in resect of quickning Grace whence they are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 2.5 Hence they grow up in all things into him which is the Head Christ and are edifying and edified Members in the Body Eph. 4.15 16. Nor is Christ the Head only of the Catholick Church but also of every particular Church instituted by him which is therefore frequently by Christ himself called the Kingdom of God and of Heaven the King whereof is Christ his Subjects are visible Believers professing their Faith in him and their subjection to his Laws and Ordinances 2 Cor. 9.13 This Soveraign power is so properly Christs that it is not communicable to any Creature nor can any man be his Substitute or Vicar herein For neither doth Christ or his Church need such a Vicar or visible Head of the Church seeing the Church is compleat in Christ alone Col. 2.10 Nor is any Creature capable of discharging the Office of an Head unto the Church Ephes 1.20 21 22 23. 2. Consect Then it is not in the power of Earthly Kings or States or Civil Courts to make Ecclesiastical Laws or to invent and impose any Rites or Forms of Worship upon Churches according to Principles of State-Policy or Humane Prudence Though Moses was as well a great Prophet as a great Prince yet God left no part of the building of the Tabernacle to his prudence but limited him in all things to the pattern in the Mount Exod. 25.40 Nor might Solomon though the wisest of meer men act by his own wisdom in building the Temple ◠Chon 28.11 12 13. but he was guided therein by the perfect pattern which David gave him from the Spirit So concerning Christian Churches Christ hath given his People a perfect pattern which he requireth the Ministers to hold forth distinctly in every point of it to his people according to that Prophesie in Ezek. 43.10 11. That they may keep the whole Form thereof and all the Ordinances thereof and do them which also Christ expresly requireth in Matth. 28.19 20. 3. Consect Then every particular visible Church must exalt Christ and his Institutions alone in their whole Church-Order and in all their Admistrations This is their visible receiving Christ Jesus the Lord and walking in him Col. 2.5 6. The Church is Christ's House and it 's equal according to Natural light and civil prudence that every man should bear Rule in his own House Esth 1.22 Much more Christ who is God and Man Artaxerxes shall rise up in judgment with all such as incroach upon Christ's Right in ordering Churches by their policies and condemn them for he fearing the jealousy and wrath of God if men should take such liberty to themselves provided against it by a strict Decree saying Whatsoever is commanded by the God of Heaven let it be diligently done for the House of the God of Heaven for why should there be wrath against the Realm c. Esth 7.23 Nor is the wrath of Christ less formidable to us or his jealousie less incensed against those that either add to or take from or alter his Institutions now than in times past but rather more Hebr. 12.25 to the end So much shall serve touching the Efficient Cause and Institutor of particular visible Churches CHAP. II. Concerning the Material Cause THe Materials whereof this Spiritual Building must consist are implyed when Christ saith Vpon this Rock will I build c. together with Peters confession in ver 16. and Christ's approbation of it ver 17. which gave occasion to this Speech of Christ Vpon this Rock c. For the Rock is Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 3.11 But how considered not simply and in an abstract sense but 1. As Preached by the Ministry of the Gospel Ephes 2.20 2. As believed on with a Faith made visible by publick confession according to Rom. 10.9 10. Christ believed on is the Foundation or Rock of the Catholick invisible Church But Christ believed on and confessed is the Rock whereupon a particular visible Church is built In this Exposition sundry of the Ancient Writers (a) Basil Tract de poenit Gre. Naz. de Comp. disserendi ratione Theod in Psal 47. Ambr. in Eph. 2.20 Aug. in lib. 1. Retract c. 21. and the Orthodox Modern generally consent The Doctrinal conclusion which these words of the Charter afford us concerning the materials of particular visible Churches is that 2. Conclusion It is the will and appointment of Christ that all and only such grown persons be admitted Members of particular Churches who make such a publick profession of their Faith as the Church may in charitable discretion conceive hath blessedness annexed to it and is such as flesh and blood hath not revealed to a man but our Heavenly Father 1. That Christ here meant a particular visible Church and not only the Catholick Church we have partly evinced already and shall more fully hereafter 2. That persons meant by Christ here are adulti grown persons appeareth by his questions to the Apostles Whom do men say and whom do ye say that I am and by Peter's answer As for Infants they are indeed Members of the Church and as such Baptized yet it is so only as they are included in their Parents by vertue of the Covenant wherein they are wrapped with their Parents Gen. 17.7 Acts 2.38 39. 1 Cor. 7.14 3. That such adulti or grown persons must make a publick confession of Faith before the Lord and his people So Christ required Peter to do here and when he had so done said Christ Vpon this Rock I will build my Church viz. in after times For no particular Christian Church was actually constituted at this time nor till after the Ascension of Christ in Act. 1. q. d. Then take this course and ever after all the World over if you will have a particular Church to be acknowledged by me to be my building 4. That their Confession of Faith must be so made as that the Church may in charitable discretion conceive it to have blessedness annexed c. For seeing it pleaseth Christ to use Men as his Instruments in building his Church Zach. 6.15 Ephes 4.11 12. He is content that they improve the judgement which they have Christs judgement concerning Peter was infallible for he knew what was in man John 2.25 But the Officers and Members of the Church are but men who judge by the outward appearance 1 Sam. 16.7 Therefore their judgment is fallible and hath been deceived as we see in the judgement of the Apostles and the Church at Jerusalem concerning Ananias and Sapphira and in that of Philip and the Church in Samaria concerning Simon Magus c. Their duty is to proceed as far as men may by Rule with due moderation and gentleness to try them who offer themselves to fellowship whether they be Believers or not refusing known Hypocrites though when they have done all they can close Hypocrites will creep in 5. That all they who hold
forth such a profession of Faith as the Church may in charitable discretion conceive to be true are to be receiv'd Though some of them have been formerly scandalous yet now holding forth repentance they are to be received 1 Cor. 6.11 and though some are at present weak in Faith yet if we may conceive that the Lord hath received them the Church must receive them Rom. 14.1 3. For Christ approâ—â—d this confession of Peter though he was at present but weak in Faith as the following Story in this Chapter v. 22 23. clearly sheweth 6. That none but such be admitted into Church-fellowship For this Chapter limits the Church to accept only such Vpon this Rock will I build my Church i. e. Christ believed on and publickly confessed A meer verbal confession is not that Rock For the Devils made such a confession of Christ yet were not built on him Luke 4.34 But this confession of Peter was such as held forth his Faith in him as appears by Christ's three-fold Elogy or praise of it 1. From its effect Blessed art thou c as Joh. 17.3 2. From the procreant cause of it Not flesh and blood but my Father hath revealed it as Mat. 11.25 26. 3. From the title 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Peter before promised John 1.42 and now confirmed to him signifying a Stone whereby Christ not only acknowledgeth his faith and that he was thereby a living Stone and fit to have a principal place in this Spiritual Building in which sense Peter applyeth a like title to other Believers 1 Pet. 2.4 5. who yet were inferiour in degree to himself but also giveth him this Prerogative and Honour that he should be the first Planter of the Christian Church both amongst the Jews Act. 2. and the Gentiles Act. 15.7 The Conclusion may be confirmed by two Arguments in the Text. 1. From the name whereby he calleth this holy Society 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Church i. e. a company called out Whence see Joh. 15.19 To what See 1 Cor. 1.2 How Not only by active vocation by mans ministry exhorting them to repent and believe So sundry are called who are not in the least wrought upon to answer that call but put it off as they who were invited to the great Supper Luk. 14.18 with excuse Such are called but no Church Therefore more is required to qualifie for membership of a visible Church viz. passive vocation whereby they are wrought upon to answer Gods call by submission thereunto at least in outward profession though some do it but feinedly Ps 18.44 Saints by internal and invisible calling are such as answer Gods call inwardly and spiritually Saints by external and visible calling are subdued to yeeld obedience to the Word in visible profession Thus all that were called into the Vineyard had so much efficacy of the Spirit in them that they all came into the Vineyard and laboured in it though not with like sincerity Mat. 20. According to this clause of the Chapter the Churches planted by the Apostles were constituted for the materials of them else the Apostles could not have given both the †1 Cor. 1.2 Eph. 1.2 members and * 1 Thes 1.1 1 Cor. 12.27 2 Cor. 11.2 6.16 1 Tim. 3.15 Churches such high titles as they did Nor did they by these titles describe the invisible Church only but visible Churches For to such Paul wrote his Epistles and the like expressions are applyed in other texts manifestly to visible Churches Nor do these titles describe particular Churches only according to the better sort of members but such they did in the judgement of christian charity conceive all their members to be as Paul told the Philippians Phil. 1.6 7. which he could not have said if he had not known the care of the Church in admitting persons into membership with them to be according to the conclusion noted by us Reas 2 From Christ's appropriating such a particular Church to himself owning it for his my Church q. d. I own any Church thus built by my self to be my Church according to that in Act. 2.47 The Lord added to the Church daily such as should be saved The Lord added them How Not only by giving them saving faith and so adding them to the invisible Church but also by his inclining their hearts to offer themselves unto the fellowship of the visible Church and to profess their faith before them and by bowing the hearts of the Apostles 〈◊〉 Brethren to receive them into visible â—munion of visible Ordinances as appeareth v. 41 42. Thus he added them daily to the Church which cleares it to be an act of the Lords ordinary dispensation and therefore presidential to the Churches in their ordinary practice They who were thus added are said to be such as should be saved That is they were such either in the judgment of the Lord which is infallible or in the judgment of the Church which is fallible The Church looked at them according to their fruits viz. their profession of faith and their Christian conversation observing so much in both that they saw reason in charity guided by rule to conceive them to be in a state of Salvation Such were the three thousand spoken of in v. 41. as appeared by their affectionate and submissive inquiring of the Apostles whom they mocked before what they should do to be saved being pricked in their hearts v. 37. and afterwards by their gladly receiving the Word both of promise for themselves and their Children with faith and of precept to repent and be baptized and to save themselves from that froward generation with obedience True it is that they could not in one day make so large accounts of Gods work upon them as are commonly held forth in our Churches nor do we effect too large narrations but wish such passages as are superfluous left out And at that time less was needful to be expressed than necessity calls for among us ordinarily For the Apostles had a more quick Spiritual discerning than ordinary Officers and Churches have And concerning the three thousand Act. 2. the manner of their offering themselves to Church-fellowship visibly at such a time when such visible confession of Christ was with manifest hazzard to their lives gave good ground to the Apostles and the Brethren of conceiving charitably that they were all of them in a state of Salvation and such as the Lord himself added to the Church In these places and times where Church-fellowship is an honour and drawes after it sundry outward and worldly advantages it will be necessary that the Church be satisfied as by sufficient testimony concerning their good conversation so by their holding forth their confession of faith both quae creditur and quâ creditur of the Doctrine of Faith and of the Gift of Faith how it was wrought and how it works in them As Mr. Rogers in his Treatise of Faith saith it may be known of
men by those tryals And this care suits the nature of Church-power which is delegate and stewardly For as the faithfulness of a Steward bindeth him to receive none into his Lords family but according to his Lords mind and appointment so the faithfulness of the Church unto Christ obligeth them to receive such into this holy fellowship as they may in charitable discretion conceive the Lord receiveth and addeth thereunto Against what hath been said two objections are made Object 1 Obj. Christ received Judas whom he knew to be a hypocrite into fellowship of the twelve Answ 1 Answ 1. Not into a particular visible Church for no such was then gathered 2. Christ had a peculiar reason for it which doth not concern Churches Joh. 13.18 Object 2 Obj. 2. Christ himself compareth visible Churches to a Field wherein are Tares to a Draw-Nâ—t which gathers good and bad Fishes to ten Virgins of which five were foolish and the Churches planted by the Apostles had in them sundry Hypocrites and scandalous persons Answ Answ Such places shew 1. That in visible Churches sometimes Hypocrites are mixed either by the sleepiness and fault of those that should â—â—â—vent it Thence the Tares or by the wyliness of Hypocrites who creep in unawares Jude 4. as the bad Fish came into the net under water or they pretend saving gifts as the five foolish Virgins so false Brethren Gal. 2.4 2. The purest Churches may be blemished with scandals till they can orderly proceed against them but then they must be cast out Therfore they knew not that they were such before From this 2d conclusion thus explained and confirmed we may infer as followeth Consect 1 If this be so then more is required as the essential property of Church-members as visible than that they profess before men the Faith crave fellowship with the visible Church and desire the visible seals of the Covenant For men may have all these three properties who are notoriously scandalous in their lives Drunkards Adulterers prophane Swearers and Cursers in a word such as are described 2 Tim. 3.2 3 4. Who have a form of Godliness denying the power of it concerning whom the Apostle's charge is from such turn away v. 5. If in ordinary converse the People of God must not exercise needless familiarity with such much less may they receive them into spiritual fellowship and fraternity If such being Members must be cast out certainly being out of Church-fellowship they may not be received in whilest they continue such Consect 2 If Christ will build his Church upon this Rock then it is the bounden duty of Churches to see so far as they can according to rule that all whom they receive into Church-fellowship be visible Believers such as have been described in the Conclusion above propounded explained and proved lest otherwise they build without a foundation Particularly 1. They are to see so far as in charity they may discern that they are Beleivers in Christ Else they cannot answer the titles given them in Scripture 1 Pet. 2.4 5. nor the praises given unto Peter so confessing Christ that Christ said Vpon this Rock I will build my Church 2. They are to see that they profess their Faith and Holiness in a good conversation Phil. 1.27 Jam. 3.12 13. For they that profess they know God but in their works deny him are abominable Tit. 1.16 3. And in a publick confession of their faith before the Church as Peter did here before Christ and the Apostles c. Only because the Church cannot see the heart immediately as Christ did Peter's the confession of faith made to men must hold forth the gift of faith as well as the doctrine of faith So Calvin understood those words Sanctifie the Lord God in your hearts and be ready alwayes to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you 1 Pet. 3.15 Calvin's note upon it is this ‖ Ejus quae in vobis est spei Spes hîc per synechdochen pro fide capitur Expendi debet seduló quod dicit Significat n. eam demâ— confessionâ— probari Deo quae ex corde emanat quia nisi intus resideat fides frâ—â—â—â—à garâ—â—â—â—â—gua Ergo radices in nobis agat ut deinde proferat Confâ—ssionis fructum Calv. in 1 Pet. 3.15 Hope here is by a Synechdoche put for faith What he saith ought to be diligently weighed For it signifieth that God approveth only that confession which proceeds out of the heart because unless faith reside within the tongue will babble in vain Therefore faith must be rooted in us that afterward it may bring forth the fruit of confession And when all this is done the Brethren are to consent in receiving them and herein to shew forth the gentleness of Christ who will not break a bruised reed nor quench smoking flax in giving due encouragement to the weak in faith if they see cause to conceive by rightly ordered charity that the root of the matter is in them But if they see just cause to doubt of that they have warrant to suspend their acceptance till better satisfaction be given from the primitive pattern in Act. 9.26 However the Officers must propound it to the Brethren to declare whether they are so far satisfied with what they have heard that they do consent that such shall be received into their fellowship as Peter put a like question to the Brethren that went with him from Joppa concerning the Baptizing of Cornelius and those with him upon whom the Holy Ghost fell visibly Act. 10.44 45 46. c. Consect 3 3. Cons If upon this Rock Christ believed on and publickly confessed by grown persons the Church of Christ is to be built then the Children of the Church who were Baptized in their infancy when they come to be of ripe age must hold forth publickly their personal confession of Faith that they may be admitted to the Lords Table and fellowship in Voting and in Elections and Censures in their own personal right But if they be found grosly ignorant or prophane or professing a false faith or denying the true Faith or contemners of Church-fellowship and the Ordinances of Christ or do not according to this clause of the Charter publickly profess their faith and crave Church-fellowship they may not be owned for Members by their admission unto the Lord's Table and unto other priviledges of Church-communion in their own right but are to be declared non-members In Jacobs posterity when the Lord brought them to Canaan that standing Ordinance of presenting unto the Lord before the Priest their first fruits every year with such a solemn confession made by all grown Israelites as is appointed in Deut. 26.2 to 16. was a visible profession of their Faith and Obedience suited to the condition of that Church and time in performance whereof they avouched the Lord to be their God and to walk in his wayes and keep his Statutes and his Commandments and his
performed Coroll 3 Then it is not arbitrary but a duty for every Christian to endeavour to joyn himself in Membership with a Congregational instituted Church of Christ whosoever have opportunity and neglect so to do they greatly sin against God and break the second Commandment in not worshiping him according to his institution and also against their own souls in depriving themselves of the blessing which he hath annexed unto his Institution Exod. 20.24 Mat. 28.20 and if they persist in that neglect they can hardly be accounted Believers truly seeking the Kingdom of God what profession of Religion soever they make otherwise Mat. 6.33 and they sin against their posterity also to whom God promiseth mercy upon their parents worshipping him according to his Institutions If the Lord doth good to the posterity of such it is meerly from his own good pleasure but not from their Parents Covenant Ezek. 16.61 CHAP. V. Concerning the Churches impregnable stability TO the Church built by Christ upon this Rock he hath promised and given this great priviledge that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Scripture signifieth not Hell but the state of the dead or the Grave 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are enemies vanquished by Christ for his Church 1 Cor. 15.26 55. and shal be cast into the lake of fire Rev. 20.14 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 are the gates of Death in Job 38.17 Psal 107.18 and the gates of the Grave Isa 38.10 i. e. the power of Death and the Grave which seizeth on them as a Serjeant Psal 116.3 The sum is Let the Church be brought to the lowest that it seems to be dead as those two Witnesses Rev. 11.8 9. and buried as Christ's natural body was for a time yet neither Death nor the Grave shall prevail agaist it Yet we must not limit the sense of these words only to the power of Death and the Grave but it must be extended to all Satans plots and assaults against the Church against which if Christ did not help them Death and the Grave would prevail against them to their eternal destruction We conclude therefore that in this Text by the gates of Hell are meant all the machinations of Satan and temptations whatsoever whereby he laboureth to hinder the building of Christs Church to draw those from Christ who are built upon him The prevailing of them signifies their effectual working unto the attainment of those ends The sum is a promise that the Devil with all his policies and powers shall neither hinder the building of Christs Church nor cause the Church thus built to apostatize from Christ And that this is the true sense and meaning of the words whatsoever Socinians or Arminians say to the contrary may thus be evinced 1. Because the thing promised is the disabling of what ever opposeth the building of the Church upon this Rock or its constant adhering to Christ from prevailing to those ends but so do Satan's temptations Therefore they are meant by the gates of Hell 2. Because whatsoever goeth forth out of the gates of Hell or hath its beginning from thence is meant in this phrase but the Temptations and Machinations of Satan by himself and his instruments Hereticks and Tyrants go forth thence Therefore they are meant in this phraise 3. Because Peter to whom Christ spake these words describes unbelievers the adversaries of this building as belonging to the gates of Hell 1 Pet. 2.7 8. 4. Because the proportion which Christ implyes in these words requireth that they be so understood The proportion is between two Cities that of Heaven which hath its gates and keyes in v. 19. and the other of Hell which hath its gates whence it endeavors the ruine and overthrow of that but shall not prevail Seeing therefore City is opposed to City and Gates to Gates and one viz. the Church is considered in the state of present building it is most sutable that the other be also looked at as it opposeth that in the present whilst it is militant upon earth But from hence that Christ promiseth that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against his Church thus built some infer that Christ meaneth only the invisible Catholick Church For that only say they is bulilt on this Rock and only that shall not fail Answ 1. It is true that the Catholick invisible Church is built upon Christ by effectual and unfeigned Faith and that shall not fail For that is the general Assembly and Church of the fist-born which are enrolled in Heaven Heb. 12.23 And all the gates of Hell cannot prevail against those that are written in Heaven 2. But it is not true that these only are built on this Rock The Apostle Paul tells us that a particular visible Church rightly constituted as that at Corinth is built upon this Rock or Rocky-foundation 1 Cor. 3.10 11. and being so built is under the special protection of God in Christ in respect whereof the Lord promiseth any such Church as well among the Gentiles as the Jews Whosoever shall gather himself against thee shall fall Isa 54.15 and all the weapons that are made against thee shall not prosper vers 17. And it is clear that Christ in this place speaks of such a Church as is built upon the confession of Faith such as Peter made visibly and publickly whereupon not the invisible Catholick Church but visible particular Churches are built Therefore these only are meant here Concl. 5 The Church of Christ built by himself upon this Rock in using the means which he hath appointed for their safety is impregnable The Church of Christ is here indefinitely taken for a particular Congregational-Church instituted by Christ according to the sense of the former conclusions not for this or that definitely Therefore if any object that the gates of Hell have prevailed against the Greek-Churches those golden Candlesticks in Asia and against Rome whose Faith was spoken of throughout the whole World and against sundry other particular Churches Answ I Answer 1. Though it be true that the gates of Hell have prevailed against this or that particular Church yet not against a particular Church indefinitly considered or which is the same against the Church in general existing in its particulars In this sense the visible Church doth not fail For 1. Christ ever had and will have some or other visible Church on Earth wherein the general nature of a visible Church is preserved as the Genus is in its Species and the nature of man in this or that individual as when the Lord preserved Noah and his Family in the Ark mankind was preserved in them though multitudes of men were destroyed in the Deluge 2. Christ will shew that he makes a difference between Churches wherein are some true Believers mixed with many Hypocrites and other Societies Therefore he will not suffer such visible Churches to be totally destroyed as he doth his open enemies Hos 11.8 9. Isa 1.8 9.
Synagogue of the infallibility of their Popes as Peter's successors and of the indeficiency of their Church as built upon Peter when as neither had Peter himself any such priviledge as to be infallible The next story in this 16th of Matthew evinceth the contrary v. 23. Nor by the Rock whereupon Christ builds his Church is meant the person of Peter or Peter's confession personally as it had relation to him but as it is considered really in it self and is common to all the Disciples and to all visible Believers which may be thus confirmed 1. Because Peters confession must have relation to the matter which he confessed But Peter confessed not himself but Christ saying Thou art the Christ the Son of the living God Therefore his confession had relation to Christ not to himself 2. Because Peter confessed no more than that which he knew the other Disciples believed before he speake For Christ's question being general What say ye Peter answered as the mouth of the rest but the Apostles before he speak believed Christ confessed and not Peter confessing 3. Because this Rock is that confession whereupon Christ saith he will build his Church But whosoever shall truly believe that which Peter confessed viz. Christ the Son of the living God and confess or profess it in due order is accordingly built on this Rock though he had never heard of Peter's name Therefore the confession rightly understood had relation unto Christ and not to the person of Peter 4. Because the Rock signifieth that which is immoveable and impregnable such as is Christ and his truth But Peter's confession was movable and shaken at one time thrice denying this confession of his Lord. Therefore this confession which Christ calls the Rock had not relation to Peter but only to Christ Coroll 2 Then they that would have a particular Church to be impregnable stable and firm against the prevailing of the gates of Hell must see that it be built upon this Rock and not upon humane formes 1. That Christ himself be the builder of it according to his own institutions not the policies or customs of men 2. * Ex quo patet quòd Ecclesia non consistit in hominibus ratione potestatis vel dignitatis Ecclesiasticae vel saecularis c. sed in illis personis in quibus est notitia vera confessio fidei veritatis Lyra in loc That the materials of which it consists be such as believe and profess their Faith in Christ publickly before the Lord and his People 3. That they be firmly joyned together in one Congregation by an holy Covenant of subjection and submission to the Lord Jesus Christ and to one another in him and accordingly walk together in obedience to Christ and his Rules resisting Satan in all his Temptations and Machinations through Christ strengthning them without whom they can do nothing Joh. 15.5 and that they improve carefully and faithfully the power which Christ hath given them viz. the Keyes of the Kingdom of Heaven in opening and shutting binding and loosing according to Christ his appointment for the preserving of his Church safe in the purity of their Faith and Order against the gates of Hell which is the next thing to be handled The Second Part. CHAP. VI. Concerning the power given of Christ unto such a Church as the first and proper subject of it THe second branch or part of the Charter is concerning the Power given by Christ unto such Churches to have and use all the means appointed by him for their establishment against the the gates of Hell Mat. 16.19 And I will give unto thee the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven These words contain 1. A grant of Power 2. A ratification of that Grant We shall speak to them distinctly 1. To Christ his grant of Power and therein 1. Explicate the terms by shewing what is meant 1 by the Kingdom of Heaven 2. by the Keys of it 3 What this appropriation or application of them imports To thee I will give 1. By the Kingdom of Heaven is meant both the Kingdom of Grace Glory and that the Kingdom of Glory is also meant the following words shew when he saith What you bind on Earth is bound in Heaven c. 2. By the Keys which are a sign of Power and are put by a Metonimy for the Subject the Power it self is meant Church-power which is either Supreme and Soveraign in Christ only as Lord and Head of his Church who alone hath the Key of David which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth in Rev. 3.7 or subordinate and delegate such as is in Christ's Stewards This is noted by Keys in the Plural number in this place which signifie all power delegated from Christ to dispense and administer all the holy things of his House according to Christ's will and in the order prescribed by him to that end For all power wherewith the Lord Jesus betrusteth his Church aims at this which is here expressed to open and shut to bind and loose 3. To thee I will give The Application of this Grant is to Peter in the name of the Church which Christ promised to build upon himself believed on and publickly professed as Peter did before him and his fellow-Disciples in Christs School at this time And the promise is more fitly given to Peter in the name of the Church than to the Church by name because it was not the Church that made this confession but Peter in the name of the Church But here we must make a little stand to examine the sundry claims which have been made to this Right upon several pretences from this Text. 1. Some looking at Peter as representing the Catholick visible-Church conceive that a general Council which they say is the Catholick Church representatively is the Church here meant to which Christ gives the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven But that cannot be For particular visible Churches in the Apostles dayes had and exercised the Keyes compleatly within themselves yet was there no general Council till the time of Constantine which was three hundred years after Christ 2. Others look at this Grant as peculiar to Peter considered as the Prince and chief of the Apostles and to the Popes of Rome as his successors But this Papal usurpation the Councils of Constance and Basil strongly and justly opposed shewing that the Keys which are here given to Peter are in Joh. 20.21 22 23. given to all the Apostles and that Peter himself is enjoyned in Mat. 18. to tell the Church 3. Others think that the Catholick Church considered not representatively but in it self is the first subject of the Keys Yet these differ among themselves For some affirm it of the invisible others of the visible Catholick Church As for the terms we know that visible invisible do not note distinct species or kindes of Churches but are only several adjuncts of the same Church which is called invisible in respect of the inward and invisible union which Members have with Christ the Head by the Spirit and Faith and visible in respect of their outward Profession of their Faith which is visible to men But in neither of these senses is the Catholick Church the
may by the eyes which are given to it for that end 2. The Confirmation or proof that such a Church is the first and proper subject of this power shall be double 1. By Scripture 2. By Reasons 1. By Scripture it may be proved from sundry Texts 1. This in hand clearly confirmeth it if that good ancient rule of expounding Scripture be received Dictorum intelligentia ex causis dictorum sumenda est For Christ's question to the Disciples which was the cause of Peter's confession here was only concerning the Faith common to the Church Whom say ye that I am Hereupon Peter in the name of the Disciples made this confession of Faith Quia Christus Petra Petrus populus Christianus August in Matth. de verbis Domini Ser. 13. Christ testified his approbation of it by calling him Peter not so much in respect of his Office as of his Faith thus publickly professed whence also visible Believers are called lively stones 1 Pet. 2.4 5. and Christ added to this praise of Peter a twofold promise 1. Of edifying and stablishing the Church upon this Rock 2. Of affording it sufficient means for the attainment of those ends viz. the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven c. Where the Kingdom of Heaven or visible Church of Christ on earth is compared to a City or House the Door or Gate whereof is Christ the Keys are all instituted means whereby an entrance into Christ and his Kingdom visibly is opened and shut the subordinate power whereof is here given to the Church immediately The second Text is in Mat. 18.17 18. Tell the Church if he hear not the Church let him be as an Heathen and a Publican For what you shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven c. This cannot be meant of Elders assembling together and acting apart from the Brethren For no such assembly is called the Church in the New Testament much less is this power given to them for in case of scandal given by them they are under the power of the whole Church as well as other Members to be censured by them though when they keep the Rule they are as Elders Rulers in the Church It must therefore be meant of a Congregational-Church The third Text is in 1 Cor. 5. where Paul exhorted the Church at Corinth to exercise this their power which he calls the power of the Lord Jesus v. 4. whereby they were to deliver unto Satan that incestuous person v. 5. and were to purge out the old leaven v. 7. and were to judge those that are within v. 12. and to put away that wicked person from among them v. 13. and this Paul calls a punishment inflicted by many 2 Cor. 2.6 Thus he establisheth their power to bind and teacheth them how to use it and in like manner he exhorteth them upon the mans repentance to turn the Key and to open the Door of Christian liberties to him and to loose him from the former censure by forgiving him in a legal or judicial sense 2 Cor. 2.7 10. And that this Church at Corinth was a meer Congregational-Church it may be evinced from hence that the whole Church was no larger then was wont to meet together in one place 1 Cor. 14.23 for the ordinary worship of God 2. By Reasons 1. Because in such a Congregational-Church are all the causes of this power 1. Efficient the Institution and Ordinance of Christ who delegateth this subordinate power to whom it pleaseth him by his own appointment 2. The material cause visible Believers 3. The formal cause Covenanting together to walk in all the Ordinances of Christ and to submit mutually one to another in the Lord to be reclaimed if they err from the rules or to be censured by the power of the whole if they be found obstinate 2. Because there is no former subject of this power from whence a Congregational-Church might derive it but it is communicated by means of the Church to all that partake of it and it remaineth in the Church when others are removed They choose their own Elders therefore they had this power virtually in them before they had Elders and so could not derive it from them 2. All particular Churches are of equal power within themselves not one of them subordinate to another Therefore they derive it not from other particular Churches 3. Synods both lesser and larger are made up of the Elders and Messengers sent from particular Churches and have their being from them nor do they send them to them to borrow any Church-power but only light from them as the Church at Antioch did from the Church at Jerusalem Acts 15. Therefore they derive no Church-power from them Again when the Elders of particular Churches are dead or censured or rejected by the power of the whole for obstinacy in scandalous evils the Church still retaineth its power to choose others as a Corporation hath its full power still though the Magistrates be dead or cast out The same holds in Churches in Islands by their own confession when they cannot have the help of Synods Thus we prove Fire to be the first subject of heat because if it be in other things as in Water or Wood it is there by the means of Fire and when they are removed yet still it remains in Fire The like reason holds in this as you see to prove such a Church as this of which we speak to be the first subject of Church-Power or of the Keys 3. Because all the acts done immediatly by the Church in opening and shutting in binding and loosing flow from this power of the Keys given them by Christ and hold it forth 1. Their admitting Members is an act of this Power and holds it forth for till the Brethren be satisfied and approve ones fitness he cannot be received into their fellowship Act. 9.26 and 10.47 2. Their choosing Officers is an act of this Power which the Apostles would not violate in adding Deacons Act. 6.3 5. and Ruling-Elders to the Church Act. 14.23 and the same holds much more concerning Pastors and Teachers This power Cyprian acknowledged to be in the * Plebs obsequens praeceptis Dominicis Deum metuens ipsa maximè habet potestatem vel eligendi dignos sacerdotes vel indignos recusandi Quod ipsum videmus de Divinâ authoritate descendere Cypr. l. 1. ep 4. People principally to accept or refuse Ministers as they judged them worthy or unworthy 3. Their Ordination of Officers by deputing some chosen out of their own Body thereunto in the want of Officers is an act of this Power of the Keys residing in them For though the Offices of Elders in general and the Authority of their Office as they are Rulers is from Christ immediately yet the investing of this or that elect person with this Office Authority in relation to this or that Church by application of it to him in particular rather than to another this is by the
Keys in a large-sense the word of the Covenant and the seals of the Covenant and the Censures These the Church may be said to act by opening and shutting 1. They open the doors of the Church subordinately when they admit only such and all such to fellowship whom Christ receiveth Rom. 14.1 3. 2. The doors of office in the Church they do open in the Church subordinately when they elect and ordain such unto Offices as Christ hath prepared and called thereunto according to the rule in 1 Tim. 3 1-14 and then only to such Offices as Christ hath set in his Church which are only four Rev. 4.6 7 8. For Widows are included in Deacons These are reduced to two general heads in Phil. 1.1 and so are their functions in Rom. 12.6 7. and yeeld unto them all and only that power which Christ hath annexed to their Office and particularly unto Teaching and Ruling Officers that subjection and honour which the word calls for Heb. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17 18. 3. They shut the Doores of the Church and binde men from Church Ordinances and Priviledges 1. By not admitting those to Church-fellowship against whom they have just exceptions Act. 9.26 2. By judging and censuring scandlaous members whether Brethren or Officers according to Christs Rules Mat. 18.17 18. and 1 Cor. 5. 3. By holding them under censure without release till their repentance be to satisfaction according to Christ's Rules 2 Cor. 2.6 7. 4. What the order is wherein Christ will have these Church-affairs to be acted The order is this First a company of Believers being satisfied concerning the spiritual state of one another and their fitness for Church-fellowship and thereupon confederating together to walk together in all the Ordinances of Christ with mutual watchfulness and submission one to another in the Lord become a Congregational-Church They have now the essentials of a Church 2. Being such they must look out from among themselves for such Officers as Christ hath given to his Church these they must chuse and ordain professing their voluntary submission to their Office-Rule and Authority in the Lord. Till this be done they cannot compleatly act all Church-affairs in due order Till they have Teaching-Elders though there be gifted-Brethren among them that may Prophesie 1 Cor. 14. yet they have none to give themselves continually to Prayer according to the necessities and occasions of the Church and to the Ministry of the Word Act. 6.4 Such attendance being proper to Officers Rom. 12.7 Nor 3. to preach the word with authority as an Officer must Tit. 2.15 Nor 4. to administer the Seals which Christ hath annexed to the official preaching of the Word Mat. 28.19 20. Without Ruling-Elders who shall call the Church together as the Apostles did on speciall weighty occasions Act. 6.2 Who shall prepare matters for the Church 1. By examining Officers or Members before they be received of the Church Rev. 2.2 2. By stating and clearing the question and proofs and trying whether matters have been carried according to Rule privatly in the first and second step before any offence be presented to the Church which was secret at first according to Mat. 18.17 3. By directing those that are to give satisfaction to the Church in case of offence conceiv'd against them how to carry themselves according to rule to remove it as the Apostles and Elders being met at the House of James did to Paul Act. 21.18 To these heads other like cases are to be referred Who shall moderate debates in the Church Assembly and order speaking and silence in the Church according to Rules of order and edification 1 Cor. 14.26 40. Who shall hold forth light from the Rule to guide the apprehensions and judgment of the Brethren in difficult cases according to Ezek. 44.23 24. Lastly who shall dismiss the Church Authoritatively with a Blessing in the name of the Lord Numb 6 23-26 and Heb. 7.7 And who shall take care of the humane affairs of the Church if Deacons be not chosen and ordained This Office-Power the Church indeed hath not formally in it self yet it hath it virtually and originally As the stock of a Tree hath not immediate power to bring forth fruit yet it hath power to produce branches which do bring forth fruit so the Church of Believers though it hath not immediate power to act an Office in the things proper thereunto yet it hath power to make such Officers as may perform the same in Christ's order 5. Why this Power is said to be given to a visible Congregation of confederate Believers as the first and proper subject of it This expression serveth to shew three particulars 1. That I speak of a Congregational-Church indefinitely or the Church in its general nature as it exists in particular Congregations to each of which it communicates its whole nature and with it all its priviledges and power to them all being species of it firstly and equally so that each particular Church hath all Church-Power that is seated in the general nature of the Church as compleatly conveyed to it as any other as this particular man John or Peter or James hath all the nature of man equally communicated to them and can put forth the operations of that nature fully of themselves and without the help of any other 2. That this Power is given to the Church to be acted in Admissions Elections and Censures only by such in whose name Peter made this confession viz. a Community of Disciples walking in the profession of the Faith with consent that is to a Society of believing men for Women though Believers are excepted by the Rule 1 Tim. 2 12-14 2. Professing Believers therefore Children and distracted persons are not capable of this power being unfit to judge 1 Cor. 5.12 and so are they that are Deaf and Dumb. 3. Such as walk in the profession of the Faith with consent Therefore such as are under publick censure for scandals in Life or Doctrine are disabled as having for the time lost their priviledge and power Lastly if the Church it self be generally corrupted or divided among themselves as it were into two equal parts it cannot act this power nor claim an interest in this promise which is given to a Church assembly in Christs Name with competent agreement among themselves Mat. 18.17 18 19 20. 3. That this Power is given to such a Church not only objectively for their good but subjectively and firstly so that the Church is the first recipient subject of it For Officers are given to the Church Ephes 4.8 11. not as meer adjuncts are given to a subject but as integral parts for compleating the integrity and perfection of the whole body of the Church and if they be so given to the Church the Church is the recipient subject of them and though the Church cannot by it self exercise the Teaching and Ruling-Elders Office yet they may by their Officers as the body though it cannot see by it self yet it