Christians Members of Christ's Body which is his Church Which being nothing else but an Assembly of Men devoted unto Christ met together for Religious Worship they are not a part of it if they do not assemble with it That is they are not Christians nor will any of their privatâ— Devotions be acceptable unto God being set in opposition to the Publick because they go about to destroy the very Body of Christ which is his Church whose very being consists iâ— Assemblies and not in separated Worship alone by our selves Which Private Worship is then acceptable unto God when performed by a true Member of Christ's Body that is by onâ— who attends upon the Publick Assemblies by which he procures acceptance for his secret and private Services Which are so far from being moâ—â— acceptable that we cannot reasonable think they are acceptable at all wheâ— they are set in opposition to the otherâ— or when the other is constantly neglected If I knew how to make this plaineâ— I would do it because it is a matter 〈◊〉 great importance that we may not 〈◊〉 guilty of neglecting the Publick Wâ—â— ship of God where it may be injoyeâ— For so far as we neglect this we 〈◊〉 our selves off from the Church which is the Body of Christ That is we cease to be Christians and become bare Natural Men and Women for Christians are made to Worship God together in a Body of which every particular person is a part which cannot subsist but in Conjunction with the rest of the Members of that Body Perhaps this will be better understood by considering how we come to be Christians Which is not barely by belief in Christ but by receiving Baptism where professing Faith in him we are admitted into the Christian Society and Communion to parâ—ake of those Blessings which are bestowed by Christ upon the Christian Fellowship But then we must continue therein by living like Christiâ—ns and particularly by assembling â—ogether continually for Christian Worship Otherwise we renounce our Baptism which admitted us into a Society and not to act separately by our selves alone In which Society if â—ny man behave himself so scandaâ—ously that he is thrust out of it he â—s denied to have Communion with them in their Prayers all the times 〈◊〉 remains so cut off from the Churcâ— Which is a demonstration that to haâ— communion with the faithful in Prayâ— is the very thing unto which we are aâ—mitted by being made Christians 〈◊〉 being the thing of which men are 〈◊〉 barred when they are turned out 〈◊〉 the Christian Society For the further manifestation 〈◊〉 which great truth which I have thâ— explained in general I shall in the 〈◊〉 lowing Chapters offer several paâ—â—â—cular considerations which deserveâ— be seriously pondered in every Câ— stians thoughts CHAP. XV. Our Blessed Saviour the Founder the Church teaches us this Dâ—ctrine I. AND first of all I desire it 〈◊〉 be considered that our Bâ—â—â—sed Lord doth plainly suppose 〈◊〉 Notion of a Church that is of Râ—â—â—gious Assemblies in the very Prayer â—he taught his Disciples The first words of which being Our Father not my Father are an indication it was not made for a single person only but for a company of men joyning together in their Petitions to God Who are put in mind by this expression when any of them sayes this Prayer alone by himself that his Prayer is at that time acceptable because he is a Member of the Church of Christ and â—olds communion with the rest of his Christian Brethren There can be no other reason given why we say Our Father even in our Closets but that we pray as part of a Body and hope to be heard because we are in union therewith and not divided from it â—nd therefore stand bound as oft as we have opportunity to communicate with it in Prayer and all other Holy Offices when it meets together for that purpose II And therefore we may further observe that Christ most especially promises his Blessed Presence in such Publick Assemblies Matth. xviii 20. For where two or three are gathered together in my Name there am I in 〈◊〉 midst of them That he speaks of the being assembled in his Name foâ— Prayer appears from the foregoinâ— verse where he saith if two of yâ—â— agree on Earth as touching any thiâ— they shall ask it shall be done c. Aâ— the word gathered together shows 〈◊〉 speaks of Publick Prayer such as use to be in the Synagogues unto whiâ—â— the word in the Greek alludes Aâ— two or three so gathered together aâ—â— put for any number whatsoever bâ—â— rather mentioned than any other greâ—ter number that Christians might 〈◊〉 be discouraged though they couâ—â— meet but in very small Companies 〈◊〉 reason of the difficulties and distresâ— they laboured under in the beginniâ—â— of our Religion The Rules of the Synagogue was aâ— Dr. Lightfoot and otheâ— have observed that 〈◊〉 less the number of 〈◊〉 persons Temple-Service C. vii Sect. 3. who were 〈◊〉 Years were gathered together it wâ— no Assembly nor could there be aâ— Prayer But our Lord would not havâ— his Church thus abridged in this high priviledge of Prayer knowing as Mr. Thorndike observes it might so fall out that such a number of his Disciples could not get together either because of the persecutions which scattered them abroad or because there were but few suppose only two or three as yet converted in a place where the Gospel was preached Who if they did unanimously agree in common Petitions our Saviour promises should find notwithstanding their small number that he would be present among them That 's the Blessing promised to their consent and agreement in common Prayer Which is not to be understood as if he would not be present with a good Christian when he prays alone but the meaning is that then when they joyned in common Prayer he would be more especially present For if our Lord Christ have a love to every Christian Soul and delights to have its company then is he much more pleased with a great number of them who present themselves together to seek his Grace and Favour They are more welcome to him their company is more lovely the sight of them more amiable and they are more beloved of him and prevail for greater Tokens of his love And thus all wise Christians Ancient and Modern have understood it I will name one of later times for there is no doubt of the Ancient Conventus verò Sacros ad loca condicta deputata c. But as for Sacred Assemblies in places appointed and deputed for that purpose we have a very great veneration and highly approve and love them cùm nobis conjunctis Christum magis adesse existimamus for we believe Christ to be more present with us when we are met in conjunction together They are the words of Peter Martyr upon Gen. xxviii 12. And here it may not be unfit to note for a fuller explication of this matter
of the Earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him what dost thou ver 34 35. And then concludes his Declaration in this manner Now I Nebuchadnezzar Praise and Extol and Honour the King of Heaven all whose works are Truth and his wayes Judgment and those that walk in Pride he is able to abase A Voice worthy of a King and worthy to be published throughout all the World and therefore he made the Declaration wherein it was contained to be sent to all People Nations and Languages that dwelt on all the Earth ver 1. that is throughout all his wide Empire to all the parts of the Earth where his Authority reached and his words would be reverenced that they might magnifie this great King of Heaven and Earth together with him That was the end of it and it is one of the most publick pieces of Devotition that we ever read was performed by any man arising out of this sense with which he was possessed in those Ancient times that God is to be Honoured Blessed and Extolled publickly among and by all People to whom he thought himself bound to show the Signs and the Wonders which the most High God had wrought towards him And How great saith he are his Signs and how mighty are his Wonders ver 3. He was not able to tell but made the best and the most ample Declaration of them that he could in this Imperial Decree which he caused to be proclaimed every where By all which we may easily be convinced in what gross Errors two sorts of people live First They who imagine that God may be served as well at home as at the Church Such men neither understand the Nature of God nor the Nature of Religion nor their own Nature which teach them quite otherwise And instruct them also to frequent the Publick Assemblies where they have opportunity so to do Secondly For that is another palpable Error to think that it is sufficient if we come on the Lord's Day to testifie that we do not forget God though all the Week beside we take no notice of him but constantly neglect his Publick Service when we are invited to it and have leisure to attend it We forget the many publick common Blessings we dayly need and dayly receive which ought to be as publickly every day implored and acknowledged in our Common Prayers Let the foregoing considerations be duly pondered and they will perswade you both out of Love to God's Honour and out of love to your own good to joyn as often as you can your Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings with the whole Church of God and to make our Assemblies as full as you can both on the Lord's Day and every Day of the Week Whereby you would declare your constant dependence on God and acknowledge how he dayly 〈◊〉 you with his Benefits and draw 〈◊〉 Publick Blessings in abundance upon the Church and Kingdom where you live and do credit to our Holy Religion which alas now looks in many places as if it were despised and not only do credit to it but both help to support it and also promote and propagate it to the Honour and Praise of the Almighty Lord of Heaven and Earth unto whom be Glory in the Church by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without end Amen CHAP. XIV The Nature of a Church requires there should be Publick Prayers I Proceed now to the Third Head of Arguments whereby a Christian should be most of all moved to his Duty and that is to consider the Nature of the Church which both requires Publick Assemblies and makes the Service performed in them far more acceptable than Private Prayers can be And here let it be considered in general that the very word we translate Church in the Holy Scriptures signifies in the Greek Language an Assembly a company of persons met together and that publickly upon the publick business or occasions The first time but one we meet with this Word in the New Testament it is used in opposition to a single person alone by himself or to one or two more beside him Matth. xviii 15 16 17. If thy Brother trespass against thee go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone and if he will not hear thee take one or two more c. and if he neglect to hear them tell it to the Church that is to that solemn Assembly which sat to judge causes and unto which was the last resort so that if he did not hear them he was to be lookt upon as an Heathen Man and a Publican And the truth is it signifies any sort of Assembly or concourse of People which was among the Gentiles as well as the Jews For in the xix of the Acts when all the City of Ephesus was in an uproar and ran together into the Theatre crying up Diana this general concourse is thrice called their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Assembly ver 32. Some cryed one thing some another for the Assembly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was confused c. and ver 39. If you inquire of other matters it shall be determined in a lawful Assembly and ver 41. having thus spoken he dismissed the Assembly Now this being the very Notion of the word Church the Christian Church which Christ hath called is an Assembly of Men and Women met together to Worship God by him to give him Thanks for all his Benefits and to implore his Grace and Mercy to them and to all the World It is an Assembly or Company of Men as much as any other but our Saviour's Kingdom being not of this World the Assembly which he appoints is not to meet for Civil Ends and Purposes but for Religious And the great thing in all Religion is the Devout Worship of God and giving Him the Honour due unto his Name for which the Church i.e. Christian Assemblies being founded it is a clear demonstration that this Worship is not so well performed alone by our selves as in these Assemblies For here we act most like Christians that is like Members of the Body of Christ which is his Church With which whosoever doth not joyn he is no longer a Christian because he is not a Member of the Body of Christ which is a Company joyned together to have Fellowship with God and one with another in all Holy Duties of which Prayer Thanksgiving and Praises are the chief For though there they receive Christian Instruction yet that is not the principal business for which they assemble as appears by St. Paul's words to Timothy before-mentioned 1 Tim. ii 1. If we could make Christian people sensible of this they would immediately yield the Publick Worship of God to be that which of all other he most designs to have continued in the World and consequently be most affected towards it and constantly frequent it And how should they remain insensible of it if they would but consider duely that it is implied in their being
of it is an Assembly of Men and Women called to meet together and therefore the Christian Church is such an Assembly called to joyn together in Worshipping God by Christ Jesus who himself hath supposed this in the Prayer he gave his Disciples and hath promised his special Presence in such Assemblies which the Apostles constantly held and there received the first and best Fruits of his Love in the descent of the Holy Ghost which drew all Converts every where into the same Blessed conjunction for which Holy Places were appointed where they constantly Assembled and where the extraordinary Gift of Prayer was to be made common or else lookt upon as of little value where God hath appointed his Ministers to attend and there offer up the Prayers of his people and bless them in his Name where the Angels also are present and delight to see us assembled that we may maintain the Communion of Saints here on Earth and be fitted for the company of the Blessed in Heaven who all joyn together in giving Blessing and Praise and Honour unto him whom we Worship who is far Exalted above all Blessing and Praise either of ours on Earth or of theirs in Heaven Consider I say all this and then think what an errour they live in who make little or no account of the Publick Assemblies but imagine they can pray and serve God as well by themselves alone This is a most unchristian thought directly contrary to the very frame of our Holy Religion which therefore ought with all diligence to be exploded out of every one of our minds As for those who do not barely neglect the Publick Service but refuse to joyn in it they are still in a far worse condition having broken themselves off from the Body of Christ which the Ancient Church thought so heinous a crime that they lookt upon their Prayers as an abomination For so I find in the Council of Antioch * Canon 2. that such Christians were condemned as going into any private House prayed together with those who would not joyn in the Prayers of the Church None of the Church were to joyn in their Prayers if any did they thought it equal to the crime of communicating with Excommunicated Persons The like I find in the Council of Laodicea And the Canons ascribed to the Apostles speak to the same purpose Can. 33. Can. 10. And this Sentence of those Councils is very conformable to the sense of the Ancient Jews whose Maxime this was as Mr. Thorndike * Relig. Assembl p. 173. observes He that dwells in a City where there is a Synagogue and prays not there with the Congregation this is he who is called a BAD NEIGHBOVR And well may he be called bad who will have no Society in the best things who cuts himself off by his own act from the Congregation of the Lord who will not afford his Neighbours the help of his Prayers who lives as if the World could be Governed without taking any notice of God the Supreme Governour who directly overthrows the Christian Religion and destroys the very notion of a Church who hath no regard to Holy places and slights God's Ministers who withdraws himself from God's special presence and protection and defies all the Blessed company of Heaven Among whom he can never hope to find any entertainment nor to be received into the Coelestial Habitations having shut himself here out of the Society of Saints and the place where God's Honour dwelleth Would to God such things as these were seriously and deeply considered by us all that our minds might be awaked to a diligent and constant attendance upon the Publick Assemblies Which our Lord hath taken the greatest care to establish and unto which he hath also granted very high Priviledges lest they should fall into contempt or neglect through Mens Idleness or Covetousness or Conceitedness or by any other means whatsoever Certain it is if we had an hearty Love to our Religion and understood it we could not but be so in Love with the Publick Exercises of it as every day if it lay in our power to go into God's house and there recommend our selves and his whole Church to his Grace and Mercy For there is no way it is evident from what hath been said to uphold and support the Church like to this we being a Church by meeting together to have communion in the same Prayers Which the oftner we have the more we look like a Church and act like Members of the Body of Christ who are combined and knit together for mutual preservation As on the contrary the seldomer we meet the less there is of the face of a Church among us which cannot be preserved from ruin when the Publick Assemblies are generally neglected because the Church falls to decay by that very neglect Let us therefore set our selves to maintain the Church of which we are Members by maintaining Publick Assemblies and suffering no day to pass without a solemn meeting in as full a Body as we can make for the duties of our Religion This would be both an Ornament and a Strength and Establishment to our Religion The Truth which we profess would hereby be both honoured and confirmed and appear with greater Authority as well as Beauty in the Eyes of all its Adversaries when they beheld the Multitude the Unanimity and the Order and Constancy of those that assert it The better and gentler sort of them would be the more easily won to joyn with us and they whose hearts are alienated from us would be the less inclin'd to set themselves against us And for the Grace and Favour of God which is the chief thing of all Christians may promise it to themselves for their protection against all their Adversaries when they constantly and earnestly seek it with their joynt Prayers and Supplications Which will be powerful also for the setling such as are wavering in their Religion whom the constant Authority likewise of a great Number of faithful people cannot but be of much moment to contain in their Duty for Men are ashamed to forsake a multitude when they easily desert small Numbers The Ancient Christians were so possessed with this sense that they lookt upon their Prayers as the impregnable Bulwark of the Church an unshaken Garrison terrible to the Devils and salutary to God's pious Worshipppers a 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost Tom. 1. p. 757. Edit Fr. D. In so much that St. Basil speaking of God's gathering the Waters together which he called Seas and saw it was good Gen. i. 16. falls into a pious Meditation how much more acceptable to him such a Collection or gathering together of the Church must needs be b in Hexameron Hom. iv sub fin in which the mixed sound of Men Women and Children making a noise like the Waves dashing against the Shore is sent up to God in Prayers A profound Calm and Tranquillity shall preserve such