al the parts so serviceable needful comfortable ech to other that they cannot without paine losse and deformity be pulled asunder even so the Saincts of God ar as the Apostle sayth one body in Christ every one one anothers members being by one spirit al baptised into one body which is caled Christs Church or Congregation because we ar gathered and joyned togither vnto him our head by whom al the body being coupled and knit togither by every joynt for the furniture therof according to the effectual power which is in the mesure of every part receiveth increase of the body vnto the edifying of it self in love 4. The strength virtue of this vnion of the Saincts procedeth from the vnitie of their Faith and spirit For faith is the doore by which we hav entry accesse both vnto God and into his Church or assembly which thervpon is caled the multitude of the faithful or beleevers even the howshold of faith And as by it we eÌ„ter into this societie so being entred we there build vp our selves in our most holy faith by it we * live by it we stand by it we al ar the sons of God the seed of Abraham consequently heyrs by promise of the blessed inheritance and so doe enter into his rest Which faith because it is one as the Lord is one and is by his holy spirit communicated with al the Saincts it is therfore caled the commune faith from which the communion of faith that is of al Christian duties do flow and especially is seen in our conversing togither for the better performance of them For as Christ prayed that they which should belev in him might al be one as the Father He were one in and with another so the effect of that his prayer appeareth in the vnion communion of the first beleevers which were of one haâ—â— of one sowl and continued dayly with one accord their meetings and fellowships for duties both spiritual humane Of which happy day the Lord did foretell by his prophets saying I wil giv them one hart and one way that they may fear me for ever for the wealth of them and of their children after them and I wâ—â— make them one people in the land vpon the mouÌ„tains of Israel one king shal be king to theÌ„ al they shal be no more two peoples nor divided any more henceforth into two kingdoms This fellowship ought al men to labour that they may come vnto and being come there to abide endevouring to keep the vnity of the spirit in the bond of peace and to continew in one spirit in one minde fighting togither through the faith of the Gospel 5. The causes why God requireth this gathering and knitting togither of our selves are these First for the better service of his Majestie which he most esteemeth when it is done of vs with joynt consent and agreement that we with one minde one mouth prayse God even the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ and as the prophet sayth serve him with one shoulder And for this cause at the first constitution of the Church of Israel he coÌ„maunded that at their solemn feasts they should all the males three times in the yere appear before the Lord Iehovah besides their vsual meetings on the Sabbaths which fests were called holy assemblies or convocations and had special dayes for calling and assembling the people wherein Gods word was read expounded vnto them his name magnified with songs prayses the people answering Amen bowing down and worshiping sacrifices were offred for the whol congregation feasts were celebrated with relief of the poor and the people received a blessing in the name of the Lord. Which open solemne service as it was pleasing to the Lord who there required the service offrings al the holy things of al his people so the neglect and omission hereof was a forsaking of him and a procuring of his wrath Wherefore the godly magistrates wer careful to establish mainteyn that publick worship appoynting the Priests Levites for the burnt offrings and peace offrings to minister and to give thanks and to prayse in the gates of the tents of the Lord and the faithful vsed to frequent that place and those solemnities that they might prayse God in the midds of the congregatioÌ„ among much people there declare with the voice of thanksgiving and set forth all his wonderous works pay their vowes vnto him in the presence of al the folke within the courts of his howse which he had chosen for his rest for ever loved there to dwel and delighted therein They vsed also to call the people vnto the mountain there to offer the sacrifices of righteousnes to stir vp and exhort one another to blesse God in the Assemblies and exalt him in the congregation of the people The like publick worship the Lamb solemnizeth vnto his Father whiles he standeth vpoÌ„ Mount Sion with his 144. thousand wher the voyce of the heavenly congregation is heard like the sound of many waters and of a great thunder and like harpers harping with their harps singing a new soÌ„g before the throne And there Christs prayse is of God in the great assemblie his vowes he performeth before them that fear him he declareth Gods justice and mercy his truth and his salvation Whose prayse therfore is heard in the CoÌ„gregation of Saincts Israel joying in his maker and the sons of Sion rejoycing in their king saying Halelu-jah salvation and glory honour power vnto the Lord our God Halelu-jah for the Lord God almighty reigneth 6. An other cause of the joyning togither of the Saincts is their edification in the knowledge and fear of God For although they have his word privatly to meditate therin day night which also he blesseth vnto them yet in his church or assemblie he more plentifully powreth out his blessings as he promised by Moses In every place wher I shal put the remembrance of my name I wil come vnto thee blesse thee And as his name was in his howse and Temple so there he appointed ministers to reherse or make mention of the same to teach Iaakob his judgements and Israel his lawes Which Law when he first gav vnto them he sayd vnto Moses Gather me the people togither I will cause them to hear my words and when afterwards it was solemnly repeted every Sabbath yere by like commaundment the people were to be gathered togither men women children and strangers to hear and learn the same Yea every Sabbath day the people assembled in their synagogues throughout all their cities for the same purpose And in these last dayes it was foretold how
not to offer their offrings of blood nor make mention of their names with our lips not to frequent their assemblies nor eat of their sacrifices though they cal and invite vs thereto for even the word of God and all other holy things are polluted among them their prayers turned to syn and their sacrifices abomination to the Lord. 8. And not in hart and mynd alone are we to mislike eschew their idolatries other evil actions but to keep our bodies as wel as our spirits pure because Christ hath redeemed both with both we must glorify God We may not therfore swear by their idols nor make any other religious mention of them with our lips We may not kisse them nor bow the knee nor do any other signe of reverence vnto them We may not present our bodies at their holy feasts in their hallowed places nor suffer our mouthes to eat of their delicates much lesse repayr to any such places for the repast or feeding of our sowles We may not eyther at allurement of parents brethren or most dear friends or by the example or entisement of the multitude or by the commandment of the Magistrate do these or any of these evils but following the word of God to separate our selves touch no vnclean thing clense vs from all filthines of the flesh and spirit so grow vp vnto ful holines in the fear of God Finally we may not joyn our selves in mariage with any that are noâ— of the same faith and fellowship with vs in the Gospel of Christ. 9. The causes of this restraynt separation from the wicked are First the will glorie of God who to the end we might be his hath severed vs from other people and vpon this condition hath promised to accept vs marie vs vnto himsef in faith that we should giv our selves alone to him and to his service and not run a whoring after strangers And hath made this our refreyning from communion with the wicked one expresse special part of his covenaÌ„t with vs. Secondly it is for our own good least by familarity with the wicked we should learne their wayes receiv destruction to our sowls as others before vs by and for like cariage hav done Therfore aâ—â— we warned not to wander in their pathes nor let our hart decline to their wayes for they go down to the chambers of death and if we be partakers in their syns we shal receive also of their plagues Thirdly it is for the good of those wicked men themselves if such be the grace of God towards them or for their more certayn just condemnation that seeing vs to separate from them and thinking it strange that we run not with them vnto the same evils hearing our reproofs and witnes against them are eyther drawen to consider their wayes and turn their feet vnto Gods testimonies or els blaspheming persist and are hardned in their evill course vnto judgment Fourthly it is for the overthrow of Satans throne and kingdome which the words and works of the Saincts do beat down dayly discovering his errors and abominatioÌ„s keeping themselves and drawing others from his deceipts and snares whereas by coÌ„municating in those evils they should both honour and advance that enemy and strengthen the wickeds hands that they should not turne from their impietie 10. But though we may have no communion with the wicked in their religion nor any other evil action against either table of Gods Law yet in civill affayres we are taught of God to converse with them in peace As to eat and drink with them buy sell make covenants of peace shew kindnes to them pity their estate love them relieve their wants and receive from them for our relief pray for them labour by all gentle demeanure to convert them from their evil way and do any good we can to their sowles or bodies or any thing that is theirs And if we live in their policies and dominions we ought to be subject to al civil Magistrates high or low and that of conscience pay theÌ„ their tributes customes other like duties for their common wealth to bear their exactions oppressions persecutions patiently without rebellion or resistance and even pray for them that shal so misuse vs that thus as much as in vs lieth we may do good vnto have peace with al men in all things except syn be perfect as our father which is in heaven is perfect CHAP. X. How the Saincts are called out of themselves taught to forsake their owne wayes and works that they may have communion with God in Christ. FOrasmuch as al meÌ„ bear in their bosomes naturall corruptions bred with them in the womb brought vp with them from the cradle wherby they ar al alike children of wrath our separation from other wicked wil litle availe vs vnlesse we be also separated from our selves and learn to renounce the lusts and affections yea even the fayr-seeming works and wisdom of the flesh For what ar we the better for avoiding outward pollution by others if a fretting leprosy cleav to our flesh bones and our own clothes do make vs filthy 2 To draw vs therfore quite out of the miry pit of corruption the Lord hath caled vs from the love and liking of our selves also as being naturally both his enemies and our own teaching vs that our wits are vncapable of his heavenly mysteries our reason enmitie against him his Law our thoughts purposes evil our affectioÌ„s brutish our wisdom foolishnes al our glorious grace as the flour of grasse and that therfore we must be turned and become as litle children even born againe or els we cannot see the kingdom of God 3. In matters of religion we must not do what seemeth good in our own eyes nor choose our own wayes nor forge things out of our own harts nor make to our selves any similitude of things in heaven or earth nor walk in our own counsels for what is man that he should invent services of God or do any thing which the Lord requireth not at his hands The things of God knoweth no man but the spirit of God of him therfore we must learn his fear what he commandeth that onely must we doe we may not put to it nor take ought from it For when Israel set their own thresholds and posts by the Lords they defiled his holy name with their abominations 4. The mysteries of his faith we may not measure by carnall reason or our own shallow vnderstanding but learn with reverence to beleeve all his words knowing that the things which eye hath not seen neyther
them outwardly by kingdome priesthood and prophesie he gave them also his good Spirit to instruct them and Iesus Christ his Son the Angel of his face or presence saved them yet they both envied Moses and Aaron the holy one of the Lord and often provoked grieved tempted God himself and limited the Holy one of Israel they rebelled vexed his holy Spirit the Spirit of the Lord which had given theÌ„ rest therefore was he turned to be their enimy and fought against them In these last dayes of the Gospell we are also taught how some that have tasted of the heavenly gift were made partakers of the Holy Ghost yet fall so away that they caÌ„not be renewed vnto repeÌ„tance So that even wicked men and reprobates do often receive the gifts of the Spirit whereby they do many great works yet are not benifited hereby vnto salvation for they have not the grace of God to sanctifie those gifts seal theÌ„ vp vnto the day of redemption therfore God taketh his holy Spirit from them and sometyme sendeth his evil spirit in sted thereof to vex them as he did vnto Saul this worthily seing there are of these wretches that do even despite the Spirit of grace 7. But the Saincts elect of God have an other manner coÌ„munion with the Holy Ghost for their help comfort and sanctification in this life and assurance of life eternall For because they are sons God sendeth the Spirit of his son into their harts which crieth Abba Father so they are no more servants but sons and heyrs also of God through Christ who hath obteyned of his Father this Comforter to abide with them for ever even the Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receiv because it seeth him not neyther knoweth him but they know him for hee dwelleth with them shal be in them their bodies are the Temples of the Holy Ghost 8. The communion which the Saincts have with the Spirit is in many particulars and that from the beginning of their dayes vnto the end For Ieremiah was sanctified and Iohn Baptist filled with the Holy Ghost even from their mothers wombs And we all that are born of God have our regeneration and new birth of the Spirit according to his mercy are saved by the washing of the new birth the renewing of the Holy Ghost 9. The word of God which it the immortal seed whereby we are begotten hath alwayes been vttered explayned and vnderstood by means of this Spirit David testifieth of himself that the Spirit of the Lord spake in him his word was in his tongue our saviour Christ and his Apostles doe witnesse also the same concerning him so the things that he spake we must receiv as the sayings of the Holy Ghost The like is to be minded for Isaias Michaias and al other Prophets by whose hands the Lord protested among his people by his spirit for Prophesie as the Apostle saith came not in old time by the wil of man but holy men of God spake as they wer moved by the Holy Ghost the Lord Iehovah his Spirit sent them Yea Christ himself had the Spirit of God put on him that hee might shew judgment to the Gentils and was anoynted with the Spirit that he might preach the Gospel to the poor and vnto the Apostles whom hee had chosen gave he coÌ„mandements through the Holy Ghost who also having received the Spirit which is of God spake the things that were given them of him not in the words which mans wisdome taught but which the holy Ghost did teach them so preached they the Gospel vnto the Saincts by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven 10. Vnto this Gospel of salvation first preached by the Lord and after coÌ„firmed by them that heard him God bare witnes both with signes and wonders and with divers miracles and gifts of the Holy Ghost For to one as the Apostle sayth was given by the Spirit the word of wisdom to an other the word of knowledge by the same spirit to an other Faith by the same Spirit to an other the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to an other the operations of great works to an other Prophesie to an other discerning of spirits to an other diversities of tongues to an other the interpretatioÌ„s of toÌ„gues and al these things wrought even the self same Spirit distributing to every man severally as he would 11. But these spiritual gifts though they were powred out vpon many yet are they not neyther ever were given vnto al as it is written Are al doers of miracles have al the gifts of healing doe al speak with tongues doe al interpret Agayn to al that have them they ar not seals of the adoption of Sons for if men have prophesie and know al secrets and al knowledge if they have al fayth so that they can remove mountayns and have not Love they ar nothing Yet is this manifestation of the Spirit given to every man to profit withall as the Apostles were Gods witnesses concerning the things which they sayd so was the holy Ghost whom God gave to them that obeyed him the Spirit was one of the three witnesses on earth as the Apostle Iohn sayth 12. As the mysterie of Christ was reveled to his holy Apostles and Prophets by the Spirit they preached the Gospel vnto others by the Holy Ghost sent down froÌ„ heaven as the ordinary permanent officers of the Churches are made Overseers by the Holie Ghost to feed the Church of God so by the hearing of Faith preached do men receive the Spirit which God openly shewed when while Peter yet was speaking the Holy Ghost fel on all them which heard thâ—â— word And as by the work of the Spirit the word is received and beleeved so is the same also obeyed kept and reteyned through the Holy Ghost that dwelleth in us The Sacraments also have by him their effects in vs as it is written by one Spirit are we al baptised into one body whither Iewes or Greeks whither bond or free and have bene aâ—â— made to drink into one Spirit 13. And having thus our new birth caling vnto and stablishing in the faith by the work of the holy Ghost we ar further by him confirmed comforted emboldned assisted in al our spiritual battels against Satan this world and our own corruptioÌ„s For wear streÌ„gthned by Gods Spirit in the inner maÌ„ being armed with the word of God which is the sword of the Spirit we stand fast and though the enimy come like a flood yet the Spirit of the Lord shal chase him away as sayth the Prophet And in rebuking the world he vseth great boldnes convincing them of syn of righteousnes and of judgement so
words are plesant as the hony cōb sweetnes to y◠sowl health to the bones which causeth thē to desire that they may dwel in his howse al their dayes to behold his bewty and alwayes they say Let the Bewty of the Lord our God be vpon vs. His other staff Bands conserveth the brotherhood of his people wherby they ar lincked togither in love labouring to be al of one mind one suffring with an other loving as brethren living growing togither as one tree or staff in his hand This brotherhood the Saincts are al exhorted to love and endevour to keep the vnitie of the spirit in the bond of peace being clothed with the bowels of mercies kindnes humblenes of mind meeknes long-suffring forbearing forgiving one an other even as Christ forgave them and above al these things having Love which is the bond of perfectnes 10. Sometimes God bringeth vnto his faith and church the governours great men of the earth whose authoritie and scepters are a great help to the conservation of true religion and outward peace of his people by their defence of the just and punishment of evil-doers These notwithstanding their high places yet are to have no haughty harts nor lofty eyes but behave themselves and compose their sowles like weyned childrē learning dayly from the ministerie and book of God to fear the Lord to keep al the words of his law that their harts be not lifted vp above their brethren They are with them to begin end the publick worship of God they may not take of the peoples inheritance nor thrust them out of their possession they are to conteyn as wel themselves as their subjects in the obedience of Christ to be foster fathers and nourses of the church vnto which they have brought their glorie and their honour expecting a better and an eternal glory with al Saincts in the kingdome of God For there is a covenant between them and their subjects that they wil be the Lords people yea thēselves are the foremost to make it to order al things in their kingdomes according to Gods word As that good king Iosiah in the assemblie of al his people both great and smal first covenanted himself to walk after the Lord and to keep his cōmandements his testimonies and his statutes with al his hart and with al his sowl that he would accomplish the words of the covenant written in Gods book and then caused al that were found in Ierusalem and Benajamin to stand to the same 11. But because in times of worldly peace many wil presse to enter into the church for cōpany favour or fashion sake which otherwise would never regard the same being profane idolatrous or irreligious the children of this world therfore care must be had that no such vnclean wicked persons be accepted For though the gates be open that the righteous nation which keepeth the faith may enter in yet seing it is sayd that the way shal be caled holy the polluted shal not passe by it that Ierusalem shal be holy no strangers shal goe through her nor a Canaanite be any more in the howse of the Lord of hosts ther must be seen in them the seed and foundation of religion before they be received namely repentāce fiō dead works faith towards God For this was the voyce of the crier that proclaymed the kingdom of heaven which they that obeyed wer baptised vnto remission of syns the residue were rejected as a viperous generation the same thing also Christ made the beginning and groundwork of his kingdome saying Repent and beleev the Gospel Vntil therfore such willingly receiv and confesse the truth renouncing their former evil wayes promising submissiō meeknes obediēce in the faith of the Gospel vntil the wolf have learned to dwel in peace with the lamb the leopard to lie with the kidd the bear to feed with the kow and the Lion to eat straw like the bullock we may not admitt them into communiō with vs for what part hath the beleever with the vnbeleever but refuse their proffered and pretended service as the fathers of Israel answered the like intruders It is not for you for vs joyntly to build an howse vnto our God but we our selves togither wil build it vnto the Lord God of Israel And as there were porters in the fowr winds or quarters of Gods ancient howse evē porters set that none that was vnclean in any thing should enter in and diligent watch and ward was kept at the gates of Ierusalem for fear of enemies so in this new and Christian Ierusalem though the gates therof be never shutt yet is ther such watch to be kept that no no vnclean thing may enter into it neyther whatsoever worketh abominatiō or lies but they which a◠written in the Lambs book of life 12. The Saincts being thus gathered as a people that shal dwe◠by themselves and not be reckne◠among the nations for that the ar chosen out of the world separated from the same and being builded as a citie compact togither in it self and growing vp in Christ the chief corner stone vnto an holie Temple in the Lord are made the habitation of God by the spirit and do dwel alone in safetie in a land of wheat and wine also their heavens do drop the deaw For the graces of God by his word and spirit are as a river of water of life clear as chrystal proceeding out of the throne of God and of the lamb whose streames make glad this citie of God and moisten the trees planted in this gardein Yea God himself dwelleth here is in the middes of it therefore it shal not be moved As the good husbandman he purgeth every fruitful branch in this vine that it may bring forth more fruit for this his vineyard is before himself not let out to others he keepeth it watereth it every moment least any assayl it he keepeth it night day from injurie of enemies making the barres of the gates strong and in it self he setteth peace and this not in one but in al the churches of the Saincts amids whom he walketh visiting and knowing theyr works and all their wayes which churches though they be many in number yet are they one in vnitie To them al he hath given one faith order and canon to be kept for ever vnto the worlds end to every of them a like power and grace And as he guided his ancient Israel the twelv tribes by day in the pillar of a clowd by night in a pillar of fyre to giv them light that they might goe both by day night so hath he created according to his promise vpon every place
vnto them if we rebel to day against the Lord even to morâ—â—â— he wil be wroth with at the congregâ— tion of Israel This also the Church of Corinth felt whiles for the suffering of one wicked man as lâ—ven among them the whol lump of the congregation was so lâ—vened as the Apostle told them their reioycing was not good for that they kept the fest of their passeover Christ with such so wâ—â—â—even amoÌ„g them wheras in the shadow thereof the leven of material bread was forbid to be eaten vpon paine of cutting off from Israel The whol Church is endangered when they neglect this duty first because whiles im penitent synners are suffred their example is on evil president an emboldâ—ing of others to do likewise as even the hethens could tel King Ahasâ—â—verosh about Queen Vashties offence wheras if the scorner be smitten the foolish wil beware And God who punisheth some for an example to others would also have his church to chasten evil doers that â—â— Israel may hear fear do no more presumptuously because some wil not stick to entise perswade others vnto their vices especially hereticks which leven mens sowles with false doctrine entangle the weak coÌ„sciences draw disciples after them subvert whol howses and steal away the harts of the people as did Absalom such therfore aâ— to be discovered cast our that al may know and beware of them Needfully then the Apostle warneth to let no root of bitternes spring vp trouble vs least therby many be defiled for deâ—â— flies causeth to stink patrify the ornâ—ment of the Apâ—thecarre scornful men as the proverb sayth bring the citie into a snare and one synner destroyeth much good 10. A fourth cause why the evil must be purged out of the church is to stopp the reproches of the world and those without For they take occasion by the syns of Gods people to speak evil of them and of the truth and doctrine they professe how much more wil may they doe this if ther be no rebuking and censuring of the synners As God himself therfore hath a caâ—e that his name should not be polluted before the hethen by the punishment and destruction of vs his people so ought we again to have our conversation honest among them that God may be glorified his name not blasphemed by our transgression of his law And such as break out vnto infamous vices eyther speedily to repent amend them or to be cast out from the fellowship of God and his people so shal the throne of Christ our king be stablished in justice when the wicked are taken away before him as when the drosse is taken from the silver ther procedeth a vessel for the finer 11. This care of keeping the church clean and pure the Lord hath required in al ages by many lawes and rites leading men herevnto Himself first practised it by the rebuking and caling to repentance of our first parents that synned in paradise and afterwards by admonishing excoÌ„municating Cain The patriarchs Noah Abraham executed these judgemeÌ„ts on their own children when the height of their syn so deserved So soon as the host of Israel was constituted ordered God provided for their holynes puritie in that order wherin he had set them by causing al sorts of evil to be removed away First he coÌ„manded that such as had corporal ceremonial pollutions as leprosies or yssues or wer defiled by the dead should be put out of the host After that for syns trespasses wherby both sowl body were in deed defiled he required confession restitutioÌ„ sacrifice And lastly for the finding out and purging of secret syn he ordeyned that severe Law of gealousy w th the bitter curse bringing water dreadful effects of the same by al these teaching theÌ„ carefully to clense both themselves and the congregation which that they might the better mind observe he afterwards enacted for the lighest even the ceremonial vncleannes that the man which purified not himself according vnto the rites prescribed should be cut off from among the congregation as having defiled the sanctuarie of the Lord the like he did for al other presumptuous synners whosoever And these Iawes were kept in Israel executed among the people even vpon kings who were rebuked for their syns and thrust out for their leprosies Christ also and his Apostles have giveÌ„ many rules as is before shewed for clensing the churches of syn 12. The keeping of which rules belongeth to al the Saincts as the commandement directed of old to the children of Israel in the new testament to al the brethren and church doth shew It is a dutie of love froÌ„ which no Christian can be exempted to be performed by the word of God which is given vnto al as a two edged sword to execute vengeance and rebukes to bind both Kings and Nobles and execute on them the judgement written this honour sayth David shal be to al the Saint But chiefly this perteyneth to the ministers watchmeÌ„ of the church who having the word of reconciliation coÌ„mitted vnto them overseing the manners of al the flock must preach that word be instant in season and out of season improve rebuke and exhort with al long suffring and doctrine they must hear the word at Gods mouth give the people warning from him admonishing them of their wicked wayes els they shal die in their syns and their blood shal be required at those watchmeÌ„s haÌ„ds they must teach the people the difference between the holy profane and cause them to discerne betwene the vnclean and the clean These hav the keyes of the kingdoÌ„e of heaven in more special manner given vnto them for the binding and loosing of syns by the publick ministerie of the word they ar to guide and goe before the people as in other affayres so in administring the censures of the church By such God of old did pluck vp and root out destroy and throw down and againe build and plant by such he cut down synners in Israel and slew them by the words of his mouth Vnto such the people ar to hearken obey and submit themselves yet also to admonish them againe if need so require and not suffer theÌ„selves to be seduced by false doctrine brought into bondage devoured or smitten on the face but stand fast in the faith and liberty of the Gospel wheÌ„ any is cast out from among them or againe received in that it be the joynt actioÌ„ of the church assembled as Christ and his Apostle have given direction 13. Thus ar the hurts of the daughter of Gods people to be healed by admonitions exhortations rebukes denunciations censures and