b 1 Cor. 12 12. Rev. 1.20 2. It 's a Company of Men not of Angels for Angels are no where called a Church tho a Company c Heb. 12.22 but they surround the Church d Rev. 5.11 and consort in their Adorations with the Church The Angels were not Redeemed by Christ's Blood neither of the Nature of the Head and therefore not the Body of Christ as the Church is e Heb. 2.16 3. It 's a spiritual Company in contra-distinction to humane and civil Societies or Companies gathered together occasionally or statedly f Act 19.39 4. It 's separated from the World all the World is not a Church but it 's called and separated out of the World g John 17.10 15.19 2 Cor. 6.17 as Christ the Head is separate h Heb. 7.26 2 Pet. 2.20 Deut. 14.2 Titus 2.14 so must the Body be 5. They are not a company of scattered Sheep but gathered into a Fold i John 10.16 Stones not lying here and there but brought into a building k 1 Pet. 2.4.5 6. They are embodied or incorporated with the Corner-Stone and to one another and as Members are knit to the Head and one another l 2 Thes 2.1 Eph. 4.16 Ps 122 3. 1 Thes 1 1. Hence Union to Christ the Head and to one another is essentially necessary to the Church of God m John 15 to which Union is requisite cutting off from the old Stock and Implantation into the new n Rom. 11.24 connection knitting and coalition of Head and Members together Members to the Head and they to one another o Eph. 2.21 and lastly an aptitude order and fitness to each other to compleat the whole in usefulness and comeliness p 1 Cor. 12 11 12 13. Eph. 4.16 2.21 § 11. Hence it plainly appears what a Church of God is in the general Nature thereof It is a spiritual company of men separated from the world a 2 Cor. 6.17 congregated and incorporated in Christ Jesus b 1 Cor. 12.12 Congregation is a Genus to Church it 's a spiritual Congregatiion and there is no Church but is so in some sense or other the words in the Old and New Testament always signifie so Cohel and Ecclesia But Congregation seems to be a remoter Genus than Corporation for every Congregation is not incorporated neither is every incorporated Congregation a spiritual Body c Acts 19.39 and therefore a Church but every Church is a Congregation incorporated by the Union afore-mentioned and it 's for the end of him whose it is viz. his Glory in communion with him and of one Member with another CHAP. II. Of the Catholick Church A Church defined A Spiritual Corporation how distinguisht Corporation what How belonging to Christ What Persons a Church is made up of How Membership comes Communion Distribution of Church The Catholick Church Catholick Vnion Communion It s not the Subject of Ordinances No Catholick Visible Church § 1. FROM what hath bin said in the former Chapter it appears that a Church is thus defined viz. That it is a Spiritual Corporation or Body of Christ a Eph. 1.23 Col. 1.24 1 Pet. 2.9 the Head to which many select persons b Tit. 2.14 separated from the World c 2 Cor. 6.16 17. are gathered d 2 The. 2.1 and united e Eph. 5.23 30. and accordingly fitly joined one to another f ch 4.16 for holy Communion in the Lord g 1 John 1.3 § 2. Corporation or a Political Body is the next common Nature to a Church and not Congregation or Assembly for Congregation is either occasional a Act 19.39 41. or fixed and stated by incorporation and this either civil or spiritual a civil is nothing appertaining to our present concern but the spiritual is for a Civil is that which belongs to a Secular or Republican State but spiritual is that that belongs to a Spiritual or Ecclesiastick State b 1 Cor. 10 4. Gal. 6.1 Matth. 7.6 1 Cor. 7.32 33. hence spiritual here is not confin'd to the sence of invisibility but is meant of that which is of a heavenly sacred and supernatural Nature c 1 Cor. 15.40 Heb. 8.5 9.23 1. Pet. 2.5 wherefore a spiritual Corporation or Body Politick is either mystical and invisible or visible professed and manifest to the World § 3. A Corporation is a Community constituted by Law or Charter granted by a Supream Power whereby it is invested with Priviledges and a Governing Power regulated by and subordinated to the Honour and Interest of the said supream Power such are Kingdoms Cities Housholds or Families or any number of persons bound together in any sociable Bond is a Society of this Nature whether implicite or explicite of these the Conjugal is the least though the first and most ancient yea the most honourable of all Civil Societies being the Root from whence they spring wherefore the Relation between Christ and his Church is represented thus to us by the Spirit of God in a most lively manner a Eph. 5.31 32. § 4. The Government Liberties and Priviledges of the Church are given as by Charter to the Lord Jesus Christ by the Father a Psa 2.6 Mat. 28.18 ch 2.6 the administration of which Power by him is either internal and immediate by his Spirit in the hearts of his People and according to the measure of Grace given to every one and of the same nature in the whole Body b Col. 3.15 Rom. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.8 17. Gal. 5.16.18.25 1 Pet. 1.2.22 of Christ c Rom. 12.3 1 John 3.24 and is universal and invisible or Christ administers more externally visibly and mediately in particular visible Bodies Politick by his Word instituted Officers and Ordinances for the sake and edifying of his Universal Church d Eph. 4.12 § 5. Every Church of Christ is made of select Persons and separated from the World a 1 Pet. 2.9 Tit. 2.14 2 Cor. 6.16.17 either by Effectual Calling and thereby become Members of the Mystical Body of Christ b Eph. 4.4 1 Cor. 12.12 or by a visible Profession and Confederation and thereby become Members of the visible particular Churches c 2 Cor. 7.13 § 6. A People may be gathered together yea to Christ so as to hear him or his Messengers a Act 13.43 Matt. 13.2 and not thereby become Members of the Body of Christ under any consideration But they must be so gathered to Christ the Head as to come into the bond of the Covenant b Eze. 20.37 Col. 2.19 1 Cor. 6.17 either by receiving Christ by Faith and thereby restipulating personally to the Covenant of Grace and so joining to the Lord. Or it is when a Person doth upon his Profession actually covenant with a particular Church by the first he becomes a Member of the Mystical Body c Col. 3.11 and by the second of a
Church Which speaking is the Prophesying which the Apostle speaks of i 1 Cor. 14 23 24 30 32. § 6. Publick Prayer is a Solemn Ordinance of Christ a Heb. 12.28 Act. 20.36 Eph. 6.18 of general Concern b 1 Tim. 2.9 wherein the Church doth with one accord c Ro. 15.30 address to God for all Grace in the Name of Christ d Heb. 4.16 1 Joh. 5.14 Joh. 14.13 and for a special Blessing on every Ordinance e Ps 133.3 with Confession of Sin f Psa 32.5 Dan. 9.4 Thanksgiving g Col. 4.2 Phil. 4.6 Deprecations h Psa 60.5 11. and Intercessions i 1 Tim. 2.1 2. and here the Elders for the most part go before the Church as in Preaching i 1 Tim. 2.1 2. unless on occasion an Elder of another Congregation or any other Brother be desired to assist of whose Graces and Gifts the Congregation is willing to taste k 1 Cor. 14.3 26. Act. 13.15 § 7. The Praises of the Church are conjoined with Supplications and Confessions in publick Prayers a Phil. 4.6 But singularly expressed in an Ordinance appointed for that end and purpose viz. Singing of Psalms in the Church b Mat. 26.30 Ps 108.3 which Singing of Psalms Hymns or Spiritual Songs c Eph. 5.19 Col. 2.16 Rom. 15.6 indited by the Spirit of God in the Scriptures d 2 Chr. 29 30. is Christ's Institution and ought to be practised with one accord in and by a Church to the Praise and Glory of God and to the Edification and Instruction of the Church and as the Case may require e Isa 12.1 42.10 Psa 95.12 Acts 16.25 Isa 5.13 there being Psalms suitable to every Condition some Didactical some Penitential c. all tending to the Laud and Praise of God but care must be had in suiting the Psalm as to the Subject Time Occasion or Congregation that is to join together in that Ordinance mixt or not Some do scruple Singing in a mixt Congregation But it ought not to be scrupled 1. Any more than the Churches Prayers wherein also are Praises in such a Congregation 2. The Church ought not to forbear the praising God in Prayer or Singing because of others that will join with them in Publick Worship f Ps 108.3 3. They that are not to be excluded from Hearing the Word and praying for a Blessing upon it ought not to be excluded from praising God for the Word of his Grace but Unbelievers are such as ought not c. g Rom. 10.17 1 Cor. 14.25 Psa 100.3 136.9 for they may be converted by it for ought we know if not Why should any Man be hindred from praising of God which all Creatures do in the Congregation 4. Praying and Praising God are parts of Natural Worship h Ps 107.21 22. Mat. 26.30 though Espoused by Christ's Institution and made a part of Church-Worship 5. All good Angels and Creatures join in Consort with the Church in praising God yea and in giving Glory to the Lamb i Rev. 5.12 13 14. 6. The Gentiles and all People are called upon to Laud and Praise God and to rejoice with his People k Rom. 15.9 10 11. 7. A Church is a Candlestick l Re. 1.20 and a Pillar m 1 Tim. 3.15 to hold forth unto the World matter of Prayer and Praises therefore Men of the World are not to be excluded from the Congregation 8. God's common Mercies and Wonders wrought daily call for such Praises n Ps 92.2 148.11 12. 9. The Efficacy of the Gospel Converts the Unbeliever and makes the Stranger joyful in the House of Prayer And should he be hindred from expressing his joyfulness by singing with the Congregation o Isa 56.7 24.16 35.10 § 8. Contribution also is an Ordinance of Christ founded in the Nature of a Visible Body Politick and instituted by Christ whereby not only the actual Members of a Church but the Attenders on the Publick Means of Grace there dispensed are obliged according to ability to cast into Christ's Treasury a Gal. 6.6 1 Tim. 6.18 Mar. 12.43 on the First day of the Week and on other Solemn Days b 1 Cor. 16 1 2. for the Service of that Church in Maintenance of Ordinances c 1 Cor. 9.9 1 Tim. 5.18 and Relief of poor Saints d Rom. 15.26 27. and as far as may be for the help and support of other Churches e Ibid. Which Collections are to be made by the Deacons f Acts 6.6 and brought to the Church Treasury under their Care and Trust and to be disposed of for the said Ends and Uses as the Church shall direct and to the Church they are to give their account and approve themselves to be faithful g Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 4.2 § 9. It is not to be supposed that the Lord Jesus Christ would institute a Worship in his Churches and not appropriate some time unto the Publick and Solemn Celebration thereof Therefore we hold That he hath appointed a Weekly Day to this End and Purpose the seventh part of time being set apart by God himself in the beginning and it could be no other than the Seventh Day at first but afterward might be another Likewise we hold that the observation of the Seventh Day is Jewish for it was to them a shadow of things to come a Col. 2.16 17. and the very reason of Institution to the Church of Israel alledged by Moses shews the same b Deut. 5.15 yea the very enjoyned manner of Observation in forbearance of all necessary labour by Man and Beast c Exod. 20. And none can assert That God requires such an Observation under the New Testament And lastly Tho God gives a reason from Creation Rest d Heb. 4.4 5. yet Gods first hallowing it was before the Fall and we find not that it was observed by any of the Patriarchs before the Children of Israel came into the Wilderness Therefore as the first Institution was upon account of Creation e Gen. 2.3 so the next was upon the account of Redemption f Deu. 5.15 Accordingly g Ex. 20.1 the Seventh Day was again instituted from their coming out of Egypt a Type of Christ's Redemption h Lu. 1.68 We observe it in Remembrance of a true Redemption wrought for us i 1 Pet. 1.18 by a Victory over Hell and Death in his Resurrection the third day which was the First Day of the Week k 1 Cor. 15 3 4. 1 The. 4.14 Eph. 1.19 20. he lying in the Grave the whole Seventh Day burying it with the whole Mosaic Oeconomy the only Day wherein God could have no acceptable Worship in the World the Vail of the Temple Rent and Christ in the Grave l Mat. 27.51 Job 3.5 6. The Reasons for Observation of the First Day of the Week not as a
the Oeconomy erected by Christ and his Apostles was sufficient to answer all Intents and Purposes of Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction without dependance upon the States and Princes of the World for the execution thereof and was fully practical under any Civil Powers who would but permit the Profession of Christianity according to Mens Consciences 2. If any Alledge That the Congregational Practice abridgeth the People of their Liberty We answer 1. If by liberty be meant liberty to sin this all Religions must profess to restrain that which doth not is not to be called Religion and this is no more than all Christian Magistrates ought to do Besides a liberty to Sin is the most Diabolical Slavery in the World 2. Our Way deprives Men of no lawful Civil Liberties 3. It doth no more deprive Men of Spiritual Liberties than a Civil Corporation-Government deprives Men of Civil Liberties For 1. Both the one and the other have the most desirable Immunities and Priviledges granted by Charter in their respective kinds 2. There are no Members made by a coercive power all voluntarily offer themselves 3. There are no Members admitted or cast out by an Arbitrary and Despotick Power but all is done by the consent of the Body Politick 4. A Church is made a Prison to none but any one may depart to another orderly and regularly when called thereto 5. As all Members are admitted so all Ministerial Officers are chosen by Consent and Agreement of the Body none are imposed 6. As all Tryals of offending Persons in a Civil Corporation are by the Neighbourhood as to matter of fact so in a Spiritual Corporation all such Judicial Proceedings are in a way of Tryal first in the Church by the Brotherhood upon whose Judgment of Guilty or not Guilty the Elder passeth Sentence of Condemnation or Absolution 3. If any object Strictness of the Terms of Admission It is Answered 1. All Vertuous Persons like those Societies best that stand upon the strictest Terms of Admission for they are likely to be purest 2. Have not all Families Companies Corporations their Terms of Admission which they will stand upon Is it not fit you should be qualified as the Society expects and submit to the Laws of the Society by express Agreement Is it fit you should enjoy the Immunities of a Family or other Society without a due qualification and obligation Without the first you are unmeet without the latter ungovernable 3. The Terms are reasonable and as easie as possible for a Spiritual Society a houshold of Faith as is made appear in the following Treatise And whatever slight Terms of Admittance you are for whilst a non-Member if you have the true Grace of God in your heart when you become a Member you will not be willing others should be so admitted lest it should make such a foul House as your self will not be able long to endure 4. Some one will say or think I am loth to come under the Observation Obligation and Charge of Church-Membership I hope I shall go to Heaven without it tho I would willingly have my Child baptized Ans 1. Take this altogether and it 's a great question whether such an one hath Grace in his heart or hath any good grounds of Hope that he shall go to Heaven For it argues loosness of heart and life and Covetousness which is Idolatry yea and plain Hypocrisie that he would have his Child baptized meerly for form and Reputation sake For I would say to such an one 1. Is not one Seal of the Covenant of as much weight to a Believer as another Wilt thou baptize thy Child as thy duty and neglect the other Seal for thy Worldly Advantage and so indulge thy self in Sin By what right dost thou claim Baptism for thy Child Is it by vertue of Abraham's Covenant And dost thou openly profess it and wilt not stipulate to the said Covenant How art thou such a Child of Abraham as the Blessing is come upon surely not the Blessing of Church-Membership Obj. But I hope my Infant hath right to Baptism tho I am no Church-Member Ans He that himself is such as that if he were un-baptized he hath no right to Baptism cannot plead right for his Child But no non-Member can plead right to any Seal the Seals of the Covenant being given to the Church and not to the World nor one Seal to the World and the other to the Church Obj. But I am a Member of the Catholick Church by my Personal Covenanting with God Ans 1. Who knows what thy private and secret actions be to verifie the Truth of what thou saist the Church calls thee to Covenant with God and them If thou wilt partake of the Priviledges of the Church and if thou hast bin serious in Covenanting privately thou wilt be as willing to Covenant openly with God and his Church for he that Covenants socially Covenants but personally and he that Covenants with Christ Covenants with him socially tho secretly for he takes him as Head of the Mystical Body So that the Notion of Personal and Social Covenanting makes not a legal distinction having no sufficient dissentaniety of parts they differing but ratione only and so are but diversa not ratione re so as to be vera opposita 2. Such personal Covenanting as you intend if it be real makes you but a Member of the Mystical Body of Christ not of any visible Church which alone is the subject of the Seals and other Ordinances 3. The Proselytes publickly embraced Abraham's Covenant and joined to the Church thereby under the Old Testament before they were circumcised and under the New Testament before they were baptized For the first see Deut. 29.11 12. where the Stranger covenanted publickly with the Lord and socially with that Church in the Land of Moab just before they passed over Jordan and were circumcised by Joshua ch 5.2 3 4. For the latter see Acts 2.39 41. Peter makes them that manifested their Repentance to stipulate publickly to Abraham's Covenant before they were baptized And as many as declared their glad receiving and embracing the Promise for themselves and Seed were baptized for they who did not explicitely declare so much were not baptized as appears by the Text. In a Word Dost thou profess to be a Christian to have received Christ by Faith for righteousness and life and to live Godly in Christ Jesus It is thy Duty then to join thy self in Church-Fellowship and thou sinnest greatly against God if thou dost not For 1. Church-Membership is one of the great parts of Abraham's Blessing And wilt thou exclude thy self from any part of so great a Gift 2. Church-Membership is a Spiritual Blessing that a Believer is blessed withal in Christ Jesus And shall not that be valued by thee 3. A Believer in Christ hath right to Church Blessings And wilt thou loose thy Possession for want of Claim 4. If thou art a true Believer Christ is precious to thee in all
his Offices in all his Relations as Head of the Body Apostle and High-Priest of thy Profession Wilt thou not be of that Body Politick to whom he is the Head of that House over which he is Lord that thou mayst offer spiritual Sacrifices 5. He hath called thee out of the World and thou art bound to come out and be separate and Covenant with God 6. However thou professest to be with Christ in this thou art against him and scatterest abroad 7. Hast thou tasted that the Lord is gracious and so art become a living Stone then thou art to come to Christ the chief Corner-Stone in Church-Fellowship to be built up a spiritual House and united therein by Joints and Bands to be a fellow-Citizen of the Saints and to help to fill up a holy Political Temple for a Habitation of God by the Spirit 8. Thou wilt never grow kindly in Grace out of a Church for that is God's Garden his Vineyard which he Plants Prunes Waters with Blessings continually on all the means of Grace there 9. What Fellowship canst thou have in the World What communion hath Christ with Belial Light with Darkness c. 10. Thou lyest open to multitude of Temptations and no wonder if God suffers them to prevail 11. Thou thinkest thou gainest as to the World by not engaging in Church-Fellowship and saist it is not time to build God's House but dost thou not carry out much and bring in little and put what thou gettest into a Bag with Holes 12. To join to a Church of Christ is the highest way of glorifying God visibly in the World 13. Thou canst never have that Communion with God out of Church-Fellowship as in 14. Whilst thou professest Christ and continuest a non-Member thou art a scandal to thy Profession and a means to harden the wicked Now lastly It may be expected that we give some Reasons of Publishing this small Treatise The Reasons are briefly these 1. For the Honour and Interest of the Lord Jesus Christ which is the main End designed and all the following reasons are in subordination thereto 2. Because it's time to build and God in his Providence plainly speaks it in that he blows upon our outward things and blasts them daily because we let the House of Godly waste 3. To vindicate our selves against our false Accusers who render us such as have little regard to the observation of whatever Christ commands 4. Because most of the Writings of the faithful Builders are out of Print or not easily obtained 5. Because many good People that have a love to Christ and desire to walk in obedience to all God's Commandments want due instruction in these Points Hence it was earnestly desired that we would Publish such a short Treatise and we dare not withhold the Truth in unrighteousness 6. Because of the great degeneration and declination of the life of Christianity and stedfast and close walking of Churches in all the parts of Gospel Order that they may repent and do their first works 7. Not to impose on the Consciences of any but to hold forth unto them what light we have received from the Word of God for the illumination of the ignorant the strengthening the weak removing stumbling-blocks from such as are offended at us and encouragement of all such as are willing and ready to build He that hath Ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches In which Glory be to God by Jesus Christ throughout all Ages World without End AMEN Errata Page 2. line 7. r. Congregation was p. 11. l. 22. r. social p. 13. l. 21. dele punctum for The r. the p. 18. l. 6. à fi for is r. are p. 20. l. 2. r. Catholicy p. 38. l. 15. for any one r. he p. 41. l. 5. r. themselves p. 46. l. 17. r. discerned p. 73. Margin r. d Num. 8.10 11. THE Divine Institution OF Congregational Churches CHAP. I. Of a Church in General Of the meaning of the Word Church A Meeting-Place no Church It 's a spiritual Building but it 's God's not Man's Building such are not God's Churches many of which there are Notes to discern true or false by Christ the Head of a true Church A Church the Body of Christ How Christ's Body is understood What a True Church is not made of And what it is not And what it is What the remote and next genus of a Church Sect. 1. THE Word Church or Kirk is most likely to be descended of the Greek words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 contracted 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifying the House of God a 1 Tim. 3.15 And hence the best Notation of it is by this Interpretation That a Church is domus dominica or God's House wherein he dwells by a more than usual Presence in the World Of old God chose a Material House to appear and manifest himself in to his Church of Israel b Jud. 18 31-20.26 2 Chro. 3.3 4.19 24.5 but as those Buildings were not the Church but the Congregations were c Act 7.38 So in the New Testament days more especially God's Church is not a House or Building artificially made by Man but another Building d Hebr. 9.11 i. e. a spiritual Houshold e Eph. 2.19 or Building f 1 Pet. 2.5 § 2. Tho some think a Place of meeting ordinarily for the Worship of God in Publick may by a Metonimy be called a Church in an improper sence and ignorant People from such Usage take such a Place to be so yet it doth appear plainly That there is no just grounds from Scripture to apply such a Trope to an House for a Publick Assembly 1. Nothing is more evident by Scripture than that an Artificial Building is not a Church for the Apostle Paul wrote his Epistles to Churches which could not be Dead-Walls but to a People a 1 Cor. 1.2 2 Ep. 1.1 2. God purchas'd his Church with his Bloud b Act 20.28 which is a People not Artificial Houses 3. We are commanded to give no offence to the Church of God c 1 Cor. 10.32 which cannot be meant of a Meeting-House not capable of offence 4. Paul persecuted the Church of God d 1 Cor. 15.9 Gal. 1.13 which could not be the Meeting-Place neither had the Church then any certain Meeting-Place 5. There is no House or artificial Building in Scripture called a Church § 3. By way of Similitude and Metaphorically a Church is called an House a Temple or Building or City it being such in a spiritual sense a 1 Pet. 2.5 Heb. 3.5 6 built of spiritual Materials join'd and fram'd together in due connection and order b Eph. 2.21 bearing Analogie to the Temple of old a Type of the Gospel-Church c ib. v. 22. and is called Gods House d Heb. 10.21 because it is his Propriety e Deut. 32.19 it 's of his framing and building f
1 Cor. 3.9 Heb. 3.4.6 9.11 it 's his chosen purchased and peculiar inheritance in the World g Deut. 14.2 Ps 132.13 Tit. 2.14 Psa 135.4 1 Pet. 2.9 God dwells and appears therein in a special and gracious manner h 2 Cor. 6.16 Eph. 2.22 Psal 87.2 it is called by his Name i 2 Chro. 7.14 it is called the Church of the living God k 1 Tim. 3.15 God is therein glorified l Eph. 2.20 21. § 4. Churches therefore are not of humane fabrick or fashion nor to suit the carnal Minds and Interests of Men or States Mens Laws cannot establish Churches they must be built after the Pattern which God hath shewed a Exo. 26.30 Heb. 8.5 it 's not Gods Church which Man builds and is after his inventions b Psa 106.29.39 Matt. 15.6 God never gave Commission to the Pope Ecclesiastick or Civil Powers to institute Churches c Isa 1.12.13 14. 42.8 48.11 and as a Church is of God so the whole form and fashion is of Gods teaching only d Eze. 43.10.11 § 5. Hence it is that the Spirit of God in his Word hath witnessed against and renounced nothing more than false Churches such especially with all their appurtenances of Ordinances Officers and Worship which have apostatized from and forsaken his own Pattern and Institution a Eze. 43.8 and fashioned themselves by their Humane Inventions b Psa 106.29 to answer their own carnal Interests c Hab. 1.26 and corrupt Ends d Isa 1.12 13. Ecclesiastical e Hos 5.1.3 or Civil f 1 King 12.27 wherefore such always are charged with spiritual Whoredoms g Hos 5.3 and treated as Harlots h Hos 2.2 most especially the Catholick Visible that Mother of Harlots with all her spurious brood of Subordinations Hierarchical and Representative two especially are laid before us as the most notorious Harlots That of Jeroboam's i 2 Kings 17.21.22 and that of the Antichristian Apostacy k 2 Thes 4.7 by the latter the World is corrupted to this day she sitting under the Name of the Catholick visible Church with her Offspring ruling over the Kingdoms of the Western World as the Mother of Harlots l Rev. 17.5.18 not only breeding but nursing up all Idolatry Superstition Will-Worship and all departure from the Pattern of Christ which hath bin and is by Papists and un-illuminated or interested Protestants m Rev. 18.2.3 Fathering all her spiritual Cheats whereby both sorts are intoxicated on the Name of Christ whence the Seven Women n Esa 4.1 Churches in the Prophetick Language are said to lay hold on one Man i. e. the Lord Jesus Christ desiring to be called by his Name to take away the reproach of spurious and adulterine Churches but yet feed on their own Institutions and are cloathed with their own righteousness § 6. Pretended Churches of Christ may be discerned to be true or false 1. By the foundation whether on the Person Nature Offices and Word of Christ a 1 Pet. 2.4 Ephe. 2.20 2. By the visible matter whether living Stones b 1 Pet. 2.4 3. By the Form Fashion and Frame according to the order of the Gospel c Heb. 8.5.6 3.3 Mat. 28.20 Ezek. 43.11 Col. 2.5 Hence a Church is no Church of God either of these being altogether wanting or is but a faulty and deficient Church so far as its defective in these as to Faith or Order Wherefore the more the Mystery of iniquity comes to be discovered and the true Woman the Lambs Wife comes out of her Wilderness-State we may expect that the Churches will come to an higher degree of Purity and Order d Isa 1.25 Rev. 19.7 8. § 7. Wherefore to a true Church Christ is all and in all a Eph. 1.22 he being the Head in all respects and hath the Preheminence b Col. 1.18 19. being before all things and above all things the Head of Principalities in Dignity and Dominion worshipped by Angels c Heb. 1.6 Psa 89.27 higher than the Kings of the Earth It hath pleased the Father that there should be a special relation and mutual Fulness between Christ and the Church Christ being so the Head of his Church as he is to none else and as Christ filleth the Church so the Church is the fulness of Christ d 1 Cor. 12 12. Eph. 1.21 22. § 8. This Headship of Christ is divers ways illustrated to us in Scripture by a Natural Man's Head and Body a Col. 1.18 by a Family or Conjugal Head b Eph. 5.23 by a Root or Vegetable Head c John 15.1 Rom. 11.24 by an Head of an artificial Building the Head Corner-Stone d 1 Pet. 2.4.5 and hence it appears That Christ is such a Head as represents the whole Body and transacts all things for it e Isa 42.6 Heb. 10.9 10. That Christ is the vital Head of his Church the Spring and Fountain from whence all Life and Motion flows f John 1.14.16 Col. 2.3 He is the Head Corner-Stone the strength and support of all the Building g Psa 118.22 He is the Conjugal Head and Saviour of the Body h Eph. 5.15 of whom all the Family is named i Eph. 3.25 And lastly Christ is set forth by these similitudes and otherwise unto to us as a graciously ruling and governing Head unto his Church set on this holy Hill k Psalm 2. the Throne of David l Luke 1.32 he is the Political Head the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession m Heb. 3.1 § 9. As Christ stands in relation to the Church as the Head so the Church is related to Christ as the Body a Col. 1.18.24 Eph. 1.23 being in that respect his fulness Christ and his Church making one Mystically b 1 Cor. 12.12 The Body of Christ in Scripture is variously taken 1. It is taken for the substance of the Mystery of Christ typified and shadowed forth by the Ceremonial Law c Col. 2.17 2. It is taken for the Humane Nature of Christ wherein he lived and suffered here d Rom. 7.4 Heb. 10.5.10 3. It 's used for the Sacramental or Symbolick Body of Christ e Luke 22.19 4. It 's taken for a Church or People embodied or incorporated in Christ Jesus and is his Political Body f Eph. 5.23 Col. 1.18 5. It 's used in a proper sense for the very Body of Christ separate and distinct from his Soul g Mat. 27.58 It is the fourth Acceptation that we are here concerned in § 10. A Church of God as to the most general consideration is the Body of Christ in a Spiritual and Political acceptation of a Body a Col. 1.24 in which respect it 's compared to a Family and City and Candlestick 1. It is a Company congregated not one or two in the Body are many Members