in the Ark the first Testament which made nothing perfect but pointed to a better hope in Christ and so were Ministers of the letter and had a ministration of death to nurture and lead to life and peace in him that was to come Now the service of the holy Priesthood is to be exercised in the Heavenly things themselves That which is committed to their charge is the revelation of Grace and Truth as now come forth in and by Jesus Christ delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification The dispensation of the fulness of times in which al things are gathered together in one and so in which is the revelation of the truth and body of all those figures tipes and shadowes in the law even in Christ that excellent ministry in which God hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings whereas that committed to them was but Gods speaking in divers parts In this speaking by his Son last of all is given unto us the full and clear revelation of the name of the Father in the manifâ—station of the truth of all his former Oracles and promises to the Fathers and so of his infinite grace and glory therein and that in the face of Christ in the discovery of which his name The name of the Son is also revealed in which he is manifested as before witnessed in Oracles Tipes and Prophesies and as the fulfilling and body of them all in what he hath already done and by means thereof doth and will do The Son of God the Saviour of the World The Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the World the perfect sacrifice and offering for sin That is the onely and compleat ransome and price of redemption for all The Mediatour between God and men the High-Priest over the house of God yea the onely He in whom it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell even the fulness of the God-head bodily and in whose blood the whole New Testament of precious promises both for this life and that to come is sealed that also the performance of them may be given forth in due time with him And this revelation of the Son and so of the Father in him is given us in the full evidence and demonstration of the Spirit with plainness and power in which also the name of the Holy Spirit the Spirit of Truth is revealed in his full and glorious testimony of Christ and so of the Father in him immediately given and in his powerful presence and working with it unto all things pertaining to life and godliness to the end of the World as was before prophesied of that powring forth of him from on high And so they are Ministers of the New Testament not of the letter but of the Spirit being in this dispensation blessed with all Spiritual Blessings and that not in earthly or tipical but in Heavenly things even in Christ in whom all Spiritual blessings the truth and body of all figures and tipes are treasured up for us and in the rveelation of him brought to us and in this Ministry committed to the Holy Priesthood That they should offer up spiritual Sacrifices of prayer and praise to God continually and confession of his name by Jesus Christ as comed in the flesh and so that they should Minister in the Heavenly things themselves and not in Tipes Figures or Patterns as the Levitical Priesthood but in and about the true Sanctuary Mercy-Seat Altar Sacrifice c. as the truth and body of all is met and found in him So then the bearing and keeping the charge of the Vessels of the Lord that is now the work or service of the Holy Priesthood under the Gospel and was resembled by the Priests and Levites bearing and keeping the charge of the Ark of the Sanctuary and of all the Vessels of the Ministry may be thus expressed 1. Their great business and the sum of all is to keep and to bear even to bear upon them and hold forth The truth of God as it is now come forth and manifested in the personal body of Jesus Christ which the Father prepared for him in our nature that he might do his will for us and in which he bore our sins on the Tree and in which being raised from the dead he is entred into his glory for us which is such as in which it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell in him even the fulness of the God-head bodily That by him our faith and hope might be in God They are to hold fast and hold forth to others this acknowledgement or profession of their faith in which those things which the Prophets said should come to pass That Christ should suffer and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead and should shew light to the People and to the Gentiles is declared to be even so fulfilled and come forth in that one offering of his personal body once for all And so in him the truth and body of all the tipes and shadowes of the law Whence the house of God which is the Church of the living God as now it is since the appearing of Christ the Church of the man Christ raised from the dead who was dead but is alive for evermore and standeth in the name and majesty of God his Father to feed and rule I say his spiritual house his holy Priesthood is according to the general acception of that 1 Timothy 3. 15. said to be The Pillar and ground of truth even of the manifestation of the truth and righteousness of God in all his former Oracles and promises given to the Fathers and in all the grace and good things tipified and witnessed in the law and Prophets as now come forth in Christ raised from the Dead and treasured up in his personal body for us And though that Scripture may have another acception such as in which that clause the pillar and ground of truth is attributed to the living God that stands before it and indeed He even God in Christ and so the man Christ Jesus in the name and majesty of God he is not onely the truth but in the most full and absolute sense the pillar and ground of it yet that understanding though taken in here destroyes not the sence fore-mentioned in which also His Church from him and as in conjunction with him the Head is signified to be in a subordinate sense the pillar and ground of truth And happily the words may be so left that we may take in the sense of both acceptions together We shall briefly speak to it in the sence we have mentioned according to the usual acceptation as that also may stand and agree with the other The truth of which in any sence The Church of the living God is the Pillar and Ground is as before hinted Jesus Christ himself as raised from the Dead in that Body in which he was delivered for our offences And so the
or other 3 Union of way for promoting this design working and walking together in the same work and way of the Lord speaking or doing nothing through strife or vain glory but truthing it in love so as seeking and striving to walk together in setting forth commending cleaving to and leading others unto the same one Lord and so the one faith and the one baptism that is of and by him and the glory of God as shined forth in his face unto and for all things and in teaching all things therewith Seeking I say to walk together in this way of understanding in their several gifts administrations operations c. studying and striving each of them and together in the light and strength of the Lord to speak the same thing and to be perfectly joyned together in one mind and one judgment that there be no divisions c. 1 Cor. 1. 10. and chap. 12. 6 12. with Ephes 4. 1. 15. And so 4 Union of accord and agreement such as in which all things by each one are sought to be done in charity and with the advice consent prayers and helpfulness of their brethren in the faith and patience of Jesus that they may be blessed out of the house of the Lord and grow by that which every joynt supplyeth and to that purpose the younger submitting to the elder and all of them one to another in the fear of God And so there is in it 5 An union of fellowship one wiâ—h another and that in personal society and companionship for fellowship in the Gospel and ordinances thereof for acquainting our selves with the joys and griefs of one another for stirring up and exhorting to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of themselvs together as the manner of some is who are sensual not retaining the spirit This of personal society with them that call on him out of a pure heart is to be prized and embraced as one of the choicest outward mercies and blessings of this life and of greatest advantage to the one thing needfull and to be striven for in all our seekings namely the faith of the Gospel and therefore the opportunities God gives for it with diligence to be apprehended and improved See Psalm 84. and 122. Acts 2. 42. 46. Hebrews 10. 23 24 25. with chapter 3. 12 13. And in communicating on with another by and diligent improving the helpfulness that we may enjoy from such persons as afore-said by that meanes when personal converse or society with them cannot be enjoyed Till I come saith the Apostle to Timothy give attention to reading c. Signisying That when the Apostle should be personally present with him it might be of more use and advantage to Timothy to apply himself to personal converse with him and to attend to what he might personally hear and receive from him But when opportunity for that is denyed the reading searching and studdy of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles and so the reading and considering the writings of such as have that lap of knowledge fore-mentioned the Word of God and testimony of Jesus and searching the Scriptures of truth whether those things be so and in such wise attending to those helps to our understanding and usefulness of the Scriptures and great things of Gods love conâ—ained in them that we may injoy from such persons is in the next place of great advantage and usefulness to the promoting these our main affairs Onely here be we admonished by the words of the wise given forth from one Shepheard That as no man can gather Grapes of Thorns nor Figgs of Thistles so neither can we expect to reap any good fruit or advantage but loss and pollution to the corruping our minds and manners from evil communication or the communication about the things of God from evil persons or such as love not the Lord Jesus Christ nor have that lip of knowledge that word of reconciliation in their hearts or mouths or in some measure having it yet are not so subdued by it to let fall their imaginations and high thoughts of comprehending and making out those things of the testimony of God by the wisdome of man or of this World and by the words which mans wisdome teacheâ—h not willing to become Fooles in themselves that they may have all their wisdome and strength in that evidence and demonstration of the Spirit that is in the testimony of Jesus The discourses or writings of such even of such as the last though they the best and most to be respected of the several sorts mentioned because they have in some measure the testimony of God though not subdued by it they seek to comprehend and declare it by mans wisdome or words as 1 Corinthians 1. 17. and 2. 1. 4. and 3. 18 19 20. 1 Timothy 6. 21. which makes that even such helps of either sort are little helpfull to those that through Grace have believed or to the convincing the ignorant and gain-sayers because they make it not their business nor doth their excellency lye there plainly to shew and demonstrate by the Scriptures Jesus the Christ and so other things in that demonstration of him by the Scriptures and so leave it on mens Consciences as his word and in his name But rather to shew and demonstrate those things by strength of reason or excellency of wisdome and of words which mans wisdome teacheth Compare the fore-mentioned Scriptures with Acts 18. 27 28. Those seeming helps may occasion to us much bodily exercise and such kinde of study as is a wearisomness to the flesh but the profit gained by them is but little and for a little while And if time were spared from such discourses and readings as in which chiefly the excellency of wisdome and of words is shewed in declaring and for demonstrating and making out the testimony of God we might have more to spend better and in more free and diligent attention to those helps that might be indeed helps and profitable to us But how much more are we to go from the presence of such soolish men as have not the lip of knowledge so soon as we perceive it to cease to hear the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge because not onely they are in themselves polluting but also that with more diligence and earnestness we may continue together in the Apostles Doctrine and sellowship striving together for the faith of the Gospel that in nothing we may be terrified by our adversaries When the wicked did gather together in bands and were therein more powerful to do mischief to rob and rend from David he then resolves to be a companion of all those that fear the Lord and of those that in their fear or worship keep his way his precepts as of great advantage to strengthen him against the bands of the wicked Psal 119. 61 63. So in the latter dayes when there are of those many sorts of walkers who are enemies to the Cross
that life in him and so through the taste of his graciousness are as lively stones built up in him a spiritual house for him to dwell and walk in and so manifest himself in and through them Hebrews 3. 6. 2 Corinthians 6. 16. 1 Corinthians 3. 16 17. John 14. 21. 23. An holy Priest-hood to offer up by him Spiritual sacrifices of praise to God continually even the fruit of their lips confessing to his name as well as in doing good and communicating for with such sacrifices also God is well pleased Heb. 13. 15 16. A Chosen Generation a Holy Nation a Peculiar People that they should shew forth the praises of him that called them out of darkness into his marvellous light 1 Peter 2. 4 5. 9 10. They are the Salt of the earth the light of the World let and preserved in it to shine as lights by holding forth the word of life in it in word and conversation so working out to others their own salvation Mat. 5. 13. 16. Phil. 2. 12. 16. Whence Timothy is instructed to be an example of believers in word and conversation c. 1 Timothy 4. 12. That they might all each in their place and according to their capacity be followers of him as he was of Christ and so together with him of Christ and his Apostles Hence also our Saâ—iour in John 17. Praying for such peculiar blessings as in which the persons prayed for might be sanctified through the truth to the ministration of it and holding it forth to the world which blessings he prayes not for for the world that they should be conferred on any man that is yet abiding in the state condition and way of the World such being not appointed of him to this service Yet he saith he prayes for those peculiar blessings not onely for those first messengers whom he sent immediately to that work of the Ministry as the Father sent him and to whom he gave the grace of Apostleship for obedience to the faith among all Nations nor onely to the more eminently gifted believers But in those prayers he also prayed for all those that in after Ages should believe through their word That they also might be one in this service in a secondary sence so as receiving it and their fitness to it in believing through the Apostles doctrine That they all might be one in will and design with the Father and Son and with his Apostle for carrying on this business that through him by meanes of them instrumentally the World might know and believe that the Father had sent Christ the Saviour of the World and loveth those that through his grace believe as he hath loved him or with such manner of love in a subordinate sense John 17. 9. 24. 2 The Priesthood being changed there is therein made of necessity a change also of the law for service There is verily a disanulling of the commandement going before for the weakness and unpâ—ofiâ—ableness of it For the law made nothing perfect but the bringing in of a better hope by the which we draw nigh to God If perfection were by the Levitical Priesthood under which the people received the law what farther need was there that another Priest should arise after the order of Melchizedeck c. There is therefore a change of the law for service 1. In respect of the persons unto whom their ministration of and about holy things is to be extended and amongst whom to be exercised 2. In respect â—â— the manner of their work or service in the charge committed to them yet in both it 's such as answers to those patterns and tipical reâ—â—mbâ—ances that was in theirs 1. As to the persons unto whom their ministry is to be extended and among whom to be exercised As their charge was to bear and keep the vessels of the Lord and to minister about holy things for and in the behalf of the whole Congregation of Israel after the flesh To whom was committed the Oracles of God the knowledge of which as given by the Prophets was by the Priests lips to be preserved amongst and unto them To whom also pertained the Adoption the Glory the Covenants the giving of the law the service of God and the promises Rom. 3. 2. and 9. 4. Even so now The charge of the holy Priesthood whom the Father hath given unto Christ to minister unto him and keep his charge who is the great Apostle and High-Priest of our profession is to bear the vessels of the Lord and to minister about holy things for and in the behalfe of unto and amongst all Nations Unto the Apostles eminently this charge was committed to go into all the World to disciple the Nations to Christ baptizing them in his name preaching the Gospel to every creature of all the Nations small and great Jew and Gentile bond and free witnessing repentance and remission of sins to them and amongst them as in his name for them and that in baptizing them with their word or doctrine and also as an outward seal to that with water in his name and therein teaching them to observe as instructed moved and capacitated by his preventing Grace through their word all things that Christ had commanded them To them was committed the grace of Apostleship for obedience to the faith among all Nations for his name And unto all them that believe through their word in a secondary sense is this charge committed That they should shine as lights in the World as they have capacity and opportunity in their several places where they are set to keep that commandement without spot until the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ They ought not to account any man common or unclean or as left under that outward state of uncleanness which sometime remained on the Gentiles who are now made nigh by the blood of Christ Act. 1â— 28. Ephes 2. 13. 17. and 3. 1. 10. The Servants therefore as Servants not as Lords or Worldly Princes by a worldly power nor by the wrath of man are to indeavour the gathering them together as many as they finde both good and bad and the bringing them into his house to rejoyce with his People to eat of his Bread and drink of the Wine that he hath mingled Proverbs 9. 3 4 5. Matthew 22. 9 10. Romans 15. 6. 9. c. 2. As to the manner of their service in the charge commited to them whereas the service of the Levitical Priesthood was exercised in the tipes and patters of Heavenly things and so in offering such gifts and sacrifices as could never make themselves and therefore not the comers perfect as pertaining to the Conscience but stood onely in meats and drinks and divers washings and tipical rights and ceremonies imposed on them till the time of reformation they had a Worldly or Earthly Sanctuary and Vessels of the Ministry committed to their charge They had an earthly and tipical Ark and mercy seat all patterns and figures of the true and
any man love God the same is known of him 1 Cor. 8. 2. with John 14. 21. 23. And as in any measure so sealed so far forth are they approved and as it were set apart by God to peculiar service in the Gospel And to be called forth and approved by their brethren Such therefore Jude instructs and incourageth to contend earnestly for the faith of the common salvation in Christ as once delivered to the Saints to be kept held fast and held forth by them Such I say as were sanctified by God the Father Namely with this sanctification of the Spirit which is the way fore-known and approved by him from the beginning for sanctifying persons unto himself by Christ in these last Ages so sanctified unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus preserved sometime and so found stedfast in Christ and called approved fitted and so appointed to such pecnliar service in the Gospel as also to such suffering for his sake as might be occasioned by such service Jude 1. 3. with 1 Peter 1. 2 3. 2. There is a dayly sanctification of themselves in the light and strength of the Lord that sanctifies them in and unto this service necessary to render them acceptable and profitable therein answering to that dayly and continuall tipical sanctification from tipical uncleanness wherewith the Levitical order and Priesthood were to sanctifie themselves and be sanctified to their service in which they were to sanctifie themselves and be sanctified cleansed and separated from those things in themselves in their own bodyes their marriages and works which according to the law did but tipcally defile and render unclean And also to be seperate from so as not to have to do with or touch any thing or person declared unclean by the law As we read Leviticus 21. and 22. with other Scriptures So here in the sanctification of the Spirit having these great and precious promises That the Lord will dwell in them by his word and Spirit in it even to sanctifie them According to those many Scriptures I the Lord do Sanctifie you Exodus 31. 13. Leviticus 20. 7 8. and 21. 8. 15. 23. and 22. 9. 16. Ezekiel 20. 12. c. And will also walke in them to manifest the savour of his knowledge by them They are in the light and strength of the Lord in whom they are what they are as such a House and Priesthood to cleanse themselves from all filthinesse of flesh and spirit perfecting holinesse so as in the feare of the Lord. 1. To lay aside put off and flee from those filthinesses and superfluities of naughtiness that are moved and rising up dayly from the old man the Law of sin still remaining and warring in the members the flesh lusting against the spirit as they have already in some measure been renewed in the spirit of their mind so to be alwayes putting off as concerning the former conversation the old man with his deeds and puting on the new man which after God is created in righteousness and holiness of truth as the anointing even the word of truth which they have heard from the begining and received of him which abideth in them as that teacheth even so by minding the things of that spirit and walking in the light and strength of it as by the mercies of God therein put to remembrance displayed and commended they are moved and strengthened so to present and yeild up their bodies their whole man in all their Actings a living sacrifice to him that so that spirit in the testimony of Jesus which hath begun to renew the mind may dayly fashion and transforme the whole man in all his actings into likenesse to him according to that renewing of the mind Jam. 1. 21. 1 Pet. 2. 1-3 Rom. 6. and 12. 1-3 According to those many instructions and exhortations Purge out the old leaven even as yea are unleavened for Christ our passeover is sacrificed for us 1 Cor. 5. 7. Seeing yee have purified your souls in obeying the truth as in the previous sanctification forementioned see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently 1 Peter 1. 22. If we live in the spirit let us walke in the spirit seeing we have already crucified the flesh with its affections and lusts as to the spirit of our mind we have gotten victory and escaped the errors and polutions of the world through the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour so as not withstanding all those hinderances by the flesh with its affections and lusts we have knowne believed and owned him or rather been owned by him as his peculiar people let us not therefore suffer iâ— to reigne or yeild up our minds or members to it but let us resigne our selves to God according to the renewing of the mind as those that are alive from the dead and our members as instruments of righteousnesse unto him Be not desirous of vaine glory c. Gal. 5. 16-24 25 26. with Rom. 6. So cleansing our selves dayly and in all our actings from all filthynesse of flesh grosser filthynesse as the lusts of the flesh and of the eye as Ephesians 5. 1-18 1 Tim. 6. 9-11 and 2. 22. And of the spirit the pride of life all those desires of wisedome strength and righteousnesse in our selves or of vaine glory to our selves c. Which doe all war against the soule and make us and our works uncleane they even defile our holy things 2. They are also to come out from amongst and be separate from uncleane persons and fellowships so as not to touch the uncleane thing that God may receive and own them as vessels in whom he takes pleasure to manifest himself in and through 2 Cor. 6. 14-17 18. with Isa 52. 11. Jer. 15. 19. To have no fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darkensse but rather reprove them to forsake the foolish to stand up from the dead c. Eph. 5. 11. 14. with Prov. 9. 6. And in this also they are to cleanse themselves from all filthyness of flesh and spirit from fellowship with men in their evill and uncleane principles and practises whether more gross or more refined whether more openly or privily denying the Lord that bought them and being enemies to the Cross of Christ the power of Godliness so as not to touch the unclean thing 2 Tim. 3. 1-5 2 Pet. 2. 1 2. Phil. 3. 17 18 19. Rom. 16. 17 18. Here this caution is warily to be observed vide that they are not to shut out such uncleane persons from them from listening to their word or doctrine or to forbid or hinder them from turning and coming in to them in their acknowledgement and worship but they the chosen generation are to separate and come out from them in their doctrines and fellowships principles and practises that are uncleane so as not to have any fellowship with the unfruitfull works of darknesse They are to cease to heare the instruction that causeth to err from the words of knowledge
the Apostles that they are therein mighty through God to the opening the eyes of the blind convincing the ignorant and gainsayers of the vanity and falsenesse of other foundations in the plaine demonstration of this in the evidence and demonstration of the spirit with power and to the helping them much who through grace believe Acts 18. 24 25 27 28. 1 Cor. 14. 1 3 4 20 24 25. There is also an inferiour degree of this gift of prophecy called in Eph. 4. 11. Evangelizing included in Prephets 1 Cor. 12. 28. In which though there may be wanting some of that abillity and skill forementioned yet there is so much of that nature as may render their feete beautifull to the alluting and drawing to Christ especially on the barren Mountaines where men are not so setled on other objects or where they are in any measure taken off from finding content rest and feeding in them Yea they that have not this gift that are much wanting and short in such understanding and acquaintance with the Scriptures and such skill in the word of righteousnesse the great things of his Law contained in them as might apt them so to open the foundation and shâ—w the great things of Christ by the Scriptures and therewith open the Scriptures of the Prophets by the Apostles shew things to come and thence and therewith to instruct c. as before Yet they may have some word of knowledge or of faith some feeding or teaching gift in which they may be fellow helpers to the truth by confessing his name as they have proved the goodnesse and truth of it and may be helped to expresse it by the Scriptures though not so to open interpret and give the sence of the Scriptures and shew the scope of them and instructions contained in them as others that have a more excellent gift that way Each might be profitable to themselves and others to their brethren and the world and comely and usefull in their generation were they content to keep their place and so to minister as they have received the gift and as God hath distributed to every one Every one might have joy and praise from God in a right exercise of his owne gift that God hath given him if he were not seeking to have the rejoycing use and praise of anothers gift which yet is not his owne which indeed springs from a desire of vaine glory whence those admonitions Rom. 12. 3. 1 Pet. 4. 10 11. with such vehemency urged 2. There are some appointed of God to goe before others as guides rulers elders or leaders in the Word of the Lord to whom is especially committed the peculiar service of Preaching the Crosse of Christ of witnessing repentance and remission of sins in his name and so of shewing Jesus Christ and the things of him out of the Scriptures of the Prophets and Apostles compared And therewith interpreting and opening the Scriptures giving the sence of the manifold instructions judgements encouragements reproofes exhortations c. Contained therein and contending with opposers to them also is more peculiarly committed the whole charge of ordering and managing the affaires of the Gospell in the Church and to the world-ward according to their capacity and opportunity in the severall places where they are set And these according to the instructions of the Apostles given by the one Shephard with the advice prayers and help of their brethren in the faith as they may enjoy it are to commit to others their severall charges according to their fitnesse in first and second degrees They are to commit the chiefe worke of preaching and giving the sence of the Scriptures and shewing the things of Christ out of them and contending with adversaryes for the faith unto faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Seeing to them as they have opportunity that they teach no other doctrine instructing helping and going before them in their Ministry and seeking in a Gospell way to stop the mouths of unruly and vain talkers And to others that are faithfull though not so able nor gifted for the forementioned services as there is occasion and need they may commit the administration of the outward ordinance of Baptizeing in his Name which is mentioned by the Apostle as a lighter matter of the Law and not so peculiarly appropriated to choice instruments as also we have shewed before in 1 Cor. 1. 14-17 which likewise is signified in our Saviours committing that to his disciples before so sit to be sent forth to preach John 4. 2. And in Peters appointing that to be done by others when yet none of them but himselfe that we read of had preached the Gospell to that people Act. 10. 48. And so the testimoniall receiving in that ordinance the little children brought and presented to the Church As also some care and charge of them and of their parents that they may be kept and brought up in the Schoole of Christ and so in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. Likewise according to their capacity some care and charge of other persons adheering to the Gospell with them and so also of one another Care of their souls in faithfull admonishing warning the unruly comforting and strengthening the weake exhorting one another bearing one anothers burtherns c. as 1 Thess 5. 14 15. c. Heb. 3. Gall. 6. 1-5 6. And so care of their bodyes also in visiting the sick having inspection into the wants of the needy and some more particularly as they have capacity and opportunity to see to what is needfull to the mannagement of the affaires of the Gospell as to the entertainment of strangers and otherwise helping forward the fellow-helpers to the truth and to these purposes to be ready themselves and to provoke and stir up others to love and good workes And some to receive and distribute as necessity and opportunity calls for it the liberallity of others to the reliefe of the needy as to other the forementioned purposes And those that are appointed or in any wise set apart as by way of office to such service for all that have believed in God ought to be carefull to maintaine good workes each acording to their capacity and are so to be charged by those over them in any sence in the Word of the Lord yea to stir up and provoke one another thereto Tit. 3. 8 14 1 Thess 5. 14 15. Heb. 10. 24 and 13. 1 2. 3 John 4. 5 6. But those that are in any wise set apart by way of office to such service as the takeing any oversight of their brethren in these things and mannaging these affaires in the Church and for the good of the world They especially are to be such as are knowne to be men sound in the faith honest and of good report and in some measure full of the holy Ghost and of wisedome that the name of God be not evill spoken of but gloryfied among the Gentiles and the designe of the
by himselfe Noe man not any of the Fathers are to cover or put vailes upon any thing which they have opened or to open any thing otherwise then as they have opened and delivered the same unto us nor to adde any mixtures which mans wisedome teacheth in the building such mixtures or additions will occasion the losse of our work by the fire that comes from that foundation the fire of the Altar or by the fiery triall Yea we our selves cannot be saved otherwise then so as by fire suffering that to burne up our mixtures and so we may be saved by it 1 Corinth 3. 10 13 15 18. Whereas Nedeb and Abibu Leviticus 10. 1 2. And those Numbers 16. 35. were consumed by the tipicall fire so exceeding in glorious grace is this dispensation of the fullnesse of times and the administration of Gods Government by Jesus Christ under it But take heed when saved and converted from such polutions of turning againe to folly Inâ—quities of this nature are like that of Korâ—b And very much to the defiling Gods Temple and so to the procuring speedy dâ—struction For if any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy see the sorementioned 1 Cor. 3. 16 17 18. According to these considerations they seek not the Lord after the due order 1. That are ready to be offering Sacrifices before they heare the word of truth the Gospell of our salvation or have so heard as in some measure to be reconciled by it and so brought into or made of his house or while they are entering 〈◊〉 not still more ready to heare then to offer the Sacrifices of fooles nor are they yet capable of considering the evill they do in such hastinesse of spirit Whence James exhorts even such as are beloved brethren yet to be swift to heare flow to speak slow to wrath for the wrath of of man the hastinesse of the spirit of a man to be speaking and offering sacrifices so as for or on the behalfe of others worketh not the righteousnesse of God wherefore laying apart all filthinesse and superfluity of naughtinesse receive with meekness the ingrafted word which is able to save your soules James 1. 19 20 21. 2 Nor they that having tasted that the Lord is gracious and proved the powerfull efficacy and force of that living stone drawing to him building on him delivering from the errors and polutions of the world consecrating and devoting them to him and his yet do not diligently mind or regard their charge and the end of their calling But either are slothfull cleaving to and embracing the things of this present world preferring profane and common affaires before these great affaires of the Gospell and so taken off and hindered from earnest striving together with them that call on him in truth for the faith of it loving and preferring Fathers Mothers Lands Livings or their own life before him or not haâ—ing them in comparison of him and for his sake and the Gospells They are not worthy of him nor demeane themselves worthy of or suitable to such a vocation as wherewith they are called yea this their dulnesse neglect and slothfulnesse may occasion errors of rashnesse in others as the like did in Vzzah 1 Chron. 13. 9. with chap. 15. 12 13. Or else retain some other Idol or way of iniquity in their hearts though oft discovered and reproved and seek to excuse and hide it from the light as some desire of vain glory or any other fiilthinesse of flesh or spirit and yet appear and stand before him in their uncleannesse yea hiding it under their tongue or setting it up in their hearts as if by him they had a dispensation or were delivered to it or might be conived at or allowed in it more then others because of their peculiar service or usefulnesse in the Church more then others something like that Jer. 7. 8 9 10 11. Be we admonished of these wayes of iniquity and confusion for he the Lord that sanctifies us is holy be ye therefore cleane ye that beare the vessels of the Lord. 3 Nor yet are they seeking after the due order that are not content with their place and service in the body in which they might be usefull but either they must do as others do or undertake the exercise of such a gift as they have not almost like them that intrude into things they have not seen vainly puft up with their fleshly mind or else sit down in a peevish discontentment as if they were none of the body because not such a principall member or might be no way usefull yea refuse to be usefull and seek their own good and the good of others as they might of they may not or cannot be usefull in such a gift or manner of administration as another 4 Nor they that are headily running on in the exercise of any gift or setting themselves apart or being set apart by some others to any peculiar service in the Gospell or undertaking any speciall charge in this Ministry to which they may think themselves meet and some others like them or weaker and younger ones in the faith that are therein out of their place may put them forward before they be called and thrust forth by the Lord and by such of his servants especially the Elders among them to whom they are given as a gift from the Lord to be loâ—ked too watched over and ordered by them in the Lord Or go an end in such exercises and in the management of such affaires as to which they may have had some previous fitnesse and due encouragements yet so as alone and in the hastinesse of their own spirit before and without the advice helps prayers and blessings out of the house of the Lord. Oh how needfull is that admonition of the Apostle to every one amongst us not to think of our selves more highly then we ought to think but to think soberly according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith with all lowlynesse and meâ—knesse to endeavour to keep the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace not to be desirous of vain glory nor to let any thing be done through it but in lowlynesse of mind each to esteem other better then themselves the younger submitting to the elder and all of us one to another in the feare of the Lord Romans 12. 3. Ephesians 4. 1 3. c. Phillippians 2. 1-5 with 1 Peter 5. 5 6. 5 Yea faulty and out of order are they that are over such in the word of the Lord unto whom they have been or are given as a gift from the Lord to minister to and with them according to their capacity if they take not speciall notice of such disorders to warn the unruly as well as encourage and support the weak and timerous And although if the instructions and admonitions of sound doctrine will not prevaile to rectifie or stop the mouths of such unruly and vain talkers they cannot so well