then another all men that speak of Churches say so As some say Baptism some say Cohabitation and that Baptism only unites him to the Catholick Church but Cohabitation determines him to this or that particular But we say it must be a voluntary and free submission of a mans self to this or that Society of Christs Flock and the Discipline thereof that can give him or be to him the form of Visible Church Membership it 's not â—ational or natural that any man â—hould be a Member or be capable to claim the priviledges of any Society in the world of what nature soever it be without his consent It 's therefore a free voluntary consent and agreement which is the true and proper external form of a particular Church or Church-Membership Profession is a visible qualification of the matter but it 's consent and agreement which is the Copula or Nexus For I challenge any man to give me one instance where Christ or his Apostles ever attempted to force any man to hear the Word much less to believe it when they heard it or to be of this or that Church Besides it 's a natural freedom to every man to choose what Government he will put himself under as to his temporal Concerns though when he hath done it he be bound by the Laws thereof much more a Christian Liberty in respect of Spiritual Regiment 3. God desires nor accepts of any forced Service but requires the greatest freedom and voluntary resignation of themselves in this kind 4. I shall make it evident that all the Primitive Churches were so gathered For the Apostles had no external force in any place of the Earth it was not by power or might i. e. humane but by the Spirit of God which wrought with the Word Preached whereby their hearts were brought with freeness to embrace it and with boldness to profess and practice it in the midst of all opposition and accordingly with the greatest chearfulness and alacrity to consent to a subjection to Christ and all his Precepts and Institutions in his Church See in the first most Apostolical Church the 120 that Christ left together at his Ascention Acts 1.14 And all these continued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. with one consent unanimously in Prayer c. Chap. 2.41 And as many as received the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chearfully or gladly yielded and submitted to the Truth Preached and advised by Peter these were baptized and added to the Church by the Apostles Doctrine and in Fellowship which they would not have done if they had not freely and upon choice and profession embraced it The first Church of the Gentiles that was gathered was at Antioch See how they came to be a Church Acts 11.19 20. And they that were scattered upon the Persecution that arose about Steven Travelled so far as Phenice c. verse 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians Preaching the Lord Jesus verse 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them The Spirit and Power of Christ and a great number beleived i. e. freely embraced the Truth and turned unto the Lord. Now when Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to aid and encourage this great work verse 23. When he came and had seen the Grace of God he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord that is that they would freely voluntarily and sincerely without any hypocrisy submit themselves to Christ and his Ordinances with manifestation of the fullest assent and freest consent that might be now you find vers 26. that they were immediately a Church upon this cleaving to the Lord with whom Paul and Barnabas assembled Preaching unto much people that attended their Ministry besides which were not yet of that gathered Church I need not enlarge on this Point any further the assertion being not only most agreeable to the best reason but it being so clear that this was the only way of Gathering Churches used by the Apostles and all their Coadjutors in the times of the Primitive Purity If any hath practiced otherwise since we are not obliged to be of their minds or follow their examples Corruptions of the Church proceeding from Antichrist and not from Christ This is the day wherein the Lord is washing away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion The Churches of Christ and is purging away the Blood The Antichristian Pollutions of Worship of Jerusalem from the midst of her by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of burning Isa 4.4 And all the seven women that have laid hold on the Skirt of Christ and called themselves by his name shall appear to be Harlots yea as for thee O Aholibah thus saith the Lord Thou hast walked in the way of thy Sister therefore I will give her Cup into thy hand thou shalt drink of thy Sisters Cup deep and large thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision Ezek. 23.31 32. It containeth much CHAP. X. Of Church-Communion 1. UNion according to its Nature Physical or Politick or Oecumenical naturally produceth a Communion suitable thereto that which we are about to speak of is of a Spiritual at least of an Ecclesiastical Nature we have shewn what is the primary Bond of Union in the Church of Christ that it is the Spirit of Christ that animates knits and tyes his whole Body together and that this is Mystical But exerting it self in vital motions and operations in all the Members it produceth a second Bond proper and necessary to the establishment of a particular Visible Church which is a manifestation of this Spirit in a credible Profession and free consent to the Regiment and Ordinances of Christ with a resignation of our selves thereto and this becomes the Bond of Church-Fellowship and the Foundation of an orderly Communion Communion is participation in one common benefit or its mutual Participation or Communication of good things by various subjects So Spiritual Communion is first a common participation in one general good or benefit of a Spiritual Nature and here where all the Members of Christ's Body partake of the same Head the same Spirit as their Unity consists in respect of connexion of Parts so their Communion consists in it in respect of Participation and this is the Communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 It s fully expressed as a Mystical Communion 1 John 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you may have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This Communion in the Spirit is set forth unto us at large in that forementioned place 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7 c. where he shews that all the Graces Gifts Members Operations Offices in the Body according to their several diversifications flow from the same Spirit all the streams take indifferently from the same Fountain
Ecclesia Enucleata The Temple Opened Or A Clear DEMONSTRATION Of the True Gospel-Church IN ITS Nature and Constitution According to the DOCTRINE and PRACTICE OF Christ and his Apostles By I. C. In that day seven Women shall take hold of one man saying We will eat our own bread and wear our own Apparel only let us be called by thy Name to take away our Reproach Isa 4.1 London Printed by George Larkin at the lower End of Broadstreet next to London-Wall 1684. THE PREFACE TO THE READER Candid Reader TRue Religion and the Church of Christ are Twins they were conceived and born together and have grown up together in the World and I may say of them as of all the Sons of God in particular That they are born not of Blood nor of the will of the Flesh nor of the will of Man but of God John 1.13 They are only from God and for God and his revealed mind and will In his Word is the great prescribing Rule of both and the only Touch-stone for an unerring Tryal of the Truth of either All Pretentions of humane Wisdom Law and Authority must here vail their Bonnet for if these could justly claim a binding Power in matters of this Nature I know no Reason why the Great Turk hath not as strong Arguments for his Religion in all his Dominions as Christians have any where for theirs We find whatever Prerogative Secular Powers lay claim to that they are fully assured that Religion never takes place upon mens minds by their Authority only they must pretend to at least a Divine as we see The Turk must have his false Prophet Mahomet and his Mufti and the Ten-horned secular Beast must have his two-horned Ecclesiastical Brute So the Heathen Kingdoms and Pagan have always had their Diabolick Priests to influence the Minds and sham the Consciences of Men by the awe of some Divinity or supposed Divine Authority into a Reverend esteem of that Religion they designed to establish suitable to their own carnal designs and advantages Since the knowledge of the True God and the breaking forth of the light of the Gospel in the Kingdoms of the darkness of this world the Devills Mask hath bâ—en much removed he is found to be what he is His wiles and deceits whereby he hath so long imposed upon the minds of men are very much discovered in so much that it may be said of him in these latter days that he is fallen as lightning from heaven since the Reforming Angels mentioned Rev. 14. have been employed in the Wilderness the three Gospel flying Angels to bring in that glorious light and the two Sicle Angels that cut down the Harvest and Vintage the Thickâ—ts and shading poysonsome Antichristian Trees have been in a great measure in many places cut down yea Reformation hath been carried on to such degrees that the Angels have been seen having the seven last Plagues and those that have got the Victory ovcr the Beast over his Image and over his Mark and over the number of his name standing on the Sea of Glass having the Harps of God and singing the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb c. Yea the Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony hath been open and I doubt not but the seven Vial-Angels are coming out of the Temple though Smoak fill it at present from the glory of God and his power In answer to the old enquiry Where was your Church according to Article 19. of the Church of England before Luther We say It hath been for above 1200 years in the Wilderness it was before that ever since the Apostles timâ—s under the Draconick Tyranny and Persecution till it fell under the Beast and False Prophet in the midst of Spiritual Egypt Sodom and Babylon out of which it hath been bringing under the conduct of the Angel that was with the Church in the Wilderness by several removes steps and degrees of Reformation sometimes too wofully lusting and turning back again But God will be a Refiners Fire to all the Sons of Levi he will throughly purge away all the Churches dross and take away all her Tin he will wash away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion and purge the Blood of Jerusalem from the midst thereof by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of Burning by his trying Providences and bright shining searching Light of the Gospel In order to the last I have presumed to cast in some fire from the Altar have run to and fro a little â—hat knowledge may encrease and â—hat many may be purified and made â—hite Reader what thou seest of â—arkness and ignorance of the Mind â—nd Will of Christ concerning a Subâ—â—ct of so great concern overlook it of but lend thy Light also as thou â—ast received from the Lord Jesus â—hrist and remember partiality is to â—e laid aside and who ever decreaâ—eth Christ must encrease If thou â—st no other Argument to resist the â—ght offerd then that the Cross attends â—ruth deny thy self and take up â—e Cross and Truth and follow â—â—rist this Life World is but for a â—tle while take heed of bâ—ggling â—th Conscience and sophisticating â— Word of God by shifting Glosses to make it serve thy own corrupt designs and ends the Word of God â— pure and consonant to it self Christ is and will make it manifest and confest at last notwithstanding all opposition that he is the only Lawgiver his Church he seeks such Woâ—shippers as shall serve him iâ— Spirit and in Truth he hates aâ— abhors all Whorish Babylonish Drâ—ses of his Worship and Ordinance Let Christ be found and embraceâ— his Church sought out in the place â—che Wilderness where it hath honourished Get true Union to Cbrâ— the Head becoming a Member of â— Mystical Body and maintain tâ— Gospel-communion of Saints â— none can harm you The noise that some men make â—e World of Schism and Separation â— nothing but some of Antichrists â—ust that he throws into the eyes of â—ose that he cannot quite blind for â—ere was never any Schism in the Mystical Body of Christ his Vesture â—as never divided and there was neâ—â—r any true constituted Gospel-Church â—t by Separation and as for Schism it concerns Visible Churches there none spoken of in the New Testaâ—ent but such as was found in a â—â—rticular Congregational Church and â—â—ey but superficial Divisions that â—re soon healed He that walks in â—e bond of peaceable communion with â— particular Gospel-Church of Christ â—ll never be hurt by all the Nick-â—â—mes of Schismatick or Dividing-â—eparatist that any of the Worshippers of the Beast or his Image or oâ— any carrying the mark or number oâ— his name can cast upon him It 's aâ— easy thing for men of corrupt minds tâ— call what they please by the name oâ— Church and then to stigmatize thâ— Servants of Christ in not holding communion with it by all reproachfâ— names of the Devils invention It â— the
This Communion in the Holy Ghost runs through the whole Catholick Church in all Ages and Countries for where the common Bond of Union is this Communion must be 3. To make Communion in the Body compleat there must not only be this Participation in a common good by all the Members but a Communication of all good to each other mutually as they are capable and fellow-feeling with each other in all Sufferings The Spirit of Christ thus influencing all the Members appears and manifests it self in Graces and Gifts variously working towards this mutual fellowship of Parts both in good and evil of each other which are called the Operations of the Spirit as for Graces the Principal wherein the Catholick Communion doth consist are Faith and Love and by these they Communicate with Christ the Head receiving from him and making return to him as it were in a reciprocation as also a mutual communication to and with each other for Faith is the leading Grace of Communion for our present state by it we receive of the fulness of Christ for Justification and Sanctification John 1. and by Faith the Saints have communion one with another for as it is the foundation of the love of God in the heart so it is of our love to our Brethren believing them to be Justified in Christ Jesus and Members of his Body for Love founded on the Faith of the good estate of another is properly Charity the credibility of anothers Profession gives ground of Faith that he is what he professeth and this joyned with Love makes Charity wherefore the Apostle takes it in this sence when he saith Philemon 5. Hearing of thy Love and Faith which thou hast toward our Lord Jesus Christ and all Saints Moreover by Faith the Saints visible have a kind of Communion with those that went before and who are to come after it being the substance of things or persons in futurition hoped for and the evidence or demonstration of the Truth of things not seen i. e. removed from sence by timen parterition or place in absence so thereby we see the Saints and those Truths attested by them in Ages past 4. As for Love it 's not only the most eminent Grace of actual communion between Christ and his Members and of them with each other in the state that we are in here but it 's almost the only remaining when we go hence 1 Cor. 13.13 John treats much of the transcendent excellency of this Grace throughout his Epistle c. 1 John 4.11 If God so loved us we ought to love one another 12. If we love one another God dwelleth in us and his love is made perfect in us by this Grace we have communion with all Saints Militant and Triumphant 1 John 5.1 Every one that loveth him that is begot loveth him that is begotten of him 5. Now by Communion in these two Graces the Church grows up to its full perfection the Apostle saying Ephes 4.12 That the Ministry and Ministration is for the Building up of the Body of Christ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 agreement in all points of Faith and Profession of it and to the knowledge of the Son of God the Head to the perfect man to the measure of the Stature of the fullness of Christ Mystical filling up his Body and receiving influentially of his Fulness by Faith and v. 15. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 do grow more and more sincere in Love this Love shews it self in its fellow-feeling also that it works in us whereby we communicate in each others Sufferings and supply each others wants for the good of the whole this part of Communion is fully discoursed by the Apostle 1 Cor. 12.13 14 c. yea in the most part of the Chapter 6. Thus far Communion belongs to the Church under its Catholick consideration in its Mystical State there must be some external actions and things that are visible whereby the Communion of these Graces must be manifest in Ministry Offices Gifts Ordinances but all for and from the Spirit and these eminent Graces of Faith and Love 7. Communion then of particular Congregations must be by Christ's Ordination visible in those sacred Means and Ordinances appointed by Christ for its growth confirmation and building up in Grace and Truth God having made his Church in its visible state the Nursery of Grace and the Knowledge of the Truth Eph. 4.12 For the perfecting of the Saints for the work of the Ministry for the edifying the Body of Christ i. e. in the militanting visible part 13. till we all come in the Vnity of the Faith and the Knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Verse 14. That we should be henceforth no more Children 8. The Edification of the Church being appointed by Christ in a way of Communion we are to consider 1. wherein this visible communion doth consist 2. what is the ground and end of it 3. where and between whom it is 1. Wherein doth it consist It doth consist first in participation of some common benefit and advantages which a particular Congregation are capable of and have frequent fellowship together in and these are Church-Gifts and Church-Ordinances Acts 2.42 They continued stedfast in the Apostles Doctrine and Fellowship in Breaking Bread and in Prayers and for this end hath Christ furnished his Church with Ministry and Ordinances Ephes 4. Ministry by erecting extraordinary and ordinary for the planting of his Church our Saviour thought meet to send them with extraordinary Commission and qualifications those that were such were especially Apostles Prophets Evangelists 1 Cor. 12.28 First Apostles secondarily Prophets Eph. 4.11 These were all to be Witnesses of the Resurrection and Ascension of our Lord Jesus and confirm their Doctrine by Miracles had their inspiration of the Holy Ghost special Presence of God and power in the Churches wherever they came especially the Apostles 9. The Apostles were XII which waited upon our Lord during his Ministry on earth before his Sufferings Judas then falling from his Ministry when our Lord Ascended he left eleven to which Matthias was added by Lot and Election of the Church Act. 1. to these two more were added afterwards by special command of the Holy Ghost to the Prophets in the Church at Antioch Act. 13.1 2 3. compared with chap. 14.14 Which when the Apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of and before that Ordination Barnabas was but a Prophet sent from the Church at Jerusalem to assist them that were there before as appears chap. 11.22 23. and chap. 13.1 10. The Prophets I apprehend to be such who were furnished with Gifts and Graces and extraordinary inspiration their Call and Commission being such for the calling of the Gentiles and gathering the Churches And I suppose them to be those Brethren of the 120 that waited together at Jerusalem till they were baptized with the Holy Ghost and fire being all equally with the
as hath been shewed being his design mostly to shew the Beauty Glory and Mystery of Christ Mystical c. He directs his Epistle to Philippi Church of Philippi in the same manner and mentions the word Church but twice the first is where he speaks of his Zeal in Persecuting the Church i. e. of Jerusalem Philip. 3.6 and 4.15 where he saith No Church communicated with me as to giving and receiving but ye only So that the Saints at Philippi were the Church The Epistle to Coloss is directed to the Saints and faithful Brethren in Christ who are at Coloss Church of Coloss chap. i 2. i. e. the Congregation of the faithful there where this Epistle was to be first read and then in the Church of Laodicea chap. 4.16 He mentions also the Church in the House of Nymphas every where else the word relates to the Catholick Church in this Epistle as hath been shewed The Apostle directs his second Epistle to the Thessalonians verse 1. To the Church of the Thessalonians Church of Thessalonica and such a Church as took their pattern from the Churches of God in Judea 1 Thess 2.14 and therefore he saith 2 Thess 1.4 We our selves glory in the Churches of God for their Patience and Faith in all our Persecutions The Epistle to Timothy speaks of particular Churches 1 Tim. 3.5 If a man know not how to rule his own House how shall he take care of the Church of God i. e. such a one as falls under a Pastoral care in a mans capacity of Government as a Family doth and 1 Tim. 5.16 Let not the Church be charged that is the particular Congregation where Church charges arise as the Context shews In the Epistle to Philemon he speaks of the Church in his House i. e. that did usually assemble there as indeed all the Church-Assemblies were in those times in private Houses and this is the third Church in a private Family that is expresly mentioned by Paul there was Aquila's Nymphas's and Philemon's The Epistle to the Hebrews hath the word Church but twice the first is chap. 2.12 I will declare thy Name unto my Brethren in the midst of the Church I will sing Praise unto thee a place taken out of the Psalms where in the next and Primary Signification the Psalmist so far as he means himself it s to be understood of a particular Congregation where God is praised and so far as it s Prophetically applyed to Christ it s meant of the Catholick Church in the fore-going verse saying He that sanctifieth and who they are sanctified are all one for which sake he is not ashamed to call them brethren saying c. And chap. 12.23 He speaks expresly of the Catholick without dispute The Apostle James speaks of the Elders of a particular Church expresly James 5.14 So John's third Epistle verse 6 9 10. John in the Revelations makes mention of the Word in the singular and plural number no less then nineteen or twenty times and always to be understood of particular Churches I will only name the Texts that the Reader may inspect at his Leisure Revel 1.4 11 20. Chap. 2.1 7 8 12 17 18 23 29. Chap. 3.1 6 7 13 14 22. Chap. 22.16 I find the word Church used in the New Testament about 85 times in this sence viz. of a particular Congregation and cannot by any candid Reader be supposed to have any other meaning nor with the least shew of reason be understood of any Meeting-house National Provincial Diocesan or Parochial constitution but only of a Congregation of Saints by mutual consent ordinarily assembling together for Attendance on Christ in all his Ordinances CHAP. VIII Of the Inferences necessary from the Fore-going Chapter IT being discovered in what sences the word Church is taken in the New Testament it s an idle and vain thing for Christians to trouble and concern their heads and Consciences about humorsome conceipts and imaginations of mens brains managed for the most part to serve their carnal Interests or darken the Truth Let men give up themselves and Understandings impartially to the plain and genuine Sence and meaning of the Spirit of God without squeezing or wresting it to a design or prejudicate Opinion or favouring any beloved Lust and the truth of the Gospel would shine with full Evidence and Demonstration And therefore notwithstanding mens great swelling and words of Vanity from Pulpit and Press in matters of this nature we shall make bold to lay down these following Assertions as undeniable plain Conclusions from what hath been spoken 1. That the Gospel Church Established by our Lord Jesus Christ in the dayes of the New Testament is or can be no where understood of any other Church then the Catholick Church or particular Congregations of faithful men c. and that there is no one place that can have any fair pretence to be understood of any other constitution of Churches 2. That where-ever the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used it always signifies a Congregation or Assembly of men met together at least occasionally upon some civil spiritual or sinful Account and that we need not be beholding to any Tropical Sences or ungrounded supposal of things and meanings of Words so remote when in the plain and ordinary way of Understanding things present themselves to our Reasons and Senses If we be not blinded with Pride Passion Prejudice and Estrangement from the true way of Spiritual Understanding by comparing Scripture with Scripture and consonacy of things to the Analogy of Faith 3. We infer That a Congregation of faithful men is the generical material part of a Church because it comprehends all the matter that is ever found in any Gospel Church of any kind all fit matter for such a Congregation are such as are really so or visibly in foro mundi or both And also because there is no Church of Christ spoken of or mentioned in Old or New Testament but is so called under the Notion of being a Congregation to be sometime or other Assembled all together the Catholick Church is so under that Notion as being all gathered together actually and mystically in Christ and shall all appear one day in a glorious Congregation Heb. 12.22 23. Where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be understood as R. St. renders it Publicus conventus a general Publick Assembly likewise wherever the Spirit of God speaks of a Church of his own constituting it s always so The Old Testament Church was called so under that notion though National yet was required to be still Congregational all the Males being required thrice a year to appear before the Lord in a Visible Congregation at the Tabernacle therefore called the Tabernacle of the Congregation or at the Temple where it was in standing and it is so often called the Congregation of the children of Israel the Reader may turn to these places at leisure Exod. 16.2.10 Levit. 4.13 ch 14.2 20.1 22. Jos
Body is not one Member but many c. and vers 24. God hath tempered the Body together viz. with this diversity of Gifts of Parts of Knowledg For what end To make a Schism No but that the deficient parts should have the more honour verse 24. and not be trampled upon abused and exposed to shame and verse 25. That there should be no Schism in the Body but that the Members should have the same care one of another yea a sympathy and fellow-feeling should be established among all Parts verse 26. much less any hatred detestation and enmity betwixt them We argue then That which works all Gifts and Graces and knits together all the Members diversifyes all the Parts and brings them into an harmonious office and agreement for the good of the whole Mystical Body of Christ under the Old and New Testament is the Bond of Union of that Body but it appears the Spirit of Christ doth this Ergo it's the Catholick Bond. I might mention many other places I 'll only name two or three more Eph. 4.1 The Apostle exhorts to walk worthy of their vocation and mentioning many Christian Graces he tells them in the exercise of them they should keep the Vnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 this Unity notwithstanding all diversities is the ground-work of all Uniformity among Christians There is one Body one Spirit even as ye are called in one hope of your calling c. and remarkable is Ephes 2. from the 13th verse to the end where he tells us that Christ having abolished in his Flesh all enmity between God and us and between Jews and Gentiles those that were a far off are made nigh he hath made in himself being the common Head of twain i. e. Jew and Gentile one new man i. e. Christ Mystical so making Peace c. see verse 17. and ver 18. For through him we both Jews and Gentiles have access by one Spirit unto the Father and then he goes on to tell them that they are no more Strangers c. but made a Spiritual Building upon the best Foundation fitly framed together growing up into an holy Temple in the Lord in whom also ye are builded together i. e. the whole Catholick Body for a habitation of God through the Spirit which is the great Cement of this Spiritual Building that unites all the parts together and every particular part to the Head 5. The eminent uniting Graces which are wrought by the Spirit is Faith and Love Faith to our Lord Jesus Christ and Love to one another Love indeed is the most extensive Union-Grace because it reacheth the whole Mystical Body both the Church Militant and Triumphant Faith is an Eminent Grace of unspeakable use to Saints but it 's only for their Militant State 1 Cor. 13. But by Love both Saints Militant and Triumphant dwell in God and God in them 1 John 4.7 16. And hereby we know that we dwell in him and he in us because he hath given us of his Spirit verse 13. But whilst we are here Faith must be primum movens as to our Love we must see him some way or other that we love nay we must be made nigh reconciled in our minds and embrace him and this closing yea first tasting of Christ is by Faith hence the Gospel Ministry and Ministration Eph. 4.12 is for the building up the Body of Christ further and further till all that do belong to him do come verse 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to the one-ness of Faith or full agreement in the Faith of Jesus to the knowledge of the Son of God the Head to a perfect man i. e. to make up the perfection of the Mystical Manhood of Christ as Paul speaks elsewhere of filling up in his Body the Sufferings of Christ that remain the calling in the Elect is the perfecting the Mystical Body of Christ that henceforth ye be no more Children c. But speaking the Truth in love 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 truthing it away in love or walking sincerely in love doth grow up towards him or upon him in all things who is the Head even Christ verse 16. From whom i. e. from the indwelling of whose Spirit the whole Body is fitly articulated conjoyned and compacted together so the words signify by the supply of every Member receiving of the distributions of the Spirit for the particular Shape Use Dignity and Office of each part determined according to the effectual working 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according to the Energy or in-operation viz. of the Spirit in every part We have also here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the same word Philip. 1.19 This shall turn to my Salvation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by the influence or supply of the Spirit this influential supply is the cause of that excellency and beauty that appears in every part for the good of the whole 6. Having proved the Spirit of Christ to be the common Nexus or Bond of Union in the Mystical Body or Catholick Church it is not hard to evince a bond of Union also in every particular Church As the totum contains all the parts and the parts make up the whole So the Catholick Church contains all particular Churches and the same Bond that tyes the whole together tyes and limits each part but as the Catholick Church is yet Mystical and not Visible because its Bond of Union is such so when ever any part of this Church becomes visible there must be a manifestation and discovery as much as is possible of this Bond of the Spirit working by Faith and Love 7. For conveniency of edification Christ hath instituted several Congregations or Apartments in his Church with a power of choosing their own Officers and enjoyment of all Ordinances according to Christs Will and Appointment These particular Congregations must each of them as they are parts of the Catholick have a manifestation of the Bond of the Spirit uniting them to Christ and to his Body which manifestation is the visible form of a particular Church and Church Membership 8. This manifestation if it proceed so far as to be a Bond of Union in a particular Spiritual Body Politick it must be first A probable Profession of this inward Bond of the Spirit working by Faith and Love that the person or persons so professing may rationally according to the Rules of Charity be esteemed of the number of the Faithful which Professing Faithful Ones are the only matter of a Particular Church of Christ this is doing as Christians in the same manner as Paul did as a Minister 2 Cor. 4.2 Renouncing the hidden things of darkness c. by manifestation of the Truth commending our selves to every mans Conscience in the sight of God but of this before viz. That the true matter of a Particular Visible Church is visible Saints 2. There must be something or other to determine a man a Member of this or that Congregation more