by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus Christ No man hath seen God at any time the only begotten Son which is in the bosom of the Father he hath declar'd him Heb. 1.1 2. God who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the Fathers by the Prophets hath in these last dayes spoken unto us by his Son 4. That all Persons whatsoever are obliged bound under the severest penalties to attend to whatever was revealed by this Prophet This is also enforc'd by a voice from the excellent Glory Mat. 17.5 This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye him So then the Scriptures of the New-Testament are our Directory whatever Christ hath enjoyn'd therein all Saints are to have regard to For what he declared from the Father is therein contain'd and no where else But II. There 's not the least intimation given by God the Father or this great Prophet of the Church of any other way or means of instruction in his Worship or Service but only the Scriptures 'T is true the Popelings talk of Traditions as did do the Jews before them and much of their Worship many of their orders is bottom'd upon receives its Original from pretended Visions Revelations the personal Appearance of the Virgin Mary yea of Christ himself as they vainly pretend and perhaps Satan might appear to them as an Angel of Light and avouch himself to be the Lord Christ As touching the Carthusians 't is acknowledg'd that Hugo who joyn'd with Bruno in laying the Foundations of that Order had a vision of Gods Building an House with seven Stars conducting them to a place call'd La grand Chartreuse from whence the whole Order hath taken its name The Order of the Carmelites was from a Vision that Simon Stock had wherein the blessed Virgin appear'd with the Habit in her Hand which she would have them wear with a Promise that whoever dyed in that Habit should not perish by everlasting Flames Innocent the third hath a Vision of St. Francis and St. Dominic supporting the Lateran Church whence the Franciscan and Dominican Orders sprang As for the Jesuits their Grandsire Ignatius was full of Visions Sometimes Peter appear'd to him sometimes the Virgin Mary with a great deal of Glory and her Child in her lap whereby he was greatly strengthned and incouraged But above all the strangest Vision he had was a Vision of the Blessed Trinity plainly under a corporeal Representation which fill'd him so full of Joy that he could not hold weeping before all the People and was so strangly enlightned by it that he began to write a Book of the glory of the Blessed Trinity In one of his Exstasies he continued eight dayes in which it's probable saith Orlandinus he saw the frame and model of the Society of the Jesuits Christ appeared to him once and again sometimes he was lift up from the ground the room where he was being fill'd with a great Light In a Vision he saw God the Father commending himself and his Brethren to his Son Jesus bearing his Cross whom he very kindly received and with a smile said to Ignatius I will be favourable to you at Rome which greatly comforted him and his Companions And in the issue it fell out accordingly his order being confirm'd by P. Paul the third his Bull dated Octob. 3. 1540. As were their Orders so their Festivals were instituted upon the bottom of pretended Visions and Revelations The Festival of Corpus Christi was instituted by Vrban the fourth in honour of Transubstantiation by the Revelation of a famous Virgin call'd Juliana which had many raptures and so prophetick a Spirit as to discern the thoughts and intentions of her neighbours hearts she wrestled with Devils discoursed with the Apostles and wrought many Miracles Bullar Rom. Tom. 1 p. 147. Paul the Hermite was Canonized for a Saint upon the Authority of a Vision and Revelation The Feast of Michael the Arch-Angel upon a Revelation to the Bishop of Siponto and a few Drovers upon the Mountain Garganus To which many more might be added These are the wayes Satan hath used to establish his Kingdom by and to introduce his false superstitious idolatrous Orders and Worship destructive to the bodyes and souls of Men. But in Christ's Doctrine Gospel there is a deep silence touching any such matter He himself and his Apostles after him introduce nothing upon the account of such Revelations but appeal to the Scriptures and prove their Doctrine from thence Not the least intimation is there of any way or means of instruction in his Worship but only the Scriptures If there be let the place be produced and we are satisfied If there be not as most certain there is not to hearken attend to Visions Revelations is to say no more unsafe dangerous Nor can it be consistent with the Love of the Father to his Church had he intended any other way of Instruction not to give the least notice of it to them nor with his Wisdom to make that discovery of his mind and will in the Scriptures to give it forth as our Rule when upon this supposition 't is a most imperfect one But III. God sends us to the Scripture for direction in this matter Isa 8.20 To the Law and to the Testimony if they speak not according to this word whatever their pretentions are of the morning or the breaking forth of a more glorious day it is because there is no 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 morning in them They have not the Light of the Glorious morning they speak of Luke 16.29 They have Moses and the Prophets i. e. the writings of Moses and the Prophets let them hear them John 5.39 Search the Scriptures for in them ye think to have eternal life and they are they which testify of me IV. Jehovah himself in and under each Ministration hath commanded his People to observe whatever he hath appointed in the Scripture without Addition or Substraction Deut. 4.2 Ye shall not add to the word which I command you neither shall you diminish ought from it that ye may keep the Commandments of the Lord your God which I command you Chap. 12.32 What thing soever I command you observe to do it thou shalt not add thereto nor diminish from it Josh 1.7 That thou mayest observe to do according to all the Law which Moses my Servant commanded thee turn not from it to the right hand or to the left Prov. 30.5 6. Every word of God is pure Add thou not unto his words lest he reprove thee and thou be found a Liar Rev. 22.18 19. For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Book If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the Plagues that are written in this Book And if any man shall take away from the words of the Book of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Book
reclaim them Who would have gathered them as a Chicken under his wings but they would not Him they refused thrust away by wicked hands took condemned crucified slew him and now the measure of their Fathers iniquity being filled up and the time appointed by Jehovah to take down that Tabernacle being fully come and to set up another in the room of it by the Messiah CHRIST he puts a full period to it apotomizes cuts them off perfectly unchurches them and at last layes waste destroyes their City Temple with an utter Destruction Now was the total ruin of that Apostatick Judaick Church And to purpose in capital letters is Lo-ammi and Loruhamah written upon them viz. Ye are not my People I have no mercy for you and not so plainly at any time as now 'T were easie to make many remarks to the advantage of the present truth we are risen up in the defence of from the foregoing discourse The prudent Reader can do it himself To whom we leave it The whole Church-politie of the Jews being vertually dissolved at the death of Christ a New-Church-state is introduced by him New Churches formed according to his rule model new-institutions appointed by him which 't is the duty of those Churches to conform to Two things must here briefly be enquired into 1. What a Gospel-Church or an Instituted-Church of Christ is 2. That such a Church is of the Institution of Christ As touching the first A Cospel-Church is a Society of Believers once dead in trespasses and sins but now quickned by the Spirit sanctified justified by the Free-Grace of God in Christ illuminated by the same Spirit in the knowledge of his Will separated from the World and voluntarily joyned together for the exercise of the Communion of Saints in the due observation of all the Institutions Ordinances of Christ This description of a Gospel-Church is proved in every part of it from the ensuing Scriptures Eph. 2.1 And you hath he quickned who were dead in trespasses and sins ver 5. When we were dead in sins hath quickned us together with Christ 1 Cor. 6.11 Ye are washed sanctified justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Cor. 1.2 Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus called to be Saints 2 Cor. 6.16 17. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols For ye are the Temple of the living God Wherefore come out from amongst them and be ye separate saith the Lord and touch not the unclean thing and I will receive you Heb. 3.1 Holy Brethren partakers of the Heavenly calling Jam. 1.18 Of his own will begat he us by the word of Truth Rev. 1.20 The seven Golden Candlesticks which thou sawest are seven Churches 1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.21 22 23. As touching the second that such a Church was instituted by Christ is evident 1. From Christs appointment and approbation of such a Church Mat. 18.15 16 17 18 19 20. 2. Christ charges his Apostles Mat. 28. to teach those who should be converted by their Ministry to observe whatever he commanded them In pursuance of which charge we finde that as soon as any were converted to the Faith by the direction of the Apostles they were gathered into Church-Societies Acts 2.41 42 47. 8.1 11.26 14.23 27. 3. These are called the Churches of God of Christ Act. 20.28 1 Cor. 1.2 10.32 11.22 15.9 2 Cor. 1.1 Gal. 1.13 1 Tim. 3.5 Rom. 16.16 because of their institution establishment by him 4. The Apostles in the Name Authority of Christ direct their Epistles to them as such 1 Cor. 1.1 2 Cor. 1.1 Gal. 1.2 Phil. 1.1 Col. 1.2 4.16 1 Thes 1.1 2 Thes 1.1 Eph. 1.1 compared with Acts 20.17 1 Pet. 5.2 or unto particular persons giving directions touching their carriage deportment and duty towards them 1 Tim. 3.15 Tit. 1.5 5. Christ calls them his Churches Rev. 1.20 6. Own 's himself to be their Head Husband Lord King they his Body Bride House Family of which afterwards 7. A great part of the Apostolick-writings consists in giving Precepts Exhortations Counsels to guide lead them in their duties to each other in such a relation and for their preservation in Purity and Order Of which we shall have occasion particularly to make mention in the ensuing Discourse 8. His special care of them 9. The particular notice he takes of them in the book of the Revelations sending particular Epistles to them Exhorting reproving counselling incouraging them taking no notice of any that did not appertain to them Rev. chapters 2. and 3. with much more that might be said doth abundantly demonstrate that the Church described was of the institution of Jesus Christ That the Ordinances practised in and amongst those Churches such as Preaching the Word Prayer Baptism breaking Bread c. were of the Appointment of Christ will not be denied se Act. 2.42 and 6.2 1 Cor. 14.3 2 Tim. 4.2 Heb. 13.7 Act. 6.4 and 13.2 3. 1 Tim. 2.1 Mat. 28.19 and 26.26 27. 1 Cor. 11.23 ERRATA Reader Some few mistakes in Printing are here remarked the rest being inconsiderable are left to thee to amend IN the Epistle to the Reader p. 10. l. 21. r. bloody l. 36. abominable p. 13. l. 3. hath In the body of the Book p. 7. l. 2. r. it 's l. 3. this p. 16. l. 10. blot out the. p. 17. l. 11. r. letter p. 20. l. 34. persons p. 21. l. 15 inasmuch l. 17. that p. 30. l. 14. their p. 39. l. 5. blot out are p. 54. l. 8. r 1 Job p. 56. l. 32. apostacy p. 63. l. 15. women p. 66. l. 33. after much r. as p. 73. l. 30. tu es p. 77. l. 19. increase p. 79 l. 30 throughout p. 85. l. 28. for have r. are p. 114. l. 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 117. l. 22. after have add said Gospel-Churches A Standing ORDINANCE OF Jesus Christ CHAP. I. Gospel-Churches an Institution of Christ to continue to his next coming demonstrated from the Appellations given in Scripture to such Churches They are call'd 1. The Kingdom of God Why they are so call'd open'd Mark 9.1 Acts 1.3 and 19.8 9. Explained Several inferences from hence A two-fold Kingdom viz. of God and of the Devil and Antichrist Several wayes Satan takes for the support of the Antichristian Kingdom An Objection Answered 2. A House built upon a Rock Matth. 16.18 opened at large Peter not the Rock but Christ proved The Gates of Hell what they import Satan's attempts by subtlety and power to destroy the Church invalid An Objection Answered 3. The Kingdom of Heaven Why the Gospel-Church-State is so call'd An Objection Answered 4. A Kingdom that cannot be shaken Heb. 12.27 28. explained 5. The Ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3.7 8. opened at large 6. The Body of Christ Gospel-Churches hereby intended proved Vpon what accounts they are so call'd shewn Several inferences from hence
Rome the members of it fell asleep in Jesus having served the Lord in their generation by the subtilty of Satan and the man of Sin upon that spot springs up a sort of Professors bearing the name of Christ calling themselves a Church that at last at least have nothing to be found upon them like unto what they pretend to be therefore there 's a period put to the Church-state to all Churches Christ's relation to them as the Builder Foundation Head Husband notwithstanding And why so I pray May not there be true Churches of Christ and he stand thus related to them and as their Builder c. support uphold preserve his Church-state amongst them though that and many other Churches prevaricate depart from him That he hath actually done so from the time of his first planting Churches to this day we shall if the Lord will in the ensuing discourse demonstrate In a word let it be proved against the present Churches That they have unchurch'd themselves by Idolatry bloody cruelty against the Saints as this pretended Church of Rome hath done or this objection must be acknowledged to be of no weight To shut up all we have to say upon this argument Christ is the Builder Foundation Head Lord Husband of particular Churches and so call'd with respect unto a special relation to them as such as hath been proved either then there must be such Churches or this relation is at an end And thus far touching the second argument CHAP. III. The continuation of Gospel-Churches further demonstrated The Scripture the sole Directory both with respect to Doctrine and Worship Whatsoever Christ hath instituted given in charge therein 't is the duty of Saints in every day to be found in the practice of Christ of old prophesied of as the great Prophet whom God would raise up to instruct his People whom they were bound to attend Deut. 18.18 19. explained Christ's instructions contain'd in the Scriptures No other way or means intimated by God the Father or Christ for the indoctrination of the Saints as to Doctrine or Worship besides the Scriptures Of Popish Traditions Visions The Personal appearance of the Virgin Mary of Christ to them These the Foundation of their festivals religious orders God sends us to the Scripture for Direction in Faith and Worship hath under each Ministration commanded his People to observe whatever he hath appointed therein without Addition or Substraction It 's sufficient to instruct and guide us 2 Pet. 1.19 Explained Objections Answer'd Of pretensions to Christ's personal appearance That there hath been no personal appearance of Christ on the Earth to any since his Ascension proved Of the appearance of Christ to Stephen Paul John That he convers'd not with them on Earth proved Demonstration III. THat the Scripture is our sole Directory both with respect to Doctrine and Worship that 't is the duty of the Saints in every generation to attend to the Laws Commandments Rules of our Lord laid down therein that none have power to supersede any Law Commandment of Christ hath hitherto been generally own'd as a truth amongst all the reformed Churches 'T is true some amongst the Papal-Synagogue have blasphemously asserted That the Pope that man of Sin and Son of Perdition hath authority to dispense with the commands of Christ and he and some Combinations of Men call'd Councils amongst them have actually so done in many cases But as was said amongst those that separate from that Synagogue of Satan none haâ—e as yet doctrinally declar'd the lawfulness thereof What is of that nature practically done by any of them is not to our present purpose to enquire This then might one would think be taken for granted whatever Christ hath instituted charged commanded upon his People in the New-Testament is the duty of the Saints in every day to be found in the practice of Yet insomuch as the most plain indisputable principles commonly received maxims are by one or other in this day questioned and opposed it may not perhaps be altogether useless briefly to discover the basis upon which this Principle is built I. Then 't was long before the exhibition of the Lord Jesus prophesied That God the Father would raise up a Prophet to his Church like unto Moses to whom it was their duty to attend in all things should be declared taught them by him under the most severe penalty was this charg'd upon them Deut. 18. 18 19. I will raise them up a Prophet from among their Brethren like unto thee and will put my word in his mouth and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him And it shall come to pass that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name I will require it of him The Seventy render it I will take vengance on him And the Hebrew Doctors so explain the words He that transgresseth against his words is guilty of death by the hand of God as it is written Deut. 18. I will require it of him Maimon in Jesud Hatorath C. 9. § 2. And the word require often signifies to require by punishment Gen. 9.5 42.22 the Apostle expounds this place of of Christ and this requiring to be destroying from amongst the people Act. 3.22 23. That this Prophet is Christ he tells us ver 26. Nor is this Prophesie interpreted by any of the antient or modern Rabbies except some very few but only of the Messiah Nor can it be interpreted of any other every particular being exactly fulfill'd in him A Prophet Mat. 21.11 This is Jesus the Prophet From among your Brethren Christ was raised up from amongst his Brethren and 't is particularly mention'd out of what Tribe amongst them he was taken Heb. 7.13 14. viz. of Judah and the Family he was of in that Tribe namely that of David is frequently mentioned Luk. 1.69 And will put my words in his Mouth Accordingly Christ said to God the Father Joh. 17.8 I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me He shall speak unto them all that I shall command him This Christ did Joh. 12. 49 50. I speak not of my self but the Father which sent me he gave me a commandment what I should say and what I should speak whatsoever I speak therefore even as the Father said unto me so I speak Joh. 15.15 All things that I have heard of my Father have I made known unto you Joh. 17.8 I have given unto them the words which thou gavest me and they have received them So that evidently Christ is the Prophet here spoken of Two or three things are worthy our special remark 1. That Christ is a Prophet raised up sent by the Father 2. That the end of God in his Mission of Christ as a Prophet was to instruct the Sons of Men in the whole of his Will that he thought meet to manifest to them 3. That Christ actually made such a discovery of the Fathers will John 1.17 18. The Law was given
of Life and from the things which are written in this Book Evidently God tyes up his people under Law and Gospel to a strict and sole attendment unto what he hath given forth in the Scriptures And that because V. These are sufficient able and perfect as he affirms of them to instruct and guide us Psal 19.7 The Law of Jehovah is perfect 2 Pet. 1.19 We have also a more sure word of Prophesie more sure than what than the voice that came from the excellent Glory when Christ was transfigured upon the Mount whereunto we do well to take heed as unto a light that shineth in a dark place untill the day dawn and the Day-Star arise in your Hearts The word of Prophesie contain'd in the Scripture is a sure word 't is a light every way sufficient as such to direct us in the way we should take and is carefully to be attended to till the morning of the day of the Son of Man or the Revelation of Jesus 2 Tim. 3.15 16 17. Thou hast known the Holy Scriptures which are are able to make thee wise unto salvation through Faith which is in Christ Jesus All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for Doctrine for Reproof for Correction for instruction in Righteousness that the Man of God may be perfect thorowly furnished unto all good works The sum of what we have been Arguing Proving is this That the Holy Scriptures are our Directory with respect to Worship all then and no more whatsoever Christ hath commanded his people therein Saints are bound to attend and give up to And if so as is clearly demonstrated then Christ having given charges therein touching Saints walking together in the fellowship of the Gospel Worshipping Waiting on him in Gospel-institutions Praying Preaching Baptism breaking Bread is unquestionably the duty of Saints in every generation Quod erat demonstrandum Object T is true these things were once of the institution of Christ but they are now ceased Answ 1. They are the Scriptures of the Lord as we have proved we are solely to attend to both with respect to Doctrine and Worship let but then one syllable tittle be produced there-from that demonstrates the cessation of these Institutions of Christ and the matter is at an issue The honour of our Lord Jesus being so deeply concerned herein no sober Christian except under a great power of temptation will be willing to part with them upon easier terms 'T is not pretensions to Visions Revelations Angelick Appearances that will remove them from their stedfastness to the institutions of Christ those that depart from them upon such pretensions will never answer it in the day of Christ But 2. By the same reason the institutions Ordinances under the Mosaick Ministration might long before the fulness of time for their dissolution have been exploded so all the Authority of God with respect to Worship been rejected To the very time of their passing away by the exhibition of Jesus who was greater than Moses by whom the Law was given John 1.17 greater than Angels whose Ministry was made use of in its solemn Promulgation Act. 7.53 The Lord charges his People to be found in the practice of them Mal. 4.4 And those that were so as corrupt as the then Church-state was were honoured signally blessed by the Lord as Zachary Elizabeth Simeon 3. There 's not the least mention of the freedom exemption of any of the Lords Children from these Institutions till the personal Appearance of Christ but the contrary Object 2. Well then it seems 't will be granted that when Christ doth personally appear on earth there is to be a cessation of and period put to this Church-state with the Institutions and Ordinances thereunto appertaining what if he hath so appeared already Answ 1. As touching the first we very readily grant it upon Christ's next visible glorious appearance there will certainly be a dissolution of this Fabrick But 2. As to the question whatever the pretensions of any are or may be of Christs personal appearance to them it s evidently false and untrue not to be believed heeded or attended to for these Reasons 1. Christ foretels us there shall be such pretenders and charges us not to believe them or go forth after them Mat. 24.26 Therefore if they shall say unto you Behold he is in the desert go not forth Behold he is in the secret chambers believe it not 2. The Scripure mentions but one second coming of the Lord Jesus Heb. 9.28 And unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto Salvation Upon this pretext there may be must be many comings of Christ 3. The Heavens must receive him till the times of the restitution of all things when and not before God the Father will send him Act. 3.20 21. Of these times there 's nothing appears that bears the least resemblance 4. Christ gives his Church no notice of any such thing which had he designed and for such an end as is pretended viz. to put a period to the present Ministration and to erect a new one send forth new Apostles c. he would certainly have done A total silence herein were there any such thing intended by him is perfectly inconsistent with the Love he bears to his Children 5. 'T is expresly said he must sit at Jehovah's right Hand till his Enemies are made his Foot-stool Psal 110.1 which as yet we are sure they are not 6. The Work of Intercession now in Heaven where he is constantly to attend it will not admit him to come from thence tell he bring the New Jerusalem down with him For he makes Intercession as God-Man in that Nature Body in which he was Crucified which though a glorious Body yet is limited circumscribed else 't were not a Body 7. The Scripture is express that when he comes from thence he comes visibly as he went away so that every eye shall see him Mat. 24.27 30. For as the lightning cometh out of the East and shineth even unto the West so shall also the coming of the Son of Man be Then shall appear the sign of the Son of Man in Heaven and then shall all the Tribes of the Earth mourn and they shall see the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory Act. 1.9 10 11. And when he had spoken these things while they beheld he Christ was taken up and a Cloud received him out of their sight And while they looked stedfastly towards Heaven as he went up behold two men stood by them in White Apparel which also said Ye men of Galilee Why stand ye gazing up into Heaven This same Jesus which is taken up from you into Heaven shall SO COME in like manner as ye have seen him go into Heaven Rev. 1.7 Behold he cometh with Clouds and every eye shall see him and they also which pierced him 8. When Christ comes Satan shall be bound Rev.
In whom in the great Inquisition that God will make will be found the blood of Prophets and of Saints and of all that were slain upon the Earth Rev. 18.24 In a word the Antichristian-church is that part of the body of professors that the great Antichristian-Apostasy spoken of by these Apostles gather's up who is described character'd by her false Doctrine idolatrous superstitious Worship of which before immorality in conversation persecution bloody cruelty against the Royal Seed the Saints of the most high Who so sear'd hardened in heart and conscience as without a blush from a soul filled with deep consternation can bear the sight of a thought springing up to affix the characters of this Antichristian-church unto the present Churches So then these being in respect of Matter Form Foundation Doctrine Worship Nature Characters perfectly different from the Antichristian-church must of necessity be the Churches of CHRIST and accounted so by all who are not resolv'd against the plainest Demonstrations to hold their perswasion with a nunquam persuadebis etiamsi persuaseris except some Hermaphrodyte-Church that is neither of Christ or Antichrist can be found out CHAP. IX The Church-state Gospel-Institutions are bottomed upon the Mediatory Office of Christ Their continuation from thence dedemonstrated Of Christ's Prophetick Priestly Kingly-Office Christ as the great Prophet of the Church hath revealed the Gospel-Church-state with the Institutions and Ordinances Christ call'd an Apostle and why Said to be sent by the Father Such a Prophet as never was in the World before nor hath there or shall there be any like him What of the Father he revealed The continuation of Gospel-Churches evinced from hence Of the Priestly-Office of Christ Gospel-Churches Institutions bottomed upon it at large demonstrated Of the Kingly-Office of Christ Gospel-Churches bottomed thereupon Demonstration IX THe Church-State Gospel-Churches Institutions are bottomed upon the Mediatory Office of Christ from whence a continuation of them till his next second glorious coming doth necessarily follow To Christ as Mediator a threefold-Office whereinto by Solemn Unction he was inaugurated by the Father doth appertain viz. Prophetick Priestly Kingly Arguments from each of these might at large be insisted on to demonstrate the truth we are at present contending for I. That Christ is the great Prophet of the Church will not be denied Deut. 18.18 Act. 3.22 and 7.37 As a Prophet he is fully acquainted with the Will of God and hath perfectly Revealed it to the Church both in respect of Doctrine Worship and Discipline The truth is his whole work as a Prophet is to reveal the Will of God and therein to Teach and Instruct us He is also call'd The Apostle of our Profession Heb. 3.1 The Prophetick-Office of Christ with respect unto his immediate Authoritative Mission from the Father is that which is intended by the expression He is said frequently to be sent by the Father Isa 19.20 and 48.16 and 61.1 Zach. 2.8 9. He whom the Father sent is the description he gives of himself Joh. 3.34 which is frequently repeated John 3.17 18 28 34. and 5.23 24 30 36 37 38. and 6.29 38 39 40 44 57. and 7.16 28 29. and 8.16 18 29 42. and 9.4 and 10.36 and 11.42 and 12.44 45 49. and 13.26 and 14.24 and 15.21 and 16.5 and 17.3 18 21 23 25. and 20.21 A Prophet he is and such a Prophet as never was in the World before nor any other like him was there to be and as a Prophet he reveals the Father himself John 1.18 And his Name Chap. 13.6 and 17.3 i. e. the mystery of the Covenant of the Grace of GOD his Love Kindness to the Sons of Men his Worship whole will respecting our Obedience and Salvation And for this work he was sent from the Father had his Authority from him and furnitures through the Spirit poured out upon him without measure for the dispatch of it So that he that hears Christ hears the Father and he that refuseth Christ refuseth the Father also because he acts in his Name Authority in this his Office That from hence the continuation of Gospel-Churches Institutions must necessarily follow is evident For 1. Christ as the great Prophet of the Church hath declared these to be one part of his Fathers Will that as such he was to Reveal as hath been proved That at any time it should be lawful for us to oppose the Will of the Lord thus solemnly revealed none will sure have the confidence to affirm 2. The Apostle to the Hebrews chap. 1. chap. 2. makes Christ's coming as the great Prophet of God one argument of the abolition of the whole Mosaick Paedagogy and the introduction of those Gospel-Institutions they were in the practice of God that spake in the Prophets hath spoken in his Son q. d. You expected a Prophet for so they did who should bring in a New-Ministration reveal the whole will of the Father to you this is He he is the Apostle sent from him for this end attend him consider him Heb. 3.1 Now certainly if the Apostle lookt upon this as a good argument for the same at least one of the same ends for which 't is produced by us 't will be immodesty for any to look upon it as impertinent incogent 3. Christ as the great Prophet when he Tabernacled in the World revealed this State the Laws Institutions relating to it Had we lived in the time when and been one of those to whom he had communicated them ought we to have believed obeyed subjected to them Sure 'T will not be denied but we ought Are not the same Laws delivered to the Apostles recorded in the Scriptures This will not be opposed What then Have the Laws of CHRIST by their being written lost their Authority This will not I am sure it cannot with any pretext of Reason be said It remains therefore that Churches with the Worship affixt to them being once of the discovery of CHRIST must still continue so to be and our practice suitable to that discovery necessitate precepti necessary 4. Is there any greater Prophet than Christ risen up Doth he come in his Fathers or in his own Name What 's his message that he brings Is he upon a new discovery of the Fathers will pouring contempt upon what hath been Revealed by Christ Every spiritual believer knows what reception he ought to have with him viz. neither he nor his Message to be received but rejected as an impostor a lye 2 John 10.11 5. Hath Christ ceased to be a Prophet Since he was signally inaugurated into that Office by the visible descent of the holy Spirit upon him in the form of a Dove Mat. 3.16 17 Shall he do so till he deliver up the Mediatory-Kingdom to the Father Neither the one nor the other will be asserted Doth he now any other wayes discharge that Office than by his written Word and Spirit opening the understanding of believers to perceive his Instructions contained therein Surely no. The
came to them So that if because they have not Apostles the present Churches are no Churches of Christ neither were the Primitive-Churches at least some of them such The Objection lies as directly against them as any after-Churches But II. The Apostles as Apostles are neither Foundation matter or Form of the Church so far are they from being of the Essence of the Church 1. Foundation they are not for Christ is the alone Foundation as hath been proved 'T is true Saints are said to be built upon the Foundations of the Apostles and Prophets Eph. 2.20 but the intendment thereof is no more than that they were built upon the Doctrine was Preacht by the Apostles the substance whereof was Christ 2. Not the Matter as Apostles as Saints 't is true they were so as well as others but no otherwise 3. The Form of the Church they are not for that lies in somewhat else as before was Demonstrated III. Let 's suppose that which may be supposed It hath been as is known that by the Providence of God the meanest Saint is cast upon any spot where the Gospel never was He preaches Christ to the Natives they are Converted by the Spirit of the LORD accompanying his Ministry may these Converts give up themselves to the Lord and one another to walk with him in ways of his own Institution or not If the first actum est periisti Antichristiane there may be true Churches without Apostles for herein lie's the Essence of a true Church If the Second it 's lawful then it seems for believers to disobey the Commands of Christ which will at least sound harsh in the ears of sober Christians for Gospel-fellowship Churches we have proved to be commanded by Christ Nay IV. The Apostles quâ Apostles never belong'd to any perticular Church Authority in the name of Christ they had in and amongst them all never related to any particular Church as such They were non-residents ubiquitaries and the Office whereunto they were called by the Lord Jesus required that they should be so Mat. 28.18 19. V. What the Apostles were to the Gospel-Churches that at least Moses and Aaron may be supposed to be in the Judaick Church The Law came by Moses In every difficult Case he was their Mediator to God and gave responses to them from him Aaron had his Vrim and Thummim whereby he gave in matters proposed to him infallible answers from the Holy One. They had also the Ark with the Mercy-Seat and Cherubims The Fire from Heaven the Majesty or divine Presence viz. the Oracle in the most Holy Place where God dwelt between the Cherubims Num. 7.89 Psa 80.2 the Holy Spirit viz. the Spirit of Prophesie not only in the Priests but in the Prophets were these of the Essence of the Church was their Church-state dissolved because of their want of them What more frivolous can be asserted Moses and Aaron soon fell asleep before they came into the good Land As for the last mentioned they enjoyed them not under the second Temple as the Jews themselves acknowledge yet their Church-state continued till the death of Christ as is granted by all 'T is impossible to fix upon any Argument to prove the necessity of Apostles for the continuation of a Church-state in Gospel-dayes which will not also evince a necessity of what we have instanced in with respect to the necessity of the existence of Moses c. for the continuation of the Judaick Church-state than which nothing is more false Besides VI. The Church was never Built upon the Apostles one or other of them but upon their Doctrine which from the Lord Jesus they delivered or rather upon Christ the sum and substance thereof 'T is true the Papists tell us as hath been intimated that 't was Built upon Peter from Mat. 16.18 upon which they have laboured to build their Babel endeavouring to substitute the Pope in his room The vanity of which attempt hath been discovered by several and by none more than the every-way learned and accomplished J.O. in his Animadversions on Fiat Lux. But as was said 't was their Doctrine not their Persons the Church was Built upon This through the wonderful kindness of God we have continued to us and therefore no need of their personal Ministry Yet VII Suppose we had Apostles amongst us the self-same Apostles that were sent forth and instructed by Christ to indoctrinate the Saints in his will to charge them to Observe whatever he had commanded them They would declare to us the same things or they would not If the same they are upon record in the Scriptures of truth and are as much to be heeded by us as if they had been delivered to us by them Vivâ voce The latter cannot be imagined The Apostle hath for ever shut the door against any such conceit Gal. 1.8 9. Though we or an Angel from Heaven preach any other Gospel unto you then that which we have preached unto you let him be accursed So that evidently the want of Apostles is the most weak frivolous argument that ever men of the least reason or converse with the Scripture or knowledge of that faith that ought to be with us in these matters ever fixt upon Object 2. But there was an Apostasie foretold by the Apostles of our Lord which we find actually came to pass within a few hundreds of years after Christ Therefore there are no true Churches for the Apostasie hath covered swallowed up all Answ That an Apostasie was foretold as intimated that it was also introduced is granted But this proves not the nullity of Churches Ordinances For 1. 'T is expresly declared that the Apostasie mentioned should not be a total Apostasie 1 Tim. 4.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not all but some shall depart or make a revolt from the Faith I confess had the Scripture asserted a universal Apostasie the objection would have seem'd to have had some strength in it I say 't would have seem'd for really it hath none For had the Apostasie as is falsly pretended over-spread all for a season as sometimes it did in the Churches of old as was demonstrated in the preface to this discourse yet it follows not but in persons by the call of God delivered from under that Apostasie a true Church-state might exist Which is notoriously true with respect to thousands that for some while the Papacy drank in But 2. We have already proved Demonstrat 4. c. 4. that all along the Apostasie the Lord had his true Churches witnessing for him against it So that we need not say more touching this matter There was an Apostasie foretold that should overspread the greatest part of the Churches prevail in most places of the Christian World It did so to purpose at Rome c. Ergo there are no true Churches risum teneatis amici or rather pity pray for them who by reason of prejudice temptation have their