carried forth by the holy Ghost 2 Pet. 1.21 A Temple of God is built by the Spirit for the habitation of God Eph. 2.21 22. all the Laws and Ordinances of the Temple are given forth by the Spirit from Christ Joh. 16.13 14 15. all the Grace and Gifts bestowed on men are by the Spirit their Life strength and successe is by and from the Spirit their work and authority in the Church is given them by the Spirit and therefore the holy Spirit will accompany and abide with his own Ministers there Fourthly They must be qualified and adorned with singular Spirits with excellent and choice Spirits and frames of Heart they should excel others in such qualities and virtues as these First they should be singular and excelling in knowledge and Spiritual understanding to discern the difference of things that differ and to judge of Spiritual things Spiritually 1 Cor. 2. They should abound in heavenly wisdome and prudence in conformity to their Lord Christ Secondly They should be eminent and singular in Gospel simplicity and sincerity too 2 Cor. 1.12 2 Cor. 2.17 Thirdly They should be eminent and singular in Humility in all meekness humbleness of mind and conversation 1 Pet. 5.1 6. Of all men in the world they must not be proud and lofty in their hearts and carriages but meek and lowly Mat. 11.29 2 Tim. 2 25. Fourthly They must be eminent and singular in Gentlenesse and peaceablenesse they must not brawl nor strive 2 Tim. 2.24 1 Tim. 3.3 Fifthly They must be eminent in Self-denial and curbing the Flesh keeping under carnal worldly self and crossing the desires of the Flesh and of the Mind 1 Cor. 9. ult Sixthly They must be eminent and singular in patience and contentation they must not be soon angry or moved to passion and wrath 1 Tim. 3. Seventhly They must be eminent and singular in a sober serious holy chearfulnesse and sweetnesse pleasantnesse and affability they must not be of vain and frothy Spirits nor of froward sullen lumpish and sad carriages and deportments for these things are hateful in all Christians much more are they so in such as are set in the Church for lights and Examples to them This is a part of that good behaviour the Apostle says they must be endued withal 1 Tim. 3.2 Eightly They must be eminent and singular in zeal and fervency also For if private Christians should abound in it Rom. 12.11 2 Cor. 7.11 then much more should the Ministers of Christ Tit. 2.14 Rev. 3.19 Ninthly They must be eminent and singular in Love pity and bowels of compassion to Souls they must not be of hard and insensible Spirits but full of tender earning bowels towards their flocks Col. 3.12 1 Pet. 3.8 Rom. 12.15 So was Jesus Christ and so was Paul towards all sorts of men they had to do withall excepting obstinate Sinners who trampled pearles under their feet and so must Ministers be now Be ye kind one to another tender hearted says Paul Eph. 4. ult Tenthly They must be eminent and singular in Heavenly mindednesse they must not be covetous nor greedy after worldly things which the Apostle calls filthy lucre 1 Tim. 3.3 Tit. 1.7 1 Pet. 5.2 They must declare as much as possible that in the midst of earthly enjoyments they are heavenly minded and live above them They are holy men of God and therefore must flee those things 1 Tim. 6.11 2 Pet. 1. ult and follow after heaverly Eleventhly They must be singular and eminent in gavity and solidity they must not be vain light and frothy talkers and of foolish jesting Spirits and carriages but grave and serious 1 Tim. 3. Twelfthly They should be apt to teach set forward and entertain holy and profitable discourses as they have opportunity which will not now be easily found I fear amongst professors However they should be alwaies ready apt and willing to do their duty although others are not to do theirs 1 Pet. 5.2 1 Tim. 3.2 Eph. 4.29 Col. 4.6 Thirteenthly They should be well armed with Wisdome Faith and Patience to endure and stand fast against all oppositions and Temptations and to bear up under all the great discouragements they may meet withall from friends and foes for they will be tryed by both Hence the Apostle charges Timothy to follow after Faith and Patience 1 Tim. 6.11 and in 1 Tim. 4.12 says he be thou an Example to the Believers in Faith c. Therefore they should come to their work well armed and fenced with Faith and Patience for it will be tryed to the utmost as sad experience shews Fourteently They should be eminent and singular in setting up high and noble ends in their eies and hearts in their office and work in the Church The great
motives aims and ends of their hearts and Souls should be to please and honour Jesus Christ their Lord and Master and to edifie and profit his Church Acts 20. These are some of the necessary qualifications that all Pastors of Churches should bring with them and labour to grow and encrease in them when they are there Fifthly They must be qualified with holy and blamelesse conversations and carriages also These are in part described in the 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. and elsewhere in the Epistles of Paul to Timothy and Titus in the Acts and other Scriptures And it must needs be so namely that they be singular in all manner of holy conversation and Godlynesse 1 Tim. 4.7 But exercise thy self unto Godlinesse for they are appointed and set in the Church to be their Lights and Guides to be Examples to Believers and all men 1 Tim. 4.12 Mat. 5.16 1 Pet. 5.3 c. They will by blamable walkings more dishonour Jesus Christ and his Gospel more grieve and afflict the hearts of good Men scandalize and harden the hearts of evil men than a hundred times as many private Christians and pull great reproach and comtempt upon the Ministry of Christ in his Churches They are more eyed and observed and are nearer Jesus Christ than others are and greater things are expected from them than from others Therefore they should shine forth in all Grace and be found though not without their failings in the practice of every good Work as men Christians and Ministers of Christ It is not enough for them that they be not such and such negative professors but they must be such and so in practical holynesse They must not only abstain from that which is evil and forbidden but they must do that which is good and commended otherwise they cannot be blamelesse But if they are indeed of such Spirits as aforesaid they will be of holy and blamelesse conversations and walk as Gospel real true Lights Guides before all but if they want these heart and internal qualifications they will not long if at all be blamelesse walkers If they are of proud peevish cross and fretful of sowre angry and wrathful Tempers and carriages they are not blamelesse If they are of hot testy fiery rash and quarrelsome Tempers and Carriages they are not blamelesse If they are Back biters and Defamers of men or Hearers and Receivers of evil reports against good men they are not blamelesse If they are coveteous worldly persons in their words and deeds they are not blamelesse If they are excessive in their cloaths houses eating or drinking they are not blamelesse If they are censorious and rash Judges of others they are not blamelesse If they are cheaters or detainers of others dues from them they are not blamelesse If they are vain and light persons and given much to frothy idle talk and jestings or to Idleness they are not blamelesse If they are carelesse of and negligent in relative duties and the worship of God in their families they are not blamelesse If they are not diligent in their callings and works but are addicted to walk abroad sleep or otherwaies spend away their pretious time vainly and unprofitably they are not blamelesse I might instance in many more but that I study brevity as well as Truth The Ministers of Christ must not only be free from the practice of such and such Sins but they must be eminent and singular in the practice of all duties incumbent on them towards God and men also unavoidably infirmities excepted Sixthly They must also have and be endued with natural Gifts as ability of body and the Gift of utterance For although a man may have a great stock of Graces Gifts and Truths laid up in his head and Heart yet if he want abilities of Body or speech to utter plainly declare them unto others how can he profit the Church or minister to their edification which is the great end of those Gifts c. and the Ministry Therefore they must not be only qualified within but without also they must be able to speak as they ought Eph. 6.20 as well as to judge as they ought to judge of and understand divine matters Sevently They must be sound in the Faith too For if they be leavened with corrupt Doctrine and their Faith and Judgments tainted with it they may easily corrupt and leaven the Church of Christ by sowing such Tares and stinking Weeds as all the men in the world will never be able to pull out again A little leaven of corrupt Doctrine leavens the whole Lump Gal. 5.9 And when once false doctrines are got into the Head they will quickly defile and corrupt the whole heart and conversation And therefore to prevent such evils in the Churches the Apostles laboured exceedingly with the Churches and assoon as they perceived any Tares of corrupt doctrine sown in the Churches they presently endeavoured the pulling of them up and weeding of them out either by preaching or writing And Paul charged Titus to see that Teachers were sound in the Faith and Doctrines of the Gospel Tit. 1.9.13 and that they speak sound Doctrines chap. 2.1 2. that they were of sound Minds 2 Tim. 1.7 and also that they hold fast the form of sound Words vers 13. and also wishes all corrupt and unsound Teachers cut off Gal. 5.12 Therefore they must not be erroneous in their Faith and Judgments but sound in the Faith of the Gospel that are together with the aforesaid particulars rightly qualified Ministers of Christ And you may be sure that Jesus Christ hath more care of and respect unto his Name Gospel and Churches which he hath purchased with his Blood than to set over them erroneous and corrupt Teachers Eighthly Humane learning is not to be slighted and desp sed in a Minister as it is too much by some who know not the good of it for although the Word and Spirit of God can sufficiently prepare qualifie a man for the Ministry without it yet experience shews that it is singularly useful to holy men in their Ministerial Work It helps to make them more able men though not Christians it is usefull to their heads who know how to use it if not to their Hearts it is a good servant to wait on Divinity though a bad master when it is exalted above it as to many shamefully and sinfully do It is well know that we come to the knowledge of the Spirit and mystery of divine Truths by the letter wherein it is held forth and we come to understand the mind and intention of a Superior by the words he speaks to us so that if we understand not his words we cannot know his mind and will or what he would have us believe do or receive And is it not the same with respect to the Word of God how can we know his mind and will concerning us but by his Word and how by his Word or Words except we understand their sense
as they do for their own Souls and that not as Believers only but as their Teachers and spiritual Fathers also Certainly this is one great part of their work and business and therefore they may not neglect it but are bound to be diligent in it in secret and in publick when present with them they must bless them and the word and seals ministerially and that by virtue of their place office and power in the Church 1 Cor. 10.16 Numb 6.23 24 25 26. Thus blessed Paul was much in the practice of namely in presenting the Churches cases to God and wrestling with God for them Phil. 1.9 Col. 1.9 2 Thes 1.11 Wherefore we pray alwayes for you So Col. 1.3 1 Thes 3.10 Seventhly Resolve doubts and cases that trouble any of the Members of the Church when they are presented to them if they are matters worthy consideration They must study cases of Conscience and such doubts and scruples as may arise in the hearts or heads of their people that they may be ready to apply some satisfying Medicine unto them They are to study persons and their cases and maladies as well as the Scriptures for they must alwayes be able to apply and rightly to use a word in season to weary troubled burthened Souls as well as to Preach publickly and promiscuously to all from a studied composed subject This work of Teachers in the Church is no light ordinary matter it will shew what they are and try their learning and abilities for their work more than any thing else It is a special gift of God and an evidence of an able spiritual Physician indeed who can find out spiritual Diseases of mens Souls and readily apply proper Remedies to them that can rightly speak a word in season to him that is weary Esa 50.4 and comfort the feeble-minded 1 Thes 5.14 The Lord Jesus and Paul were much exercised and imployed in this work and so should Teachers now as occasion is offered For the Priests lips should preserve knowledge and the people should seek the Law at their mouths Mal. 2.7 They are given to the Churches to be their spiritual Nurses and Physicians for the cure and health of their Souls and therefore they must administer Physick and Cordials unto sick and pained Souls in private as well as in publick Eighthly That they may discharge their Ministerial work as becomes the Ministers of Christ They must exercise themselves in reading and studying They must give themselves to reading and studying the Scriptures the works and providences of God as also their own experiences and they must read search and endeavour all they can to know the states cases conditions and wants of their own particular flocks that they may make full proof of their Ministry 2 Tim. 4.5 Divide the word of Truth aright 2 Tim. 2.15 Speak words in season to all sorts especially to weary and burthened Souls Esa 50.4 And that they may both save themselves and those that hear them 1 Tim. 4.16 Ministers of the Gospel must be continually lying in as well as lying out they must furnish themselves with Grace Truth and Experiences that they may Communicate unto others out of the good Treasure of their hearts Their hearts heads and lips must be filled with varieties of Divine and Heavenly matters that they may freely and readily impart of their receivings to every ones needs Mal. 2.7 Their Lord and Master charges them to give attendance to reading 1 Tim. 4.13 To Meditation 1 Tim. 4.15 And to study 2 Tim. 2.15 They must search the Scriptures Joh. 5.39 Hold fast the form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 And inspect their people Pro. 27.23 2 Tim. 4.5 Acts 20.28 They must not look for immediate Inspirations nor to be furnished with all needful supplyes from Heaven for the discharge of their office and Ministerial work in the Churches of Christ by the spirit but in and by their diligent use of Gods means God that appoints and promises the end appoints and directs us to and in the use of the means leading to the obtainment of that end The end directed to in and by the said means is the supply of Grace Gifts and all necessary and profitable ministerial abilities for such as Christ puts into the work and office of teaching and ruling in his Churches Therefore they may not divert to or take up with any other Imployments that may any way impede or hinder them in or of the aforesaid duties But in case of necessity Ob. But did not Paul work with his hands and labour in other businesses and exercise himself in worldly and secular matters after he was engaged in the work of the Ministry And if so why may not other men do the same as well as he 1. You saw before what ordinary Elders ought to do and are bound to attend unto in their places and offices namely to give themselves wholly to the work of the Ministry which they had received in the Lord Col. 4.17 That they fulfill it that they attend to Study Reading Meditation Exhortation Doctrine 1 Tim. 4.13 15. 2 Tim. 2.15 2 Tim. 4.5 And that they wait on the Altar 1 Cor. 9.13 2. Examples must not be taken and advanced against precepts Paul was an extraordinary Officer or Minister his work and power was every where where the Lord called him to Preach he was not a particular fixed Elder or Pastour to one single Church neither was he bound or necessitated to attend to reading studying c. as ordinary Ministers are Moreover Paul and other Apostles had their office power their abilities and furnitures for their work immediately from Christ in an extraordinary way and manner which ordinary officers now have not 3. Paul laboured not with his hands or neglected his Ministerial work but when necessitated thereunto and the Apostles at Jerusalem Act. 6. tells us That it was unreasonable that they should leave the word of God and serve Tables 4. Ordinary Pastours or Elders of Churches do find that their so attending to their work in their Studies as commanded absolutely necessary for the discharge and well performance of the work their Lord hath given them to do and experience shews beyond all contradiction that the most studious holy Ministers are the most powerful and profitable in their Ministry 5. The great and rich provisions that God hath made for them in their faithful attendance to their work in the Churches fully proves and declares what they should do and attend unto God hath commanded their Hearers to provide carnal things for them yea to Communicate to them in all good things that they may attend on their work and wait at the Altar without distraction Gal. 6.6 1 Cor. 9.6.15 Rom. 15.27 Ninthly They must be eminently holy and righteous in all manner of Conversation They are Lights and therefore they must shine as such in the World They are the Salt of the Earth and therefore they must be of savory Spirits and practices Matth. 5.13
evil of it whence it is And they should assist and help them with their company Advice and Counsel when desired and need requires it Moreover they ought to do all they can to make the Ministry of their Teachers acceptable unto the Church and to see that all do their Duties to them That they defraud not their Teachers of convenient and due maintenance nor carry themselves rudely and disrespectfully unto them or towards their Ministry and that they warn and exhort them to do their Duty to them as Christ hath commanded That they constantly seasonably and reverently attend to and wait on their Ministry and to make holy earnings and improvements of it 9. They ought to project and prepare good orders and matters for the profit of the Church to help forward and promote any good things presented to them by their Teachers and help to carry them on unto perfection But in an especial manner they should concur with them in promoting Holiness and the power of godliness in the Church and that by Counsel Instruction and Exhortation For that is the Churches Ornament Beauty and Glory Psal 93. ult They should labour to promote Gospel-light life zeal humility meekness and good works They should labour to promote Godliness in the Churches Families in their hearts and conversations among t men and in their Meetings and Assemblies to the utmost of their power and not leave all to their Pastors to do They are indeed indispensibly bound to promote it all they can by their Preaching and walking and that publickly and privately and Ruling-Elders are to do it privately and particularly And because the frequent Meetings of Christians for Prayer and Discourse is a Duty exceeding profitable and beneficial unto their Souls when rightly improved wisely and spiritually managed the Elders should encourage it set it forward and endeavour to maintain and uphold such good VVorks and Duties amongst all the Members of the Church For such Meetings will greatly promote Godliness and keep a Savour of Christ on the heart Now who should promote and further this good work so much as the Elders who may and ought authoritatively to do it This is another of their works and businesses in the Church Therefore see you do it in good earnest who are Elders 10. Lastly Ruling-Elders as well as Teaching have another great work to do in and for the Church and that is to be singularly exemplary in their words deeds and carriages Be thou an example sayes the Apostle to Timothy 1 Epistle 4.12 to the Believers in Word in Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity for without these things all the rest is worth nothing at all Elders and their VVives and Children as well as the Deacons should be examples and encourageing Patterns of Meekness and humility to others in their Garbs or cloathings Elders should be singular in wisdom zeal seriousness and gravity in love sweetness diligence faithfulness spirituallity Heavenly mindedness and in all good works Shew thy self sayes Paul a Pattern of good works in all things Tit. 2.7 They must so walk as that others may safely follow their steps and be excited and encouraged so to do by their examples They are indispensibly bound to be good examples out of and in the Congregation or Church when assembled together to worship God Then should the Elders shew good examples to the whole Church by their timely coming there and by their holy serious and reverent carriages and deportments in the worship of God For when they neglect their place and duty there or come unseasonably carry themselves carelesly and unreverently they tempt others to do so too For as they are Elders over the Church and have a Name among them so they eye them much and expect great things of and from them Therefore Elders must take heed to their wayes and see that they walk circumspectly or exactly Eph. 5.15 For if they do not believe it they will do more hurt than good in the Church Thus we see that Ruling Elders have work enough to do in the Church and that there is need and use enough of them And surely they might be of great use in the Church and prove a great blessing indeed to her would they but know mind attend to and do their own proper work and business and really concern themselves with Christ's and the Churches concernments with all their hearts and souls as they ought to do And oh that such as are called to that Office and Dignity would seriously consider and lay to heart their wayes and doings wherefore they are set in the Church and invested with Power and Authority and whether they do indeed intend and in good earnest set to their work and unfeignedly design and prosecute those ends Quest How should Ruling-Elders perform their work in the Church Answ First with wisdom or wisely They should wisely observe the matters they have to concern themselves about and to manage in the Church 2. The times and scasons for the doing of them to whom and when 3. The manner how they should or ought to do them Much light knowledge and spiritual wisdom is required in Church Government and Governours And therefore they have great need to pray read and study much for Divine wisdom and Spiritual understanding in these things That they may discern the will of Christ their Lord and Law-giver and not mistake their way and work nor the times seasons and occasions thereof nor stumble at any stumbling-stone or walk in the dark in so great and importunate matters 2. The revealed will of Christ in his New Testament is to be their great and only Rule and Guide in Church-matters No other voice must be heard there but his nor any other Authority Law or Rule to be observed followed and obeyed but his It is given to him to be the Head over all things to his Church Eph. 1.22 23. And therefore they ought to observe all things whatsoever he hath commanded them and nothing else Math. 28.20 in the exercise of their Authority in or for the Church This they must carefully and continually mind and have in their eye that they do not their own wills and walk by their own Rules but Christs For in so doing he will bless and prosper them help and assist them and in the end he will reward all their conformity and obedience to his holy will But otherwise he will say who required these things of you Therefore when any cases or works are offered to you you must consider them and the Laws or Rules by which you ought to proceed in what you are called to do and then proceed and manage your work accordingly Be you sure to steer your course aright by Divine light and Laws look up to and own Christ and his Authority in all your proceedures For you act not as civil Magistrates in a state but as the Spiritual Magistrates of Christ in his Church And therefore I say it is his Will
evil spoken of 13. Be sure to make good and perform all your peremptory promises to men and take heed and beware of breaking them or failing and disappointing men of their just expectations from you for that also will be scandalous and offensive 14. Take heed of taking into a marriage-bond such as are apparently in an unbelieving and carnal state and condition For that also is very offensive to holy serious men although some make light of it 15. Take heed of idleness and slothfulness in your Callings For that will prove a pernitious and scandalous sin to others and your own souls too 16. Take not up a Report against one another that is scandalous nor give an ear unto Tatlers and busie-bodies nor be you busie-bodies in other mens matters your selves For if you do you will give great offence These are some and but some of the scandalous evils that you must carefully avoid as a duty that you owe to God to your Brethren and to your own souls I could have named many more but I find these the most common amongst Professors Now as you must avoid these and other evils mind and practise the said Duties as Church-Members one to another so you must seriously mind the manner reasons and ends of doing them also The reason of your so doing must be the will of Christ your Head and King because he hath so commanded you And the principle of all you do must be love to him and to the souls of your Brethren The ends must be to please honour and exalt the Lord Jesus and to profit and benefit your Brethrens souls and maintain the Credit and Reputation of the Church and the Worship and Ordinances of God therein and to preserve Peace and Purity among your selves The manner must be thus namely wisely dutifully chearfully obediently freely willingly humbly holily seriously diligently sincerely and perseveringly For you should be as careful of doing your Duties to men in a right manner as you are of performing your Duties immediately to God so I can but mention these things because I have exceeded my intentions in others The Lord God bless them to you all CHAP. VIII Of the Ordinances and Worship of God in a Gospel-Church Quest WHat Ordinances of Divine Worship hath God given to and appointed for a Gospel-Church to be observed by them Answ First walking together in constant Cordial Communion and Gospel Order in a Church-state in Brotherly love peace and oneness of spirit in the frequent and joynt Celebration of all the worship and appointments of Christ is certainly an Ordinance of Christ and their Indispensâ—ble Duty as hath been already shewed Believers may not enter their names among Christ's Disciples and then take liberty to do what they please omit or neglect their place and duty there when and how they will and content themselves with having their names enrolled in a Church come among them and go from them at their own will and pleasure No but it is the will and Ordinance of our Lord Jesus that they should constantly and conscientiously in obedience to his holy will abide and continue there holding Communion or Fellowship together as a united and entire body or spiritual Corporation and joyntly with one mind heart and soul observe and celebrate his Ordinances and Worship Heb. 10.24 25. Acts 2.42 44 46 47. Rom. 15.6 1 Cor. 1.10 Secondly Preaching and hearing the Gospel It is true that this is not a special Church-Ordinance or an Ordinance appointed for and given to Churches or to Believers exclusive of all others For it is the great Ordinance of God for the converting quickning and bringing sinners to Christ Rom 1.16 1 Thes 1.5 By this Ordinance God conveys his special Grace and the spirit of Grace into sinners hearts By it he opens blind eyes unstops deaf cars enlivens dead Souls and convinces carnal men of sin Righteousness and Judgments Acts 26.18 Joh. 5.25 Joh. 16.7 8. And by it he turns them from the power of Satan unto God and works them to and for his own use makes them Vessels of Honour and translates them out of the Kingdom of darkness and the Devil into his own Kingdom Col. 1.13 The great Ordinance of Preaching and hearing the Law and Gospel is given and appointed to make fit and prepare sinful men for Membership with Christ his holy Gospel-Churches For until they are moulded and qualified by the word and spirit they are no way capable of either considering what condition all men are in by sinful nature namely dead blind filthy vile hateful enemies to God Children of Satan under the Law the curse and wrath of God strangers to and ignorant of God Christ Grace Duty and Gospel-holiness But although hearing and preaching the word of God be an Ordinance of God to others namely such as are not en-Churched to prepare them for that State and the Duties and Priviledges thereof yet I think it may be called a Church-Ordinance also For the Lord Jesus hath by his soveraign Authority set this Ordinance in his Gospel-Churches and committed the Preaching of it unto men there namely to such as he is said to impower and send to give unto and set among them for the work of the Ministry 1 Cor. 12.28 Acts 20.28 Eph. 4.10 18. Act. 14.23 1 Tim. 5.17 The Ministry of their Pastors and Teachers is their own Ministry and these Officers being given to them by Christ and set in his Churches for their sakes they may call the Ordinance their Ordinance such Officers theirs and their Ministry theirs as having a peculiar Relation to them which is one of the Churches peculiar priviledges and which they ought highly to prize and bless God for Now as some men are gifted impowered and sent out by Christ to convert and turn men to Christ who may not have any Relation to Churches as their Pastors or Teachers so there is the special and peculiar Ministry of Pastors and Teachers given to and set in the Churches whose work and business lyes there and but occasionally else-where to other men Take heed sayes the Apostle to the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God Act. 20.28 The ends of these Officers and their Ministry in the Church is not intended for the calling and regenerating of Church-Members for as was shewed they must be effectually called and regenerated before they can be meet Members of a Holy Temple of God but to build up and carry on the work of Grace in their hearts holiness and fruitfulness in their lives and walkings towards God and men To confirm and establish them in the Truth and Faith of Christ which they have received and to instruct and enlighten them further in all Christ's and their own souls concernments This Ordinance of God is intended and designed by the Lord Jesus and it should be so used and managed by all Teachers and Hearers continually to carry on the work of Grace to convey
to Christ and one to another in a Church-relation that they might live to God and be useful to men 2 Cor. 5.15 Gal. 6.10 Do good to all men especially to the Houshold of Faith Barren Church-members are Incumbrances in the world and are dead while they live they live undesired and dye unlamented they are like withered Trees in an Orchard good for nothing but to be out down and cast into the fire Joh. 15.6 Heb. 6.7 8. They must follow every good work 1 Tim. 5.10 in the Churches Families and places where they live They must not sâ—ck their own things but every one anothers wealth 1 Cor. 10.24 Phil. 2.4 Theya re indispensibly bound to promote the welfare holiness and happiness of their Churches Families Relations and all other Persons so far as they can and that zealously diligently faithfully and constantly They are Created in Christ Jesus unto good works Eph. 2.10 and they are set in the Church for the same 8. Churches should shine in and with courteous and affable spirits words and carriages too For they should be like their Head and Husband in this excellency also Church-members must not be of harsh sowre crabbed churlish spirits and behavior towards men for that will render them odious and contemptible but they must imitate and conform to the Lord Jesus in a holy sweetness kindness courteousness and affability towards Saints and Sinners that they may adorn the Gospel of Christ in all things Tit. 2.10 1 Pet. 3.8 A kind courteous and affable carriage and behaviour is a very comely and beautiful Garment for all such to wear about them for it commends their Persons and Religion unto men and makes them exceeding lovely desirable and acceptable in all Societies as also the good ways of God which they do profess to love and in which they walk 9. They should shine with sympathizing and forgiving spirits and practices Their fallen Brethren or Neighbours who have sinned by wrenging them may stand in need of their Pitty Pardon and Sympathy and then they should vouchsafe it to them and not be rash and severe unto them They must not lay on another load on their backs pursue them with rash Censures shews of Cruelty and Vengeance in words or deeds in wrath and displeasure but pitty them pray for them and give them the hand to raise them up again and bring them to Conviction and Repentance until they appear obstinate and stubborn in their sin The Servant that took his fellow Servant by the throat saying unto him pay me my dues is branded for a wicked man Math. 18.28.35 It is such a kind of cruelty as God abhors and all holy men hate and the world are stumbled at Persons as soon as they sin against us or any way wrong us are not presently to be the objects of our Contempt and Cruelty or of our Wrath Fury no but they ought to be the objects of our Pitty and Compassion of our Sympathy and Assistance and when they do seriously repent of any wrong they have done us although they cannot make any other restitution or satisfaction we ought to forgive them help and comfort them Eph. 4. ult Col. 3.13 Math. 18 ult 2 Cor. 2.7.10 10. Churches should shine in their orderly and dutiful Walkings in the Churches as also in the Families where they live and in and towards their several Relations Next to that mysterious and glorious Union and Relation that is between the Lord Jesus and his people that which is between his People in Church-fellowship and Relation is the nearest and greatest because 1. It is a spiritual Relation and Union 2. Because it is a Union and Relation on Christs account and with respect to him as their Head and King 3. Because it is an everlasting Union and Relation Therefore in this Communion and Relation we should be most precise and exact in our walkings and performing all the duties of it They must keep their places in the Church and constantly attend unto all the duties therein They should never neglect their Church-meetings excepting in extraordinary cases but be present at the Celebration of all divine Worship observation of all the Ordinances of Christ in the Church and demean themselves before God and Men as becomes the Gospel of Christ They must endeavour so to walk in the Church in their Families among and towards their Relations as that they may be blameless giving no offence Phil. 2.15 16. Col. 2.5 2 Cor. 6.3 11. Church-members must shine in Diligence and Faithfulness Slothfulness Unfaithfulness are scandalous sins but Diligence and Faithfulness in our trusts and businesses are Ornaments to our persons and professions and to the Gospel and Holy Name of Christ which we do profess to love and believe Church members are eyed and much observed and therefore they had need walk circumspectly Eph. 5.15 and beg of God to lead them in plain paths as David did because of their Enemies as or 't is in the Margin those which observe me Psal 27.11 They should be diligent in their work and business and what their hands find to do to do it with all their might Eccle. 9.10 2 Pet. 3.14 Heb. 6.12 And as they should be diligent so likewise faithful and trusty to all that are concerned with them so as to answer every ones reasonable expectation from them they must be faithful and true to one another in buying and selling in borrowing and lending in work and business and in counsel and friendship Whatever Trusts they commit to one another or is by any committed to them they are indispensibly bound to be as faithful and true to such as to themselves They must render to all their Dues Rom. 13.7 8. and not in any thing purloyn Tit. 2.10 Are they Buyers or Sellers Lenders or Borrowers or such as are intrusted by any men in any thing they must be faithful to their Trusts or they will reproach the Lord Jesus scandalize men and greatly dishonour their Profession These are some of the many good things wherein they should be as so many burning and shining Lights in the world and in the Churches Secondly They must design aim at and prosecute all the ends of God in appointing such a state and condition for them their cleaving to joyning with and walking therein God and they must joyn Issues and carry on the same ends and interests I have shewed you what ends persons should have in their eye in joyning themselves to the Churches of Christ or in walking in Church-fellowship and now I say that in this State they must practically pursue them and that with all possible diligence seriousness and faithfulness The Honour and Glory of God the Father and Jesus Christ their Head and King the happiness and salvation of their own souls are the two or rather as free grace hath laid it the one great end of their so doing for these ends are no more two but one and so to be believed and