called out and afterward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 called to bee Saints a calling seperatim and a calling conjunctim as Junius and vers 9. called to the fellowship of the Saints Expositors observe a double calling from the words One to be members of Christ and of the inviâ—â—ble Church and another of a particular Church to beleeve and to be added to the Church So that as a man is considered as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as reasonable and as politicall so a Christian may be considered as a Christian or member of Christ and as a member of a visible Church We have beene large in this being a speciall meanes to cleare the whole truth and the ignorance of this causeth much mistake in the world about Church-matters The second thing to be explained is the government of this Church Being a Kingdome or City or Family it must have a policy being not a worldly but a spirituall Kingdome it must have a spirituall policy and being a visible Kingdome it must have a visible policy such as the body is such must be the government of it To shew what this is For the name the Apostle helps us to a very apt one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ephes 2 14. the policy of Israel and what that is the Philosopher tels us 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it is order the word used here vers 7. and Col. 2.5 their faith and order So that by government we understand that order left by Christ to the Church for the administring of Church affaires or holy things For the extent of it we take it in the largest sense not onely for that part of government called commonly discipline or jurisdiction or the power of one over another c. but more largely for the whole ordering of the Church in all Church-affaires All are reduced to these two heads 1. The order of the parts of the body 1 Cor. 12.14 called the tempering of the body a right disposition of the parts every one in their place Pastors and Elders and Deaeons every one in their ranks 2. The order of the administrations and services of these parts to God and to each other as Prayer Word Sacraments Discipline and all the holy things of God And that we take in the largest sense too including the matter and manner for both come within this policy Christ commands the things themselves and the rites and ceremonies belonging to them For 1. Christ would not ordaine ordinanecs and leave them confused imperfect and halfe composed and subject them to humane skill to receive their forme and beauty 2. All things that God made in the world were perfect and every creature brought its shape into the world with accidents sutable to its being and sure God would not leave his holy ordinances and this second and more glorious world of the Church imperfect 3. If man were to prescribe the manner man had i.e. to command that we should injoy them in their manner or not at all a negative voice which is a greater power then God ever left man in his owne ordinances to admit and refuse 4. Christ hath left rules for them not onely for Preaching but by whom and to whom so in Baptisme and the Supper how they should be administred and to whom onely admit of this distinction Some things viz. such as are religious and immediately and particularly belong to the nature of the things themselves are peculiarly commanded such as are more remote as naturall and civill things are only in generall rules prescribed How these are distinguished we shall see hereafter For the extent of this government we shall lay these two grounds First for all internals Christ hath laid downe some internals both persons and things As 1. For matters of Doctrine and faith and inward sanctification there are Word Sacraments and Pastors and Teachers to administer them 2. For matters of conversation there is watching admonition c. for which there are Elders to joyne with the former as helps of government 3. For matters of charity there is collecting and distributing of Almes and for that are Deacons appointed For these externalls are as the barke of a tree or as a vaine in which the bloud runnes in these the inward life of grace is conveyed and to these three heads are they by Authors reduced Secondly that Christ hath laid downe all externals that are for the good of the Church That 's the property of a good Law to containe all and leave nothing to the Judge but the interpreting of such Lawes and the executing of them Christ the King of his Church hath made as many Canons as need all that is left for the Church is to execute these rules and in cases of doubt or difficulty to draw out the rule to particular occasions Or to conclude this point the government laid downe by Christ is ordinances of divine service or a liturgy a compleat way of serving the Lord in all his ordinances so called Hebr. 9.1 Having explained these two maine termes we proceed to prove the point The point will be sufficiently proved in demonstrating these five propositions 1. That it is necessary there should be a government of such an extent with all the rites and ceremonies belonging unto it 2. That it is necessary that Christ himselfe should prescribe it 3. That Christ hath actually done it and that sufficiently 4. That this government so commanded is perpetuall 5. That neither the Church nor any other hath power to alter any part of it or to adde any thing to it Propos 1 First It is necessary there should be such a government shewing the persons administrations with the rites and ceremonies belonging to them 1. Necessary by the Law of nature to the Gospel as a Religion for there never was a Religion without such The Aegyptians Romans Turks had their Priests Temples Rites belonging to them and shall Christ be defective in that which even nature requires Nature requires some Christ prescribes what 2. Necessary by the naturall Law by the second Command The affirmative part of a command is of the same nature with the negative the negative denies externall devised manners of worship therefore the affirmative requires a form of Gods devising The Jewish ceremonies did append to the second Command With out a prescribed forme the Law is imperfect therefore there must necessarily come a Law of service in the place of that which is abolished to supply the roome of it for till that be added a rule of externall worship the command binds in affirmatives but potentially viz. to worship God in his owne way when he should prescribe it 3. Necessary to our natures consisting of soule and body both created by God and redeemed by him 1 Cor. 6. ult therefore God must be worshipped by both 4. Necessary to tâ—â—… Church as a Kingdome or City for policy is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the life of a City and without a Law for
SCRIPTVRE A PERFECT RVLE FOR CHVRCH-GOVERNMENT Delivered in a Sermon at Margarets Westminster before sundry of the House of COMMONS By William Seigwich Minister in Farnham in Essex Published according to Order LONDON Printed for Ralph Smith at the signe of the Bible in Cornhill neare the Exchange SCRIPTVRE A PERFECT RVLE FOR CHVRCH-GOVERNMENT Isaiah 9.6 The Government shall be upon his shoulders THE text is a Propheticall solemnity of the incarnation and inauguration of Christ and sets forth his birth and raigne Christ in the wombe and on the throne The second is exprest very fully in a stately and lofty stile apt and fit to the greatnesse of the matter every word swels with royall and Princely excellencies so full of evangelicall glory that the Septuagint were astonished at the Majesty of it and therefore durst not expresse it but render it in their translation veiled and obscured but Christ by his comming hath expounded them to us and we see them a very excellent plaine and full description of the Kingdome of the Lord Jesus Christ shewing to us 1. His regall office to governe the government 2. The burthen and weight of this office it was not honds but onus not a crowne upon the head but the government upon his shoulders the part imployed with bearing heavy and pressing burthens 3. His propriety to it it lay upon his shoulders alone he had no helpe from others he suffered and raignes alone 4. After this there comes a troope of titles setting forth those royall graces which doe adorne assist the crowne of Christ The first shewing the nature and kind of this government it is not an ordinary vulgar or a carnall kingdome but wonderfull mysterious other states have some mysteries in them this is a state of mysteries The second shewes how it is assisted with wisedome and counsell the great support of states and that too within himselfe he needes not goe to others for it and therefore the more faithfull and safe he is the counsellour The third title sets forth his power he is wise to prescribe lawes and as potent to execute them able to defend his Lawes and Subjects in their obedience to those Lawes the mighty God The fourth sets forth his love hee can doe all things but his love limits him and sets his wisedome and power on worke his government is not tyrannicall but paternall his Subjects are his children he is the everlasting Father The fifth shewes the successe of it a government so well assisted and composed must needes be very peaceable the Print of peace The sixth shewes the continuance what is peaceable will continue warre either open or civill being the ruine of states and of his government shall be no end We will take onely the head of all the subject of these excellent properties the government And concerning it observe but these considerations by way of explication of the text and we shall draw up our conclusion to be insisted on Considera 1 That under this tearme of government is meant all Christs power extending to internalls and externalls By the first he rules internally in the Soules of men by grace and holinesse By the second he rules externally the outward man together with the inward in his worship We omit the first although the more excellent and glorious and aime at the second as more seasonable the externall government That this is here included as well as the former beside the extent of the word reaching to all in which Christ exercises dominion two acts of his government expressed vers 7. shew 1. He orders it which is properly a right disposing of things externally 2. To establish it with judgement and justice c. and an act of justice is properly ad extra and therefore though it be not onely understood it cannot be excluded externall government Considera 2 Consider that the text is evangelicall and what was here promised we must expect it to be performed under the Gospell Considera 3 That there is a twofold government 1. Supreme Lordly legislative unlimited 2. Subordinate inferiour shut within bounds By government here is meant the first the power of constituting Lawes of ordaining and laying a government for the second may be and is in the Church-officers but the first proper to Christ These three considerations laid downe the conclusion naturally flowes from the text That Christ hath left or constituted an externall government or a government in externalls for the Church under the Gospell Before we come to the proofe of it two things neede explaining 1. What the Church is that is the subject of this government 2. What this government is and what is the extent of it Concerning a Church the originall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was used to expresse civill Assemblies any Congregation of men met together for a civill use Act. 19.32 39 40. and is in Scripture taken sometime in a good sometime in a bad sense It is used in spirituall things variously Acts 19 32.39.40 We will not trouble you with the severall acceptions of the word Church in Scripture but take it in its common and most ordinary use and that which accords best with the originall use of it in the new Testament It is a particular or congregationall Church which is a similar part of the Catholique and hath the nature of the whole intire viz. immediate fellowship with Christ and right to all the ordinances The Church is visible or invisible a distinction not of genus into severall species but of the subject into the severall adjuncts for the same Church may be and is visible and invisible We are to consider of the Church onely as visible for so it is the subject of that government we are to speake of a visible and externall body for an externall policy It is ordinarily defined thus to be a company of beleevers joyned together in the name of Christ to enjoy fellowship with God and each other in all Gods ordinances according to the word The matter of this Church must be Saints faithfull men such whereof Christ may be the head Art of Church of England 19. they must all be members that make up a body i. visibly and in appearance These materials cast into a visible union knit together in one body in gospel-Gospel-order whereby they are apt and fit for communion with God in holy things and that in the name of Christ this is a Church called his house and family Jun. de Eccl. his City and Kingdome in Scripture I shall not need to spend much time in shewing what this Church is It will conduce much to the businesse in hand to prove that there is a visible politicall Church whose government is distinct from the invisible instituted by Christ And this will appeare 1. From the word Church applied to particular congregations in many places of Scripture to the Church of Corinth Antioch the seven Churches in Asia 2. 1 Cor. 15.24 The Apostle speakes of a
other physicke but Hearken what the Spirit saith to the Churches And there is nothing to be done now but searching the Scriptures and holding forth that light that is in them and promoting the practise of it The worke is great let not God have cause to complaine when you have done Isa 30.1 you looke counsell but not of me Vse 4 Let me perswade you a step higher to set up the government of Christ It is a worke God hath called you to and an honourable one to build the Lords Temple and to incourage others in it to set him up an house We have beene in Egypt what God said to Pharaoh as an enemy he entreats you as friends Let my people goâ— that they may serve me Wee have served our task-masters and they have served their lusts of us let us now serve the Lord. Set your selves cheerefully to the worke you will meet with difficulties but the reward will answer your pains 1. Doe this and you shall be assured of Gods perpetuall presence This is the mount in which he hath said he would dwell for ever and manifold are the promises that God hath annexed to it 2. By this means you will wither Popery at the roots Set up this wall of discipline and it will keepe out Antichristian errours Take Christs materials to build a Church with and venemous beasts will not endure to dwell in it 3. Truth and righteousnesse shall flourish it is a fruitfull soyle they that are planted in the Courts of Gods house shall bring forth much fruit in their old age 4. The way to Heaven will be more comfortable easie and short It hath much of Heaven in it 5. Hereby Christ will be honoured the Church flourish Religion increase and grow when the Lords mountaine is exalted above every mountaine Isa 2.2 then shall Nations flow unto it It will have so much order beauty and glory in it as it cannot but prevaile and win where ever it commeth Honoured Senatours It hath beene often tendered to the Parliament and refus'd but never so hopefully as now when the Father of Spirits hath sent in the spirits of the people to helpe you It is Gods opportunity and therefore embrace it and your reformation will succeed as Hezekiahs The Lord prepared the hearts of the people 2 Chron. 29. ult and the worke was done suddenly As the worke will be easie so the guilt great if refused But never yet did any government challenge jus divinum but this and therefore it is dangerous receiving it We should not expect that any should refuse it for this reason because it is Christs Shall we take the advantage of Christs absence so as to disclaime him and say as the Citizens in his absence we will not have this man to rule over us but our King comes and then what shall be done to such The Heathens did all they could to challenge jus divinum and to honour their Lawes would pretend they came from the gods and shall we refuse that which comes in the name of the Lord Rather at the first hearing of such a mercy as a government of Christ search seeke earnestly for it For every line of truth that comes from Christ is full of his bloud every peece of this building is full of divine excellency and therefore we should count every dust of it Gold and precious What can any man say against the yoake of Christ he saith himselfe it is easie and his burden is light God offers a Jubile and if we love not freedome it is just with God to boare our eares and keep us servants for ever Object There be variety of opinions there be divisions amongst men that challenge a government of Christs institution Sol. It is no wonder considering the darknesse that we have beene kept in God brings back our captivity as the rivers of the South and we are as men that dream our thoughts angles and 〈◊〉 counter We have not yet had leave to talke of discipline When we have more light and may see each others faces and thoughts we doubt not but we shall consent quickly I dare prophecy as Paul Phil. 3.15.16 If any man be otherwise minded the Lord shall reveale even this unto him There is no argument can be good against this truth and therefore practise it I dare not charge you to doe it but a greater hath Paul and in him Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6.14 It concernes all that professe Christ to the end of the world till Christs comming and therefore you The command he speaks of is this of discipline especially and therefore not easily wiped off I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keep this commandement without spot unrebukable untill the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ I know the great affaires of Church and Common-weale lye heavy upon you take the incouragement this text affords For this part Christ offers his shoulders to beare the burden God laid it there you need doe no more but take care to lay it there tod He hath beene wonderfull in bringing you together and will doe wonders by you If you see your selves to doe it â—eare not want of advise he will be your Counsellour nor strength to go through with your work he will be a mighty God unto you nor encouragement he will be your everlasting Father and give you a place in his house better then of sons and daughters Christ will rule in peace and oppression shall be far from us Christ shall be our King for ever and happy are the people that are in such a case If you are not so zealous as to doe it we are sure the zeale of the Lord of Heasts will performe this FINIS