should Prophesie what not but he was speaking of that order and decency which such as Prophesie ought to observe he was treating of Spiritual Gifts and of Speaking and Praying in an unknown Tongue and of the method that such should use If any Man says he speak in an unknown Tongue let it be by two or at the most by three and that by course and let one interpret but if there be no Interpreter let him keep silence in the Church and let him speak to himself and to God let the Prophets speak two or three and let the other judge and if any thing be revealed to him that sitteth by let the first hold his peace for ye may all Prophesie one by one c. then he adds Let your Women keep silence in the Churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the Law and if they will learn any thing let them ask their Husbands at home for it is a shame for a Woman to speak in the Church And so he goes on and concludes that Chapter with these Words Let all things be done decently and in order By all which it is very clear plain that the Apostles drift was to advise them unto a decent comely and orderly method in the Church and that he did not intend a general prohibition unto Women howsoever they were called or qualified for then had he not only opposed their approved Practice in the Church but even his own Testimony in the very same Epistle where he saith Every Woman that Prayeth or Prophesieth with her Head uncovered dishonoureth her Head chap. 11.5 Thus he is so far from disallowing of Women Praying or Prophesing that he adviseth how they shall be covered and demean themselves in the performance of such Services and Devotions Again the Apostle says Ye may all Prophesie one by one and if All then Women as well as Men forasmuch as without any restriction he directs his Epistle to the Church of God at Corinth which no question consisted of Women as well as Men if then these words Ye may all Prophesie have relation unto them to whom the Apostle directed that Epistle as is certain then Women may Prophesie as well as Men provided they be truly called and qualified by the Spirit of God and that any thing be revealed and enjoyned upon them to declare and hold forth unto People from him who is and ought to be the sole orderer and disposer of the Hearts and Spirits of all his People And as for that saying of his unto Timothy it is much to the same purpose for he was speaking how Women should adorn themselves and how they should not adorn themselves then he subjoyns Let the Woman learn in silence with all subjection but I suffer not a Woman to Teach nor to usurp Authority over the Man but to be Silent 1 Tim. 2.9 10 11 12. There is no question but there were such Women at Ephesus where Timothy then was who had need of this care to be taken concerning them and at Corinth too such as were unlearned proud and tattling Women not come to the true silence and therefore he says Let the Women learn in silence with all subjection Again its probable there might be such as would be teaching and usurping authority over the Man such had need to be silent indeed that 's without dispute for if they were for usurping authority over the man they were very unfit to be Teachers of others But what of all this although Proud Vain Tattling Ignorant and Unlearned Women are not to be permitted to Speak in the Church nor to make disturbance there with their unseasonable and unlearned Questions and Discourses but are to learn in Silence with all Subjection and to be under Obedience as also saith the Law yet it does not therefore follow but that such Women as are become Meek Humble Sober Grave Temperate Wise and Discreet and keep their Place and Station in the blessed Truth and have been content to learn in silence with all subjection may do and perform such Services and Devotions in the Church of Christ as they may be called unto and have a necessity from the Lord laid upon them to be found in the practice of whether it be in publick Declarations and Testimonies for God and his Truth or in Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings unto him The Scriptures do afford us divers Testimonies that Women as well as Men have been concerned upon these accompts to pass by divers that might be mentioned whose Names are recorded in the writings of the Old Testament in whom the Spirit of the Lord has been so prevalent that they have appeared Zealous for the God of Israel we shall only speak of those mention'd in the writings of the New Testament who have been concerned in the Work and Service of the Gospel We Read that Anna the Daughter of Phanuel was a Prophetess and Preached to the People in the Temple at Jerusalem the Clorious Day of Israel's Redemption Luke 2.36 37 38. The next is the Woman of Samaria with whom Christ himself Conversed she was taught of Christ himself that he was the Messiah and then she went and Publish't the same in the City Sychar John 4.26.28 29. Again we find that ridings of Christs Resurrection was first publish't by a Woman viz. Mary Magdalen and that she was commanded by Christ himself to go to his Brethren and say unto them I ascend unto my Father and your Father and to my God and your God John 20.17 18. And also Philip the Evangelist who was one of the seven mentioned Acts 6.5 had four Daughters Virgins which did Prophesie Acts 21.8 9. Moreover the Apostle Paul himself was so far from discouraging Women upon these accounts that he mentions several being concerned with him in the Work and Service of Gospel he begins the 16 chapter to the Romnus thus I commend unto you Phebe our Sister which is a Servant of the Church which is at Cenchrea Again Greet Priscilla and Aquila my fellow helpers in Christ Jesus Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis which laboured much in the Lord Rom. 16.3 12. All these were Women except Aquila Also the same Apostle in his Epistle to the Philippians writeth thus And I intreat thee also true Yoke-Fellow help those Women that laboured with me in the Gospel with Clement also and other my fellow Labourers whose Names are written in the Book of Life Phil. 4.3 Thus it is manifest that serious godly and wel-disposed Women whom the Lord by his Grace and Spirit stired up in former Ages to serve him and to bear a Testimony for his Name and Truth were owned by the Apostle in their Service and accepted of in the Church of Christ and indeed they ought to be so still wherein it is manifest that their Exercise and Service stands in the Truth and in the fellowship
when they were at Salamis they Preached the Word of God in the Synagogues of the Jews Acts 13.1 2 3 4 5. From whence its observable First That the Elders of the Church at Ephesus were made Overseers there by the Holy Ghost Secondly That it was the Holy Ghost that called Barnabas and Saul unto the Work and Service of the Gospel and that it was the Holy Ghost that sent them By which it appears that the power of Calling and Ordaining Gospel Ministers resides in the Holy Spirit and that those who are Called and Ordained thereby are approved by the Church being set apart by God for the Service they are called unto which thing doth very well agree with the saying of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Corinth God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondarily Prophets Teachers c. 1 Cor. 12.28 And likewise to the Ephesians he faith When he ascended up on high he led Captivity Captive and gave gifts unto Men and he gave some Apostles and some Prophets some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying of the Body of Christ Ephes 4.8 11 12. By which it also appears that it was not Man but God that set Apostles Prophets and Teachers in the Church and that it was through the gift of God that they were made Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers and thereby were they rendered capable of perfecting the Saints of the work of the Ministry and of edifying the Body of Christ Furthermore it is observable that when the Apostle Paul was giving an account before King Agrippa how the Lord met with him in his way to Damascus he says that Jesus told him For that purpose he appeared unto him to make him a Minister and a Witness both of those things which he had seen and of those things he would appear unto him in Acts 26.16 And also the same Apostle in his Epistle to the Galatians says When it pleased God who seperâ—â—â—d me from my Mothers Womb and called me by his Grace to reveal his Son in me that I might preach him among the Heathen immediatly I conferred not with Flesh and Blood neither went I up to Jerusalem to them that were Apostles before me but I went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus Gal. 1.15 16 17. And again in his Epistle to Timothy he says I thank Jesus Christ our Lord who hath enabled me for that he counted me faithful putting me into the Ministry 1 Tim. 1.12 All which doth yet further set forth that it was the Lord Jesus Christ that made Paul a Minister and that it was by his Grace Spirit and Power that he was enabled and put into the Ministry neither does it appear that he went up to Jerusalem at that time to be ordain'd by them who were Apostles before him but he went into Arabia and returned again unto Damascus as is before set forth Objection It s probable some may object and say That though the Apostles and Ministers of Christ in the primitive times were immediately called to that Work and Service by the Spirit of God yet it was for an extraordinary Work and if any now do pretend to an immediate call they ought to confirm it by Miracles Answ Unto which I Answer That although it was an extraordinary Work which they were sent to do yet the degree does not change the kind They were to preach Christ Crucified and risen again and were to preach Repentance and remission of Sins through his Name They were to turn People from Darkness to Light and from the Power of Satan unto God that so they might receive forgiveness of Sins and an Inheritance among them which were Sanctified by Faith in Christ Acts 26.18 Even so are the Ministers of Christ in this our day to hold out the same Doctrine according to the Dispensation of the Gospel committed unto them nor is there any necessity for Miracles to be wrought by those who are called of God in this our day to the Work of the Ministry for the confirmation of their Testimony when as they preach no new Gospel but what was preacht by the Servants of Christ in the primitive times and is already confirmed by the Miracles of Christ and of his Apostles and when nothing is offered but what is answerable to Truth and agreeable to the Testimony of the Scriptures and besides that we do not find that either John the Baptist or several others of the Prophets did any Miracles and yet they were both Immediatly Extraordinarily sent Section VII Concerning Women Preaching AS this Divine Spirit hath been and is extended universally unto all People at certain times and seasons during the day of their Visitation according to the Good-will and Pleasure of our God and that in order to call gather and renew them unto himself so it hath been the good Pleasure of our God to call and qualifie whom he thinks convenient for the Work and Service of the Gospel and upon this account it may please him sometimes to make use of Women as well as Men according to his Promise by the Prophet Joel And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all Flesh and your Sons and your Daughters shall Prophesie your old Men shall dream Dreams your young Men shall see Visions and also upon the Servants and upon the Hand Maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit This Prophesie had a respect to the Gospel Day and related to the more plentiful effusion of the Holy Spirit under that Dispensation both upon Male and Female as was witnessed at the day of Penticost When the Apostles with the Women and Mary the Mother of Jesus with his Brethren were gathered together it s said They were all filled with the Holy Ghost and began to speak with other Tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance Acts 1.13 14. and 2.4 And if All were filled with the Holy Ghost and Spoke then Women as well as Men forasmuch as Women were there present with the Men as the Text holds out Object Now so it is that many are enclined to object against Women Speaking or Preaching and upon that account do alledge the words of the Apostle Paul 1 Cor. 14.34 35. 1 Tim. 2.11 12. Answ In answer whereunto I say that although these Texts may be mystically understood as some have observed yet if we take them literally and withal consider the scope and tendency of the Apostles Words both before and after and compare other Expressions of his with those which will be one way to give satisfaction concerning his meaning and also observe the Practice of the Church upon those accounts it will appear that Women as Women or of that Sex and for no other reason are not prohibited to Preach It s observable that the Apostle Paul in that Chapter 1 Cor. 14. was not treating who or what Sex
THE Spiritual Worship EXALTED OR A Treatise concerning the Worship and Service of God Shewing how uncapable men are in their natural and unconverted State of Worshipping and Serving God acceptably in this Gospel day And that it is the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ reveaved in men which doth Renew Fit Prepare and â—ualifie them for performing that Pure Spiritual and Acceptable Worship which was instituted by our Lord and practiced by his Disciples and Followers As also several other things here inserted worthy of observation By a Lover of Truth and Wel-wisher of the Souls of all men George Myers But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritualy discern'd 1 Cor. 2.14 But the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him John 4.23 God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth John 4.24 Give unto the Lord the Glory due unto his Name Worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness Psal 29.2 THE PREFACE TO THE Reader FOrasmuch as Divine Worship is the supream act of mans Life and a duty incumbent upon all for that thereby we answer the end of our Creation and pay those Respects and Acknowledgments which we owe to the Divine Majesty for all his Bounties and Favours towards us It greatly behoves all People to be very serious and weighty in that respect and truly to inform themselves what that Worship is which is acceptable unto God and how People ought to be qualified for performing the same the want of a right understanding upon these accounts has occasioned great Miscarriages and Defects among People in Religions matters and is one great reason why there are so many Jars and Divisions about the several Forms and Ways of Worship now extant in the World. The consideration of these things together with the drawings of Divine Love have induced me to the publication of this following Treatise wherein divers things relating to the Worship and Service of God are declared and held forth and whereby it is manifest that it is the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ revealed in the Hearts of the Sons and Daughters of Men that rightly Renews Fits Prepares and Qualifies them for Worshipping and Serving God acceptably and opens their Vnderstandings in Divine and Spiritual matters insomuch that in all acts of Worship and Service unto God the Holy Ghost is to have the Precedency so as to move act influence and assist the Persons exercised therein whether it be in publick Preaching Testimonies and Declarations for God and his Truth or in Prayers Praises and Thanksgivings unto him And also that those who in their own Will and Time do go about to perform acts of Worship and Service unto God in their Natural and Vnconverted State whilst they are despising and dis-regarding the Counsel Drawings and Directions of the Light and Spirit of Christ in themselves such Worshippers in that State and under those Circumstances may please themselves with such pretences but can no way perform that Divine and Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto God in this Gospel day Although I might have produced divers Testimonies both of Antient and Modern Authors in favour of this Discourse yet for several Reasons I rather chuse to keep close to the Holy Scriptures inasmuch as I conceive those who are inclined to be Religious will not dare to make exceptions against that which is concluded to proceed from the Divine Spirit Let none be Offended that I do not admit of human Learning and natural Arts and Sciences to be of such absolute necessity for the Qualification of a Gospel Minister as some would have them For by what is here Written I do no way intend to undervalue human Learning or lessen its esteem in the minds of such as are inclin'd to make a right use thereof for I do grant that it is good and serviceable in its place yea it is and may be serviceable upon many accounts to a Gospel Minister where it is reduc'd to a blessed Subordination and Conformity to the Spirit of Truth but then if People will attempt to exalt it above the teachings of the Divine Spirit and lay that stress upon it for opening the Mysteries of Truth which the Holy Ghost will not admit of in that case I found my self concern'd to bear a Testimony for the Truth and against the Vanity of such as would extol human Learning and natural Arts and Sciences above their proper use and service Albeit the consideration of those many Treatises which have been writ by other Hands upon these accounts did at first seem to divert me from this undertaking yet for clearing of my Conscience in the sight of God and in performance of that Duty and Service which I owe to him I thought fit to cast my Mite into the Treasury desiring that what I have here Written in Humility may be Read and Expounded in Charity and that God Almighty who is the Author of all our Blessings may by his Grace and Goodness make this small Treatise effectual for informing the minds of People upon these accounts and for reducing them into that pure and spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto him through Jesus Christ our Lord Amen So desireth and so prayeth thy Christian Friend George Myers THE CONTENTS § 1. COncerning the Worship that was Instituted by Jesus Christ and Practiced by his People pag. 1. § 2. Concerning Mans incapacity of Worshiping and Serving God acceptably in his natural and unconverted State. pag. 4. § 3. Concerning the necessity of receiving the Light Grace and Spirit of Christ in order to quicken and renew to God and so to prepare and qualifie People for his Worship and Service pag. 10. § 4. Concerning the Gospel Church and Evangelical Temple pag. 15. § 5. Concerning silent waiting upon God for the help and concurrence of his holy Spirit in the performance of Divine Worship pag. 20. § 6. Concerning the Preparation Call and Ordination of Gospel Ministers pag. 25. § 7. Concerning Women Preaching pag. 34. § 8. Concerning the Rise of Gospel Performances the Qualifications of Gospel Ministers showing that they are not from Human Learning Worldly Wisdom and Natural Arts and Sciences but from the Divine Spirit pag. 43. § 9. Concerning outward Force and Violence in Religious matters and the unlawfulness of forceable resisting the temporal Magistracy p. 55. § 10. Concerning the Maintenance of Gospel Ministers pag. 63. § 11. Concerning Prayer pag. 75. § 12. Concerning Singing of Psalms and Artifical Musick pag. 88. The Conclusion pag. 98. THE Spiritual Worship EXALTED Section I. Concerning the Worship that was Instituted by Jesus Christ and Practiced by his People AFter the Lord God in his own appointed time saw meet to put an end to the Dispensation of the
Law which was delivered unto the Children of Israel by the Ministry of Moses it pleased him according to his determinate Will and everlasting Counsel to send his own Son the Lord Jesus Christ who was born of the Virgin Mary in Bethlehem of Judea of whom Moses and the Prophets did write and whom John testified of to be the Lamb of God who taketh away the Sins of the World John 1.29 He perfectly fulfilled the Law and the Righteousness thereof and gave witness unto the Dispensation of the Gospel drawing Religion into the secret of the Heart he made it to consist in a higher state of Righteousness then that of the Law called Evangelical he also approved himself and the excellency of his Doctrine by many great and wonderful Signes and Miracles and sealed it with his Blood for that after he had preach't that heavenly Doctrine and wrought many Miracles among the Jews he was apprehended and by wicked hands was Crucified and Slain yet God raised him up again so that he triumphed over Death of which it was impossible for him to be held and after he was so raised up from the Dead he appeared to his Disciples and Followers who had believed in him comforting them with the hope and assurance of the pouring forth attendance of his Spirit by which he was to be with them unto the end of the World and by which they and all such as afterwards should come to believe in his holy Name might be rendered capable of bearing and holding forth a true certain and faithful Testimony for him whom God hath appointed for Salvation unto the ends of the Earth and also of performing that Worship and Service which was instituted by him which Worship is Spiritual and cannot be truly performed by the Art Strength Wisdom and Policy of men in their natural and unconverted state but only by those who are spiritually quickened and renewed unto God in some measure and whose Hearts and Souls are fitted and prepared by the Light Grace Spirit Power of our blessed Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ That the Worship instituted by Christ is Spiritual is very plain from his own Words unto the Woman of Samaria John 4.21 22 23 24. Jesus said unto her Woman believe me the hour cometh when ye shall neither in this Mountain nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father ye worship ye know not what we know what we worship for Salvation is of the Jews but the hour cometh and now is when the true Worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in Truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and in Truth This is the chiefest and most ample Testimony that Christ gives of the Christian worship as different and contradistinguished from that under the Law he tyeth not his People to the Temple at Jerusalem nor unto any other place but plainly holds out that the season is now come wherein the worship must be in Spirit and in Truth he also gives the reason for it and excellently argues from the anology that ought to be betwixt the Object and the Worship directed thereunto viz. God is a Spirit therefore he must be worshipped in Spirit This Testimony of our Lord is so clear in the case that I need not enlarge much further upon it but only add the saying of the Apostle Paul to the Church at Philippi We are the Circumcision that worship God in the Spirit and rejoyce in Christ Jesus having no confidence in the Flesh Phil. 3.3 By which it appears that the Saints and People of God in those dayes were in the practice of that worship which was instituted by our Lord as aforesaid Section II. Concerning Mans incapacity of Worshipping and Serving God acceptably in his natural and unconverted State. THat Men in their natural and unconverted state are uncapable of performing this spiritual Worship is certainly true for that whilst they remain in that state they cannot do any thing that is really good and acceptable unto God being subject unto that depraved and ungodly Spirit which leads People into Iniquity and rules in all the Children of Disobedience it comes to pass that not only their Words and Deeds but also the Imaginations of their Hearts are evil continually their Thoughts Notions and Conceptions concerning Divine and Spiritual matters are unprofitable both to themselves and others which thing doth yet further appear from divers Testimonies in the Scriptures of Truth Moses said That God saw the Wickedness of man was great in the Earth and that every Imagination of the thoughts of his Heart was only evil continually and that it repented the Lord that he had made man on the Earth and it grieved him at his Heart Gen. 6.5 6. David saith The Lord looked down from Heaven upon the Children of men to see if there were any that did understand and seek God and says They are all gone aside they are altogether become filthy there is none that doth good no not one Psal 14.2 3. And again But unto the Wicked God saith What hast thou to do to declare my Statutes or that thou shouldst take my Covenant into thy Mouth Psal 50.16 Jeremiah saith The Heart is deceitful and desperately wicked who can know it Jer. 17.9 Our Lord saith An evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things Matth. 12.35 Also the Apostle Paul alluding to the saying of David says Thero is none Righteous no not one there is none that understandeth there is none that seeketh after God they are all gone out of the way they are altogether become unprofitable there is none that doth good no not one Rom. 3.10 11 12. Thus it is to be observed that what is thus spoken relates to men in their natural and unconverted State wherein their Souls are dead unto God and the things of his Kingdom and cannot live unto him nor do any such lively act as to serve him until they receive the Lord Jesus Christ and know the vertue and power of his Grace Spirit inwardly to quicken them unto God That so they may serve him in the newness of the Spirit and not in the oldness of the Letter Rom. 7.6 For alas it is not the bare performance of such things as are supposed to be religious duties that brings into acceptance with God unless the Heart Soul and Spirit of man be renewed fitted prepared and qualified by that which is holy and pure it s the rise of the performance that God looks at more then the outward act he that searches the Heart and tryes the Reins of men before whom all things are naked and bare looks not so much upon the external Fabrick as the internal frame of the Soul Vnto this man will I look saith the Lord even to him that is poor and of a contrite Spirit and trembleth at my Word Isa 66.2 We read that although the Jews were in the practice
to the Ephesians says And you hath he quickened who were dead in Trespasses and Sins yea God who is rich in Mercy for his great Love wherewith he loved us even when we were dead in Sins hath quickned us together with Christ by Grace are ye saved and hath raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus Ephes 2.1 4 5 6. From whence it is very clear and plain that it is the Spirit of Christ that quickeneth the Souls of those who have been dead in Trespasses and Sins and that if any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his and if he be none of Christs he is none of the true Church and consequently no true Worshipper Again he says That as many as are led by the Spirit of God they are the Sons of God and if Sons then Heirs and Members of the true Church who worship God in the Spirit Moreover as the Lord Jesus Christ by his divine Spirit and Power doth thus work upon the Hearts and Souls of those that receive him in order to cleanse from Sin and Iniquity and to raise up into newness of Life so also it is he only by his holy Light and Spirit that truly prepared and disposes the Hearts of People for the service of God and opens the Mysteries of Truth unto the Sons and Daughters of Men He it is that hath the Key of David that opens and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth Rev. 3.9 And without him the vision of divine things are as a Book that is Sealed and hid from the wisdom of man in the Fall and no man is worthy to open the Seals thereof for which cause it seems John Wept as we read in the Revelation And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the Throne a Book written within and on the back-side sealed with seven Seals and I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the Seales thereof and no man in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the Earth was able to open the Book neither to look thereon and I wept much because none was found worthy to open the Book neither to look thereon and one of the Elders said unto me Weep not behold the Lion of the Tribe of Judah the Root of David hath prevailed to open the Book and to loose the seven Seals thereof Rev. 5.1 2 3 4 5. By the Lion of the tribe of Juda is to be understood the Lord Jesus Christ who prevailed with the Father to open the Book of Truth and to loose the Seals thereof without whom no man is able to open the same be he never so Wise in worldly Wisdom and never so Learned in natural Arts and Sciences as may hereafter in its due and proper place more fully and at large appear Section IV. Concerning the Gospel Church and Evangelical Temple AS it is the Light Spirit and Power of our Lord Jesus Christ that truely quickens and renews People unto God and renders them capable of performing that Spiritual Worship which is acceptable unto him so also it is by the vertue and influence of the same Spirit and Power that the Lords People have been and are stated in a joynt Fellowship and Communion and are drawn into an outward and visible Society and so come under the name of a Church yet for a better understanding of the word Church or what is meant thereby it may be considered in a two fold respect First As it comprehends all whatsoever of every Nation Kindred Tongue and People whom the Lord God by his universal Spirit and Power revealed and made manifest in and through our Lord Jesus Christ doth truly call and gather out of the Life and Spirit of the World and the Pollutions and Defilements thereof into that Pure Holy and Righteous State of Faith and Life wherein they are cccepted of God and owned by him as his Children and People which make up that one true Universal or Catholic Church out of which indeed there is no Salvation Secondly The word Chuch may be taken for a certain number of Persons who being Members of this Universal Church are gathered into an outward and visible Society and do Meet and Assemble themselves together really to wait upon and Worship the Living God and to bear a Testimony for the Truth against Error The Church in the first sence in Scripture terms is called The New Holy and Heavenly Jerusalem the general Assembly and Church of the First-Born the Lambs Bride and the City of the Living God Heb. 12.22 23. Rev. 19.7 and 21.2 9 10. The Church in the latter sence we have it often mentioned in the Scriptures as appears Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 1.2 Gal. 1.2 1 Thes 1.1 also Rev. 1.4 John writteth to the seven Churches in Asia Thus it is not the outward House Frabrick or Building of Wood or Stone that is or can be truly term'd the Church or House of God in this Gospel day as some vainly do conceive and therefore do ascribe some imaginary Sanctity or Holiness thereunto but it is the Assembly of Believers in this sence gather'd together as aforesaid who are the Evangelical Temple Gospel Church and House of God the Ornaments whereof are not the Embroideries and Furnitures of wordly Art and Wealth but the Gifts and Graces of the holy Spirit Love Meekness Faith Patience Long-suffering Humility Self-denial and Charity with other Christian Vertues 'T is true the Jews under the old Covenant and Dispensation of the Law had an outward Temple where they were to Worship as in 1 Kings 9. and 2 Chron. 7. and because the Lord was pleased to Hollow it for his Name and honour it with his Presence as also to cause an outward Glory and Majesty to appear there by causing Fire from Heaven to consume their Sacrifices c. therefore it was called the House of God as is manifest in the writings of the old Testament And also the Lord Jesus before he was offered up gives it that Name Mat. 21.13 Joh. 2.16 But then after Christ was offered up and the pure spiritual Worship and Service came to be Exalted and born Testimony unto by the Apostles and Servants of Christ that outward Temple being left desolate of the Glory and Presence of God it came to Ruin according to the saying of the Lord Jesus and the true Ministers of the Gospel plainly testified That the most high dwelt not in Teinples made with Hands Acts 7.48 and 17.24 25. Neither was he Worshipped with mens hands as though he needed any thing seeing he giveth to all Life and Breath and all things but he is Worshipped in Spirit John 4.24 His Tabernacle is with men he will dwell with them and they shall be his People Rev. 21.3 Therefore the Apostle thus writes to the Church at Corinth Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God and that the Spirit
Service that they are called unto as there is a true dependance upon him So that the very rise of their Services is not simply from human Abilities but from the divine Gift as the Apostle very well observed As every man hath received the Gift even so minister the same one to another as good Stewards of the manifold Grace of God if any man speak let him speak as the Oracles of God if any man minister let him do it as of the ability which God giveth that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 4.10 11. Again the Apostle Paul to the Romans writeth thus Having then Gifts differing according to the Grace that is given to us whether Prophesie let us Prophesie according to the proportion of Faith or Ministry les us wait on our Ministring or he that Teacheth on Teaching or he that Exhorteth on Exhortation Rom. 12.6 7 8. From whence it is yet further clearly manifest that the rise and foundation of true Gospel Performances stands not in worldly Wisdom or human Arts and Sciences but in the Gift and Grace of God revealed and manifested in Jesus Christ our Lord. Section IX Concerning outward Force and Violence in Religious matters and the unlawfulness of forceable resisting the temporal Magistracy AGain as those who do truly minister from this divine Gift endeavour not to fill Peoples Ears and Minds with strange uncertain and fore-prepared Arguments Loud Discourses Dark Suggestions Logical Terms Philosophical Notions and Conceptions about Divine and Spiritual matters Neither do they endeavour to force or enjoyn People to receive them and their Testimony whether they will or no but in all Christian Meekness Plainness Gentleness Forbearance and Sincerity they declare and hold forth the Truth of God as they have received it and do recommend their Testimony unto every mans Conscience in the sight of God 2 Cor. 4.2 which thing is agreeable to the practice of Jesus Christ his Apostles and Servants in the Primitive times We see with what plainness in Speech and familiar Similies and Parables our Lord did express himself to the People as appears in the writings of the Evangelists and how tenderly he invited People to come unto him and learn of him that was meek and low in Heart Mat. 11.28 29. promising they should find rest unto their Souls yea and when the Jews notwithstanding his great inclination to gather them did continue in hardness and rebellion against him and his heavenly Message yet he Wept over them as we read Luke 19.41 42. And when he was come near he beheld the City and Wept over it saying if thou hadst known even thou at the least in this thy day the things which belong unto thy Peace but now they are hid from thy Eyes And yet as a further demonstration of the Love Meekness and Gentleness of his Spirit we have an account that when something of sharpness appeared in some of his Disciples against those Samaritanes who received them not we may perceive how suddenly he rebuked them saying Ye know not what manner of Spirit ye are of Luke 9.54 55 56. for the Son of Man is not come to destroy Mens Lifes but to save them It is also further manifest in the Scriptures that the Apostles and Servants of Christ did all along proceed upon Truth 's account in much plainness of Speech Gentleness Humility Self-denial and Christian Forbearance towards all People The which said Practice of theirs upon these accounts may sufficiently serve for a Confutation unto such as will needs pretend to the Christian Faith and to be Ministers Servants and Followers of Christ and are strangely Leavened and Infected with many Peevish Proud Stingy Insolent Covetous Unmortified Persecuting and Naughty Humors and Practices no way agreeable to the nature and tendency of the Gospel of Peace nor to that pure holy and undefiled Religion which was Instituted by our Lord and Practiced by his Disciples and Followers As outward Force Severity and Compulsion in Religious matters does no way seem to be consistent with Christianity so neither do we find any Precept or President for it in the writings of the New Testament That which some would alledge in vindication thereof is the saying of the Lord Jesus Luke 14.23 Go out into the High-Ways and Hedges and compel them to come in that my House may be filled But if this saying of his be rightly considered and compared with other Texts of Scripture there will no such thing appear as that he intended to propagate the Gospel of Peace by outward Force and Severity as for the words Compel and Constrain they are much what Synonymous and do not always import outward Force Violence or Compulsion but many times in the Scriptures friendly Invitations kind Intreaties undeniable and demonstrable Reasons and gentle Perswasions which are most agreeable to the meekness and gentleness of that Spirit by which the true Ministers and Servants of Christ have been are and ought to be acted in all their proceedings upon the Truths account We read that when Jesus appeared unto those two Disciples that were going to Emmaus When they drew nigh to the Village he made as though he would have gone further but they constrained him and he went in to tarry with them There is no question but this constraint was by fair meanes even by a kind entreaty as the Text expresseth Abide with Vs and reason was also urged for it because it was towards Evening and the Day was far spent Luke 24.28 29. Again it s said Jesus constrained his Disciples to get into a Ship Mat. 14.22 And we read that when Lydia's Heart was opened she constrained Paul and his Company to come into her House and abide there Acts 16.15 Also the Apostle Paul in his Speech to Peter says Why compellest thou the Gentiles to Live as do the Jews Gal. 2.14 All which said Expressions concerning Compulsion or Constraint do no way seem to hold out any thing of outward Force Violence or Severity But rather earnest Intreaty kind gentle or strong Perswasions of Reason Love c. And yet further if we consider the nature and tendency of that Discourse wherein the word Compel is made use of Luke 14.23 there will no such thing appear as that any outward Force or Violence was intened by that Expression the Parable is of a certain man that made a Supper and bad many Guests they urge excuses and come not the Master of the House being angry bids his Servant go out into the Streets and Lanes of the City and bring in the Poor the Maimed the Halt and the Blind that being done and still room for more the Master sends again saying Go out into the High-Ways and Hedges and compel them to come in that my House may be filled Now consider if we take the Parable literally as it is what manner of Force or Compulsion was either needful or proper to be used to such Persons as are