Selected quad for the lemma: enemy_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
enemy_n	army_n	march_v	war_n	1,020	5	5.7800	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A57540	Ohel or Beth-shemesh A tabernacle for the sun, or, Irenicum evangelicum : an idea of church-discipline in the theorick and practick parts, which come forth first into the world as bridegroom and bride ... by whom you will have the totum essentiale of a true Gospel-church state according to Christs rules and order left us when he ascended ... : published for the benefit of all gathered churches, more especially in England, Ireland and Scotland / by John Rogers ...	Rogers, John, 1627-1665?; Rogers, John, 1627-1665? Challah, the heavenly nymph.	1653 (1653)	Wing R1813; Wing R1805; ESTC R850	596,170	655

how can these rules requiring obedience bee practised but by such Saints as are embodied into a Church of Christ but this Mr. Bartlet I remember in his Model mentions a man I have made much use of and for whose sake I have sufficiently suffered from some in Dublin whom I feare fuller of heat then of Heaven having no more of his booke which the Lord will one day witnesse to their faces then I beare in my breast omnia mecum c. But to passe by such blowes and buffetings of Sathan I say the Saints so embodied are best provided for their duties one to another And as in a bundle of sticks one kindles another so doe they Comes facundus in via pro vehiculo est and as one helpe another so all together like Bees labour to bring in hony all into one hive So every one hath the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1 Cor. 12.6 to bring into the stocke or common banke or to profit withall O then how sweet are they to God and men who are as so many flowers bound together in one nose-gay But Fifthly The sweet soule-ravishing and enamouring reason 5 issues which are the infallible sequell of Saints so embodied O the excellent priviledges Cant. 2 3 4 5. Cant. 5.1 Cant. 6.2 3. Cant. 7.10 11 12. Psal. 92.12 13.14 their precious promises Hos. 14.6 Isa. 59.22 the singular delights which the Lord takes amongst Saints so embodied Rev. 2.1 Psal. 132.13 14. Psal. 26.8 2 Cor. 6.16.18 Cant. 8.13 above all others Ps. 87.2 The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more then all the other dwellings of Jacob More then all Now such as are not in body together are deprived of the life and excellency of these as I shall shew hereafter I hope convinceingly if the Lord please but onely this I adde That the speciall benefits which beleevers so embodied doe enjoy are laid like Tiles one over another every day till the whole roofe be covered and the raine kept out Sixtly Which I would not omit though I might more reason 6 fitly have found it before is hereby the Saints are abundantly better fortified both to defend and occasionally to offend for to instance against Enemies they have an united force and they need not to feare an Adversary no not an Army if they be but in one for they are indeed terrible then as an Army with Banners displayed Drums beating Trumpets blowing Guns playing and discharging and all in good order keeping Ranke and File Why they need not to feare for their enemies then must fall before them in Joel 2.7.8.10 They shall run like mighty men they shall climbe the wall like men of warre and they shall march every one on his wayes and they shall not breake their rankes neither shall one thrust against another the earth shall quake before them the Heavens shall tremble the Sunne and the Moone shall be darke and the Starres shall with-draw their shining thus are the Saints in their united strength a terrour to the world Well might the Queene of Scots say Shee feared more the prayers of that one man John Knox then shee did an Army of thirty thousand men For when Gog and Magog doe gather together to battle in Revel 20.8 9. as the sand of the Sea they compasse the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City But what successe have they Why fire comes downe from God out of heaven and destroyes them or eates them up that is out of the Churches according to Rev. 11.5 If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouthes and devoureth him If any man dare to wrong them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or to deale injuriously or unjustly with them he must in this manner be killed Now all the Saints and so the Churches are such witnesses and out of their mouthes by their prayers and powerfull breathings which will admit of no deniall they can conquer and consume their greatest adversaries Besides the enemy hath not that like advantage against us when we are linked as when we are alone As it is said that Siculus being on his Death-bed bid his Sons bring a Quiver of Arrowes and being brought would have them breake them altogether in the Quiver but they could not conquer them though they all tried then he bids them breake them asunder one by one which was soone done So sayes he my Sons if yee 'le breake asunder yee 'le be broken easily and throwne aside but if yee unite none can conquer you as long as yee live together in one yee will be too hard for every one So also in a Faggot of Wood there is no breaking the whole together but to take out stick after stick that wil make it easie to get the mastery of the whole Thus the Saints united together into one will be too hard for all the world but otherwise the world will have the advantage and they may be easily broken and scattered about with stormes so when they carrie on Gods cause with one shoulder and by one consent according to Zeph. 3.9 it goes on in post and against all oppositions For as Mathematicians say the strait line is alwayes weakest but the circle is the strongest and holds so the Saints in Fellowship are strongest and hold best because one is injoynted into another and thus the Saints ought unanimously and joyntly to contest together for the truth Jude ver 3. and joyntly to labour together in and for the Gospel 2 Cor. 6.1 and joyntly to put forth together for the purity priviledges orders and ordinances of Jesus Christ Gal. 5.1 and joyntly to receive together reproaches and wrongs Heb. 10.33 Gal. 6.2 2 Cor. 12.26 2 Tim. 1.16 and joyntly to refuse subjection to any persons principles or practises contrary to the word of truth and thus by their joynt powers opposers will be repulsed to their shame and losse and by their joynt-prayers heaven is taken by violence and the Lord is overcome Acts 12.5 by their joynt-praises and shoutings of joy the Heavens and Earth filled with ravishing melody and Musick Rev 14.2 As the many beames of the Sunne contracted into a little Burning-glasse doe glow and burne with abundance more light life and strength so Saints united doe Yea moreover as one Member or the Arme can act not only by its owne but also by the strength of the whole body to which it is united according to the bodies ability even so a Saint embodied may wrastle with God and against a sinne c. by the strength of the whole besides his owne as hereafter will appeare But thus much for the reasons though I might have added more Vse By all that hath been penned upon this point it appeares plainly that Parish-Churches have not the forme nor the face of a true Church of Christ according to Gospel-order for they have none of this union

as is required Phil. 1.27 Jude 3 Gal. 5.1 1 Cor. 7 23. Can. 6.4 til they be in communion as an Army with Banners and then they are terrible to their enemies being all under one Captaine Heb. 2.10 grant there be divers colours having all the same word Jer. 31.33 marching all in order and ranke Col. 2.5 making all one arme and strength against the same enemies and joyntly vindicating the truth joyntly praying and then out of their mouths comes fire to destroy their Adversaries Rom. 11.5 joyntly suffering for the truth 1 Cor. 11.26 Rom. 12.8 joyntly refusing traditions trumperies and whatsoever is contrary to Christs word joyntly disputing for and maintaining of their Liberties and Priviledges Gal. 5.1 Fifthly without this Fellowship together there is not that fellow-feeling or Saintly sympathy as ought to be 1 Cor. 12.25.26 Rom. 12.16 nor is there that bearing one anothers burthens Gal. 6.2 Heb. 13.3 nor forbearing one with anothers weaknesses as Eph. 4.32 Col. 3 12 13. in bowels of love pity patience and without censures Rom. 14.13 Rom. 13.1 2 c. Sixthly besides they are exceeding deficient in many other Christian duties who are not in Gospel-fellowship for how can they Prophesie in the Church 1 Cor. 14. or tell the Church as Mat. 18.17 if they are not members of a Church or obey them that are Elders Heb. 13.17 or vigilantly watch over one anothers conversation and admonish or reprove orderly Mat. 18.15 1 Thess. 5.14 and 4.18 2 Thess. 3.15 Rom. 15.14 c. But for this I refer to Mr. Bartlets Model But to the reason 4 Fourth Reason or Argument which is taken from the special priviledges which are proper to them that are in the way of Christ above all others which are abundance As first among them Christ doth most manifest his presence Psal. 36.2 in a more then ordinary measure the glory of God is seen in the face of Christ 2 Cor. 4.6 Christ takes most delight in the midst of them to walke there Rev. 1.12 13. and 2 1. in his rich robes of righteousnesse to cloath or cover with the meanest Saints or member of his body i. e. with a garment downe to the foot and girt about the paps with a golden girdle for himselfe as High-priest and his Saints as Priests The names of Temples house Kingdome Tabernacle yea and golden Candlesticks are given to Beleevers in Church-fellowship 2 Cor. 6.16 1 Cor. 3.16.17 Eph. 2.22 Heb. 3.6 Rev. 21.3 for this very reason not onely because he walks in them but there he lodges Psal. 132.13 14. lives and rests in a most remarkable manner there the Kingdome and King is seen in his beauty Isa. 33.17 And for this I referre to the object of the Church in Chap 9. Secondly In this Way of Christ the Saints have most singular refreshments and the sweetest and highest enjoyments of love and grace and powrings of the unction from on high upon them we shall finde how Christ yea and his Apostles after him did daily visit the Synagogues and publick Assemblies and amongst them he uttered so many gracious words and wrought so many mighty miracles and why so if not to foreshew by this how he would regard the Church-assemblies of his people and be their Prophet to declare excellent truths and to open the Fathers bosome to them above all for there hee feeds Cant. 1.7 and 6.2 3. and eats pleasant fruits i. e. of his owne planting Cant. 4.16 there the Lord is a place of broad rivers Isa. 33.21 and Christ is there and to them streams from Lebanon and a Fountaine in the middest of them Cant. 4.12 as in Florence and Naples where they have the most excellent Gardens they have in the midst a most excellent Spring a Fountaine from which with an Engine they can sprout out water and streams round about the Garden so alluding to this is Christ in the midst of such a Church-fellowship as we have spoken of a Fountaine and streams i. e. they are refreshed with streams in a more eminent manner then all in the world besides For the common-fields flowers and trees without have the benefit of the clouds and ordinary● raine and showers but the particular Churches of Christ his bed of spices Cant. 6.2 are more watered then all others for besides the outward meanes of grace and preaching praying expounding and ordinary publick showers or refreshments they have a fountaine within that is never dry of purer and more Chrystall showers that cannot be taken away from them the Word and Spirit are as it were entailed to them in a most spirituall manner above all Exod. 20.24 Isa. 4.5.6 Isa. 25.6 7 8. Psal. 132.13 14 15 Isa. 56.7 Isa. 59.21 and are as it were seated there to sanctifie season counsell quicken comfort encourage and assist them in Church-fellowship above any other So that when there is a drought without and the Clouds are steril and the earth barren yet there is even there within a fountaine and streams for the Gardens So that though Ministers i. e. Clouds may be empty yet the Fountaine i. e. Christ cannot Thus Saints in fellowship are fed with fat things Isa. 25.6 7. with flaggons and apples Cant. 2.5 and full refreshments and that above all other the dwellings of Jacob and they bring forth fruits even in old age Psal. 92.13 14. Thirdly Christ is more free with them then with any others as a Husband with his Wife to impart his most intimate bosome-loves and secrets Cant. 7.12 2 Cor. 11.2 and to let out his very heart-loves into his wives arms and bosome Isa. 62.4 5 and Isa. 61.10 Psal. 36.8 Fourthly Such of all are under his protection and banner of love Cant. 2.4 Isa. 4.5 6. Joel 2.32 Isa. 54.17 and in the midst of them is salvation placed Isa. 46.13 Zach. 2.5 And in a word they have a heaven upon earth Rev. 12.1.12 O! it is good being here For these and many more the like Reasons hath this Gospel-order of Beleevers in fellowship been alwayes praised prized and indefatigably sought for and accounted of even as of necessity for beleevers in all ages For the Lord though hee loves all his Saints Deut. 33 3. yet he loves the gates of Zion more then all other the dwellings of Jacob Psal. 87.2 and so much the Saints have loved these Courts of the Lord that they have accounted a day better there then a thousand elsewhere Psal. 84.10 the Apostles longed after it and to see the brethren in it Rom. 1.11.12 1 Thes. 2.17 yea and esteemed them the Crown of their joy 1 Thes. 2.19.20 yea Christ himselfe as man exceedingly desired it and sought comfort by his Disciples prayers Mat. 26.40.43 Luke 22.46 and he exceedingly longed after a most speciall communion with them in fellowship with him before hee parted from them and was taken away to suffer See Luke 22.15 with desire

upon a hill let none be offended but if they be I pass not a pin For as Theodorus of Cyrene answered Lysimachus when he threatned to crucifie him O Sir said he Let your Courtiers and Favorites fear that for I had as lieve rot in the air as on the Earth I could I hope willingly save men an inquisition after me in such a case and say to them I come of my own accord Here I am What will ye for I remember the Duke of Burgundy who was sirnamed Carolus Audax was son to that Duke who was sirnamed Bonus for Conscience and Confidence are near a kin Wherefore of whom should I be afraid Psal. 27.1 2. for the Lord is my light and my salvation c. I must be as ready to write print preach and pray against the sins of great men as of the meanest and I will make no more on it though I suffer for it Or though they deal with this as the old Senate did that burned up Numa his Books for mentioning the secrets of their Religion I have heard that if the Crocodiles which besiege the banks of Nilus and way-lay the Travellers into Egypt were but pricked with the quill of the Bird Ibis they will be so weak and stupified therewith that they will not be able to stir or hurt any more O that this course were taken with our English Crocodiles Those wicked Lawyers that way-lay oppress tear and torment so many persons and families of this Nation Did every one arm himself with a quill and make it a good pen with a hard nib and write but as long as that would last what they know of them i. e. and touch them therewith but to the quick as well as they were able I am certain we should finde them stupified and stingless and unable to way-lay us hurt us and oppress us as they do But I shall say no more of them here expecting a more perfect Character of them ere long in a Book by it self The next thing Reader that this Treatise most of all intends is the Description of the Church wherein I expect Antagonists tag and rag of the ridged ones of all judgements especially of the Presbyterians and Anabaptists but I hope to be armed for them with the armor of light The frothy agitations of some unquiet heads and busie brains may cast away cost and twist straws I mean their labor may be worth a pound but their matter or stuffe not worth a penny But before hand I shall pray them to forbear passion and the pride of a Prelate For a foolish sentence dropped upon Paper will set pride and folly upon a Hill Memnon the General of Darius his Army hearing a mercenary Soldier with vile language revile Alexander and exclaim against him he struck him with a Lance saying He hired him to fight against him not to rail upon him Clamors against a very Enemy requires rather reproof then praise and I think there was no man much commended but much condemned that poor empty wide-mouthed Libeller of Garlick-hithe for his Pamphlet he put out lately whereby he hath brought himself into the report and reproof of all that hear his name which may be eminently up and famous ere long in London as it is in Cheshire and other places I had I confess a full Character of him indeed by Master Manwaring one that knew him well in Cheshire at my Lord Bradshawes Table lately whilest Sir William Brereton with an eminent Minister that knows him highly too was by and gave so good account of him That I cannot but wonder how he could end in one lying impudent Pamphlet and like a Squib too dry it seems flash all out at once But if he or any other will leave railing and fall to writing what tends to edification I shall be for him and heartily embrace both it and them so far as I finde a Christian Spirit with them And indeed as the Athenians dashed out of their Calender a day in May when Neptune and Minerva were at oddes and in a bitter fray So from my heart I wish all our bitter frayes may be ended and their dayes blotted out And O! that the Lord would pour out his Spirit according to his promise in these latter dayes upon all flesh which will make us all one in love and holiness and power of godliness and equal worship To conclude Christian Reader if thou comest to drink of the pure streams sweep away the froth for that is mine with thy hand of faith and take up of what is spiritual and pretious for that is the Lords and make not too much stir least you raise the mud for that will make it worst of all Caius Lucillius a Learned man was wont to say That he wished the things that he had written might neither be read of the altogether unlearned nor yet of the highly Learned For that the one would understand nothing and the others would understand more then himself But I wish the quite contrary for that the unlearned might learn something of me and the more learned might teach something to me So that I hope this will stir up some to read and some to write which will be the worse for the Worms and may hap to keep their Libraries from being eat up But I wish they be the Learned of the Father for such learning is the Golden Shield which defends the truth But when Golden Shields were gone Rehoboam was fain to do the deed with Brazen Shields So I know where this true Learning is wanting some Wilde Heads will supply the room with rage boldness and impudence I shall keep thee no longer good Reader in the outward Court or Common Chamber but I pray thee go further and enter into his Chamber of Presence where put up one Petition for him who desires to live and die the Lords And yours And all in Christ and nothing in himself But JOHN ROGERS From my Study at Thomas Apostles 1. Moneth 25. 1653. An Epistle to the Parish of Purleigh in ESSEX nigh Malden wherein the Author was setled Minister till of late Dear Friends I Call you dear not onely that I found you at a dear rate but I am forced to leave you so yet some of you are very dear to me and in my heart and whom I can freely bear in my bosom to the Father But because the Death or departure of a Minister from his people should be his last Sermon I must therefore say in general to you this That my greatest grief for most of you is That like the Cypresse the more you were watered the more you withered Would it not grieve you Husbandmen to see your good seed every year to be lost and to lie and rot under huge hard clods and never to bring forth fruits or to come up So how can it but be my complaints before my Lord and Master when I give

or the like hurrying and rushing into it without due regard and heed and neglecting prayers fastings holy conferences and preparatory means appointed to season us and sanctifie us and qualifie us for this great duty is doubtlesse a great offence to God and I am sure none of his order And what must we then expect beleeve it a sore blow The Lord smote them it proved a sad day to them at last and if this severity was but for failing in outward order in carrying the Arke on a Cart O! then sure it will be a sad day to such as fail in that inward and spiritual order with and in which this great duty is to be performed God will bee sought in a good order as well as in a good Ordinance or else he will deny his blessing But I shall performe my promise and so conclude this Chapter there is a great deale of reason and order in it to have the first solemne day when we are to embody and unite performed in publike in the times of the Churches peace and safety and that those who are judged indeed able to speak without discredit to the Gospel or the Church should make their speeches also in publick in the bearing of all that will First Experience hath given it in as a great means to convince men of the way such as upon that day have stepped out reason 1 of their shops and spared an houre or two out of meer novelty why these have heard the way so laid open before them out of Scriptures and so proved and pressed from precepts and practise that they have gone away with another spirit and if not altogether yet with Agrippa almost perswaded now they have not such an opportunity when you doe clandestinely and closely embody together Christ went often into the Synagogues to convince the Jewes and to reprove the Scribes and Pharisees he was sure to finde them there and he would lose no opportunity So he disputed with the Doctors in the Temple and put them to silence for he would goe to them where hee knew they would bee seeing they would not come to him Thus Act. 18.28 this is the eminent character of Apollos that he mightily convinced the Jewes and that publickly shewing by Scriptures c. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee confuted them over and over and quite non-plussed them and for the greater honour to the truth and himselfe as a servant to the truth hee did this publickly saith the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is in the company of multitudes of them in the midst of great Congregations he convinced them and the Lord is said openly in a great publike appearance that he shall come to convince all the ungodly of all their ungodly deeds and of all their hard speeches which he shall doe with a vengeance and that will be more then if it were done in a corner viz. to do it openly So certainly this is a fit opportunity to bee in publike for this purpose and to cast the net in where the most Fish meet together Secondly This would stop the wide mouths of many and prevent the scandals which are raised by reason of secret and reason 2 close embodying together many and such as are godly too be ready to censure such practises as if they were ashamed to bee seen as Joh. 3.19 This is their condemnation they loved darknesse rather then light because their deeds were evill Popish Religion was laid in darknesse and lives in it unlesse it be under bastard lights as candles and such as are of mens make Tenebri●nes Papistae male sibi conscii aeternum atri tetri c. and so doth all the false Truth is hurt and cannot helpe her selfe when she is kept a close prisoner and immured up and when shee is not let out to speake for her selfe men are apt to take for truth what is spoken against her therefore it is that Peter cals so upon us 1 Pet. 2.12 to have us come abroad and be seen among men that by our good workes we might stop their mouths that speake against us as evill doers This would remove many scandals which men raise as if we were of a false faith and all erroneous persons and a company of Hypocrites and Pharisees and the like would we but appear in publike upon that day of embodying whereby all men may hear our Creed and the Evidences of Gods gracious works upon our hearts and some signs of our onenesse with Christ and then the world will beleeve Joh. 17.21.23 Thirdly It is much for the credit of the Gospel and for the reason 3 praise of Zion that her beauty appears in publike and her amiable beams shine abroad Beauty loves to be seen the Sunne hath the more honour and praise and esteem by how much the more he shines abroad and about and the Church is in these dayes to look forth as the morning Cant. 6.10 bright beauteous lightsome and welcome after the darke night of Antichristian ignorance and error which we have been so long under Now shee is to arise in publike and to be seen by all and in an ascending light from year to year from one administration to another till it be perfect day Prov. 4.18 and high-noon Cant. 1.7 and every yeere there shall be more light then in the former Eph. 3.3 4. Veniente perfecto evacuatur imperfectum for it is not an evening but a morning light Isa. 58.8 and then follows Faire as the Moon in Heb. Lebanah shining bright to shew when she appears thus in publike as the morning she appears in pulchritude to the admiration of all others as in Verse 9. before Thus Ezek. 16.14 Thy renowne went forth among the heathen for thy beauty c. Clear as the Sunne and terrible as an Army with Banners i. e. then when shee appears and looks forth in publike abroad as the morning O what a terror is shee to all the enemies of truth when they see Saints in a good array ranke and order to march together in one body all armed with the Armor of God and under one Captaine of their salvation against one and the same enemy This is the benefit of appearing in publike and it addes much to the name of Christ and to the glory of the Church See but Act. 5.13 when the Saints came forth into a publike place viz. Solomons Porch O what honour they had by it in that little time saith the Text The people magnified them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and honoured them and the way which they were in Doubtlesse might Christians in primitive times have had their liberty they would alwayes have been in publike Fourthly It answers the Rule most to appear in publike reason 4 upon that day and in that duty It is most coming up to Christs Commands see Mat. 10.27 What I tell you whether concerning Doctrine or Discipline speake abroad in

So the Church is dilated into many Congregations but every good Christian is the Church contracted and condensed into one Bosome being alike built upon the Rockie Foundation which will never faile CHAP. XV. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ahezachecha That all the children of Sion called home are bound to make haste and to enter into this Way of Christ among his Companions in the Gardens THe next newes is that wisdome stands in the streets and calls to all yea the simple and poore to eat of her bread and drinke of her wine to forsake the foolish and to goe in the way of understanding she cries at the gates at the entry of the City at the coming in at the doores Prov. 8.1 2 3. yea shee hath sent out her Maidens the Ministers to cry aloud by preaching her doctrine Prov. 9.4 and her Discipline Prov. 9.1 For wisdome hath laid the foundation and hewed out her pillars as you have heard before what follows why hearken unto me O yee children blessed are they that keep in my wayes blessed is the man that heareth mee watching daily at my gates waiting at the posts of my doors The gates of Zion are the particular Churches of Christ into which Christ calls all that have communion with him Arise and come away which as Ainsworth sayes Beleevers are bound to doe and must labour forthwith to enter in and being come in to abide there and to contend together for the faith Phil. 1.27 which was once DELIVERED to the Saints For this is foretold in Isa. 2.3 and he will teach us his wayes the very next step is this and we will walke in his pathes as soone as ever we know the way of Christ the Lawes Ordinances Institutions and Discipline of Christ wee must make no delay at all but put into practise and enter into his way It argues carnality to procrastinate and put off Christ and to delay our comming at the call of Christ when wee have clearly and distinctly heard it Luke 14.18 and alwayes observe that it is something or other of the world that is the let but as Micah 4.2 sayes and Jer. 50.4 They shall go and seek the Lord and aske the way to Zion saying Come and let us joyne our selves to the Lord in a perpetuall Covenant I●unt non subsistent ad vocationem Christi non moras trahent Oecolamp in loc So Psal 110.3 besides the Precepts Psal. 45.11 Mat. 28.20 and loud calls a● before the many menaces used in the Scriptures against Rebels and such disobedient subjects doe sufficiently testifie to this truth Psal. 2.12 Luke 19.23 1. Cor. 16.22 and the practises of the Saints in primitive times yea though times of hottest persecutions and fiery trials yet their then ready obedience to this order of Christ doth very much manifest the reality of this assertion viz. that Saints are bound by vertue of positive Precepts to joyn together somewhere in a Gospel-way and order as hath been before handled Act. 2.41 42. 1 Thes. 1 4 5 6 7. 2 Cor. 8.11.22 2 Cor. 8.5 Cum multis aliis Now is there not reason enough for it For First What other visible way for Beleevers to walke in together reason 1 and to worship in hath Christ brought out of his Fathers bosome and left behinde him when he ascended on high till his second coming but this see Eph. 4.11 12. Secondly What an apparent peece of disobedience and contempt of Christs Call and Command is this to live in Babylon streets or as Lot in Sodome notwithstanding the Angel of the Sunne is sent to cry aloud in our eares to come away into Sion and to make a habitation for the Lord to live in Isa. 52.11 Rev. 18.4 2 Cor. 6.16 17. Eph. 2.21.28 yea and the Spirit is to be our conduct Jo. 16.13 and 14.26 and knocks at our doors and tarries to know if we are ready and to put us in minde of making haste by many motions and instigations and instincts O then how roughly doe they resist the Holy Ghost and quench the motion of the Spirit that stirs in them and strives with them Act. 7.51 1 Thess. 5.19 which is a sinne of the saddest consequence if after they are convinced Mat. 12.31 Marke 3.28 29. Heb. 10.26.27 agnitam veritatem flagitiose insectari So Saul Julian Latomus of Loraine and many others sinned the sinne of death that is they madly and maliciously resisted the truth despised and despited the wayes of Christ notwithstanding their consciences checks and the Spirits motions and so did Stephen Gardiner Fox Act. and Mon. Fol. one thousand nine hundred and five and divers others O sad sad sinne to sinne against the office and operations of the good Spirit of grace which is more then to speake against his person in ignorance for so did the Sabellian Eunomian and Macedonian hereticks who yet found mercy Wherefore have a care how yee dare to live in the loathsome Babylonish wayes of confusion after yee are called out thence and convinced by the Spirit since of the gates of Sion whilst the Spirit moves in you to make haste into Church-fellowship he is doing his office in you look you to reason 3 yours Consider the abundance of ill consequences which must unavoydably follow this disobedience to Christ or this neglect or omission of these wayes of holinesse or Gospel-fellowship for First The worship of God or service to Christ Jesus which should be our joy and meat and drinke suffers by it which is more acceptably and orderly performed with joynt consent and in communion of Saints Rom. 15.16 1 Cor. 1.9 10. Zeph. 3.9 the Lambe is said to solemnize publick service upon Mount Sion with a hundred forty and foure thousand Saints there their voice is like the voice of many waters and mighty thunders Rev. 14.1 2 3. in the songs of praises and in their prayers but for this I refer to Ainsworths Communion Chap. 16. Secondly without this the Saints must needs fall short of that duty of edifying one another and of building up one another in the most holy faith but then they grow Jer. 23.3 4. Ezek. 34.14.16 and walke in light Isa. 60.3 1 Jo. 1.17 and love Eph. 5.2 1 Thess. 4.9 1 Pet. 1.22 and unity of the Spirit Phil. 2.1 2 3. 2 Cor. 13.11 Eph. 4.3 instructing and provoking one another to holinesse and good works Mal. 3.16 Jude 20. 1 Thess. 5.11 Heb. 10.24 therefore are they implanted together to flourish in the Lords Courts and to bring forth fruits Psal. 92.13 14. which will not faile for the waters run out of the Sanctuary Ezek. 47.1 Thirdly otherwise they have not that mutuall aid and assistance for the counsel and comfort of one another which they ought to have Rom. 12.3 1 Cor. 12.22.26 Fourthly nor is there that unanimous compliance or united force made against the opposers of the truth