to nourish strengthen and refresh the City of God by which they are or may be made fat and fruitful The Springs Treasures and Fountain of love and grace is opened in and to the Churches and there Christ Jesus causes the Horn of his Davids to flourish Psal 132.17 In a Church-state Believers live in the streams of all Gospel-Ordinances and therefore they may grow there as Willows by the Water-courses Esa 44.4 for there they may with joy draw water out of these Wells of Salvation Esa 12.3 The more obedient Believers are to the will of their King the more he will bless them and communicate of himself and his Grace to them Joh 14.13 14 15 16 21 23. Joh. 15.7 10. Now in a Church-state they do give up themselves in Universal professed and avowed obedience to the whole will of Christ and put themselves under all the Ordinances of Christ and so under all the blessings of the Covenant of Grace which are to be communicated to their Souls by them 3. God hath promised to impart his loves and favours to his people in their walking with him in a Church-state and Relation in a especial manner Cant. 7.12 Let us get up early to the Vineyards the Churches and Ordinances of God in them there will I give thee my loves Psal 92.12 13 14. The righteous shall flourish like the Palm-Tree he shall grow like a Cedar 〈◊〉 Lebanon But where shall they thus grow and flourish see the 13.14 verses Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the Courts of our God They shall still bring forth fruit in old age they shall be fat and flourishing Well might David say Blessed are they that dwell in thy house Psal 84.4 For great and glorious are their provisions priviledges and advantages to help and encourage them in their journey towards Heaven God hath also promised to bless yea abundantly to bless his Churches provisions and to satisfie their poor with Bread that is to fill and impower his Ordinances and their Ministry with his Presence Grace and Spirit that they may greatly profit their Souls and nourish them up to eternal life Psal 132.15 16. 4. God loves delights most in his Churches or in Believers walking together in the faith and order of the Gospel in an inchurched state Psal 87.2 3. The Lord loveth the Gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of God Selah Eph. 3.17 The Lord thy God in the midst of thee viz Zion vers 16. â—is mighty he will save he will rejoyce over thee with joy he will rest in his love he will rejoyce over thee with singing Where men love and delight most there they are most free and liberal to such they are most bountiful and open handed so is God to his Churches because they are in their holy walking the greatest objects of his love and delight of his joy and rejoycing therefore I say they are the subjects of his abundant grace and favours 5. Churches or Believers in a Church-state do Christ more service than when they walk singly and out of that Gospel-way and order They are now his living publick witnesses his Candlesticks that hold up his burning Candles and they are his shining lights in the World They are the seats and subjects of all his Gospel-Ordinances and the ground and pillars of truth They do publickly and openly own and profess him to be their Lord and King and to be subject to his Laws and Authority and declare themselves his true and loyal friends and subjects and that before all men They manifest in the face of the Sun that they are not ashamed of his yoke nor his so much despised word and ways but own them cleave to them and walk in them as the only good holy and safe ways Many spiritual Diamonds orderly set in one gold Ring Church form do cast their lustre and reflect their glittering light and beauty on each other and so make a more lovely and glorious sight to Beholders There they do or may wait on God their Father and Christ their Head and King with their praises and melodious Harps and that with one heart and soul Psal 65.1 Their harmonious consent in breathing forth their oneness love faith hope and delight into one anothers hearts doth greatly raise heat and animate one another in powring out their joynt love affections and praises into the ears and heart of Christ which is most lovely and pleasant unto him Cant. 2.14 6. They expose themselves to greater trouble from the World in a Church-state than in walking singly A Church is as a Beacon set on a Hill which is visible to all beholders and by their publick practical and avowed separation from the World and walking by themselves they lay themselves open thereby to their adversaries wrath and vengeance They are the Buts of their invenomed Arrows of Reproach Scorn and Contempt of their Malice Hatred and Persecution The World takes more notice of a hundred Saints walking in close and intimate communion in a Church-state than of five thousands of others who walk singly This is so obvious to all as that it needs no further proof to confirm it Now then the more Believers expose themselves to sufferings in the Lords ways and for his sake the more of his presence and blessings they shall have Esa 43.1 2. Esa 41.10 Joh. 14.15 16. chapters 1 Pet. 3.14 1 Pet. 4.12 13 14. Thirdly As Believers inchurched are priviledged with more of the presence of God and the Communications of his love and favours so likewise with mutual help and assistance from one another Their nearness in Union Fellowship and Communion their knowledge of and acquaintance with each other together with the Laws of Christ among them enjoyning them thereunto and brotherly love resulting from all capacitates enables quickens and encourages them to more and constant usefulness to one another than otherwise they could or would be Their holy and spiritual Intimacy and Communion begets and preserves warm hearty and strong love and affection one to another which inclines their hearts to mind and do their external duties to each other It prompts and puts them upon sympathising one with another on watching over one another on exhorting comforting and provoking one another to love and to good works Heb. 10.24 25. to reprove admonish and endeavour to heal each other when need requires Gal. 6.1 2. to edifie one another warn the unruly and support the weak 1 Thes 5.11 14. And is not this a great priviledge and advantage to our Souls to have such seasonable assistance one from another Is it not a great priviledge when I am tempted and burdened to have my Brethrens hands under me to support and strengthen me when by my heedlesness I have fallen and broken my bones wounded and weakned my Soul to have such a spiritual Physician to give me Physick such a good Samaritan at
his Spirit prepare and fit men for this state build them up and stamp his own and his Father's name upon them but also he dwells in them and makes them his walks palaces and places of his delight Here says he will I dwell for I have desired it Psal 135.14 yea these Churches are his chosen and most pleasant habitations Psal 132.13 where he rests and reposes himself v 14. and that for ever not to look on or visit them now and then but to rest himself and dwell there for ever not for a few days but for ever And in Rev. 2.1 the Lord Jesus tells the Church at Ephesus that he walked in the midst of the seven Golden Candlesticks which were the seven distinct particular and congregational Churches Rev. 1.20 and in the 2 Cor. 9.16 says he I will dwell in them and walk in them that is in the particular Church at Corinth Now particular congregational Churches are of God or Men but they cannot be of mens devising and setting up because God owns them and confirms them with his presence desires and chuses them for his Rest and dwells in them continually with delight and complacency and therefore they must be of God for the great and holy God will not own the devices of men in and about his name and worship but abhorrs and loaths them condemns and rejects them as filthy and abominable things Lev. 10.2 Sam. 6. and much less will he delight and rest in them Thirdly That particular congregational-Churches of Believers are of divine Institution is further evinced and confirmed by the constant and universal practice of Believers in the Apostles daies for no sooner were any Jews or Gentiles converted to Christ but assoon as they had opportunity they joyned to or congregated into Churches So Acts 2.41 42. it is said that they were daily added to the Church vers 47. and Acts 5.14 This is evident in the places where the Apostles preached amongst the Jews and Gentiles and the Gospel was received that assoon as a number were converted they congregated as being the first work they were to do after they had received Christ Jesus the Lord. Col. 2.6 and ever after they were called Churches of Christ and Temples of God a multitude of them you read of in the Acts Epistles of Paul and in the Revelation And what they did therein was by the doctrine and advice of the Apostles and according to what they taught them from and in the name of Christ 1 Cor. 11.23 2 Pet. 1. ult Now what they did and practised by Apostolical direction and with the approbation of Jesus Christ hath the binding force and power of a divine precept 1 Cor. 11.1 Heb. 6.12 It was the universal practice of the primitive Saints to joyn themselves to some Church of Christ insomuch that we can hardly find any one of them continuing out of a Church-state any time after their conversion We seldome read in divine histories of any believers but what had relation to one Church or other planted and watered by the Apostles or Evangelists 1 Cor. 3.6 By which said universal practice we may conclude that particular Churches of Believers are of Gods owne Institution For the Saints of God durst not do then as many dare do now namely to live in the willful neglect of so great a Duty and priviledg the love and fear of God and the will of Christ easily perswaded them to give up themselves unto Christ in universal obedience unto his whole revealed will And they could not congregate and joyn into Churches nor abide and worship God in them in faith and obedience unless they had known that what they did therein was the will of Christ and their duty Fourthly This Truth is further confirmed by the Laws Rules and Orders that Jesus Christ hath given to his Churches as Churches and not as to individual and single Believers Almost all the Epistles of Paul are written for and directed to Believers as inchurched and incorporated into bodies and distinct congregations and he directs his Epistles to them under the stile and Title of Churches To the Church of God which is at Corinth 1 Cor. 1.2 and To the Church of the Thessalonians 1 Thes 1.1 In which Epistles are all the Laws Rules and Orders for all the members of the Churches walking and practice contained which shall be afterwards opened when I come to speak of the duties of Churches and the Epistles of Paul to Timothy are written and sent to him to direct him how to behave himself in the House of God and to shew him what his work and duty was in the Church 1 Tim. 3 14 15. So other Epistles are given to the Churches that they might know how to behave themselves in that state and Relation There are Rules and Laws for their faith and Love and orders for their walkings and practices There they are Instructed and taught how to carry themselves towards God the Father and Jesus Christ their Head and Ruler towards their Pastors and Teachers and towards one another as fellow-Members There they have laid down their particular works and duties towards God and Men and shewed how they should perform them as also motives and encouragements to move and quicken them to diligence and faithfulness in the practice of them And although all sorts of duties are there laid down and commanded namely such as respect other Relations and Capacities as of husband and wife parents and children c. yet the chief and great end matter and scope of them are intended for them as Believers in a Church-state and Relation as will further appear when I come to speak of the special and particular duties of Church Members as such Now then if God hath given his Laws Rules and Orders unto Churches or to Believers as in a Church state and condition for their holy and regular walking towards God and one another as in that relation then undoubtedly particular congregated Churches of Believers are of God and of divine Institution For surely the holy and jealous God would never so far own and priviledge the devices and Institutions of men in matters that so nearly concern his worship and Glory as to dignify them with his holy Laws and Ordinances as he hath done to his own Churches that are of his own Institution and appointment Fifthly This Truth is further ratifyed and confirmed by the Officers he hath given to them for their well-being ordering and managing of Church-affairs and concernments in his name for his glory and their profit These Officers are specified and enumerated in Eph. 4.11 1 Cor. 12.28 Phil. 1.1 1 Tim. 3.1 Tim. 5.17 and elsewhere as in Acts 20.17 c. And they are not given by men but God authorized impowred by him to act and officiate as such in the Church 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set them in his Church And Acts 20.28 says Paul to the Elders of the Church at Ephesus Take heed to your selves and to the
Church over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ad pascendam Ecclesiam Dei to feed the Church of God And in Eph. 4.11 he that is Christ vers 10. gave Pastors and Teachers for the work of the Ministry vers 11. And as they are given authorized and sent of God or set by him in the Churches so he hath allotted and appointed them their several distinct works and businesses there and charged them to take heed and see they do it as he appoints Acts 20.17 18. Rom. 12.7 8. Heb. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17 and takes special care about their qualifications for their work 1 Tim. 3. Tit. 1. yea he gives and bestows Gifts and abilities himself on them for the Churches sakes that they may be able ministers of the New-Testament not of the letter only but of the Spirit and promises to be with them himself in all their endeavours to discharge their Trust and perform their works Eph. 4. Rom. 12. Mat. 28. vlt. and will bless and prosper their labours to his Glory and the Churches benefit Now assuredly God would never have made such provisions for Churches of humane Invention and setting up he would never so far own the works of mens hands without his mind Authority appointment and therefore seeing God hath provided and set Officers in them appointed them their works qualified fitted them by his Spirit promised to be with them particular Churches of Believers must be of divine Institution of God not of men Sixthly This further appears by the order and discipline Christ hath appointed and required to be observed and practised in his Churches He hath appointed and given Officers unto them as before-said and to them hath he committed the use exercise and power of the Keys to open and shut his door to execute his Laws and to manage his concernments and houshold-affairs therein namely in his Name and by the Authority he hath given them for that end and purpose and he hath charged the Churches to Obey and submit themselves to them in the Lord in the exercising of their power and Authority in his name to his Glory and the Churches profit according to his direction Heb. 13.7 17. 1 Thes 5.12 These Officers or Elders have the power and Authority of Christ in their hands to correct offenders to instruct admonish and reprove and in case of obstinacy to cast them out or remove them from their membership in the Churches which the Churche's suffrage and upon Repentance to receive them in again Mat. 16.18 19. 1 Cor. 5.4 5.7 12 13. 2 Cor. 2. The neglect of which Christ reproves the Churches of Asia for Rev. 2.14 20. And as the Churches have by their Elders the orders and discipline of Christ with power and Authority to use and exercise the same so each particular Church hath power to chuse and appoint Officers for themselves namely such as they judge the Lord Jesus hath appointed and fitted for them such as he offers and presents to them and gives a place and interest in their hearts Acts 14.23 Acts. 6.3 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quumque ipis per susfragia creassent per singulas Ecclesias Beza a Church may Authoritatively do that which Believers cannot so do in a single and individual capacity as Believers but they may as a congregated Body and as an incorporated society who have voluntarily given up themselves and engaged to one another to Jesus Christ by the Will of God to submit to walk together by the same Laws and Rules of the Society or Corporation These have not singly but joyntly as a Corporation the power and exercise of discipline When ye are come together deliver such a one to Satan in the Name of the Lord Jesus 1 Cor. 5.4 and if he will not hear thee tell it to the Church c. Mat. 16. So then if Christ hath given Rules laws and power of order and discipline to particular congregated Churches of Believers then they are of divine Institution And indeed spiritual discipline cannot elsewhere be rightly exercised Seventhly This Truth is further confirmed by their names and honourable Titles God the Father and Jesus Christ his Son calls them by their own names and so owns them for their own Churches 1 Cor. 3.16 17. Know ye not that ye are the Temple of God If any man defile the Temple of God him shall God destroy for the Temple of God is holy which Temple ye are So 2 Cor. 6.16 And as Jesus Christ honours them with the high stile and Title of his holy Temple so also his Habitation Eph. 2.22 and his Houshold Eph. 2.19 as also the Houshold of Faith Gal. 6.10 And further he intitles them his Churches or the Churches of God and Christ and golden Candlesticks Rev. 1.20 Rom. 16.16 1 Cor. 11.16 2 Thes 1.4 And that in allusion to the old Temple and Candlesticks thereof which were of his own appointment Moreover a particular congregated Church of Believers is called the House of God 1 Tim. 3.5.15 Heb. 3.5 6. and Christ his Walks Rev. 2.1 These were particular Congregational Churches that he thus owns and honours with such Titles viz the particular Churches of Ephesus Corinthians Thessalonians Eightly Believers as inchurched or incorporoted Bodies are spoken to by name the great dis overies made of Gods purposes and intended works in the latter daies are directed and given to them by the Spirit Hence it is often said in the Revelations he that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches which were distinct incorporated Bodies and Societies of Believers Rev 2.7 17 29. Rev. 3.6 13 22. The Holy Ghost reveals to them the rice name nature and works of Antichrist what he should be and what he should do from whence he should come what he should do to the Churches Temple and beloved City of God and what his end should be There he describes the New Jerusalem and Church-state of Gods People and what he would do with and for them There they are shewed largely and abundantly the care and Love of Christ to his People of the warr and conflicts that shall be between the Dragon Beasts Whore false Prophet and Jesus Christ and his followers as also the Issue of all as you may find in that book of the Revelations All which shews that particular Churches of Believers are of God For the Holy Spirit would never own the Inventions of men so farr as to make known to them such great things as he there declares unto the Churches Ninthly If particular congregational Churches had not been of divine Institution but of mens devising then surely Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit would have sharply reproved them for their setting up their posts by God posts as he did the Jews Ezek. 43.8 and as he reproved them for their miscarriages in their Church-state Rev. 2.3 and the Corinthians and Galatians c. But we never find them reproved or
his Glory Isa 46.13 and that because they were a Church of his own planting and a Covenant people and for Abraham Isaac and Jacob and the little Remnant sake of Believers that were amongst them and who glorify him indeeed in Truth God bestows his Grace stamps his Image and infuses his Holynesse into men to meeten them for his Temple and Temple-work and then formes and sets them up in his own beauty and Glory in a Church-state that there as a Body compact they may shine forth to his Glory and praise in the World As many glittering daimonds in a gold Ring do shine more gloriously upon a mans hand than a hundred times so many more scattered up and down here and there would do so a company of men which are made pretious stones fitted for a House of God being well and orderly set in a Church-state or in a House of God do shine more gloriously there than many more can do in a single and individual capacity and standing alone to the honour and glory of God 3. God Institutes and builds Believers into Spiritual Houses for his peoples Spiritual profit and advantage that God may there Impart his Loves Cant. 7.12 and communicate his grace Truths and Counsels unto them as to his avowed and publique houshold and family Eph. 2.19 Christ Walkes and God the Father Dwells there the Holy Spirit Speaks to them in an especial and frequent manner Rev. 2.1 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 2.7.11 c. And assuredly Jesus Christ does not walk nor God the Father dwell there empty handed but distributes plentifully of their Love and fullness As great princes where they go and lodge they will give like themselves unto the houshold Servants and much more will God as some can and more may experience The Church-enjoyments of serious holy men are the fairest fullest clearest and strongest of all they have at any times and that because God dwells there as in his holy and delightful Temple and walks there as in his pleasant Gardens and Walks and where God mostly Dwells and Walks and takes most pleasure there he imparts most of his Love and Grace It is said in 1 Kings 8.10 11. That the Glory of the Lord filled the House of the Lord so that the Priest could not stand to Minister because the glorious presence of God was so exceeding great there and his distributions of Love and Grace to Solomon and other Saints so many and great as that the people went home joyfull and glad of Heart vers 66. and in the 2 Chron. 7.16 says God speaking of the Temple mine Eyes and mine Heart shall be there perpetually Now if God did so now that material Temple made of Wood and Stone as to manifest his Glory so much there impart so richly of his Love and Grace to his people and promised to dwell there continually how much more will he do so unto his New-Testament Churches of Believers They shall find that prophetical promise made good to them in Psal 102.16 When the Lord shall build up Zion he shall appear in his Glory Besides a Church-state is a safe as well as a thriving comfortable state for a Church of Christ rightly and duely formed and made up is a Garden enclosed Cant. 4.12 a Spring shut up a Fountain sealed or barr'd Whilst Wood and Stones lie scattered abroad they may be stollen and carried away from the owner so while Believers walk apart and lie up and down scatteringly they are in great danger of being seduced and lead away from Christ with some of the errors of the wicked and so in measure full from the Truth of Christ 2 Pet. 3.17 but now in a Church-state or formal House of God they are safer and more secure because there they are hedged in with the discipline of Christ there they are watched over by their fellow-members and by the Officers of Christ who are their overseers and watchmen there they are as in the orderly Instituted Family or houshold of Christ in the way and walks of Christ and under the Eye and with the special presence of Christ Whilst an Army of Souldiers walk as single and individual Persons scattered abroad they lie open to destruction by their Enemies but when they are formed up and walk together under officers and military discipline every one knowing his place and keeping it knowing the commands of their General and observing them they are safe and ready to defend themselves and offend their Enemies Particular and rightly constituted Churches of Believers are like an Army with Banners Cant. 6.4 10. marching under the constant conduct of Jesus Christ their Captain General Eph. 1.22 23. Heb. 2.10 4. They are formed and set up by Jesus Christ to be the only Seats and Subjects as of his glorious presence so of his Laws Ordinances Power and Authority that they might receive observe and obey his Laws declare before all men their owning of him for their Lord by their open and publique profession of and subjection unto him as such and that by their distinct and singular following of him in incorporated Bodies they might manifest to all men that they are his Subjects and disciples that they have chosen him for their Lord and King and his Law for their Rule and Obedience that they are not their own but his and that they have taken up in him as in their happiness and eternal Blessedness Col. 2.6 1 Cor. 6.19 20. 2 Cor. 5.15 That they are called out of the World Joh. 15.19 and set apart by his Grace for himself to live unto him and that they have taken upon themselves his holy Yoke and the observation of all his Laws So likewise that his subjects might with one mind and mouth together present their service and homage unto him as their only Lord Head and King For Churches as Churches or Believers walking according to his appointment and direction in Churches are capable of his holy Supper that glorious Pledge and Seal of his Love and Grace to them it is called the Communion of the Body and Blood of Christ 1 Cor. 10.16 and says the Apostle to the particular congregated Church at Corinth we being many are one Bread and one Body vers 17. That great ordinance of the Lords Supper is not given to Believers as such only but unto Believers as in a Church-state or incorporated into a Body or Communion together having the name form and order of a Church of Christ and House of God The Israelites were not to permit any to Eat the passover until they became members of their Church Exod. 12.47 48. Neither will Christ Jesus have any to Eat his Supper out of a Church-State where and when they may have it in a Church-State And as was noted before it is observable that almost all the principal Doctrines and Laws of the New-Testament are given and directed unto the Churches or to Believers as inchurched as also Teachers and Ruling Elders are provided for and given
to the Churches and there the Lord Jesus comes and observes how they are received and obeyed Rev. 2.23 5. God hath Instituted and formed up Believers into Churches that he may feed and nourish them there as his flocks that he may water them as his Gardens support them as his Houses order and govern them as his Familys Housholds and that by his Spirit Ministers They are appointed to water them 1 Cor. 3.6 7. to feed and nourish them Act. 20.17 23. 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. and to rule govern and take the over-sight of them Heb 13.7 17. 1 Thes 5.12 They are to teach and instruct them to warnand caution them to reprove and exhort them to comfort them and build them up with the milk and strong meat of Spiritual sound Doctrine 1 Cor. 3.1 2. Heb. 5.12 13 14. and that by their speaking unto them as to their own flocks and peculiar Churches and charges from and under Christ the Truths of Christ in Love they may grow up into him in all things Eph. 4.15 So also for Believers regular and orderly walking Col. 2.5 God is a God of Order and he loves to see his People walking orderly and regularly conforming themselves to his Laws and Government And if earthly Governours by the Light of Nature are careful to set up and give unto their Subjects Laws and Orders for their regular and orderly walking and love greatly to see them so to walk under their Laws and Government in their Cities and politick Bodies how much more careful is Jesus Christ to set his People in order and method and how pleasing and delightful must it needs be to Jesus Christ to see his Subjects walk orderly and regularly in his Cities and Spiritual Bodies that are of his own appointment These are some of the ends of God in instituting and erecting of Churches Many other might be named and insisted on but that I may not exceed my Intentions Fourthly The Churches of Jesus Christ must consist of new-Creatures and sincere-hearted Believers Because they can and will answer and prosecute these aforesaid and such like holy ends of God in and by his Churches I say these can and will because they are fitted and qualified in measure by the grace and Spirit of Christ to aim at and effectually to prosecute these holy ends of God but so cannot others neither would they if they could because they have not the saving Knowledge nor practical Wisdome of Christ in them they are strangers in Heart to Jesus Christ and the Power of Godlyness All others at the best have but a name to live but are dead at the Root Rev. 3.1 Matth. 8.22 neither are they made a willing People to joyn Issues and comply with the holy ends of God Psal 110.3 because God hath not by reason of their wickednesse and obstinacy wrought in them to will and to do as he hath in his peculiar people they are not yet wrought by God for this self same thing as real Saints are Phil. 2.13 2 Cor. 5.5 they are not renewed in the Spirit of their minds after the Image of Him that Created them as Saints are Col. 3.10 But now real and peculiar Believers are fitted and framed moulded and pollished by the Holy Ghost for their growing up into a holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2.21 and so by the constant and promised guidance and conduct of their living head Jesus Christ with their Spiritual qualifications they are enabled to answer and perform the great ends of God in erecting and building them up in Churches When a wise man builds a House he will propound some ends to himself in his so doing and accordingly he will make use of and lay in such materials and so form and build it as that it may effectually answer his ends if he be able Now if he build it with hay and stubble or with rotten wood althought it may stand a while yet be sure it will not stand long nor answer his ends So the great master builder who is the Alsufficient and only wise God propounded great and holy ends to himself in Instituting and building of Churches and Temples and these such as should irrefrustrably be obtained notwithstanding all possible contingencies Interveniencies whatsoever for says God my purpose shall stand and I will do all my pleasure Isa 46.10 I will build Churches and Temples for my Glory to dwell in them and walk in them to have peculiar Love homage and service from them to have their free hearty and chearful obedience and Respects that I might enrich them with my Grace build them up in Faith and Godlyness delight in an refresh my self with them make them a praise in the Earth and Glorify the Houses of my Glory Isa 60.7 That there I may set my ministery and Officers and that among them I may set my Laws Rules and Ordinances But hypocrites and formalists will never answer nor prosecute these ends as I found by experience among the Old-Church-Members of the Jews I cannot look for it nor expect it from them for they are a people of an other Spirit they slight my Grace and reject my easy yoke and therefore they shall not be honoured with membership in my Churches in my particular Gosspel Churches but if they creep in as many will do I will loath and abhor their presence I will root them up cast them out and that into everlasting fire for whatever they profess to be yet I know that they are not for my Turn and will stand me in no stead there but to provoke me to wrath with their Hypocrisy and make fuell for the fire of my Jealousy Therefore my New-Testament-Churches shall be built only of Holy and Spiritual materials not of dead but living Stones 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.1.5 such as my Word and Spirit shall pollish and prepare for that work and Service that so by them I may obtain my Holy ends and carry on my great designes I know that my peculiar People will receive submit unto and obey my Laws that they will Love and honour me that they will shine as lights in the World and that they will give me kind and cordial entertainment and that will cleave to and not forsake me Therefore they shall be my Churches Fifthly Because all the Laws Ordinances and Works of Church-Members are holy Spiritual and Heavenly They are such as the natural Man understands not cannot discern what they are and that because they are such and they that are not taught of God savingly and powerfully to understand and make a Judgment of them do think and Judge of them carnally and vainly 1 Cor. 2.9 end But Believers have them written in their Minds and Hearts beforehand they have them not without Book I mean they have the same Laws of Christ written in the books of their hearts which they find in the Bible Jer. 31.33 Heb. 8.10 11. Heb. 10.16 by which they are capacitated and in some measure enabled to
at all for if they are as a Common without any bounds or property as they must be if not fixed and tyed some where how many absurdities will unavoidably follow As first while they are in this moving and wandering condition they are not a House or Temple of God but scattered Stones and Timber and so cannot bear the name and honour of a Holy Temple and Church of God 2. They cannot whilest in such a condition be called owned or accounted a Holy Church and Temple of God either by God or Men. 3. Neither shall they have neither indeed can they expect or look for Church-blessings and priviledges or claim the Good of the promises made to Saints as a formed fixed Temple or House of God as that God should dwell walk with amongst them as he hath promised to do in his Churches and Temples 2 Cor. 6.16 Rev. 2.1 Eph. 2.22 Neither can they orderly participate of the Lords Supper for that Ordinance belongs to the fixed housholds of God not to scattered Saints occasionally meeting together as Saints only without any tye or obligation one to another and to their Ministers that should Minister it unto them these and other priviledges they cannot claim while they walk irregularly and disorderly 4. They make the ordinance Institution of particular Churches null and void and of no force and vertue at all and so Christ hath Instituted and appointed them in vain that they are of no use profit or concernment unto Saints For it will inevitably follow I think that in case their loose walkings without any fixed order or obligation on each other to live together as a distinct houshold or Family of God be the condition wherein they should live and walk that then they have found out a better way to live and walk in for the glory of God and their own profit than Jesus Christ hath done and so they do practically controul him and in effect say that they are wiser than Christ the Wisdom of God for they have found out a more pleasing and profitable way for themselves than Christ appointed and instituted for them so that Jesus Christ and the holy Ghost might have spared their pains in that matter so the Institution and the Love Wisdome care and Authority of Christ in that case are all thrown down to the ground 5. There can be no Discipline orderly or profitably exercised amongst Believers while in an unchurched state and condition For how can offended persons after the first Second Admonition tell the Church of an offending person his Sin and obstinacy and of their dealings with him to bring him to Repentance as commanded Matth. 18.15 16 17. if there be no fixed Church to which they do belong and how can the cause be heard and the offender dealt withall according to that charge by the Church when there is none What power have any Believers one over another but by their mutual consent and engagement one to another to give and take Reproofs and Admonitions to and of one another or how can they call Offenders to an account and require their attendance and subjection to their executing the Laws of Christ upon them unlesse they are a formed Body and by virtue of their joynt Relation not as Believers only but as united and engaged Believers to one another in that Society The Rulers of a Corporation may not exercise Authority or execute their Corporation Laws on such persons as have no Relation to them although they are the Kings subjects as well as those that are incorporated Neither may a thousand persons in a place exercise Jurisdiction over each other because they live and often converse together Neither have many Believers such power over each other while they walk as so many single individual persons without a Church-relation to one another as they might have in a Church-relation as the forementioned Text evinces Besides 6. The officers or Ministers of Christ will not be able to discharge their work and duty unto them while they walk loosely and disorderly For how can they watch and feed them as their own particular Flocks and charge unless there be a fixed Relation between them and they know where to find them which they cannot do unlesse their flocks be tyed to them and have mutually chosen each other as was said before the officers are to administer in the name of Christ unto them in an especial manner and they are to wait on and submit to their regular ministration Church-Officers must officiate in the Church and all must know and work within their own bounds and to their own charge So the Elders of the particular congregated Church at Ephesus were charged to feed and watch over that particular Church as their own peculiar flock and charge Acts 20.17 28. and so were the several Angels or Officers of these other Churches mentioned in the Revelations all which are called Churches which had matter and form And besides these evil consequences there are many other that I could name if it were needful and time would permit which would sufficiently evince the Truth pleaded for Now I shall proceed to shew how Believers should by the Holy Ghost form up themselves into a Church-state or Temple of God for his Glory and their own profit and Spiritual welfare or what the form of a Church is and wherein it lies Shew them the form of the House and the fashion of it and the goings out thereof and the comings in thereof and all the forms thereof and all the Laws thereof and all the Ordinances thereof Ezek. 43.11 First the persons intending to joyn themselves together to become a Church or Temple of God for his Name and Glory and the Spiritual good of their own Souls and for the orderly celebration of all the Lords appointments and worship in a Church they should be satisfied in each others fitnesse that they are such as Jesus Christ hath received Rom. 15.16 and Regenerated Joh. 3.3 wrought and made ready for it 2 Cor. 5.5 that they are united to Christ by Faith and sanctified to his use Members of Christ and heirs of the Kingdom I say they should be satisfied in a charitable Judgment that they are such that so they may take each other and have their hearts kint to one another in Spiritual real Love as such and so have confidence in and of each other that they will live together as such in their Church-state God would not have an Oxe and an Asse draw together in ore Yoke neither will he have visible Saints and Sinners joyn together and build him a Gospel-Church or holy Temple to dwell in What have the uncircumcized to do in the Lords Holy Temple with the circumcized If Gods house must be a holy Temple yea holynesse to God Isa 63.15 then it must consist of and be formed of holy persons for unclean and unholy persons cannot make a holy spiritual house for his glorious presence Therefore such as
hope I may affirm and assert without reflection on or offence to such as are otherwise minded if any such there be that fear God Believers being thus built and formed together are now become a holy Temple of God and are accordingly owned by him as such and now they are the seat and subject of all the Laws and Ordinances power and Authority that Jesus Christ hath given to and for his Churches use and benefit I mean they or this Church so formed and built have all these essentially though not formally until Christ set one or more teaching Elders in it for the orderly using and managing of that his power and Authority given to the Church Yet I say I think that it doth essentially reside in them as the first subject of the Keys for I find the keys given unto them for the use and behoof of the Church Matth. 16.18 19. which said power of the Keys cannot be given only to Peter nor unto the universal or Catholick Church that it should use them as such for that is impossible but they were given to particular Churches as formed up of Believers namely to such as could have matters brought to and be received and heard by them from an offended Brother Matth. 18.15 16 17. and such a Church is here meant as had power to deal with a sinning member in case of obstinacy and therefore the Catholick Church as such is nor there intended Now this Church spoken of hath power to elect and call such persons out from amongst themselves to use and exert the power and authority of Jesus Christ already given them and Ministring to them in the Name of the Lord as they judge the Lord Jesus hath fitted qualified for given to and sent amongst them and invested with Authority and abilities for their Good I say they have power to elect and call such to office power over them in the Lord and that they ought with all convenient speed after they are built up to do it because till that be done they cannot orderly and regularly administer or receive the Seals of the Covenant for all cannot exert and exercise that power that doth essentially reside in themselves as a Church neither can any private Member while such and therefore it must be done by Officers or one in Office that is called set apart and wholly dedicated to the work of the Ministry amongst them Therefore they may and ought to look out from among themselves and call to Office such as they judge Christ hath sent them Act. 6.3 Act. 14.23 CHAP. V. Shewing what Officers Christ hath appointed for and given to his Gospel-Churches and what are their Offices and works in a Holy Temple of God 7. QUest What officers hath Jesus Christ given to the Church Answ The Lord Jesus hath by his Sovereign Authority given to his Church Pastors and Teachers Ruling Elders and Deacons All which Officers are invested with different power and entrusted with different works in the Church Now the Teaching-ruling Officers have several names and appellations given them according to the particular parts and branches of their work in the Church As Pastors Teachers Elders Bishops Guides All these names are given to the same Persons and Officers in the Church Sometimes they are called Pastors and Teachers Eph. 4.11 sometimes Elders 1 Tim. 5.17 1 Pet. 5.1 sometimes Bishops or Overseers Act. 20.28 sometimes Guides Heb. 13.7 17. and they are of the same sort order and degree their work office and power the same for although they have different names in sound yet not of work power and Authority in the Church The persons are the same their office power and authority the same and their work the same The Scripture doth no where give one ordinary teaching Officer more power and Authority than another or set one sort of Teaching Elders over another sort nor give them distinct and different work to do in the Church but so as that whatever power or work a Bishop hath in the Church to exercise and do the same hath an Elder or Pastor also Hath a Bishop power and authority to command and Teach so hath an Elder too hath a Bishop I mean one of Christs making the ordering of Church-matters and managing the discipline thereof so hath an Elder also 1 Tim. 5.17 for they are the same Besides Teaching Elders the Lord Jesus hath given and appointed meer ruling Elders to his Church also for the well-being peace and establishment of the Church and to assist and help the Teaching ruling Elders in looking after taking care of the concernments of the Church called Helps 1 Cor. 12.28 and they are expresly called Ruling Elders distinctly from the Teaching ruling Elders 1 Tim 5.17 and Helps Governments in 1 Cor. 12.28 and in Rom. 12.8 it is said he that ruleth let him do it with diligence and distinguisheth them from Treaching Ministring and exhorting Rulers for Teachers have the power of rule and discipline as well as the meer ruling Elders in 7 8. verses And the Apostle speaks not there of different Offices in the same persons though that is a Truth but of different persons and Officers for says he let the Teachers wait on their Teaching Ministring and exhorting that is as it is their great and principal work as indeed it is and therefore to ease them a little of the ruling part of their work and that they may the more fixedly and chearfully attend unto and perform that other part of their work namely to teach and Minister in the Church the Lord Jesus hath appointed some to attend only ordinarily to the work of ruling to keep all in order in the Church and therefore charges them to do it with diligence Rom. 12.8 Besides these the Lord hath given Deacons to his Church also Act. 6. 1 Tim. 3.8 to 14. vers and Phil. 1.1 for another kind of work namely to attend Tables to look after the poor and provide for them to dispose of the Churches distributions and charity for the profit of the whole and relief of the poor of the Church 8. Quest How ought Pastors and Teachers to be qualified or what is required unto their right constitution and officiating in the Church as such Officers Answ First They must be furnished with Ministerial Gifts for their work namely such as Christ promised and ascended up to Heaven to give unto men for the work of the Ministery and which he received of the Father for them even then when he gave all things into his hand Joh. 3.35 which are absolutely necessary for all that take upon them the great work of the Ministry and the care and charge of Souls or to oversee and edifie the Body of Christ These Gifts are spiritual which they receive not from men but from Christ their Lord who sends them as his Stewards into his houshold to give them meat in due season Matth. 24. as his servants into his vineyard to dresse prune and order it to keep and
their Ministry to the glory of Christ and the profit of the Church And if they have not power to and do not exercise the Authority and execute the Laws of Christ to see too and require orderly walking of all the Members and Authoritatively to deal with Offenders and Transgressors of his Laws who hath power or can do it A Church of Believers as hath been shewed is a Family a Corporation and houshold of God and it is known to all men that all Families and incorporated bodies of men do or ought to live under and submit unto the Laws Orders and Discipline of those Families and Corporations whereunto they belong and in order thereunto they have such among them as have power and Authority to exercise Discipline and execute Laws to Command Order and Appoint what where when and how matters and things shall be done amongst them for the good of the whole I think that the Discipline of a Family or Church of God ought most carefully to be attended too and practised and who shall exercise it but his Ministers and Overseers Act. 20.17 28. It is true that Christ hath set in his Church also another sort of Rulers which I think are said to be helps to which Governments is joyned 1 Cor. 12.28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That is as I judge God hath chiefly entrusted the ruling power in the Church in the hands of his Teaching Elders and impowered others to help and assist them namely such as are called Ruling Elders in 1 Tim. 5.17 For they have need enough of such helps in their well governing a Church of Christ Of which more afterward This is another part or parcel of Teaching-Elders work Thirdly Their work is to Watch I say to watch over the Church They are the Churches Watchmen to take the oversight of them and to make inspection into them Acts 20.17 28 31. 2 Tim. 4.5 1 Pet 5.2 They are to watch the Wolves and Devil that would come amongst them to sow false Doctrines and Divisions to the breaking of their Peace and spoiling their Communion and that would corrupt their faith and leaven their judgments and drive them away from the Sheep-fold Acts. 20.29 30 31. Tit. 1.10 11 12 13. They must also watch their walkings and conversations and see if they are such as becomes the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1.27 or whether they be reprovable and scandalous so also if they keep to and practise their several duties to God and one another or neglect them that they may from Christ encourage the obedient and rebuke the negligent 1 Thes 5.14 They must also watch and make inspection into the state and condition of their Souls and see how matters go or stand with them that they may know how to administer Remedies to them as their cases do require They should enquire into their growth or decayes in grace whether the word Ordinances of Christ do profit or disprofit them as much as possible they should know what use and improvement they make of their Gospel-mercies as also their Tryals and Temptations their faith and judgments whether they continue found and sincere The Elders of a Church of Christ must not only carry about the names of watchmen but they must do and attend with diligence the real and full work of watchmen they are set by him upon his walls to watch and inspect his Church which indeed is no easie work but full of care trouble pains and difficulty And therefore 't is no wonder the Apostle says who is sufficient for these things for they are to take care of all the spiritual and soul-concernments of the whole Church Fourthly They are to endeavour the preservation of all the Truths and Ordinances of Jesus Christ amongst them and to maintain them in their power and purity in the Church When they know any truth or matter of faith or practice doubted of or called into question by any in the Church they must with all possible care wisdom faithfulness and diligence endeavour the removal of the doubts and questions maintain the Truths and establish all the Members of the Church in them for should the errours at any time sowen among them be let alone and suffered to take Root in their heads they will eat into the heart like a Canker or 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cancer or Gangrene To prevent which the Apostle charges Timothy and Titus and all Elders of Churches in them to hold fast the form of sound words 2 Tim. 1.13 And to hold fast the faithful word Tit. 1.9 That by sound Doctrine they may convince Gainsayers And this was alwayes Paul's care and practice as was shewed either to prevent the corrupting of Truth and mens Souls with errours or to overthrow and root them up where they were entertained Thus the Ministers of Christ ought to do now and that for Christ his Truths and Churches sakes Fifthly They must administer all Church-Ordinances with all possible diligence care zeal and faithfulness It is their work and place to do it and therefore they must not be careless or negligent but watch seek for and observe all opportunities for the doing of it that the Church suffer no detriment by their neglects which they will quickly do if neglected as experience shews They must not only care to Preach well but to administer all other Appointments of Christ also in their seasons for all the Ordinances of Jesus Christ are the Churches food and provisions and the means and way appointed by him for the Communicating and dispensing of his Grace Spirit yea and himself unto their Souls and indeed without the Ordinances of the house the house or Church cannot subsist and they are the authorized Stewards of the house to give the Lords Houshold all their provisions in due season that they may be fat and flourishing under his keeping and Donations 1 Cor. 4.1 2. Mat. 24.45 Psal 92 12 13 14. 1 Tim. 3.5 Every Church Ordinance is a Golden Pipe to convey light life and holiness into Believers hearts and as Breasts to convey nourishment to the Soul They are spiritual Ladders to carry the hearts and graces of Believers up to Heaven and lodge their minds and affections there and they are as the Ark where God will come and meet his people Esa 64.5 Therefore they must be carefully frequently and holily dispensed and administred by them who are set there to do it Sixthly They must stand between God and the Church with holy hearts hands and tongues lifted up to Heaven for the Church or in their behalf and that privately and publickly For their work and office is not only to Minister to them from Christ but they are to present their wants desires and gratitude to God for them also which is no easie work to do They must pray and wrestle with God for them as for their own Souls and carry them upon their hearts and souls in their secret addresses to God and plead with God importunately for them
are mistaken for there is no work in the world so full of care and trouble as a consciencious Minister is nor any that requires more diligence circumspection watchfulness and faithfulness than his They work and labour in Divine Mysteries and they work for Christ and Souls Their matters lye above the reach of carnal and meer rational understandings above the reaches of humane Arts and Sciences and they are alwayes consulting and conversant about new matters and things Oh what need have they of the Churches prayers 3. Because the Churches profit and Souls benefit is much concerned in their Teachers Administrations For God ordinarily speaks to the Churches hearts through or by their hearts as well as by their mouths The more they have of Christ Grace Truth and the Spirit of Christ the more powerful spiritual and profitable they will be in prayer Preaching and in all other Ministrations unto them Act. 14.1 Fourthly It is the will of Christ and their indispensible duty to know obey and submit themselves to their Teaching Elders or Pastours Authority Teaching Government and to all their regular and orderly Ministrations in the Lord. The Church owes them subjection and obedience and that as they are set over them by Christ and by him made their Teachers and Rulers and sent by him to take the charge and oversight of them and to Administer his holy Ordinances to them in his name for their good Heb. 13.7 17. Remember them that have the Rule over you or are Guides unto you as the words also signifie Obey them that have the Rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your Souls as they that must give account that they may do it with joy and not with grief for that is unprofitable for you Without Government and Governours power and Authority Laws and Orders and without subjection and obedience in and of the Members of all sorts of Corporations and Societies of men in the world whether civil or Ecclesiastical they will be but confused Routs and Babels There will be can be nothing but confusion and every evil work as James speaks Chap. 3.16 If they are Rulers and have Authority from the Lord Jesus to appoint order and command as 't is clear they have or they are but shadows or cyphers 2 Thes 3.4 6. 1 Tim. 4.11 Tit. 2. ult then they may yea they ought to appoint order and command as they see occasion for the profit and well being of the Church in pursuance of their work and trust And if so then the Church and all the Members thereof are indispensibly bound to yield all free hearty willing and chearful subjection and obedience to them without grudging quarrelling or irregular gain-saying that is they are to eye the will and authority of Christ in and expressed by them and so to conform to it as it is Christs not theirs They must obey them not as gifted men but as the Embassadours Ministers and Officers of Christ and it is Christ and his will and Authority in them that must be the object of their obedience and subjection The neglect whereof is when through carelesness or wilfulness no less than disobedience too yea Rebellion against the Lord Christ himself Luk. 10.16 17. Col. 3.23 24. Great was the love and care of Christ as the head and King of his Churches in providing Lawes Rules and Orders as also in Authorizing and sending some to execute them for their spiritual good and his glory And therefore when Church-Members do slight neglect disobey and practically despise them they do thereby slight contemn and despise the love care and Authority of Christ and Christ accounts it so although those teaching Rulers are not Apostles but ordinary Officers as Luk. 10.16 17. shews when the Lord Jesus went to Heaven he gave gifts to men viz. Ministers and Ministerial abilities to them for the work of the Ministry for the perfecting of the Saints c. Eph. 4.10 11 12. Then he delegated his Ministerial power to men promised to provide such for his Saints and to furnish them with his own gifts yea to be with them himself unto the end of the world Math. 28.18 19 20. Wherefore then the Churches of Christ should receive submit to and obey them in a sense even as Christ himself as they are Authorized gifted granted and sent by him in and about his message work and service in all their lawful commands and appointments and regular Ministrations in and for the Churches He that receiveth you receiveth me says Christ of the 70. Disciples he sent to Preach Luk. 10.16 Math. 10.40 And Paul commends the Galatians for receiving him as an Angel of God even as Christ himself Gal. 4.14 15. and the same Apostle charges Titus to speak and act in the Church with all Authority charging all the Members also not to despise or slight him for or in his so doing Tit. 2.15 If not to despise or slight him then to honour submit to and obey him as Christs and their Minister Well then do the Elders or Pastours of Churches carefully mind and diligently labour in the Word and Doctrine 1 Tim. 5.17 then all the Members of Churches are bound to obey them to submit to and wait on their Ministry and not despise them and it by deserting and withdrawing from it in whole or in part But more of this anon 2. Do they appoint meetings or call their Churches to assemble together for the celebration of any Ordinance of God or to consult about the matters and concernments of the Church for their profit and Christs glory they are bound in duty to do so excepting in extraordinary cases that hinder them as they will answer the contrary contempt to Christ at their peril They must not look on their practical conformity to it as an indifferent matter and stay at home or come at their own will and pleasure but actually obey such a call or summons as Christ's not dispute it but obey it not in the pride of their hearts disdain it but readily and chearfully subject to it Obey them that have the rule over you for they watch for your Souls Heb. 13.17 and be sure when they appoint such meetings it is for the Churches advantage 3. Do they appoint or require speech or silence in the Church or any good Orders and Rules to be observed and kept in the name of Christ and by his Authority they are bound to obey them without loading them and obstructing their proceedings with Jangling disputes and oppositions And as in these so in all other matters wherein the honour of Christ the profit of the Church or any Members thereof consists Rulers must see that they command and appoint order and rule wisely and faithfully and keep close to their Commission design and carry on Christ's holy ends in all and as they must rule well so all the Members ruled by them must obey well too And when both do their duties in their places the Lord Christ is
honoured and pleased and all the Church are or may be profited and edified and peace and truth promoted But on the contrary all confusion disorder and disturbances will necessarily follow as sad experience hath abundantly proved in this Land It is a clear and certain truth obvious to all men that if some must rule others must obey And if some are appointed and commanded by the Great and absolute Soveraign to Rule and Govern well then it must of necessity be the indispensible duty of others to submit and obey well All according and in obedience to the Authority and Soveraign will of their Great Law giver the Lord Jesus Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves is as indispensible a duty as any you have to do which I could abundantly confirm by many Scripture Reasons had I room in this Discourse to enlarge on it Fifthly It is the will of Christ and the Churches indispensible duty to simpathize with their Teachers to help and encourage them to strengthen their hands and comfort their hearts and to do all they can to forward them in their work that they may fulfil their Ministry and do their whole duty with joy and not with grief â—ol 4.17 Heb. 13.17 For whatever you do for or against them you do it for or against Christ himself whose Embassadours and Officers they are to you 2 Cor. 5.20 They have his Image of Authority stampt on them and are sent to you by himself about and employed in his work amongst you They labour toyl and sweat to serve and promote the interests and concernments of your Souls and they make it their business to do you all the good they can yea your happiness and welfare is much wrapt up in theirs And therefore when you burden and discourage them you hinder your selves of profit and when you comfort help and encourage them in their Ministerial work you further your own happiness thereby This is clearly intimated by the Apostle in Heb. 13.17 before mentioned Obey them that have the Rule over you for they watch for your Souls that they may do it with joy and not with grief Now mark his Reason why because that will be unprofitable for you The meaning is the better you carry it towards your Teachers who watch for your Souls and the more profitable you are to them the more profitable they will be to you the more useful and comfortable you are to them the more useful and comfortable they will be to you We say it is encouragement that makes a good Oratour and much more doth encouragement from Christians make in a sense good Ministers There is a great deal of difference between working under discouragement and encouragement discouragements from Christians do as it were unhinge Ministers and cause them to Travel in pain like Porters with pressing heavy burdens on their backs Their unkindnesses do greatly cumber and distract them trouble and perplex them discompose and deject them they exceedingly weaken their hands and sadden their hearts and even make their lives a burden to them And that because the true Ministers of Christ do so intirely and heartily love their people as that had they encouragement from them they could freely spend and be spent for them 2 Cor. 12.15 and they do expect a great deal of hearty love and kindness from them again as well they may for that Christ requires it of them towards their Ministers and they spend their time and strength in their service and concernments yea and when they called them to take the oversight of them they engaged so to do But now being disappointed of their so reasonable expectation they cannot but lay it to heart and cry out of wrong as Paul and Jeremy did To prevent which the Lord Jesus charges and strictly enjoyns all his people to see they carry themselves well towards his and their Ministers 1. By avoiding whatever may grieve or trouble them 2. By giving them all possible encouragements 1. Would you encourage and strengthen your Teachers in their work then attend on their Ministry and Ministrations seriously dutifully conscienciously and constantly The neglect of your so doing doth greatly discourage them sadden their hearts and weaken their hands The liberty some take which Christ never gave them to withdraw as they please from their Ministers and rambling up and down here and there as they please either from their prejudice pride ignorance or giddiness of spirit or from a wanton lavish vain spirit from their itching cars as Paul speaks 2 Tim. 4.3 or from the Devil is exceedingly hurtful to them as well as to the Souls of such Transgressors So likewise when they come to their Administrations unseasonably or untimely and do there carry and demean themselves carelesly indifferently and unreverently they cast a stumbling block before them and cause great offence to them Therefore you must attend on their Ministry as on Christs and your own Ministry seriously timely conscientiously diligently freely dutifully and constantly when they Preach and Administer for that is your duty and the contrary is your sin which in time will find you out For you by your so doing walk disorderly scandalously irregularly and contrary to the charge given you Heb. 10.24.25 not forsaking the Assembling of your selves together as the manner of some is You walk out of your folds and prodigally run out of the place where the providence of God hath set you and commanded you to abide and worship him in until he do by some extraordinary dispensation call you off you expose your selves to great danger and tempt the holy Spirit to withdraw his Divine influences from you and I dare peremptorily affirm that while any do so they are back-sliding from God and God is going off from them that they shall never thrive nor prosper in Grace nor have any Ordinances blessed to them and though their wanton disorderly wayes seem right unto them yet they lead to death Prov. 14.12 Moreover such neglects in Church-Members tends directly to the breaking of the Churches of Christ and all good Order Peace and prosperity in them and to the bringing in of all irregularities and confusion to the great scandal of the Gospel dishonour of Christ offence of the faithful and to the breaking of their Ministers hearts Which certainly will have bitterness in the end although it may be pleasing to the offenders a while Oh! how grievous must such courses of Church-Members needs be unto their Pastours who have prayed studied and laboured to make good provision for them to comfort and build up their souls in Christ and that in hopes of finding them there in a readiness to receive it when they come to hand it out to them and then shall either find them gone or else there in an irreverent and careless manner This pierces their hearts and deeply wounds their poor Souls But on the contrary when they see their flocks seriously reverently seasonably and constantly keep their
why should not their reasons be soberly and humbly considred of by you and oblige you to practise unless you can null them and with peace and meekness propound better to them for their satisfaction It is sad when Members of Churches shall be so highly conceited of themselves and their own Notions as that they shall despise and turn as it were a deaf ear to all the reasons of their Elders and delight in being singular from them and their fellow-Brethren in Church-matters and in contending for Victory rather than for Truth This ought not to be For it makes Church-work tedious spoyls the beauty and loveliness of it yea it marrs the Harmony of Church order And this is dishonourable to Christ and the Church and exceedingly grievous to your Teachers who do unfeignedly seek and aim at your good in all and dare not do otherwise for fear of offending Christ their Lord. 7. Encourage them with your Purses also For it is the will of Christ that you should do so They labour for your Souls and spend their time and strength to do you all possible service in their places and capacities and therefore it is most reasonable that you should labour and provide for their bodies They spend for you and therefore you should spend for them They are Shepherds do watch over and wait on you their Flocks And I appeal to any indifferent Judgment if it be not a most reasonable thing that they should live by the milk of their Flocks surely Paul yea the Holy Ghost thought so 1 Cor. 9.7 8. and therefore have declared it for our Learning and practise It was Gods Ordinance under the old Testament and it is ratified and confirmed to men under and by the new Testament also namely that Ministers should be honourably and comfortably maintained by their Congregations The Great God took special care about it and made provisions for their maintenance assoon as he had ordained and set them up and appointed and set them out their work And God strictly-charged his people to see that they did not at any time forget or neglect the Levite but pay them all that he had set out and appointed for them and that then when by reason of Age or other impediments they could not Minister to them and for them as well as when they did Numb 3.6 to the 14. vers Numb 16.9 10. Deut. 26.2.15 vers Deut. 10.8 9. Numb 7.1 2 3 4 5. Deut. 12.19 Deut. 14.26 27 28 29. Deut. 18.1 9. Now Gods care of and goodness to his Embassadours did not dye with the Ceremonial Law but he hath continued it under the Gospel and therein straitly charged his people to provide for them according to their abilities God commands his people to communicate to their Teachers in all good things Gal. 6.6 Let him that is taught in the word communicate to him that Teacheth in all good things And in 1 Cor. 9.14 The Apostle assures us that it is not of men but a real and unchangeable Ordinance of God now by and under the Gospel For says he so hath God ordained that they that Preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel Mark it is ordained God hath made it a Statute Law that cannot be altred neither may it be transgressed under pain of Gods high displeasure And the Apostle argues by the Spirit the justness and the undoubted reasonableness and righteousness of mens so doing and that the evidence of meer Reason and the Dictates of natural Conscience without either written Law or Gospel will abundantly prove and undeniably conclude this Truth against all opposition whatsoever 7.10 verses And proves that it is not matter of gift or charity as it is to give to men in distress to whom we are not endebted nor related but that it is debt and justice or a due debt in strict Justice and that by a threefold Law viz. The Law of Nature the written Law of God in the old Testament and the new Law or Gospel as in this 1 Cor. 9. from the 5. to the 15. vers he evinces so in Gal. 6.6 and Rom. 15.27 And says the Apostle in 1 Cor. 9.11 v. If we have sowen to you spiritual things is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things As if he had said alass These are but light small and low matters that you give us for our pains and labours in comparison of what we do for and dispense to you Your carnal things that you impart to us for our bodies are not comparable to our labour pains and care to impart spiritual Riches to your Souls And therefore if you grudge at your parting with yours to us know that you grudge us small and very inconsiderable things in comparison of what we distribute to you This is another of your works and duties to your Teachers You must therefore do it and that 1. Chearfully and willingly not grudgingly heartily not hypocritically and indifferently dutifully and in obedience to the will of Christ not as an arbitrary thing that you may or may not do at your own will and pleasure Constantly and perseveringly not for some time onely And see that your ends be right in it namely to encourage your Ministers propagate the Gospel to profit Souls to serve please and honour the Lord Jesus and that in the right performance of your duty to Christ his Ministers you may enjoy the good of the promises and the blessings of all Christs Ordinances administred by them But that I may a little more inforce this on your Consciences be pleased to consider First That your Ministers are appointed commanded and they do wholly attend on Christ and the service of your Souls They are said to wait at the Altar 1 Cor. 9.13 and commanded to give themselves wholly to their work of Teaching Ruling Reading Meditation Study and Exhortation that their profiting may appear to all that they may rightly divide the word of Truth and that by so doing they may both save themselves and them that hear them 1 Tim. 4.13 14 15 16. 2 Tim. 2.15 They must Preach the word in season and out of season c. 2 Tim. 1.2 Feed their Flocks and take the care and oversight of them Act. 20.28 1 Pet. 5.1 2. And therefore you must take care of their bodies on whom they attend For you see that they may not cannot follow other Employments to get Bread because they are commanded to do other work for you the greatness difficulty of their own proper work necessitates them to wait on and attend to it with all diligence Therefore you ought to provide for them all suitable supplyes because they cannot may not do it themselves 2. Consider that you are plainly and peremptorily commanded and charged to Communicate to them in and of all your carnal things as you heard before And therefore you are by Christs Authority and revealed will indispensibly bound to do it and that without grudging or gain-saying For a plainer
and a more Indispensible dury is not imposed upon you who are able in the Gospel and therefore you cannot plead ignorance for the breach or neglect of it And if you do not obey your God and King in this as well as in other things how can you be called obedient Children 1 Pet. 1.14 and how shall Christ commend you as he did Zachary and Elizabeth for walking in all his Commandments and Ordinances blamelesly Luk. 1.6 Or how can you expect that Christ should say unto you well done good and faithful servants You have done that which was your duty to do when you know that you lived in the wilful neglect of a known and easie duty 3. Consider that God takes special notice of your doings and carriages towards his Embassadors and your Teachers He is privy to all your wayes and will abundantly reward all your kindnesses and unkindnesses to them and that because they are his and yours Therefore be careful to demean and carry your selves towards them so as that the Lord Jesus may say to you well done good and faithful Servants you have been kind and good respectful and dutiful to my Ministers and to me in them And therefore I will recompence all your work of faith and labour of love to them For what you did to them as they were my Ministers you did to me I take all as done to my self enter into the joy of your Lord. These are some and but some of the Churches duties towards their Pastors or Teaching-Elders For although I have been larger on this head than I intended yet I forbear speaking any more lest some should think I say too much CHAP. VI. Of meer Ruling-Elders and Deacons of their Office Work and Power in the Church How they ought to do their Work and for what ends they are set in the Church As also the Churches duty to them with the necessary qualifications of such Officers Quest WHat other Officers hath Christ appointed for and set in his Church or Churches in the New Testament besides Teaching-Elders Answ The Lord Jesus hath set in his New Testament-Churches Ruling-Elders and Deacons Ruling-Elders or Elders whose chief if not only work is to rule in the Church and to help to Mannage the Discipline thereof with the Teaching-Elders seems to be warranted in the Gospel The Texts that speak most clearly in the case are in the 1 Tim. 5.17 Rom. 12.8 1 Cor. 12.28 In Timothy they seem to be expresly distinguished from Teaching Ruling-Elders Let the Elders that Rule well be counted worthy of double honour especially they who labour in the Word and Doctrine This especially refers to such Ruling-Elders whose work and main business is to Teach and who are especially therefore worthy of double honour for that they have a double work and Office namely Teaching and Ruling But the first part of the words speaks of meer Ruling-Elders who in the faithful diligent and conscientious discharge of their Office and Trust in the Church are counted worthy of double honour and ought to be honoured and respected as such by the Church not as they are Elders but Elders who mind their business and perform their work well and faithfully as becomes Stewards of the house of God In the Romanes the words are these He that Ruleth with diligence In the 6. and 7. verses we have the Apostle speaking to another sort of Officers namely Teachers whose greatest work is to Prophesie Minister and Teach And therefore says he let such wait on that part of their work Then he comes to another sort of Officers and these sayes he are to Rule with diligence Not to attend to Teaching as the others were to do but to Ruling and that with diligence whereby he distinguisheth the one from the other and shews that they are distinct persons and Officers from the Teachers before mentioned In like manner the Apostle seems to me to point out this sort of Office and Officers in the 1 Cor. 12.28 God saith he hath set some in the Church first Apostles Secondarily Prophets Thirdly Teachers then Helps Governments Now what should these helps Governments be as here and elsewhere distinguished from teaching Ruling-Elders but this sort of Ruling-Elders I am speaking of For as every Church of Christ needs Teaching so also Government and Discipline for their order and well being But because the Teaching Elders cannot attend continually to their Ruling work because their Teaching and Ministring other Ordinances diverts them from it so often as need requires therefore hath God set in his Churches meer Ruling Elders that they as Moses his 70. Elders may help to bear the burden and assist the Teaching-Elders in the Discipline and Government of the Church And therefore they are in the Corinths joyned to the Teaching Ruling-Elders and also in the Romanes and they are expresly called Helps Governments for that they are given of God to help their Teachers or Pastors in the Government of the Church And truly it hath its weight with me namely the necessity of such Officers in the Churches to help their Pastors in the Government thereof For as Satan is more busie and vigilant in the Churches to cause disorders therein than in any other Societies of men So there is the more need of diligent and careful Government and Inspection to keep all in order And as was said before the Teaching-Elders cannot so constantly attend to the work of Discipline because of their other work as need requires therefore there is a kind of nenessity of meer Ruling-Elders to help and assist them in the well Ordering and Governing the Church Thus we see that there are such Officers and such an Office in the word of God Quest For what ends hath God set Ruling-Elders in his Church and what is their Office Work and Power there Answ Although the Scripture seems to speak but little of thiâ— matter namely of their work use and ends for which they are set in the Church particularly yet if it be clear that such an Office and Officer distinct from the Teachers are given to and set in the Church by the Lords appointment and that they are Authorized and Empowred by Christ to Act and Officiate there in his Name then I say it is certain they have their special work to do there for they are not set there to have a Name and signifie nothing else but they have their work there as such which they are diligently to attend unto for the benefit of the Church and the glory of Christ their Lord. Now what their work and business is I shall search out and discover as well as I can and that with all possible brevity First then they are expresly called Ruling-Elders or Elders that Rule in the Scripture 1 Tim. 5.17 Now what doth their Name and Office signifie and imply but that they are to assist their Teachers in the orderly Government of the Church as was said before And I think their work lies chiefly in these
Ten things 1. In looking after the Conversations of such as propound themselves to joyn with the Church that the Church admit not any scandalous persons amongst them That if they are such they may be debarr'd and kept out if otherwise together with other qualifications they may be received in This I judge to be one part of their work For certainly it is one part and end of Church-power to keep the Church clear from scandal and offence And they may and ought to do it Authoritatively and not as private Members may do it only 2. In the absence or upon the desire of the Pastor they may admit or take Members into the Church or rather take them into Church-Membership by giving them the right hand of fellowship and shewing them their duty and priviledge in a Church-State And herein they represent the Church and act Authoritatively therein for them This is another part of their Office VVork and Power And it requires good abilities to do it well and to purpose 3. They may when need requires command speech and silence in Church-meetings for the preventing of Disorders and disorderly Members in their words and carriages and they may authoritatively and publickly admonish and reprove such in the face of the Church which private Brethren may not do 4. They may in some cases with the consent of their Pastor or Teacher if at home call and assemble the Church together for the preventing of some apparant evil or promoting of some good thing or work in the Church Or in case the Pastor shall knowingly neglect to do his duty in the case or cases aforesaid doubtless the Ruling-Elders may and ought to do it and the Church ought to obey their call For they do it by the Authority they have from Christ for the good and benefit of the Church But this may not be done by any Member that is not an Elder but in the want of an Elder And when they are assembled together they may authoritatively propound the causes and ends for which they called them there and require their assistance 5. Their work is to inspect and carefully diligently wisely and faithfully to look after the walkings and conversations of all the Members of the Church This is the chief part of their work They are not only to take cognizance of what is brought to them by others Reports but to enquire after them They are bound by virtue of their Place and Office to see if the Members keep close to Church-meetings and reverently attend them and if they do not to Reprove Admonish Exhort them to Teach and Instruct them That they may know their duty be convinced of their sinful neglects repent of and amend them and that by their good Counsels and Exhortations they may be provoked and encouraged to and in their work Ruling-Elders should in this matter as also in comforting the afflicted and speaking words in season to him that is weary be able and also 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 apt to Teach 1 Tim. 3.2 as well as the Pastors The one more privately and particularly and the other more publickly For as the Deacons work is to look after the wants and corporal concernments of the Church and provide for the poor and the Teachers to mind and look after the concernments of their Souls and make provisions for them according to their needs So Ruling-Elders have their work namely to look after the manners of all the Members of the Church To encourage and strengthen the hands of the Tractable and Obedient and to reprove convince and perswade the Disobedient that they may do what they ought 6. And therefore they should often visit them and see how they do and how they walk what they want and wherein they need their assistance and helping hand and when they know it to hold it out unto them freely and readily Certainly Elders should be intimately acquainted with their Congregations and with their walkings also For if any miscarry through their default or neglect the guilt will lie at their Doors and the Lord Jesus will require it at their hands Oh! that Elders would serioufly consider it and lay this matter near their hearts and suffer it to penetrate and pierce their Consciences and that they would consider in good earnest wherefore they are set in the Church and for what ends they have Rule and Discipline put into their hands That under deep Convictions they may be induced to discharge their work and perform their Trusts mind their Duty and prosecute the ends of their appointment that God may be well pleased with and bless them own and delight to use them for his glory in the Church and that they receiving benefit by their wisdom diligence and faithfulness may rejoyce in and bless God for them 7. They must take up Controversies and endeavour to end strifes and debates in the Church when such evils happen which are found too frequent through the Pride and prejudice of our hearts and the Temptations of the Devil who is a great Adversary to the Peace Beauty Order and Prosperity of Churches Ruling-Elders must not suffer any quarrels or contentions either in publick or private either between a few or many but presently interpose their VVisdom and Authority to decide and reconcile the causes and persons and set all in joynt again For such evils if let alone will prove like Cancers in the body and encrease to more ungodliness as the Apostle speaks Therefore the Elders should enquire into them and search out such as did the wrong began the strife and such as they find are adicted to take up prejudices against and foment debates with their Brethren and correct the offenders and releive the wronged and oppressed as they see cause There must be no Hammer no knocking heard in the Temple of God And wee to them who give occasion for strife and debate and to such as do improve occasions in such a manner also so likewise to negligent and careless Elders who do or may know these evils and yet let them alone or seek to heal them in a slight manner as if they had nothing to do with them or were not indeed much concerned in them But surely this is one of your great works as you have the power of Rule and Government in your hands for the good of the Church And you may authoritatively take up Controversies and require the Members of the Church to hearken to you And you may do Christ and the Church great service in this matter Therefore mind it in good earnest 8. Their work is to assist and encourage the Teaching-Elders and to promote and set forward the Gospel in their hands They must stand by and stand up for their Teachers and not suffer them to be wronged obstructed or discouraged by any so far as they can prevent it by their power and wisdom Do any back-bite them Rprove them Do any slight or contemn their Ministry Reprove them shew them the
Spirit They ought to be men of Courage fearing God like Moses his 70 Elders Exod. 18.21 and be free from notorious and apparent Coveteousness and worldly mindednesse They should be eminent in humility and meekness and in other Graces of the Spirit and they should be men of pitty compassion of bowells and mercies as the Apostle speaks They must not be angry passionate persons or men of sower froward and peevish Spirits and carriages for these abominations will very much blemish them and cause prejudices in the minds of Observers They must not be Tattlers Medlers nor Busy-bodies in other mens matters neither should they be slothful negligent or careless of their own These are some of their necessary qualifications Quest What are the Duties of Church-members and how ought they to demean and carry themselves towards their Ruling Elders Ans When they do rule well and use their office power diligently faithfully and profitably for the peace wellfare and prosperity of the Church the encouragement of the Ministry propagation of the Gospel and the honour and Glory of Christ as they are indispensibly bound to do they are worthy of double Honour Love and respect from the Church and they ought to give it to them heartily and sincerely in obedience to Christ who injoyns and requires it 1 Tim. 5.17 as also for their work and office sake and for the Lord Christ his Sake whose Officers they are whose Image they bear and whose work and service they do and are employing themselves in They must have not only simple honour love and respect from you but double They must have much more then any private brethren have when they rule well and that upon a twofold account 1. As they are Christ's and your Elders and Officers and in a sense do represent the Lord Jesus Christ to you in and by their work and office-power in the Church 2. As or because they rule well and use their office-power for your profit and benefit Do they carefully diligently and industrously attend to and follow their work and seek your good then remember that you owe them double honour love and respect and see you give it to them Moreover Church-members should yield them their chearful subjection and obedience to all their Lawfull commands and appointments for their good and give them all possible encouragement in their work and not weaken their hands and make their work heavy and burdensome to them but do all they can to make it easy and sweet to them that so they may do it with Joy and not with Grief You should also pray importunately for them that God would make them able willing and faithfull to and in their work and blesse and prosper their labours with success Do they mind their work and labour for your good why then it is most reasonable that you should mind them and give them their dues that they may be encouraged in their work and diligence by your duty to them In a word you should carry your selves towards them in all things as to Spiritual Magistrates and Christ's Officers to you for your Good As Paul speaks of civil Magistrates Rom. 13.4 for says he they are God's Ministers to thee for good so your ruling Elders are the Ministers of Christ to you for good Therefore behave your selves towards them and do for them as such Not as they are Elders among you but as they are good Elders to you and such as rule well for your profit Do they rule well mind and attend to their work and duty Why then love honour and respect them as such Do they labour with and take pains among you and are they diligent serious and faithfull in their office then pray much for them blesse and thank God for them acknowledge accept and esteem of them carry your selves submissively obediently to them strengthen their hands and encourage their hearts to and in their work and do all you can and ought to do for them Do they walk holyly humbly wisely zealously and fruitfully do you follow their examples imitate their steps and as much as possible write after their Copy and by so doing you will honour Christ and comfort them Quest What other Officers hath Jesus Christ set in his Church Ans Deacons The Lord Jesus hath in his great love to and care of his Church appointed and given to them this sort of officers also for their comfort profit and well being and they need them likewise For as the Teaching Elders may not attend mostly to their ruling work but to Study Reading Doctrine and Exhortation and then not to serve Tables Act 6. so the Ruling Elders leave their work to attend two which is not to serve Tables neither but to look after other Church-matters and concernments as you heard before And therefore I say that Deacons are necessary and usefull Officers in the Church and are distinguished from other Officers by their name and work there The Institution of this sort of Officers in the Church as also their work use and qualifications we have an account of in Acts 6.3 4 5 6. 1 Tim. 3.8 9 10 11 12 13. Phil. 1.1 so that we see there is such an Office and such Officers are appointed for and set in the Church Quest What manner of persons should deacons be or what are their qualifications by divine Appointment Ans They must be men of honest Report full of the holy Ghost and wisdome Acts 6.3 They must be grave not double-tongued not given to much wine not greedy of filthy Lucre holding the Mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience Even so must their Wives be grave not slanderers Sober Faithful in all things Ruling their Children and their own houses well 1 Tim. 3.8 9 11 12. These are some of the necessary qualifications of Deacons in the Church You that are Deacons mind these things and consider seriously if you are so qualified for that Office in the Church of God If you are not so qualified humble your selves before the Lord entreat him to qualify you with his holy Spirit and labour in the use of all good means to obtain what is yet wanting in you for the well and profitable performance of your work as becomes such Officers in a holy Church of Christ's Quest What are the Deacons works in the Church Ans In general their work is to serve Tables Acts 6. But more particularly 1. They are to provide for and distribute to the poor of the Church according to their necessities Act. 6. and not to suffer any of them to want through their negligence And therefore they ought to enquire what poor there are in the Church and what their wants are and accordingly to supply them In order to which they should receive the Churche's contributions and wisely consider if what they do receive from them will supply the wants of the poor and satisfy other emergencies in the Church And in case they do not to acquaint one of the Elders that
them as spiritual Heavenly persons and when they walk and carry themselves proudly in their Words and Deportments how can they love them as the meek and humble Members of Jesus Christ If their love must be holy and spiritual then undoubtedly the Persons or Objects of it must be such also For is it possible or doth God require me to love a Proud Churlish Touchy Peevish and Cross-grained Professor as much and with that complacency I can or may love an humble sweet meek and patient one Can I or is it my Duty so to love a sowre crabbed contentious and quarrelling Relation as a peaceable quiet affable and courteous one Is it possible for me to love a vain frothy worldly Professor and one who cares not how unlovely undesirable yea and in many things how contrary he walks to me and my love as I do or may do another Professor who is Spiritual Grave Serious and Heavenly surely we cannot love persons as holy spiritual humble useful and Heavenly persons are to be loved unless they appear to be so in their words deeds and carriages towards us neither doth God require us so to do Therefore we ought to be as careful of and see that we walk lovely towards one another as to love one another that so we may as much as possible provoke and encourage each other to love one another Heb. 10.24 and remove out of the way of love all such stumbling-blocks as may any way Impede or Obstruct it that so we may encourage all to love us really strongly sincerely fervently holily spiritually and constantly freely easily and that with delight and complacency For otherwise as it will be most absurd and irrational for us to expect it from them so it will be impossible for them so to love us And by our own contrary walkings and carriages we wrong our selves of their love to us and tempt them to sin against God and injure their own Souls We shall grieve their hearts and tempt them to withdraw their love and kindness from us and thereby offend God grieve and vex his holy Spirit and by little and little to withdraw his loving Countenance from us Thirdly Christ hath charged and strictly commanded all Church-members to live in Peace to be at Peace among themselves and to follow Peace with all men and as much as in them is to live peaceably with all men Oh! how often and with what vehemency doth the Lord Jesus and the Holy Ghost by the Apostles press enjoyn this Duty especially among Church-members every where in the Gospel see some Texts Psal 34.14 1 Pet 3.11 Rom. 14.19 2 Cor. 13.11 1 Thes 5.13 Heb. 12.14 Eph. 5.3 And the Apostle tells us that God hath called us to Peace not only to the Peace of God in our own Souls and amity with him but with one another 1 Cor. 7.15 such walkings and carriages one to another when in love and Obedience to God are pleasing to him but strife discord and contention and such like practices are most hateful and abominable to him Pro. 6.16 17 18 19. These Six things doth the Lord hate yea Seven are an abomination to him And what is the Seventh why sowing discord among Brethren This wickedness is so hateful to God as the words cannot sufficiently declare his abhorrency of it Hence we often find the Holy Ghost by Paul earnestly dehorting Church-members from all debates strifes and contentions one with or against another especially in their Church-meetings Phil. 2.3 Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory and vers 14. Do all things without murmurings and disputings Rom. 13.13 And the word of God doth every where condemn it as a most accursed Weed and venomous Plant a Cockatrice egg and devilish Serpent Pride is that Womb that bears it Pro. 13.10 and the lusts of the heart Gal. 5.20 and the Devil is the Father and Authour of this accursed strife and contention Jam. 3.14 15. Blessed Paul was much afflicted to see any of it in the Churches of Christ as knowing from whence it sprang and what the fruit and end of it would be what wrong it would do their Souls and what Reproach it would lay them under How it would reflect on Christ and his wayes and render them all contemptible How it would hinder their profit and produce many vile Monsters among them As Envy Wrath Railing evil surmisings Hatred Back-bitings Swellings and Divisions And therefore labours to prevent the growth of them and to pull up by the Roots these pernitious Weeds and that by Counsels Reproofs Cautions Instructions and Dehortations from them and presses them and us by all cogent Arguments to avoid contention and strife and follow after Peace to the utmost of their power David tells us that it is a most pleasant and lovely thing for Brethren to dwell together in vnity Psal 133.1 2. Then how much more pleasant and lovely is it for spiritual Brethren to live and worship God so together Christ came into the World and lived here a Peace-maker and charged all his followers to follow his steps pronounces them blessed that do so Math. 5.9 and accursed who do the contrary He is a lover of Peace and Concord especially in his holy Temples where he will not have a Hammer heard but he is an implacable hater of Strife and Discord and will not endure it in them much less will he winck at such as are the first sowers of these Seeds The truth is strivers and contenders in the Churches are the Devils Agents and notorious Mischief-makers They do a world of mischief to a Church where they are and are real Plagues to or in it They greatly hinder Edification and spoil the Order Beauty and Harmony there Contenders and Disputers in a Church are the proud self-conceited men who are vainly puft up with high thoughts of themselves and their own abilities and that because they have gotten some light and notions into their heads with a volubility of speech but without spiritual wisdom and humility in their hearts and therefore they conceit that they are wiser than the Church and more able to Manage and Order Church Affairs than their Elders Their Pride and self-conceit makes them slight and contemn their Teachers and to raise up in a Rebellious contention with and opposition against them As the Prophet complains Hosea 4.4 For this people are as they that strive with the Priest They think nothing can be well done unless they have the doing of it and therefore when any good work is upon the Wheel they will do all they can to hinder it as some Churches can sadly experience Well then take heed of strife and contention and follow Peace and Concord one with another especially in your assembling together about Church-work Get humble hearts and then you will not be contentious but peaceable Fourthly Sympathize with and help to bear each others burdens as need requires You are not to live to and for your selves in a
anothers Wealth 1 Cor. 10.24 Now we exhort you Brethren warn the unruly 1 Thes 5.14 and Admonish the disorderly 2 Thes 3.15 For this good work and their wise conscientious doing of it the Holy Ghost commends the Church at Rome Chap. 15.14 And sayes God in Levit. 19.17 Thou shalt not hate thy Brother in thy heart thou shalt in any wise rebuke him and not suffer sin upon him And the Apostle in 1 Tim. 5.22 Admonishes us to take heed that we be not partakers of other mens sins but to keep our selves pure in Math. 18.15 16 17. The Lord presses this Duty and VVork on you and shews you how you should perform it Therefore you must mind and carefully do it in Obedience to his will and according to your directions there and not otherwise You must watch and endeavour to gain a Sinner or sinning Member by your first private Admonition in case the evil be private and if that will not do take one or two more with thee and see what that will do But if that will not do the work nor obtain the end on thy Brothers Soul then you are bound to bring it to the Church that by their Teachers or Elders they may be informed of it in order to their dealing with and proceedings against him as commanded This is another of your great and indispensible VVorks and Duties in the Church It is true that this is especially the Elders VVork and Duty but it is not theirs only but yours also who are private Members Oh! therefore be you perswaded to mind carefully faithfully and diligently to practise this VVork and Duty for unless you do so it will be impossible to keep the Church in Peace Honour and Purity You will do Christ and them singular service Seventhly You must forbear and forgive one another for this is another of your commanded Duties Eph. 4.2 forbearing one another in love vers 32. Be ye kind one to another tender hearted forgiving one another even as God for Christ sake hath forgiven you And in Col. 3.13 Forbearing one another and forgiving one another if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you so also do yee Doth thy Brother sin against thee or do thee any injury thou shouldst tell him of it examine the matter and search out the circumstances of it and see if he did it unadvisedly through weakness or ignorance and without any design to wrong thee or whether he did it wittingly and knowingly And until thou art sure that he did it knowingly and wittingly or wilfully thou must forbear censuring him as having so done it For else thou wilt prove a Vsurper and a false Judge which Christ forbids Math. 7.1 2. Rom. 14. But if upon an impartial search thou finds him to have wronged thee through ignorance or weakness thou must Judge charitably of him and carry thy self towards him as God doth towards thee under thy weaknesses and ignorances Thou must not be rash and severe towards him either in thy carriages or censures But if it clearly appear upon impartial enquiry that he did knowingly and wilfully do thee wrong then thou must carry thy self towards and deal with him as with a wilful Transgressor Thou must lay his sin before him and shew him what Lawes he hath Transgressed what evil he hath done thee what wrong to his own Soul and what offence he hath done to Christ by breaking his holy Laws Admonish him again and again of his sin and censure him not too severely until you find him obstinate and stubborn For until then you must forbear him whilest you are waiting on him and on God for him to convince him of his sin and give him Repentance unto life But if your endeavours be blessed to those ends you must readily forgive him And if he be once truly and savingly convinced of and humbled for his sin be sure that he will most freely own and confess it to thee as well as to God and endeavour to make thee amends and give thee all possible satisfaction for the wrong he hath done thee And this he will do not by constraint but freely willingly and of his own accord without thy seeking to him For it is a certain sign that a person is not powerfully and savingly convinced of and humbled for his sin while he hangs off and must be sought after to make satisfafaction to such as he hath wronged For were his heart really melted into the will of God he durst not yea could not be quiet until he hath given all possible satisfaction to the wronged Luk. 19.8 But now in case he remain obstinate and will not hearken to Reproof what are you to do then why then he should take one or two more and deal with him and if that will not do to bring it to the Church that they by their Elders may see what they can do with him But if they cannot prevail on him to repent and make satisfaction then I think the offended may prosecute the Law against him For the Law is made for the lawless and disobedient 1 Tim. 1.9 10. But yet he should be still in a readiness to forgive him when-ever he shall repent pray and hope that he may repent and when he doth so although it be long first Actually and Cordially forgive him and renew his kindness and Brotherly love to him as if he had never sinned Eightly It is your Indispensible duty to hearken too and receive Instruction Admonition and Reproofs one from another also For if some are Indispensibly bound at some times to give them Surely others who need them are as much bound to receive them Prov. 8.33 hear Instruction and be wise For he that despiseth Reproof sinneth but he that keepeth Instruction walketh in the way of Life Prov. 10.17 And the Scripture tells us in Prov. 12.1 Whoso loveth Instruction loveth knowledge but he that hateth Reproof is bruitish such as turn a deaf Ear to Reproofs are marked out for Scorners in Prov. 9.8 and he that is often reproved and yet hardeneth his neck shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy Prov. 29.1 such as turn a deaf Ear to Reproofs and admonitions or slight and refuse them do thereby rebell against trample upon and contemn an ordinance of God and a means of his appointing for their happinesse and so they murder their own Souls with the means that are given to save them You are bound to hearken to and receive your brethrens Reproofs Counsels and Admonitions withall Humility Patience and freedome of Spirit with all love Meekness and Thanfulnesse to God and the givers of them For they are great mercies to you and they are your real and profitable friends such as seek your good and endeavour to prevent your destruction And therefore I wonder not at the Scriptures saying that such as refuse Instruction and Reproof shall suddenly be destroyed and that without remedy for 〈◊〉 do despise the means as in their present
case of their Salvation and which are handled out to them to prevent their destruction And certainly they shall have Judgment without mercy as James speaks who do slight the means given them for such great Ends and by hardening their hearts against them do render them uselesse to their Souls and thereby oppose and crosse Gods ends Oh! then do not you so wickedly When a Brother or Sister see or hear you sin and they come to you with the Lords healing playster to cure you receive it thank them and blesse God for it apply and improve it as David did Abigals and Nathans Counsels and Reproofs 1 Sam. 25. 2 Sam. 12. and see that you repent and humble your selves in Dust and Ashes For if the contrary heart and carriage be found in you under just Reproofs Instruction Admonitions toward God or men know for a certainty that you are in a very evil and dangerous case yea you are in the high way to ruine and perdition Oh! Friends let it never be said justly of any of you that you were reproved and admonished of any known Sins by any Brother or Sister and that you refused and slighted it justified your selves in your Sins and apparent Transgressions and were displeased with or angry at such as admonished you and did their Indispensible duty to you under your Sin for your Salvation Ninthly Pray one for another and that with a real Love fervency and Importunity as you do or should do for your selves Jam. 5.16 Confesse your faults one to another and pray one for another that ye may be healed Oh! with what serious minds and strong Affections should all Church-members pray one for another They must be much in building up one another and praying in the holy Ghost one for another Jude 20. They should carry one another on their hearts at the Throne of Grace especially such as are under Affliction the whole Church in General and the Teachers in particular Heb. 13.18 and wrestle with God for them For as was shewed one Church-member must make anothers case his own and be of a publique Spirit towards and for the good of all and as in other things so in this of Prayer For they have the Spirit of Prayer given them Audience and Interest in Heaven for others as well as for themselves This is another duty to one another Tenthly You should often meet together for holy discourse and Prayer Two or three or more Brethren by themselves and Sisters by themselves in and for those God glorifying and Soul-profiting exercises This was wont to be the Commendable practise of our forefathers and of some that are now alive when Christ Duty Heaven and Religion lay warmer on their hearts than now they do And they made happy earnings of their holy endeavours Now if it was a much commended Practise in them as it was why then is not the same found in and among you in this day was it good in them and will it not be so in you too hath not God promised his Glorious Teaching warming strengthning sanctifying and comforting presence with such as do so Matth. 18.20 would not your meeting together and so exercising your selves turn to a better account than your present practise doth do you not find time enough to visit one another and meet together to discourse and talk of things which you should not Do you not visit to tell some idle stories to tattle of other mens matters which do not concern you and it may be to do that which is worser namely to Back-bite some persons and to prejudice hearts against your Teachers and their Work if they do not please you And will not such meetings have bitterness in the end Yea do you not thereby exceedingly deaden carnalize each others Souls by these things So that instead of bettering one anothers Souls and furthering them towards Heaven in your meetings you hinder them and make them much worser Oh! consider and lay this matter to heart I do beseech you now while you have time to mend what is amiss Consider my friends both how you do and how you may and ought to improve and exercise your selves in your occasional and designed visits and meetings and what account you will be able to give of them at the last day Is it not your great Iniquity to tempt one another to Sin and wrong your Souls mis-spend your pretious times and seasons of service for God and one anothers spiritual profit when you might if you would have improved them to those ends We read in Acts 16.13 That Women meet together to pray but now 't is accounted almost a false Doctrine Men and Women were wont to discourse and speak often of the things of God and their own experiences one to another Mal. 3.16 But where are now any such almost to be found persons can find time enough for every thing but their greatest VVorks and Duties But to speak plainly 't is not our want of time but of hearts VVe are strangers to God in secret loose our hearts in the VVorld and cloy our selves with carnal cares and earthly matters and therefore cannot will not attend with any delight or freedom of Spirit unto our Duties This will be found at the bottom of all our neglects and excuses for them But remember that your Souls need this practise and the use of these means that it is your Duty and will be if well used very profitable to you Eleventhly Encourage one another by your examples to keep close to and be constant in your publick work VVhen ever the Church meets or are by their Teacher Summoned to meet together for the Celebration of the worship of God they are bound so to do excepting in extraordinary cases that may hinder any For else there can be nothing done nor any good order kept for the glory of God and the edification of the Church Now then when the Church ought to meet together you ought to be present and not by your wilful or careless absence give an evil example to others and tempt them to do the like For thereby you will cast a stumbling-block in their way of Duty and encourage strengthen and embolden them in their neglects also If it be our Duty to provoke one another to good works by our Exhortations then also by our Examples and practises too Examples are powerful encouragements to Sin or Duty to good or evil to Omissions or Commissions 2 Cor. 9.2 Heb. 10.24 2 Chron. 12.1 1 Chron. 29.3 9. If they are good examples then they provoke others to good but if evil then they are powerful to provoke others to do the same VVhen a Member is in the Congregation and sees such a Member wanting there then he is tempted to take the same sinful liberty too and so in all other cases All Church-members are indispensibly bound ordinarily to attend on the Ordinances of God in that Church to which they are joyned For as they are there called and
evil spoken of 13. Be sure to make good and perform all your peremptory promises to men and take heed and beware of breaking them or failing and disappointing men of their just expectations from you for that also will be scandalous and offensive 14. Take heed of taking into a marriage-bond such as are apparently in an unbelieving and carnal state and condition For that also is very offensive to holy serious men although some make light of it 15. Take heed of idleness and slothfulness in your Callings For that will prove a pernitious and scandalous sin to others and your own souls too 16. Take not up a Report against one another that is scandalous nor give an ear unto Tatlers and busie-bodies nor be you busie-bodies in other mens matters your selves For if you do you will give great offence These are some and but some of the scandalous evils that you must carefully avoid as a duty that you owe to God to your Brethren and to your own souls I could have named many more but I find these the most common amongst Professors Now as you must avoid these and other evils mind and practise the said Duties as Church-Members one to another so you must seriously mind the manner reasons and ends of doing them also The reason of your so doing must be the will of Christ your Head and King because he hath so commanded you And the principle of all you do must be love to him and to the souls of your Brethren The ends must be to please honour and exalt the Lord Jesus and to profit and benefit your Brethrens souls and maintain the Credit and Reputation of the Church and the Worship and Ordinances of God therein and to preserve Peace and Purity among your selves The manner must be thus namely wisely dutifully chearfully obediently freely willingly humbly holily seriously diligently sincerely and perseveringly For you should be as careful of doing your Duties to men in a right manner as you are of performing your Duties immediately to God so I can but mention these things because I have exceeded my intentions in others The Lord God bless them to you all CHAP. VIII Of the Ordinances and Worship of God in a gospel-Gospel-Church Quest WHat Ordinances of Divine Worship hath God given to and appointed for a gospel-Gospel-Church to be observed by them Answ First walking together in constant Cordial Communion and Gospel Order in a Church-state in Brotherly love peace and oneness of spirit in the frequent and joynt Celebration of all the worship and appointments of Christ is certainly an Ordinance of Christ and their Indispensâ—ble Duty as hath been already shewed Believers may not enter their names among Christ's Disciples and then take liberty to do what they please omit or neglect their place and duty there when and how they will and content themselves with having their names enrolled in a Church come among them and go from them at their own will and pleasure No but it is the will and Ordinance of our Lord Jesus that they should constantly and conscientiously in obedience to his holy will abide and continue there holding Communion or Fellowship together as a united and entire body or spiritual Corporation and joyntly with one mind heart and soul observe and celebrate his Ordinances and Worship Heb. 10.24 25. Acts 2.42 44 46 47. Rom. 15.6 1 Cor. 1.10 Secondly Preaching and hearing the Gospel It is true that this is not a special Church-Ordinance or an Ordinance appointed for and given to Churches or to Believers exclusive of all others For it is the great Ordinance of God for the converting quickning and bringing sinners to Christ Rom 1.16 1 Thes 1.5 By this Ordinance God conveys his special Grace and the spirit of Grace into sinners hearts By it he opens blind eyes unstops deaf cars enlivens dead Souls and convinces carnal men of sin Righteousness and Judgments Acts 26.18 Joh. 5.25 Joh. 16.7 8. And by it he turns them from the power of Satan unto God and works them to and for his own use makes them Vessels of Honour and translates them out of the Kingdom of darkness and the Devil into his own Kingdom Col. 1.13 The great Ordinance of Preaching and hearing the Law and Gospel is given and appointed to make fit and prepare sinful men for Membership with Christ his holy Gospel-Churches For until they are moulded and qualified by the word and spirit they are no way capable of either considering what condition all men are in by sinful nature namely dead blind filthy vile hateful enemies to God Children of Satan under the Law the curse and wrath of God strangers to and ignorant of God Christ Grace Duty and Gospel-holiness But although hearing and preaching the word of God be an Ordinance of God to others namely such as are not en-Churched to prepare them for that State and the Duties and Priviledges thereof yet I think it may be called a Church-Ordinance also For the Lord Jesus hath by his soveraign Authority set this Ordinance in his Gospel-Churches and committed the Preaching of it unto men there namely to such as he is said to impower and send to give unto and set among them for the work of the Ministry 1 Cor. 12.28 Acts 20.28 Eph. 4.10 18. Act. 14.23 1 Tim. 5.17 The Ministry of their Pastors and Teachers is their own Ministry and these Officers being given to them by Christ and set in his Churches for their sakes they may call the Ordinance their Ordinance such Officers theirs and their Ministry theirs as having a peculiar Relation to them which is one of the Churches peculiar priviledges and which they ought highly to prize and bless God for Now as some men are gifted impowered and sent out by Christ to convert and turn men to Christ who may not have any Relation to Churches as their Pastors or Teachers so there is the special and peculiar Ministry of Pastors and Teachers given to and set in the Churches whose work and business lyes there and but occasionally else-where to other men Take heed sayes the Apostle to the Flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you Overseers to feed the Church of God Act. 20.28 The ends of these Officers and their Ministry in the Church is not intended for the calling and regenerating of Church-Members for as was shewed they must be effectually called and regenerated before they can be meet Members of a Holy Temple of God but to build up and carry on the work of Grace in their hearts holiness and fruitfulness in their lives and walkings towards God and men To confirm and establish them in the Truth and Faith of Christ which they have received and to instruct and enlighten them further in all Christ's and their own souls concernments This Ordinance of God is intended and designed by the Lord Jesus and it should be so used and managed by all Teachers and Hearers continually to carry on the work of Grace to convey
by the Apostle Peter in his first Sermon after the coming of the Holy Ghost on him and other of the Apostles in Act. 2.39 when he was about the setting up of Churches and church-Church-Order Laws and Ordinances among them sayes he Repent yee and be Baptized why for the promise is unto you and to your Children and to all that are a far off even as many as the Lord our God shall call which is the same for substance given before to Abraham And Paul told the Galatians Chapt. 3.14 That the blessing of Abraham is come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ This Ordinance of Baptism is of meer Institution and made known to us in and by the Gospel The Light and Law of nature knows nothing of it neither are we bound to observe it but upon the command and appointment of Christ which is sufficient for us and we need no further warrant for our observation of it Fifthly The Lords Supper is clearly another Church-Ordinance And indeed it cannot be rightly and orderly administred and received but in a regular Church-state we never read of any Believers that received it or any Officers that administred it after Christ's ascension but as they were congregated en-Churched em-bodied and formed into a holy Temple but we read of Churches celebrating it as at Jerusalem Acts 2. Corinth 1 Epistle 11. and elsewhere We find the Institution of this Ordinance in Matth. 26.26 27 28. Mark 14.22 23 24. Luk. 22.17 18 19 20. 1 Cor. 11.23 to the end In this last Scripture we have many weighty things of and concerning this great Ordinance 1 The Institution its self 2 The time when the same night in the which he was betrayed 3 The Institutor namely the Lord Jesus 4 The manner of it 1. The Lord Jesus's own practise He took blessed brake and gave the Bread and said take eat this is my Body 2. By commandment this do ye in remembrance of me 5 Who should received it and how persons should be qualified and prepared for the reception of it 1. With light and faith They must be able to discern the Lords body the ends and use of the Ordinance and to make suitable and pertinent application of all to themselves 2. They must be able to examine themselves and actually to do it and be in a state and practical fitness and readiness to meet Christ in it to thank and praise him and to shew forth his death until he come 6 The danger and peril they are in who eat and drink and use this holy Ordinance unworthily 1. They are guilty of his Body and Blood 2. Of their own damnation 7 We are informed of some of the sad effects their unworthy receiving of this holy Ordinance had on some of them for this cause many are weak and sickly among you and many sleep Sixthly Singing of Psalms and Hymns and spiritual Songs is another Church-Ordinance or Institution of Christ Eph. 5.18 19 20. Col. 3.16 Mat. 26.30 Mark 14.26 This is a spiritual Ordinance and Duty yea it is a heart-warming Soul-refreshing Spirit-raising and grace-quickning Ordinance To the well performance of it much special grace and diligent exercise of it as also the spirit of grace is necessary Much wisdom and spiritual understanding life and vigor care and watchfulness is requisite sincerity and faithfulness spirituality and heavenly-mindedness is needful for our acceptable observance of it to God through Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 14.15 Col. 3.16 Eph. 5.18 19 20. It is true that all men ought to sing praises and thanksgivings unto God for it is a natural and moral duty and it is as true that none can rightly holily and acceptably do it but such as are partakers of the grace and spirit of Christ and that the Lord Jesus hath instituted it and made it a Church-Ordinance And as or because he hath instituted and made it one of his Gospel-Ordinances for his Churches that therefore they ought so to observe it Sevently Holy discourses and heavenly conferences among the members of the Church is another Church Ordinance which all are bound to mind and practise as they have ability and opportunity for the observation and celebrating of which they should seek for occasions and seasons to meet together and endeavour to promote it and when they have them in their hands to use and improve them to the glory of God and their own mutual profit and that because it is their Lords Ordinance for their good The neglect of which is doubtless one of the procuring causes of those witherings languishings and most dreadful decays in grace and woful back-slidings which are so notoriously evident among Church-members This useful profitable Ordinance was once in esteem much accounted of by Believers but it is now almost laid aside forgotten by them it was their delight but now their burden They made happy earnings of it to their Souls but now they fancy that they have no need of it that there is neither duty nor priviledge in it But however it is and shall ever be an Ordinance of God and their observation of it their priviledge and duty Jude 20. Building up your selves in your most holy faith 1 Thes 5.11 Wherefore comfort your selves together and edifie one another even as also ye do See also vers 14. and Heb. 3.13 Heb. 10.24 25. Mal. 3.16 17. Church-members must take heed that they meet together for the better and not for the worser as the Apostle told the Corinthians 1 Cor. 11.17 that they so improve their occasional and determined meetings as to profit and better one another This holy Ordinance of Jesus Christ should be seriously frequently diligently spiritually and sincerely observed of all Church-members And if they shall so observe and practise it in obedience to his will and with holy designs and aims namely to please and honour God and to profit and better their own and each others Souls they will find it an exceeding profitable Ordinance to them for the promoting and carrying on the grace and interest of Christ in their hearts and it will be an effectual means to encrease love one to another unite their hearts and endear affections God will bless and empower it in your dependence on Christ and his free grace to keep your Consciences awake your Affections warm and your hearts ready to every good work Eightly Church-Discipline This Ordinance is instituted and appointed for the Churches regular and orderly walking for the preventing and curing disorders in them and there is as much need of this Ordinance and Institution as of any other as experience shews And it should be seriously minded and considered wisely and diligently observed and practised in the Church as much as any other Ordinance of God therein There is no Church in the world but is subject to disorders and too many irregularities because the Lusts Temptations and carnal Interests of some of the Member are strong and impetuous which causes many distempers and disturbances in the
King and Lawgiver the Lord Christ and they do by such neglects slight and despise his Love and Grace his Care and Kindness He hath provided holy Temples and spiritual Houses for them to dwell in and Heavenly provisions are made ready in them for their entertainment The doors are set open to let in such Guests and the Servants of the great King are gone forth to bid them come away and invite them to enter in There stands also the Master of the Feast even at the door waiting for them the King of glory attends there to welcome them when they come Luk. 14.16 17. Rev. 3.20 He gets there before them and abides there in expectation of the presence and company of all his Saints Psal 11.4 Isa 30.18 He declares that it is his good pleasure they should come there and eat of his dainties that he hath bought and prepared for them Cant. 5.1 Prov. 9.1 2 3 4 5. Now that they ought to joyn themselves to and become holy living and spiritual Members of some particular Congregational Church of Christ if possibly they can will further appear by these following Reasons and Considerations First The Lord Christ hath erected instituted and appointed Churches for this end among others namely that his called and sanctified people might be the matter of them that they might joyn and walk together in them and that they might be the materials of them This state and condition is not ordained and appointed for other persons but only for the Holy Seed for God will not keep House with unregenerate and unholy persons but with his chosen Generation and Royal Priesthood he will That particular Congregational Churches are of divine Institution hath been already proved and if so then it will follow that God's people should joyn to and walk with them or else to what purpose are they appointed instituted and ordained by Jesus Christ If none are bound in duty yea if all God's people that can are not bound in duty and compliance with the Lords ends to become Churches joyn to and walk in and with them then this Order and Institution of Christ is in vain he hath appointed and instituted that which none are or will be advantaged by which surely was far from the gracious thoughts and intentions of the Lord Jesus the Wisdom and Power of God 1 Cor. 1.24 For the Lord hath made all things for himself and ordained them for his own Glory and the profit of his people He hath made nothing in vain It is far below him to do it and below reasonable Creatures to imagine it And 2. It will follow that whoever joyn themselves to such Churches they do it not as duty to God and their own souls but as an act of their own will and pleasure without any respect to or regard had of the Will of God and their own spiritual good so are guilty of Superstition and Will-worship which God loaths and abhors The very Institution proves it sufficiently to be our duty to joyn with and become Members of some particular Churches of Christ Secondly The unanimous and universal Votes of all the Primitive Saints do prove this Truth Those good men that were converted to Christ by the Apostles Preaching with and amongst whom they lived and convers'd and such as they planted fed and watered 1 Cor. 3. and these both Jews and Gentiles they do all of them by their constant practice witness to and confirm what I say Look where you will in the Stories of the Acts where you read of the Apostles Preaching and Men Converted there or in Pauls Epistles and the Revelation you shall find the young Converts giving up themselves to the Lord and to one another by the Will of God 2 Cor. 8.5 We find them by and by inchurched and walking in a Church-state and relation So in Acts 2.41 42. ult Acts 5.14 And were not all Pauls Epistles that to Philemon only excepted which was written upon a particular occasion wrote and sent to the Churches or to and for Believers as inchurched and imbodied together that they might know how to behave themselves in the House or Houses of God towards God their Elders and one another They are expresly called Churches the Churches of God and of Christ as was shewed before Now all Believers are charged and exhorted to follow their examples and practice Heb. 6.12 That ye be not slothful but followers of them who through Faith and Patience Inherit the Promises that is see and mark them in their walkings observe how they lived and practised and do you so likewise Paul indeed could not abide with the Church at Jerusalem to which he was joyned as a Member Acts 9.26 27 28. because he was sent to Preach the Gospel to the Gentiles But as oft as he could he joyned and walked with the Churches as you may often find in reading the Acts of the Apostles Now says he to the Church at Philippi chap. 3.17 Brethren be followers together of me and mark them who walk so as ye have us for an ensample This Commandement is for you who are in Christ that you walk as Paul and other Primitive Saints walked If it was their duty and practise as you see it was for they gave themselves to the Lord and to one another by the Will of God that is they Congregated and inchurched themselves not by or according to their own wills but by and according to the Will of God then I say it is the duty of all other Saints and it ought to be their practise likewise For whatsoever was written aforetime namely of the Saints duty and approved practise was written for our Learning that we who succeed them in their Faith and Priviledges in their Hope and Profession might follow them in practise also If we look for and expect the same Covenant-mercies and blessings that they had we must practise the same duties and walk as they did The Primitive Saints were commended and renowned for their orderly walking in a Church-state Rev. 2 3. Chapters and often else-where Luk. 1.6 1 Cor. 11.1 2. Thirdly All Believers ought to walk in Church-fellowship by virtue of their Marriage-Covenant When by the power of Grace and the Spirits operations in their hearts they were perswaded to make Christ their choice and took received and embraced him on his own terms they solemnly engaged themselves to be his chose his Laws and Ordinances for theirs and bound themselves to him to walk with him and be obedient unto him in all things to keep and observe to love and practise all his Laws and to conform in heart and practise unto all his Ordinances and Institutions as David Zachary Elizabeth and other Saints of God had done before them Thus in effect do all truly-convinced and sincere-hearted Believers do when contracted or married unto Christ by Faith Psal 119.106 Hos 3.3 Jer. 30.21 2 Cor. 8.5 Col. 2.6 Now then being thus bound or having thus bound and obliged themselves
is found too rife and rampant amongst them It is a most pernicious Evil and prejudicial to Christ himself his Gospel People Wayes and Interests and therefore Satan will strive the more industriously to provoke them to do it and therefore we should be the more watchful against it 2 Cor. 12.20 Jam. 4.11 Tit. 3.2 Eph. 4.31 1 Pet. 2.1 God abhors this Tongue-sin this poysonous Sword and good-name-Murthering Abomination he cannot bear to hear his Church-members to be biting and devouring one another Gal. 5.15 yet are they prone and often tempted to it 8. They will be tempted to slight undervalue yea and to despise one another especially such as are poor and weak they will be tempted to slight and disesteem such as are high and honourable in God's account and such as he greatly values and esteems But take heed and beware of it for it is a most God-provoking sin They are glorious in Gods thoughts let them not be base in yours Their names are pretious in Heaven and let them be pretious to you 9. They will be tempted to slight and undervalue their priviledges and to disregard their works and duties in the Church At first they are much taken and affected with them but after a while they do as much slight and disesteem them neglect and disregard them and then they fall to omitting and neglecting them These are dear-bought priviledges and duties and therefore ought to be highly accounted of and esteemed 10. And then it follows that they will quarrel with their Teachers or be much offended at them slight and disesteem them and be full of objections against them and their works But you must take heed and beware of this evil likewise for when you have forsaken God and he hath left you then you are tempted to dislike your Teachers but never till then They are Christ's Embassadors Jewels and Instruments of his glory in the Churches and in the World and they are near and dear to him and therefore your sin will be very great in slighting and disesteeming them 12. They will be tempted to leave communion with the Church and ramble about from place to place which is a dangerous and pernicious evil and tends directly to the breaking of the Churches and destruction of all church-Church-order Many love to change their Place Works and Company and seem to be better every or any where than in their own Place and Work 13. They will be tempted to neglect their Church-duties one to another and live as persons alone without having regard of or respect unto one another as Brethren and Members of the same houshold And when they have entertained the Temptation into their minds they will easily dispense with total Omissions and not be troubled at it nor care what becomes of one another 14. They will be tempted to draw nigh to God in Church-Ordinances with worldly vain and unprepared hearts The Commoness of them and their frequent use of them together with the untunedness of their hearts make them common things and matters to them so as that they dare adventure on them with common frames of heart which once they durst not do But now they can dispense with it as with some light matter 15. They will be tempted to receive pernicious Doctrines and to entertain evil Opinions in and about Religion Many Church-members have been caught in these Nets and taken in these Snares not because they were such but because they walked not warily and circumspectly in that state and relation For by being Church-members they have had great advantages against them and means to prevent their being ensnared but that they improved them not as they might have done for their own security They were not aware of him who goes up and down in the Kingdom to sow his Tares 16. They will be tempted when they have suckt in any poysonous Doctrines and entertained erronious Opinions to help the Devil in sowing them in the minds of others and endeavour to leaven them with their new Leaven also For being deluded and seduced themselves it is almost natural to them to seduce others likewise as experience testifies 17. They will be tempted to prejudice and injure each others Souls in their occasional Visits by entertaining one another with vain frothy and heart-deadning Discourses instead of heart bettering Discourses They will be tempted to tempt one another to give and receive such matter as tends to the subverting and corrupting of each others Souls drawing them away from God and indisposing them for their duties rather than to edification and profit And this is a most pernitious Evil though little minded and considered and it is an Evil that is much practised and countenanced amongst Church-members For they that have such opportunities which they ought to improve for the better and not for the worse are found improving them by their Tongues and Ears for the worse and not for the better which will cost them very dear hereafter Such carnal and vain Communications as are frequently found among them corrupt good Hearts and Manners also 18. They will be tempted to be ungrateful to God for his mercies to them and to account their duty and priviledges their heavy Yoke Burdens as the Israelites did their Deliverance from their Bondage in Egypt They were displeased with God and Moses for bringing them out of their house of Bondage and it is to be feared that some Church-members now are displeased because they are brought into the House of God and they say in their hearts would God we had been wiser than to have joyned our selves to the Churches as the Israelites said would God that we had dyed in Egypt Take heed of this evil We are so encumbred with Meetings and Disbursements and with one thing and another as that our condition is burdensome unto us is the language of some as I have ground to think 19. They will be tempted to stacken their zeal care and diligence to grow in grace and perfect holiness and to look after their gettings in the Churches and Ordinances of Christ So that they will grow lukewarm careless and indifferent what becomes of their Souls whether they thrive and prosper or whether they do wither and decay whether they partake of the fatness of God's house or no. 20. They will be tempted to make carnal Advantages to themselves of their Church-state and to aim at and prosecute worldly Ends therein more than spiritual and to subordinate and make use of their work and duty there to promote and serve a base worldly Interest 21. They will be tempted to desert their duty and relinquish their Station and Priviledges in a trying time and to conform to the world for filthy Lucre's sake and to enjoy their outward Peace and Liberty Many seem to be strong and well settled in their faith principles and practise before the Tempest blows in their faces but when the Wind and Waves beat against them they appear other kind of men Therefore let
proffered to joyn with them unless they had any just cause to deny them and what they did therein was by Apostolical direction 3. By refusing to accept them into Communion speedily without just cause they do greatly wrong and injure them and grieve such as the Lord would not have grieved 1. They keep them out of their Right and detain from them their just dues they deprive them of their Priviledges which Christ hath bought for them And 2 Lay them under many and great Temptations to sin and despond 4. They rob God of his Honour and Glory which he might receive from them in their Church-duties 5. They discourage persons from coming to and joyning with them and so expose themselves to ruine For the Churches cannot long subsist without continual additions of new Members because death is still fetching away and pulling out of the old 6. They do expose themselves to reproach and just censure by such wilful neglects towards them 7. Ordinarily they may be either received or rejected in one week as well as in three months did all mind and attend to their duty in their place in the Churches Take heed that this evil be not found in or among you for assuredly it is a foul Iniquity to rob God wrong Souls and injure the Church to grieve the hearts of the Godly and tempt them to sin which Iniquity you are guilty of who by your negligence or prejudice do keep them from Church Ordinances who desire to partake of them with you longer than of necessity Quest May not Pastors leave their Churches upon any account whatsoever Ans Doubtless God may and somtimes he doth providentially call them off and they ought to follow it For 1. There is not any Precept of Christ enjoyning them to stay with them all their days 2. Christ tells them that if they be persecuted in one City they may fly to another Matth. 10.23 But they may not leave them no not with the Churches consent and approbation but upon some extraordinary Providences and Calls of God For as Christ their Master sent them there and they were setled there by him as the great Agent and Doer of it to do his work and minister in his Name and by his Authority with his Gifts Blessing so the Churches have nothing to do to dismiss and give them liberty to depart without the good leave and consent of Christ himself who sent and set them in and among them And therefore their leaving of the Churches and the Churche dismissing of them is not their own act but in and by the order and commission of Christ What they do therein must be only in from and by the Will and Pleasure of their Head and King and not from their own For without Warrant from him the Churches have no power to leave their Pastors nor their Pastors them Quest When or upon what accounts may Pastors leave their Churches A s First when they are severely persecuted and their Enemies level their fiery Darts and shoot their Arrows of malice against their Persons and Families and persist in their so doing so as that there is no probable way to escape them but in all probability they shall be devoured by them In this case the Lord Jesus the Apostles and the Elders at Jerusalem fled and went their way and hereby the Lord doth often call off Pastors now 2. In case the Churches leave them and will not stand by them 3. In case their Churches fall into Rents Schisms and they grow so head-strong and unruly as that they can do no good upon them as somtimes it falls out 4. In case they cannot live and subsist with and by them but in a miserable and distressed condition For if the Churches provide not for them and they have not otherwise a subsistance they are not bound to provide for their Churches For God hath ordained that they that preach the Gospel should live of the Gospel 1 Cor. 9.14 and they must live by Bread and provide for their Families or they deny the Faith and are worse than Infidels 1 Tim. 5.8 5. In case the Lord doth open a door for their Ministry else-where which is always to be observed in this matter If Providence invite them else-where to minister to a People that they knew not of and sought not after but the hand of Providence presented it to them as it were accidentally and are by that strange people as to them desired to preach to and take the care of them and so they lay not down their work but follow it in those other places where in all probability they may do Christ and Souls greater Service and not expose themselves thereby to those Straits and Temptations to sin they were in before I say take in this case with any of the other I am satisfied their Call is clear to leave their Churches Quest May Church-members leave their Churches at their own will and pleasure and go else-where when they please Ans No they may not They must not leave them unless by some extraordinary hand of Providence the Lord calls them off to walk with another people If by Persecution or by Poverty or by the command of their Parents Husbands or Masters or other Superiours they are called off they may go with the Churches consent as likewise in other weighty cases But they may not go from them at their own will and pleasure to gratifie their Pride Prejudice and to please their own fickle minds and itching ears or upon any ordinary account whatsoever and that for these reasons 1. The Lord charges them not to forsake their Churches nor holding Communion and Fellowship with them in the Ordinances and Worship of God Heb. 10.24 25. 2. He brands them and sets a black mark of Ignonimy on all wilful and causeless Deserters of Churches 1 Joh. 2.19 Heb. 10.25 26. as the manner of some is which is a contemptuous expression of them who forsake their Church-membership and their places work and duty there 3. Deserters of their Church-membership at their own will and pleasure do make the Churches thereby to be like Inns or Ale-houses where persons go in and out at their own will and pleasure Such as do so in Families and civil Societies are accounted vile lawless and extravagant persons because they live not under good Laws nor walk by the good Rules and Orders of the Society How much more vile and lawless are Church-members who have given up themselves in a professed subjection to Christ 2 Cor. 9.13 and engaged to walk as Church-members and yet shall walk act and go in and out as lawless persons who owe no subjection to Christ nor to his Laws and Authority in the Church 4. Wilful Deserters of Churches are notorious Covenant-breakers also When they gave the right hand of Fellowship and were received into the Church they solemnly promised to walk with God in the Church hold Communion with it subject unto and live under the Government
and according to the Laws thereof until God should by some extraordinary Providence call them off Yet notwithstanding they call off themselves and they do thereby practically contemn and trample on their solemn Engagement as well as on the Laws Orders and Government of Christ 5 Their causeless and wilful departure from and leaving of a Church to which they were joyned is very reproachful and scandalous to the Church For by their so forsaking of it they declare that they are too good and the Church is too bad for their Communion They cast dirt on the Church and the Ministry of Christ therein with a witness and manifest that either themselves or the Church and the Ministry there are very vile and wicked Or else why did they leave and forsake them It was either for their Goodness or Wickedness Not for their Goodness in their account for should they pretend to leave them for their Goodness they will thereby lay open their own Hypocrysie and Profaness to all men and be sure that they will not do in words at least Why then what follows but that the cause of their departure is the Churches and their Ministers Wickedness or Unworthiness Thus they will do and care not what mischief they do unto the Church so they may but save stakes and gratifie their own Lusts 6 Such Deserters of Churches are Church-destroyers they fight against God and pull down that which he builds up God puts in and fastens stones and they pull them out He sets up and forms holy Temples for himself to dwell in 2 Cor. 6.16 Eph. 2. ult and they break them down or deface and marr them at least What Churches can stand in order from and beauty if the Members of them may do what they please and go in and out when they will 7 By such departures from their Churches they cut off and cast out themselves from the People of God his Worship and Ordinances and put themselves into the Devils Kingdom again For they may not ought not to be accepted or received into any of the Churches of Christ elsewhere because they are disorderly walkers and are under the blot of scanda ous persons of lawless and disobedient Members 8 They may not depart because of the just occasion of Offence Grief and Trouble that they will give the Church thereby excepting in extraordinary cases or are necessitated by staying and holding Communion with the Church to partake with them in Sin And it is remarkable how God hath declared his abhorrence of such departures by the Judgments that have followed such as have been guilty of it Finally my Brethren let us all mind and follow the things that make for peace and things wherewith one may edifie another Rom. 14.19 Let us in all our doings and procedures consult and endeavour to know the will of God walk by his Laws conform to be ruled by and practise the holy and perfect will of our glorious Head soveraign Lord and King Joh. 14.15 Joh. 15.10 Rom. 12.1 2. Eph. 6.6 Joh. 14.21 23. 1 Joh. 5.2 3. Let us never adventure on any actions or things until we have a Divine Warrant for it and when we have that in our eye let us proceed with all our might doing that which is the Will of God and that because it is his Will For then we may and shall be able to do our works comfortably Then we shall do them as the holy Will of God in obedience to his Command and Authority Then shall we please and honour our Head and King and by Faith and Hope look for and expect his free and gracious Acceptance and his promised Assistance as also a great Reward in this life and that which is to come Then you may confidently expect and chearfully look for Fellowship and Communion with God in all your ways and Duties when in your places and stations you are really observing and doing the holy and perfect Will of God and not your own FINIS