is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. USE III. Of Advice unto the Church of Christ and all her true Members 1. Let their imperfection keep them humble There is not a Soul without a stain nor a Grace without a mixture nor a Duty without a failing nor a Saint without some sin remaining All therefore nay the very best of all have reason to be low in their own eyes The more humble we are the more our hearts are suited to our present imperfect state and the more of Gods reviving Presence notwithstanding our imperfection will be vouchsafed For thus saith the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 2. Let the Churches Members hunger and thirst after a greater measure of righteousness Those that to do so are blessed for they shall be filled sayes he in whom all Fulness dwells Mat. 5. 6. This is an hunger truly sacred that never ends in starving but in satisfaction We should long more for the Waters of Life the Soul should thirst more vehemently for the living God desiring to behold his glory and to be changed more fully into his glorious Image Such kind of desires widen the Souls capacity and make it meet for a larger participation both of Grace and comfort 3. Let the Church believe and long for that enlargement and glory that is promised in the latter dayes but especially to be translated unto those Mansions above which her Head is gone to prepare for her Let her long that her Warfare may be well accomplished her course faithfully finished and the Crown of Life and Righteousness received And to this end let all her Members tear the Air and pierce the Heavens with their cryes Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22. 20. Thus of the Second Proposition That the Body of Christ is imperfect in this World and therefore continually should be encreasing Proposit III. The Third Proposition follows That the Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Before the Apostle had used the Metaphor of a Body now he uses another Metaphor of an Edifice or Building The Church is to edify it self but the Power to do this is from God and her Lord who acts and strengthens her in this action lays a just claim to all the glory The Church is an Edifice or an House but a Spiritual one therefore called a Temple Eph. 2. 21 22. In whom that is Christ all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an habitarion of God through the Spirit This Temple is holy for God hath set apart such as are godly for himself The Stones are lively for all Saints are quickened to live to God and act for him In this Temple Sacrifices are offered but they aâ—e spiritual Prayers Praises other Duties and the Heart of him that performs them And though these Sacrifices are never so spiritual yet they are not accepted upon their own account but they are acceptable unto God througâ— Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. In the further handling of this Proposition I shall First Shew upon what foundation the Church is to Edify it self Secondly To what end this Edification must be Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to shew upon what foundation the Church is to edify it self 1. The Knowledge of God is styled a Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his God has from eternity foreknown and chosen his Church in Christ that she should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1. 4. This is a Foundation laid before the Foundation of the World and will endure infinitely longer than the World shall The Churches Members should give all diligence to make their calling and Election sure for if they do these things they shall never fall but an abundant entrance shall be administred to them into the everlasting Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. Now Election is made sure by hearkening to and obeying the call of the Gospel and departing from Iniquity 2. Christ the Rock is called a Foundation 1 Cor. 3. 11. Other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Though he was set at nought by the Jewish builders yet he is the head Stone of the Corner neither is there Salvation in any other The Churches Faith must be firmer in Christ her hope in him more and more abundant and she may build without fear for the Foundation will never fail the Superstructure 2. The Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is also styled a Foundation Eph. 2. 20. Both were inspired by the Holy Ghost and the harmony and agreement between Apostles and Prophets between the Old Testament and the New makes the Foundation more sure The Church that she may edifie her self is to eye the Scripture then she will build according to the right rule Vnwritten Traditions that would impose upon her Faith what the Scripture has not revealed are to be rejected and that light within that would lead her away from the written Word is no more to be followed than a foolish Night-fire If she has Scripture for her Faith and Practice she has good ground for both and both may be justified before the Judge of all the World 4. Obedience and good Works are called a Foundation 1 Tim. 6. 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal life This is done by doing good by being rich in good works Though good works are not meritorious for Eternal Life is the Gift of God yet they are necessary to evidence out Faith and that the Promises may be fulfilled Glory and Immortality is promised to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for it Rom. 2. 7. He builds firm that builds his house upon a Rock and he builds thus who hears the Words of Christ and does them But he that hears and does them not is a foolish man and builds his house upon the sand and when the rain descends and the winds blow and the floods come and beat upon his house it will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 24 25 26 27. In the second place I am to tell you to what end this Edification of the Church must be 1. The Church must Edifie it self that it may grow Stronger The stronger her Faith is the more will she Glorifie that God in whom she believes Rom. 4. 20. 't is said of Abraham He staggered not at the Promise of God through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God The stronger her Love the more it will constrain her to labour in
there no remedy Though the case be deplorable 't is not desperate Were my Text but minded in it might be found a sure Recipe Christ is the Churches Head and Healer and were but Love revived it would quickly bring his Body to a better and more healthy temper Light may do much but Love will do more Love covers a multitude of sins Love cures a multitude of Maladies The Church encreases and edifies it self in Love Though the Apostle was a Prisoner yet we find his Heart enlarged towards the Ephesians Having before discoursed concerning the Mysteries of Faith in this Chapter he presses Vnity and Love with the greatest vehemency and in order hereunto he exhorts to all lowliness and meekness He knew that pride is the cause of contention and that humility and love are the way both to the Souls and to the Churches Rest He uses great strength and cogency of Argument that he may prevail The Saints are Members of one Body They have been regenerated and are acted by one Spirit who hath effectually called them to a lively hope of one and the same incorruptible Inheritance And in that Inheritance there is not there cannot be the least discord They serve one Lord who is best served when his Servants best agree together They are instructed in one Gospel justified by one Faith baptized in one Name Finally that God is one who is a most compassionate and indulgent Father to them all And from so many Premises how strongly and undeniably may we conclude that all Saints should be of one Heart and of one Soul The Apostle in thus preaching Love and Peace shewed he had a very great regard to the glory of Christ the Head who is ascended far above all Heavens that he might fill all things and that he had a great concernedness for his Body the Churches edification For according to my Text it increases and edifies it self in Love In the Words there are four Propositions worthy of our observation First The Church of Christ is compared to a Body Secondly This Body of Christ is imperfect in this world and therefore continually should be increasing Thirdly The Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Fourthly The more Love abounds among the Members of the Church the more the whole Body will be edified Proposit 1. I begin with the first Proposition The Church of Christ is compared to a Body The Scripture often uses this Metaphor of a Body now a Metaphor is a similitude in a word and indeed there is a great resemblance between an Humane Body and the Church of Christ as by and by will be made evident Believers are sometimes called the Brethren of Christ Joh. 20. 17. which intimates a very near relation Sometimes they are called his Spouse whom he has betrothed to himself for ever Hos 2. 19 20. and that 's a relation much nearer and signifies a more intimate and dear affection and familiarity Sometimes they are called Branches Joh. 15. 1 2 3 4. and this expresses a nearer Union still and that both the life and fruitfulness of Christians depends upon their being and abiding in Christ the true Vine But because Branches though they grow are without sense and feeling so that neither themselves nor the Vine feel any pain when they are cut or broken therefore Believers are stiled Members the Church a Body and Christ is the Head who is very much concerned both in it and for it Eph. 5. 2 3. Christ is the Head of the Church and he is the Saviour of the Body So Eph. 3. 6. That the Gentiles should be fellow-heirs and of the same body and partakers of his promise in Christ by the Gospel Again Col. 1. 18. And he is the head of the body the Church who is the beginning and first-born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence Zanchius upon this Text takes notice of two things 1. That by the Body we are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phorius in scholiis to understand Verum Christi Corpus Mysticum the true Church the true mystical body of Christ This Church is made up of them that are really sanctified of this Hypocrites are not members for tho' such are visibly Saints yet in truth they are under the dominion of sin and shall receive for their hypocrisie greater damnation Tho' hypocrites profess themselves Christs members yet really they are not united to him Christ lives not rules not acts not in them as he does in sincere Christians Let them seem to be his followers let them pretend never so highly to be his friends yet really they are strangers whom Christ will profess at the great day he never knew Luk. 13. 26 27. Then shall ye begin to say We have eaten and drunk in thy presence and thou hast taught in our streets But he shall say I tell you I know you not â—hence you are depart from me all ye workers of iniquity 2. By the Church we are to understand the Church Militant that part of the body of Christ which is militant on earth not which is triumphant in Heaven The Church above needs not exhortations to grow and increase in Knowledge and Grace it needs not the means of edification Sermons of love are not to be preached there Glorified Saints have not the least sinful defect they see God face to face and Christ as he is and their love to their Father and Redeemer is answerable to the sight they have and as much as they are capable of And being refined from all remainders of sin they are become such lovely Creatures that they cannot but love one another with a most pure and perfect love 'T is the Church of Christ on earth the Apostle speaks of this is the Body that is to be edified and alas in how many respects how certainly in all respects does it stand in need of edification In the handling of this Proposition I shall first of all shew the great resemblance that iâ— between the Church of Christ and a Body Secondly What kind of body the Church of Christ is Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to shew the great resemblance between the Church of Christ and a Body 1. The life of the Body depends upon its conjunction with the Head Christ is the Churches life and the Nos Christo adglutinamur non sicut populus Principi sed sicut membra bumani corporis suo Capiti Church could no more live without Christ than a body could remain alive after the head were severed from it Our Lord calls himself the Way the Truth and the Life also Joh. 14. 6. By his blood he frees his Church from the sentence of death and condemnation which sin had brought her under and makes her spiritually alive by his quickning Spirit So that the Church breaths after God walks with him labours in his work and service all which are evidences of life spiritual We read 1 Joh. 5.
12. He that hath the Son hath life and he that hath not the Son hath not life They that by faith receive the Lord Jesus are purified are regenerated and shall live for ever but as many as through unbelief reject him remain dead in sin and doom'd to Hell Union with Christ is a most necessary a most happy union The Churches life from this has its beginning and continuance unto consummation 2. The Head has a mighty influence upon the Body There is a powerful influence from Christ upon his Church and what good it does is done by vertue of this influence He is said to be exalted far above all Heavens that he might fill all things Eph. 4. 10. Whatever grace and strength and comfort is communicated to believers it is really and all from Christ He fills Ordinances with efficacy mercies with sweetness afflictions with light and usefulness and Souls with greater degrees of Grace and Holiness out of that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all-fulness it has pleased the Father should dwell in him Col. 1. 19. Our Lord tells his Disciples they must abide in him for separated from him they can do nothing Joh. 15. 5. No wonder the Apostle professes That Christ is all and in all Col. 3. 11. Though the Body the Church should be never so much increased a deficiency in the Head Christ need not be feared neither is it indeed possible for in him there is all the fulness of the Godhead And consequently his Rightousness and Grace must needs be sufficient for the whole 3. The Body has many Members and these members have different Offices The Church likewise has various members and their different stations relations callings diversify their work and duties and yet the doing of these duties is both comely and advantageous and the more every one does his own work the more all are benefited Rom. 12. 45. the Apostle tells us That as we have many members in one body and all members have not the same office so we being many are one body in Christ And from thence infers that All should use the gifts they have received which are differing according to the grace and good pleasure of God the Giver It would be unreasonable for the Ear to attempt to speak like the Tongue or the Hand to see like the Eye The several members have their uses and work proper to them All are not Apostles all are not Prophets all are not Teachers all are not Governours 1 Cor. 12. 29. There are many indeed most in the Church that have need to be taught and governed and those that think themselves wise enough to instruct and govern themselves and so despise their spiritual Guides usually are the most ignorant and unruly and hugely need the help and conduct of others The members must abide in their place and calling Masters Servants Parents Children Husbands Wives Magistrates Subjects Pastors People doing their duties which the Scripture in their several stations and relations calls for 4. The Body is fitly joyned and thus fitly joyned is the Church of Christ The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies that there is a congruous order among the members of Christ Without Order an Army would be a Rout and not an Army a Kingdom would become a confused self-destroying multitude The Churches God is the God of Order and not of confusion 1 Cor. 14. 33. There is a rule for Order and Government and a subordination in the Church 't is not a body of levellers if there were a perfect parity all would affect to rule none would care to be ruled The reproof of two or three is more than the reproof of one the Churches admonition and censure is still with greater authority The flock is to submit themselves â—o their Pastors who are over them in the Lord. Heb. 13. 17. and both Pastors and people are to submit especially unto Christian Magistrates who are prophetically promised in the Old Testament that they should be Nursing Fathers to the Church under the New A right Order in Churches and Families will have a mighty influence to make believers stedfast against temptations both to Error and Wickedness The Apostle rejoyced in the Colossians chap. 2. 5. when he beheld their order and the stedfastness of of their faith in Christ 5. The Body is compact together so is the Church of Christ the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shews that the Church is firmly knit unto Christ the Head and the members one unto another The hypostatical Vnion between the Natures of Christ shall never be dissolved neither shall the mystical union between him and his members and if so then his true members must needs remain closely knit together There are ligaments joynts bands whereby the Body of Christ is held together The Spirit of Grace and Love unites the body to Christ and members to members The Ministers of Christ are subservient unto this union and ought to be preaching and commending love which is a grace of an uniting nature The Apostle had a concernedness for the Colossians which he expresses by a great conflict and that which he wisht so vehemently for was this that their hearts might be comforted beingknit together in love Col. 2. 1 2. Where is the member of the natural Body that grows weary of its fellowship and is willing to be cut off The Arms the Hands the Leggs the Feet are desirous to keep their places and and nature makes them abhor to be severed True grace makes the members of the Church to dislike separation As they believe so they very well like and are desirous of the communion of Saints A very black mark is set upon them who are of a contrary inclination 1 Joh. 2. 19. They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest they were not all of us 6. God hath set the Members in the body as it pleased him the different gifts and graces which are in the Church of Christ and the members of it are according to Gods will and pleasure He bestowes larger gifts upon some and less upon others and yet those that have less are not unuseful Some Saints receive greater measures of Grace others smaller but all have that grace which is true and which at last will end in glory Some members of the Church are higher others lower and yet they should not envy or despise one another for God has assigned their place unto both the higher may direct the lower the lower may serve the higher The eye cannot say to the hand I have no need of thee nor the head to the feet I Have no need of you and those members of the body which seem to be more feeble are necessary 1 Cor. 12. 21 22. By the grace of God the members of Christ are what they are They have nothing but what they have received and the more
any have received the more humble and diligent they should be for where much is given much will also be required 7. In the Body Nourishment is conveyed unto the parts and the whole is hereby sustained The body of Christ also by joints and bands having nourishment ministred and knit together increaseth with the increase of God Col. 2. 19. The Church of Christ has food to eat which the world knows not of it has spiritual senses a spiritual appetite and its food is spiritual The word of God is compared to food here is milk for Babes and stronger meat for more grown Saints No food so profitable and nourishing no food so pleasant no food so necessary Heark to the profession of Job chap. 23. 12. Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food David cries out How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter than hony to my mouth Psal 119. 103. And the Prophet speaks to the same purpose Jer. 15. 16. Thy words were found and I did eat them and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoycing of my heart The body of Christ is nourished by his Word and other Ordinances are appointed for the increase of this body A famine of this word deserves to be dreaded as a very sore judgment The better the food if it be well digested the better the chyle and the purer the blood and the body will be more prosperous and healthy the more purely and sincerely the word of God is dispensed the members of Christ will become stronger and the inward man be the more renewed day by day As Christ gives his word so he vouchsafes himself to be food to his members His flesh is meat indeed his blood is drink indeed Joh. 6. 55. And by this they are nourished unto that life which is eternal It might also be added that Christ is the cloathing as well as the nourishment of his Body his Righteousness is the Robe which covers their guilt and nakedness his Grace beautifies and adorns his Saints therefore they are bid to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and to make no provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof Rom. 13. 14. 8. In the Body the Members and parts are operative and active for the good of the whole in the Church there is an 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 effectual working in the measure 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Phot. of every part that the whole may be increased The new Nature which is in sincere believers inclines them unto action suitable to that nature sloth is exceedingly opposite unto Religion God is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him to seek him negligently is indeed to neglect him The members of Christ are industriously to do their duty towards their Father and their Head and likewise towards one another hence it is that we read of the labour of love which the Apostle requires and encourages Heb. 6. 10 11 12. God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love which you have shewed towards his Name in that you have ministred to the Saints and do minister and we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end that ye be not slothful but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises The members of Christs Church are to be active but in their place and calling for if they act irregularly that action will be against the Body and to its prejudice not to its edification Every part has its place and that place it must keep and not aspire higher without a call and that measure of grace which it has received it must faithfully exercise with a regard to the Churches good as well as its own 9. The whole Body and all its members are animated by one Soul and the Church with all its true members are animated by one and the same Spirit We read Eph. 4. 4. There is one body and one Spirit and again 1 Cor. 6. 17. He that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit The same Spirit which is in the Head is in all the members which are joyned to him And the Apostle sticks not to say If any man have not the Spirit of Christ he is none of his Rom. 8. 9. All that light which the members of Christ have is from the Spirit he has caused a marvellous light to shine into their hearts which before were under the power of darkness he likewise is the worker of that liberty and ability which they have unto what is good whereas before they had a freedom but it was only to evil continually These members of Christ are all changed into his image which is their glory but the beginning of that change and the progress of it unto greater glory is from and by the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 17 18. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty but we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord are changed into the same image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirits of the Lord. The Spirit dwells in all true believers and Christ has promised that he shall abide in them for over Joh. 14. 16 17. Soul and Body indeed may be separated but the Spirit and the Saint shall not The very bodies of believers are affirmed to be the Temples of the Spirit where he dwells and abides 1 Cor. 6. 19. What know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you which you have of God and ye are not your own And if the body be his Temple surely the Heart and Soul should be as it were the sanctum sanctorum the holyest of all fill'd with light and grace that it may be also fill'd with peace and joy 10. The Body is under the Souls conduct and command the Church is conducted and ruled by the Spirit of Christ The eyes do see the ears hear the hands work the feet move according to the Souls will and pleasure and as it has despoticum imperium the command and government of the members so it acts them and their operations are from the Souls presence for if the Soul were gone the body would immediately become a clod of Earth and the members be deprived of all strength and motion The Spirit of Christ commands and acts his Members he makes them to see the invisible God and that world which is invisible he makes them hear the voice of Christ so as to obey his call he makes the hands holy having first purified the heart and employes them in working Righteousness He turns the feet into the way of Gods testimonies and strengthens believers so as that they run and are not weary they walk without fainting A Christians conversation is styled a walking in the Spirit Gal. 5. 16. This I say then walk in the Spirit in his
that God would teach him that God would open his eyes and give him understanding Psal 119. which expressions shew a remainder of ignorance in him a trouble at it and a desire after a more perfect instruction 2. Holiness at present is imperfect in the best of men as well as Knowledg Other Graces cannot be perfect if Knowledge be not He that does not know the evil of sin so fully as he ought cannot hate it so much as he should He that is imperfect in his knowledge of God and Christ must needs fall short in his Faith and Love and holy Fear and Reverence There is not one sanctifying Grace in us but needs further degrees The Apostle makes it the constant work of Believers here below to be cleansing themselves from all filthiness both of the flesh and spirit and to be perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 7. 1. 3. The victory over spiritual enemies is not yet fully obtained by militant Saints They are combating but they have not conquered they resist Satan and force him many times to flee but he returns again and renews his assaults and the God of peace has not yet done it though he has promised to tread him under their feet shortly Rom. 16. 20. They have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts but though the flesh is fastened to the Cross of Christ and therefore the old man is said to be crucified with him yet the flesh struggles upon the Cross the Body of Sin is not quite destroyed some fleshly and worldly lusts and affections are stirring which are not totally mortified Militant Saints are not as yet compleat Conquerours for their enemies still make a head and continue the war though at length they shall be made more than Conquerours through him that loved them Rom. 8. 37. 4. The Joyes of believers also are imperfect All tears shall at last be wiped away from their Eyes but at present their Eyes are full of them The worlds wickedness and folly in that wickedness professors degeneracy the Churches divisions and distresses and corruptions the dreadful tokens and signs of Gods displeasure if not of his departing finally their own spiritual distempers which are so far from being perfectly cured alas these are enough to hinder their joy from being perfect 5. Their Happiness is as yet but an imperfect Happiness All the world are miserable besides and the Saints are the only happy ones and yet these by many degrees are not so happy as they shall be This sad effect sin has by coming into the world that not a man not the best man can be fully happy till got out of the world The Churches true members are happy indeed because God is theirs Psal 144. ult because Christ is theirs but they must needs be happy only in part because God and Christ are but in part enjoyed In the second place I am to shew in what sense the Church should be continually increasing I. The Church should endeavour to increase in numbers and that the stone cut out without hands may become a great mountain and fill the whole earth Dan. 2. 34 35. 'T is the worlds misery that it hates and keeps at a distance from the Church of Christ But if this world were but taken into the Church and were brought to believe in the same Jehovah in the same Jesus and to yield Subjection to the same Gospel what a New and Happy world would there be presently This increase of the Church in numbers is to be endeavoured several wayes 1. Prayer should be constant and very fervent for this increase All the Sons and Daughters of Sion should be importunate that the City of God may be enlarged that the Church may not have a barren womb or dry breasts but that by reason of her numerous Offspring she may enlarge the place of her tent and without sparing she may lengthen her cords and strengthen her stakes and stretch forth the curtains of her habitation Isa 54. 2. There is mercy enough in God though the miserable sinners that come to him are never so great a multitude The fulness of Christ is so infinitely unmeasurable that 't is sufficient to supply and to enrich the whole empty and beggar'd race of Adam Heaven is of capacity to contain millions of inhabitants more Let us therefore pray that the conversion of Souls may be by thousands and that they may flie as a cloud and as doves to their Windows Isa 60. 8. 2. The promises of the Churches increase are to be believed and pleaded In what a strain does God speak unto his Church what Promises does he make her Isa 60. 3 4 5. The Gentiles shall come to thy light and Kings to the brightness of thy rising Lift up thine eyes round about and see all they gather themselves together they come to thee Thy Sons shall come from far and thy Daughters shall be nursed at thy side Then shalt thou see and flow together and thy heart shall fear and be enlarged Because the abundance of the Sea shall be converted unto thee And the Forces of the Gentiles shall come to thee And v. 11. Thy Gates shall be open continually they shall not be shut day nor night that still there may be greater confluence And v. 16. Thou shalt also suck the Milk of the Gentiles and shalt suck the breasts of Kings and thou shalt know that I the Lord am thy Saviour and thy Redeemer the mighty One of Jacob. These and such like Promises are certain that God who has made them is easily able to make them good His Glory and Name and his Sons Honour are much concern'd in fulfilling them And he is delighted to see his Saints desirous with a respect to his Name that these Promises may be performed 3. The Church is to be increased by the powerful preaching of the Gospel This Preaching by all means is to be encouraged for Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God Rom. 10. 17. Those that most preach Christ and least themselves are likeliest to enlarge the Church of God Those that are most skilful to convince men of sin that are wise to win Souls that know Christ themselves and how to reveal him to others and with greatest zeal do press the love and practice of Holiness these are the Pastours after the Heart of God and are likely to do as Jacob did to Laban vastly to increase the Flock of Christ The Apostle was so far from hindring the preaching of the Gospel that he was glad it was preached by those that did not preach sincerely Surely the Church may have some benefit and enlargement by such Phil. 1. 15 16 17 18. Some preach Christ even of envy and strife and others also of good will the one preach Christ of contention not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds but the other of love knowing that I am set for the defence of the Gospel What then I Notwithstanding every way
whether in pretence or in truth Christ is preached and therein I do rejoyce yea and will rejoyce 4. The avoiding of Scandal is much for the Churches Increase The Scandalous and loose lives of Professors make the World conclude the Gospel but a cunningly devised Fable and harden the men of it in Irreligion and a profane contempt of God and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent The evil works of such as are called Christians for many of these latter Ages has been a great impediment to the spreading of Christianity Our Lord sayes Woe to the World because of offences Mat. 18. 7. for the World hereby is confirmed in prejudice and Wickedness and at last more certainly ruined But when the Members of the Church do work out their own Salvation with fear and trembling and shew a vehement desire after the Worlds Salvation also this is the way to gain the World to Christ and to turn it unto righteousness 5. The Church is mightily increased by the exemplary conversation of her Members When Believers are zealous of good Works and without rebuke and blame When they are patterns of Piety Justice Mercy Meekness Patience Self-denial when they go about doing good and by the heavenliness of their discourse and carriage declare plainly that they seek a better countrey than is to be found in this World hereby they adorn the Gospel and render it more lovely in the Worlds eye and more likely to be entertained the ignorance of wicked and foolish men is silenced by well doing 1 Pet. 2. 15. nay they be forced to a confession that God is in his Church of a truth and may at length consent and desire to be Members of that Church where there is so much of God and of his presence visible and apparent 2. As the Church should increase in numbers so all the Members of the Church should strive to increase more and more in grace and goodness They should strongly be induced to this because of their own imperfection in Grace which imperfection fills them many times with inward trouble and tormenting doubts and fears and makes outward affliction but highly necessary Besides Holiness is of such an excellent nature and so perfective of the Nature of man that the strongest desires are to be justified the most diligent endeavours after it to be commended Grace is increased in the Members of Christ several wayes 1. By a Serious and frequent engaging in those Ordinances which he has instituted He that has instituted these has promised his blessing and adds the efficacy Prayer Fasting giving of thanks receiving the Supper of the Lord attending upon the Word preached and searching the Scriptures and the like means of Grace when seriously used do exceedingly promote the growth of a Christian making him to become strong in Spirit The Church is the Garden of God the Saints are planted there the Word and Ordinances of Christ are like the showers from Heaven and the Husbandmans pains which makes these Plants to thrive and flourish Psal 92. Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God But still it must be remembred though means are to be used yet we must look beyond them unto him that has appointed them else they will never attain their end 1 Cor. 3. 7. So then neither is he that planteth any thing nor he that watereth but God that giveth the increase 2. Grace is increased by the improving of Providences The Dispensations of Providence were various towards David he was exercised with great Severity and likewise with great Goodness we read Psal 116. 3. That the sorrows of Death compassed him and the pains of Hell gat hold upon him he found trouble and sorrow and v. 10. He was greatly afflicted in this distress he calls upon that God who is merciful and gracious for deliverance and his calling is heard and his Soul is delivered from Death his Eyes from Tears and his Feet from Falling And now how is his Heart affected his Graces strengthned He is filled with Love he is resolved to give himself to Prayer as long as he lived his Soul is at rest in God who had dealt bountifully with him he offers the Sacrifice of Thanksgiving and he cryes out Oh Lord I am thy Servant truly I am thy Servant v. 16. as if he should say Lord thou art a Master beyond all comparison and as it is my firm resolution so 't is my Happiness and Honour as well as Duty to be a Servant to thee 3. The Covenant of Grace is to be Studied and the Promises applyed in order to a Christians increase God has assured his People that he will perfect that which concerns them and that he will not forsake the work of his own hands He has said that his Servants shall Spring up as among the Grass and as Willows by the Water-courses Isa 44. 4. That the Righteous shall hold on his way and they that have clean hands shall wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 9. That they shall bring forth fruit even in Old Age and even then be flourishing and this shall be to shew that the Lord is upright Psal 92. 14 15. Such Promises being prized and applyed will make the New Creature full of vigour and perseverance will be certain Heark to the Apostle Phil. r. 6 7. Being confident of this very thing that he who hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ even as it is meet for me to think this of you all 4. Grace is increased by Having recourse unto that fulness which dwells in Christ Therefore growing in Grace and growing in the Knowledge of Christ are joyned together for Christ is full of Grace and Truth and out of his fulness sayes St. John We all have received and Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 14 16. that is Grace answerable to that Grace which is in him Grace is his purchase he has it in Possession he gives it to all that have it and every new degree is from the same hand He is the Object the Author and the Finisher of Faith Heb. 12. 2. They are the most growing and established Saints that are least taken with the World that have least confidence in themselves that do best understand and most look unto Jesus 5. All impediments of increase must be carefully shunn'd as Pride and sloth and earthliness carnal and corrupt affections if these or things of like nature prevail they will prove to the Soul what Diseases are to the Body and make the Members of Christ to be feeble and languish depriving them both of their Strength and Beauty These are like peccant humours which must be Purged if we would have our Souls healthy and prosperous These are like weights which must be laid aside if we will run the Race that is set before us so as to obtain the Prize Heb. 12. 1. In the third place I am to produce several reasons why the Church
should be continually increasing 1. This increase is for the Fathers glory the more Saints there are God is honoured by the more and the more any are Saints he has still the more glory from them The stronger the members of Christ grow their Faith in God is firmer their fear more filial they love him more with their heart and Soul and strength they walk more humbly with him all which shews what right apprehensions they have of him and that they glorifie him as God believing his presence power mercy truth and righteousness That our Lord might perswade unto fruitfulness and increase he sayes Joh. 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples 2. This increase of the Church is for the honour of Christ the Churches Head The largeness of a Dominion and the multitude of Subjects is the honour of a Prince The more sincere Christians there are the Kingdom of our Lord is the more enlarged and He himself is magnified the more The Redeemer is glorified when the Everlasting Gospel runs when his word which is the Scepter of his Kingdom is believed and obeyed when Souls by whole multitudes come flocking to him to be justified by his blood sanctified and healed by his grace and saved to the uttermost How was Christ honoured when after the ten first Persecutions the Roman Empire submitted to the Faith the Eagle gave way to the Cross and Constantine the Great threw down his Crown at the feet of the Lamb of God Then was that Scripture signally fulfilled though a further accomplishment is still to be expected Isa 55. 5. Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee 3. In this increase of the Church the operaetion of the Spirit is very illustrious He wrought the miracles for the confirmation of the Gospel and made it at first to be entertained in the world Wherever there is true Faith it is of his bestowing Those that are regenerated are said to be born of the Spirit Joh. 3. 6. The renewing of a Soul is of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. All spiritual gifts all true grace all solid comforts are from the Spirit The more therefore Light is spread the more largely gifts are distributed the more plentiful communication there is of grace the more peace and joy abounds the greater is the Spirits glory The Nicene Creed calls the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord and Giver of life Quot Membrae tot Miracula So many members as Christ has so many miracles there are of the Spirits working for he has raised them all to life who were once dead in sins and trespasses as well as others 4. This Increase is for the Churches advantage therefore it should be endeavoured 'T is matter of joy and praise to Saints to behold sinners converted and sanctified to see Prodigals coming to themselves and coming home to their Fathers House to see strangers and forreigners made fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 2. 19. And when these Saints perceive that more of light is imparted to themselves and that they are filled fuller with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Glory and praise of God they must needs apprehend this to be for their profit if the truest riches may be called gains and Pearls of the greatest price be of any value 5. The World is benefited by the Churches increase Not a Soul gathered out of the World but something is secured of greater value than the World If a City were on fire and burning apace to the ground the more persons are saved the more Goods are secured the greater kindness is done to that City because these Persons these Goods escape the fury of the flames Sin is ruining the World apace but all that in time come out from the World and touch not the unclean thing and are incorporated into the Church of Christ are safe as in a Sanctuary shall be delivered from the common destruction and scape the vengeance of eternal fire in which all the wicked must burn for ever 6. The Angels themselves are concerned at the increase of the Church The Apostate Ones are confounded when by all their subtilty and strength they are not able to hinder the increase of Christs Government nay that they are so over-ruled that they are made to promote his Kingdom by those very means which were designed to overthrow it And the Elect Angels are affirmed to rejoyce at the Repentance and Conversion of a Sinner Luk. 15. 10. Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth And if they are so glad at the Conversion of one what an accession would it be to their joy to behold thousands and millions added to the Church of Christ 'T is pleasing to the Angels to behold peace on Earth and Gods good-will expressing it self in the Salvation of Men Luk. 2. 14. and upon this account they cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory be to God in the highest The Application follows USE 1. Of Reproof to them that hinder the Churches increase The furtherers of it I am sure are few the hinderers many therefore the more are concerned in the Reprehension 1. Enemies without endeavour with might and main to hinder the increase of the Body of Christ They hate the light and would fain hinder it from shining they are grieved that Jesus is preached are angry as well as grieved for they are unwilling his Subjects should become numerous The World upon this account raises Persecution and how many at such a time do fall away Mat. 13. 21. Cyprian laments the pressure of that Persecution which had so wofully wasted the Flock he was over and sayes that positi erant inter plangentium ruinas timentium reliqutas inter numerosam languentium stragem exiguam stantium paucitatem L. 4. Ep. 4. Many were ruined the rest feared the Church languished and few did stand against so furious an assault We have large Martyrologies but if all Apostates were registred how vast would be the Catalogues of them 'T is well Tribulation lasts but ten dayes a short time else the World might tread the Church under But the Worlds rage is without reason against the Church of Christ which will do no harm and desires to do the World the greatest kindness 2. Hypocrites within are to be reproved for they hinder the Churches increase fitly compared to Vipers which are said to eat the bowels in which they were bred Our Lords anger is very hot and his words sharp against Hypocrites Mat. 23. 13. For they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men they refuse to go in themselves neither suffer they them that are entring to go in They profess high but when
her Lords work and cast out the fear of suffering for his sake for a strong love is stronger than Death and has a most vehement flame many waters cannot quench it neither can the floods drown it Cant. 8. 6 7. 2. The Church must Edifie it self that it may become Larger Prayer should be instant and constant and pains should be taken both by Pastors and People and Godliness should be both in Form and Power that so the Mountain of the House of the Lord may be established in the top of the Mountains and exalted above the Hills and all Nations may flow unto it Isa 2. 2. 3. The Church must Edifie it self that it may become more Beautiful and Glorious The great day of the Churches publick Marriage to the Lamb is approaching how careful should she be to cleanse and adorn her self that she may be found of him in Peace without spot and blameless 2 Pet. 3. 14. This Beauty and Glory which the Church is to endeavour after and to long and hope for you have described Rev. 21. 9 10. Come hither and I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs Wife And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high Mountain and shewed me that great City the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the Glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a Jaspar-stone clear as Chrystal the walls were high the twelve Gates were all Pearls the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent glass and I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof What is the glory of Solomons Kingdom or Temple or of the whole World if compared with the Beauty of the new Jerusalem which the most valuable things in nature as Gold and Jewels are used to set forth but fall exceeding short of what they signifie I shall now make a brief Application USE I. It is matter of great Lamentation that the Church at present is so far from Edifying of it self that 't is doing quite the contrary 't is about to be Felo de se to destroy and to pull it self down to the ground if the God of Wisdom Love and Peace do not hinder The Poet lookt upon it as truly lamentable that the Roman State was engaged in a Civil War where there could be no Triumph after Victory that Pompey and Caesar both brave both Roman Generals should fight so eagerly so bloodily one against the other but surely 't is one of the saddest sights in the World to see the Members of the Body of Christ at variance and biting and devouring and doing that to one another which the siercest Persecution was never able to effect Alas for Wo that the Church of Christ should be militant not only because of her fighting with Enemies but because of the Discord among her own Members Suis ipsa Ecclesia viribus ruit The Church employes her own force to her own ruine Pastours are set against Pastours Saints against Saints Sermons against Sermons nay Prayers against Prayers and Sion is become like a Babel of Confusion Quis talia fando Temperet à lachrymis Well may the Prophets words be here applyed Ezek. 19. 14. This is a lamentation and shall be for a lamentation USE II. Of Advice Let the Churches Edification be minded Let all study and follow the things that make for Peace and things wherewith one may Edifie another Rom. 14. 19. 'T is not below the greatest of men to put their hands to this work of Building the House of God indeed it should strenuously be set about by All Magistrates Ministers People 1. The Churches Edification is to be minded by Magistrates Their Authority should be subservient to the Authority of Him by whom they Reign Prov. 8. 15. By me Kings Reign and Princes decree Justice The Laws of Kingdoms and States should alwayes promote and encourage the Progress of the Gospel Truth and Holiness do ever deserve the countenance of Authority but sin is worthy of a frown Those Princes who are most for the Churches welfare do most consult their own If Righteousness exalts a Nation and sin be the reproach and â—â—â—ine of any People Prov. 14. 34 then the more the Church is Edified the more firmly both Throne and Kingdom are established Hezekiah his Zeal for Religion was attended with a blessed Prosperity 2 Chron. 31. 21. In every work that he began in the Service of the house of God and in the Law and in the Commandments to seek his God he did it with all his Heart and he prospered 2. The Churches Edification is to be minded by Ministers 't is their office more peculiarly to be Labourers together with God in his Husbandry and Building 1 Cor. 3. 9. They should Pray Preach Live so as to Edifie Reputation and worldly advantage are poor things Edification Edification is most truly considerable and should sound in their Ears should be upon their Hearts and endeavoured with their utmost abilities They must be blameless as the Stewards of God and faithfully dispense food to Souls They must not be Self-willed not soon Angry not given to Wine no Strikers not given to filthy Lâ—cre but lovers of Hospitality lovers of good Men Sober Just Holy Temperate Tit. 1. 7 8. Then they are like to Build the House of God indeed 3. The People also should endeavour the Edification of the Church They should by a good example provoke one another to love and good works No corrupt Communication should proceed out of their Mouths but that which is good to the use of Edifying and which may administer Grace to the hearâ—rs Eph. 4 29. They are to please one another for Edification Rom. 15. 2. And in all Reproofs let Love and a desire to Edifie be apparent in the Reprover I conclude with a few Arguments to perswade all to Edifie the Church 1. The Church of Christ is hugely out of repair the breaches are great and there is much rubbish to be removed and where there is so much work to be done the Labourers should be the greater number and the more diligent 2. While you are building his Church the Lord himself will be with you and then no matter for opposition Greater is he that is in you than he that is in the World When Nehemiah was building Jerusalem he was derided he was opposed but he was not discouraged neither did the work cease and the Enemies were forced to an acknowledgment that God was with him 3. Your labour shall not be in vain either as to success or as to reward Some good you shall do who do desire it and God takes notice how much more you would do and will reward you accordingly The Lord is too good a Master
a great many particulars discovers true love and Charity and I shall make it evident how in every particular 't is much for edification 1. Love suffers long and is kind God is long suffering and so is Love It enables us to rule our own spirits which argues true greatness and strength of Soul Prov. 16. 32. He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a City Love is so far from revenging injuries already done that it will bear new ones and that 's the meaning of our Lords Injunction Mat. 5. 39. I say unto you that ye resist not evil but whosoever shall smite thee on the right cheek turn to him the other also Nay Love though it suffers long is kind notwithstanding 'T is much to put up an injury but much more to be kind to the Injurer This love in Churches how would it unite them and the more they are united the more they are strengthened Provocations to wrath would be turned into provocations to love and evil would be overcome by goodness and the World hereby is likely to be convinced and converted The Proto-Martyr Stephen was kind to those that stoned him How does he pray that their sin might not be laid to their charge but that their Souls might be saved though they thirsted after his blood and took away his life from him This Prayer was heard and Saul at length is converted and proves a Master-builder of the Church of God 2. Love envies not It is not grieved and troubled at anothers excellency neither does it grudge at the comfort or prosperity of another How much of Hell is there in the temper of an envious man The happiness of another is his misery the good of another is his affliction He looks upon the vertue of another with an evil eye and is as sorry at the praise of another as if that praise were taken away from himself Envy makes him an hater of his Neighbour and his own Tormenter Love flies from Envy as extreamly diabolical for the root of it is pride and ill will is its Concomitant What sad work has Envy made in Churches not to speak of the mischief it has done all the World over When Christians have been desirous of vain-glory provoking one another envying one another which the Apostle so much dehorts from Gal. 5. ult When Pastors have been envious at one anothers Parts Gifts Preferments Success and Estimation the poor Church has suffered and its Edification has gone on like Pauls work but very slowly Envy makes the builders to fall out to weaken one anothers hands to hinder one another in the work of God Where envying and strife is is there Edification No such matter but there is confusion and every evil work Jam. 3. 16. Love instead of being troubled at the grace or usefulness or esteem of another rejoyces therein and the more there are that honour God and adorn the Gospel and benefit the Church it rejoyces the more 3. Love vaunteth not it self neither is it puffed up The word which the Holy Ghost uses for vaunting is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Greek word of a Latine derivation coming from perperan which signifies amiss An ancient Greek Father St. Basil propounds this question What is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and returns this answer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Love is against doing things for shew and ostentation and excludes vain-glorious boasting Puffing up relates to the Heart vaunting to the words and actions Love refuses to do either It makes a man not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think but to think soberly Rom. 12. 3. those Precepts are much minded Rom. 12. 10. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love in honour preferring one another and Phil. 2. 3. Let each esteem other better than themselves And as Love hinders the heart from being puff'd up so the tongue from vaunting it self or debasing another It will not defame or disparage others as if its own reputation were to be built upon the ruine of theirs Now this kind of temper is very subservient to the Churches interest For while Christians are thus low in their own eyes and are ready both in word and deed to honour and encourage one another great grace a shining lustre is upon them all and God himself delights in them to make them flourish and encrease 4. Love does not behave it self unseemly What more unseemly than a lofty look than an haughty carriage as if others were not good enough to unloose the latchet of our shoes but Love does banish pride and scornfulness and makes us humble in our converse which is the most seemly behaviour in the world The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies any unseemly behaviour So that Love studies exactness of carriage that Religion may be the more commended unto all When Professors do that which is unseemly the Church and Religion suffer by it but a conversation without rebuke which manifests a love both to God and Man is the way to win many a man to God that before was estranged from him An unseemly behaviour opens many a mouth against the Gospel creates new prejudices and confirms the World in their natural enmity against it But a seemly conversation makes Religion amiable well-doing puts ill tongues to silence and forces them to give glory to God 1 Pet. 2. 12. Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles that whereas they speak against you as evil doers they may by your good works which they shall behold glorify God in the day of visitation 5. Love seeketh not her own and consequently inclines us to edify and to seek the good of others The Apostles meaning is not that Love causes us to cast off all care and regard of our selves but only that which is immoderate and which proceeding from a blind self-love makes us disregard what becomes of others Christ himself is a pattern to Love in this respect and Love follows him He was humbled that we might be exalted He was condemned that we might be justified He became poor that we through his poverty might be rich He was made a curse that we might receive the blessing even life for evermore Love will make a Christian seek the wealth of another the reputation and especially the Salvation of another Nay Charity will prevail with us to suffer reproach loss imprisonment nay death it self when God calls us to it for the Churches good 1 Joh. 3. 16. Hereby perceive we the love of God because he layed down his life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren And Col. 1. 24. Who now rejoyce in my sufferings for you and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his bodies sake which is the Church Hence 't is apparent sayes Calvin Quam non sit ingenita nobis à natura charieas that true Charity is