Cor. 2.11 and of some secret inward or hidden The Lord only knoweth who are his And no man knoweth the things of a man saue the spirit of a man which is in him 2. Tim. 2.19 By departing from iniquity and other infallible tokens a man may be certaine for himselfe that he is one of this Church in Christian charity also hee is to hope well of others and to iudge rashly of none but no man can be sure of the election of another This society then is visible and knowne to God alone inuisible and vnknowne to men and is therefore called the Inuisible Church Thus vnto the Church many sweet and glorious titles are euery where in the Scriptures giuen and most ioyfull and excellent things of it spoken It is called as we haue heard the City of God the celestial Ierusalem the Church of the first-borne which are written in heauen the family or houshold of God a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy Priesthood being all Kings and Priests vnto God an holy Nation a peculiar people-redeemed and called by God out of darkenesse and the kingdome of darknesse into his marueilous light a spirituall house the Temple of God to be a Ephes 2.22 the habitation of God by the Spirit and the body of Christ It is also called a b 1. Cor. 14.33 Church of Saints c Iohn 10.27 the sheepe of the Lord d 1. Pet. 5.3 the heritage of God to bee short Christ his e Sal. Song 6.8 Doue his e Sal. Song 6.8 vndefiled who is f Ibid. 4.7 all faire and no spotte in her his g Ibid. 5.2 sister his g Ibid. 5.2 welbeloued h Ibid. 6.3 his loue his i Ibid. 5.1 Spouse his k Psal 45.9 Queene the ioy of the whole earth This Church is the Lords l Exod. 19.5 chiefe treasure aboue all people though all the earth be his and they in whom he delighteth as men doe in treasure Behold they are m Isa 49.16 grauen vpon the palme of his hand he that n Zachar. 2.8 toucheth them toucheth the apple of his eye All of this society and onely these Iesus will o Matth. 1.21 saue from their sinnes and from the p Rom. 8.1 condemnation that is due vnto them for the same and q Iohn 10.27 will giue vnto them eternall life So that of all men these with Dauid may say r Psal 8.4 What is man that thou art mindfull of him And the sonne of man that thou visitest him for thou hast made him a little lower then the Angels and crowned him with glory and honor O Lord our Lord how excellent is thy name in all the world To this Church are made the promises of Å¿ Reu 1.13 God his protection presence of peace t Ier. 31.3 of loue u Prou. 1.23 of his spirit and to this society is that gratious * Gen 17.7 couenant of life and saluation made In conclusion this Church though in it x 1. Cor. 13.11 infancie it be y Song 1.4 blacke yet is it comely as the Tents of Kedar and as the Curtaines of Salomon and when it commeth to z Ephes 4.13 perfect age it shall be most a Song 6.3 beautifull and b Ephes 5.27 glorious without spot or wrinkle yea most wonderfull and euen c Song 4.9 rauishing men to conceiue much more to behold what then to enioy so blessed a communion And thus much concerning the doctrine of the Church which we call Inuisible Let vs now proceed to the vse thereof CHAP. II. The vse of the former Doctrine Iohn 3.3 Rom. 8 9 If the flesh or sinne beare rule and be the Lord master of the house commanding soule and body then man is and to be called carnall of a sinner But if the spirit haue the dominion or rule as he hath in all those in whom he is though not at all times and in all actions the flesh sometimes preuailing against the spirit then and from thenceforth such are indeed Saints or spirituall men so to be called and ought not to deeme themselues sinners or wicked men nor so by others to be accounted Exod. 4 25 Matth. 26.41 BY this we haue heard we may see what a holy and heauenly society this is and that blessed is the man who is one of the Church holy righteous are they in this life but more holy righteous in the life to come When once the Spirit of God regenerateth and dwelleth in one of these which in the appointed season he doth in them all and only in them then ceaseth he to be prophane and beginneth to be holy and forthwith becommeth of a carnall a spirituall man and a Saint of a sinner and is from thenceforth so to be called man hauing his denomination of the more principall or of that which is in him predominant Euery one of these from the time of this new birth or regeneration and this great and admirable change and alteration giueth to God that which is his that is worship liuing holily towards God and to man that appertaineth to him liuing righteously towards him Euery one of these is carefull to performe all duties to their superiours equals and inferiours Neyther will they wrong their neighbour in his person goods or good name or doe that to another which they could not bee contented should be done to them When through humane frailty for the spirit being willing the flesh is weak they faile in any duty to God or man by eyther omitting the good they should do or committing the euill they are forbidden to doe then their hearts smites and wounds them for the same and they haue no peace within nor their wound healed and bound vp vntill both they haue obtained a pardon from God in Christ for that sinne and a setled purpose and full resolution neuer by the grace of God to commit it againe He that hath receiued the Spirit of God knoweth that these things I write be true Who seeth not that these are an holy people indeed and holy Priesthood as the Scrâ—pture calleth them These are Saints indeed though on earth By this holines thou mayest know thou art of the Church one of Gods elect and heire of saluation If this be begun in thee in truth though in great weaknesse then it is certaine that thou art one of this society Iohn 9.31 Iames 3.2 and shall all of them be Saints in heauen All other the Scripture calleth Sinners but not these though in many things they all of them sinne Is not this an holy and heauenly company on earth before they come to heauen Holy heere in part though they shall be perfectly holy without spot and wrinckle only in heauen whereinto this holy nation alone shall enter and no vncleane thing These are blessed and sweet companions for him that is iourneying from earth to heauen By how much
the first borne of the Iewes that were by Gods appointment to be sanctified to the Lord Exod. 13.2 and are they which out of mankind are of God sanctâ—fied and put apart to an holy vse that is the seruice or worship of God the rest of mankind attending proâ—ane and worldly affaires Also Exod. 4.23 Psal 4.6 Matth. 22.5 Esa 49.15 because they of this Church or company are as dearely nay more dearely beloued of God then the first borne children are of their parents Fourthly this Church is said to be written in heauen because all of them are chosen and appointed to life eternall and their names written in the booke of life enioying or hereafter to enioy it in heauen Lastly he maketh mention of the spirits of iust and perfect men meaning the soules of the faithfull which are now in heauen Whereby wee learne that part of the Church is now in heauen and the other in earth and hereafter to be on earth both these making the Church This Church or company then containeth all Gods Elect that euer haue beene are and shall be in this world from the beginning thereof to the end Whereof part we see is in heauen triumphing as hauing got the victory ouer their enemies and praysing God and is therefore called the Church triumphant and part on earth hereafter on earth to be warring or fighting with their spirituall enemies the flesh the world and prince thereof the Diuel called therefore the Church militant This Paul teacheth likewise in the 3. to the Eph. saying I bow my knees vnto the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ Vers 14.15 of whom is named the whole family in heauen and in earth By whole family he meaneth the whole Church one part whereof saith hee is in heauen with God the Lord Master of this Family magnifying him and namely for his goodnes towards theÌ„ the victory that by him they haue obtained Exod. 4.23 the glory honor and immortality he hath bestowed vpon them the other on earth for a time attoÌ„ding the busines he hath appointed them which is to worship him This the Apostle likewise teacheth Ephes 1.10 and in the first to the Coloss vers 20. In both which places he affirmeth that God hath reconciled to himselfe in Christ all things which are in heauen and which are in earth By the word Things hee meaneth Men as Reuel 21.27 where Iohn speaking of the new Ierusalem saith There shall enter into it no vncleane thing meaning no vncleane man or person By all things then both which words be vsed in eyther of these places the holy Ghost meaneth all the Elect for of these the Apostle speaketh in both places of which society part he telleth vs now three times is in heauen and the other in earth none in purgatory and that each part and euery member thereof is in and through Christ reconciled God and such only be the Elect. This whole company of the Elect is the Church which Ephes 1.22.23 proueth Christ is appointed the head to the Church which is his body the fulnesse of him that filleth all in all things As the parts of a man soule and body make but a man not men and the seuerall parts of the body one body not diuers so the societies whereof I haue spoken in heauen and on earth make but one Church We doe not then beleeue two Churches not two Spouses of Christ but we beleeue only one yet considered diuers wayes One as shee is in the blade growing and to grow together with the tares in the field or in the flore mixed with chaffe another as shee is in the garner one in the mine and another purifiâ—d one yet wrapped in the confusion of this world and wicked men another before her Spouse without spot or wrinckle But leauing the triumphant Church which is in this pure and perfect estate we will now intreat of the Militant The militant Church is vniuersall or particular Ephes 4.13.16 Vniuersall are all those throughout the world who beleeuing in Christ are by the spirit vnited to him and by loue one vnto another In a word the whole company of the faithfull Hereof Paul speaketh 1. Cor. 12.28 God hath ordained some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets c. And Ephes 4.11.12 where the very same in part is layd downe but in other words He therefore gaue some to bee Apostles and some Prophets c. for the gathering together of the Saints for the worke of the ministery and for the edification of the body of Christ In stead of the word Church he first vseth Saints because the Church is nothing else but the Congregation of Saints Secondly The body of Christ meaning that part of his body which is on earth the whole being set for a part by a Synecdoche And of this is that to be vnderstood in the Creed I beleeue the holy Catholike Church A particular Church is the whole company of beleeuers that be in a Country Citie Towne or Village Such was the Church at Ierusalem Rome Corinth the Churches of Galatia c. as after in the ninth chapter of this Booke is proued Paul an Apostle 1. Cor. 1 2. Gal. 1.2 vnto the Church of God which is at Corinthus Paul vnto the Churches of Galatia And thus rightly we doe and may call all the faithfull in England in Scotland in France the Church of England the Church of Scotland the Church of God in France and all the true beleeuers be they more or lesse in Islington the Church of Islington Thus haue we many Churches and yet but one Church many particular Churches and yet but one Catholike or vniuersall Church 1. Pet. 2.9 To the Militant Church Peter speaketh saying But yee are a chosen generation a royall Priesthood an holy nation a peculiar people that yee should shew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darknesse into his maruailous light Where he speaking to the Elect and beleeuing Iewes telleth them that they need not to feare nor be dismaid at this that God hath ordained some to destruction whereof he had spoken in the two next verses before for as much as they were not of those or of that Generation whom God to glorifie his Iustice and to shew his anger against sinne hath appointed to condemnation but were of that Generation and stock which out of mankind God hath chosen and ordained to life euerlasting that so hee might declare the riches of his glory and mercy in sauing them Of this societie the beleeuing Iewes whom Peter speaketh were part And therefore it is that the Apostle vseth this particle but saying But yee are a chosen generation Those that Peter calleth heere the chosen Generation are the same which the Scripture often cals the Church and Diuines vsually the inuisible Church And it is that company of men which God out of all mankind hath chosen in Christ to giue or bestow vpon them eternall
from among vs whom wee call Brownists contrarie minded who both reiect the aforesaid doctrine as erronious and condemne our Parish assemblies for false Churches it remaineth we heare what they likewise teach concerning the Church and their Arguments whereby they would proue our Church to be a false Church that so wee may more clearely see on which side the truth is whereby the louers of the Truth shall be preserued from error and Wisdome iustified of her children THE SECOND BOOKE CHAP. I. A confutation of H. BARROW his description of a true visible Church WEE haue spoken in the former Chapter of the first vse wee make of the aforesaid Doctrine of the visible Church And there we haue seene how fitly it seemeth to iustifie the Church of England and to proue her to be a true Church now by it wee will also conuince the Brownists false doctrine of the visible Church And that shall be the second and lâ—st vse of the Doctrine aforesaid For the better vnderstanding of the Brownists doctrine concerning the true visible Church let vs heare how it is described by them It is saith BARROW a company and fellowship of faithfull and holy people gathered in the name of Christ Iesus A true description of the visible Church pag. 1. their only King Priest Prophet worshipping him aright being peaceably quietly gouerned by his officers lawes keeping the vnity of faith in the bond of peace and loue vnfained Generalâ—y coÌ„cerning this description I affirme that a Apology 44. Counterp 115. Princ. Infer 8. 10. as al the rest of the descriptions or definitions of the visible Church which they do giue so this likewise is rather a description of the inuisible Church militant then of the visible That which is hâ—ere set downe is true onely of the Elect and cannot properly and truely bee spoken of any Reprobate whereof a true visible Church may in part consist as well of the Elect for as the Elect only are faithfull and holy indeed and effectually called so Christ Iesus is their onely b Though Christ Iesus be in diuers respects King of the visible Church yet he is not King Priest Prophet of the visible but only of the inuisible Church hee cannot be said to be Priest of the visible Church but with relation had to them that be of the inuisible Church King Priest and Prophet they alone doe worshippe him aright are gouerned by his lawes keepe the vnity of faith in the bond of peace and loue vnfained But let vs brifely consider of the seuerall parts of this description That your meaning is the visible Church consisteth only of faithfull holy persons it is hereafter made manifest and appeareth also by the last page of H. Barrow his book intituled A true description of the visible Church where hee saith that into the visible Church there entereth no vncleane thing or person but all such are without how true this Doctrine is wee shall anon heare as also of the gathering heere spoken of And that the visible Church and consequently all the members thereof haue not Christ Iesus to be their King Priest and Prophet in the end of this booke it is made manifest Omitting therefore these things wee will come to that which in the description followeth In it you adde that the visible Church consisteth of a Company that worship Christ aright and to proue this you send vs to three places of Scripture the two first viz. Exod. 20.7.8 Leuit. 10.5 speake neuer a word for you The last and onely testimony you haue is Ioh. 4.23 where Iesus saith That the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and truth and that the Father requireth such to worship him And hereof our Lord rendereth a reason in the words next following saying God is a Spirit and they that worship him must worship him in Spirit and truth which in effect is this that God being of a spirituall nature requireth a spirituall seruice agreeable to his nature Of a company of such kind of worshippers say you doth the visible Church consist But how can this possibly be true seeing Christ Iesus speaking to some of the visible Church Matth. 15.7 saith thus O Hypocrites Esaias prophecied well of you saying this people draweth neere vnto me with their mouth and honoureth me with their lips but their heart is farre from mee but in vaine doe they worship me These were no true worshippers worshipping God in Spirit and truth but only outwardly and Hypocritically whereupon Iesus calleth them Hypocrites and yet were these worshippers members of the visible Church And whereas of the visible Church the greatest part are Hypocrites or hypocriticall worshâ—ppers by this description and doctrine of yours there can be no Hipocrites in it for you teach that the visible Church is a company that worship God in Spirit and truth but no Hypocrites worshippe God in Spirit and truth therefore by your doctrine no Hypocrites are of or in the visible Church That no hypocrites doe worship God in spirit and truth which resteth only to be proued it is hereby manifest First because they doe not worship God with a true and sincere affection of the heart Secondly Because this worshipping of God in spirit and truth is that worship which God requireth to be performed to him by men accepteth of and is well pleased with but the worship of hypocrites God forbiddeth reiecteth and abhorreth Hypocrites therefore doe not worship God in spirit and truth Thirdly As many as thus worship God in this world Heb. 11.6 Psal 19.11 he will honor in the world to come and for their poore seruice done to him on earth he will aboundantly reward them in heauen now woe be to Hypocrites saith Christ And againe giue him his portion with Hypocrites This is the hypocrites reward Where you say that the visible Church is a company peaceably and quietly gouerned by Christ's officers and lawes considering the greatest part of the visible Church are reprobates and so rebels against Christ taking part with Satan against him how can this be truely said of the visible Church and consequently of all the members thereof Cain Ismael Esau Saul Absolom the Scribes and Pharisies were all of the visible Church These and thousands more such in the Church haue beene so farre from being quietly gouerned by Christs lawes that with them in the second Psalme they haue said Verse 3. Let vs breake their bonds and cast their cords from vs. The visible Church therefore is not a company of such loyall and obedient subiects to Christ as these men affirme How peaceably and quietly was Saul gouerned by the lawes of God and Church officers then when he caused the Priests of the Lord to be slaine and eagerly persecuted Dauid thirsting after his bloud and that all his life time The same may be said of Cain killing Abel of Ismael mocking or as the Apostle saith persecuting Isaak of Absalom
as he pleaseth to call them on the other and whether he or they mistake the question and point in controuersie wherein there is indeed great folly and want of vvisedome let vs heare vvhat it is which these Ministers haue written wherevpon this imputation is grounded The Separatists schisme 181.182.183 c. The first thing say they which they of the Separation obiect against the whole body of our Church and of our parish assemblies is this That it was not gathered by such meanes as God in his word hath ordained and sanctified for the gathering of his church And that thus you obiect they proue by two testimonies of your owne and then immediately returne therevnto the seuerall answeres here following First say they wee may esteeme them a true Church and so our owne of whose present profession and faith we are well assured though wee cannot see by what meanes they were first gathered Else may we still doubt whether Melchisedech and the families of Iob and Cornelius were true Churches or members of the Church because wee cannot finde how they were first gathered and conuerted Secondly wee might be rightly gathered to the society and fellowship of the vis Church by other meanes then by the preaching of the Gospell Thirdly our Church was gathered by the preaching of the Word which is the meanes God hath appointed for the gathering of a Church as your selues doe teach And here they bring in the preaching of M. Wicklâ—ffe Fourthly This say they being proued that there was a true Church in this land before her Maiesties raigne the question must not be whether the meanes shee vsed were the right meanes for the first calling and conuerting of a people to the faith but whether shee tooke not a lawfull course for the recalling and revniting of her subiects vnto those true professors whose fellowship they had forsaken Fiftly and lastly though the solemne couenant to renounce idolatrie and to cleaue to the truth be not absolutely necessarie yet was that also required and performed in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths Raigne Tell mee now M. Ainsworth doe you not hold and maintaine that our Church was not rightly gathered to vvit by the preaching of the vvord and therevpon doe coâ—demne vs for a falsâ— Church Yes haue not these Ministers therevnto returned a most direct answere The indifferent Reader cannot but by the aforesaid heads and summe of their answere see and acknowledge it With sinne and shame inough then doe you affirme That these Ministers haue in their fiue seuerall answeres as your selfe points them out missed the question and passed by the maine controuersie No lesse vnconscionably and vnhonestly deale you in bearing your simple Reader in hand that these said Ministers indeuour to proue by the examples of Melchisedech Iob c. and the rest summed vp before both these points following or at least one of them either that open prophane and wicked persons may be receiued and kept in the bosome of the Church or that there be not multitudes of open prophane and wicked members of the Church of England whereas they intend no such thing neither haue they a word tending this way nay abhor with their brethren to affirme either Yâ—u doe therefore slander vs when and as oft as you charge vs to say That the open prophane may lawfully be receiued and kept in the Church and to deny that there be any such in ours And in disprouing both these the one by the tâ—stimonies of our owne men the other by the sacred Scriptures what doe you else but pull down that building which your selues with your own hands not we haue erected and built vp Thus doing you haue bestowed a great deale of labour to as small purpose as he that casteth stones into the ayre pursuing your owne shadow instead of our bodies All that we maintaine here and by the grace of God will against men and Angels is That the being of open wicked men in it doth not destroy a church Against this you should haue argued or held your peace but we heare not a word to any such puâ—pâ—sâ— Iâ—stead thereof you proue the aforesaid positions which we in commâ—n hold with you Whether you now or the Ministers haue missed the question and passed by the maine controuersie as in other cases so here a blinde man may see It had beâ—n vvell you had fiâ—st plucked out the beame that is in your owne eye then should you haue seene more cleerely to pull out the mote out of your brothers eye if any be there More against this commixture of good and bad in our Church who list and hath the Counterpoyson may reade pag. 9. and 27. 28. and 60. and 70. 76. 101. 212. 213. And here by way M. Ainsworth I must needs tell you this booke of yours is falsely called Counterpoyson for it is not a preseruatiue against the poyson of false doctrine as the title pretendeth but indeede full of such poison the receiuing and beleeuing vvhereof is as daÌ„gerous to the soule of man as poison receiued is to the body Now that wee haue heard M. Iohnson and M. Ainsworth we will likewise heare what M. Robinson saith concerning this separating from the world and the causes of their separation Separation quoth he from the world and so from the men of the world Answere to a Censorious Epistle pag. 4. and so from the Prince of the world that raigneth in them and so from whatsoeuer is contrary to God is the first step to our communion with God and Angels and goodmen as the first step to a ladder is to leaue the earth Before we haue beene taught if we be so foolish as to learne of them that a visible Church is a company of people called and seperated from the world this man now instructeth vs in the meaning of this last clause That by seperated from the world they meane from the men of the world that is earthly minded men whose hearts and affections are set of this world and the things thereof So that a true visible church is not a mixt company whereof some doeth chiefely desire earth and earthly things others heauen some this world and others the world to come but all of this societie are rapt and rauished with a desire longing after the world to come and the ioyes there despising this world with the glory and pompe thereof who though they be in this world yet are not of it Thus you shut out of the visible Church all hypocrites and all wicked men as well those which be separately as openly wicked for as much as all hypocrites and men of this world to whom you deny a being in the Church because a visible Church is a company seperated from such And whereas in the visible Church there be some children of the diuell if not in appearance yet in deed and trueth and are not all the children of God adopted in Iesus Christ you tell vs that in the visible Church
blessing to appâ—rtaine vnto them Apology 44. This likewise M. Smith teacheth in his Principles and inferences pag. 11. For confirmation whereof ye alleadge many places of Scrâ—pture but all in vaine By many of them it is indeede euident that God hath made a couâ—nâ—nt of life and saluation with man not with Angels or any other creature nor yet with all mankinde Herein both you and vvee agrâ—e and herevnto all accord that bee of any vnderstanding But the question and doubt to bee decided is with whâ—m God haâ—h made this Couenant Seeing not vvith all mankinde with vvhat part of mankinde Seeing not vvith all m n vvith what societie and company of men vvhich is that wee call a Church In a word whether with the Church inuisible or visible Wee say with the inuisible Church you affirme with the visible Church and pretend to proue it by many witnesses If you will haue their testimonies doe you any good you must not so much shew that thâ—y speake of a promise of couenant of life euerlasting which God maketh with his people make it appeare that by people is meant the visible Church and the members thereof This none of you haue attempted For the ending of this controuersie let vs consider of Gen. 17. Where the Lord maketh this couenant with Abraham a principall place of Scripture also alleadged by you Moreouer saith God I will establish my couenant betweene mee and thee and thy seede after thee in their generations for an euerlasting couenant to be God vnto thee and to thy seede after thee 8. And I will giue thee and thy seede after thee the land wherein thou art a stranger euen all the land of Canaan for an euerlasting possession and I will bee their God For the right vnderstanding of this Scripture and of some other in Genesis and else where we must know that this part of the couenant on the Lord his part I will be thy God and the God of thy seede Doth contaâ—ne in it promises of this life and of the life to come Touching this life the Lord makes a couenant with Abraham and his seede that is all his posteritie according to the flesh concerning the land of Canaan a land that flowed with milke and hony that he would giue it vnto them to inhabâ—te Concerning the life to come signified by the land of Canaan God also maketh a couenant with Abraham and his seede tâ—at is with all those whether Iewes or Gentiles that should be of the same faith with Abraham By the seede of Abraham then with whâ—m this couenant was made is meant partly they which were bâ—gotten of Abraham by carnall generation called in the Scripture children after the flesh and saide to be borne after the flesh that is the people of the Iewes who vntill the death of Christ were the onely visible Church which we may fitly call the carnall Israel partly all that beleeue in Christ as Abraham did of what nation soeuer Rom. 9.8 Gal. 4.23.29 Gal. 6.16 called the children of promis and said to be borne after the Spirit and may be termed the spirituall Israel called also the Israel of God This distinction of Abrahams children we haue in Rom. 9.6 7 8. Thus we see there be two kindes of couenants made with two sorts of men or different soc eties and yet all but Israel The one an earthly that is concerning the pleasures and comforts men enioy heere on the earth the other an heauenly and touching the ioyes thereof The first of these God made with the naturall posteritie of Abraham the visi Church for a time The latter with the spirituall posteritie of Abraham and Church inuisible These things being made manifest by the Scripture your error will thereby likewise appeare That God made a couenant with Abraham and his seede nothing can be more cleare That by Abrahams seede we are somtimes to vnderstand his children according to the fleshe and that with Abraham and them God made a couenant of inheriting the land of Canaan that fruitfull land it is plaine by the latter of the former verses viz. ver 18. and by Gen. 13.15.17 All the land which thou seest will I giue vnto thee and thy seede for euer Arise walke through the land in the length thereof and breadth thereof for I will giue it vnto thee And likewise by Gen. 15.18 In that same day the Lord made a couenant with Abraham saying vnto thy seede haue I giuen this land from the riuer of Egypt vnto the great riuer the riuer Euphrates 19. The Kenites and the Kenizites and the Kadmonites 20. And the Hittites and the Perizzites c. Hereunto adde Gen. 12.7 Act. 7.5.6 That by the seede of Abraham sometimes is meant the faithfull onely such I meane as haue iustifying faith of whom it may be saide which was spoken of Abraham their father They beleeue God and it is counted vnto them for righteousnesse and so of the church inuisible or members thereof Iewes and Gentiles it is by the holy Scriptures as euident In the 13. of Genesis the Lord making a couenant with Abraham saith vnto him thus I will make thy seede as the dust of the earth so that if a man can number the dust of the earth Gen. 15.5 then shall thy seede be numbred The like speech God vseth vnto him at another time Looke vp now vnto Heauen and tell the Starres if thou bee able to number them and he saide vnto him so shall thy seede be If any shall be so simple as to vnderstand these Scriptures of the carnall and not chiefely of the spirituall children of Abraham his error is corrected Rom. 4.18 Where these wordes of Moses So shall thy seede be are repeated and we taught by them to vnderstand those who are of the Faith of Abraham of what nation soeuer For which cause he is there called the Father of many nations that is the Father of all that beleeue of what nation soeuer and had his name changed from Abram to Abraham and a litle before is saide to be the Father of vs all as if the Apostle had saide the father of my selfe and of all that beleeue This is confirmed and made more plaine in the 11. vers of the aforesaide Chapter Abraham receiued the signe of circumcision at the seale of the righteousnesse of the Faith which he had when he was vncircumcised that he should bee the Father of all them that beleeue not being circumcised that righteousnesse might be imputed to them also 12. And the father of circumcision that is of the circumcised or of the Iewes not vnto them onely which beleeue and are of the circumcision but vnto them also of the Gentiles that walke in the steppes of the faith of our Father Abraham that is beleeue as he did which faith he had when hee was vncircumcised And againe vers 16. Therefore it is by faith meaning the heauenly inheritance that it might come by grace and the promise that
and vs one would thinke should now be ended considering how clearely the trueth shineth on our side yet for feare it prooue otherwise I will adde something more In the third to the Galathians verse 29. Paul saith thus to them And if ye be Christs then are yee Abrahams seede and heires by promise As if he had said If yee beleeue in Christ whereby you are made one with him then are ye indeede the seede of Abraham and heires of eternall life according to the promise God made with Abraham From hence I reason thus All they and onely they who be Christs that is are ingrafted into him by faith are Abrahams seede to whom the promise of eternall life is made But all of the church inuisible and onely they are Christs ingrafted into him by faith Therefore all of the inuisible church and onely they are Abrahams seede to whom the promise of eternall life is made The Proposition is proued by these words of the Apostle If Christs then are ye Abrahams seede The Assumption needs no proofe Againe I argue from hence thus against you If the vis Church be Abrahams seede and they to vvhom the promise of saluation was made then the vis Church and consequently all the members thereof are heires of saluation But this latter is false Therefore the first The Assumption you will not deny and the Proposition is as cleare by this Scripture and needs must be true seeing God is faithfull and constant in the performance of his promise which he could not be if any one of those should goe to hell to whom he hath made promise of heauen God is not as man Num. 23.19 that he should lye neither as the sonne of man that hee should repent Hath he said and shall hee not doe it And hath hee spoken and shall he not accomplish it No no. God is true Rom. 3.4 though euery man be a lyar If therefore God haue made a couenant or promise of saluation vvith the vis Church as you all affirme and specially M. Smith euer and anone in his Parralleles then all of the visible Church shall be saued But for as much as many of that societie shall be damned it cannot be that to them this promise was made but to some other company euen to the heires of saluation And this latter may bee confirmed and so you conuinced by your owne words By faith saith M. Ainsworth we are the seede of Abraham and consequently heires by promise of the blessed inheritance and so doe enter into his rest Com. of Saints 321. Here you affirme that the company of the faithfull or true beleeuers are the seede of Abraham with whom God made this couenant which manifestly ouerthroweth you Secondly that they who be the seed of Abraham are heires of the heauenly and blessed inheritance And heere I reason thus from your owne words They onely are the seede of Abraham vvith vvhom God made that gracious couenant of life euerlasting that be heâ—res of the blessed inheritance and doe enter into the hâ—auenly rest But the elect or inuisible Church onely are heires of the blessed inheritance and doe enter into the heauenly rest Therefore the elect or inuisible Church onely are the seede of Abraham with whom God made that gracious couenant of life euerlasting The Proposition is your owne the Assumption I trust you abhor to deny imbrace therefore the conclusion wherevpon necessarily followeth that God made not this couenant with the vis Church as all of you doe teach but with the inuisible as wee affirme But you tell vs that 1. Tim. 4 8. doth proue this Bodily exercise profiteth little but godlinesse is profitable vnto all things which hath the promise of the life present and of that that is to come Here is mention indeede of a promise concerning life eternall But to whom it is made Paul answereth to the godly But such onely are the elect and inuisible Church Therefore to them and not to the visible Church is the promise made of life euerlasting by Christ So that this Scripture maketh against you Moreouer you alleadge here 2. Pet. 1.3 According as his diuine power hath giuen vnto vs all things that pertaine to life and godlines Peter here telleth vs that all good things belonging to life eternall are giuen vs of God But to whom To the visible Church We reade no such thing but cleane otherwise To vs saith he As if he had said to me and the rest of the elect That by life here the Apostle meaneth life eternall no man will deny Neither that life eternall shall bee giuen vnto them to whom all things appertaining to that life are giuen Seeing then the inuisible Church onely haue all things pertaining to life giuen them of God forasmuch as they onely enioy that life and that the Apostle speaketh of them who are made partakers of this gift it followeth necessarily therevpon that hee speaketh onely of the inuisible church Obserue besides that hee saith not onely that God hath giuen vs all things that appertaine vnto life but addeth and godlinesse Implying thereby that they to whom this life is giuen of God haue first all things pertaining vnto godlinesse bestowed vpon them in this life before they enioy that life eternall in the world to come But to the inuisible Church onely all things pertaining to godlinesse are giuen Therefore of the inuisible Church the Apostle here speaketh and not of the visible as you affirme And here marke how M. Ainsworth applying this Scripture to the vis Church doth conuince both himselfe and his friends Let vs saith he consider some principall of the many good thâ—ngs Communion of Saints 165. 168. 170. that God doth giue vs pertaining vnto life godlinesse Among these he nameth Faith And what faith That saith hee whereby our fathers walked with God pleased him wrought many good workes obtained good report and in the end the saluation of their soules It is the gift of God vnto his chosen people which therefore is called the faith of Gods elect And a little after The most excellent fruit that we reape of faith is our iustification in the sight of God by his grace in Christ Iesus Hereby it is plaine enough though there is much more seruing to this purpose that hee speaketh of iustifying faith Another good thing pertaining to life and godlinesse that is giuen vs of God is saith he sanctification Ibid. 177.179.183.186 also the feare of the Lord loue out of a pure heart and of a good conscience and of faith vnfained the loue of God and his loue shed abroad in their hearts by the holy Ghost which is giuen vnto them with other graces of this kinde From these words of your owne I argue thus against you Of that Church or company of men Peter here speaketh to vvhom of God are giuen iustifying faith sanctification and the other graces before specified But the said graces are giuen onely to the elect and
church inuisible Of them therefore onely Peter here speaketh The Proposition is confirmed by your owne vvords The Assumption is so cleere that it needeth no confirmation Thus vve see that this scripture also maketh not for but against you As the Lord hath not made a couenant or promise of saluation with the vis Church and consâ—quently with the members thereof but with them onely of the inuisible Church as we haue heard so neither hath he made to the vis church and members thereof a promise of peace For then there should be peace between God and the wicked seeing a great part of the vis Church are vvicked which there is not as witnesseth the Prophet Isai 52.22 There is no peace saith my God to the wicked This promise also belongeth to them of the inuisible Church and they onely of this societie haue this peace Then being iustified by faith which the elect onely are wee haue peace with God Rom. 5.1 saith Paul denying hereby this peace to all those that want iustifying faith The Lord saith I haue hated Esau Mal. 2.3 This is true of all Reprobates of whom he was a fiâ—ure Seeing the vis Church consisteth for the most part of Reprobates and but few therein that are chosen it cannot be that to this societie God hath made a promise of loue buâ— rather to the company of the elect and Church inuisible where of Iacob was a figure of whom God saith I haue loued Iacob therein restraining his loue to the elect And as for the promise of God his protection Pro. 2.7.8 Mat. 10.30 compared with ver 16. The whole 91. Psalme it is in the Scriptures restrained to them that feare the Lord and put their trust in his mercy that make him their hope and fortresse and the most high their refuge to the righteous that is the godly and to them that walke vprightly and therefore to the inuisible Church and the members thereof And when this promise is made to the vâ—sible Church it is for their sakes that are therein of the inuisible Church Apology 44. And where you say that a true visible Church and consequently the members thereof hath assurance of the promises of Gods presence and blessing to appertaine vnto them I demand what assurance a man can haue of enioying Gods gracâ—ous presence heâ—re on earth and glorious presence in heauen wherein consists our happinesse by being a member of the visible Church considering so many of the visible Church are sinners and that sinne doth seperate betweene God and man This is presumption and not an holy assurance and to build on the sands which house tempests at one time or other will blow downe and not on the rocke that standeth vnmoueable He that hath no other assurance of Gods presence and blessing then this that he is a member of the visible church may peraduenture bee as farre from enioying Gods presence as they which are in hell from entring into heauen and from being blessed of God as they vpon whom this sentence shall be pronounced Goe ye cursed into euerlasting fire prepared for the Diuell and his Angels The Papists might well reiect our assurance and certaintie of saluation had we no better ground for the same then this Yet let no man so vnderstand mee as though I denied that God was present with and did protect the visible Church For I know that our Lord partly for the elect that are in the visible Church and partly for his owne glorie and names sake that is called vpon among them is in the midst of the seuen golden Candlestickes Reuel 1.13 protecting them by his Almightie power CHAP. V. The titles which the Separists ascribe to the visible Church are to be vnderstood of the invisible Church onely AS the description these men giue of the visible church and that which they say is the matter and forme thereof is not a description nor the matter and forme of the visible but rather of the inuisible Church militant euen so it is with sundry titles they giue to the visible Church It is called say they a kingdome of Priests a royall Priesthood the sheepe of the Lord Appologie 44. communion of Saints 248. 470. Descrip of the visible Church pag. 1. the Temple of God a chosen Generation an holy Nation the peculiar people yea Christ his Sister his Loue his Spouse and his Body These titles which in the holy Scriptures are vsually giuen to the inuisible Church militant and company of the faithfull and if at any time to the visible it is because and with respect had to the elect and Church inuisible to whom alone properly the aforesaide titles doe belong they ignorantly apply and vnderstand of the visible Church and company of professors with diuers more of the same kinde which for breuitie I omit But let vs briefely and in order consider of these or the most of them If the visible Church be a kingdome of Priestes and royall Priesthood then all of this Church company are Kings and Priests vnto God but the last is false therefore the first To the proposition you as willingly subscribe as wee The assumption which is this All of the visible Church are not Kings and Priestes vnto God with open mouth you deny which thus I prooue All that be Kings and Priests vnto God shall raigne and offer to God the sacrifice of praise for euer in heauen But all of the visible Church shall not raigne and offer to God the sacrifice of praise for euer in heauen Therefore all of the visible Church be not Kings and priests vnto God The assumption is in it selfe cleare The proposition is euident by Reuel 5.6 Thou wast killed and hast redeemed vs to God by thy blood out of euery kindred and tongue and people and Nation And hast made vs vnto God Kings and Priests and we shall raigne on the earth Heere wee learne that these Kings and Priestes shall raigne and inherite the kingdome and besides who be these Kings which shall thus raigne not the visible Church as these men teach but those whom the lambe hath redeemed to God by his blood out of euery kindred and tongue and people Confession of Faith 29. and nation which are the Elect or inuisible Church as they themselues confesse This is further confirmed and made more euident in the first of the Reuel where Iohn saith that those whom Christ Iesus loueth and washeth from their sinnes in his blood are Kings and Priests vnto God But this Christ doth onely to the Elect and Church inuisible for them alone hee loueth their sinnes onely hee washeth away therefore they onely are this kingdome of Priestes or Kings and Priests vnto God 1. Pet. 2.5.7.9 Peter telleth vs that the faithfull are this royall Priesthood and calling them also an holy Priesthood he saith that they offer vp spirituall sacrifice acceptable to God by Iesus Christ But the inuisible Church of which societie
on such a nation as this Whence wee may gather that the Lord then vseth in iudgement to visite and not to take vengeance of a people when they are become such and so vile that he cannot as it were indure or forbeare them any longer Which is confirmed by the destruction of the old world of Sodom and Gomorah and of the Cananites Perizites Hiuits c. Gen. 6.7 15.16 18.20 Whom God did not iudge till their wickednesse was full These things well weighed together with the fearfull destruction that befel the Iews according to this denuntiation of Iohn not long after the death of Christ wee cannot deny but that which is recorded of the people of Sodome and Gomorah may bee truely saide of the Iewes in Christs time and his Apostles that they were exceeding grieuous sinners and their crie was come vp before God into heauen He came saith Iohn vnto his owne meaning the Iewes Iohn 1.11 and his owne receiued him not Heere is an vniuersall reiecting or contemning of Christ by the Iewes offered to them in his own ministery in the ministery of Iohn the Baptist of the 12. Apostles and of the 70. Disciples All which preached thus Repent for the kingdome of heauen is at hand Matth. 3.2 and 4.17 Mat. 6.12 Notwithstanding this gracious offer of saluation and kingdome of heauen by Christ Iâ—sus so that they would râ—pent and beleeue in the Messiah by whom they shouâ—d haue entrance into heauen behold thâ—y contâ—nuâ—d in thâ—ir sinnes and iâ—fidelitie Is not heere a sinfull nation indeede and a people laden with iniquitie that not withstanding the great and mightie meanes the Lord vsed to conuert and saue them by Preaching and miracles would yet remaine in their sinnes nay is not heere open wickednes and that vniuersally in this people in their generall contempt of Christ and loue of earth aboue heauen yea of those that seemed to receiue him who professed faith in him flocked after him into the wildernesse and euery wheere so as he and his Disciples had no leisure to take meate for them as though they had forsaken all to follow him For marke what our Lord himselfe saith of them Ioh. 6.26.27 Yee seeke me not because yee saw the miracles but because ye eate of the loaues and were filled If the best and holiest of this people heere one and there one excepted were thus prophane with Esau preferring a messe of pottage before the heauenly inheritance how prophane how notorious vile and abominable were the rest and worst of the Iewes And surely had they not beene such as I speake of they had neuer killed the Lord of life his life doctrine and miracles considered The people thus generally being wicked and fâ—w righteous to be found how can it be but in such a swarme of wicked persons where iniquitie had ouer spread the land there were very many yea abundance of open knowne wicked whom those few godly at that time liuing such as Ioseph Mary c. knew as well to be wickd as a man knoweth the right hand from the left Hereunto adde that which our Lord himselfe saith of this peopâ—e Whereunto shall I liken this generation it is like vnto little children which sit in the markets and call vnto their fellowes 17. And say wee haue piped vnto you and yee haue not danced wee haue mourned vnto you and yee haue not lamented 18. For Iohn came neither eating nor drinking Maâ—th 11.16 and they say he hath a diuell 19. The Sonne of Man came eating and drinking and they say behold a glutton and a drinker of Wine a friend of Publicans and sinners but Wisedome is iustified of her children Heere our Sauiour by a comparison declareth that this people or nation of the Iewes a fewe of Gods Elect among them excepted called the Children of Wisedome did not onely neglect or contemne his owne ministery and Iohn the Baptist but did besides blaspheame and speake eui l both of Iohn and of himselfe Of the one that hee was a glutton a drinker of wine and a friend of sinners and of the other that he had a diuell Heere be horrible sinnes committed openly in the viewe of all men and with an high hand and that not by a fewe but generally by the natâ—on of the Iewes in the age and time wherein Iesus liued on earth Were not the Iewes then generally in the dayes of Christ openly wicked This considered vvas it possible that either Christ Iesus or his Disciples and the faithfull then liuing could either celebrate their solemne feastes in Ierusalem or frequent their Synagogues and not haue religious communion with open wicked And no lesse vile and abominable was generally this peopâ—e after Christ in the dayes of the Apostles did not they cause grieuous persecution against those fewe amongst them that confes Christ did not they furiously run vpon Stephen and stone him as men thirsting after his blood and the blood of the Saints Who vexed the Church killed Iames imprisoned Peter and would haue slaine him also Act. 7.57 12.13 had not the Lord miraculously deliuered him Not Herod so much as the Iewes For it is saide that vvhat Herod did it was to please the Iewes The Iewes also were they that persecuted Paul from Citie to Citie 2. Cor. 11.24 so as no vvhere vvheresoeuer hee came hee could be quiet for them as appeareth in the Acts of the Apostles Of the Iewes he was beaten with rods of them fiue times he receiued 40. stripes saue one by them also vvas he stoned But vvhat needes more proofe of this seeing the Apostle saith expressely as much of them The Iewes haue both killed the Lord Iesus and their owne Prophets and haue persecuted vs and God they please not 1. Thess 2.13 and are contrary to all men 16. And forbid vs to preach unto the Gentiles that they may be saued to fulfill their sinnes alwayes for the wrath of God is come on them to the vtmost Who seeth not that the people generally of England at this day are not vvorse and more notoriously vvicked then vvere the Iewes in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles yea God forbid they vvere altogether so vile and abominable as they Did Christ Iesus now and his Disciples communicate vvith the Iewes in diuine vvorship notwithstanding in their publike assemblies there vvere present and could not otherwise but be present many open vvicked and may not the faithfull communicate in diuine vvorship vvith vs because there bee some open vvicked in our assemblies yea consider further vvith me that as in the dayes of Christ and his Apostles so in all ages the godly haue had religious communion vvith the open vngodly as Abraham the Church in his house vvith Ismael Isaac and the Church of God in his house vvith Esau and so forward I migh goe This is hereby manifest also in that the faithfull in all ages had and lawfully might haue religious
the longer and more dangerous the way is we haue to trauell by so much the more desirous and inquisitiue are we after company because it maketh greatly for our safety and comfort and helpeth much against the tediousnes and wearisomenesse of the way Thou therefore my deare brother who as a pilgrime and stranger on earth art wandring in the wildernesse of this world towards that heauenly Canaan a way long and dangerous wherein doe lye in waite many theeues and robbers full also of crosse-wayes and by-paths and none almost to direct thee except thou wilt aske of the beasts of the wildernesse inquire and seeke out some of these that are trauelling as well as thou to Canaan to bee thy associates And this shall bee sweete and comfortable both to thee and them Thus did Dauid a pilgrime as all our Fathers were Psal 119.63 I am a companion saith he of all them that feare thee and keepe thy precepts And that which is more All his delight next to that he had in God Psal 16.3 Prou. 12.26 was in the Saints that were in the earth who are more excellent then their neighbours and consequently their societie more to be desired It goeth well with that woman who maketh choice of such an husband whose company shee cannot auoid and with that man which hath such a wife and with him that hath such neighbours or out of them can and doth cull out such to be his companions and acquaintance It is good being in the company of these for with the godly thou shalt learne to bee godly Prou. 13.20 or being godly to encrease in godlinesse But it is much better yea a blessed thing to be one of this society For is it not I pray thee an happy thing to be beloued of God and in speciall fauour with him Dauid so accounted it and therefore prayeth thus to God Psal 4.6 Many say who will shew vs any good but Lord lift thou vp the light of thy countenance vpon vs. And professeth that herein he had more ioy of heart then worldly minded men haue when their wheate and wine doth abound Now all of the Church are dearely beloued of God They are as wee heare the Congregation of the first borne Rom. 1.7 No first borne child is so tenderly beloued of his parents no not of his mother as these be of God For it may so fall out that a woman may forget her childe and not haue compassion on the sonne of her wombe Isa 49.75 Psal 27.10 Ephes 15.25 Iohn 10.11.15 Iohn 15.13 but this cannot fall into God Though father and mother forsake one of these the Lord will take him vp This Church and company of men Christ so loued that hee gaue himselfe for it that is layd downe his life for it And greater loue then this to dye for his friends can no man haue O loue vnspeakable As by his deeds so by his words Iesus doth witnes his loue to this Church Cant. 2.14.15 4.2 7 8. c. 5.1.2 Mat. 12.49.50 in calling it his Welbeloued his Doue his Spouse his Loue and in accounting euery one of this societie his Brother and Sister and Mother If then thou be one of this fellowship O man thou art in grace and speciall fauour not with thy King and Soueraigne on earth but with thy God and thy Lord who is the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and with him whose loue is the fountaine of all mans happinesse Of this loue I say euery one of this Church and company may be assured Happy therefore are all they and only they who be of this society Their happines and dignity their excellent estate full of maiesty and glory may yet further appeare by sundry of those titles which are giuen vnto them in holy Scripture They of this society are called a spirituall house the Tabernacle of God the Temple of God and are said to be the habitation of God by the Spirit because the Spirit of God dwelleth in them What a grace and honor is this that the King of glory should cohabite with vs And what a rebell is he Reu. 3.20 who though this King stand at his doore and knock will not open that he may enter in Happy and thrice happy is he who hath the presence and fellowship of God For who shall harme him with whom the Almighty is alwayes present to defend Hee needs not bee afraid of the feare of the night Psal 91.1 nor of the arrow that flieth by day nor of the pestilence that walketh in the darknes nor of the plague that destroyeth at noone-day that dwelleth thus in the secret of the most high and abideth in the shadow of the Almighty Though a thousand fall at thy side and ten thousand at thy right hand yet shall not the euill come neere thee In all perils thou mayest be secure lye downe in peace and take thy rest when others feare and tremble Gal. 5.22 Where this Spirit is there is peace towards God with men yea with all men as much as is possible There is also loue to God to men for Gods cause louing our enemies praying for and doing good to them that hate and persecute vs Iohn 15.26 all maliciousnes enuy and euill speaking being laid aside If thou hast this spirit it will lead thee into the truth and preserue thee from error This is the holy Spirit and therefore hauing it it will sanctifie thee and make thee holy And is the Comforter giuing that ioy to man Iohn 15.26 and 16.22 which the world cannot take from him Where he dwelleth there is a continuall feast He makes the children of men to reioyce in afflictions taking away the bitternes of them If it fall out so that thou bee in prison in close prison and so want the company of men suppose of Angels too though that is not possible yet art thou not alone but hast one with thee to whom thou mayest make thy mone and in whose society thou mayest solace thy selfe He will lead thee when thou walkest watch for thee when thou sleepest and when thou wakest talke with thee and comfort thee in the houre of death when others dying shall be in heauinesse Is not he now happy that is one of the Church And yet heare what further I say vnto thee All of the Church for as much as they haue the Spirit of God are the children of God and soâ—eires of God and coheires with Christ Gal. 4.6 Because yee are sonnes saith the Apostle God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Sonne into your hearts And againe As many as are led by the Spirit of God Rom. 8.14 they are the sonnes of God Then he addeth If children also heires euen the heires of God and coheires with Christ For this cause all of this fellowship are most happy and of all persons vnder heauen the most honorable in truth though not in the account of the world
We account of all men next to the King his children most honorable and happy especially his sonne and heire that is to inherit the Kingdome Hereupon the seruants of Saul speaking thus to Dauid Behold 2. Sam. 18.23 the King hath a fauour vnto thee be now therefore the Kings sonne in law DAVID answered Seemeth it to you a light thing to be the Kings sonne in law seeing that I am a poore man and of small reputation What then may it seeme vnto vs who are but dust and ashes nay worse then so by nature the children of wrath and of the Diuell to become by grace the adopted children of God Ephes 2.3 Iohn 8.41.44 It is a matter of great honor and dignity to bee the sonne and heire of a Noble man specially of a King And is it not a much more glorious thing to be the sonne and heire of the Lord of Lords and King of Kings All men bestow and leaue vnto their children according to that themselues be and haue The meane man an inheritance or portion according to his abilitie be it more or lesse The Gentleman leaues to his children according to his estate and worth The noble-man after his and the King according to his greatnesse Euen so it is betwixt God and his children What and how great then shall be the portion and honor of these children seeing it shall be agreeable to the greatnesse of their heauenly Father and that which beseemeth the children of such a Father It must needs be such as neither eye hath sâ—ene nor eare hath heard nor euer came into mans heart in a word incomprehensibly glorious Because of this the estate of these in the world to come is not only called a glorious estate Rom. 8.18.21 and vers 17.30 1. Iohn 3.2 Phil. 3.21 and the glorioas liberty of the sons of God and they then said to be glorified and to be like vnto Christ partaking with him in glory both in soule and body their vile bodies being made like vnto his glorious body but is also inlarged thus that they shall then haue a most excellent and eternall waight of glory 2. Cor. 4.17 To set forth also the excellent an glorious estate and condition of these in the world to come it is often said in the Scriptures that they shall haue a Kingdome Feare not little flocke Luke 12.32 for it is your Fathers pleasure to giue you a Kingdome Matth. 5.3 Blessed are the poore in spirit for there is the Kingdome of heauen And to the same end it is called the kingdom of God and of heauen 1. Cor. 6.9 Heb. 12.28 2. Tim. 4.8 1. Cor. 9.25 Mat. 5.3 and said to be such as cannot be shaken On the heads of these Kings shall be set a crowne of righteousnesse yea an incorruptible crowne of glory Happy then and a thousand times happy are all of this Church and company that shall haue such and so glorious a kingdome whereof also there is no end but they shall raigne for euermore These 1. Pet. 1.4 2.1.11 howsoeuer they be not borne nor come by discent to this heauenly kingdome and inheritance Ephes 1.4.5 Act. 13.48 yet are they of God chosen and ordained thereunto before the foundation of the world was laid as appeareth by that sentence of Christ the Iudge of all men which he shall one day pronounce vpon them Come yee blessed of my Father Matth. 25.34 take the inheritance of the kingdome prepared for you from the foundation of the world And therefore they who in their minoritie and nonage haue not yet receiued this inheritance and kingdome are as sure of it as if they were inthronized and in possession thereof Because as God himselfe so all things in God and namely this election of part of mankind vnto saluation is vnchangeable So that heauen and earth shall sooner passe away then any one of this chosen generation perish Are not they now happy who are sure to inherite this Kingdome albeit they yet haue it not What though in this world and for the present 1. Cor. 15.19 they bee of all men the most miserable yet neuerthelesse if we haue respect to their future estate Heb. 11.26 1. Pet. 1.4 to this great recompence of reward and inheritance immortall by the power of God reserued for them in heauen they are of all the children of men the most happy and those only who be happy all others being in a most accursed estate coÌ„dition And thus much concerning the Church or that we cal the Inuisible Church the knowledge whereof we referre to God the searcher of hearts proceed we now to entreate of the visible Church which men can know and discerne and is therefore called visible into which all they must retire themselues in this world that will be gathered with the inuisible Church into heauen in the world to come according to that saying Act. 2.47 And the Lord added to the Church from day to day such as should be saued For this cause it standeth vs vpon diligently to search and enquire into this matter and so for thee Christian Reader to giue good eare to that which followeth CHAP. III. Of the visible Church and diuers acceptation of the word Church AS sometimes this word Church must be taken in that sence I haue already spoken of that is for all the elect or some speciall company of the elect as is manifest by the premises so in many other places of holy Scripture it cannot possibly be so vnderstood but must of necessity haue some other signification Verse 3. In the 8. of Acts Luke reporteth of Saul that he made hauocke of the Church And no lâ—sse doth the Apostle say of himselfe 1. Cor. 15.9 I am not meete to be called an Apostle because I persecuted the Church of God In these places and very many more by Church we cannot vnderstand the Elect except we will imagine eyther that Saul knew whom God had elected or that all bee elected who are persecuted both which are very false How then must wee vnderstand this word Church heere And what may we doe to finde out the true sence and meaning of this word in these and such other like places where it cannot be taken in the former signification Surely it may easily and and safely be done by conference of Scripture as we shall see Verse 3. In the 22. of the Acts Saint Paul hath these words of himselfe I was zealous towards God as yee all are this day vers 4. And I persecuted this way vnto the death binding and deliuering into prison both men and women And Galath 1. Thus he likewise speaketh of himselfe Vers 13. yee haue heard of my conuersation in times past in the Iewish religion how that I persecuted the Church of God extreamely and wasted it 14. And profited in the Iewish religion aboue many of my companions of my owne Nation and was much more