profession of our Faith which lies eminently in our subjection to him therein the assembling our selves together to exhort one another which he would not have us forget is annext to bottomed upon the New-Covenant of which he is ex professo treating And a wilful rejection of these in open despight of Christ and contempt of his Authority he calls v. 29. A treading under foot the Son of God because it 's a high affront to his Soveraign Authority an accounting the Blood of the Covenant an unholy thing not only because these Institutions are annext to that Covenant which was ratified by the blood of Christ but also because they have all their Foundation in that Blood our approximation to God in them our advantage by them is the issue of its effusion and a doing despite unto the Spirit of Grace because as hath been proved they are all the Ministration of that Spirit should God immediately by himself speak from Heaven to us and declare in so many words These Gospel-Institutions establisht by My Son are all of them bottomed upon annext to the New-Covenant we could not have a greater certainty that they are so than what is in that Scripture-evidence we have hitherto been discoursing of But 3. They belong to the Old-Covenant or the New There 's no medium To the Old-Covenant it 's most certain they appertain not Other manner of Ordinances which were only to continue to the Gospel-day as Circumcision Sacrifices appertained thereunto not the least notice under that Covenant as any part of the oeconomy thereof of particular Churches Baptism Breaking-Bread Christ came to put a Period to that Paedagogie and all the Laws Institutions thereunto appertaining and vertually did so by his Death actually by providential dispensations taking out of the way destroying that Temple to which they were peculiarly affixt And becoming a Mediator of a better Covenant established uppon better Promises as such he gives forth the Laws and Institutions we are pleading for of which afterwards 4. The Communications of Divine Life the Royal manifestations of the Love of GOD to us the bestowment of the Spirit upon us Divine peace comfort support upholdment with whatever Grace we are made partakers of are all conveyed in the way of the New-Covenant Now whatever any talk the communication of these as 't is promised to us as we have found attending upon the Lord in his own Institutions of which more anon so the Saints in every day at this day through wonderful riches of Grace are under the enjoyment of The Spirit is received Faith communicated Peace and Joy shed abroad upon the hearts of Believers as they conscientiously attend on these appointments of Christ Such as know not these things or having known them through the power of temptation slight undervalue them are to be pitied not attended to or regarded in their present apprehensions touching them 5. That God hath a people that he hath in the New and everlasting Covenant taken unto himself for a peculiar People will not be denied To these God gives himself as their GOD he betroths marries them to himself and they give up themselves spontaneously unto him as a People to own subject to his Authority Soveraignty and to profess their so doing by a conformity to whatever Commands Injunctions he shall lay upon them Gospel-Institutions he gives forth for the trial of their Love Loyalty to him charges them to be found in the practice of them as hath been proved Their obedience subjection hereunto he looks upon as a great part of their Loyalty to him in the Conjugal-Covenant he hath taken them into with himself Jer. 3.14 15. Turn O back-sliding Children saith the Lord for I am married unto you and I will take you one of a City and two of a Family and I will bring you to Zion And I will give you Pastors according to mine Heart which shall feed you with knowledge and understanding Where coming unto Zion or our attendment on God in wayes of his own Appointment is asserted to be that wherein our Marriage-relation to him stands Hence departing from these is call'd Whoredom Adultery and those that do so The great Whore the Mother of Harlots and fornications of the Earth The sum is Gospel-Churches Institutions are bottomed upon the New-Covenant therefore abiding CHAP. VIII The Churches that have been are are the Churches of Christ or Antichrist They are not the Churches of Antichrist proved The matter of Antichristian-Churches and of the present Churches The Form Foundation Doctrine Worship Nature Characters Properties of the one and the other considered 1 Tim. 4.1 The Daemons there mentioned what they are Their Original Office manner of Worshipping them the Doctrines of Daemon's the Doctrine of the Apostatick-Synagogue of Rome Demonstration VIII THat there have been persons under the profession of the Name of Christ congregated together for the solemnization of Ordinances from the first-times of the Gospel hitherto hath been before proved That there are so still cannot be denied Now these Churches must be either the Churches of Christ or the Churches of Antichrist There 's no medium A Church that was neither of Christ nor Antichrist was never yet heard of in the world since the first-dawning of the Gospel-day So then if we demonstrate that the present Churches are not Antichristian-churches we evince them to be the Churches of Christ and a continuation of the Gospel-Church-State at least hitherto is evidently discover'd That they are not Churches of Antichrist is easily demonstrated They wholly differ from the Antichristian-Church in respect of matter form foundation doctrine worship nature characters properties Touchching which it 's needful that we particularly discourse First then the Matter of the Antichristian-church is whoever own 's the Christian Faith make 's a Profession of it though never so deboysh vile wicked to every good work reprobate Notwithstanding all their pompous shews of Religion Forms of Godliness they are really such as have pleasure in Unrighteousness 2 Thes 2.12 Is this the matter constitutive of the present Churches Do they admit persons of so black a character into their Communion If any such spots are found amongst them do they tollerate indulge them Are not the rules of Christ prosecuted till they appearing to be persons of a reprobate mind are rejected out of their fellowship Is it not the avowed principles of all the Churches that such as these are not fit matter for any Church of Christ Can they be charged with walking contrary to their principles in this matter Who hath the confidence impudence thus to charge any one of them 'T is true now and then some scandalous persons are found amongst them and so there were in the Primitive Churches as in the Church of Corinth c. that crept in unawares but they are matter of grief humbling to them and they do not dare not cannot suffer them in their Communion 2. The Form if it may be so call'd of the Antichristian-Church lie's in a
Europe is made a shambles wherein the Blood of millions of the Innocent Lambs of Christ hath been poured forth for which they shall be plagued destroyed in the time appointed by the Lord These things are known to all who have thought it their concern in the least to turn aside to consider of them The boody cruelties of the Antichristian Party against the Bohemians in Holland also the Massacre of Paris Ireland the Valleys of Piedmont c. wherein many thousands of the Lord 's Innocent Ones have been barbarously murder'd for no other reason in the World but because they laboured according to their Light to maintain and be found in the Doctrine and Worship of Christ is yet recent in the memory of most What heart so rocky as to read the Histories of the deep suffeings of those worthy witnesses of our Lord the Waldenses without pouring forth floods of tears What treacheries clandestine Plots breach of Covenants Oaths have the Antichristians been found guilty of pursuant to that bloody principle Nulla fides No Faith is to be kept with Haereticks and all are such in their account that embrace not their heresie abomnable Idolatries that they might obtain their end to waste destroy root out the Heritage of God Another way Satan hath taken to accomplish this his design is 2. Schisme amongst the Churches of Christ This was early set on foot even in the Apostles dayes 1 Cor. 3.3 11.18 When ye come together in the Church I hear that there be divisions Schisms among you and I partly believe it and hath been more or less with cunning heat violence managed ever since by Satan to the disturbing breaking crumbling into nothing some Churches of Christ The frequent charging and recharging of Schism upon each other by those that truely fear the Lord and agree in the fundamentals of Christianity hath been no small machine of the wicked one to weaken destroy them A work he 's still managing and we are too too little awakened to see his design and to study in the right Spirit to prevent it 'T would make ones heart to bleed to see hear with what keenness acrimony bitterness some Protestants are acted against others who are not of the same mind in all things whilst the Devil in the Papacy stands laughing to think what an easie prey hereby he shall make of them all Ah! alas where is the Christian simplicity amity How little respect have some to the great Commandment of Christ to Love one another who yet would be accounted his Disciples Were it not for a hasty Spirit bitter envying that is upon some one would think they had no concern for Religion at all and yet even this discovers that they are too little impregnated with the Spirit of the true Religion of Jesus Christ which engages to love meekness condescention mutual forbearance amongst Saints 3. False Doctrine Worship This also had an early entrance amongst the Churches The denial of the Resurrection of the dead substituting in the room thereof a metaphorick Resurrection betimes infected some at least of the Church at Corinth 1 Cor. 15. with 2 Tim. 2.18 Justification by the Law by Works was introduced into many of them as the Churches at Rome Galatia c. against whom the Apostle of the Gentiles Paul smartly disputes in his Epistles directed to them Into the pure Worship of God the inventions traditions of men were at last so introduced that God could no longer own it as his Worship at all And in respect of both these none ever were so degenerate corrupt as the Synagogue of Rome To enumerate particulars were endless what more contrary to Truth sound Doctrine than their assertions that the Original Hebrew and Greek of the Old and New-Testament is corrupt That the Scripture is not perspicuous cleer That to one Man the Pope the interpretation of Scripture doth belong who is Infallible and Judgment Conscience all is to be subjected to him That he is the alone Judge of Controversies who hath the Spirit of God given to him above others for his so doing That the Pope can dispense with the Law of God That he is Universal Head of the Church That he is not to be questioned for his Doctrine or Actions Si Papa infinitas animas in infernum traheret tamen nemo debet ei dicere quid facis If the Pope should carry an infinite number of Souls headlong to Hell none ought to say to him what doest thou For the will of the Pope stands for reason Glossa By his own Authority he can make Laws to bind the Consciences of the faithful He hath Power Authority over Princes can crown un-crown set up depose as he pleases That the Scriptures are not a sufficient Canon or rule of Faith and Manners but Traditions written and un-written are also necessary That Traditions are sufficient without the Scriptures but the Scriptures are not sufficient without Traditions That Christ is mediator only according to his humane Nature That 't is unlawful for Priests to marry That there is a certain place in which as in a prison after this life souls are purged who were not here perfectly purged that being so purg'd they might enter into Heaven That Saints are to be Worshipped That Images are to be Worshipped with the same Worship that is due to those whose Images they are as the Image of God Christ yea so that the Worship be terminated in the Image That the Sacraments confer grace ex opere operato That they justify That there are seven Sacraments That the Church hath power to Institute new Ceremonies for spiritual ends That persons un-Baptiz'd are damn'd there 's no salvation without it That Baptism takes away all sin That the Bread and Wine is converted into the Body and Blood of CHRIST That the Priest offers up Christ a propitiatory Sacrifice for the quick and dead to God the Father That there are sins in their own nature Venial That Concupiscence in those that are renued is no sin That men may be sav'd if they will 't is in their own power to believe c. That men are not justified by Faith without Works That inherent Righteousness justifies That none can be certain in this Life either of their Election Justification Perseverance to the end or Eternal Life That we are justified by Works that we merit Eternal Life by them And these are some of those pure streams that too many have a great mind to return to drink of and would by force bloody cruelty compel others to drink and be poysoned with them 4. False Visions lying Revelations upon which many times false Doctrine Worship hath been built supported Somwhat of these was also in the Apostles times Divine Visions Revelations there were many see Act. 10.11 16.9 18.9 10. 23.11 27.23 24. Gal. 1.12 2.1 2. 2 Cor. 12.4 Act. 7.55 10.3 Some also there were who were full of their false Visions Revelations 2 Thes 2.2 Now we
the World instead of Sanctifying it Are any of these things vacated not to be heeded attended to Who that pretends in sobriety to Christianity hath the forehead to avouch affirm it II. Another end of Gospel-Institutions is Our solemn publick avowed owning of subjection to the Lord Jesus 'T was from the beginning one end of God in his erecting of Worship that his People might therein solemnly own avouch him to be their God Lord Soveraign and they his Loyal Subjects faithful Servants Deut. 26.16 17 18. This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these Statutes and Judgments Thou shalt therefore keep and do them with all thy heart and all thy soul Thou hast avouched the Lord this day to be thy God and to walk in his Wayes and to keep his Statutes and his Commandments and his Judgements and to harken unto his Voice And the Lord hath avouched thee this day to be his peculiar People as he hath promised thee and that thou shouldest keep all his Commandments If we will have God for our God visibly own him as such we must conform to his Institutions our publick acknowledgment of him as such lyes therein The World know nothing of the Saints actings of Faith Love the secret communion they have with GOD nor do they can they take much notice of them as to their Closet Family-Service but when found in the practice of the Institutions of the Lord then are they in the view of men publickly declaring that God's their God and they his People Josh 24.18 21 22. is to the same purpose 2 Cor. 8.5 First gave their own selves to the Lord i. e. chose him for their God resign'd up themselves all that they were and had wholly to the Lord to be at his dispose And unto us by the Will of God i. e. they solemnly avouched publickly owned declared this God to be theirs by their entring into the fellowship of the Gospel walking in the wayes of his appointment owning subjecting to the Ordinances of Jesus declared to them by us Nor can there be a full owning of the Lord to speak modestly without a conscientious walking herein neither will the Lord look upon ought we do whilest in the wilful neglect of his Institutions to be such an owning of him He will be acknowledged to be our God not in the way of our own wills but in the wayes he hath appointed us so to do The sole question is and yet one would wonder it should be a question amongst any that profess the fear of the Lord Whether it be the duty of Saints publickly to own acknowledge him to be their GOD Which if granted it cannot be denied but the Gospel-Church-state with the Institutions thereunto belonging is yet in being and must be so whilest there are any Saints in this World whose duty 't is so to own him for one end aimed at by the Lord Jesus in the establishment of these Institutions was as hath been proved that Saints should solemnly own acknowledge him therein III. A third end of this Gospel-Church-state is to set forth the Lords honour publish his praises Eph. 3.21 Vnto him be glory in the Churches by Christ Jesus throughout all Ages World without end Amen Two things are here plainly asserted by the Apostle 1. That there shall be a continuation of Churches thoughout all ages World without end and of such Churches both for Matter and Form at least as were in the Apostles dayes walking with Christ in all the wayes of his appointment One would wonder at the confidence of persons who have the forehead to assert the cessation of Churches Ordinances in open opposition to what is affirmed here by the Apostle of our Lord who speaks so fully plainly to their continuation 'till the end of the World that all the wit of man cannot possibly find out any evasion Had he said only They should continue 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to or throughout Generations or Ages 't would have been said true but when the Apostles fell asleep and a second Generation also was past a general apostacy came in and there was a period of the Church-state To obviate which cavil he industriously as 't were affirms their continuance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 into all or throughout all Generations or Ages and as if that were not full enough to express his intendment of their continuance till time should be no more he adds that they should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 throughout all Ages of the World of Worlds or Age of Ages The Apostles seems to allude to two Hebrew Phrases 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Psal 10.6 I shall never be in Adversity the word is unto Generation and Generation And that Isa 45.17 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ye shall not be ashamed nor confounded World without end Their continuance till the end of this World is evidently what 's his intendment 2. That one end of the Institution of these Churches is that God may be praised in them by them is also asserted Is this end terminated Is it not the duty of Saints to praise the Lord and to praise him in the wayes he hath appointed If he hath instituted Churches for this end 't is the duty of Saints to praise him in them If for this end he hath Appointed their continuance throughout all Ages they must of necessity so continue or God failes of his end which is abominable Blasphemous to assert See to the same purpose Heb. 2.12 1 Pet. 2.9 IV. Another end of the Gospel-Church-state is Saints mutual Edification Growth till they all come in the Vnity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of GOD unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ 1 Cor. 14.26 Let all things be done to edifying Eph. 4.11 12 13 29. 1 Thes 5.11 Jude 20. Have Saints no further need of edification building up Are they come to a Perfect man unto the measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ Who dare aver it Can there be a more proper medium way or means fixt upon for the effecting this noble and glorious end than what the Lord propos'd viz. their walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel in the practice of all the Institutions of Christ What ever persons may think as none can desert the way Appointed by the Lord for the production of this end without a tremendous advance against the Wisdom of God his Love to and Care of his Children so they 'l find any other fixt upon by them will prove altogether insuccessful as to the end aimed at V. The confirmation of the Saints mutual love one to another is also frequently asserted to be one great end of this Appointment Eph. 5.2 1 Thes 3.12 1 John 3.22 1 Cor. 10.16 17. 'T is certainly our duty to keep this Commandment of our Lord yea to abound in love more and more each to other The means then appointed by the Lord for that end must
of Life and from the things which are written in this Book Evidently God tyes up his people under Law and Gospel to a strict and sole attendment unto what he hath given forth in the Scriptures And that because V. These are sufficient able and perfect as he affirms of them to instruct and guide us Psal 19.7 The Law of Jehovah is perfect 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie more sure than what than the voice that came from the excellent Glory when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount whereunto we do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts The word of Prophesie contain'd in the Scripture is a sure word 't is a light every way sufficient as such to direct us in the way we should take and is carefully to be attended to till the morning of the day of the Son of Man or the Revelation of Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works The sum of what we have been Arguing Proving is this That the Holy Scriptures are our Directory with respect to Worship all then and no more whatsoever Christ hath commanded his people therein Saints are bound to attend and give up to And if so as is clearly demonstrated then Christ having given charges therein touching Saints walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel Worshipping Waiting on him in Gospel-institutions Praying Preaching Baptism breaking Bread is unquestionably the duty of Saints in every generation Quod erat demonstrandum Object T is true these things were once of the institution of Christ but they are now ceased Answ 1. They are the Scriptures of the Lord as we have proved we are solely to attend to both with respect to Doctrine and Worship let but then one syllable tittle be produced there-from that demonstrates the cessation of these Institutions of Christ and the matter is at an issue The honour of our Lord Jesus being so deeply concerned herein no sober Christian except under a great power of temptation will be willing to part with them upon easier terms 'T is not pretensions to Visions Revelations Angelick Appearances that will remove them from their stedfastness to the institutions of Christ those that depart from them upon such pretensions will never answer it in the day of Christ But 2. By the same reason the institutions Ordinances under the Mosaick Ministration might long before the fulness of time for their dissolution have been exploded so all the Authority of God with respect to Worship been rejected To the very time of their passing away by the exhibition of Jesus who was greater than Moses by whom the Law was given John 1.17 greater than Angels whose Ministry was made use of in its solemn Promulgation Act. 7.53 The Lord charges his People to be found in the practice of them Mal. 4.4 And those that were so as corrupt as the then Church-state was were honoured signally blessed by the Lord as Zachary Elizabeth Simeon 3. There 's not the least mention of the freedom exemption of any of the Lords Children from these Institutions till the personal Appearance of Christ but the contrary Object 2. Well then it seems 't will be granted that when Christ doth personally appear on earth there is to be a cessation of and period put to this Church-state with the Institutions and Ordinances thereunto appertaining what if he hath so appeared already Answ 1. As touching the first we very readily grant it upon Christ's next visible glorious appearance there will certainly be a dissolution of this Fabrick But 2. As to the question whatever the pretensions of any are or may be of Christs personal appearance to them it s evidently false and untrue not to be believed heeded or attended to for these Reasons 1. Christ foretels us there shall be such pretenders and charges us not to believe them or go forth after them Mat. 24.26 Therefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not 2. The Scripure mentions but one second coming of the Lord Jesus Heb. 9.28 And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Upon this pretext there may be must be many comings of Christ 3. The Heavens must receive him till the times of the restitution of all things when and not before God the Father will send him Act. 3.20 21. Of these times there 's nothing appears that bears the least resemblance 4. Christ gives his Church no notice of any such thing which had he designed and for such an end as is pretended viz. to put a period to the present Ministration and to erect a new one send forth new Apostles c. he would certainly have done A total silence herein were there any such thing intended by him is perfectly inconsistent with the Love he bears to his Children 5. 'T is expresly said he must sit at Jehovah's right Hand till his Enemies are made his Foot-stool Psal 110.1 which as yet we are sure they are not 6. The Work of Intercession now in Heaven where he is constantly to attend it will not admit him to come from thence tell he bring the New Jerusalem down with him For he makes Intercession as God-Man in that Nature Body in which he was Crucified which though a glorious Body yet is limited circumscribed else 't were not a Body 7. The Scripture is express that when he comes from thence he comes visibly as he went away so that every eye shall see him Mat. 24.27 30. For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory Act. 1.9 10 11. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he Christ was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in White Apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee Why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall SO COME in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him 8. When Christ comes Satan shall be bound Rev.