Christendom and also against the ground of Scripture and reason approved by them themselves who most professe hatred against 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the self-convicted yet are they herein contradictory to themselves false to their own grounds and condemned in avowing by their practise what they so disavow in their eminent profession But since their profession against Antichrist concurreth with the prescript worship of the Scripture cited and this part thereof now in handling and its and their many parallels let us lift up our eyes to behold that cleer light of those and the like Scriptures which so gloriously magnifie divine worship and provoke us to the knowledge thereof even of those parts thereof which their onely opposites do in their protesting against Antichrist so dignifie by the rule of contraries in their placing the essence of that Antichrist in his counterfeiting and usurping the parts of worship besides Preaching Sacraments and Prayer withall supposing that their practise in the positive would also follow theirs were it not for the worldly sinister respects of the flatterings and fooleries of the world-worship or Prelacy especially of those three parts thereof which they both in profession and practice so highly and positively magnifie which indeed will enforce the introduction of the rest by their own necessiting them to the Ministry and that to the Church Thirdly the particular Churches of Ephesus and Corinth are expresly said 1 Tim. 3.15 2 Cor. 6.16 to be the houses of God and that without peculiarity and therefore indefinitly and as such and therefore of every particular Church for quod est quatenus ipsum est de omni That Church also indefinitly taken and so every particular Church is there said to be the pinacle and subject of truth i. e. the first evidencer and evident part of divine true worship and the radical ground subjective chair and proper basis thereof and the then true Church of Rome is said to be the body of that word-worship in Christ Rom. 12.5 as above is particularized for by comparing that v. 5. with v. 1. it is cleered to be a particular part of that word-worship and with v. 7 8. to be the body and subject thereof which is so evident in that place that I will not farther prove it but even by It prove what is inferred from 1 Tim. 3.15 against the two oppositions thereof The former is by expounding the word Truth onely of the Doctrines of Faith and Holyness but are not the Doctrines of Gods Word of truth Joh. 17.17 concerning his true worship instituted onely thereby and our answerable holy serving him therein so well as those concerning Faith and Holiness personal Why are they not so proper yea so special truths of that word of truth Nay they are more proper to the Church since Faith and its personal fruits are proper and immediate to the person of each Christian and the other parts of worship proper and immediate to the Church yea these have no other subject pinacle pillar chair nor ground neither can they subsist nor exist in act but as of and in the Church but Faith and therefore all its fruits are in their perfection of parts in each true adult son called and regenerate before he is admitted into a Church for he is thereinto received as being such and not as to be made such and again upon manifestation that he is not such he is rejected and cast thereout as not fit to be of the Church and therefore is he not to expect nor receive his Faith in from or by the Church how then is it the Fountain or Root of the Scripture-Gospel or Doctrine of Salvation by Faith working by love as so working as the Papists hold as their life on the one side Or as the Controverters against the same say How is it the Post or Pasquil pillar of Rome whereon all publike notifications use to be affixed in respect of its shewing Faith unto the passers by A very poor interpretation of that place and an embasing of the Church which to dignifie in a special manner is the scope of that sentence wherein the Popish Exposition is the far better onely whereas this high dignifying the Church to provoke Timothy and other Officers thereof to a reverent diligent and cheerful discharge of their Ministry therein is by the word as its Dignifier and so it is evident that the dignity of the causall priority and the fundamental and fontal originalness of the word it self as the proper truth of God Joh. 17.17 is excepted as God is excepted in this express universal assertion 1 Cor. 15.27 For he hath put all things under his Christs feet wch is in the next words expressed But when he saith all things are put under his feet it is evident that he is excepted which did put all things under him so that that is as evidently false as the other though not so unsavoury and ridiculous in making the Church it self but a Bill-post of truth which hath but this goodnes to oppose the falshood of the former nor excuse but that they know not the proper meaning of truth in that place nor the distinct acception thereof for true worship in the Scripture both in its positive and privative use thereof yea and both for divine worship in the general and also more particularly for these special particulars thereof in hand as Rom. 1.25 Who turned the truth of God into a lye or the true worship of God into false and worshipped and served the Creature rather then the Creator i. e. in their worshipping and serving him in by and under created resemblances which God accounteth for a serving the creature according to all Gods natural courses and appearances and no institution of his supposing any other rather than their Creatour whose Will they were to know in that their divine Worship for of the Idolatries in the Scripture both of the Jews and Gentiles there is no one wherein by the intent of the Worshipper there was any other original person of the Deity adored than the same which we adore as Creator of the world Of which briefly as followeth Of False Counterfeit or World-Worship FAlse Counterfeit or World-worship is instituted by Man having two Roots and moving Reasons but both rotten and unreasonable the first is because man hath instituted in him a duty to please God in a visible instituted Worship which he supposeth he hath discharged when he hath separated to him from common use the best and most acceptable thing in his judgment which he therefore presumeth that God so judgeth and accepteth also which is expressed Esa 41.1 to 7. and illustrated unto Chap. 44.20 as the Sum and Index of this point whose vindex possesseth the third part of the Scripture and all the world but a few The other reason is because the same ordinances in kind are sanctified and blessed by GOD especially by Christ under the Gospel or at or since his coming in the flesh This is the
Worship and our spiritual welfare what can be of a greater necessity of duty or concluder of Rebellion against God or murder of our own soules especially since they are expressed to be that good acceptable and perfect Will of God Rom. 12.2 That Word-worship so vehemently pressed v. 1. unto the approbation of both which we must be transformed into a renewedness of mind and disconformed from the World-worship as dead unholy and unacceptable unto God v. 1. and renounce our own Wills as evil odious and imperfect v. 2. by which high dignity of the Commander and Commender of these for his own peculiar Divine Worship and his Worshippers eternal glory and the Divine Nature of the Worship and Worshippers and the heavenly end of the former and benefit to the latter and also by the Deity of the Mediator and inspirer of them thus manifested another promised branch is also performed but competently indeed in respect of what may more be said of them yet compleatly being compared with the dignity of any other thing but God their original Author and ultimate End and his Saints for whom they and all things but God are and by and for whom they are exercised and their Institutors and Divine Declarer and Grace and Heaven for which they are But I haste to their further dignifying by shewing the odious baseness of their Opposites Antichrist and his Worship having only first marshalled them into their comely order lineal and collateral Psal 19. Gods natural works are highly extolled in that their line is gone through the Earth and their words unto the ends of the World v. 4. and the like is said of the Sun v. 6. but the extension of Gods spiritual works are far more magnified in the rest of that Psalm and throughout that spirituall Record nothing is more evident and eminent both in lineal and collateral extension than the pillar and ground of true Worship which is the House and Church of the Living God 1 Tim. 3.15 For the Word is Truth both as the Sanctifier of the Truth of Salvation and also of Worship but the Church is not the pillar and ground of the former but of the latter it is as shall be synopsed presently which also best sorteth with the subject of that whole Epistle especially at that part thereof which is an instruction of Timothy how to behave himself in ordering and acting Gods publike worship The rock and root of this line is God the Father as the absolute Willer thereof the Anchor or Hank end thereof is Christ as the original Revealer thereof his immediate Deputies therein are the Apostles Prophets and Evangelists by their precepts and practice thereof the Divine Record whereof is their Writings of the new Testament a Divine Progeny and previal Line indeed but the internal Line hath five parts 1. The Church 2. The power thereof 3. The Church-estates 4. Their Functions 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 12.4 or Portions of Faith v. 3. 5. Their object or matter What these five things are is shewn but I onely touch their lineal or successive order The filial or posterial Line of Gods Worship extendeth to all publike union and communion with God and his Saints in all grace and glory First in this life as an Earnest Broad-seal Livery of seisine and Court or Temple of Sanctum Sanctorum and the very Heaven an heavenly Issue and Inheritance indeed and so a Royal Race and Heavenly Line indeed The collateral respect of Divine Worship is either internal or external the former is the fraternity of its parts which is actual in its four last parts and virtual in the Church as causally respecting each branch of the four brotherhoods each whereof hath nine particulars according to the number of the Church-estates or Memberships 4. Whereof are integral as Children Women Men and Prophets And 5. Organical or Ministerial as the Teacher the Exhorter the Distributer the Ruler the pitier whose 9. portions priviledges or proportions of Faith Rom. 12.3 6. or Functions v. 4. may by these nine terms be understood receptive submissive active instructive teaching exhorting distributing ruling and pittying but the particulars of the matter wherein those Functions are to be exercised cannot so briefly be expressed but by reference to what is said of them which is sufficient for this place over unto in by and for these brotherhoods is the Church power authoritative over them in giving them their being or essentiative unto them preservative in them usive by them beneficial for them for all gifts ministrations and operations are given to the Church to profit each other member its Function and its matter to be executed 1 Cor. 12.7 The external fraternity of our Evangelical Divine Worship is either spiritual or natural the spiritual is either cotypical or antitypical the particulars of them all are 7 five are past one is and the seventh is to come so exactly is this white Line parallel'd with that black one in time number and particulars Rev. 17. though in all substantials exactly antiparallel'd as may appear in the counter-parallel of this Image of Christ with that of Antichrist The cotypes then are five Paradise Noah's Ark Abraham's Family Moses Tabernacle and Solomon's Temple which I cannot plainly and plentifully say and seal in few words and yet many I may not now use 1. Paradise as a type of the Church Adam as the Teacher or Declarer by Moral Teaching and the Tree of Knowledge As the typical preserver by the Tree of Life and Exhortation As the Orderer or Ruler by casting out of Paradise This was also a Legal Type of Heaven and the first Covenant 2. Noah's Ark. Noah the teacher of Righteousness by the spiritual signs of the Ark The typical preserver of all in the Ark by the Food of the Ark The Ruler by admitting into and rejecting out of the Ark. This was a Legal and Evangelical Type cleering the worship after the Fall 3. Abraham's Family in Covenant with God Abraham the Teacher of his Family by publication of Gods Promises and Commandements The Sealer thereof by Circumcision and the Sacrifices The Ruler by Excommunication This was an Evangelical Type cleering the second Covenant made with Adam Gen. 3.15 4. The Tabernacle The Priests and Levites as Teachers by Moral and Typical preaching As Exhorters and Sealers by the Passover Sacraments and Sacrifices As Rulers by Tryal shutting out and purifying the Lepers the Unclean c. This was properly legal and cleering the first Covenant made with Adam Gen. 2.17 Yet secondly it Was Evangelical as typing the Worship of the Gospel 5. The Temple The Priests c. as in the Tabernacle but thereto as also to the Temple as being neerer to Christ then the other three there was also annexed a cleerer distinctness of the teaching and offices of Christ in the Colledge of the Prophets and their prophecying exhorting and ordering the children of the Pâ—ophets and in Jerusalem as the prime place of Expounders of the Law
Gospel Publique Worship OR The Translation Metaphrase Analysis and Exposition of Rom. 12. from v. 1. to 8. Describing and Prescribing the compleat Pattern of Gospel-Worship ALSO An Exposition of the 18 th Chapter of MATTHEW To which is added A Discovery of ADAM'S threefold Estate in Paradise viz. Moral Legal and Evangelical By THOMAS BREWER 1 Tim. 3.15 But if I tarry long that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thy self in the house of God which is the Church of the living God the pillar and ground of the truth See Gal. 6.1 Gen. 2.7 and v. 17. with Chap. 3.3 and v. 15. LONDON Printed by W. Godbid for Henry Eversden at the Sign of the Greyhound in Pauls Church-yard 1656. Gospel-Worship by Mr. Tho. Brewer THE EPISTLE TO THE READER READER IN the ensuing Treatises are represented to thy view a few of those many excellent Manuscripts penned by Mr. Thomas Brewer who besides many former and some long Persecutions endured under the Prelates suffered Imprisonment by the Bishops in the Kings-Bench Prison above the space of fourteen years for saying That because the Prelates did not derive their Offices from his Majesty as they ought therefore he durst not partake with them nor the Derivers of their Offices from them in the proper works of their Offices which in his Petition to the Lords of the Upper-house of Parliament 1640. he proveth Legal Loyal Reasonable and Seasonable a Copy whereof is herewith published for which cause they often deprived him of many of his Writings by which means and through transporting and transmitting c. some Papers pertaining to this Treatise are missing for the Author wrote very largly of these subjects yet is not any thing hereby deformed or obscured though abbreviated Whereby he was prevented from publishing these with divers others of his Works the which he intended who upon the presenting of the said Petition was released but about a moneth after dyed in a good old age and full of days Indeed his sufferings for the truth were very great and of long continuance but as his sufferings did abound so his graces and vertues did much more abound and like odours being crusht gave a more fragrant scent or like silver passing the fire were more refined But what need I to guild a Diamond or what needs he my commendation his Piety Learning Experience and Depth of Judgment are eminently known both in this and other Nations and are in part discovered in these ensuing Tracts which are not many broken fragments of others Writings patcht up together but profound studied matter extracted from the very nature and scope of the several Texts and Subjects whereof it treats and wherein was made good to the Author those Promises Prov 2.5 9. in a great measure most of which with many other of the like nature were the Authors own Experiences and Practises and Experimental Observations who in the time of his liberty was a frequent publisher of them himself at Leyden in Holland where he walked in communion with Mr. Robinson and also with Mr. Ainsworth also after the time of his restraint procuring liberty of his Keeper and sometimes in the Prison he taught them frequently in several Congregations in London which is well known to and testified by many of his Hearers yet living But for my own part I had onely the happiness to become acquainted with him the three last years of his life within which time although it was part of the time of his close Imprisonment I reaped much precious benefit from him by the opportunity of visites c. and like Apollos Act. 18.24 25. he was a man mighty in the Scriptures and being fervent in spirit he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord. The truth of the matter published I am humbly confident is able to defend it self against all Adversaries though subject to be scandalized from which the best things are not free First here is a more ample foundation for and a more stately Edifice as it were pourtrayed out of Gospel-Worship which both regulates and improves grace than ever yet was published this 1300. years since Antichrist reigned for as Gen. 1. and Job 38. and 39. Chapter contains the whole and also the main particulars of the Creation Exod. 20. and Deut. 5. the summe of the Law Gen. 12.2 3. the summe of the Promises Dan. 2. the summe of the Prophesies Matth. 5 6 7. Chapters the main qualifications of Christs Disciples Matth. 6.9 c. Luke 11.2 The Pattern of all Prayer 2 Pet. 1.5 6 7. The prime Signs and special Demonstrations of our Election Vocation and Salvation So these first 8. verses of the 12. Chapter to the Romanes as our Author saith well contain the whole body of Gospel Church-Worship And as Moses Exod. 25. to Chap. 40. and David 1 Chron. 28.11 gave exact patterns of the Tabernacle and Temple so here the Apostle Paul prescribes the like compleat pattern for this Spiritual Fabrick of Gospel-Worship of which the former were but Types and expressed so to be 2 Cor. 6.16 1 Tim. 3.15 Râ—v 21. compared with Lev. 26.11 Ezek. 37.26 27. This is the Central and Cardinal place of Scripture sanctifying the Divine Worship of the Word about which all other of this subject have their proper motion and use and whereon they depend as so many branches springing from this root and by which they are encorporated into one Order the want therefore of the clear understanding hereof is the cause of the seeming disjoyntedness of the Order of Worship and the long and much prevailing of Babylonisme thereby yea and errour and darkness yet so abounds that we have just cause to pray as the Psalmist doth Psal 43.3 Secondly in expounding the 18. Chapter of Matthew here is lively held forth that Meekness Love and Mercy which ought to be used for the recovery of a sin-sick-Saint Gal. 6.1 and on the contrary that pride railing and racking prosecuted both by the publike and personal Antichrist in such cases as Jam. 4.1 to 11. Thirdly and lastly here is set forth that three-fold or rather four-fold Estate of Adam in Paradise viz. Moral Legal Evangelical and Celestial his legal Estate or first Covenant of Works was saith the Author and what need be said more the first grand grandsire mystery of the Word and the Door key and Candle to all other Theologick Religious Personal publick and polemike the Epitomal Pattern of the Mosaical Law in folio and the Bridge garrison and Tutor unto the Gospel the Ladder and Key of Heaven These four Estates were founded in Paradise the first cultively the second epitomally the third personally the fourth inchoately so that this is the main hinge whereon the whole state of all mankind dependeth Now since this Work hath stuck so long in the Birth and having this opportunity now yet not till now put into my hands and withall considering the diversities of Judgments about and the many diligent enquirers after these things
〈◊〉 as an antidote to that boundless arrogancy and swelling ambition the root of that antichristian confusion which hath long confounded Christs divine order as was therefore prophetically and justly called of God Babel and Babylon * 2 In speciall and as particularly and immediately applying all these general precepts to the particulars of divine worship ensuing and that by the illative and causal particle for v. 4. which sheweth that we are to apply all these preceding generalls to the ensuing particulars as 1 Directing us in the connextion of each preceding particular to each subsequent particular and ◠converso and that with grounded reasons causal and illative 2 Moving us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. by internall motives of highest consequence both from the cause to the effect from debt to repayment from Gods absolute commands and by many other pregnant directions and motives wherein every one is to help himself according to these helps the particulars being so infinite in number as can hardly without tediousness be read and yet so precious as will content and requite the pains ¶ 2 Described †1 By its name 1 Christian forename v. 1. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word-worship of the Scripture in general and Gospel of Christ in particular 2 Of its kind sirname cognomen v. 2. that Will of God and so not only properly and truely divine but in a special manner i. e. as the high matter of Gods prerogative instituting and dictating will †2 In its nature ¶ 1 By a Protasis as pattern †1 Immediate and proper i. e. of a corporation * 1 It self as a totum in se intire as 1 Existing in its self and properly such as a covenanted body of civill men whether Realm City Town corporate or other proper corporation v. 4. one body or coporation 2 Exerting it self 1 Dispositively into its members as in the choice of officers 2 Actively by joynt-consent of its members as in sentencing both these as assembled into a Congregation as in a Parliament Common-Council or Burrow-month-court wherein the body acteth its concial power and supremcy v. 4. we have many Members in one body * 2 Its members 1 Smply as existing v. 4. many members 2 In respect of their 1 Body v. 4. many members in one body 2 Functions 1 Simply as Ordinances and Works instituted v. 4. practise or work 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Relatively as appropriated to their membership all members have not the same function or work v. 4. These I but touch in this Protasis they being more proper to the Apodosis where they shal be more particularly placed as in an Index or map but their compleat clearing and handling requireth a larger vindex which yet cannot be orderly without this Analytical epitomy premised †2 Remote and general that is of every totum and body integral or compound by God and Man v. 4. body in the general yet with all the mentioned particulars of the properly patterning body of a corporation in particular so far as they agree therewith and that so much more as they are more proper boies in the general though this pattern be more proper in this case ¶ 2 In the Apodosis or Patterned as an * 1 Vnum †1 Subjectum 1 Quod which beareth the adjuncts immediately ss the four membral and five ministerial estates mentioned 2 Quo wherein subjectum quod inhereth i. e. the Church the original pillar or eminencer ground or subject of true divine worship or truth 1 Tim. 3.15 with Rom. 1.25.23 †2 Order of adjuncts i. e. those nine adjunctive functions * 2 Integral integrum 1 Totum whole or intire body v. 5. so we are one body i. e. a corporation spirituall or Christian Church 2 Order of parts v. 5. so we being many are one body Note The difference between these two respects is expressed in the application of the Apodosis to the Protasis which by a peculiar Scripturism compleateth each other though an inferiour authority cannot force us to that inquiry for the preheminency of the totum as having the parts as its own totally is expressed v. 4. in one body we have many members and the precedency of the parts as being the matter of which the totum was compacted of which compacture it doth consist expressed v. 5. wee being many members are one body which is of great use as shall in the Vindex be shewn but I will here proceed in the bare Analysis This Order of Integralls is †1 Collateral or between themselves as 1 Onely integral 1 Onely existent or patient as the children of the enchurched 2 Also active 1 Onely applying to themselves in Church-actions and doing personal duties 2 As working Ecclesiastically in 1 Teaching and its consequences 2 Matters of ruling 1 In discussing 2 In Sentencing and their consequences concerning these only integral v. 6. whether prophesie i. e. ability so by his Churches integralship right to speak to edification exhortation and comfort by which one particular membership the other are by synecdoche meant but the compleat proof which are integral Church-members is to be supplied from other places this being but an epitome and summary compacting the heads of Divine Worship 2 Also instrumentall as the Ministers v. 7. or a Ministery 1 Overseeing the internal man 1 In the root by preaching 1 Doctrinally v. 7. whether the Teacher 2 Exhortingly v. 8. or the Exhorter 2 In the fruit by ruling v. 8. the Ruler 2 Serving the outward 1 Estate by distributing v. 8. the distributer by synecdoche meaning all other Church helps to the estates as collecting husbanding the Church-stock arbitrating debts c. 2 The person and health of the body by tending the sick c. v. 8. the pitier †2 Lineal * 1 A priore in relation to the Church †1 Ascensive or regressive in a 1 Giving 1 Existence its Churchship or constitution unto it by 1 Making the Church-Covenant 2 Continuing the Church-covenant 2 Actuation or life to it by 1 Assembling 2 Acting therein their particular works 1 Integral 2 Instrumental a 2 Receiving their membership at and by the very act of church-covenanting which is to be likewise supposed of all after-entrances or admissions into the church they having reference thereto V. 5. we being many are one body i. e. many Christians are become one church †2 Descensive or progressive in the churches giving to each christian person his proper church-member-ship 1 Integral by admission 2 Instrumentall by ordination Both which are the churches by its making them such v. 4. Wee in one body have many members wherefore the power of both is in the Church and that both of sentencing and solemnizing them and therefore much of laying hands on the member in his admission and ordination by the instituted rite for both Heb. 6.2 with 1 Tim. 5.22 lay hands suddenly on no man c. The four integral and five organical states are before mentioned and here supposed * 2 A
posteriore in relation to their functions 1 Membral viz. of the Prophets to prophesie of the adult men to power the adult women to be active partakers of the Sacraments and of Infants to be passive injoyers of Baptism and of each of the four to all Ordinances of inferiour nature than that mentioned in each function v. 6. whether prophesie which by relation inforceth its active relative conjugate i. e. prophets as they are called 1 Cor. 14.28 and by synecdoche supposeth the three other sorts of functions 2 Ministerial i. e. of the Teacher to teaching of the Exhorter to exhortation of the distributer to distribution the ruler to ruling the pitier to works of pity in and under which five works all other of the same nature and reason are by synecdoch meant whether instituted or personal as the Sacraments under teaching and provoking they being teaching as significant and provoking and confirming as sealing and under teaching are meant translating metaphrasing analysing doctrining proper teaching proving consuting and so of the rest 3 Ens consisting of 1 Matter i. e. visible Christians 2 Form 1 Constitutive i. e. that pattern superinduced by and upon that matter in their mutuall covenanting to be such a Church of God v. 5. are one body whereby all the said parts and adjuncts are Ecclesiastical and all divine worship as of the word v. 1. 2 Institutive i. e. the pattern of a Corporation revealed by the word to be Apostolike v. 3. and so of Christ v. 5. and so of God v. 3. By this TRANSLATION METAPHRASE and ANALYSIS of Rom. 12. from v. 1. to the 8. there appears two main considerations of divine Worship First its subject matter willed Secondly its respectives The matter willed by God is real and rational c. For readiness and memory sake I will frame them first Tablewise secondly Tractwise both so summarily as the Exposition will competently beare DIvine Worship is the Body of Gods instituted Will for his Saints peculiar publike serving of him which is here to be handled onely as the object of Gods peculiar Will of which we will consider ¶ 1 What is positive and true viz. that of the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 word-worship which is twofold †1 External * 1 Real †1 Subjective viz. in respect of a twofold subject X I Subjectum quod simple primitive or integral viz. the Church which is the permanency and eminency of Word-worship the pillar and ground of Truth 1 Tim. 3.15 with Rom. 1.25.23 Psal 106.20 Exod. 32.5 1 Stative i. e. the Church as incorporate which is the essenciall original both of the Church congregate and all its powers and adjuncts and that as ens causa integrum and subjectum v. 3. are 2 Active i. e. the Church congregate or representative the immediate subject of all ecclesiastica or Church-States Ordinances and actions v. 4. have 1 Cor. 11.18 20 22 5 4. Mat. 18.17 18 19. this is the Church of frequent name understanding and use but the other is the proper root X 2 Subjectum quo i. e. in a per pro quo derived secondary or membral 1 Integral 1 Active 1 In doctrine viz. the Prophets v. 6. Prophesie 1 Cor. 14.1.3 2 In power 1 Congregational viz. in admission excommunication election degradation determination of circumstances time place c. 2 Ruling viz. in examining advising convincing pro contra sentencing c. by his membral right according to his abilities adulti 2 Passive or receptive 1 Simply as infants nâ—t discerning the Lords body and blood 2 Mixtly viz. Women who have no power properly actâ—ve but onely recipient 1 Cor. 14.34 35. These four integral Church-states are by synecdoche prescribed v. 6. whether prophesie 2 Instrumental or ministerial which may be two wayes distributed or divided viz. 1 Into 1 Internal or mental viz. for the minds for instrumenti esse est in fine usu 1 Informing which is the Teacher v. 7. the Teacher 2 Conforming which is the Exhorter v. 8. 2 External or for the outward 1 Conversation of the spiritual man which is the Ruler v. 8. 2 Preservation of the natural man viz. natural 1 Personal or for conservation of the body which is the pitier v. 8. 2 Possessory or for maintenance viz. the distributer v. 8. 2 Into 1 Episcopal or overseeing Elderly or authoritive pastoral or feeding or conserving 1 Internal 1 Mental or intellectual viz. the Teacher v 7. 2 Voluntal or of the wil and its affectives viz. the Exhorter v. 8. or teaching Elders 2 External the Ruler v. 8. who is an Overseer over in authority conserving the honest behaviour of the Church and each member thereof called also a ruling elder 1 Tim. 5. 2 Diaconal or serving the Church in the whole and its members 1 Personal or corporal the pitier v. 8. the widow 1 Tim. 5.3 to 13. or Deaconess Rom. 16.1 vulgarly a keeper or nurse-keeper tending the sick and so an helper 1 Cor. 12.28 2 Possessal or bonal viz. the Distributer v. 8. tâ— Deacon Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 3.8 to 13. by synecdoche of distributing for all kinds of serving the Church and each member thereof in their goods and all things pertinent to them not appropriate to the rest and so an helper 1 Cor. 12.28 helpers governors †2 Adjunctive 1 Vertual qualifying or enabling for execution as the nine several functions of the said nine Church estates or membrall subjective reall internall parts of Gods Worship and the two powers of the integrall subjective reall externall parts thereof particularly as particularly thus distributed 1 Potestative 1 Original viz. corporation power to congregate and continue joyn and so dissolve it self and to set the persons time and place of the Congregation viz. for the first act power delegating is but once as married but once 2 Derived or representing the Original or reciprocall to it self viz. to set the persons time and place of the meeting and to act continue to and dissolve it self and to joyn it self to another Church 2 Functional viz. the appropriate and instituted priviledge work function duty and practice of the Church-estates Z 1 Integral as freemen of a City * 1 Active 1 Prophetical viz. teaching to edefication exhortation and comfort 1 Cor. 14.3 called prophesie v. 6. whereby four things are meant 1 The gift or power personal 2 The function of the Church-prophet proper to this place 3 The act of prophesying all three litterally or equivalently mentioned in prophesie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 4 The enrighting estate of the prophets to use their personal gift as their prophetical function actually in the Church congregate as a member of the Church incorporate this is meant by the rule of Conjugates being of the same reason which is to be understood in and of the other eight functions and 2 powers which in this Table I have and must leave to be supposed This is the proper function of the Prophet not excluding the other three ensuing which are
Deputations of Christ and of like confident expectation thereof in the greater charge and duty to obey and also in the greater measure of gifts which are to be supposed in the Ministers whereof an answerable success is to be expected 8. None hath right to exercise as a Prophet out of a Church-Assembly at least but to Church members much less one that is no Church-member whether within or without the Church though they may and that successfully to the begetting and nourishing Faith and its fruits exercise the same gift because and as it is personal which also hath a less measure of authority charge promise and gifts annexed 9. The scope of the Prophets is to speak to the edification exhortation and comfort of the Church and not for triall no nor exercise of gifts though both may also yield that use and therefore distinct prayer in those respects onely is not good though the goodness of prayer alone be added because it is here used as a Sanctifier of an action and not as a distinct action for the edifying exhorting or comforting the Church much less is the Churches custome especially if begun on a divers reason warrant for it but least of all fear of Innovation both which are of through and for Babylonism and nourish up carkasses and traditions yea tyranny in the Church to the eating the heart of Religion and purity of Worship thereout Secondly therefore matters of sin or disorder therein are no more censurable within that time then the sins and disorders committed in any other Exercise but are to be referred to the Exercise of Ruling at least if great and turbulent but if onely in the length of time and number or other orders agreed by the Prophets they are to be remedied first by the reasons perswasion of the Prophets 1 Cor. 14.32 or by them referred to the censure of the Church in case of obstinacy Thirdly therefore each is to be referred to the knowledge of his own ability and to his fitting it with Text Doctrine and Manner for the fruit is much diminished by the inequality of the matter and ability Fourthly though respect be to be had of strangers in many mean circumstances and observations the main of the course is not to be shaped nor altered for them Again briefly of the Organical and five Officers there are five distinct objects functions portions and proportions of Faith Rom. 12.7 8. with 3 4 5 6. The first is of the Teacher who is v. 7. confined within Teaching which is fourfold Lingual Grammatical Logical and Ethical The first is his apt expressing the Original Tongues by the Mother-Tongue of the Church The second is his apt expounding the meaning of the Holy Ghost in the Grammer Phrases and Figures either in his own person or metaphrastically in the person of the Writer The third is his analytical dividing the word of truth aright into its proper parts and his genetical incorporating them into one body enspired or ensouled by the scope of the Holy Ghost The fourth is his distinct extracting the Doctrines of the Holy Ghost testimentary and preceptive and the genuine consequences from them both confirming and confuting and his suasive pressing them to approbation The second is of the Exhorter which is there called Exhortation which is either unto good from evil or to stay in good or flee out of evil which four are peculiarly called Exhortation Dehortation Comfort and Terrour Now the Sacraments and singing Psalms being both teachingly exhorting and exhortingly teaching are the works of both these Offices but most plenarily and properly of the Exhorter but prayer is equally common not only to these two but to the other three Offices before and after the execution of their offices and that in respect of their offices and not onely of their persons The third is that of the Ruler which consisteth in ordering of others in the execution of their functions and the Church in its Church-duties as its decreeing admission excommunication ordination degradation c. or in executing his own the former is his ordering the Church unto and in its Assembly and in its Members and Officers unto and in their Church-works late mentioned and promised the latter is his admitting excommunicating members ordaining degrading Officers and dismissing the Church and in respect of other Churches and persons and absent members to receive and read in the Church their Letters and write and send to them in this respect he is written unto under the name of the Angel of the Church seven times Rev. 2. 3. Chap. and charged with the faults of their Churches as not using their offices to their best redressing them and commended for their good on the contrary Fourthly the Function of the Distributer to provide for the relief of the Poor of the Church by the richer ones thereof and to do all the services of the Church in matter of provision by employment of Church-stock buying selling or building or ordering its meeting-place and following its necessary Suits in the Law and providing bread wine water and other necessaries for the Elders Bishops or Pastors proper discharge of their offices in which respect he is called the Servant Helper and Deacon of the Church The last and least is the Function of the Pittier shewer of mercy Widow or Deaconness of the Church which is to tend upon the health of each member thereof in cases of need as in sickness child-birth and in all matters of preservation of their persons so that by these five offices and their functions all the needs of the Church are supplyed as by the five offices of Christ our Prophet Priest King Provider and Preserver and the answerable gifts of the mind infused and acquisite and humane innate abilities three whereof are the three faculties of the reasonable soul apprehending applying and expressing and two of the sensitive i.e. desire-of provision and preservation and so all Gods promises Christs purchases and the Spirits graces for us and all that Faith Hope and Love expect in this life is in these as in the immediate niples spoons and hands of the nursing Mother the Church encorporate for the visible preservation of the mystical or saved Church wherein the one half of the special uses and ends promised is performed and the other half will be shewn after my present summary manner by observing in them all God as our Lord as in the former half he is shewn to be Jesus or our Saviour which two are the sole object of Faith 2 Pet. 1.2 for they are means of Gods sanctifying both for his service and our preservation and that convertibly for whatsoever is divinely to serve God is divinely to preserve his and è contra and wherein can he be more glorified by us than by our acknowledging of all these to be means of and by God for our salvation and of all them and our selves also to be for Gods service and worship for if they be for Gods Divine
the time be out v. 35. and to his raigning as a King of such Disseparatists in his own swolne conceit 1 Cor. 4.6 7. Thus hath malice slain the Gospel-spirit of the Diotrephists to pervert Christs word of truth and mercy to erect Antichrists fraud and fierceness with this bragging and begging Sermon though the plain meaning of this Scripture be clean contrary even to commend as wisdome our own confession of our own known and Conscience-wounding sins to God who knoweth them and our own forsaking them but not to command under the censure of Treason against God our publishing others rumoured facts and unconvinced sins unto men who know them not nor our disseparating our selves and whom else we can from their persons and communion spiritual and natural personal and publike nor to make this frowardness opposite to Christs meek-love-mercy to be that holy towardness teachableness and tractableness toward Christ which he requireth nor that contenting glory joy nor happiness which we desire it being a rejoycing in iniquity murderousness and mischief hated by God and his Saints 1 Cor. 13.6 Rom. 1.31 much less to be irreconcilable to them and inveterate against them and irregular in evil courses toward them These errours and erroneous mischiefs squeezed out of or rather falsly fathered on the word of truth and life especially on this special portion thereof exceedingly aggravateth the impiety and perniciousness of this personall Antichristianisme especially they being made by their Extracters to be parts of Divine Discipline devised by man and so abomination to Christ and Christians and yet pretended from the Word and so making Christ and his Scripture seem contradictory to himself and his Scripture of truth to be falshood and its Spirit and scope of meek-love-mercy to seem to these Deceivers and their Receivers to be a Patron of Usurpation and Pride and a Pattern of Mischief and Cruelty which is very neer if not meer forgery of Christs Scripture incurring all the plagues and curses of his true Scripture The Exposition of Matth. 18. especially of ver 15. to 20. THE 18th Chapter of Matthew best brooketh its name Chapter or Head of Scripture of any that I know First it is equal with any other in all vulgar use Secondly in its Head and Chapter of Gospel-matter it exceedeth other in the expresness thereof v. 1 4. and in the answerable and connected prosecution thereof unto the end of the Chapter And also Chap. 19.1 it is said that Christ had finished all that matter before he passed to any other Thirdly that matter so finished is the handling of the truest state and highest degree of heavenlyness and that in all its distinct parts of sonship servantship and heirship in our relation to God and to our threefold Collaterals viz. to our fellow-sons fellow-servants and coheirs The first of the three unto v. 14. The second unto v. 20. The third in the rest of the Chapter and that both lineally and collaterally and also in the affirmative and negative Fourthly that Christ our sole Gospel-head personal and publike is the sole decider of this head quâ—stion of the chiefship in Heavenliness all which call us to a special respect hereof in the whole and in each of its distinct parts The summariest expression of the affirmative part of the whole is in this word meek-love-mercy and of the negative in this proud-rail-racking The middle part of them is the center chair tryer and crown of the rest and for that reason placed before the first Col. 2.5 for otherwise cultive order and divine Church-worship in the course of generation and nature is after Faith and Personal Union with God thereby for that giveth us right of publike communion with him as with our husband but Conversion by Faith justifieth us and evidenceth our son-like Union with him Heb. 11.1 which our Child-meekness v. 4 called foolishness weakness baseness despisedness and nothingness 1 Cor. 1.27 28. justifieth to be true faith that God onely and no man may have the glory v. 29 30 31. which I desire may be specially considered and throughout my handling the second part remembred lest we deal about the hull and carkase of Religion omitting the precious kernel life and soul thereof and mark that this soul or spirit of Faith Christ and the Word is enmity and implacably opposite to that of Workes-Worth Antichrist and the World This middle or second part of this Chapter being the center throne tryer and crown of the rest and my present endeavours being in and for a Church and spoken and heard by Church-right the Church-use and exercise of this head-grace and soul of Religion is first to be handled for the Church is the center about which this meek-love-mercy is to move and work it is the throne wherein it exerciseth its supream authority it is the tryer of the truth and power thereof at our admission into it and in our being in it and therefore its approbation is the Crown and it the Crowner thereof and its due condemnation the discrowner thereof but onely upon full discovery that it is false and counterfeit and after all divine regular proceedings unto and in that tryall especially it evidently and eminently exercising in them all the true kind and pregnant degree of this meek-love-mercy without which all due conviction of obstinacy is not used without which no Excommunication ought to be by any Church decreed much less executed in affections or actions but least of all may any or many members so discommunicate any or many members or the Church it self whereof they are or any other yea these two last God hath reserved to himself as his peculiar prerogative and therefore our present Church-discipline nor any rule nor grace thereof is to be extended to them without flat rebellion This our second or middle part v. 15. to 20. is an authoritive or regular exercising and trying of that head or heart-grace of meek-love-mercy the subject matter of the 14. first verses and that in three parts or degrees The first is between the tryer and the tryed alone v. 15. The 2d between one or two moe v. 16. as an help both to the first in repentance and to the third in due and certain tryal of guiltiness The third between the tryed and the Church and that before and after that tryal accomplished affirmed v. 17. and ratified v. 18 19 20. There is a connexion of this matter with the former expressed v. 15. in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but in relation to v. 14. that is it ought to be for the recovery of our sick professing brother if he be curable but if not then for preservation of the Church and with the latter in this word then v. 21. But first of the body of this matter it self and first of the first part or degree thereof v. 15. The sole Institutor Law-giver and head of the Instituted Church prescribeth herein the first part and Use of Divine Church-discipline which is both a service of