every one of them were Saints before God but they were either Saints before God or men so Gal. 1. 22. I was unknown to the Churches of Judea which were in Christ mark it all particular Churches are Churches that are in Christ the members of those Churches are in Christ either truly or before men now I say this mark may perish from any particular Church there is no Church that is a Church of Saints but may become a Church of Divels and â— Synagogue of Satan all wicked and dissolute and ungodly Jer. 29. 2. Jeremiah was weary of his life he would count it a great blessing of God if he would open a place to him to be apart that he might not be among them he was even tired and his life was uncomfortable they were so wicked and abominable and so far off from being a Church of God he did â—ather with himself in a wildernesse then there so it may be with any particular Church if they look not to the word of God and the Ordinances of God and good order and Government they may come to lose this essential and inseparable mark of a true Church of God Fourthly Another mark though I cannot call it inseparable because 4. True Discipline it may be severed is true discipline and the right use of the censures of the Church when there is true discipline according to the Institution of Christ in his Church this is a mark of the Church of God Now a Church of God may lose this and be stript stark naked of true discipline to have no publique reproof no excommunication of those that are profane nay these censures may be perverted and corrupted so as to use them against Christ and not for Christ to excommunicate not drunkards and adulterets and prophane people but those that are sincere and godly and lead an honest and pure life it was so with Judaea John 9. 22. These words spake his parents c. Here you see discipline was out of this Church and so far out that it was quite perverted and such as should be counted the only members of the Congregation they threw them out if any confessed Christ to be the Redeemer of the world which was a necessary truth they threw them out of the Church so that we see the censures may be quite gone Now 't is true this is not an inseparable mark of the Church of God it is not a sign of the esse of the Church but it is a sign of the bene esse the well being of a Church A Church of God 't is true may be without discipline as the Church of Pâ—rgamus the Spirit saith it was a true Church and commends this Church yet saith he I have a few things against thee what were those namely that they wanted discipline that they did not throw out wicked and rotten members and such as were erroneous in doctrine and manners this Church was guilty of suffering this if they had thrown them out God would never have charged them with it the Church cannot hinder but there will be wicked and ungodly men but as long as they throw them out of the congregation not to have communion with them the Church hath washed her hands but it seems this Church had not washed her hands of this So the Church of Thyatira Rev. 2. 18. the Spirit of God calls it a true Church yet vers 20. he tels them plainly it was a grievous offence to God that they had not discipline in the Church Notwithstanding I have a few things against thee because thou sufferest that woman Jezabel c. Thou hast suffered this and let her alone and dost even countenance her and art guilty of all her errours for thou didst not throw her out and discard her from being an outward member of the Church so that we see the Church may be without discipline in the being of it yet I make this a mark of the Church of God because though a Church may be without this yet it is mightily defaced and wants its beauty And again it is a Church that cannot continue for when they doe not reprove and rebuke offenders and deal severely with them directly they will infect the whole body and it must needs weaken and decline till at last it comes to nothing therefore I make this a signe of a true Church Thus we see there be four notes of a true Church which it may have and afterwards come to be no Church Now in the next place I will shew you there be severall notes of a false Marks of a false Church Church and the Church that once had those true notes may have none but false notes As first Antiquity You shall have some Churches as the Church of Rome they 1. Antiquity brag of Antiquity they have Antiquity for their prayers for the dead and Purgatory the like and they shew 5 6 or 700. years for these things and none but a company of upstart fellows as Luther and Calvin and Perkins did ever condemn these things This is a false mark and a Church that hath this mark may be a Synagogue of Satan and not a Church of God For as a Divine saith no Church can be sound because of Antiquity unless it hath been from the beginning as Christ when the Jewes pleaded Antiquity he saith It was not so from the beginning All Antiquity is nothing unless it be from the first beginning when Gods Institution and first ordering was a lye will be a lye notwithstanding its Antiquity and so an whore the elder she is the impudenter she is and Errours and Heresies in process of time grow to be more infectious they take deeper root Now if they were once new what if there were a thousand yeares upon such a Doctrine and such a manner of Administration of the Sacrament what is this to the purpose if there were a time when this was a novelty and a new device as the Apostle saith 2 Thes 2. 7. The Mystery of iniquity worketh Therefore no marvel it is grown ancient no wonder it is come to be gray-headed this is nothing we are not to pick our Religion by yeares but by Scripture let a thing be never so old if we cannot prove it by Scripture this is nothing if the Church have no other mark to plead that they are the Church of God but Antiquity that is a poor plea as Paul thought before his conversion I am of the Church He was exceeding zealous for the traditions of his Fathers Gal. 1. 14. This is a poor thing Religion may be a vain Religion for all this 1 Pet. 1. 18. If any people come to be redeemed by Christ Christ comes to redeem them from such Religion as this the drunkard may shew Antiquity for his drunkenness and the adulterer may shew Antiquity for his uncleanness c. But he is a true Christian that can shew the Scripture for his title and that is a true Church that maintaines for matters of Faith and walks for matters of manners according to the Scriptures Now if a Church hath
no better mark then Antiquity it is a false Church Another mark of a false Church is universality when they have no other 2. Universality mark to shew but that the most are of their side they can shew the greatest bulk if you go and count there is most of their number a great deal this is a sure mark of a false Church yet the Church of Rome makes use of this mark for they consute our marks of a true Church and will have multitudes to be their mark and by this we may see they are Antichrist Rev. 13. 12. so Rev. 13. 8. All that dwell upon the earth whose names were not written in the book of the Lamb worshipped the beast the reprobate are the greatest part of the world now here he saith all that dwell upon the earth almost shall worship the Beast if this were the mark of a true Church Christ had miscounted himself when he counted his flock a little flock Luke 12. 32. Fear not little flock c. And again he saith Strive to enter in at the straight gate c. He describes a true Church by the fewness and not by the universality of it therefore what a madness is this to make universality a note of a true Church Thirdly Another is succession of Pastors from the Apostles times to this 3. Succession of Pastors very day this they make a mark of a true Church O say they we can shew succession down from Peter here at Rome even to this day The Protestants are not able to shew this this is a poor mark Caiâ—phas that condemned Christ could shew succession from Aaron so a Church may be a Church that renounceth Christ and is an Antichristian Church and yet may shew succession and other Churches as Alexandria and others can shew succession as well as Rome so that succession of Pastors is nothing unless they can shew succession of Doctrine Fourthly Unity They make that to be a mark of the true Church and 4. Unity this is a false mark too others say they have not unity among them but we have unity thus you may as well prove the Divels in Hell to be a Church for there is unity as our Saviour saith If Satan be divided against Satan how can his Kingdom stand so Acts 4. 27. you may see what an unity was there they were all of one knot and one mind there was a marvellous great unity among them all to condemn Christ the Church must be proved to be a true Church before unity can be brought to be any sign of it for the more unity is in a wicked way the more hellish is the conspiracy Fifthly Miracles is a note of a false Church now the Papists say We 5. Miracles can shew miracles for our Religion where can you shew miracles Christ saith we may know Antichrist and his adherents by this Mat. 24. 24. there shall arise false Christs c. False Christs and such as make as though they were Christians and the people of God and come to you in the name of the Lord and they may shew you signs and wonders to make you believe them but they are the Divels signs and they shall be very strong to delude the world so 2 Thes 2. 9. the Apostle shews us that the coming of Antichrist shall be after this manner therefore no marvel that they plead signs and wonders and apparitions of the dead from their doctrine of the Mass and Purgatory and prayers for the dead c. this is an argument that their Church is Antichristian that which is a true Church according to the Scripture needs no new miracles therefore Calvin and Luther that propounded nothing but the truth of the Scripture they need bring no miracles to confirm it if indeed they had brought any new doctrines of their own heads they had need to have brought miracles to confirm them but when they brought nothing but what they could prove out of the Scripture Scripture-miracles were enough to prove this Sixthly Another mark is pompe and stateliness a Church may come to 6. Pompe and stateliness have no other mark but this that it is a goodly and stately Church a pompous kind of serving God things are set ouâ— pompously this is rather an argument of an Antichristian Church for the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world and that which is highly esteemed amongst men is abonimable in the sight of God Lastly They make outward prosperity and happiness to be a mark of 7. Outward happiness and prosperity the true Church of God but this is rather a mark of a Synagogue of Satan For all that live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution 2 Tim. 3. 12. And if any man will be my Disciple saith Christ let him take up his cross and follow me I say the Kingdom of Christ is not of this world therefore prosperity and felicity is not a sign of a Church of God thus we see that a Church that was once a true Church of God may come to be no true Church they may lose all the true notes of a Church of God and have no other notes but such as prove it to be no true Church but rather a Church of Infidels and unbelievers The first reason is because the Church of God is Catholique that is Reas 1. Because the Church is Catholique it is not tied and pent up in any place God may carry it where he will he may set up his Church in what Country and Town and Family he will and choose what particular person in the whole world he will God is not tied to any therefore when the Jews bore themselves upon this that they were the Church and Gods Ordinances and Oracles were appropâ—iated to them they came at the first hour of the day at the first hand but if the Gentiles were a Church it was but at the second hand they came but at the eleventh hour he takes up a parable Mat. 20. and saith they that are last shall be first c. and he gives a reason shall I not do what I will with mine own so God may do with his Ordinances and gifts and graces of his spirit he may bestow them where he will he may give his Gospel to a Kingdom and take it away at his pleasure and he may stay as long as he will and be gone when he will Secondly God doth not need any place any people though a place be 2. God needs no place or persons never so glorious and stately and though it be never so admirable a Church God doth not need that Nation but if it grow maleâ—ert and stiffe and stubborn against him the Lord will make them know he hath no need of them and cares not for them as the Jews when they bore themselves upon this that they were
you if you take not heed therefore receive instruction by the word and give way to it for the word of God may go any whether else and you may be deprived of it if you take not heed Rev. 6. 2. Christ had his word on horse-back now if any Kingdom or Parish or Congregation do not give him good entertainment he is ready to go away and the sincere preaching of the word is the spiritual rain now if any people grow unfruitful and bring not forth the blessed fruit of the doctrine of life God threatens to take away this rain as it was with the Church of Judah Isa 5. 6. he speaks here of his vineyard the Church he had in Judah and Jerusalem and he finds fault with their barrenness and unfruitfulness when he looked they should bring forth grapes they brought forth wild grapes nothing but covetousness and security and all manner of uncleanness and they did not bring forth fruit answerable to the means of grace vouchsafed therefore the Lord threatens to command the clouds that they shall rain no more upon his vineyard thus you see the sincere preaching of the Gospel any particular Church may lose and be deprived of there is no place or Congregation that hath a lease of the Gospel but it may lose it again and be left in blindness and sit in the region and shadow of death now when a Parish or Kingdom is come to this to be deprived of the sincere preaching of the word it ceaseth wholly to be a Church of God I do not deny but God may have some members of his Catholique Church there for they may subsist without Congregations though very poorly and under a great deal of affliction but there is no National Church no particular Church no Parish-Church that Parish is not a Church of God there may be some particular members of the Catholique Church there but there cannot be any particular Church of God there that Congregation is a Congregation without God and that Kingdom is a Kingdom without God as you may see 2 Chron. 15. 3. when as a Kingdom is without a preaching Priest c. He doth not here mean by a preaching Priest one that barely did preach but he means by a preaching Priest true sincere preaching at least in fundamentals now when Israel were without this teaching Priest they were without God at that time and therefore was no true Church for Christ is ever among the candlesticks as you may see in the Revelation there is no Church but Christ dwells there in his Ordinances more or less now when people are deprived of the sincere preaching of the word God goeth away together with his Gospel from that Nation and they are a people without God unless God be pleased to look upon them again they are a Congregation of undone people and not a Congregation of blessed people as the Church of God is so far forth as the judgement of man can judge where the Gospel is gone in the sincere preaching of it they are an undone people Prov. 29. 18. Where there is no vision the people perish Now there is no Nation or Parish but may be deprived of the preaching of the word if they walk not worthy of it therefore may cease to be a Church Secondly Another inseparable mark of the true Church is this a true 2. True and sincere use of the Sacraments and sincere use of the Sacraments at least in the substance of them you shall find a particular Church is described by this to have the right administration of the Sacraments as the Church of Judah is called circumcision Rom. 3. 1. the meaning is what profit hath the Church of Judah above other people and he calls them by that name because that was a Sacrament of the Covenant of grace which God established among them and so it is under the Gospel the Churches under the Gospel are defined by the Sacraments as the Apostle speaks Phil. 3. 3. we are the circumcision which worship God in the spirit As who should say they brag that they are the people of God and have the seals of the covenant as circumcision and the like but we are the people of God for we worship God in the spirit Now any Church may lose the right use of the Sacraments the Sacrament of the Lords Supper was almost left out of the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. 11. 20. saith he this is not to eat the Lords Supper They met together and had a Table spread and bread and wine and had a form of consecration yet they were come to this pass that they did not receive the Sacrament So the Church of Rome hath lost this inseparable mark of a Church of God they have lost the Sacrament for the ordination of God is quite changed in the main essentials of it and they are made the badges of an Harlot rather then of a true Wife They withhold the cup from the people and administer the Sacrament in one kind only whereas Christ commanded it to be in both kinds again they deliver it in an unknown tongue whereas Christ commanded it to be delivered in a known tongue again they turn it into Idolatry to adore the host to adore the elements so how many Churches are there up and down that yield to the Church of Rome that have quite and clean lost the right use of the Sacrament nay lost the Doctrin of the Sacraments for this is seen as long as the word of God continues soâ—â—d in the fundamentals the Sacraments continue in the doctrin of them but the Church may lose the Doctrine of the Sacraments and the right use of them Thirdly Another inseparable mark of a true Church is a sincere profession 3. Sincere profession of the word of God c. of the word of God and true Christian Religion either in truth and uprightness of heart or else so far as man can judge for though the preaching of the Word come to a place yet it doth not follow presently that there is a Church of God for suppose a Minister come to a place where they are all Pagans this doth not make a Church as when Paul came among the Athenians and begun his Sermon they were all Pagans and Infidels they were not a Church presently as soon as ever he begun his Sermon but when divers of them embraced the word either sincerely or else to see to as far as Paul and others could judge then they were a Church there must be a congregation of people that do professe the pure Religion and make it appear at least to the judgement of man that they are godly in Christ Jesus this is an inseparable mark of a true Church as we may see 1 Cor. 14. 33. you shall see there that the Church is called a congâ—egation of Saints a Church of Saints for saith he as in all Churches of the Saints that is all particular Churches they are Churches of Saints not as if
the people of God and had Abraham for their father and were barren and fruitless and dissolute in their lives you may see how John Baptist answers their foolish conceit think not with your selves we have Abraham to our father c. Mat. 3. 9. he hath no need of you you are the children of Abraham but know God can cast you into Hell for all you are the children of Abraham and can make Heathens and Infidels children of Abraham so when the Jews boasted Mal. 1. that God had chosen them he hated Esau and loved Jacob and they grew to be insolent and disobedient to God and polluted his holy Temple and despised his name see what God saith I will accept none of these things at your hands I will gather me a people among the Heathens Mal. 1. 13. As who should say I want not people I can go among the Heathen and there have my worship regarded which you have slighted and neglected Thirdly There is no particular Church in the world hath a promise 3 No particular Church hath a promise of continuance alwayes to be a Church but it they grow careless and secure and unprofitable under the means the Lord will be gone he hath made no such promise to continue with them for ever 't is true there is never a godly soul never a member of the Church but God hath promised he will never leave him 2 Tim. 2. 19. and Mat. 28. 20. he saith so of his own people he will never leave them but the good things he hath begun in them he will perfect them in the day of Christ nay though all particular Churches should be destroyed God will have a care of these particular Saints of his Catholique Church that not any limbe of it shall cease but for particular Churches God hath made no such promises but upon condition Rom. 11. 22. if a Parish or Kingdom continue in the fear of Gods name and regard his commandements be fruitful under his Ordinances and thankful for his goodness then he will stay but otherwise saith he thou shalt be broken off though thou be the famousest Church in the world This may conâ—ound the Church of Rome who promise to themselves they â—se 1. â—o conâ—ound the Church of Rome shall never be unchurched though they have been unchurched many years yet they brag they are the only Church in the world Bellarmine brags that St. Peters chair shall never go from Rome and no wonder for the spirit of God foretold it Rev. 17. I sit as Queen and shall never be a Widow I shall be a Wife a Spouse for ever I shall see no sorrow you see how secure she is just the child of her proud mother Babylon Isa 47. 8. So 't is with the Church of Rome I am and none else I am she calls her self the Roman Catholique Church as if there were no Church but Rome all the Nations of the world if they will be a â—hurch must be members of that Church as it was said of Rome in Augusius time If Jupiter should come down from Heaven there is no Country for him to come into but Rome look into this or that country Rome hath to doe there so Rome notwithstanding her Apostacy is grown to that height of pride and security as if she were and none but she O poor deluded company there is scarce any true note of a Church of Christ among them and yet they make themselves to be the onely Church This may be an Item for all the particular Churches in the whole world Vse 2. To all particular Churches for England Denmark France wheresoever is any Here you see the Church of Sardis had but a name to live and was dead there was nothing but remainders in her and they were ready to die and come to nothing But what speak I of the Church of Sararâ— Where are all the famous Churches of Asta of Pergamus and Thâ—atâ—ra c. what is become of these famous Churches are they not turned into a wilderness and to worship Mebâ—met and Idols and are even grown as bad as Heathens But what need I speak of these Look upon the Church of the Jewes that were thâ— priâ—cipal people of God no Church like that Israel is my first borne there was never any Church under the Gospel that was his onely Church but Judaea was his onely oâ—e his pleasant Plant nay they were the Fathers of Jesus Christ according to the flesh Rom. 9. yet notwithstanding that Church was cut off When the holy City proved a Harlot when these people grew to be weary of God and his Ordinances and grew to be loose and would not be ruled by God and his Word the Lord gave them a Bill of Divorcement and sent them away therefore let us be warned by them it is a fearfull thing when God for Idolatry shall cast off Churches and yet we not tremble but live under security and hardness of heart and take not warning by it Jer. 3. 8. God saith Yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not but played the harlot When God cast off the ten Tribes Judah saw this and heard of this and could not chuse but understand this and yet she did not fear for all this So when this Parish or any other Parish shall hear of any Parish that is unchurched and unministred and God hath taken away his presence from among them and there shall be no signe of his gracious presence any more the Gospel is gone from such a place and we hear of it and yet doe not fear but are as secure as ever as unfruitful under the means as ever and doe not stir up our selves to be more obedient to God and his Ordinances but goe on to play the harlot and goe a whoring from God from day to day nay we are even ready to promise our selves peace for all this this is a fearful thing Mark what the Lord saith Jer. 7. 11 12 13 14 15. He speaks there of Jerusalem So when God hath poured out his plagues and punishments upon other Parishes and other places and hath taken away his Ark and the glory is departed from them and they are left in the shadow of death and we see it and yet tremble not at it God calls upon us from day to day to amend our lives that we miâ—ht finde mercy with him God tells us as he hath done to other Parishes in the Kingdome so he will doe to us the Lord will lay us desolate and waste as other parts of the land are and certainly the Lords wrath and vengeance is hard at our heels if we doe not speedily repent who knows how soon God may deprive us of his Word and Ordinances For 〈◊〉 not found thy works perfect before God If we take these words in sunder they containe these five Propositions First That the covenant of grace requires works Secondly That these works should be perfect Thirdly That they should not onely be perect
prayers makes them depend upon him in all their needs and necessities he makes them deny themselves and works the grace of humiliation more and more and a trade of godlinesse and a course of holiness and piety now not one of these works are till a man is called all things work together for the best to those that are called Rom. 8. 28. this is a leaâ—ing work now all works come in now the word works and prayer works and the Sacrament works and afflictions work and sinne works when a man is effectually called this is the great wheele of motion now all things work together for the good of him that is called according to Gods purpose this is the first ground work the first breaking of the ice the first setting of a man forth towards heaven therefore we shall see when the Apostle is to write to any man or Churches commonly before ever he bids them do this or that the first thing he speaks to them about is this he tells them they are effectually called as Rom. 1. 7. afterwards he bids them yield their members as weapons to righteousness and adviseth them to walk in the Spirit and give up their bodies and souls as a living sacrifice to God not to be conformed to the world but to be transformed in the spirit of their minds and to walk in love and redeemâ— the time and abundance of other works he sets them about but first of all he names their effectual calling as who should say I take it for granted that â—oâ—â—re called it is a folly for me to bid you do this or that if you were not effectually called else I should alwaies be beating what damned and â—iserable creatures you are shall I bid you pray and professe Religion and you not effectually called you can never do this therefore this is the first thing 〈◊〉 called of God So when he writes to the Corinths 1 Cor. 1. 2. called â—â—e Saints it is the fore front of all his Epistles as who should say I shall speak abundance of things to you but you are called of God therefore he bids them do this and that and the other all works come after this effectual calling as it is in other particular callings suppose a man be called to be an Apostle all the acts and performances that an Apostle doth they come after he is called else they are not the acts of an Apostle but a medler therefore in all the Apostles writings when he doth the acts of an Apostle to exhort them and rebuke them in the Lord he shews his calling Paul called to be an Apostle as who should say do not judge amiss of me you may think what have I to do with you we have a Minister already what have you to do in Corinth meddle with your own places where you live mistake me not I am called to be an Apostle so that his calling to be an Apostle is before all other actions first he is called and then exhorts instructs reproves c. Several names given to effectual calling Fourthly Another reason is taken from the names that are given unto effectual calling first it is called a mans gathering unto Christ as Joh. 11. 50 51 52. it is the prophecy of Caiphas though he spake he knew not what yet he spake right as the place doth imply it is expedient saith he that one man should dye for the people and gather together the children of God that were scattered as who should say this is the first act that the Lord Jesus doth upon those that are his they were scattered till then and now when he comes effectually to call them he puts his first act upon them and gathered them to himself so also it is called a drawing unto God Joh 12. 32. When I am lifted up I will draw all men unto me that is when he was lifted up upon the crosse he would call the Gentiles all his elect people unto him he doth not speak of all men but he speaks of the elect he will draw all them to him he will call them home So againe it is called in Scripture the entring of a man into Christ as a Scholar that is admitted into a Colledge his name is first entred so effectual calling is a mans first entring into the Schoole of Christ into the family of Christ when a man is first entred into that blessed society as Joh. 10. 9. I am the doore if any man will enter by me he shall be saved and go in and out and finde pasture he speaks here of the first act of a mans coming before that he was quite out of doors this is the first act his first entring into Christ to be of his sheepfold and flock to feed upon his pastures and to have the benefit of his Scepter and be governed and guided by him as the true shepheard effectual calling enters a man into Christ Againe it is called a mans coming in Rom. 11. 25. untill the fulness of the Gentiles is come in that is until the elect Gentiles be effectually called now because he would expresse what effectual calling is he calls it the coming of a man in he was without before as other dogs were that had no part in the tree of life no interest in the salvation purchased as far off as those that were reprobates but now is his coming in and so I might instance in other names Lastly Because it is the first extract of election and predestination unto eternal life as Rom. 8. 30. Whom he did predestinate them also he called there was the first impression of the seale upon the wax there was the first image that he made whom he did predestinate them he called afterwards he justified them c therefore you shall finde in Scripture that election calling are put together because this is the first blush of it as Rev. 17. 14. The King of Kings Lord of Lords and they that are with him are called and chosen he puts them both together what a marvelous comfort is this to those that know they are effectually called of God! election and vocation are individual companions and cannot be separated one from the other that man that is elected it is certaine he shall be called this is that which makes a man actually elected my meaning is this though a man were elected before all worlds though now living in the estate of sinne and death and damnation a vile wretched sinner he was elected it may be but not actually elected in himself there was nothing of election in him there was no image nor seale of election stamped upon him nothing of it put forth in him therefore this is the reason why in Scripture vocation is called election 1 Cor. 1. 26 27. You see your calling brethren not many wisemen after the flesh not many mighty c. are called but God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise the one is the image and the