to the Deacon which he makes his godly life and faithfull Ministry in his Deaconship 3. The one Talent he understands to be the Peoples knowledge 1. The Ministry of the Gospel was fallen in Chysostomes times in most places of the world hence it is no wonder if it be applyed to the Ministry the application holdeth not correspondency with the Text. 2. If one be to be applyed to the Ministry then all are there is no difference in call in appointment to the Ministry in the Stewardship in the nature of the goods that the one had or the other but in the quantity only 3. If this be said of the people and Ministers then all Ministeriall differences are destroyed betwixt People and Ministers hereby Many have given their judgement what these Talents are severall wayes as Salmeron in Parabolis but I passe that and come to the mysticall sence or prophetick 1. God predicts by the unprofitablenesse of the man only which had but one Talent which indeed is the first Ministry called the Doctor the misery of the Church under a single Ministry in the time of Antichrist whose work it was to destroy the true Gospel-Ministry of three and set up his Bable Ministry of one singly in the World instead thereof 2. God predicts he should have but one Talent that should bee truly gold which is the Word the rest under that Ministry should be corrupt spurious false and fained things indeed scroffe and drosse to be burned 3. Vnder this one unfaithfull Ministry should be a hiding of that Talent it had which signifieth a hiding or shutting up of the Scriptures in an unkwon tongue 4. The converting the Gospel-Government contained in the Word which was from heaven and heavenly into an earthly constitution tending only to wordly glory and greatnesse the one being of God the other of man the one the pattern of heavenly things the other of earthly things The doome of God written of him vers 29. cleares the truth of the intended mystery from him that hath not shall be taken that which he hath 1. This cannot be understood of any but of a Minister nor be verified in a particular person but must be done in a publick spirituall generall sence of Scripture you may apply it to Judas in some kinde who was the lively representative of Antichrist But 1. he without all question had more then one Talent 2. This here doth mainly intend the ordinary Church-Ministry and not extraordinary 2. The Scripture saith he hath the goods of his Lord and againe he is said not to have them 1. Signifying that he should have nominally formally and in shew those things the true Church of God hath 2. That he hath them not really and indeed according to the Lords Institution the Word indeed it hath and the people may be said not to have it while they have it having it in an unknown tongue 3. God will take away that which he seemeth to have 1. This we see partly done in the discovery the World hath in part already made of her Idolatrous Worship 2. In the Saints condemning her Church Church-Ministry and Ordinances to be Anti-christian Superstitious Heathenish and ungodly 3. The full taking away will be when God shall erect a true faithfull Ministry and pure Ordinances among his Saints in the place of that Idol worship as in vers 28. Appl. 1. These all meet in Antichrist as lines of a circumference in its Center and so in him as in none but him 2. Antichrist is he the Gospel Prophesies aime at that should disturb counterfeit and oppose the truth of the Lord under whom the Church changes should be 3. Antichrist is he from whom the Talent shall be taken who is indeed tho unprofitable servant to his Lord in the Ministry hee being to be destroyed 4. How in a generall Scripture-sence these can be understood of any but Anti-christ I know not but should gladly be enformed he is to be a called Minister and intrusted with the Gospel which the first Bishops were by the Lords Institution he proves unfaithfull hides the Word turnes the Discipline of it to earthly advancements that hiding the Gospel ends must have a fall and be ruin'd his Ministry taken from him after which the Church is to be restored 3. Mystery in the vers 28. where the Talent is taken from him and given to him that hath tenne Talents 1. In which is shewed Antichrists Ministry shall be destroyed 2. In that it is given to the first it shewes the restauration of the Gospel-Ministry and Government in the Church againe to bee as in the beginning 3. That God will blesse by degrees in the use of meanes that Ministry to whom the one Talent shall be given abundantly from five to tenne which shewes it will be extraordinary but not by an extraordinary way as vers 16. 4. It is given to the first Ministry which is the Evangelist the act of Ordination being Primarily in him by whom with others the Church should come to be re-estated and to him had two which was the Pastors 5. The taking away of the one and the giving of the one Talent signifies that Authoritatively by some one that has power to doe it this act shall be done in the Church before the burnings of Anti-christ Object 1. Here he that had five hath tenne which is more then all the Ministry had which were but eight in all and therefore one man may exercise all 1. Shewes the abundance of knowledge the Ministers of the Gospel that shall be shall be blessed with and how happy the world shall be in them or in particular him that is designed for the Churches restauration 2. What is signified by the words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 other five Talents first they are other indeed but not in kinde as the three other Talents are which doe differ in kinde from his five but the same five Talents or gifts are encreased in him in the use of them more then they were double 3. Though he had tenne the other that had two had foure and the unprofitable servant had his one so that he that had the tenne did not like Pharohs cattell one eat up the other 4. The one's being given to him that had the ten was but that he that had the ten as the Apostles by their extraordinary Call did before come to set up by Gods approbation the Ordinances in the Church of Christ as they were first instituted in the Word which when once done he was to leave it to them to exercise as the Apostles had done before him and only exercise his owne part ordinarily in the Church 17. Having spoken of the Church-Ministry we now come to speak of the Church-Elder or helping Ruler MEn to please the Magistrate have demolished this Officer out of the Church and set up a counterfeit in his place for whom I dare boldly affirm there is no one word of Institution in the Gospel to be found to doe that he is
THE CHURCHES RESURRECTION OR The CREATING of the New Heavens Written by an unworthy Gospel-Minister JOHN BRAYN Rev. 21.2 And I John saw the holy City c. Acts 13.41 Behold ye despisers and wonder and perish for I work a work in your days a work which you shall in no wise believe though a man declare it unto you London Printed for George Whittington at the Blew-Anchor in Cornhil near the Royal-Exchange 1649. To the Honorable The General Councel OF THE ARMY IN that I am assured you and your despised Armies are they by whom the Church is to be ushered out of her long hid estate into the world again I presume to present you with this insuing Tract as belonging to you which may something serve to help-direct your Councels in Church-affairs in the sound foundation whereof you will finde to consist the strength of your undertakings Councels and comforts to depend and issues to succeed it being the work onely of God to give man to his labor an expected end Now the Lord so direct you in your great undertakings to do the work of the Lord that he may have glory and you mercy in the day of Christ is the desire of Your Servant in the Gospel JO BRAYN To the Reader I Think good to acquaint thee that God may have the greater glory That the Form of Government I drew wholly from the Word before I saw the least footstep of it in the Primitive Practice mentioned by the Fathers which when I came to see them to be as so many Witnesses to the Truth I could not for the Truths sake but make it publique for thy profit It is not as large as intended but Epitomized onely my allowance for my Ministery being detained from me nor did I therefore translate but few of the Authorities cited some are for the use of the unlearned I desire you to pass by the errors committed in Printing it because having other occasions I could not attend the Press and it shall be your honor and be esteemed of Your Servant in the Gospel JO BRAYN IN these times it hath been the way of men to cry down the sound and saving Truths of God and the Gospel by branding them with terms of Novelty and New found Notions proudly and scornfully calling them ridiculous things in branding the men that God reveals them to with odious names hindring many from so much as trying the Truth then which Satan hath not had a greater Engine against the way of God in these last times which the tryal of the first and purest of Antiquity will reveal unto us and shew us how and I shall endeavor as my weak ability small reading and other great imployments will give me leave in these few sheets of Paper following to manifest And first THat the Government of the Church in the Primitive times was not looked on as in these latter times it hath been even to be a thing to be made conformal to every estate in which the Gospel is preached prudentially which is clearly to be proved by many witnesses but in that the Scripture saith Vnder two or three witnesses every thing shall be established I shall onely prove them by two or three and no more as being sufficient hereunto alone Tertullian who lived about Two hundred years after Christ saith Nobis vero nihil ex nostro arbitrio inducere licet sed nec eligere quod aliquis ex suo arbitrio induxerit Apostolos Domini habemus auctores qui nec ipsi quicquam ex suo arbitrio quod inducerent eligerunt sed acceptam à Christo disciplinam fideliter Nationibus assignarunt itaque etiamsi Angelus de coelis aliter Evangelizaret anathema diceretur à nobis De Praescrip Heret The sence this It is not lawful for us to induce any thing at our pleasure nor to choose that any one hath induced of his own will we have the Apostles of the Lord Authors who themselves nor chose nor brought in to the Church any thing of their free will but they faithfully assigned to the Nations the discipline received from Christ Therefore though an Angel from heaven should teach otherways let him be accounted as accursed of us Ap. What place is there then for a prudential Government in the Church How can Ministers plead for it or Magistrates set it up Dionisius Ep. to Demophilus Si distinctiones ordinesque confundere Sacratissimas Dei Sanctiones jura transgredi est omni profectò ratione caret Dei causâ pervertere traditum divinitùs ordinem neque enim in seipsum Dei sermo divisus est alioquin quomodo staret ejus regnum Clem. Alex. Lib. Strom. 7. p. 841. Quomodo ergo in bello non est ordo deserendus quem dedit imperator militi ita nec est deserendus ordo quem dedit nobis verbum quem accepimus principem ac ducem cognitionis vitae I may prove this by others but Tertull. whose Authority is questioned by none speaking to this exceeding pertinently I propose again as in his Book Adversus Marcion Et oportuerit utique prius alium Deum exponi postea ejus disciplinam induci quia Deus auctoritatem praestet disciplinae non Deo disciplina This I suppose proves sufficiently That in the Church no Discipline ought to be set up but what Christ in the Gospel hath commanded The second thing to be considered is The Ministery without the Church erected by Christ in the world to fit for the Church 1. The Books of Arnobius Lactantius Justin Martyr called Serm. ad Gentes prove it Clem. Alex. ad Gentes Venite venite ô meorum juvenum caetus nisi enim rursus efficiamini ut pueri regeneremini ut ait Scriptura eum qui vero est pater non recipietis neque unquam in regnum Coelorum intrabitis quando enim est hospiti permissum ingredi sed quando ut puto inscriptus fuerit cives effectus patrem acceperit tunc erit in numero filiorum patris tunc dignus habebitur qui sit haeres Come ye come ye O Congregation of my yong men for unless ye become again as children and be new born as the Scripture saith ye cannot receive him who is truly the Father nor shall ye ever enter into the Kingdom of Heaven When is it permitted the stranger to enter but when as I think he is inrolled and made a Citizen and hath received the Father then he shall be in the number of the Fathers children That this was to unconverted Gentiles is without doubt and farther shews They were to be inrolled and receive the Father that is I suppose they were to profess Faith in and Obedience unto God before he could be a Citizen or a Son which at first must be an estate of childehood in the Church again though men by nature or they could not enter Clemens in Orat. adhor ad Gentes Praecursor Johannis vox verbum praecurrit vox adhortatoria praeparans ad
indeed the hiding of the Church no wonder if it be a hidden thing to us he saith in this place Omnes docebant omnes baptizabant he saith They observed not the time nor fasted before Baptism nor had Peter any Deacons at Cornelius house to Baptize as if the Deacons office was onely to Baptize he not minding that some of the seven may be with him and Baptize in all which he corruptly quarrels with the Apostles practice as if they had found a better form to serve God by then that of the Gospel which the Bishops of the times preceeding did correct and like the carnal Gentiles seeking to be wise became fools and like the foolish woman in the Proverbs pull'd down the House of God with both their hands and worse then she set up a Cage for unclean birds of their own predicted by Zech. 5.8 9. But of this in its place Ignatius Ep. to Policarpus He writing to Policarpus mentions the Presbytery and saith Vnà laborate inter vos unà certate unà currite c. ut dispensatores assessores ministri Dei. In the word Dispencers the admission of members to Ordinances is signified in Assessors their Government in general intended in Ministers their teaching 8. The Church was governed by these three conjunctly in Ecclesiastical things Ignatius to Trallis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It is necessary whatever ye do ye go about nothing that is of Ecclesiastical publike concernment without the Bishop but also that ye submit to the Presbytery as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ In these is the Church true Presbytery onely and alone in these the Synod and Colledge of Ministery is existent and in none other Other Authority is Antichristian and tends to oppression of the Saints Tertull. in the forecited place de Exhortatione Castitatis Honor per ordinis consessum sanctificatus adeò ubi non est ecclesiastici ordinis consessus Offers Tinguis Sacerdos c. before he saith these have Ecclesiae aucthoritas the Church authority This is Consessus Ecclesiaestici ordinis 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and any other Ecclesiastical convent then this Juridical is not according to the Primitive Church and Gospel-frame this was the true Presbytery and all other then these are spurious and false To this well agreeth that of Mat. 18.19 that if two of you agree on earth c. The Church while it was according to the Gospel institution governed by these three it was called The pillar and ground of Truth but when that fell and Ministers of other Societies ruled then came the corruption of the Church the Lord not approving of them as is well observed in the Preface of the Bibles written To the Reader printed in King James's days yet for all that the learned knew That certain worthy men have been brought to untimely death for no other fault but for seeking to reduce their countrey-men to good order and discipline and that in some Common-weals it was made a capital crime once to motion the making of a new Law for the abrogating of an old though the same were most pernicious and that certain which would be accounted pillars of the State and paterns of vertue and prudence could not be brought for a long time to give way to good letters and refined speech but bare themselves as averse from them as from Rocks and boxes of Poyson And he was no babe viz. Greg. Theol. but a great Cler. that gave forth and in writing to posterity in passion peradventure That he had not seen any profit to come by any Synod or Meeting of the Clergy but rather the contrary By saying it was in passion was a good plaister for such a dangerous sore He shews what the Councels before him he living about 380. did and indeed God ordained That not many together but seven men of several ages signified by the seven Angels are onely to restore the faln Church Hieron 1 Cap. ad Titum saith When Presbyters governed Ecclesiae cura aequaliter inter plures dividebatur To this may be applyed that of Egisippus cited by Eusebius Vnà cum Apostolis suscepit Ecclesiam administrandam frater Domini Jacobus qui justus ab omnibus cognominatus This was understood of Peter and John Gal. 2.9 and not of all the Apostles Paul and Barnabas ministred to the Gentiles James the less was slain before he took this Government by Herod So that it is without question here is onely meant the three Apostles who were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Peter calls himself 1 Pet. 6.1 according to the form of Government in the other Gospel Churches they being not differing one from another in form of Government Jerusalem being the patern or mother Church This Book is said to contain Apostolical Traditions but is lost and a counterfeit left in its place Nicephor Eccl. Hist l. 3. c. 26. 9. As the Ministers so the People were distinguished Anthanasius cites Theognostus in his Tract de verbis Evang. Matthei cap. 2. ver 31. quicunque dixerit c. Qui semel atque iterum terminos praetergressus ost minus feret supplicii qui vero tertio contempserit nullam veniam consequi potest Here by the bounds of the Church I understand the threefold Societies of the Saints under the third whereof if any contemned there was no pardon Athanasius primum secundum terminos appellat Catechesin hoc est initiationem de patre filio tertium vero qui est in consummatione mysteriorum sermone qui traditur in communicatione spiritus This shews the Government was much hid in Athanasius time he saith Catechizing was initiation which was not but in Baptism under the Doctors Ministery was initiation and not under the Catechists Ministery And then he saith In Catechizing were to be understood the two first bounds which was but one part of Ministery and that not of the Church neither without doubt Theognostus alludes to that of the Apostle Heb. 6.4 5 6. He is more clear in that which followeth Verum ex his nequaquam aliquis dicere poterit quod doctrina spiritus excellentior sit doctrina filii sed filius sese dimittat ad imbecillitatem imperfectorum spiritus autem signaculum est eorum qui perfecti sunt proinde non irremissibilis incondonabilis est blasphemia in spiritum quòd spiritus major est filio sed quod imperfectis detur venia iis vero qui gustaverunt coeleste donum quique perfecti sunt nulla relinquatur ad veniam excusatio aut paenae excusatio 1. Here are three bounds expressed of the Church 2. In these the Saints are divided according to their gifts in one the imperfect the other the perfect 3. In Athansius time these bounds were destroyed 4. He alludes these three Mansions to the Trinity making that the ground of them as the other before Dionisius distinguisheth them by these names Rudes illuminati perfecti Simil. Herm. 9. Omnos enim infantes honorati
I take to bee the forme of the Temple which was divided unto three parts shadowing the three societies of Saints under the Gospel 1. The Porch the Doctor society 2. The place of Priests sacrifice 3. The Sanctum Sanctorum the Evangelist society So that by the measuring of the Temple I suppose is intended of God that a strict survey should in these times come to be taken of what pertained to each differing Church society Ordinances and Orders appertaining thereunto The second thing Measured is the Altar 1. Under the Law there were two Altars which shadowed the Divine nature and humane nature of Christ here reduced to one mentioned Heb. 13.10 2. Christ here represented is not to bee measured Joh. 3. vers 34. the Spirit was not given by measure to him so that man cannot measure Christ gifts as Mediator much lesse as God hence this can not be meant of Christ as in himselfe but as in the word 3. Hence the measuring of the Altar is only that Christ should be preached so to the society of children as the Word the measure holds him out in the Elementary or Doctrinall part thereof 1 Thess 2.4 Paul Timothy Sylvanus preach only as they are allowed of God therein the Gospel an allowance what to Preach to each society viz. Doctrine in the Doctors Exhortations in the Pastor Consolation in the Evangelists society 4. That in all the Saints Societies Christ is to be set up as an Altar at which all are to offer all having to offer to God thereon as well Infants as men Heb. 13.10 1. The differing Ministries are set down in the Temple in severall distinct places 2. The Doctrine in the Altars measuring 3. As these are measured for the people so the people are measured for them 1. Signifying none are to be admitted to the first Gospel Ministry without measuring 2. In the Gospel is a measure for all Saints by which Infants are known to be Infants young men known from Infants and Fathers from either but of these more largely in an Exposition I intend to set forth on the Revelation if God permit Appli That God will in these dayes have the Gospel estate re-erected according to the pattern in which Ministry meanes and members shall be all made answerable to the Gospel pattern or measure 3. All Formes come short of this can stand no more then Dagon before the Arke I shall adde one place more to those in my other Tracts used to prove mixt societies to shew how invalid they are and how unfitly applied 2 Tim. 2.20 In a great house are vessels of gold silver wood and earth therefore say some in the Church are to be good and bad Chrysost in locum Quemadmodum in majori domo necessaria est magna differentia vasorum ita in toto orbe non enim eam similttudinem ad Eccelesiaem refert sed ad universum mundum Throp in Verb. In magna domo vasa esse diversa hunc mundum esse non Ecclesiam dicit in hoc loco nam in Ecclesia nil vult ligneum esse sed ex auro universa effecta aurea qui virtute sunt praediti lignea sunt impii si non ad virtutem ad mundi tamen confirmationem statum sunt utiles vel ad dispensationes nonnullas maximè conferunt ut Pharao 1. It will appeare more plaine if wee consider God when hee compares the Church compares it to heaven and heavenly things this is too earthy to bee a representative of the Church Rev. 21.18.21 1 Gal. 6.10 God speaking of the Church as of a house cals it the houshold of Faith 3. The Church is the Patterne of Heavenly not Earthly things Object The Church is compared to a graine of mustard seed leaven c. Respons These thing a respect the grace of the gospel in men and the power of God and not the societyes of Saints which here is said only to be intended 18. That this forme of Government is aimed at by the Apostles is also clearly seen in the generall form of the Epistle which is no small Argument to prove it as well as part cular instructions and instances contained in particular places of Scripture The Epistle I shall instance in is that of the Apostle Paul to the Colossians THe first generall part of the Epistle I take to bee generally applyed to the whole Church and is contained in chap. 1. unto the first foure verses of the second Chapter 1. Part whereof containes Salutations and Prayer for the whole Church chap. 1 from ver 2. to 11. 2. From verse 12. to the end of the 4 verse chap. 2. hee holds out Christ and the Communion Paul and Timothy had with them and they with all Saints in Heaven and Earth in Iesus Christ as members in a body of which Christ is Head and Saviour In the next place the Apostle prepares or makes way to descend to the particular Church societyes Ver. 5. He comes to mention the order observed by them in the government of their Church Ver. 6. He exhorts them as they have received Christ so they would walk in him which implieth there was among them a different receiving of Christ some received him in the gospel milke others in the gospel meate some received him from the Doctor in his Ministry others from the Pastor in his Ministry differing first in Degrees secondly in Meanes thirdly in the Word and Ministry also Ver. 7. Hee sweetly and plainly illustrates this truth by a threefold Metaphor 1. Rooting an allusion taken from a tree and fitly to be applyed to the Doctor-Ministry who teacheth the Principles and Fundamentals of Christ the first way of receiving Christ 2. And built in him a Metaphor taken from a house not founded but built up having a higher degree in it of Christ another way of receiving Christ Note the change of the Metaphor hath in it a signification of difference to bee in the societies the Saints had among them at Colosse and also of their differing condition in Christ hee otherwise might have used one Metaphor as significantly and have said being founded on and builded up in him c. but changing the Metaphor he significantly sets out and implies a Mystery therein to bee unfolded 3. And established which is the last way of receiving Christ under the dispensations of the Gospel Ministers in this present life Ap. That in these clearly the order named vers 5 is here explained how and in what it did consist in the Ministeries right rooting beginners and building up other believers and establishing others in the grace of the Gospel by several degrees as they had received Jesus Christ Object The Apostle if he meant the change of societies in the change of metaphors in the first Why he did not change them in the last Resp. The thing was sufficiently cleared in the first metaphor to those Churches who had this order erected among them 2 This of established may be applied to other metaphors as
then a way and means is offered to those other Towns that are capable of this Government to set it up in them also 4. Before this can be set up Parochial bounds ought to be dissolved 5. Where are not publike meeting places there any convenient private houses are to be made use of 6. That those Ministers that are not of the Church ministry be not admitted to baptize or administer the Sacraments of the Lords Supper in the place they exercise 8. That they are to be subject to the Presbytery of that Church they are Members of that so they preach no other Doctrine but what is to be taught without the Church 7. That the Ministers without the Church be Members of some Church near them or not be admitted to minister to which they shall minister preparing men for it It is observable there was no standing ministry in the Apostles time but where were Churches of Saints in Communion the other ministry if they were persecuted in a place may leave it 9. Those that teach without the Church should be maintained by the state allowance Tithes dissolved Gal. 6.6 Let him that is catechized communicate c. which without the Magistrates help would not be done by unbeleevers who love their Gold not their God 10. The Church Teachers should freely be maintained by their Members as by a freewil-offering 11. The whole of the Papal Episcopal Presbyterial Form is to be dissolved 1. This was done in the Mosaical Government and shall it not be in the Antichristian 2. Christ saith no man patcheth a new garment with an old peece no not a peece 3. It seems to me plain That the single Antichristian Minister Matth. 25.18 had nothing Gold but the Talent he hid which was the Word in a strange tongue or if any thing else it was and will be taken from him 4. It is well observed by One Deum solere uno sigillo varias materias signare The truth wherof we may see in the two Temples before Christ the first was burnt and destroyed by the Chaldees so the first Temple estate by persecution was destroyed by Antichrist and the Heathen Emperors the second is builded by Zorubabel which is by Interpretation Fan Bable which is as truly to be verified now as then and more fully in us then them for they did not indeed Fan Bable but those set up the second Temple under the Gospel shall do it 5. Revel 21.5 Behold I will make all things new All things not some in the business of the new Jerusalem are to be made new The maner how it shall be done is set down by Peter and men cannot prevent it but those are happy that further it 2 Pet. 3.10 The Heavens and the host of them they pass away and are dissolved and burnt up I shall God willing in my Exposition of the Revelation speak of the new Earth Vers 11. Then there is the new Heaven follows in which dwelleth in Righteousness so that it is a most certain truth all present Forms Government and ways of worship must be yea shall be dissolved before yea and for the advancement of the true way of Gospel worship Revel 6.12 13 14. shews you the time when this shall be and that is under the opening of the sixt Seal in which we at this instant are under and see the effects produced according to the truth of the great God revealed however the mockers and scoffers of the world have derided it so that they must and shall have their mouths stopped and be made ashamed at it Object In many great Towns and places where have been a faithful painful Ministry and are a godly people to constitute a Church in they have but one publike meeting place and how then can the several Ministries be set up there in Resp The Synagogues were the places the Apostles preached in to men without and separated the Disciples to private houses In which for the purest times of the Church the Saints were ministred unto and had no publike meeting places as now Which order is so clearly set out unto us in Scripture that it cannot be excepted against Acts 28.30 The necessity hereof appears 1. From the confusion in the Church and Church-Ordinances in which as they are now exercised nothing is done to the Saints edification 1. Men without the Spirit and without understanding cannot pray nor praise God but minde the things sung or said in a carnal maner against the minde of God they are dead to God to whom God is not a God nor they a people 2. In Preaching to Saints the Doctrine to be preached to the world cannot be to edification 2. And as there is a necessity of dividing the World from Saints so Saints from Saints without which can be no right edification among the Saints Illust The Gospel is compared to Leaven by degrees the lump so the Gospel is to be preached to men without to leaven them or gather them to the Society of Saints which would be gathered as yet into a few Churches Now as the Saints are increased and fit matter of a church prepared the Minister of the place may require helpers to be joyned with him for the constituting of the church to be constituted Obj. The people will not endure it Resp The people ordained to eternal life will rejoyce in it others that do not are not worthy of it In Hebr. chapt 8.20 we have mention made of two covenants the new and the old under which two covenants there are to be differing administrations the one of which ceaseth in the being of the other But before we proceed we may for the better understanding of things consider the covenant as it was made with Abraham Gen. 17.2 and 7. which is made to one man a beleever in Christ Galat. 3.16 to Abraham and his seed were the promises he saith not And to seeds as of many but as of one and to thy seed which is Christ Now the administrations of divine Worship were exercised by the first-born of the Family they were the Priests during its time of standing The Apostle in this chapter speaks of the state of the covenant as after it was made to Moses ver 9. when God took them by the hand to lead them out of Egypt Now in this there was in respect of the administrations and extent of it such a difference as if it had been another covenant 1 It is made to the whole Nation Exod 6.6 7. Say to the children of Israel c. I will take you to me for a people and I will be to you a God 2 The Priesthood is now a National Priesthood ver 3. 3 The sacrifices are for all the people Heb. 8.37 4 The Tabernacle is the standing place for publick worship to the whole people mentioned ver 5. Which cleerly proves that God respected the administrations under the covenant as made to the Israelites nationally in Egypt and not as made with Abraham before under which the