He hath given them vast instruction how to do it And 4. What do they import save Reformation 3. As it is the great glory of God to Institute and plant Churches for the Edification of his people that his special presence may be amongst them before their apostacy c. So it is the greatest glory of Christ to reform his Churches that his Presence may continue amongst them after their apostacy and defection c. For 1. Herein he delivers them from the great removeable evils that are on earth And 2. Gives them the most glorious things that are on earth communicable de quibus infra 4. It is the most incomparable state of man on earth In a Thoughly-Reformed state after Christian Apostacy the Saints and Churches of Christ are in the greatest glory that ever they will be in on earth When this Dispensation is ended that in Heaven will immediatly succeed it and continue for ever Quest But who is it that makes such a Preservation the end of his Reformation Resp If we may Judge of mens ends by their actings men of such a spirit are very rare 2. The grand enquiry is not about mens ends but Gods 3. God doth not make mans life his Law 4. In the Reformation of Christian Churches its evident that he aymes at their Preservation inclusively whether men do or not 5. Men ought to use Gods means for Gods ends It s both their duty honour and safety 6. It proceeds from want of Grace in those that do not and is not commendable in the least 7. It concerns us to take heed of being led by ungodly guides Object There be other means to preserve the Churches of Christ Resp 1. Whatever our ends be Gods way to them is the best 2. God hath prescribed Reformation as the way to the Preservation of Churches Leviticus 26.23 c. 3. The Experience of all Ages testifies and convinceth that it is so and the only soveraign Antidote against desolation 4. It s compounded of all the saving Spirituals that are in the World 5. Those other wayes and means are but of humane Invention 6. They are used by Worldly Wise men or carnal Polititians 7. It is not to be expected by Christians that Christ will by them secure his Churches from ruin and desolation but that 8. Where Christian Reformation is not practised mens Ecclesiastical and Spiritual if not their civil and temporal estates and Interests will languish and come to nothing notwithstanding Leviticus 26. c. Wherefore 9. Prudens O tale Caveto Object I see no necessity at all of preserving of Christian Churches Resp 1. The Instituted Churches of Christ are scituated directly in our way to the full fruition of God in Heaven according to Scriptures 2. The continuance of them is absolutely necessary for all those that travel thither 3. They that are travelling to Heaven do discover this necessity 4. The Gospel is hid from all the rest 2 Corin. 4.3 5. The Objection savours very strongly of Atheism and Antiscripturism unbelief and Antichristianism and therefore 6. Those whose spirits appear to be fraught with it must be left to the Judgement of God For 1. Contra negantem principia non est disputandum 2. The Apostle Paul desires the Church to pray for himself and his assistants and successors that they may be delivered from men of such a spirit 2 Thessal 1.1.3.1 2. 3. He commands his Successors in the Ministry 1. To withdraw from such 1 Timothy 6.5 2. To rebuke them sharply Titus 1.13 3. To reject such an one Titus 3.10 4. To turn away from such 2. Tim. 3.5 4. He charges the Churches 1. To let them be anathema Maranatha 1 Cor. 16.22 2. To avoid them Romans 16.17 3. To let them be accursed Gal. 1.8 9. 5. He himself did actually Excommunicate such 1 Timothy 1. 19 20. 6. The Apostle John adviseth the Saints 1. That they receive not such an one into their houses 2. That they bid him not God-speed 2 John 10. 7. Le ts not trust our own hearts in the Gospel Quest What difference is there betwixt the Properties of Reformed Churches and the Properties of the first planted Churches under the Gospel Resp 1. In general Properties properly are beings that are not of but follow or flow from the essences of their first and next Subjects 2. All Properties are Proportionable to the Essences from which they flow 3. In particular 1. The Churches of God are Essentially the most glorious things in the world and therefore 2. They have the most glorious Properties that are in the world Yet 3. The Essentials of the Churches of God having been sometimes more sometimes less glorious the Properties of them have accordingly been sometimes more sometimes less glorious 4. More particularly 1. The Churches Work and necessity being very various And 2. Greater in times of Reformation than at the first Plantation of Churches God communicated himself to them accordingly So that 5. The Essences of Reformed Churches being more glorious than the Essences of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel The Properties of Reformed Churches are also more glorious than the Properties of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel to instance 1. The members of the first Planted Churches could give much but the members of Reformed Churches can give more for a visible Interest in God They can give more glorious Evidences of their saving conversion and Union with Christ 1. They can make a more express profession of their assent to the truth of the Gospel in general 2. They can extend that profession more particulary to the grand Fundamentals of the Gospel The Messiah is come by owning of it distinctly in the parts thereof 3. They can exert more Acts of Faith and Repentance 4. They can engage themselves more gloriously to continue therein and to walk in all other things also according to the Scriptures and not otherwise 2. The first Planted Churches under the Gospel could walk according to Gospel Rules of Church-Communion but Reformed Churches can conform to them more compleatly and exactly 1. They can glorifie God more 2. They can edifie one another more And 3. They can contribute more towards the Salvation of those that are without Whether they be Infidels Heathen Or Christian Scattered Saints Unreformed Churches or Sauable Apostates 1. By the Doctrinal and practical holding forth of the Word of Life 2. By defending of it And 3. By offending the enemies thereof Such Power is most properly proper to Reformed Churches under the Gospel Quest What difference is there betwixt the practises of the Reformed Churches and the practises of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel Resp As all Properties are proportionable to the Essences so all practises are proportionable to the Properties from which they flow and therefore 1. The Practises of Reformed Churches are the most glorious practises in the World 2 In particular 1. The Members of the Reformed Churches of Christ give most for a visible
the Gospel the twelve Apostles received them immediatly from Christ himself when personally present with them on earth as their Tutor 3. Their seconds Matthias and Paul received them partly by the Ministery of the Church and partly from Christ immediatly Matthias was fitted for the work of the Ministry by Christ when he was personally present on earth Paul by the Spirit of Christ when he was ascended up into Heaven yet so as that the ministery of man was not wholly excluded either their vocation or mission c. Act. 1. 9. chap. c. but 4. The Reformers of the Churches of Christ Timothy Titus the Angels of the seven Churches of Asia c. have ever received them from Christ by the Ministery of the Church or the Officers thereof They have them mostly if not wholly this way for when there are men fit to be made use of in the work of the Gospel Christ ever employs them proportionably he never is in extraordinary wayes but in an extraordinary case t is pure necessity that makes him act by himself alone without means or Instruments 2. They differ in the nature of their Commissions The Commission that the first Preachers and Planters of the Gospel and of Churches by it had shewed was their power to do Miracles Heb. 2.4 This divine Commission they occasionally produced to convince the world of the truth of their mission But the Reformers of the Christian Churches have no such commission 2 Thes 3.8 9. but in stead thereof the Testimonial of approved and most eminent Preachers of the Gospel c. Such a commission Timothy and Titus had from Christ by Paul in his Epistles to them and the Angels of the seven Churches of Asia by John the Apostle in his Epistles to them And all other ordinary Officers of Christ from the Apostles and others in their Epistles to the other Churches respectively Such a commission all their Successors have usually had and still have It s commendably so in these Nations at this day And this is satisfactory and final evidence of an ordinary Minister 3. They differ in the extent of their authority The first Preachers and Planters of the Gospel John the Baptist and Christ might do their work in any part of Judea and the Planters of Churches by the Gospel might do their work in any part of the world but the Reformers of the Churches of Christ are hunted to particular places as Timothy to Ephesus Titus to Crete and the Angels of the seven Churches of Asia to their respective Churches c. Their commission is only to reform those Churches They are there and for that work only and may neither turn to the right hand nor to the left without further order 4. They differ in respect of other maintenance For 1. the first Preachers and Planters of the Gospel were extraordinarily provided for 2. The first Planters of Churches by the Gospel had their maintenance from the members of those Churches out of the common stock which the Church then had Act. 2.44 45 c. 3. In extraordinary cases they were sometimes maintained by their own hand-labour as was Paul Act. 18. but 4. The Reformers of the Churches of Christ have been and are maintained mostly by Tithes Those that have not been or are not thus maintained have been and are maintained by somewhat that is as near as can be equivalent thereunto especially in England almost ever since it was Christian For 1. the Spirit of Christ giving an account of the practice of giving Tithes or a tenth part of all to the Ministers of God with the greatest exactness that can be is so far from stigmatizing that he gives a very fair character of it Luke 18.12 14. Heb. 7. 2. This practice was not founded upon the ceremonial Law but was four hundred and odd years before it Genesis 14.20 and Heb. 7.6 3. Christ hath nowhere repealed but rather established the ancient Laws of God about peoples giving and Ministers receiving of Tithes Levit. 27.30 c. Deut. 14.22 Malac. 3.8 9 10. Luke 11.42 Heb. 7.5 8 9. 4. There 's general equity in such a course what was due to Ministers under the Law is much more due to the Ministers of the Gospel forasmuch as their Ministry is far more excellent 2 Corin. 3. c. 5. The Gospel-spirit hath pointed them out as most due to them and convenient for them 1 Cor. 9. Gal. 6.6 6. Former Magistrates in whose power they were in civil respect in this Nation did accordingly give them to the Ministers successively for ever and it is no small sin to violate so just and pious a will of deceased Magistrates Gal. 3.15 Heb. 9.17 7. There is no other probable way of having and continuing a right Evangelical Ministry and Magistracy throughout this Nation c. Object But we must do as the Apostles did Resp Prove that Universally Object None of the first Reformers were maintained by Tithes Resp It s probably true But 1. want of possession though it may render a mans title suspitious yet it is consistent with the best 2. If it were so that the first Reformers were not maintained by Tithes and be so that some are not yet it neither was nor is because Reforming Ministers have no right to Tithes but either 1. Because they were not Christian Magistrates that would see to the execution of the Laws of Christ and to the doing of Justice according to the Word of God whereby all men might enjoy their rights and properties or 2. Because the Saints enjoyed not liberty to improve their estates but were persecuted and unsetlted or 3. Because in those times they had not whereof to pay Tithes for ex nihilo nihil fit 3. So soon as these impediments were removed in this Nation It paid Tithes where it had things tithable and where it had not it made up a maintenance for its Ministers as equivalent as could be to that by Tithes and so it justly doth at present Object We are not Church-members nay we do not so much as hear those Ministers that will take Tithes c. Resp The Law of grace of God and of the Nation gives Reforming Ministers the Tithes for their support and maintenance in the execution of their commission 2. By vertue of these Laws they have a right unto them and are rightfully in the possession of them 3. Their right to them or possession of them depends not upon mens Church-membership or hearing of them though the Evangelical delivery of them doth 4. All that have a natural capacity ought to have Reforming Ministers be fit for and enjoy all Ordinances by them administrable to visible Saints and Churches of Christ Rev. 2.7 11 17 c. 5. Where self-love is overcome by love to Christ there will neither be head heart nor hand against maintaining of Ministers by donation and payment of Tithes 6. It s well if our innocent opposers of Ministers maintenance by way of Tithes
trade not with the man of sin in the depths of Satan to take away the tenth at least of them as well as from them Quest Wherein doth the matter of a Reformed Church and the matter of the first planted Churches under the Gospel differ Resp Matter is that of which a thing is made and doth exist 2. Visible Saints are the matter of all true Churches of God 3. Being visibly in covenant with God hath ever been the critical Badge of visible Saints All those and those only are to be esteemed and used as visible Saints and Gods peculiar that God hath made a promise of himself unto and taken into covenant with himself 4. The terms upon which God hath made over himself to mankind are very various He promised himself upon one condition to man in the state of innocency upon another to him when faln upon a third to Abraham c. upon a fourth to Moses c. upon a fifth to those adult persons that lived under the Gospel and upon a sixth to their children respectively during their minority 5. The difference betwixt the matter of the Church and Churches of God at one time and at another is grounded upon his various administration of his covenant or his promising and applying himself to mankind upon various terms and conditions 6. Upon this account the matter of a Reformed Church and the matter of the first planted Churches under the Gospel do differ For 1. Before Christ came in the flesh God had freely tyed himself to his people by an external Covenant of grace or promise of himself unto them 2. In the beginning of the Gospel God altered that and made a new Will Testament or Covenant 3. The whole world thereupon was as it were dissolved and void of visible Saints both Jews and Gentiles were for a time deserted by God for he was not visibly obliged to mankind in that pinch of time none of those that were his peculiar people before could now challenge a particular Interest in him by vertue of his ancient Promise to Abraham though often confirmed in a solemn manner now indefinitely in force during that Dispensation or untill they do personally accept of the new covenant or Gods promise of himself upon new conditions Mar. 1. 4. The world lying in this miserable condition God tendered himself again unto it in his new Instrument or covenant of Peace and Reconciliation by the publike Ministry of John the Baptist Christ and his Apostles and their assistants and successors 5. Many Adult persons did thereupon accept of him accordingly 6. All Adult persons that accepted of him accordingly together with their children were restored to their visible Interest in God again or vested with an Interest in God by vertue of his free grant promise or covenant which as before only and solely gives a right unto himself and to the glorious things of the Gospel 7. Those visible Saints were the matter of the first planted Churches under the Gospel 8. Most of those visible Saints did visibly apostatize from their acceptance of God upon those new Terms 9. To those visible Saints so apostatized God still tendered himself by his Ministers but upon higher terms Apoc. 2. 3. 10. All and only those Adult persons that accepted of him accordingly together with their children having alwayes been legally in them and one with them by the fundamental Laws of God were confirmed in or restored to their visible Interest in God again 11. All and only those visible Saints are the matter of Reformed Churches under the Gospel So that the difference betwixt the matter of Reformed Churches and the matter of the first planted Churches under the Gospel lies mainly in these two points Conclu 1. Adult persons who were the first and greatest part of the matter of the first planted Churches under the Gospel were not under the new Gospel-covenant during their minority But adult persons who also were and are the first and major part of the matter of Reformed Churches under the Gospel either were interested in the new covenant during their Infancy or rejected together with their parents for their non-improvement of the means of Grace ordained by Christ Conclu 2. Adult persons who are the first and greatest part of the matter of Reformed Churches under the Gospel or the body and Representative of it are both more extensive and more intensive in the performance of the conditions of the new covenant then the Adult matter of the first planted Churches under the Gospel was Object But our Antiministerialists say that none can be in Covenant with God during their minority Resp It may be so It s very probable that they do hold that babes can have no interest in God by promise c. and if so it is the fountain of all their visible extravagancies and is it self fed by these and other hellish atheistical and antichristian opinions and principles of darkness 1. That they may make the light within them their Suprema Lex 2. That God cannot make a Law without mans consent 3. That to esteem of and use any one as legally in another is unjust and illegal 4. That Infants are utterly uncapable of free grace c. Object Our Antiministerialists are so far from requiring more of Adult persons who are the only matter of their Churches Sensu praedicto than was required of adult persons that were the matter of the first constituted Churches under the Gospel inclusively that they do not require so much Resp Through-conformity to the Gospel is not consistent e ther with their principles or designs 2. Christ hath not sent them either to plant his Churches or reform them and therefore it is no wonder if they go not the way to either 3. They are so far from being Primi perturbatae collapsaeque Ecclesiae restauratores mensuraque reliquorum that their practice is no President nor their work no Rule to Reforming Ministers in the least 4. What ever may be said de regulis regulatis Christs seven Epistles to the seven Churches of Asia are the Supreme Regula regulans of all Church-reformation under the Gospel 5. In those Epistles such matter of Reformed Churches of Christ is required as is before mentioned Quest What difference is there betwixt the form of a Reformed Church and the form of the first planted Churches under the Gospel Resp A Form is an internal cause by which a thing is what it is 2. The mutual consent and agreement of visible Saints to walk towards God and one another respectively according to the Rules of Gods Word is the form of all the true Churches of God 3. God according to the good pleasure of his Will and the variety of his Saints conditions did successively give several Rules of Church-communion 4. The difference that there is betwixt the form of the Church and Churches of God at one time and at another is grounded upon that variety of Divine Dispensation 5. Upon this account there is a difference
betwixt the form of Reformed Churches and the form of the first planted Churches under the Gospel For 1. Before Christ came in the flesh God had freely given and commanded his Saints to observe and walk according to several Rules of Church-communion 2. In the beginning of the Gospel Jesus Christ abrogated those Rules and gave the Disciples several new Rules of Church-communion 3. Thereupon the world was as it were dissolved and void of a visible Church-state untill the Disciples did mutually consent and agree to walk according to those new Rules 4. The world lying in that confused condition Christ according to his promise by himself and his Apostles and their assistants and Successors commanded the Disciples to consent and agree to walk according to those new Rules 5. The Disciples thereupon at the appointed time consent and agree to walk according to those new Rules which Christ had given them 6. They were thereupon in the state and quality of a Church of Christ 7. That their consent and agreement was it that made them a visible Church of Christ and was the form of all the first planted Churches under the Gospel Act. 2.41 47. Act. 5.13 14. Act. 9.26.17.34 1 Cor. 16.15 2 Cor. 8.5 Eph. 2.19 20 21 22.4 16. Col. 2.2 19. 8. All those Churches did really apostatize from that their visible Church constituting covenant 2 Tim. 3.3 9. Notwithstanding Christ by his Ministers proceeded very vigorously to the Reforming of them 1. By reminding them of and recalling of them to those new rules of Church-communion which formerly be by himself and his Ministers had both briefly and largely given out unto them 2. By branching out those general Rules into further particulars 3. By pressing the members of each particular apostatized church to bind themselves more strictly to walk accordingly 10. All and only those Churches that practised accordingly were continued in the quality of Churches of Christ Rev. cap. 1.2 3. 11. Those Churches whose members do practice accordingly are the Reformed Churches of Christ 12. That their practice is the form of a Reformed Church of Christ So that the difference that is betwixt the form of the Reformed Churches and the form of the first planted Churches under the Gospel seems to lie mainly in this that the covenant or mutual consent and agreement which forms the Reformed Churches is more extensive intensive and explicite than that which formed the first planted Churches under the Gospel 1. It is more extensive it enableth the Church to more acts of communion than the other doth 2. It is more intensive It binds the Church to the present exercise of all those acts with more refined and fervent affections to Christ and the souls of one another than the other doth Numb 25.11 12 13. 1 King 19.10 1 Cor. 11.31 1 Cor. 14.1 12 39. Tit. 2.14 Rev. 3.19 3. It is more explicite in it self it is more particular and express then the other is The first Church constituting covenant under the Gospel was very implicit and general but that which gives being to a Reformed Church as such is more particular and explicite as will appear if we eye 1. The persons covenanting 2. The things consented and agreed unto or the matter of the covenant 3. The manner of signifying that consent and agreement 1. The members of a Reformed Church do covenant more individually particularly and pesonally then the members of the first planted Churches under the Gospel did 2. The things that they consent and agree to are delivered to them more particularly expresly and largely than they were to the members of the first planted Churches under the Gospel 3. The members of Reformed Churches do signifie and declare their mutual consent agreement more plainly and fully than the members of the first constituted Churches did as either 1. Viva voce by an audible verbal relation of their resolution to walk according to the Rule of Church communion read unto them Exo. 19.8 Exod. 24.2 7. Josh 24.16 21 22 24 c. 2 Chron. 15.14 15. Nehem. 10.28 29. Or 2. By sealing a Writing containing the matter of such a covenant or the particulars consented and agreed unto Nehemiah 9.38 10.1 Or 3. By subscribing such a Writing Isaiah 44.5 Thus the members of throughly reformed Churches evidence their inward determinations and are made the reformed Churches of Christ But the first planted Churches were not made and constituted in so solemn a manner Gen. 17. Object But the Gospel leads us not so far as to a particular explicite Church constituting Covenant Resp This Objection favours of a licentious Antinomian spirit for the silencing whereof let such an one consider 1. That it is a very great sin to silence the Old Testament where it is not inconsistent with but especially where and when it is subservient to the New For 1. All Scripture is given by Inspiration of God 2 Timothy 3.16 2. Neither Christ nor his Apostles nor their Assistants and Successours abrogated any thing of the Old Testament but what was inconsistent with the New 3. They all along made use of the Law in its most comprehensive capacity in a way of subserviency to the Gospel 2. Let such an one consider that by the Scripture the Man of God may be compleatly and throughly furnisht for every good Work even for that of Reformation it self 2 Timothy 3.16 17. but in this posture he cannot be unless he have recourse to the despised Old Testament 3. Let such an one consider that it is far better to make use of an expedient that we may find in the old Testament than either 1. not to be throughly reformed or 2. to coyn an expedient of our own 4. Consider that the New Testament speaks more sparingly of that which is more fully discovered in the Old as worthy Mr. Baxter in his Book entituled Plain Scripture proof c. in the first position of the first chapter thereof demonstrates 5. Consider that the Old Testament leads directly to such an expedient in the time of Reformation 6. Though the Gospel doth not lead unto it by express syllabical Instruction yet by necessary consequence it doth Resp 2. It s possible this Objection may proceed from natural Antipathy and that the distemper may not lye so much in the mind and judgement as in the will and affections if so consider 1. Though this expedient be but as the Wall of a City the Hedge of a Garden or the border of a garment yet these things are necessary 2 We are not to Judge of any Ordinance of Christ by the flesh that is upon it but by the Spirit that is in it 3. That this head of the Serpent may be broken think of that Rom. 8.7 and take heed of self-interest Object But this expedient is but very little used Resp I grant that it is very extreamly slighted neglected and disused but it is no wonder For 1. It cannot be used but where Through Reformation it self is practised And 2.
Through-Reformation it self is but little practised Old England it self is too little acquainted with it When this is the other will be both better known to us and entertained by us all which God grant But 2. Had it never been used by any yet right reason must have preheminence before any custom especially before such an one as this though it have not been or is not yet it ought to be generally used by Christians in this generation for mans neglect cannot invalidate Gods Law But 3. It hath been and is used by many in this and the last century and those none of the meanest in the Churches of Christ 4. It s high time for all the rest to follow 5. None need to be ashamed of it 6. It s an honour to those that use it 7. It s well if this cavilling against the Form come not from an Antipathy to the matter of a Church-covenant for man is extreamly in love with elbow-room in a carnal selfish course and cannot abide a Bill of Divorce Object But Baptism is the form of a visible Church of Christ and of the members thereof Resp 1. In what sense it is so Restat explicandum 2. That any outward washing of the body or of any part thereof or that the exhibiting signifying and sealing of that which is exhibited signified and sealed by Lawfull Baptism is the essential constitutive form of a visible Church of Christ or gives Essence and Being to a Church and Membership c. Restat probandum 3. Against it see precious Mr. Sydenham in the 20th Chapter of his Exercitation about Baptism 4. This Principle is a great Plunder to Prophaness and a Bar to the Power of Godliness Quest What difference is there betwixt the end of a Reformed Church and the end of the first planted Churches under the Gospel Resp The End is that for which a thing is 2. God is the great Governor of the whole world He set all the Creatures their work He directs and leads them to their proper ends Psalm 29.10 3. The great end of all things is the Glory of God This is his grand intendment and this all the Creatures bring him in 4. The end of Churches is the special Glory of God 5. This is the end of all the Churches of God Divine perfection is most eminently manifested in them In them God most shews his Glory to man on earth and man most ownes the Glory of the God of Heaven Here are the highest actings of the purest love betwixt God and man on earth Here is God edifying man and man is glorifying God Act. 9.31 It s only in the Church of God that man makes returns proportionable to his Receipts by owning the whole of God For here man ownes 1. The absolute soveraignty and supream Authority of God 1. In submitting to his Institutions 2. To his Dispensations 2. In obeying of his Commands 2. The riches of Gods Free-Grace 1. In praying to him for all good things 2. In praysing of him for all good things 3. In not fainting under the greatest burdens 3. The infinite Wisdom and Knowledge of God 1. In spiritual Worship 2. In heart searching 3. In close walking with him in private 4. The Justice and Power of God 1. In expecting his dealing with the wicked according to his Word 2. In fearing his fatherly correcting of themselves 5. The infinite purity of God is also most really acknowledged in the Churches of God 1. In their cleansing of themselves from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit 2. In their pressing after Holiness and the perfection thereof 2 Cor. 7.1 Finally In the Churches of God God glorifies himself most by owning of man most and man glorifies God most by owning of him most and this is the first and last end of all the militant Churches of God In regard God is most gloriously glorified by giving and receiving what he hath given to his Churches But Resp 6. Though God in order to his greatest Glory on earth in his Institution of his Churches aims 1. At the most glorious communication of himself And 2. At the most glorious returns of that which he Communicates 1. To himself c. 2. To his Saints Isa 43 7. Yet he hath different ends therein suitable to the different conditions of his people 7. Upon this Account there is a difference betwixt the end of Reformed Churches and the end of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel For 1. The Exigencies of Gods people under the Gospel are very narrow 2. Gods regard unto them is accordingly very gracious 3. In his Planting and Reforming of Churches he aims at the supplying of those different wants which his people lie under 1. By causing them spiritually to exercise different and spiritual acts of Church-communion and that 1. towards himself and 2. towards one another And 2. By exercising different and suitable acts of communion towards them But 4. His people are in a more desperate condition in times of Church-Reformation than they are in times of Church-Plantation In regard they have sinned 1. Against greater Light And 2. Against greater Love and therefore 5. God out of a gracious respect unto them layes out himself and causeth them to lay out themselves more gloriously for their salvation in times of Reformation than in times of Plantation of Churches and so 6. The end of Reformed Churches is more glorious than the end of the first Planted Churches under the Gospel More particularly and briefly 1. The proper want of Gods people at the first Plantation of Churches was edification and this God intended and communicated by gathering and planting of them together 2. Their proper want in times of Reformation is preservation from utter ruine and desolation and this God intends and communicates by gathering and Reforming of them For 1. To vote with the Gospel in a distinguishing way Edification is the working or building up of Christians towards the highest pitch or the best and compleatest state and being of a Church of Christ at any time before its extream Apostacy and Reformation is the working or re-building up of Christians towards that condition after their extream Apostacy or the rallying of the spiritual Forces of Christ after they have fought with the Devil and his Angels and been extreamly shattered divided and scattered by the power and pollicy of the man of sin though they have conquered him And 2. As corruption is the way to annihilation so Reformation is the way to preservation in general and 3. In particular 1. All strengthening is properly in Order to preservation And 1. The strongest Union is in Order to the greatest strengthening And 3. Here is the strongest Union 1. In regard of the persons United And 2. In regard of the manner of their Uniting de quibus Supra Again 1. It s Christs grand interest to preserve his Church on earth Mat. 16.18 And 2. He hath entrusted his Embassadors with the management of this great affair And 3.
Interest in God they give the most glorious Evidences of their saving conversion and Union with Christ 1. They make the most express profession of their assent to the Truth of the Gospel in general 2. They extend that profession most particularly to the grand Fundamentals of the Gospel The Messias is come by owning of it distinctly in the parts thereof 3. They exert most acts of Faith and Repentance 4. They engage themselves most gloriously to continue therein and to walk in all other things also according to the Gospel and not otherwise 2. The Reformed Churches of Christ conform most gloriously to the Rules of Church-Communion 1. They glorifie God most 2. They lay out themselves most for the benefit of one another 3. They contribute most towards the salvation of those that are without As are 1. Infidels Heathen and Christian 2. Scattered Saints 3. Unreformed Churches And 4. Savable Apostates 1. By the Doctrinal and practical holding forth of the Word of Life 2. By defending of it And 3. By offending the enemies thereof in a Scriptural way Such are the Practises of the Reformed Churches of Christ Quest What difference is there betwixt the Priviledges of the Reformed Churches and the Priviledges of the first planted Churches of Christ Resp 1. In general Priviledges are special advantages granted to a special person or people by their Superiours 2. They are proportioned to the practises or atchievments of those that have them granted unto them Particularly 1. Though Gods free Grace be the Fountain of all Humane Enjoyments Yet 2. Divine Providence hath so ordered it that 1. In general they that do most have most And 2. In particular they that do most for God have most from God And 3. Therefore the Reformed Churches of Christ have the most glorious Priviledges that are in the World 1. They have the most glorious Administration of the Covenant of Grace Christ is applyed to them in the most glorious manner in all the purest Ordinances of Jesus Christ Isaiah 2.2 3 4.30.20 21 26. 2. They have the most glorious Interest in God Exod. 19.5 6. Levit. 26.12 2 Corin. 6.17 18. 3. They have the most glorious communion with Christ in his Ordinances Revel 27 17. Revel 3.20 4. They grow most under Means of Grace Mal. 4.2 5. They have the most glorious Evidences of their Justification Revel 2.10 11 17. Revel 3.4 5 21. 6. They have the most glorious outward peace amongst themselves Isaiah 11. Micah 4.3 4. 7. They are constituted and fixed by Christ for the main Supporters of Christianity Revel 3.12 8. They have the most glorious power on Earth Revel 2.26 27. 9. Christ causeth them to be honoured even by the greatest enemies of Christianity Rev. 3.9 10. Christ himself secures them in times of greatest danger Rev. 3.10 11. They have the Magistrates for their ordinary protection Isaiah 4.5 6. Isaiah 32.1 2. Isaiah 49.23 Romans 13.3 4. 1 Timothy 2.2 3. 12. They have the most glorious Presence of God alone with them in the tenour of their temporal undertakings Exodus 23.22 c. Levit. 26. Deut. 28. Et alibi passim These are the proper Priviledges of the Reformed Church of Christ In a word Notwithstanding that hellish conspiracy and Antichristian Energy and the terrible tottering of the first Planted Churches of Christ and of the true Reformed Protestant Christian Religion for a thousand years yet neither the one nor the other are totally eclipsed much less ruined but retain their Essentials and had need be Rallyed and new model'd throughout Quest What must we do that we may be a Reformed Church of Christ Resp 1. Repent of your scandalous sins Not walking up to your Baptismal Covenant Apopostacy Neglect of Evangelically approved Ministers of Christ and of the Ordinances by them administrable c. 2. Hear such Preachers Revel cap. 2. 3. 3. Continue therein with patience untill ye think ye can prove that ye have such a Faith in Christ as hath the Promise of Salvation annexed to it in the Gospel Rom. 10 17. 4. When ye think ye can prove that ye have such a Faith make known your arguments to your Minister by conference or otherwise 5. Offer to give Scripture Security for your continuance in the profession and practice of such a Faith and Repentance and to walk in all other things also according to the Scriptures of the Old and New Testament and not otherwise during life 6. If your supposed evidences of your union with Chrst be approved and accepted by your Minister give the profered Security for your future correspondent Evangelical behaviour 7. If your supposed evidences of your Union with Christ be not yet approved and accepted by your Minister then continue quietly and peaceably under the Ministry of the Word untill they be and then give the profered Security for your said good behaviour according to the Gospel and then 8. Your Minister must solemnly admit or declare you being seven or more a Reformed Church of Christ 9. Being so admitted or declared ye are a visible Reformed Protestant Christian Church of Christ by and in the Eye of the Gospel Quest Are we not a Church of Christ untill then Resp No For 1. We are not a first Planted Church of Christ before And 2. No person is a Reformed Saint untill he have such approved Evidences of his union with Christ Object But we are accounted Saints and a Church of Christ without that or any of it Resp 1. Proh nefas 2 Thessal 2.8 2. Gospel reckoning is the best Romans 2.16 c. And Resp 3. By the Gospel 1. None in our dayes may warrantably expect Salvation but upon the terms above mentioned 2. None may warrantably judge himself to be a Saint or member of a Reformed Church of Christ but upon those conditions 3. No Minister of Christ may Judge or Declare any man to be a Saint or any Society to be a Church of Christ but upon the terms above mentioned respectively 4. Without Ministerial Union and inauguration none are a Reformed Church of Christ 4. Take heed of Antichrist 2 Epist John 8. Quest Must we not be admitted into the state of Reformed Saints or members of a Reformed Church of Christ by Baptism when we are approved of by our Minister Resp No For 1. The Gospel Epistles are calculated directly for our Meridian and 2. There is no Rule for such a Practise 2. It lies upon those that are for the Affirmative and they are desired to prove it if they can 3. In the interim they will do well not to exclaim of and divide from Reforming Ministers and Christians Quest How then must Reformed Christians be installed into the state of a Reformed Church or members thereof Resp Either 1. By your Ministers publique verbal Declaration of his approbation of your evidential Profession and of your being thereupon in that estate and quality Or 2. By laying his hands upon you and praying for you Heb. 6.2 1 Tim. 5.22 Or 3. By his enrolement of your Names in a Book of Record Malathy 3.16 17 18. Or 4. By all or two of these together to bring our Divisions to An end