gavest me that is the charge of as a visible Pastor and that I took upon their visible Profession I have lost none but the Son of Perdition So John 15.2 Every branch in me in the Church by a visible Profession that beareth not fruit he taketh away verse 6. If a man abide not in me he is cast forth as a branch and withered So 1 John 2.19 They went out from us as a visible Church but were not of us as part of the Catholick Body 11. Churches of Christ are and may be in Nations Provinces Diocesses Parishes though those limits of co-habitation are not so as such Jerusalem Corinth Antioch Ephesus Smyrna Coloss c. were not Churches as such though there was a Church or Churches in each of those Towns or Cities therefore we read of the Church in Corinth and when he speaks of Provinces or larger Tracts he saith the Churches of such a place in the plural number viz. Churches of Galatia Macedonia Judea c. and therefore the Language of the Spirit of God now if he spake as then would be to say The Churches of England France Spain and not the Church supposing all the Churches in such a Province or Nation to be Organized into one Body under one visible Pastor according to our corrupt Dialect and Understanding 12. Hence lastly it is manifest that however it came to pass that by the subtile insinuation of the Mystery of Iniquity several Antichristian Fabricks have had the Reputation of the Churches of Christ yet it appearing that they are nothing so indeed by Christs constitution They are justly separated from by all truely informed in the mind and will of Christ And that this Separation is so far from being any thing of Schism or culpable Separation that it is a high and Eminent Duty that all they that are growing up to the Stature of the Fulness of Christ should be ambitious of and they need not fear the Unchurching of them that Christ never made Churches CHAP. IX Of the Bond of Vnion in the Church 1. WE have shewed that the Church of Christ is of the Nature of a Body-corporate whether considered in its mystical â—r visible State and therefore must â—ave a Bond of Union there being â—o body Physical or Politick but â—ath some peculiar Bond that uâ—ites all the parts whether simuâ—r or dissimular into one Body â—e Integrum or whole being made â—p of all parts brought into muâ—al conjunction and communion â—y the said common Nexus which 〈◊〉 the Principle of the Life Office Motion and Action of each part in its due Respect to the whole 2. The Church of Christ coming under this twofold consideration of Catholick and Visible in particular Congregations and Polities we must look upon the Bond or Nexus to be agreeable to each consideration the Spirit of God having so adjusted it 3. Hence the Spirit of Christ is the real true fundamental and indissoluble Bond of Union in this Catholick Body between Christ and his Church and every part and member thereof in Heaven and in Earth in all Ages and Nations of the World so that this whether visible or invisible is all but one Body though as for the visible part in all Ages attended with various Manifestations Dispensations and Regiments according aâ— Christ in his infinite Wisdom waâ— pleased to carry on and reveal the Glory of his Gospel-mysteries in the World Three States of the Church for its Oeconomy hath appeared First In Families as it continued from the beginning of the world till the increase of Abrahams Family into a Nation and then arose by some steps to a National Typical Church by Christs own constitution furnished with a higher Degree of Glory then the former State and inferiour to what was to follow The third and last was of all most clear perfect and glorious which was the Gospel Establishment freed from Vails Types Figures Shadows both in respect of the true Doctrine leading to Life and Salvation the Sun of Righteousness shining forth in his full Brightness no way overshadowed and in respect of Worship and Order of his House wherein he excell'd all that Moses or any before him could do in right Ordinances and Statutes for the managing the Form and Regiment thereof 4. This Bond of Union is purely mystical and no more visible than the Vital or rather Animal Spirits that vivifies the whole man in uniting the Soul and Body together whereby every part conjoined is quickned and inabled to Act in its due place and kind this we say is the Spirit of Christ as it will appear from the express words of the Scripture 1 Cor. 12.3 I give you to understand that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed and that no man caâ— say Jesus is the Lord but by the Holy Ghost Verse 4. Now there be diversitâ— of Gifts but the same Spirit Verse 5. And there are difference of Administrations under the Oâ— and New Testament but the same Lord and Head of the Church therefore the same Church Essential Verse 6. There are Diversities of Operations as in distinct Members which operate according to their particular Forms and Measures but it is the same God that worketh all in all i. e. God by the same Spirit Verse 7. To another Faith by the same Spirit to be understood of Faith of Miracles or more then ordinary measures of Saving Faith exerting it self in an eminent manner as Abrahams did in particular trying cases To another the gift of healing by the same Spirit he goes on to enumerate not only the extraordinary but ordinary gifts and graces of the Spirit those given forth in the Primitive Times and those that are since continued and saith vers 11. All these worketh that one and the self same Spirit dividing to every man severally as he will and then he goes on to tell us that the Spirit doth not only diffuse it self throughout and influence all the Members from the Head with every Gift and Grace but that it ties all the Members together to Christ the Head and one to another vers 12. For as the Body i. e the Natural Body is one and hath many Members and all the Members of that one Body being many are one Body i. e. Mystical vers 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body whether we be Jews or Gentiles the Jews before Christs coming were baptized spiritually into this Mystical Body whether we be bond or free and have been all made to drink into one Spirit i. e. all partakers of the operations and influences of one Spirit in Regeneration and Justification Now having shewed that the Spirit unites the many Members into one Body and is the common Nexus he goes on to shew from whence the diversity of parts in form shape use and office doth arise and the harmony and agreement yea the necessity of this variety in kinds and degrees for the good of the whole vers 14. For the
then another all men that speak of Churches say so As some say Baptism some say Cohabitation and that Baptism only unites him to the Catholick Church but Cohabitation determines him to this or that particular But we say it must be a voluntary and free submission of a mans self to this or that Society of Christs Flock and the Discipline thereof that can give him or be to him the form of Visible Church Membership it 's not â—ational or natural that any man â—hould be a Member or be capable to claim the priviledges of any Society in the world of what nature soever it be without his consent It 's therefore a free voluntary consent and agreement which is the true and proper external form of a particular Church or Church-Membership Profession is a visible qualification of the matter but it 's consent and agreement which is the Copula or Nexus For I challenge any man to give me one instance where Christ or his Apostles ever attempted to force any man to hear the Word much less to believe it when they heard it or to be of this or that Church Besides it 's a natural freedom to every man to choose what Government he will put himself under as to his temporal Concerns though when he hath done it he be bound by the Laws thereof much more a Christian Liberty in respect of Spiritual Regiment 3. God desires nor accepts of any forced Service but requires the greatest freedom and voluntary resignation of themselves in this kind 4. I shall make it evident that all the Primitive Churches were so gathered For the Apostles had no external force in any place of the Earth it was not by power or might i. e. humane but by the Spirit of God which wrought with the Word Preached whereby their hearts were brought with freeness to embrace it and with boldness to profess and practice it in the midst of all opposition and accordingly with the greatest chearfulness and alacrity to consent to a subjection to Christ and all his Precepts and Institutions in his Church See in the first most Apostolical Church the 120 that Christ left together at his Ascention Acts 1.14 And all these continued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. with one consent unanimously in Prayer c. Chap. 2.41 And as many as received the Word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 chearfully or gladly yielded and submitted to the Truth Preached and advised by Peter these were baptized and added to the Church by the Apostles Doctrine and in Fellowship which they would not have done if they had not freely and upon choice and profession embraced it The first Church of the Gentiles that was gathered was at Antioch See how they came to be a Church Acts 11.19 20. And they that were scattered upon the Persecution that arose about Steven Travelled so far as Phenice c. verse 20. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene which when they were come to Antioch spake unto the Grecians Preaching the Lord Jesus verse 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them The Spirit and Power of Christ and a great number beleived i. e. freely embraced the Truth and turned unto the Lord. Now when Barnabas was sent from Jerusalem to aid and encourage this great work verse 23. When he came and had seen the Grace of God he was glad and exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord that is that they would freely voluntarily and sincerely without any hypocrisy submit themselves to Christ and his Ordinances with manifestation of the fullest assent and freest consent that might be now you find vers 26. that they were immediately a Church upon this cleaving to the Lord with whom Paul and Barnabas assembled Preaching unto much people that attended their Ministry besides which were not yet of that gathered Church I need not enlarge on this Point any further the assertion being not only most agreeable to the best reason but it being so clear that this was the only way of Gathering Churches used by the Apostles and all their Coadjutors in the times of the Primitive Purity If any hath practiced otherwise since we are not obliged to be of their minds or follow their examples Corruptions of the Church proceeding from Antichrist and not from Christ This is the day wherein the Lord is washing away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion The Churches of Christ and is purging away the Blood The Antichristian Pollutions of Worship of Jerusalem from the midst of her by the Spirit of Judgment and Spirit of burning Isa 4.4 And all the seven women that have laid hold on the Skirt of Christ and called themselves by his name shall appear to be Harlots yea as for thee O Aholibah thus saith the Lord Thou hast walked in the way of thy Sister therefore I will give her Cup into thy hand thou shalt drink of thy Sisters Cup deep and large thou shalt be laughed to scorn and had in derision Ezek. 23.31 32. It containeth much CHAP. X. Of Church-Communion 1. UNion according to its Nature Physical or Politick or Oecumenical naturally produceth a Communion suitable thereto that which we are about to speak of is of a Spiritual at least of an Ecclesiastical Nature we have shewn what is the primary Bond of Union in the Church of Christ that it is the Spirit of Christ that animates knits and tyes his whole Body together and that this is Mystical But exerting it self in vital motions and operations in all the Members it produceth a second Bond proper and necessary to the establishment of a particular Visible Church which is a manifestation of this Spirit in a credible Profession and free consent to the Regiment and Ordinances of Christ with a resignation of our selves thereto and this becomes the Bond of Church-Fellowship and the Foundation of an orderly Communion Communion is participation in one common benefit or its mutual Participation or Communication of good things by various subjects So Spiritual Communion is first a common participation in one general good or benefit of a Spiritual Nature and here where all the Members of Christ's Body partake of the same Head the same Spirit as their Unity consists in respect of connexion of Parts so their Communion consists in it in respect of Participation and this is the Communion of the Holy Ghost 2 Cor. 13.14 It s fully expressed as a Mystical Communion 1 John 1. 3. That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that you may have Fellowship with us and truly our Fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ This Communion in the Spirit is set forth unto us at large in that forementioned place 1 Cor. 12.4 5 6 7 c. where he shews that all the Graces Gifts Members Operations Offices in the Body according to their several diversifications flow from the same Spirit all the streams take indifferently from the same Fountain
18.1 ch 22.12 16 18. 2 Chr. 6.3 Ezra 2.64 And the whole Congregation together 42360 these more or less made up one Assembly these were Preached to by Ezra and whatever the number of the Nation was they were to meet all together in one place And so we have the word applyed to the Church in the New Testament that it alwayes signifies a Congregation that doth ordinarily meet together for their edification if it be meant of a Particular Church but if an Universal such a Church as shortly shall Assemble and always sit together in a lasting sinless and uninterrupted communion So that a true Church of Christ under whatever Notion you take it must be and is a Congregation of Saints visible invisible or both that do meet together in one place for the Worship of God in Christ and communion in one body 4. We infer that we have part of the differencing form in that Description viz. where the pure word is Preached and Sacraments duely Adminstred c. for it distinguisheth the true Church distinguisheth the true visible Churches from false and erroneous it distinguisheth a particular Church from the Catholick for there is no Church but a particular Congregation capable of having the word preached to it and Sacraments duely administred in one Congregation but a particular Church when the Catholick Church assembles there will be neither 5. We find not the least word in Old or New Testament of a Representative Congregation or Church-Representative the Congregation of the Jews was to be by a Personal Appearance of all the Males the Females were exempted upon Gods special Dispensation by reason of their unfitness for Travel as from circumcision by reason of incapacity But we find that every visible Church of Christ still appeared before the Lord personally for actual communion in Church Ordinances in that way and method that God appointed in his Respective Dispensations and we are fully assured there is no Representative Church of Christs institution either Councels or Synods or Presbyteries We read not of any Presbytery i. e. Association of Elders called the Church but the Church is always spoken of distinctly from them If there had been any Reason to have called any Eldership the Church there had been Reason to have called that so in the Apostolick Church which had so many famous Apostles Prophets and Evangelists in in it but they are named distinctly in that great Councel held at Jerusalem Act. 15.22 It pleased the Apostles and Elders with the whole Church 6. The Universal Church doth comprehend all the particular Congregations in all Ages and places being simular and co-ordinate parts of it of the visible Saints where by the Institution of Christ the Head all the Ordinances are placed and by his influence there is a supply of Graces and gifts for the Edification of his Body as likewise all Officers and Offices as appears Eph. 4.11 12. of which there were Extraordinary and Ordinary 7. The extraordinary Officers were instituted for an extraordinary Occasion viz. the first Plantation of the Gospel-churches They were Apostles Prophets Evangelists the call of these the works and Qualifications was extraordinary These continued no longer than the first Age of the Church 8. The Ordinary remaining Officers are no more than Presbyters which some make a little distinction of Pastors Teachers Ruling Elders but there is no need of multiplication of Titles and Offices where the work doth so much correspond and is of the same nature and Deacons the first sort to give themselves principally to Prayer and the Ministry of the Word and Government the latter to mind the matters of more external concern called Tables as the necessities of the Poor the providing Elements for Sacraments conveniencies for Church-assemblies and whatever is necessary upon such Occasions These Officers are no where found with a capacity to exert their Power as such but in particular Congregations tho' they be members of the Catholick Church they are not Catholick Officers Christ is now the only Catholick Officer being the Head of the whole Body 9. All the Officers of the Gospel-church were placed in the one Catholick Church primarily and immediately relating to Christ Mystical secondarily and mediately to the several visible militating parts thereof in particular Congregations and their Office-work was either for the planting and gathering in to them or for the edification of those gathered The Extraordinary had an extraordinary call furnished with an extraordinary measure of the Spirit as with an extraordinary Commission the Ordinary had not these but sufficient both of the Spirit and commission for answering Christs glorious ends and designs in building his Church in future Ages and gathering more 10. It appears that the true actual members of the visible Church are visible Saints and Believers none that were adult were ever counted so in the Gospel-sence but under-the Notion of the Profession of Faith and Practice of Holiness True Faith makes a man a true Member of the mystical Body of Christ but cannot instate a man in foro Ecclesiae in the rights of visible communion till it manifests it self with credibility unto those to whom the Preservation of these Rights and Priviledges are committed the actual Officers and Members of a visible Church The Rule that Christ hath given for knowing and judging of others is by their Fruits and if the Church be mistaken for want of Infallibility which the Apostles themselves came short in Simon Magus and Judas being not known to them but by the Discovery of overt Acts God chargeth them not culpably with it that being a Prerogative that Christ reserves to himself and none ever Pretended to it but the false Prophet the great Spiritual Usurper and it appears that our Saviour reserved this Diadem to himself in the Embrio of the Gospel-church by his Behaviour towards Judas admitting him to visible communion meerly upon an outward Profession though he knew his Heart leaving his Practice as an Example to his Ministers and Churches carrying himself as a visible Pastor and dealt with men in the case of receiving to or rejecting from communion according to the visibility of their Profession therefore leaving it as a standing Rule to his Church for future proceeding in this kind not that he esteemed Hypocrites any part of his mystical Body but yet the present Profession giving them by his own Rules a right to all External Priviledges and a Reputation nothing inferiour to others he speaks of them in some Phrases which to minds not throughly informed in the Truth create much difficulty as John 17.11 Holy Father keep through thy name those whom thou hast given me that they may be one as we are i. e. all those that thou hast given me to be of my mystical Body that they may be united in Participation of the Divine Nature as we are one vers 12. While I was with them in the World as a visible Pastor among them I kept them in thy Name of those thou