extraction and born of God himself All her true members are new Creatures they are beautified with the image of God and resemble him in Knowledge Righteousness and true Holiness As Sin is the greatest deformity so Holiness is the truest beauty 't is this which makes the Angels shine nay 't is the glory of God himself Exod. 15. 11. Who is like unto thee O Lord among the Gods who is like thee glorious in Holiness How certain is it that the Righteous man is more excellent than his Neighbour Now the Church is called the Generation of the Righteous The Church is likened to a Woman because the Woman excells the man in beauty but she is such a Woman as the like is not to be found Rev. 12. 1. She is cloathed with the Sun the Moon is under her feet and upon her head a Crown not of Gold and Diamonds but better a Crown of twelve Stars What can equal this Glory of the Church All flesh is grass and all the glory of man as the flower of the field which soon withers and fades away She is said to be cloathed with the Sun because justified by Christ the Sun of Righteousness the Moon is said to be under her feet because all changeable things are below her spiritualized and raised Affections the twelve Stars which are her Crown signifie the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles of the Lamb whereby she is inlightned and brought at length to that light which is everlasting 5. The Church is a Body of great strength for this Body is strong in the Lord and in the power of his might Sinners are without strength they cannot please God they cannot profit themselves but the Churches members are strengthened with might by the Spirit in their inward man so that they can do things beyond the power of Nature they can see the invisible God they can believe against hope they can overcome and deny themselves they can wrestle with the Almighty and as Princes prevail with him they can foil the Principalities and Powers of darkness they can fight the good fight of Faith and lay hold of eternal life and all these are mighty acts indeed too great to be performed by any that are Hypocrites and ungodly The Church is most opposed and yet is most victorious and will still abide in the world notwithstanding all the worlds rage like the Immortal Regiment among the Persians that never was destroyed till the Empire was destroyed for if any Souldier was killed another presently was listed in his room This bush of the Church is unconsumed in a flame nay it has been most green and flourishing when the flame has been fiercest God has strengthened and preserved her and her preservation may be look'd upon as one of the greatest Arguments and Miracles of a Providence 6. The Church is a Body to whom the whole world is beholding It should be the joy for it is the security of the whole earth How soon would the Tares be pluck'd up bound in bundles and cast into the fire if it were not for the Wheat which grows among them Mat. 13. 29. The Church is a Friend and wishes well to Mankind 't is her Prayer that Gods way may be known on earth and his saving health among all Nations that the Kingdoms of the World may become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ And like a Mother she is in travel for the conversion and salvation of a greater multitude of Souls Why should the World be angry and recompense evil for good they should all be wise at length and desire to be incorporated into the Church and be resolved to go with her for they may be well assured that God is with her Zech. 8. 23. 7. The Church is a Body that will at length by many degrees be made more glorious than 't is at present Now 't is truly sanctified 't is highly dignified but it does not yet appear what it shall be 1 Joh. 3. 2. But when Christ the Head shall appear the second time without sin to salvation what a glorious Church will appear with him Col. 3. 4. Every member will shine as the Sun in the Fathers Kngdom Mat. 13. 43. And what a glorious spectacle will that be to behold all the Saints together in a company and every one of them shining forth as the Sun and the Son of God at the head of them all How with our cries and groans and serious diligence in preparing for it should we continually be hastning the coming of that day of God! Christs Body the Church has its defects and blemishes while it sojourns here below but at the last day all the spots will be off all the wrinkles smoothed and the end of Christs death will be fully attained Now the Apostle tells us He gave himself for his Church that he might sanctify and cleanse it and present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 26 27. How gorgeously apparrel'd how richly adorned how amiable and lovely will the Lamb's Bride at last be when Satan shall be quite vanquisht Death swallowed up in Victory and sin shall cease to have a being when light shall be without any darkness joy without sorrow purity without the least mixture of defilement When Christ does put the Crown of Life upon his Churches Head then that Scripture will be fully verified Cant. 4. 7. Thou art all fair my Love there is no spot in thee I come now to the Application USE I. Let the Church and all the members of it consider their relation unto Christ their Head and doe that duty which such a relation calls for They are Christ's and not Mammons they are Christs and not their own they are his purchase his Spouse nay parts and pieces and Members of him which he has bought and united to himself 'T is highly against all reason that they should seek or please themselves in a sinful and self-destroying manner Their Duty towards Christ their Lord and Head is in several Particulars 1. The Members of Christ should love him in great sinoerity The Apostle wishes that the grace of God may be with all such sincere Lovers Eph. 6. 24. Dissembled and seeming Love is really none at all and in several respects worse than none Christs Love to his Church was most real How exceeding low was his humiliation that she might be advanced how great his Sufferings for her eternal Redemption The Apostle speaks as one amazed at the height and length and depth and breadth of this love of Christ which passes knowledge Eph. 3. 18 19. And if the Head be so full of love to all the Members certainly the Members will be in the worst sence unnatural if they return not love to their Head and Saviour they should prize him most highly counting all things but loss and dung that they may win him Phil. 3. 8. They should mourn
should be continually increasing 1. This increase is for the Fathers glory the more Saints there are God is honoured by the more and the more any are Saints he has still the more glory from them The stronger the members of Christ grow their Faith in God is firmer their fear more filial they love him more with their heart and Soul and strength they walk more humbly with him all which shews what right apprehensions they have of him and that they glorifie him as God believing his presence power mercy truth and righteousness That our Lord might perswade unto fruitfulness and increase he sayes Joh. 15. 8. Herein is my Father glorified that ye bear much fruit so shall ye be my Disciples 2. This increase of the Church is for the honour of Christ the Churches Head The largeness of a Dominion and the multitude of Subjects is the honour of a Prince The more sincere Christians there are the Kingdom of our Lord is the more enlarged and He himself is magnified the more The Redeemer is glorified when the Everlasting Gospel runs when his word which is the Scepter of his Kingdom is believed and obeyed when Souls by whole multitudes come flocking to him to be justified by his blood sanctified and healed by his grace and saved to the uttermost How was Christ honoured when after the ten first Persecutions the Roman Empire submitted to the Faith the Eagle gave way to the Cross and Constantine the Great threw down his Crown at the feet of the Lamb of God Then was that Scripture signally fulfilled though a further accomplishment is still to be expected Isa 55. 5. Behold thou shalt call a Nation that thou knowest not and Nations that knew not thee shall run unto thee because of the Lord thy God and for the Holy One of Israel for he hath glorified thee 3. In this increase of the Church the operaetion of the Spirit is very illustrious He wrought the miracles for the confirmation of the Gospel and made it at first to be entertained in the world Wherever there is true Faith it is of his bestowing Those that are regenerated are said to be born of the Spirit Joh. 3. 6. The renewing of a Soul is of the Holy Ghost Tit. 3. 5. All spiritual gifts all true grace all solid comforts are from the Spirit The more therefore Light is spread the more largely gifts are distributed the more plentiful communication there is of grace the more peace and joy abounds the greater is the Spirits glory The Nicene Creed calls the Spirit 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Lord and Giver of life Quot Membrae tot Miracula So many members as Christ has so many miracles there are of the Spirits working for he has raised them all to life who were once dead in sins and trespasses as well as others 4. This Increase is for the Churches advantage therefore it should be endeavoured 'T is matter of joy and praise to Saints to behold sinners converted and sanctified to see Prodigals coming to themselves and coming home to their Fathers House to see strangers and forreigners made fellow-Citizens with the Saints and of the Houshold of God Eph. 2. 19. And when these Saints perceive that more of light is imparted to themselves and that they are filled fuller with the fruits of righteousness which are by Jesus Christ to the Glory and praise of God they must needs apprehend this to be for their profit if the truest riches may be called gains and Pearls of the greatest price be of any value 5. The World is benefited by the Churches increase Not a Soul gathered out of the World but something is secured of greater value than the World If a City were on fire and burning apace to the ground the more persons are saved the more Goods are secured the greater kindness is done to that City because these Persons these Goods escape the fury of the flames Sin is ruining the World apace but all that in time come out from the World and touch not the unclean thing and are incorporated into the Church of Christ are safe as in a Sanctuary shall be delivered from the common destruction and scape the vengeance of eternal fire in which all the wicked must burn for ever 6. The Angels themselves are concerned at the increase of the Church The Apostate Ones are confounded when by all their subtilty and strength they are not able to hinder the increase of Christs Government nay that they are so over-ruled that they are made to promote his Kingdom by those very means which were designed to overthrow it And the Elect Angels are affirmed to rejoyce at the Repentance and Conversion of a Sinner Luk. 15. 10. Likewise I say unto you there is joy in the presence of the Angels of God over one sinner that repenteth And if they are so glad at the Conversion of one what an accession would it be to their joy to behold thousands and millions added to the Church of Christ 'T is pleasing to the Angels to behold peace on Earth and Gods good-will expressing it self in the Salvation of Men Luk. 2. 14. and upon this account they cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Glory be to God in the highest The Application follows USE 1. Of Reproof to them that hinder the Churches increase The furtherers of it I am sure are few the hinderers many therefore the more are concerned in the Reprehension 1. Enemies without endeavour with might and main to hinder the increase of the Body of Christ They hate the light and would fain hinder it from shining they are grieved that Jesus is preached are angry as well as grieved for they are unwilling his Subjects should become numerous The World upon this account raises Persecution and how many at such a time do fall away Mat. 13. 21. Cyprian laments the pressure of that Persecution which had so wofully wasted the Flock he was over and sayes that positi erant inter plangentium ruinas timentium reliqutas inter numerosam languentium stragem exiguam stantium paucitatem L. 4. Ep. 4. Many were ruined the rest feared the Church languished and few did stand against so furious an assault We have large Martyrologies but if all Apostates were registred how vast would be the Catalogues of them 'T is well Tribulation lasts but ten dayes a short time else the World might tread the Church under But the Worlds rage is without reason against the Church of Christ which will do no harm and desires to do the World the greatest kindness 2. Hypocrites within are to be reproved for they hinder the Churches increase fitly compared to Vipers which are said to eat the bowels in which they were bred Our Lords anger is very hot and his words sharp against Hypocrites Mat. 23. 13. For they shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men they refuse to go in themselves neither suffer they them that are entring to go in They profess high but when
is hid with Christ in God Col. 3. 3. USE III. Of Advice unto the Church of Christ and all her true Members 1. Let their imperfection keep them humble There is not a Soul without a stain nor a Grace without a mixture nor a Duty without a failing nor a Saint without some sin remaining All therefore nay the very best of all have reason to be low in their own eyes The more humble we are the more our hearts are suited to our present imperfect state and the more of Gods reviving Presence notwithstanding our imperfection will be vouchsafed For thus saith the High and Lofty One who inhabiteth Eternity whose Name is holy I dwell in the high and holy place with him also that is of a contrite and humble Spirit to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the contrite ones Isa 57. 15. 2. Let the Churches Members hunger and thirst after a greater measure of righteousness Those that to do so are blessed for they shall be filled sayes he in whom all Fulness dwells Mat. 5. 6. This is an hunger truly sacred that never ends in starving but in satisfaction We should long more for the Waters of Life the Soul should thirst more vehemently for the living God desiring to behold his glory and to be changed more fully into his glorious Image Such kind of desires widen the Souls capacity and make it meet for a larger participation both of Grace and comfort 3. Let the Church believe and long for that enlargement and glory that is promised in the latter dayes but especially to be translated unto those Mansions above which her Head is gone to prepare for her Let her long that her Warfare may be well accomplished her course faithfully finished and the Crown of Life and Righteousness received And to this end let all her Members tear the Air and pierce the Heavens with their cryes Come Lord Jesus come quickly Rev. 22. 20. Thus of the Second Proposition That the Body of Christ is imperfect in this World and therefore continually should be encreasing Proposit III. The Third Proposition follows That the Body of Christ should diligently endeavour the edifying of it self Before the Apostle had used the Metaphor of a Body now he uses another Metaphor of an Edifice or Building The Church is to edify it self but the Power to do this is from God and her Lord who acts and strengthens her in this action lays a just claim to all the glory The Church is an Edifice or an House but a Spiritual one therefore called a Temple Eph. 2. 21 22. In whom that is Christ all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord In whom you also are builded together for an habitarion of God through the Spirit This Temple is holy for God hath set apart such as are godly for himself The Stones are lively for all Saints are quickened to live to God and act for him In this Temple Sacrifices are offered but they aâ—e spiritual Prayers Praises other Duties and the Heart of him that performs them And though these Sacrifices are never so spiritual yet they are not accepted upon their own account but they are acceptable unto God througâ— Jesus Christ 1 Pet. 2. 5. In the further handling of this Proposition I shall First Shew upon what foundation the Church is to Edify it self Secondly To what end this Edification must be Lastly Make Application In the first place I am to shew upon what foundation the Church is to edify it self 1. The Knowledge of God is styled a Foundation 2 Tim. 2. 19. Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure having this Seal The Lord knoweth them that are his God has from eternity foreknown and chosen his Church in Christ that she should be holy and without blame before him in love Eph. 1. 4. This is a Foundation laid before the Foundation of the World and will endure infinitely longer than the World shall The Churches Members should give all diligence to make their calling and Election sure for if they do these things they shall never fall but an abundant entrance shall be administred to them into the everlasting Kingdom 2 Pet. 1. 10 11. Now Election is made sure by hearkening to and obeying the call of the Gospel and departing from Iniquity 2. Christ the Rock is called a Foundation 1 Cor. 3. 11. Other Foundation can no man lay than that is laid which is Jesus Christ. Though he was set at nought by the Jewish builders yet he is the head Stone of the Corner neither is there Salvation in any other The Churches Faith must be firmer in Christ her hope in him more and more abundant and she may build without fear for the Foundation will never fail the Superstructure 2. The Doctrine of the Apostles and Prophets is also styled a Foundation Eph. 2. 20. Both were inspired by the Holy Ghost and the harmony and agreement between Apostles and Prophets between the Old Testament and the New makes the Foundation more sure The Church that she may edifie her self is to eye the Scripture then she will build according to the right rule Vnwritten Traditions that would impose upon her Faith what the Scripture has not revealed are to be rejected and that light within that would lead her away from the written Word is no more to be followed than a foolish Night-fire If she has Scripture for her Faith and Practice she has good ground for both and both may be justified before the Judge of all the World 4. Obedience and good Works are called a Foundation 1 Tim. 6. 19. Laying up in store for themselves a good Foundation against the time to come that they may lay hold on Eternal life This is done by doing good by being rich in good works Though good works are not meritorious for Eternal Life is the Gift of God yet they are necessary to evidence out Faith and that the Promises may be fulfilled Glory and Immortality is promised to them who by patient continuance in well-doing seek for it Rom. 2. 7. He builds firm that builds his house upon a Rock and he builds thus who hears the Words of Christ and does them But he that hears and does them not is a foolish man and builds his house upon the sand and when the rain descends and the winds blow and the floods come and beat upon his house it will fall and great will be the fall of it Mat. 7. 24 25 26 27. In the second place I am to tell you to what end this Edification of the Church must be 1. The Church must Edifie it self that it may grow Stronger The stronger her Faith is the more will she Glorifie that God in whom she believes Rom. 4. 20. 't is said of Abraham He staggered not at the Promise of God through Vnbelief but was strong in Faith giving glory to God The stronger her Love the more it will constrain her to labour in
of men Mat. 16. 22 23. The same Apostle as one observes scandaliz'd the Jews by pleasing them For fear of offending the weak Judaizing Christians he separated from familiar communion with the Gentiles by which he laid a stumbling block before them to harden them in the sinful opinion of Separation A dangerous Scandal it was whereby Barnabas himself was carried away Love will make us please our Neighbour for his good to Edification Rom. 15. 2. But to please him by doing as he does saying as he says and so to harden him in his too high thoughts of himself in his errour and uncharitableness in his dividing Principles which have a tendency to hinder the lasting settlement and peace of any Church in the World I say thus to please him is to scandalize him by not crossing and offending him A meek and faithful instructing him though it does anger him would be a true expression of love to him 5. In shunning scandal special regard must be had to the weak who are in greatest danger He that is weak falls more easily and therefore stumbling blocks should not be laid but removed out of his way Those that suppose themselves higher than others in light and grace should be the more condescending to them whom they think much below themselves and hear with their infirmities We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak and not to please our selves Rom. 15. 1. Those that differ from us in judgement have precious Souls as well as those of our own way therefore we must take heed of scandalizing them especiaily if they are very numerous We should be wary how we utterly disown a vast Body of Christians as if they were a company of Heathen men and Publicans this will confirm them in their exasperations and severities against us as highly reasonable and they will so fix their eyes upon that in us which we cannot justifie 〈◊〉 that they will the less regard what we speak against those things which may strongly be proved to need a Reformation The more general a scandal is the more fatal are the effects of it and the more it proves detrimental to the Church of God 6. All should pray against proneness to be offended Others actions should not make us forward to stumble and fall As the providence of God towards us though at present never so dark and intricate and unaccountable should not make us weary of him or of his service because he is a Lord the most gracious and his service is really the best beyond all comparison So neither should the carriage of men though never so strange and odd and unexpected occasion our sinning nor discourage us in weldoing Vpright men may be astonished at the dispensations of divine Providence they may be amazed to see the world so full of wickedness and to behold faith failing love dying and practical Religion so much ceasing in the Church of Christ yet they stir up themselves against the hypocrites they get over the stumbling blocks that are laid before them they hold on their way and wax stronger and stronger Job 17. 8 9. Foolisn men that are glad of scandal that run eagerly up and down inquiring who will shew us any thing that may offend us They rejoyce at any plea for a sinful course and greedily catch at any thing that may prejudice them against others that are not of their way nay they are forward to suck in prejudices against Ministry Ordinances and the Gospel of Jesus Christ A man that is swift to hear what may scandalize him that is joyful upon occasions that make him angry and uncharitable or any other way to sin he is like unto one that in a time of war does voluntarily run upon the Swords point or up to the Canons mouth or like one that in a time of Pestilence does not strive to avoid but to catch the contagion A man that should thus be fond of Plague or Sword you will judge frantick and he is in a worse sense frantick that is fond of scandal That 's the third Caution Take heed of scandalizing any 4. Take heed of an unbridled Tongue How mighty an hinderance of love has this little member been Both Church and State have felt the Smarting and dangerous wounds which a lawless tongue has given The tongue of a Serpent of a Viper the tongue that is all sting and carries Poyson and Death in it is nothing neer so hurtful as the Tongue of a Liar of a Slanderer The Apostle plainly intimates and the Prophet had done it long before that the Sins of the Tongue are the great cause of the badness of the times 1 Pet. 3. 10 11. He that will love life and see good dayes let him refrain his Tongue from evil and his Lips that they speak no guile let him eschew evil and do good let him seek peace and pursue it Four things are observable in these words 1. That an evil Tongue is the disturber of Peace 2. That 't is a great indication of guile and hypocrisie 3. That it very often shortens the Life 4. That it is a grand Impediment unto our seeing good dayes 'T is a vain thing to expect that times should grow better when tongues grow daily worse and worse and neither Scripture Reason nor Conscience can keep them to the words of truth and soberness When there is so much evil in the tongue how little of love how little of good can there be in the heart Would you have the Church of Christ edified let not your tongues wound any of her members though of a different perswasion from you Do you love your Neighbours as your selves be as backward to speak evil of your Neighbours as of your selves What our Lord speaks concerning doing may be applied to saying whatsoever ye would that men should say concerning you say you even so of them He that knew what was in man tells us Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks Bitterness in the language argues a root of bitterness within which the sooner 'tis pluckt up the better Take heed of speaking lies to the prejudice of others Satan the Accuser has hardly a more exact picture in this world than a Malicious lyer Invent not lyes believe not lyes report not lies He that spreads a lye to his Brothers harm is an hater of his Brother he may talk of love but is he a stranger to it Prov. 26. 28. A lying tongue hateth those that are afflicted by it and a flattering mouth worketh ruine Spreading of slanders is a sign of hatred Nay you are not to speak truth with an evil design Clamour and railing at the faults of others makes you faulty as well as they 'T were well if instead of publick defamations there were more friendly brotherly and private admonitions That injunction of Christ Tell thy Brother his fault between thee and him alone if he hear thee thou hast gained thy Brother Mat. 18. 15. is