yet remaining in it That there is Chaffe yet remaining in this Floore it must not be denyed Certainly were there not this Fanne the Fanne of the Crosse the Fanne of Judgement should not be so busie at worke as at this day it is and now for so many moneths hath been It is Jobs speech to his Friends Doth the wild Asse bray when hee hath grasse or doth the Oxe low over his fodder The very bruit beasts doe not complaine when they have what they would have Surely it cannot be but something must be amisse amongst us otherwise God would never deale with us and other of his Churches as at the present he doth Certainly we may hence conclude that as yet he hath not what he would have Something there is amisse amongst us and something which we hope he is about to reforme Questionlesse some scum there is in this Pot which whilest it hath bin plaâ—ing with so long a continued prosperity hath even boyled and sodden-in And hereupon it is we hope that God hath now powred in this full cup of cold-water that as he hath hereby in part raised this scumme already so he may in his time purge it out Some Chaffe in this Floore some Corruption in this Church which we trust Christ is about to purge out and reforme And doe we apprehend this to be his aime and Designe Let every of us further it vvhat vve can not hinder it Hinder it we cannot Which may serve as an argument to put us on to further it Hinder it if we would we cannot He will purge and throughly purge his floore This he will doe and that in despight of all opposition maugre the malice of Satan Antichrist and all their accursed Instruments and Adherents Let them all doe what they can either by power or pollicy to keepe the chaffe in the Floore of Christ yet Christ will purge it out And can we not hinder it Why then let us put to our hands to the furthering of it None of us in this case but may do something if we have hearts to the worke Quest But then What shall we doe A great usefull and seasonable Question but it will require more time for the resolution of it then is at the present allotted me Let me only tell you what my designe and purpose in the Answer of it is viz. to shew you these two things 1. What the Reformation is which we are to desire and seeke And secondly What we shall doe to further and compasse that Reformation Two usefull points The former I shall only touch upon in the generall having already bounded my selfe from particular inlargements upon this subject In the second I shall deale more distinctly and particularly but the time being now past taketh me off from present prosecution of either I shall adjourne them both if God please to another occasion THE THIRD SERMON May 3. 1643 MATTH. 3. 12. And he will throughly purge his Floore THe subject of the Text as you have already heard is Church-Reformation a great and a glorious worke the great designe as vve hope of Jesus Christ upon this and other of his Churches at this day Apprehending it so to be be we excited every of us to put to our hands in our severall places to doe what we may for the promoting and furthering of that designe in the Church of God amongst us This Exhortation I propounded the last day and give me now leave to prosecute it Doe what we may every of us for the furthering of this great Designe But what shall we do For answer hereunto I then chalked out the way wherein I intend now to walke which was first to shew you What that Reformation is which we are to seek Secondly What we shall doe to compasse that Reformation Begin with the first of these Qu What is that Reformation which amongst us is so desired and so desireable A question of great and present concernement other wise I should not so much as have medled with it Reformation it is the common Theame of the times No one thing more frequently more freely spoken of every where but my feares are not so clearely so distinctly understood by many it may be by some of them who seeme to be most zealous in the cause either for or against it To rectifie not to quenth or quell the zeale of the one to kindle and blow it up in the other I shall adventure to descend into or rather upon these troubled waters hovering over them as the Spirit is said to have done over those first waters Movebat super faciâ—m Mooving upon the face of the deepe or walking upon the surface of them as our Saviour once did upon the Sea not diving into them passing over the point as lightly as tenderly as overly as generally as with convenience I may Yet so as I may give some satisfaction to those which doe or shall desire it For resolution we must looke a little back casting an eye so far as with humble modesty we may upon the Churches deformation enquiring what chaffe there is yet left in this floore what Errours what Imperfections what corruptions there are or may be supposed to be left in this Church unpurged out unreformed Chaffe there is Errours Imperfections there are as what Church without Let that be granted yealded But wherein lye those Errours those Imperfections To find them out we shall not need to goe far about there are but two Rooâ—â—s two Chambers as I may say wherein we are to make search for them They must be either in matters of Faith or Order To these two heads the Apostle reduceth the whole businesse of a Church Col. 2. 5. Beholding your Order and the stedfastnesse of your Faith There are but these two maine things to be eyed in a Church the perfection of a Constituted Church consisting in them Faith and Order the two great supporters of a Church like those two Pillars in the Porch of Solomons Temple Jachin and Boaz Establishment and Strength as the words signifie Faith Doctrine or the Doctrine of Faith the right-hand pillar the maine and principall thing in a Church So much the Apostle there insinuates in that he calleth it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Firmamentum fidei as the vulgar Latin renders it The Firmament the Ground-worke and Foundation of Faith Such is the Doctrine of Faith to the Church Totius adificij {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} i. e. Fulcimentum as Beza glosseth upon it The maine Basis or Buttresse of this Building the maine Pillar of the Church Faith and the Church they are mutuall Pillars each a Pillar to other the Church a Pillar to Faith and Faith a Pillar to the Church but in a different respect The Church is a Pillar to Faith The Pillar of Truth modo forensi a Pillar houlding it forth as Pillars doe the publick Edicts or Proclamations which
are hanged upon them or fixed to them Faith a Pillar to the Church Modo Architectonico a Pillar holding it up as a Pillar doth a House which resteth upon it Faith the right-hand pillar Next to that is Order Order the Beauty of a Church Vbi Ordo dominatur ibi pulchritudo splendescit saith the Father Where Order raignes Beuty shines A thing much to be joyed in where it is {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} saith Paul to those Colossians Rejoycing and beholding your Order Much to be desired where it is not or where it is not in some degree of perfection The Beauty of a Church Nay more of the Essence of a Church Faith and Order saith Beza they are the generall parts of which a Church consists Each essentiall to a constituted Church requisite not onely to the well-being but the being of it without which it cannot be a Church a constituted Church A Church it cannot be without Faith which maketh it an Essentiall Church A constituted Church it cannot be without Order some Order which maketh it an Integrall and Organicall Church as our Learned Countrey-man distinquisheth This it is that makes the difference betwixt Ecclesia and Agora as Illiricus well observes betwixt a Church and a Market The one is Conventus Ordinatus an Orderly Convension or Assembly The other Confusa Congregatio a Confused and Prâ—â—iscuous Gathering Even as it is betwixt an Armie and a Route that which differenceth the one from the other is Order An Armie is an Orderly Body made up of Commanders Officers Common-Souldiers divided into severall Regiments Squadrons and Companies Martialled in Rankes and Files observing a Militario Order Such is the Church an Armie Terrible as an Armie it is said of the Church Vniversall and it may be said of every particular Church it is or ought to be an Armie Acies ordinatâ— an Armie as for Strength so for Order without which it cannot be a Church Of such concernement is Order to the Church and that some Perfection of Order Without the one it cannot be a Constituted Church and without the other it cannot be a Setled an Established Church He shall sit upon the Throne of David and upon his Kingdome to order and to stablish it it is spoken of Christ and his Church Isa. 9. To Order and to stablish No Establishing of a Church without Order No such way to Establish it as by Order Which the more exact and perfect it is the more Beautifull the more Stable the Church is and therefore not to be sleighted as it is by many Next to the Faith of the Church no one thing of so great concernement as â—rder If Faith be the right-hand Pillar Order is the left Q. But wherein consists this Order which we erye up to be so requisite at least to the well being of a Church A. Here give me leave to follow the steps of a Reverend and Learned Worthy of this Church or rather Calvins before him whom therein he followes Church-Order consists principally in these three things 1. In the Vnitie and Agreement of the Members of a Church 2. In the Orderly walking of those Members 3. In a right Discipline duly exercised All these three did the Apostle not without singular complacencie and joy take notice of in the Church of Colosse He there saw a sweet Harmonie and agreement betwixt the members he saw their personall walkings and Church-businesses all carried in a Regular and Orderly way Three things much to be desired in every Church 1. Vnitie and Agreement and that both in Judgement and Affection That the Members of a Church might be all {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to use Pauls words Like-minded One-Hearted Having the same Love being of one accord of one minde as Paul saith to his Philippians minding and speaking one and the same thing Mutually imbracing and Naturally caring for the state one of another Thus knit together in that double Bond of Faith and Love Here is the first Branch of Church-Order Vnitie and Agreement A second is in the Carriage and Dâ—meanour the life and conversation of the Members of a Church which ought to be Orderly Orderly both towards God Themselves Others A living Righteousnesse Soberly Godly as the Apostle hath it Godly to God-ward Soberly to Themselves-ward Righteously to the World-ward which who so doe not they are said to walke {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} without Order Disorderly Withdraw your selves from every Brother that walketh Disorderly Here is the second Branch of this Order Order in the Personall walkings of Christians such as joyne themselves to a Church 3. A third is that which we call Discipline Church-Discipline taking the word in the latitude of it the largest sense as it comprehends under it the Right-Ordering of all the affaires and businesses of the Church whether of Officers for their Election Ordination c. or Ordinances as viz. Word Sacraments Prayers Censures all which ought to be done as the Apostle hath it {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Orderly according to Order So were the Services under the Law done The Service of the House of the Lord was set in Order 2 Chron. 29. So ought all Services under the Gospell to be done Let all things be done decently and in Order Put these together and you have the full comprehension of this second Generall so requisite in every Church-Order Now to winde up what I have raveled and to returne from whence I have made this necessary digression In which of these two Chambers shall we find the Errours and Imperfections in this Church of onrs needing and calling for Reformation Shall we find them in matters of Faith in points of Doctrine or in Order Not in the former So much I suppose is or will be freely confessed and acknowledged at all ingenuous and impartiall hands As for the great things of the Gospell matters of Faith or Doctrine the first Reformers of our Church had so happy a hand therein that there is to be found little if any hay or stubble therein It is the free publick and true acknowledgement oâ— one no back-friend to Church-Reformation in his Sermon before the Honourable House of Commons upon that Subject Not in Faith not in Doctrine Blessed be God for that Wherein then why in Order There it must be or no where And here I dare not say but that some things may be found amisse some Errours some Defects some Corruptions and those possible to be found in every corner of this Chamber In every of those three Branches which I particularized even now In some of them they are more palpable not more palpable then deplorable In the two former I think none but will acknowledge foule errours foule deformities 1. As first in point of Christian Vnitie and Agreement Herein what disorder in the Church of God amongst us The Church
swimming with the streame of Expositors I might take a just occâ—sion to fall upon that Anabaptisticall errour wherever it is found which affirmes and maintaines the true visible Church to consist only of true believers such as are good A doctrine charged upon us by our Adversaries of Rhemes in their Glosse upon the Text but with what truth let the joint consent of all the writers of our profession testifie all which with one vote have censured and condemned the Tenet upon all occasions averring and maintaining the visible Church of Christ to be a mixed company mingled of good and bad believers hypocrites c. Such a company the Church here is As for those who seeke for any other Church here upon earth they seeke for that which they shall never find Mundam in mundo immundo Ecclesiam saith Aretius A pure Church in an impure world Those which will joyne themselves to no Church but such an one they must as the Apostle saith goe out of the world for it But I will not spend time in confuting of this Errour which I presume there is none here present that will dare to owne To come nearer In the second place Is the Church of Christ a floore in respect of mixture why then let not any be scandalized or offended at what ever mixtures either are or are supposed to be in the Church or Churches of God amongst us Mixtures happily there may be mixtures there are we grant it Possible some corruptions cleaving to some of the Ordinances However corrupt men mingling themselves with the people of God not only coming with them into the house of God but siâ—â—ing downe with them â—t his Table having communion with them in the most sacred ordinances of God A sad mixture I pleade not for it Bâ—t what shall we hence inferre a nullitiâ— of the Church No true Church because oâ— these mixtures Surely the very Barne-floore will cry out against this inference There we see wheate and chaffe lying upon the same heape and who wonders at it â— Doe we meeâ—e with a liâ—e mixture in the Church or Churches of God be not â—â—andalized be not oâ—â—â—â—ded at it Iâ— iâ— that I nonceive which the Apostle 〈◊〉 aimes and drives at in the place fore named a Tim. 2. to take off that scandall which any might take at scandalous Apoâ—â—atâ—â— persons openly wicked in the Church Here let me not be mistaken a thing which we are very 〈◊〉 to in poinâ—â— of the nature It is far from my purpose to patronize what ever mintâ—res in the Church of God to plead either for Admission or Toleration of persons openly prophane and scandalous their Admission into the Church their Toleration in the Church Much lesse for the promiscuous resorting of all sorts of persons to the Lords Table without any regard had to their qâ—alificâ—tions or conversations An errour I confesse which till it may be redressed I shall mourne over wishing that all this Leaven were purged out and this floore of Christ amongst us throughly purged from the chaffe and drosse of what ever corruption is yet remaining in it But in the meane time though I plead not for mixtures yet let me plead for the Church that Church whereof God hath made me a member and a Minister which all the mixtures that are in it cannot Vnchurch make to be no Church or yet warrant a separation from The Church of the Jewes at this time when the Baptist preached to them it was I suppose in as corrupted nay a far more corrupted state then the Church of England at this day is or ever yet was since the first Reformation of it How was that floore all covered with chaffe How many foule corruptions had even overspread the face of that Church Humane Inventions and Traditions being brought in even to the thrusting out of the Ordinances of God Ceremonies eating out the heart the power and substance of Religion Those which sate in Moses his chaire as vile as could be imagined A generation of vipers Such were their teachers and Church-governours Blind guides having a corrupt and unlawfull entrance into their calling and demeaning themselves as corruptly in it and no question like Priests like people The state of that Church most corrupt little else but chaffe to be seene in that floore yet for all that a floore still So the Baptist here calleth it telling them that Christ would purge that floore of his Purge it not presently leave it cast it off or else breake it up as some hot spirits would doe at this day who because of the chaffe that is in it would presently be breaking up the floores For some supposed corruptions in the Church presently unchurch it a matter of a higher nature then many in this last age have taken it to be Not so but purge it purge it So will Christ deale with his floore hee will throughly purge his floore True may some say If it were a floore of Christ then it ought not to be broken up if a true Church then purging would serve the turne But such is not the Church of England such are not the Churches in England And why not why they faile in constitution which is a fundamentall errour They are not rightly constituted And why not Because the members of them were not rightly gathered nor yet knit and joyned together in the formality of a Church Covenant Even as if one should reason after this manner It is the same man though in other cloathes the same argument though in different expressions The Corne was not brought in at the right doore or the floore is not a boarded floore or at least the boards were not joynted and fastened together not right layed at the first but either it is a Clay floore or else the boards are layed loose and warping therefore it is no floore no true floore The absurdity of the one will sufficiently discover the weakenesse and inconsequence of the other But how then shall we know a true Church if we see it A. Why even as we may doe a true floore I will not goe out of the Text for a demonstration Where the fanne is ordinarily at worke there is the floore and where Christs fanne is ordinarily at worke there is his floore his Church What this fanne is I have told you already the fanne of the Word the word preached This is the fanne which the Baptist here principally speaketh of the fanne of the word which is in the hand of Christ both in respect of liberty and efficacie as I have shewen you Now where this fanne is ordinarily at worke where the word is ordinarily preached and dispensed in the publick ministery of it especially if it be with efficacie and power certainely there Christ hath a Floore a Church Now this I think will not be denied but that this fanne hath been at worke in the Churches of Christ amongst us and that with such efficacie
which God hath already done their hearts are not affected with it as they ought to be As if Grace Grace were not ingraven as well upon the Foundation-stones as upon the Top stone Whilest we reaâ—e it in the one dâ—e not over-looke it in the other Give we unto God the Glory of his abundant Grace in laying the Foundation-stones of so gloâ—iâ—â—s a Church amongst us which should our eyes never see more yet deserves a thankfull gratulation from our hearts and tongues So were the people of the Jewes affected when they saw but the foundation of the Temple layed All the people shouted with a great shout saith the Text praysing the Lord because the foundation of the House of the Lord was layed Ezra 3. And surely this did our Fore-fathers when they did but see the dawning of that light which is now brokâ— forth amongst us so gloriously when they saw but the beginning of this Reformation Let not us their children despise that day as a day of small things Had it beene so yet were it not to be despised Who hath despised the day of small things but such is not this Day the Day of the Gospell the Day of salvation brought unto this Church this Nation by that first Reformation A day not oâ—small but of great and glorious things So looke we upon it so account so acknowledge it Give we unto God the Glory of his first Grace this will be the most eâ—â—ectuall meanes to obtaine a second Grace Would we obtaine what yet we want learne to be thankefull for what we have Thus I have onely broke the Bulke of these Directions Time takes me off I must shut downe the hatches for the present That which remaines I shall put over to the next occasion THE FOVRTH SERMON May 10. 1643 MATTH. 3. 12. And he will throughly purge his Floore CHrists Floore is his Church his Church visible This Floore he will purge this Church hee will Reforme and that throughly This worke we trust he is about at this day as in other of his Churches so in this whereof we are members Taking this to be his Designe Doe we what we may every of us for the furthering of it That is the Exhortation which I insisted upon the last day but was enforced then to leave imperfect Doe what we may But what shall we doe In answer to this great and usefull question I have begun to lay you downe some Directions One I then gave you and but one which might serve as a preparative and introduction to the rest Be we thankefull for what God hath already done for us thankfully acknowledging the Graces and blessings already conferred upon this Church Not to take notice of the Graces of God in a mans selfe not to acknowledge them in others is a fault a sinne much more in a Church and that such a Church wherein the graces of God are so conspicuous But I spare to presse what then I insisted on Onely before I leave this Direction give me leave to subjoyne a Caution to it I would be loath if it might be to give either Offence or Advantage Be we thankefull for what we have but not so as to sit downe and rest contented as if we were already compleat and perfect Not as though I had already attained or were already perfect saith Paul of himself Phil. 3. So should Christians look upon themselves so taking notice of the graces of God in themselves as that withall they should take notice of their wants and imperfections And so looke we upon the Church of God amongst us as a Church I a glorious Church but not absolute not perfect To say or thinke of this Church that she wanteth nothing were to make her too like to that Beggarly Laâ—dicea as some have already done Thou sayest I am Rich and have need of nothing Rev. 3. Never was there Church yet so Rich that could say so in truth Ephesus Pergamus Thyatird famous Churches in their times yet the Spirit hath a Charge against every of them {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} I have something against thee I have a few things against thee Philadelphia though not charged with any downright Corruption yet was she not free from her Imperfection Thou hast a little strength Rev. 3. Now a little strength implies a great deale of weakenesse What Church ever yet was or ever will be free The through purging of this Floore as I tould you is reserved for hereafter Here indeed there are degrees of Church perfection but they are all Comparative none Positive none Superlative none Absolute In the greatest perfection here still there will be an allay and mixture of Imperfection To think otherwise of this Church were too great weaknesse to speake otherwise of it were too open flattery To attribute so much to the wisedome of those first Reformers as that they should leave the Church every wayes perfect is an honour which if they were seâ—sible of they would never owne no more then the Angell would the divine honour which S. John would have given to him by falling downe to worship him That priviledge was Apostolicall and it dyed with them not to be capable of Addition To have nothing added to them So perfect was their Doctrine their Counsels Not so the Counsels of others specially where the Word hath left things more dubious and darke not so cleare and evident as in the Case of Church-Order it seemeth to be Dreame we not then of a present perfection but taking that for graunted which cannot be denied that there are Defects and Imperfections amongst us let us not sit downe as satisfied and contented under them but doe what we may for the heaâ—ing reforming of them Though we may not forget those things which are behind as Paul saith he did his own labours and sufferings for Christ viz. in respect of any resting upon them or glorying in them Yet reach we forth both our Hearts and Hands to that which is before This Caution being interposed now let the maine question run on What shall we doe I answer in the second place taking notice of the Churches whether Imperfections or Corruptions lay them to heart mourne over them over Corruptions So did the Lords faithfull ones over the personall corruptions which they saw in Hiâ—rusalem they mourned over them Ezek. 9. So did our blessed Saviour over both Personall and Church-Corruptions in that City When he behold the City he wept over it over Imperfections So did the Chiefe of the Fathers the Ancient men amongst the Jewes which had seene the first House the first Temple and the Glory of it when they saw the Foundation of the second House they wept â—ver iâ— viz. over the defect and imperfection which they saw in it because it came so fâ—r short of the former Others at the same time shouted aloud for joy they wâ—pâ— and there was ground
here is winnowing too God winnoweth his people I will sift or winnow the house of Israel amongst all nations like as corne is sifted or winnowed with a sive Amos 9. 9. God winnowes and by his permission Satan winnows them Simon Simon saith our Saviour Satan hath desired to have you to winnow you or sift you Luke 22. 31. God winnowes and Satan winnowes both by the winde of Tentations God by Tentations of Probation Satan by Tentations of Seduction the one for the trying purging the other for the scattering destroying of them All these pieces of husbandrie doth this great Husbandman exercise in this inferiour world upon his Corne his Church and people and therefore well may it be called a floore his floore A meditation not unusefull Let it serve to stay the hearts of Gods people in respect of the many and manifold pressures and tribulations that here they meet with upon earth Alas can they looke for other considering the place and condition they are in They are Gods Corne I but as yet they are as Corne in the floore O my threshing saith the Lord and the Corne of my floore Isaiah 21. 10. Filius Areae so the originall Hebraiâ—me hath it The sonne of my floore Gods people his Saints even whil'st they are here they are sonnes Behold now are we the sonnes of God saith S. Iohn 3. 2. Sonnes but filij Areae not Apothecae sonnes or corne of the floore not of the Garner Now corne whil'st it is in the floore it must looke for no quiet that is reserved for the Garner Gods Corne his Saints when they shall be laid up in his Garner received into those heavenly mansions then shall they enter into their rest a perfect rest where they shall never more feele of the flaile or the fanne or the sive All these are for the Floore And let not any wonder to meete with them there Thinke it not strange concerning the fiery tryall saith S. Peter what ever our trials be what for nature what for number are we threshed fanned winnowed make not strange of it remember the place where we are and the condition we are in whilest we are here below we are like corne upon the floore But I will not dwell here This World is Christs Floore and this floore he will purge throughly purge This will he doe at that last and great day when he shall come from Heaven with the fanne in his hand the fanne of the last Judgement then will he purge this inferiour World from all the drosse of corruption which now cleaveth to it delivering it from the bondage of corruption to which it is now made subject through the sinne of Man and under which it groaneth as the Apostle hath it Rom. 8. 21 22. Then making a new Heaven and a new Earth a new roofe and a new floore to this house of his But to let this passe not being the marke I aime at By the Floore here more properly and peculiarly we are to understand the Church Not the World but the Church in the world that is the floore For as Thomas well noteth it out of Chrysostome if we will drive the Allegorie to the head the World must be the wide field So our Saviour interprets it Mat. 13. 38. The field is the world The floore here properly is the Church of Christ in this world The Church But what Church why the visible Church of Christ upon earth The visible Church what is that A society or company of men and women called out of the world to the knowledge and acknowledgement of the true God in Christ A company of men professing faith and obedience faith in Christ obedience to Christ professing to receive Christ as their Prophet Priest King Their Prophet to be taught by him their Priest to be reconciled to God through him their King to be ruled and governed by him This is the visible Church which is either universall or particular Vniversall the whole company of such as prefesse the Gospell throughout the whole world Particular such as professe the Gospell in such a Nation such a Province such a Citie such a Towne such a Family Every of which in severall considerations and respects may be called a Church Not only the Church in such a Family The Church that is in thine house Philem. 2. or the Church in such a Towne such a City The Church at Corinth at Philippi c. But the Church in such a Province such a Nation wherein though there may be many particular Congregations and Churches yet they may be called one Church and that not without some warrant from Scripture St. Peter writing to the Churches dispersed through severall Countries viz. through Pontus Galatia Cappadocia Asia and Bythinia as the 1. vers. of his Epistle directs it he yet speaketh of them singularly calling them one flock Feeds the flock of God which is amongst you It is his charge to the Elders of those Churches cap. 5. 2. many Churches many flocks and yet one flock Not to goe from the Text The Baptist here speaking of the Church of Christ dispersed through Judea and other parts of the world the Church under the new Testament which is made up of many particular Congregations and Churches he yet speaketh of it singularly calling it one floore He will purge his floore Not floores but floore Where ever Christ hath a Church he hath a floore Many Churches many floores yet put them together all the Churches in such a Province such a Nation or through the whole world Collectively and Aggregatively considered they make up one Church one floore This I doe but touch by the way to give some satisfaction to such as are so ready to scruple the word as if there were no colour of warrant from Scripture to give the Name of a Church to any but to a Congregationall Church Letting that passe Christs floore is his Church or Churches considered in a visible State And not unfitly may the visible Church be so called A floore and his floore Touch upon them severally First A floore and that principally in two respects 1. In respect of the Mixture that is in it Here is the difference betwixt the Garner and the Floore In the Garner there is nothing but pure graine In the Floore there is a mixture Straw as well as Corne Chaffe as well as Wheate Tarâ—s and Titters and Cockle and Darnill as well as the good graine Such a difference there is betwixt the Church Militant and Triumphant the Church upon Earth and the Church in Heaven The Church in Heaven is all pure Thither shall no unâ—leanâ— thing enter No chaffe no drosse nothing but good and pure corne to be found in that garner But it is otherwise in the floore in the militant and visible Church upon Earth here is a mixture Corne and chaffe good and bad together Elect and Reprobate true Believers Hypocrites and happily
persons openly wicked all associated together in the same outward profession A truth which needeth no probation This is the House wherein there are vessels of all sorts some of purer richer others of courser baser mettall In a great House saith the Apostle there are not only vessels of Gold and of Silver but also of wood and of earth some to honour and some to dishonour A place worthy the pawsing on and considering Haply it may give satisfaction to some groundlesse scandals and offences taken by some at those undesired deplored mixtures which are to be found in the Churches of God amongst us In a great House saith he What is meant by this great House why the whole World say some which is Gods House indeed he being the God and Father of all the Families in Heaven and earth Gods House and his Great House And in this great House there are vessels of Gold and of Silver and of wood and of Earth some to honour some to dishonour i. e. some elected others reprobated and passed by So the Apostle S. Paul carrieth and applies it extending it to the whole world Rom. 9. 21. A truth but not so pertinent to this place The Great House here as Calvin and others note upon it denotes and points out more peculiarly the Church of God the visible Church So much may be collected from the Context The Church visible is a House Gods House That thou mightest know how to behave thy selfe in the House of God which is the Church of the living God saith Paul to Timothy His House and a Great House {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the House of the Great God the Father of this Family of a great and large extent and having many Inhabitants Officers Children Servants even all those domestici fidei the household of Faith as the Apostle calleth them And in this great House saith the Apostle there are not only vessels of Gold and Silver but of wood and of earth i. e. some elect others reprobates Not only so but some good others bad bad and that oft-times not only closely and secretly but openly and apparently such Not only hypocriticall and unsound but scandalous Christians Such were those whom the Apostle speaketh of in the verses fore-going Prophane and vaine bablers men whose words did fret as a canker or cancer whose very society was infectious and dangerous Two of these he there instanceth in by Name Of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus two dangerous and damnable Hereticks denying and overthrowing that great Article of the Faith the Resurrection of the Dead which being overthrowne opens a wide doore to all lieâ—ntiousnesse and proâ—anenesse Such were these and probably some other members of that Church at that time persons scandalous and dangerous seduced themselves and seducing others Such vessels there were in that house wooden and earthen vessels vessels to dishonour {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} to dishonour and that both Passively and Actively having dishonour and shame for their portion and dishonouring the house the Church of God whereof they were members Such vessels such members there may be and oft are in the House in the Church of God persons erroneous in their judgement and scandalous in their lives Such there may be Mistake it not We speake here de Facto not de Jure not what ought to be but what may be and will be If we speake de Jure â—s it ought to be then that of the Apostle in the words fâ—re going takes place Let every one that calleth on the Name of the Lord depart from iniquity Every one that joyneth himselfe to the Church of God that taketh upon him the profession of Christianity he ought to grace his profession by an answerable conversation In Solomons Temple the vessels were all of pure Gold and such should the members of the Church of Christ be Thus it should be But thus it will not be Some there are and will be that shame their profession by an unchristian conversation Vessels to dishonour Neither is it a thing either to be stumbled or wondered at Such vessels there are in a great House and such members there will be in the visible Church which is a mixed company This point I might further inlarge and set of by those common and obvious illustrations made use of by our Saviour himselfe of the draw or drag Net wherein there are fishes of all sorts good and bad The Field wherein there was Tares as well as Wheate The wedding supper whereat there were guests of all sorts good and bad saith the Text But I will not neither need I goe from that Metaphor in the Text which is so cleare and expresse as that scarce an Expositor falls upon it but meeteth with this truth in it The Church the visible Church is a mixed company Such is the floore a place of mixture wherein there is as I said Corne and Straw Wheat and Chaff c. all brought in together Such is the Church Such it ever hath beene and such it ever will be as long as the Moone hath her spots the Church will have hers even such spots as Peter and Jude speaketh of persons scandalous in their lives disgracing the Church as spots doe the garment wherein they are And will you see some Reason why it is so Take it in a word God will have it so and Satan will have it so 1. God will have it so and that first For the tryall of his own people It is that which S. Paul saith of heresies There must be heresies why That those which are approved may be made manifest And we may say the same of Hereticks and scandalous persons There must be such in the Church I speake it as the Apostle de Facto that those which are {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} approved of God may be made manifest more manifest to the world 2. And secondly God doth it permits it as for the tryall so for the good and benefit of his own people Even as the Husbandman sometimes suffers the Corne to lye in the Chaffe that it may keepe the better And such use God sometimes makes of hypocrites of wicked and ungodly men whom hee suffers to have a Name and a Roome in his Church he maketh use of them for the good and benefit of his own people oft-times using them as Conduit pipes conveying many outward blessings and benefits to his Church through their hands tending to the outward preservation of it Thus God will have it so And secondly Satan will have it so That Eâ—viouâ— man in the Gospell which soweth Tares in the field he also casteth Chaffe into the floore Which he doth through the inadverâ—ancie of those which should watch this floore I meane those which have or should have the oversight and government of the Church Hereby seeking to poyson the Church by throwing in corruptions into
which should be one one in the Members of it I pray that they may be all one saith our Saviour speaking of all that are given to him to beleeve on him to make profession of his Name One in Head and Heart Judgement and Affection united to Christ and amongst themselves by those sacred bonds of Faith and Love how is it divided rent torne Christians Members of the same mysticall body how severed and hat both in Judgement and Affection The evidence is too cleare against us 2. And no lesse cleare in the second particular In the Personall walkings of Christians what Irregularitie amongst those which joyne themselves to the Church or Churches of God amongst us how many that walke {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Disorderly neither Righteously nor Soberly nor Godly persons every wayes Scandalous in their practise running counter to their professions shaming the Gospell of Christ and the Church of God as ungracious Children doe their Mother as worthy to be severed and seperated from all Church society and communion as ever was Leaper or uncleane person to be cast or kept out of the Campe or Temple A blot it must be acknowledged and a blot very readily hit that we should have such and so many of these Blots and Spots {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} as S. Peter and Jude calleth them in our most sacred Feasts whether for want of Power to keepe or cast them out or for want of the due exercise of that power I dispute it not That it is so de Facto it must not it cannot be denied So as in this point it seemeth that the Temple of God amongst us is yet imperfect having too great an outward Court of an Ignorant and Prophane multitude layed unto it In both these as I said the evidence is too cleare against us 3. And I will not take upon me to cleare and acquit the third and last I am no Accuser neither come I hither to pick holes in the Churches coate to passe a peremptorie censure upon what ever standeth established by the Law to which I am a Subject Yet dare I not say but even therein in point of Discipline take the word largely there may be some things and many things amisse Some things Redundant and Superfluous fit to be pared off and taken away Some things deficient and wanting wherein the Church hath not yet attained her full perfection Neither can it be thought any dishonour to those ever honoured Worthies the first Reformers of this Church that they should leave it in some particulars imperfect Strange and wonderfull it is that coming out of such darknesse they should see so much as they did that they should leave the Church so perfect which they found so imperfect and that both for Faith and Order in both like that first Chaoâ— without forme and voide But to doe them right and the Church no wrong Enquire we yet a little further of what Nature and Qualitie are those Errours those Imperfections which we suppose to be yeâ— left remaining Are they Fundamentals or no destructive to the Essence and being of a Church or no Not so This also is or I suppose will be freely yeelded and acknowledged at all Judicious hands In the first Reforming of this Church God tooke care for all fundamentall Ordinances of his worship furnishing the Church with what was necessary for the making and building up of Saints and the bringing of his people to Heaven Word Sacraments Prayer those great Ordinances of God the very Basis of the Church together with all the substantials appertaining to them were all setled and established at the first And I may adde to them the substantials of Discipline also Wherein then lyeth the Errour why surely for the most part in circumstantials Such is Order to Ordinances a Circumstance an Appurtenance And herein probably there may be some possibly many and those very considerable defects to be found amongst us The House of God amongst us may want some of her Vtensils and Ornaments The Worship of God though for substantialls entire yet may want some of her Appurtenances and Accoutrements The Ordinances of God though for substance rightly dispensed and administred yet in the manner and Order of their Administration possibly they may be found some of them at the least not so Regular and Orderly Now put these together and see what it is that standeth charged upon this Church as needing and calling for Reformation Her Defects in point of Order Her Members first are not so joynted and cemented together as the Timbers and Stones of the Temple ought to be Many of them in the second place in their personall walkings doe not answer their profession being scandalous in their lives and conversations Her Ordinances in the third place some of them defective in some Circumstances wanting some Appurtenances or else not so Exact for the Order and manner of their Administration Q. Why but you may say are these Errours and Defects Tanti are they of such high concernement as that the Reformation of them should be so earnestly desired A. To this I must answer and I shall doe it freely Of Concernement they are and that of great concernement Though not of so great as some have taken them to be who have forsaken and abandoned the Church for them renouncing nullifying it as being no floore because of these remainders of chaffe in it no Church because of these defects these corruptions Yet of greater then others happily conceive them That will appeare if we doe but consider these two things 1. The Inconveniency of allowing or tolerating of these corruptions 2. The conveniencie of their Reformation For the former Corruptions in a Church are like Moathâ—s in a Garment if let alone they will be subject to decay it Many and great are the Inconveniencies and hazzards which the Church of God amongst us by reason of these acknowledged corruptions or imperfections at the present lyeth under 1. The want of unity and agreement what an Eye-sore Nay what a Heart-sore For the Divisions of Reuben were great thoughts of heart To see the seamelesse Coat of Christ nay his Body rent and torne in pâ—eces Christians members of the same mysticall body so divided in head and heart in judgement and affection a sad spectacle and as sad a presage Vnity as it is the Beauty so is it the strength of a Church No one thing either deformes or weakens it more then division 2. To have the outward Court of the Temple so wide as that it should admit and receive all comers what a disproportion To have all sorts of persons Persons openly profane and scandalous received into and retained in the bosome of the Church admitted to Church society and Communion even communion in those sacred mysteries the Seales of the Covenant what a scaâ—dall What a Hazard Hereat and hereby some are offended others hardened the Church
endangered Indangered and that both in respect of guilt and infection Both these wayes that of the Apostle carries a truth with it A little leaven leaveneth the whole lumpe leaven corrupt and scandalous sinners not purged out but allowed or connived at in a Church it leaveneth the whole lumpe layeth the whole Church under a guilt where the Church is Accessary to that Toleration besides the danger of souring leavening infecting others possibly the whole Church probably some of the members of it both ways the Church is damnified or indangered 3. To want a due and right Order in dispencing the Ordinances of God or managing the affaires and businesses of the Church it is a thing of dangerous consequence I though the substance be right David in bringing the Arke from Kiriath-Jearim to Jerusalem from a private house the house of Abinadab to its own place the Tabernacle which he had prepared for it for the substance of the duty he was right in it yet mistaking in the Order laying the Arke upon a Cart which should have been carried upon the Priests and Levites shoulders God made a Breach amongst them for it The Lord our God saith he made a breach amongst us for that we sought him not after the due order Not observing the order instituted and appointed by God in his Law Of such dangerous consequence may some failings in point of order be Were there nothing else this alone may provoke God against a people to cause him to breake in upon them to make a Breach amongst them Great Inconvenience in allowing tolerating of these corruptions On the other hand as great convenience in their Reformation To have all the stones gathered out of the Lords vineyard to have all stumbling-blocks and scandals all grounds and causes and as much as may be occasions of division removed and taken out of the way whereby the hearts of Gods people may come to be cemented and united together To have the Court of the Temple reduced to it's due scantling and proportion made neither too wide nor too strait there may be an errour on both hands To have the House of God cleane swept and garnished purged from all corruptions furnished with all requisite Implements and Ornaments not only her Altar Table Candlesticke but also her Tongs and her Snuffers c. and those all of pure gold To have her Officers and Ordinances all reduced to native primitive purity and simplicity To have this Vineyard amongst us not only planted with choice vines but to have a hedge set about it a hedge of Discipline about the Ordinances to have a Towre and a Wine-presse and all other requisites in it How would this ad both to the beauty and safety of the Church to the Power and Glory of the Ordinances to the joy comfort and growth of all the Members of the mysticall Body Let them not then be blamed who seeke and seeke earnestly for the purging of this floore the Reformation of this Church in the fore-named particulars But what then shall we doe for the compassing or furthering of this Reformation Here falls in the second Question For Answer to which take some directions one for the present for I see I shall not be able to compasse what I intended In the first place Be we thankefull for what we have A usefull a needfull direction No means more effectuall to obtaine what we want and would have then thankefully to acknowledge what we have already received This doe we in the behalfe of the Church of God amongst us not lessening not undervaluing much lesse over-looking and forgetting the great things which our God hath already done for us This doe some I feare too many amongst us whose eyes are all upon the Churches blacknesse they are evill eyes which are so a thing which the Church chargeth the Daughters of Jerusalem her friends not to doe Looke not upon me because I am blacke Cant. 1. her blemishes her spots her defects her corruptions and in beholding of these they are Eagle-eyed but in the meane time as for her comelinesse her beauty her graces her blessings these they either over-looke or else looke overly and coyly upon them as if they were not worth the looking on The Story tels us of the Israelites that when they first saw that Bread which God rained downe from Heaven for them They said one to another saith the Text it is Mannah or as the Septuagint and Montanus with others render it according to the Originall Man-Hua Quid hoc What is this And is not this the language of some amongst us at this day touching that Bread of life which God daily raineth from Heaven for the feeding the soules of his people These sacred Ordinances of his his Word and Sacraments Man-Hua Quid hoc What are thâ—se Ordinances indeed but they cannot have them in the way of an Ordinance as they say dispenced in a due Order after such a manner as they would have and therefore nothing worth especially wanting some other Ordinances to attend and accompany them A dangerous surfet my Brethren Such was that of the Israelites which they tooke of their Mannah We can see nothing say they but this Mannah this we know not what Why what would they have some other dish besides They would have flesh to their Mannah Who shall give us flesh to eâ—â— And without this their Mannah was nothing worth they were weary of it A dangerous surfet so that proved to them God heard their prayers gave them their desires sent them in another dish a second course dish and that a dainty one Quailes but they had better have been without it I pray God the like Maladiâ— amongst us doe not meet with a like Remedy the like sinne I meane our inordinate lusting understand iâ— rightly do not meet with a like punishment Certainly this surfetting of our Mannah a disease which begins to grow too epidemicall it can presage no good For this cause it was that the Carkases of so many of the Israelites fell in the wildernesse In Memoriall whereof they called the place where those Carkases were buried Kibroth Hattaavah Sepulchra concupisceâ—â—iae The grâ—â—es of lust For saith the Text there they buried the people which fell a lusting I will not I dare not say that for this cause so many Carkases are fullâ—â— amongst us in this Kingdom at this day I dare not write Kibroth Hattaavah upon the Sepulchers of any that have yet â—â—llen in this unhappy quarrell the ground whereof is said to be not Reformation but Selfe preservation not the obtaining of what we never yet had but the retaining of what God and the Law have invested us in and possessed us of But this I dare say and this I must say that the inordinate lusting of some amongst us though after things in themselves very desirable their inordinate lusting I say when they shall so lust after