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
belong to this and not to other m Heb. 12.23 § 13. The Catholick Church is but one onely a Eph. 4.4.5 1 Cor. 12.12 and it cannot be visible as Catholick for the greatest part are not seen by us being Saints in Heaven b Eph. 1.10 3.15 Elect Infants and many not known by Profession and if Men apply Catholick to the Professors of Christianity living at the same time upon the Earth and call them the Catholick Visible Church it is a mistaken Appellation for they are neither a Visible Church nor Catholick Not a Visible Church because 1. Christ hath instituted none such 2. They are never seen in coetu or in a Congregation as a Visible Church is nor can be till the last Day c Mat. 13.41 3. Christ never gave Ordinances for such a Communion 4. All these are not under any visible bond of Confederation together which is the form of a Visible Church Profession is no Bond but a proper requisite only thereto 5. Christ never instituted such a Church Ministry but what were set in a particular Church and exercised in such The Apostles Christ's extraordinary Ministers were first set in the Church at Jerusalem d Eph. 4.11 1 Cor. 12.28 and were first Officers there and tho their Commission reached to the Planting and Governing other Churches that should succeed yet they exercised not their Ministry or Apostolick Power to any supposed Catholick Church Visible nor wrote to such but gathered particular Churches out of the World and in them settled a distinct Ministry and Ordinances peculiar to each wherein they exercised their own power as far as necessary for their Settlement and Edification Again there is no Catholick Visible Church for 1. If there be there is two Catholick Churches which is a contradiction and contrary to that Creed called the Apostles 2. All visible Professors if a Church cannot be Catholick because they are not all the Members of Christ on Earth and they that profess at large at least are not Members of Christ many if not most of them 3. It is not a Catholick Church because it 's not a Body-Corporate in any visible manner nor are capable of answering the ends of such in Government Order or Priviledges 4. If there be a Catholick visible Church it 's rational there should be a Catholick visible Pastor and from these Principles arose the Pope and the Papal Jurisdiction established throughout the professing World In the first Ages after Christ each particular Church called it self Catholick from the Profession of that Doctrine which was called the Catholick Faith because received by all the Churches Afterward the Word Catholick was applied to a supposed Universal Visible Church and became not only serviceable to the rising of the Mystery of Iniquity but a great Foundation of the Antichristian Fabrick which was afterward built thereon with all the Ecclesiastical Tyranny and Papal Superstitious Pomp imaginable The Protestants that have cast off the Universal Pastorship of one and will not endure a Catholick single Pastor do most of them retain the Notion of an Universal Visible Church as also of divers Catholick Pastors dividing that Catholocy which they will not allow the Pope among themselves each one exercising the Office and Power of a Catholick visible Pastor where-ever he comes having bin ordained by a Presbytery of a Catholick Constitution to a Catholick Pastorship to the Catholick Church To conclude Our best Protestants in opposition to the Papists have still denied the being of a Catholick Visible Church amongst whom was Famous Dr. Whitaker whose Arguments upon this Question against Duraeus are Quoted by Mr. Hooker in his Survey ch 15. p. 265. Our Savoy Confession allows the Name but denies the Nature Ch. 26. § 2. Institution of Churches § 6. for it saith it s not entrusted with the Administration of any Ordinances nor hath any Officers to Rule and Govern as such and what a kind of Visible Church is that that is neither the subject of Ordinances or Officers Mr. Hooker saith Church is the Genus of all particular Churches but a Visible Church in the generical consideration can no more be found existing out of individual particular Churches than a Man can be found existing under the generical consideration of Man out of individual Men. But that a totum aggregatum of all Churches in this World can be made and be a visible Church he denies upon Learned and convincing Reasons which will stand their Ground against all contradiction To whom for brevity sake we refer the Reader where also he evinceth that there 's no Catholick Visible Church considered as a totum Representativum i. e. as a Representative Church in all the Pastors that there cannot be a Catholick Visible Representative Church and that there is no such thing as a Representative Church of any kind of greater or lesser extent § 14. What the Scripture speaks of a Church is either of a Church in general and indefinitely belongs to any or of a Church in Specie either Catholick and invisible or particular and visible but saith nothing of a Catholick Visible CHAP. III. Of a Congregational Church in General Of Christ's Dispensation as Head A visible Church defined Revealed Worship exercis'd first in Families then in Instituted Churches The Foundation of visible Churches laid in Abraham's Covenant Two parts thereof The Church of Israel First Essential then Organized The difference between the Mosaical and Gospel Oeconomy The Church of Israel Congregational § 1. THE Lord Jesus Christ exerts his Headship not only by the more immediate Administration of his Spirit a 1 Cor. 2.11 12. 12.4 7.13 Eph. 4.3 7. internally in the hearts of his People whereby he constitutes his Mystical and Catholick Body but also as the Apostle and High-Priest of our Profession b Heb. 3.1.2 6. by external Means of Grace Constituting and Ordaining particular visible Churches and in them Ministry and Ordinances suited to the State and respective Ages of the World c Heb. 9.1.8.10 Deut. 29.1 for the filling up and edification of his Mystical Body d Eph. 4.12 13. and blesseth such accordingly to his great Glory and good of his Chosen e Eph. 3.21 Ps 106.45 Exo. 20.24 Deut. 4.8 § 2. A Visible Church is a Particular Assembly of Professing Believers a 1 Cor. 1.2 visibly embodied in Christ b 1 Cor. 12.27 for a stated and holy Communion c Act 9.31 in one place d 1 Cor. 11 20. with God and one another in all instituted Ordinances e Act 2.42 appertaining to themselves and their immediate seed f Act. 2.39 Isa 61.9 65.23 Eph. 6.4 for God's Glory in Christ g Eph. 3.21 and their mutual Edification h 1 Cor. 14 5.12.26 § 3. God's External Worship by Revealed Religion was first celebrated in Adam's Family a Gen. 4.3 4. and continued in the Families of the Faithful till the time of Abraham
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
professing Right thereto to the Believing Parent covenanting and his immediate Infant-Seed in him d Isa 65.23 chap. 44.3 Gal. 4.28 Fourthly The Seal of the Righteousness of Faith given to both Parent and Seed Fifthly The Ministry of the Gospel with all other Ordinances of Christ's Institution which each is capable of for spiritual advantage in the communion of the respective Members thereof e Gal. 3.7 8. § 3. A Visible Church is a spiritual a 1 Pet. 2.5 Body b Rom. 12.4 5. of Believers c 1 Cor. 1 2 with their immediate Seed d Gal. 3.26 27 28. 4.28 separate from the World e 2 Cor. 6.17 and given up unto Christ and one another in a Publick Covenant f 2 Cor. 8.5 Isa 56.6 7. for fellowship g 1 John 1.3 7. Phil. 1.5 1 Cor. 11.20 in all instituted Worship and Ordinances h Mat. 28.20 in one place i 1 Cor. 14.23 to the Glory of God k 1 Cor 10.31 and their own Salvation l Phil. 1.9 11. § 4. A visible Church is always particular a Rev. 1.20 Col. 2.5 a Catholick being not visible as hath bin shewed for a Visible Church is not a Society gathered together and made up of all the select People in the world there is none such can be here but it s such as is limited to a People and Place and is the subject of the Ministry and Ordinances there b 1 Cor. 11.20 14.23 Act 2.41 And though it should be supposed that there is a Catholick visible Church which cannot be granted it is to be observed that the Spirit of God speaks always of Churches in their respective places as distinct Churches each one entire in it self c 1 Cor. 1 2 1 Thes 1.1 not one Epistle wrote to any under the Name of the Catholick visible Church nor to any Church or Congregation as part of it but we read of writing to a Church in such a place d Revel 3.1 c. 1 Cor. 1.1 and divers Churches in a place as Country or Province we find distinguisht by the places where they were as Town City in which they were e Gal. 1.2 Rev. 1.4 Again each particular Congregation had its proper Elders relating to it f Act. 20.17 Phil. 1.1 Act 14.23 and not to others or to a Catholick visible Lastly the Church at Jerusalem the first Primitive was indeed the biggest and largest we read of but to make it any other than a particular Congregation is as weak Divinity as it is Logick for it continued to Assemble together in one place g Act 5.12 and was called but one Church and was not the Church that was visibly Catholick for it contained not the Churches of Samaria h Act 9.31 and Antioch i ib. 15.2 3 soon after gathered § 5. Wherefore the Subject defined by us is a particular Church not because the Catholick is a Genus of it but because the Catholick and a Particular are two distinct Species of Church by proper Adjuncts e. gr A particular Church is visible here on Earth in coetu a Act 5.12 which the Catholick Church is not It assembles in one place b 1 Cor. 11.20 which the Catholick cannot here It 's the subject of external Ordinances Officers and Discipline c Phil. 1.1 1 Cor. 5.4 which the Catholick is not The Members are known by visible Profession and confederation d 2 Cor. 9.13 which the Members of the Catholick are not known by § 6. The next general Nature as we have shewed to a Church is a Body Politick or Corporation for Body is thus distributed in Scripture Acceptation it is Natural or Political Political is Civil or Spiritual the Spiritual is a Church which is a spiritual Body Politick and that is invisible and Catholick or visible and Particular Here we are on a Particular Congregation which we say is a spiritual visible Body Politick a Rom. 12.4 5. 1 Co. 12.27 That it is a Body in a Political sence is most manifest for the Scripture calling it so it must be concluded that it cannot be so in any rational sence but as it is a Body Corporate not Civil but Spiritual it being of spiritual Matter b 1 Cor. 3. 1 Gal. 6.1 spiritual Form c 1 Pet. 2.5 and for spiritual Ends d 1 Cor. 12 3.3 7.8 Eph. 5.19 1 Pet. 2.5.9 Neither is it invisibly spiritual for spiritual things are both visible and invisible e Col. 1.16 18. 2.5 1 Pet. 2.5 but its spiritual in opposition to civil Hence the Church we are speaking of is a visible spiritual Body-Politick and as such having a special and peculiar Relation to Christ the Political Head f Heb. 3.1.6 wherein the special Glory and Excellency of this Church doth ly § 7. The great Concern therefore of this Body is its true Political Relation to Christ as the head thereof a Eph. 4.15 16. that it be by its visibility at least Christ's Corporation b 1 Cor. 12.27 1. By his Purchase c Act. 20.28 2. By his Charter and Institution being founded upon his Doctrine Rules and Appointments d Mat. 28.20 3. That the Dispensation be Christ's so that all things therein transacted be in the Name and Power of the Lord Jesus Christ e Col. 3.17 and to God's Glory by him f Eph. 3.21 4. That the Matter of this Church be visibly approved as Members of Christ's Mystical Body and so in Christ Jesus by Faith visibly at least g Phil. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.15 16. 5. That their association into one Body be by explicite Covenant first to Christ the Head and to one another as visible Members of Christ supposed faithful and Loyal to him h Rom. 15.6 7. Isa 56.7 1 Pet. 5.9 6. The great ends of it are 1. A freedom in Christ i Gal. 5.1 and the Spirit k 2 Cor. 3.17 from all other Political Heads as such in this spiritual relation and all pretendedly Ecclesiastical l 2 The. 2.4 or Civil m Isa 26.13 or Pastoral compulsion and Arbitrary Government within themselves n 1 Pet. 5.3 3 John 10. 2. The great enjoyment of the Presence and Blessing of Christ o Rev. 3.1 Eph. 1.3 3. Their communion in Christ with one another p 1 Cor. 10 16. and thereby their edification in Grace q 1 Cor. 14 26. and continued growth in Christ r Eph. 4.15 in the solemn and sacred use of all his holy Institutions and Appointments All which they look upon not as Bondage but their desirable Enjoyments and Priviledges granted to them by the Charter and Seal of the New Testament ſ Eph. 1.3 Col. 2.19 Eph. 1.18 19. § 8. As it is and ought to appear a spiritual Body a 1 Pet. 2.5 and therefore visible it must be made up of such Members
Establishment in its Vailed State and as to its appurtenances appropriate to Abraham's Natural Posterity in a National Church-Constitution waxed old decayed and vanished away n Heb. 8.13 and the substantial part of Abraham's Covenant in respect of the true Grace and Government of the Promised Seed appeared and remained glorious o Gal. 3.17 4.26.28 30 31. § 4. These Extraordinary Ministers were Apostles Evangelists Prophets and Teachers whom the Lord Jesus set in the first Gospel-Church at Jerusalem a 1 Cor. 12 28. and gave them to his Churches for a general good but firstly to that Church b Eph. 4.10 11. where they first exercised their Ministry Apostleship and Eldership The Apostles so called by Christ's first Mission were Twelve c Matt. 10.2 c. one of which fell from his Apostleship d Act 1.20 these were Ordained by Christ himself and had a double Mission one to the Jews only before Christ's death e Mat. 10.6 whereby the Partition-Wall was broken down f Eph. 2.14 and then to all Nations Jews and Gentiles g Mat. 28.19 with a particular charge to go to the Jews first h Acts 13.46 Upon the Fall of Judas Matthias was chosen by the Church and a Divine Ordination by Lot i ch 1.26 Paul and Barnabas were additional Apostles k ch 14.14 and sent especially Paul Apostles to the Gentiles l Ro. 11.13 They had an extraordinary Ordination by Christ's immediate Call and Instigation of the Holy Ghost m Acts 13.2 Ga. 1.12 They were all of them such as had bin Eye-Witnesses of the Life Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Lord n Acts 1.21 22 23. Paul himself had seen Christ but was converted and called to Apostleship after his Ascention therefore he saith he was born out of due time o 1 Cor. 15.8 9. They were divinely inspired had a marvellous effusion of the Spirit upon them p Act. 2.12 had the Gifts of Tongues Healing Interpretation and of miraculous Works q Mark 16 16 17 18. 1 Cor. 12.28 They had more than ordinary Graces and Gifts mightily furnished to the Work of the Ministry and lastly had the Care of all the Churches r 2 Cor. 11.28 § 5. The Evangelists were inspired Ministers of Christ to his Churches a 2 Tim. 3.16 Acts 8.5.26 21.8 Sub-Apostolick Adjuvant to the Apostles in their Work and much at their direction b 1 Tim. 1.3 2.15 2 ep 2.2 Tit. 1.5 Some were Apostolick Evangelists as Matthew and John two of them Called Evangelists from their Evangelical Histories of Christ in their Gospels c Matt. 1.1 Mark and Luke were only Evangelists none of the Twelve Philip Timothy Titus were only Evangelists ordained Apostolically d Acts 6.2 2 Tim. 1.6 Titus 1.5 and employed and sent by the Apostles to places where they had Preached and to Churches already Planted to Visit Teach and Direct to the Election of Officers and see a supply of what was wanting or prepare Matters for the Apostles coming § 6. The Prophets and Teachers of the first stamp seemed to have much of Inspiration by the Holy Ghost a Act 2. by the coming down thereof upon the Apostles and Brethren at Pentecost It appears not that they had any Office or governing Power in the Church nor much differing b ib. 13.1 but being Brethren full of the Holy Ghost as the Deacons and Barnabas before set apart c ib. 6.3 11.24 were employed by the Apostles or moved in themselves to Preach the Gospel where-ever they came for Conversion of the dark unbelieving World d ib. 11.19 There were of later date Gifted Brethren by an ordinary Measure e 1 Cor. 14 4 5 37. 1 The. 5.20 of Grace and Gifts some for Edification within the Church and some for Propagation of the Gospel abroad which may yet remain the reason thereof remaining § 7. These Extraordinary Ministers continue not in the Churches a 1 Cor. 13 8. neither Apostles or Apostolick Men to whom it was essential to be Ordained or immediately sent by Christ and the Holy Ghost as also extraordinarily inspired and qualified The Miraculous Gifts they were furnished with are ceased b Ibid. The Apostles were to be such as had seen the Lord on Earth c Acts 1.21 22. of such there is none now They were charged with the Care of all the Churches d 2 Cor. 11 28. of such there is none now one or more to whom Christ hath committed the Care of all the Churches or of many indefinitely Lastly There 's not the same Reason for such a Ministry now The Doctrine of the Gospel having bin received in the Nations of the Earth the Canon of the Scripture filled Churches have bin planted and walked in by the Rules and Order of the Gospel The Doctrine of Christ and his Apostles abundantly confirmed by divers Signs following e Heb. 2.3 4. and since by the Profession Practice and Sufferings of multitudes of faithful Witnesses f Heb. 12.1 Rev. 12.11 CHAP. VII Of the Ordinary Ministers of a Church Christ hath appointed a sufficient Ministry for the Churches according to their inward and outward concerns What an Elder is What sorts The Pastoral Charge what it contains How discharged by one or more A Teacher what A Ruling Elder what A Deacon what A Church is fully Organiz'd with a Pastor and Deacon § 1. CHRIST being Exalted to God's Right Hand and sitting there an Apostle and High Priest of good things to come a Heb. 9.11 hath made provision for the calling in of the Elect b Acts 13.48 and his redeemed ones c Rev. 5.9 building and furnishing his spiritual Temples and Habitations for God by the Spirit d Ephes 2.20 21. not only by and under the Apostles Ministry but also by a sufficiency of Ministry and Ordinances in an ordinary and standing way and manner of Dispensation to the end of the World e Matt. 28.19 20 21 § 2. According to the great Concerns of a visible Church in this World Christ hath wisely consulted the well-being of it a Eph. 3.10 in instituting and appointing the Ministers thereof b Ephes 4.10 11. As to the higher internal concerns he hath ordained Elders c Acts 14.23 Phil. 1.1 and as to the more external no Church being able to subsist and keep up Ordinances according to the instituted Nature of them without a due care of those concerns he hath ordained and appointed Deacons d Acts 6.2 3. Phil. 1.1 § 3. An Elder is an ordinary Minister to the Church chosen and ordained by it to a Charge with Rule and Government a 1 Tim. 5.17 Act. 4.23 being a Person of Age or Gravity judged to be duly qualified for it b 1 Tim. 3.1 2 c. An Elder Presbyter or Bishop we may find to be taken in Scripture for one
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
b Heb. 11.5.7 8. which by many are esteemed to have bin so many distinct Churches and accordingly distinguish particular Churches into Oeconomick or Family and Congregational But others think that tho God appointed to those Patriarchs a solemn Family-Worship yet that a Church was not instituted till Abraham's time when the first Foundation of an Instituted Church was laid in the Covenant that God made with and Sealed to Abraham and his Seed c Gen. 12.2 17.1 2 for before this Covenant tho God was Worshipped in Families there seems not to have bin any Churches made up of divers Families and therefore not Congregational nor any Church-Covenant or Seals thereof Hence he is said to have received the Sign of Circumcision the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had being uncircumcised that he might be the Father of all that believe both circumcised and uncircumcised d Ro. 4.11 i. e. of Believers whose Church-Covenant was Sealed by an Instituted Seal appropriated thereto or else how was Abraham said to be a Father to all that should afterward believe any more than Noah was or Sem and moreover because in this Covenant Christ the Head of the Church was explicitely contained e Ro. 4.13 Gal. 3.18 19. who indeed was promised as Heir of the World through the Righteousness of Faith therefore the Apostle tells us that the Promise of Christ and all Church-Priviledges and Ordinances of his Institution are sure not only to Abraham's natural Seed but to all who are of the Faith of Abraham who is the Father of all Professing Believers and Covenanting with God for themselves and Seed by vertue of his receiving the Seal of the Righteousness of Faith which he had in his uncircumcision f Ro. 4.16 so that the stress of Abraham's Father-hood to the Faithful is not laid upon his Eminent Faith alone but upon his receiving an Instituted Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to himself and his infant-Seed g Rom. 4.11.16 and in this respect as he is called the Father so each Believer is his Seed in Christ h Gal. 3.26 27 28. receiving a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith to himself and Seed as Isaac did i Gal. 4.28 § 4. In Abraham's Covenant was contained the Promise and Blessing of Christ to his Church in all Ages both in respect of its Mystical and Visible relation to him as its Head a Gal. 3.8 9 14. Ephes 1.3 and therefore the establishment of Church-Membership was made in Abraham to the professing covenanting-Believer un-alterably as a substantial part of the Blessing which was to come on the Gentiles and not to be removed b Gal. 3.14 15 16 17 18. Heb. 12.27 There were two things manifestly in Abraham's Covenant 1. The substantial and abiding part of that Covenant both to Jews and Gentiles both internal and Mystical yea and external as to a Church visible state Membership and Priviledges all which came upon the Gentiles c Gen. 17.13 19. Eph. 3.6 c. 1.3 2. There was the peculiar and moveable part of Abraham's Covenant which was the increase of his Seed into a National Church d Gen. 12.2 18.18 the growth and progress it should make through Bondage and Pilgrimage to an external and Typical Rest e Gen. 15.13 14 16 18. with all worldly Plenty and Prosperity f Josh 5.6 7. 22.4 21.43 and most especially the form and manner of that Church-Worship according as was after established by God's Ordination and Institution g Deut. 4.7 8.31 32. to 37. Exo. 25.40 for the time then being till the coming of Christ h Heb. 9.9 10. Circumcision it self being a part of that moveable Fabrick begun in Abraham and perfected in Moses i Act 7.8.32.37 38. Heb. 3.2 3 8.5 Gal. 5.3 4. it was taken away with the other observances k Heb. 8.5.8.13 9.9 Col. 2.11 17. but a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith whereby Abraham became the Father of all Believers Jews and Gentiles was not taken away l Rom. 4.11 15.8 but was a great part of the Blessing that came on the believing Gentiles m Gal. 3.9 14. viz. that the Professing Covenanting-Believer should both he and his Infant-Seed receive a Seal of the Righteousness of Faith as the great Priviledge of Church-Membership belonging to both as to Abraham and his they being his Seed by Faith as Isaac was n Ro. 4.12 16. Gal. 3.26 27. 4.28 Col. 2.10 11 12. Acts 2.39 Ro. 15.8 9. Isa 61.9 ch 65.9 § 5. The Church of Israel before Moses was Congregational and in a visible Covenant with God and truly an essential Church a Ex. 12.3 Num. 20.4 Ex. 12.40 41. 16.22 Act. 7.38 but not organized with a Ministry and Ordinances of God's Institution for a due and orderly Worship of God till Moses b Act 7.38.44 45. which state and standing of that Church from Abraham to Moses and partly in its Wilderness condition was a great Type of the Gospel-Church in its persecuted bewildred and unsettled state under its great Adversaries wherein it hath been mostly fed by God and preserved by him in its Mystical State and standing as was before hinted c Rev. 12.6.13 § 6. The Administration of the external Constitution by Christ in the Ministry and Ordinances of the Church of Israel a Acts 7.38 was of a distinct form and manner from the Church Administration according to the Gospel Oeconomy Ordinances and Order b Heb. 9.1.9 10 11. For the Administration of the Ecclesiastical State and standing of that Church was faulty in respect of the Ordinance of Circumcision it self c Acts 7.8 Gal. 5.3 4. 2 Cor. 3.14 and Mosaick Vail drawn over Gospel Mysteries d Heb. 8.6 the encouragement to Gods Service by temporal Promises the Typical and Legal Nature of the Sanctuary Ministry e Heb. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.9 Heb. 8.5 and Ordinances called carnal f Heb. 9.10 7.16 and worldly g Heb. 9.1 imperfect not reaching the Conscience h ch 9.11 10.1 2. 7.19 Moses the Mediator i Gal. 3.20 thereof and Aaronick Priesthood k Heb. 7.11 23. both typical of the true Mediator l 8.4 5. 3.1 and High-Priest of our Profession It was a faulty Covenant m Heb. 8.7 and called by the Apostle the Old Testament n 2 Cor. 3.14 and is all done away as a shadow in the coming of Christ o Ibid. and his bringing in to us a better because clearer ground of Faith and Hope p Heb. 7.19 by spiritual Promises q Eph. 1.3 and a more Heavenly Gospel Ministry and Ordinances r Heb. 8.5 9.23 and is therefore called a New Covenant ſ Heb. 8.8 the blessings whereof are Abraham's now come on the Gentiles t Gal. 3.14 heavenly and spiritual in high places v Eph. 2.6 much
more Glorious the Ministration of the Spirit and not of the Letter w 2 Cor. 3.6 the faithful Dispensation of the Son over his own House x Heb. 3.2 6. wherein he is more to be prized and worthy of more honour than Moses a servant could ever be capable of y Ibid. Christ's being a more excellent Ministry in that he was a better Mediator of a better Testament z Heb. 8.6 confirming and sealing it with his own Bloud a Heb. 9.16 17. and now liveth in the full execution of this last Will and Testament b Heb. 8.25 Eph. 4.11 and the glorious Witness thereof before God Angels and Men c Rev. 1.5 18. standing now our High-Priest set down at the Right Hand of the Majesty on High a Minister of the Sanctuary and true Tabernacle which God pitched and not Man d Heb. 8.1 2. § 7. The Constitution of the Church of Israel tho it was National a Exo. 19.6 Gen. 35.11 as being made up according to that part of the promise peculiar to Abraham's natural Seed yet it was Congregational b Exod. 12.6.47 Lev 4.13 1 Kings 8.5 14. 2 Chro. 6.3 according to the other part of the Promise not to be shaken or removed c Heb. 12.28 Gal. 3.8.17 29. Jer. 30.32 37. 33.26 because it was incorporated into one Church by a visible profession of and subjection to Abraham's Covenant d Exo. 34.27 for such as were Infant-Church-Members received the Seal of the Righteousness of faith and when they became adult and stood not to this Profession they forfeited their Church-Membership and thus it was with Ismael and Esau e Gen. 21.10 12. Gal. 4.30 upon which both with their Seed fell off from the Church tho the natural Seed of Abraham and Isaac f Gen. 25.31 And afterward when the Seed of Israel grew up into a National Church in all their Apostacies they were charged with the breach of Abraham's Covenant g Deut. 31 16. Ezek. 16.8 Jer. 11.10 or that made with their Fathers which was the same as therein going a whoring from God and forfeiting the Right of Church-Membership and becoming a Loammi Moreover in all their great Reformations we find their returning to the said Covenant and often their publick renewing and recognition thereof h 2 Chron. 34.31 Psal 105.4 5 c. Ezra 10.3 2. It appears in that all the House of Israel as to their stated Church-Worship worshipped under one visible Pastor in their State after Moses his Settlement one High-Priest and at one Altar in one place i Lev. 1.3 Deut. 12.14 14.23 16.2 7.11 15 16. Josh 22.18 23. and therefore the stated Church-Worship was attended in one Assembly Tabernacle or Temple Thrice every Year where the whole Congregation had Communion in one and the same Worship and acts of Worship k Deut. 16.16 3. This People were a separated People from all others in the World l Lev. 20.24 Deut. 4.7 34. cap. 7.6 14.2 Psa 135.4 4. Jeroboam's Apostacy was condemned by God as an actual Rent and Schism from the visible Church that statedly worshipped God at Jerusalem m 1 King 11.30 31. 5. The Synagogue-Worship was not the Church-Worship neither was the daily Sacrifice or others nor any holy Convocations belonging unto them any more than the meer reading of Moses and the Prophets and Exposition thereof at most sometimes n Act 13.15 6. All Church-Worship of special communion as offering Sacrifices elsewhere than at the place chosen by God for that purpose was condemned witness the frequent complaint made against their High-Places under the Reign even of their best Kings o 1 King 22.43 till Hezekiah's time that destroyed them all p 2 King 18.4 § 8. That a Congregational Church is of Divine Institution appears by these Reasons 1. Either a Congregational Church is of Divine Institution or else God hath no instituted Church for there is no other visible Church of God's Institution spoken of in Scripture 2. The Church of Israel was Congregational as hath bin proved and none will deny that to be of God's Institution 3. The express Type of a Congregational Church under the Gospel was of God's Institution therefore the Antitype or thing Typified much more a Rev. 1.20 Heb. 8.5 6 3.5 6. 4. This Church is Prophesied of by the Prophets of old b Isa 56.5.6 7. Eze. 43.11 Mal. 1.11 12. 5. Christ and his Apostles planted such Churches as appears throughout the History of the Acts. 6. These Christ and his Apostles owned to be his truly instituted Churches not only by the Epistles wrote to them by the Apostles but by those sent to them by Christ himself c Rev. 2. 3. CHAP. IV. Of a Gospel Visible or Congregational Church Restipulation to Abraham 's Covenant double A Gospel Visible Church defined A visible Church always particular not Catholick The Catholick not the Genus of a particular Church but a distinct Species of Church in general Corporation distinguisht into its Species The Political relation of a Church to Christ The immediate matter of a visible Church What is the form of it Separation inseparable from it The immediate Infant-Seed Members by Covenant Communion the end of Church-Vnion § 1. HAVING shewed what a Visible or Congregational Church is in general when the first Institution of it was and where founded viz. in Abraham's Covenant of Circumcision that for the substance of the said Covenant it was immutable both as to the Person Natures Offices Ministry Sacrifice and Exaltation of Christ the Head both Mystical and Political a Gal. 3.8 cap. 4.26 27. so as to the Body of Christ the Church in its Catholick b Eph. 3.5 6. Acts 15.7 9. or Visible relation to him c Deut. 14.2 1 Pet. 2.9 setting aside only the difference of Oeconomies and the Administration thereof called the Old and New Testaments d Heb. 8.6 9.15 it is the everlasting Covenant well ordered in all things and sure e 2. Sam. 23.5 2. Cor. 3.11 to which as to the more mysterious and hidden part under the efficacious work of the Spirit every sincere-hearted Believer doth restipulate when he becomes an actual Member of the Mystical Body f 2 Cor. 11 2 3. Heb. 12 22 and as to the more External Visible and Political part he doth visibly restipulate by confederation and embodying to Christ the Political Head g Isa 56.6 7. 44.5 and with a particular Congregation a Political Body of Christ § 2. The Ecclesiastical Blessings as belonging to the visible State Standing and Priviledges of a Congregational Church unalterable under either Dispensation are these especially First It s Foederal Constitution a Isa 61.8 9. Gen. 17.9 10. Secondly It s Divine Institution b Ibid. Thirdly The Nature of its Church-Membership c Rom. 4.11 12 16. Gal. 3.27 28 29. and the
as to the adult part are Professors of their Mystical Relation to Christ b Eph. 5.30 for the truest Believer cannot be known but by such Profession that must come into visibility before any one can have any approved Church-Membership or any fair or plausible pretence to a right thereto c Jam. 2.18 Act 11.23 2. Tho Professing Believers with their immediate Infant-Seed are the true and fit Matter for a Visible Church d Act 2.39 yet is not their Profession the Visible Form of a Church Stones may be good and well squared for a Building but do not give Form to any House e 1 King 6 7. till they be visibly conjoyned and knit together to a Corner-Stone f 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.21 therefore the Band must be visible in this Building of Christ all the sitted parts as living Stones freely coming to Christ the Corner-Stone and by common consent uniting themselves to Christ and one another to make a spiritual House a Habitation of God by his Spirit g Eph. 2.21 22. every one of which being supposedly at least united to Christ the Mystical Head h Eph. 4.15 and so becoming living Stones do now come to Christ by a second explicite visible Union in a Political Body of his i Rom. 12.1 4 5. which can be no other than Confederation whereby each one with his immediate Infant-Seed is given up unto Christ and associated to the said Members in one Corporation or Body Politick § 9. That explicite confederation gives form to a visible Church appears beyond all doubt 1. From the nature of its being a Body Politick or Corporation a Ro. 12.4 5. 1 Cor. 12 12 13 14 27. for all Civil Corporations are in this manner made a Body 2. Men may be very honest and good Subjects under the King's Government but not incorporated in any distinct Body Corporate under the King 3. They that are incorporated are bound by a promise of Fidelity to the King the Political Head and by a promise obliging to Membership with and fidelity to that particular Body 4. There is no Person governable by any such Body Politick that is not thus bound to it by such confederations for what hath it to do with such as are without b 1 Cor. 5.12 5. It is not fit that any should partake of the granted Liberties and Priviledges of any particular Society without becoming a fast Member thereof and how can any one that is at his choice whether he will or will not be made a fast Member thereof without a declared mutual obligation between him and such Society As all these Reasons hold good as well in a spiritual Body Politick as a Civil and bear a great Analogy with the Natural Body of a Man therein So likewise it appears in the second place from the Word of God speaking of a Church as such a Body 1. The first constitution of a Congregational-Church in Abraham and his Seed was by Covenant c Gen. 17.2 10. and so the great Reformations thereof afterwards were by renewing Abraham's Covenant 2. All the descriptions of a Visible Church by allusion to a Natural Body d Ro. 12.4 5. to a House e Eph. 2.21 22. 1 Pet. 2.5 or Temple hold forth such an explicite Band of parts together as well as the whole to the Head as parts of a Body or House are knit together which nothing can do in a Body Politick but a voluntary Confederation 3. The expressions of joining to the Lord and adding to the Church f Act. 2.47 5.13 14. 4. Church-Covenanting under the Gospel is foretold g Isa 56.6 62.5 5. The Apostle is express about it when he treats purposely and directly of the true matter of a Church and foederal form of it h 2 Cor. 6.15 16 c. Act. 11.23 6. Professed Subjection to the Gospel is explicite covenanting i 2 Cor. 9.13 as also in that place speaking of giving up ones self to the Lord and one another k 2 Cor. 8.5 § 10. Hence as it is a Covenanting Body so a Body separate from the World Heathenish and Antichristian a 1 Cor. 10 19.20 Rev. 18.3 2 Cor. 6.16 17. A Church cannot be a peculiar and select People without separating from communion in Church Ordinances with visible unbelievers and from false Worship of all kinds whatever b 2 Cor. 6.15 16. 1 Pet. 2.9 § 11. The immediate Infant-Seed of the Confederate-Believer becomes given up unto God and receives Church-Membership in and by the Parents Covenant a 1 Cor. 7.14 Gal. 4.28 Rom. 9.8 for such was the Constitution of the first Congregational-Church which remains un-altered for the righteousness of faith and the Seal of the righteousness of Faith remaining to Believers b Ro. 4.11 12. as the Gospel preached c Gal. 3.8 to Abraham was the Blessing that came on the Gentiles d ibid. 14. it belongs to them to whom he was the Father even in that respect e Rom. 4.11.16 and they are Heirs according to the Promise f Gal. 3.29 being the Children of God by Faith in Christ g ib. v. 26. ib. v. 9. are blessed with faithful Abraham h ib. v. 27 yea as many as have bin baptised into Christ have put on Christ as Abraham did both in respect of the righteousness of Faith and the Seal thereof i Ro. 4.11 12. the Priviledge he hath for himself and Seed in Covenant and both Jew and Greek Male and Female are all one as to this respect in Christ Jesus k Gal. 3.28 And being Abraham's Seed l Ro. 4.16 yea his Children as Isaac was they inherit the Blessing in the righteousness of Faith and the Seal thereof to themselves and Seed But this Blessing as it comes upon the Gentiles as fellow-heirs of the same Promise made to Abraham m Eph. 3.6 which neither the makeing or abrogation of Moses his Constitution did or could disannul n Gal. 3.17 comes not on this or that Nation or Race of any Family specified as it was upon Abraham's but it comes only in the right of a confederating Believer o Rom. 9.6 7 8. and therefore on him and his immediate Seed only for the Child of a Believer when he comes to be adult by his non-profession of Abraham's Faith and non-covenanting accordingly his Membership ceaseth and his Seeds and therefore the Grandfather's Faith cannot give the Grand-Child any right to the seal of the righteousness of Faith but the Infants Membership and Right to any Church-Priviledge as it must ly in the immediate Parent so the unbelief of the immediate Seed cuts off from any right to that Seal § 12. The ends of Visible Church-Union are very great viz. The constant and frequent waiting and attending upon God in his Worship and that by a People assembling together for this end and purpose with one Heart and Mind
and accordingly give to each other the right hand of fellowship m 2 Cor. 4 15. Which Question answered in the Affirmative the said deputed person doth in the Name of the Lord Jesus declare them a Church of Christ As likewise the Elders and Brethren of other Churches there present as they ought to be if they can be had to behold their Faith and Order n Col. 2.5 should also declare that they own and acknowledge them a Church of Christ to their great satisfaction and rejoicing o 2 Thes 1.3 4. 1 Thes 2.13 Then lastly to continue the Work of the Day with some Word of Exhortation and earnest Supplication that God would be pleased to bless this Flock and cause it to grow as also that God would give them a faithful Pastor p Jer. 3.15 Mat. 9.38 with other Ministerial Officers giving thanks to God for this so hopeful a beginning and what he hath graciously done for them q Phil. 4.6 § 6. A Church thus constituted is a true Church and a Body of Christ and tho it s not yet organized with Ministerial Officers yet it wants nothing of the Essence of a Church of Christ a 1 Cor. 12 27. Rev. 1.20 for if a Church ceaseth not to be a Church when it hath lost all its Ministerial Officers and reduced to this state then this Church is an essential Church Besides a Church must be before a Pastor can be because that Relation must arise out of the Church and cannot arise from elsewhere a Church being a Corporation by Charter from Christ but yet though it be a true Church as to its Essence and Being yet it is not compleat as to its well-being b Titus 1.5 in that it is not furnished with all its Priviledges that Christ hath purchased and provided for it having not due instruments for the administration of all Ordinances or execution of the Power committed to it in the most orderly and regular manner c Eph. 4.11 12. § 7. Hence the first subject of the Keys is a Church essential for it s impowered by Commission from Christ to choose its own Ministerial Officers a Act. 14.23 and if they be one or more belonging to other Churches or non-Members they can receive them Members b Act 6.3 Likewise they can admit other Members that desire to join with them Lastly it hath power to admonish or reject any scandalous or any offending Member and that before such a Church hath Elders or Deacons c 1 Cor. 5.7 These are plain from the nature of a Body Corporate § 8. To conclude If in the Gathering a Church any Person offering to join a Member be on any account excepted against his admission ought to be deferred for the present and his Case to have a due hearing and consideration afterward and not to interrupt the further Proceedings of that day a Phil. 2.2.3 Eph. 4.3 CHAP. VI. Of the Extraordinary Ministers of the Churches Christ hath provided for the well-being of his Churches Ministers for the Erection and Planting the First Churches Gospel Constitution offered to the Jews first Extraordinary Ministers who And what their Call Qualifications Work Apostles and Evangelists how differing The first Prophets and Teachers no Ruling Officers Extraordinary Ministers continue not but are ceased § 1. THE Lord Jesus Christ the Great Shepherd a 1 Pet. 5.4 the Apostle and High Priest of our Profession faithful in his own House b Heb. 3.1 2. doth not only build it c ibid. v. 3. but furnish it with all Means of Grace conducing to visible and spiritual exercise of life and Godliness d 2 Pet. 1.3 and having shewed the form of his House to any People taken out from and ashamed of the ways they walked in in their former ignorance e 1 Pet. 1.14 15. separated and set them apart to the Lord in a spiritual Building f Eph. 2.19 22. doth likewise shew them the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and all the Forms thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and all the Laws thereof and writes it in their sight that they may keep the whole Form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and do them which is the Law of his House g Eze. 43.11 12. whereby he hath provided for the well-being of his Churches in a fit and suitable Ministry and Ordinances which he gave and dispensed chiefly at his Exaltation h Eph. 4.10 11. and according to his Commission from his Father hath commanded them diligently to observe i Matt. 28.20 § 2. And accordingly at first he provided for his Churches such a Ministry as should be best fitted to the Infant-state of his first Churches after his Ascention a Hos 11.1 3. both for the planting and watering of them b 1 Cor. 3.6 9. therefore Nominates and Ordains the first Ministers as is usual in the like case among Men in his Charter by Name c Mat. 10.2 ch 28.20 Act. 1.2 3 13. giving them more than ordinary Power and qualifying them with more than ordinary Gifts and Graces of his Holy Spirit d Mar. 16.17 18. Act 2.4 whereby they had light and authority e Act. 20.27 to teach and put in practice the whole Mind and Will of Christ in planting governing and furnishing the Churches with their ordinary and appropriate Ministry which was to be stated and standing in them to the end of the World f Mat. 28.19 20. § 3. As the Gospel in its full Light was first by Christ's Ordination to be offered to the Jews a Matt. 10.5 6. Act 13.4 6 who according to Moses were bound to hear Christ and prefer his Person and Ministry before that of Moses b Deut. 18.15 Act 7.37 So the Lord Jesus Christ himself and Apostles made the first offer of a Gospel-Constitution of Churches to them c Act 3.25 26. and placed a Gospel and powerful Ministry in that First and Famous Church at Jerusalem d 1 Cor. 12 28. which in its building precious matter e Is 54.11 1 Pet. 2.5 6. beautiful form and most rich furniture did so out-shine and darken all the Glory of their Worldly Sanctuary and services appertaining thereto f Heb. 9.1 c. that the whole Church Establishment by the Ceremonial Law of Moses the Vail under which Gospel-Mysteries lay obscured g 2 Cor. 3.14 was manifestly removed and done away h ibid. v. 13 14. having not only bin first Nailed to the Cross of Christ i Col. 2.14 but also by another Building k Heb. 9.11 and Ministration l Heb. 8.6 come in the room thereof of much more spiritual Glory and Lustre ecclipsed insomuch that what Moses had made glorious had no glory in this respect by reason of the glory that excelleth m 2 Cor. 3 10 11. Hence the Church of the Jews in regard of all its Mosaical
Deacons by laying on of Hands as for the laying on of Hands on ordinary Pastors and more there being a seeming President for the first but none for the second § 8. It 's alledged The Presbytery laid their Hands on Timothy a 1 Tim. 4.14 and they say The Presbytery was a Classis or at least a Consistory of ordinary Elders Ans 1. That Inference wants proof for that they were not all so is beyond Question for the Apostle Paul was among them for one or else Timothy had Hands laid on him twice b 2 Tim. 1.6 2. The Apostles were Presbyters and call themselves so c 1 Pet. 5.1 and why might it not be a Presbytery of Apostles and Evangelists seeing such are mentioned by Name and it belonged to them and not to ordinary Pastors to bestow the Gifts of the Holy Ghost by laying on of Hands And 3. It appears that Timothy received such a Gift by the laying on of Hands d 1 Tim. 1.18 4. He was not made an ordinary Pastor but an Evangelist the Ordination of whom we find was by the Apostles As Paul's Ordination was a separation to his Apostleship to the Gentiles e Acts 13. § 9. It 's alledged That Timothy is charged to lay Hands suddenly on no Man which seems to be meant of Ordination of ordinary Pastors Ans If it be so meant yet it proves not laying on of Hands by ordinary Pastors for Timothy was not such It is not to be doubted but the Gift that Timothy received was such an extraordinary Gift as was bestowed then frequently by laying on of Hands and which Simon Magus would have purchas'd of Peter for Money That on whomsoever he should lay his Hands they should receive the Holy Ghost a Acts 8.18 19. This Gift or the Rite of Conveyance the Apostles were wary of prostituting to Men of corrupt Minds And therefore the Apostle warns Timothy not to apply it rashly to any for it 's apparent the Apostles laid not their Hands on Simon Magus finding he had no truth of heart but rejected him and laid not Hands upon him though he had bin baptized § 10. Heb. 6.2 is pleaded That Baptism and laying on of Hands were appointed as standing Ordinances in Churches Ans This Text hath bin much mistaken and abused But briefly it 's not to be understood as if Baptism it self or laying on of Hands were to be understood to be the Principles there meant for indeed he speaks but of one Foundation a 1 Cor. 3.11 the Doctrine of Christ which is laid in Repentance and Faith held forth in Baptism and confirmed by the Apostolick Signs following Christ's Ascention b Heb. 2.3.4 Mark 16.16 in those extraordinary Gifts conveyed by laying on of the Hands of the Apostles and Apostolick Men Hence Beza saith he found in one Copy That Baptism and Laying on of Hands were enclosed by a Parenthesis But if it be not so it matters not much for it is the Doctrine of Baptism and laying on of Hands which are here spoken of viz. The Foundation-Doctrine of Christ symbolically exhibited by the one and miraculously beyond all doubt confirmed by the other in Apostolick times § 11. We conclude concerning this high applauded Ceremony which the Papists make Sacramental and say it leaves an indelible Character and some Protestants adore little less That we find upon the best Enquiry and strictest Scrutiny That it is no continued Ordinance or Institution of Christ in his Churches And That its an obsolete and ceased Ceremony for these Heads of Reasons only for brevity sake following 1. Because the End and Significancy of this Rite is ceased therefore the Rite it self for a Rite that signifies nothing is an empty Sign and vain and we ought not to do any thing in the Worship of God that is empty insignificant vain a Col. 2.8 Matt. 15.9 Col. 3.20 and the doing whereof is Will-Worship 2. That Ceremony that none can by a due Authority apply cannot be performed but none such are now or can pretend thereto there being no Apostles or Apostolick Men or such as can pretend to extraordinary Gifts of the Holy Ghost much less to a Power or Commission to bestow them on others by any Solemn Duty whatever much less by a Ceremony Therefore such a Practice as is a Pretence before Men to that which we dare not profess plainly to in Words before God is but a mocking of God and Man b Gal. 6.7 2 Cor. 11.13 3. We have shewed that the Ceremony was never appropriate to the Ordaining of any Ministers for it was a common Ceremony used in other Cases and to other Persons To the sick c Mar. 16.18 to new Converts d Act 8.17 to those that were Members and had Grace but it was none of those Gifts that were for Propagation and Confirmation of the Doctrine of Christ e ib. 13.3 Many yea most of the Apostles were Ordained without it f Mat. 10.7 8. 28.19 No Ordinary Pastor Ordained with it as we read of g Acts 24.23 Where it was used the Appliers of it were such as were inspired or had immediate Command from God for doing it and there were many that never had imposition of Hands themselves h Acts 8.14 17. 4. Ordination is no where called Laying on of Hands nor Laying on of Hands Ordination in the Old or New Testament 5. There is the same Reason for the Ordaining Ruling Elders and Deacons by Imposition of Hands greater for the latter i Acts 6.6 and will the Assertors of this Rite allow it to them No they appropriate it to Teaching Elders only 6. Our Translators do honestly own that the Churches Solemn and Publick Election of Elders by Suffrage is Ordination k ib. 14.23 7. There is no more ground for continuance of this Rite nor so much as for that of washing feet l Joh. 13.5 or laying on of hands or anointing the sick m James 5.14 but since the cessation of Miraculous Gifts the anointing of the sick and Imposition of Hands in all Cases as a Rite is ceased That of washing feet was only teaching to Christ's Disciples the duty of Humility and Self-Denial which they were after to follow him in as Ministers not in the use of the Ceremony it self n John 13.13 14 15 16. and there are but two Instituted Rites perpetuated to the Churches to the end of the World Baptism o Mat. 28.19 and the Lord's Supper p 1 Cor. 11 26. 8. If it be used only to denote the Blessing of the Party Ordained then Imposition of Hands is a great Usurpation and makes the Elders of one Church superiour to them of another for the lesser is blessed of the greater which Superiority Christ never allowed q Heb. 7.7 Mat. 23.11 Mar. 9.34 Luke 22.24 26. If it be said It 's used to point out the Person ordained it 's childish and frivolous
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
hand of the Pastor or other Elders that he is a Member of such a Church walks as becomes the Gospel and is not under any Censure or Dealing for any Offence This falls short of a dismission for 1. It needs not any Vote of the Church it being a Testimonial 2. It needs not be directed to any particular Church but to all it may concern 3. There 's no transferring of Church Membership 4. Such takes place only when a Church-Member is called for a Season only by Providence to communicate with another Church 5. In Case there be no Elders in the Church a Testimonial under the Hands of some of the Brethren may be sufficient a Acts 18.27 2 Cor. 3.1 § 4. A Dismission or Letter of Dismission is that which is wrote from one Church to another by the hand of the Elders or in case ther 's none by some Brethren by the consent and in the Name of the Church wherein the Member asking the said Dismission and obtaining it is discharged from his original Relation to that Church and is transferred to the constant Communion Watch and Care of the other Church to which he is dismissed a Rom. 16.1 2. And in such a Dismission these things are to be observed from the Nature of the thing it self 1. That the said Brother dismissed be not under the Censure or Dealing of the Church dismissing him 2. That the Letter of Dismission may be either with or without Commendation as the Case may require or the carriage of the said Member hath bin tho he hath not bin under the Dealing of the Church for any censurable action Many a good Man proving an ill Church-Member as such an one may be an ill Husband not carrying himself orderly and duely in his Relation 3. That a Dismission be granted either upon good Reason alledged by him or upon his peremptory insisting upon it for the Peace of the Church 4. A Church-Member is not to be dismissed at large to join to what Church he pleases for 1. This is to dismiss him to himself and not to a Church the Church to which he is dismissed being not specified 2. To discharge him from the Watch and Care of one Church and not to transfer him to the Communion of another is the putting him out of all Church Communion and therefore an interpretative Excommunication a 1 Cor. 5.13 3. A Church may not dismiss a Member to them that it hath no Church Communion with and therefore not to the wide World b Joh. 15.19 17.21 2 Cor. 6.14 15. 4. As a Church is to watch over a Brother while he walks with it so their Watch and Care ought to be extended to him when he departs to see him lodg'd in safe hands c He. 13.17 5. To dismiss a Brother to his own pleasure or to the wide World is to expose him to Temptation and accordingly many so dismissed have cast off all Church-Watch and joined to none at all d Ro. 14.13 6. No other Church can duely receive a Brother so dismissed but as a Non-Member to any Church e 1 Cor. 5.12 13. 7. It argues no small disregard to the Order of the Gospel to grant such a Dismission and likewise it becomes a great Reproach to the Church and Elders f Heb. 8.5 6. 3.3 § 5. A Church may in some Cases deny a Dismission asked As 1. When the said Brother is under Church Dealing 2. When he desires only a Dismission at large to the World 3. When he asks a Dismission to a False or Heretical Church But if he ask a Dismission to a Church of the same Order and give no satisfactory reason for it and yet remains Peremptory in such Demand the Church ought not to refuse the granting of it for so to do is 1. To keep a Man forcibly and to make the Church a Prison a 2 Cor. 1.24 2. It is to Lord it over God's Heritage b 1 Pet. 5.3 3. It is to lay a stumbling-Block in his way and to tempt him to rend himself off schismatically from the Church c Ro. 14.13 4. It 's to destroy his Edification for he cannot edifie by Means he is forceably kept under d Eph. 4.16 Rom. 15.2 5. It 's contrary to Christ's Golden Rule e Mat. 7.12 6. It may prove dangerous to the whole Church proving a Root of bitterness that may infect many f Heb. 12.15 § 6. Some Churches or pretended at least that walk by their own Wills rather than by any of Christ's Rules will never grant a Dismission regularly to any In such Cases a Regular Church is necessitated to take such Discharges of Members as an Irregular Church will give And if upon the use of all due means they will grant none the Church-Member so refused may join himself upon the terms of a non-Member and so be admitted by the more Regular Church § 7. The management of the Keys in such Cases as have a tendency to exclusion from all Church Communion are such as look that way by reason of the falls and offences of Church-Members and so comprehend all due means that are to be used for the Recovery of such as are fallen a Gal. 6.1 and that are to be taken in case of incorrigibleness § 8. Excommunication is by the use of the Keys in a Judicial Proceeding of the Church in the Name of Christ whereby a Person is excluded and cast out of Communion in all the Special Ordinances thereof a John 9. 22 34. 12.42 1 Cor. 5.1 § 9. Excommunication may be considered as direct or more indirect Direct is the sentence of the Church in the Name of Christ for the casting out of an impenitent or notorious Sinner from Communion of the Church a Mat. 18.17 1 Cor. 5.4 which is always to be understood of the Special Ordinances for Publicans and Sinners are not excluded from the Ordinances of general Communion such as Preaching and Praying and Excommunication puts a Person but into the condition of Publicans and Sinners in respect of Ordinances § 10. A Church ought not upon every slight occasion to proceed unto Excommunication of a Brother but upon the account of Matters of great weight wherein the Honour of Christ the Purity of Ordinances and the Soul of the Offender are concerned and such offences do either call for immediate proceeding to this Sentence or for a more gradual and mediate proceeding thereto a Jude 22 23. § 11. When the matter of fact is most notorious and scandalous past all Dispute and publickly known a 1 Tim. 1.20 5.24 1 Cor. 5.4 then the Church is called immediately to proceed unto Censure notwithstanding any present signs of Conviction and Remorse for the necessary Vindication of the Glory of God the Church and their Holy Profession and to manifest their just indignation against such wickedness b 2 Cor. 7.11 So as it
were to snatch the Sinner as a firebrand out of the fire waiting for a well-grounded and tried evidence of his unfeigned Repentance under the Censure the first and great End whereof is the Sinners Salvation not his Destruction c 2 Cor. 2.6 7 8. 2 Cor. 10.8 1 Cor. 5.5 § 12. In case of Sins not so notorious and more privately committed the Churches proceeding must be more gradual by all endeavours in the spirit of meekness to restore such an one to Repentance a Matt. 18 15 16 17 which being obtained there 's no occasion for further proceeding as to Censure § 13. And here Admonition is of great use which is an holy tender and wise Endeavour to convince the offending Party of matter of fact and of the sin of it with the aggravating circumstances attending as also to lead him to his Duty thereupon charging it upon his Conscience in the sight of God with due application of the Word of God which concerns his condition And this belongs not to the Elders in the first and second degrees of proceeding in this Case but to all private Members in their places as matters may concern them and are known unto them more or less a 1 Thes 5.12 Rom. 15.14 2 Thes 5.14 Gal. 6.1 2 Tim. 9.25 Heb. 12.15 § 14. There are three degrees of Admonition a Matt. 18 first by a single Brother or Sister that is first acquainted with the Sin committed The second is upon the non-Repentance of the offending Party whereupon the first Admonisher takes to him one or two more and admonisheth the offender the second time which Admonition taking no effect the Church is to be acquainted with the offence And the Church by the Elders gives a third Admonition which if the Sinner receives not but continues impenitent the Church proceeds to Censure b Ibid. v. 15 16 17. unless the Church see reason to wait longer And it follows from hence 1. That every Church Member tho of private capacity only has somewhat to do in his place as well as the Elders c Heb. 12.15 2. That in case of private offences it is preposterous to publish them or acquaint the Elders therewith before the two lower degrees of Admonition are duely proceeded in and not heard by the Offender 3. That when Matters come to the Elders Ears all private proceedings cease and all things are to be laid before the Church 4. When matters come before the Church the Offendor rejecting the first and second Publick Admonition at most is to be judged incorrigible d Titus 3.10 11. § 15. This great Censure is to be proceeded to in this manner the Question is put by an Elder Whether the Church adjudge the person offending all due means having bin used according to the Rules of Christ to be guilty of matter of fact as charged and remain incorrigible Which being answered in the Affirmative the Judgment is fallen into the Pastor's or Elder 's hand as after the Verdict of a Jury into the hands of the Judge and accordingly he goes on to pass Sentence as the Duty of his place requires And first with much Solemnity after he hath laid open the Sin with several aggravations he shews likewise the Awful Nature of this great Censure and the main End thereof for the Salvation and not the Destruction of the Sinner and accordingly calls upon God for his gracious Presence and Blessing upon this Sacred Ordinance that the great end thereof may be obtained still expressing the deep sence the Church hath of the Fall of this Brother with great Humiliation of the Church with remorse for the Sin thus committed and persisted in Lastly In the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ before the Congregation whether the offending Brother be present or withdrawn the Elder cuts off and secludes such an one by Name from the Union and Communion of the Church declaring the said Exclusion carries in it the sense of our Saviour See Mat. 18.17 c. 1 Cor. 5.4 5 6. 2 Thes 3.14 1 Tim. 1.10 in saying He shall be as an Heathen Man and a Publican and the full sense of the Apostle's Charge to the Corinthians to deliver up such an one to Satan c. Which is no more than the putting him out of Communion of the Church the Kingdom of Heaven into the World the Kingdom of Satan for the humbling and breaking of him in the sight and sense of his sins which is all that 's meant by the destruction of the flesh § 16 A Member thus judicially cast out may through the Grace of God blessing this Ordinance be brought to a great sight of his Sin and remorse for it with great longing desires to return to the Communion of the Church again In this Case Christ's Keys are to be used to open the Door and receive the excluded Party into the Church again For after a full proof of the truth of the Sinner's Repentance he is brought by the Elders to make his Publick and Solemn Manifestation of his deep Remorse c. Which acknowledgment being received by the Church with satisfaction and tender compassion towards him he is by an Elder absolved from the aforesaid Censure See Mat. 16.19 18.18 and re-admitted into full Communion with the great joy of the Congregation and Expressions of thankfulness unto God Thus he that was bound is now loosed § 17. Besides this direct way of proceeding against an offending Member there is another much of the like nature which we call indirect because the Church puts not the Party out of its Communion before the Party hath secluded himself and not by any regular way but indirectly and contrary to all Rules of Order For it is when a Church-Member by reason of some offence taken at the Church or some Member thereof not discharging his own Duty withdraws himself and separates from the Communion of the Church A Person having thus Excommunicated himself as it were the Church ought to consider what is their Duty and though a particular Member or more hath usurped to himself the power of the Keys See Rom. 16.17 2 Thes 3.6 the Church ought not to acquiesce therein but maintain that Power which Christ hath committed to it and tho it cannot hinder the inordinateness of a Brother's unruly Passions and ungovernable Temper when God leaves him to it but that he will run away from the Church rend himself off breaking all Order and Covenant Obligations in opposition to all fraternal endeavours to stay him in the place that Christ hath set him in the Church is bound to shew and assert the power of Christ which he hath entrusted it with and judicially shut the Door and turn the Key upon so sinful and disorderly a Departer from them declaring that he having sinfully departed from the Communion of that Congregation he is no longer under its Care and Watch and is not to return to the Communion of the Church as before
of another Congregation but not as a Pastor much less can he administer there as a Pastor It 's one thing to communicate as a private Member and another thing to dispense as a Ministerial Officer A Member of the Corporation of one City yea the Mayor himself may be received with much welcome as an approved Member of a Neighbouring Corporation at Festival Entertainments but must not sit on the Bench there to do any act of Office out of his Place and out of his Power whether the Mayor or chief Magistrate be alive or dead So whether the Pastor of a Church be alive or dead the Pastor to another Church hath nothing to do there as a Pastor § 4. In Cases of Difficulties and Differences arising in Churches many Churches holding Communion together may by their Elders and Messengers meet together to consult and advise about the said Matters and report to the respective Churches Howbeit these Assemblies as such are not trusted with any coercive Power or Jurisdiction over the Churches to impose their determinations on them or their Officers Besides these occasional Assemblies and Councils there are not instituted by Christ any stated Synods in a fixed Combination of Churches or Officers in lesser or greater Assemblies nor are there any Synods appointed by Christ by way of Subordination to one another CHAP. XV. Of Maintenance of Ministers Christ appointed the Support of Ordinances and Ministry That Ministers are to be maintained proved from Christ's Mission of the Disciples And by the Doctrine of the Apostle Paul § 1. CHRIST Jesus in his infinite Wisdom having instituted Churches and external Ministers and Ordinances in those Churches hath also appointed such outward ways and means for the support thereof as is necessarily conducible to his Honour and Interest in his established Worship in the World and therefore hath ordained Churches should minister of their Temporals to the upholding and maintaining of Spirituals both Ordinances and Ministry § 2. The Subject which we shall chiefly speak to now with much brevity is To prove that those Ministers who labour in the Word and Doctrine ought to be maintained in a competent manner by the Churches or People that partake of their labours so far at least as they are able And it appears § 3.1 In that Christ when he Ordained and sent forth his first Preachers of the Gospel chargeth them not to go forth at their own Charges both the Seventy a Luke 10.3 4 5. and the Twelve b Mat. 10.10 Luke 9.1 3 4. to make no Provision for themselves either Food Raiment or Money but into whatever House they went there to stay Eating Drinking and Lodging and if they were not welcome and freely entertained they were to shake off the dust of their feet against them in detestation of them and he gives them likewise to understand that he sent them not about as Common Beggars but that there was Moral Justice in it that they should be maintained by the People to whom they Preached for the Workman is worthy of his Meat c Mat. 10.10 nay he tells them how dangerous it shall be to those that refuse them to save their Charges It shall be more tolerable for Sodom c. d Ibid. v. 14 15. § 4.2 The Apostle Paul insists much upon it as a Duty that he saw the Churches were backward enough to in his day and would be more afterward For He Argues from the Law of Nature and common Justice Thou shalt not muzzle the Ox c a 1 Tim. 5.18 It 's an unnatural thing to starve the labouring Ox and not suffer him to take now and then a Mouthful of the Corn he treadeth out Again he argues from common Justice The Day Labourer by the Rules of Commutative Justice is to have his Hire Again he argues from the less to the greater Doth God take care for the poor dumb Oxen b 1 Cor. 9.9 and doth he not take care for his labouring Ministers And he tells us this was the Moral sence of Moses his Law not to muzzle the Ox c c Deut. 25.4 1 Cor. 9 10. Again he argues from the reasonable expectation of all labourers in worldly Affairs he instanceth in the Souldier that goes not a Warfare at his own Charges The Planter of a Vineyard expects Fruit thereof The Shepherd that feeds the Flock expects to eat of the Milk and the Plowman and Thresher d 1 Cor. 9.7 10. If all these reasonably expect outward subsistance from their labours Why should not he that labours in the Word and Doctrine Again the Apostle argues by way of comparison of Temporal and Spiritual things together shewing that spiritual things are much more worth than carnal And hence saith If we sow to you spiritual things is it a great thing if we reap your carnal things e 1 Cor. 9.11 Rom. 15.27 Again he removes an Objection that they would be apt to make from his own Example and saith That although he took nothing of them for some special reasons yet he assured them that he had power to do it as well as others f 1 Cor. 9.4 5. implying that other Apostles did take Maintenance He Argues also from the practice under the Law by God's Appointment That they which did minister about Holy Things liv'd on the Temple and Altar and that God hath not taken less care of his Ministers about Holy Things in the days of the Gospel but hath made Maintenance of Ministers an Ordinance He hath Ordained That they that Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel g Ibid. v. 13 14. You will say Where did Christ Ordain it It is enough if we be told so by an Inspired Man but it is easie to see that he Ordained so at his first Mission of Gospel-Preachers the Twelve and the Seventy Obj. Paul took nothing of the Corinthians Ans He tells us why Upon the account of the Corinthians and False Teachers That he would not be cut off from his Triumph upon this account to stop their Mouths but yet he saith he robbed other Churches i. e. he took more of them than otherwise he would have done even what he should have had of the Corinthians taking Wages of them to do the Corinthians service h 2 Cor. 11.8 § 5. It may be Enquired In what Proportion the Maintenance of a Minister ought to be The Apostle calls it Wages and therefore 't is the sence of our Saviour and the Apostle too That it should be a comfortable Provision for themselves and Families according to that Way and Degree of Living which the generality of sober People have to whom they Preach the Apostle telling us Let him that is taught in the Word communicate to him that teacheth in all good things a Gal. 6.6 Obj. But it may be said How much of all good things I will give little enough Ans The Apostle in the context says enough to stop Mens Mouths here b Ibid. v 4. Let every Man prove his own Work c. immediately after the Text mentioned c Ib. v. 7.8 Be not deceived God is not mocked c. Object You will say It seems to be a low and Mean Thing for a Preacher of the Gospel to take Maintenance Ans Is any Ordinance of Christ low and Mean Doth he Ordain Low and Mean Things And why did Christ himself take Maintenance rather than provide for himself Miraculously d Luke 8.3 Much more might be said but this will be enough to any one that hath any deference for the Authority of the Scriptures FINIS