Ministration of the Spirit we are to understand the whole Gospel-oeconomy or Ministration the Doctrine Worship Institutions thereof is evident 1. From its Antithesis unto the Ministration of the Letter or legal Mosaic observances call'd the Ministration of Death and Condemnation v. 6 7 9. which the Apostle tells us was done away now 't was that whole Ministration as made up of Institutions Ordinances peculiar to it that was done away 2. 'T was such a Ministration as the Apostles were Ministers of v. 6. i. e. which they Preach'd declared from Jesus Christ according to his charge to them Matth. 28.20 and were ministring to him and the Saints in 'T was not the Doctrine of the Gospel inward purity practick Godliness only that they declared as the mind of Christ but the Worship thereof institutions of his appointment thereunto appertaining No sooner were Persons converted to the Faith of Christ but they were gathered by the Apostles into a Church-state Acts 2.41 42 46. and 9.31 and 11.22 26. and 14.23 27. and 15.41 and 16.5 and 20.28 This is too evident to be denied 3. 'T was such a Ministration Wherein as in a Glass with open face compared to those vail'd dark sights they had in their Passover Sacrifices c. under the Mosaic Ministration they beheld the Glory of the Lord and were changed into the same Image from Glory to Glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord v. 18. The first Primitive believers 't will not be denied attended upon the Lord in Gospel-Institutions 'T is evident they did so from the Scriptures but now quoted In their so doing they beheld the glory of the Lord had choice discoveries displayes of it grew up into a Conformity unto him in their conscientious waiting on him herein And whatever any say thousands of believers at this day that are found waiting upon the Lord in his own institutions such as the Church-Fellowship Breaking Bread Prayer c. meet with presence sights of Glory Divine Transformations renewals in the Spirit of their minds When any are found in institutions shaken in their minds touching them as the institutions of Christ that by virtue of His Soveraign Authority Command they ought to attend to 't is no wonder if they see not his Glory know nothing of his transforming power through them They come not in faith sanctify not his name in what they do therefore meet not with his blessing Quest The Question is upon what accounts this Ministration is called The Ministration of the Spirit Answ 'T is so called with respect 1. To it 's Super-eminent Super-excelling Glory For Excellency Glory far superiour unto any Ministration that went before it What compare is there betwixt Spirit and Letter that which hath life in it and that which hath none 2. To the Communication of the Spirit through it by it Gal. 3.2 Received ye the Spirit by the Works of the Law or by the hearing of Faith 3. To its being given forth by Christ through the Holy Spirit Acts 1.2 The Lord Jesus being constituted by the Father Mediator of the New-Covenant Prince Ruler Priest Prophet to the Church was to reveal the whole of his mind and Will to them as such For his inablement whereunto the Father pours out of the Spirit without measure upon him through this Spirit he gave Commandments to his Apostles relating to Gospel-Worship with a charge to them to Communicate them to others Matth. 28. ult Which also they did 4. To that Glorious effusion of the Spirit in the day of Pentecost Act. 2. at the beginning or first Publick setting up of this Ministration 5. To evince that 't is the highest last Ministration of institutions or visible Ordinances that Saints are to expect that when it s taken down there shall be no more nor indeed will there be need of any what Ministration can be supposed to be higher than the Ministration of the Spirit What can supersede it Yea the Apostle fairly intimates that it shall so remain not to pass away as the Ministration of the ter or Law that went before it 2 Cor. 3.7 which was to be done away For if that which is done away was Glorious much more that which Remaineth is Glorious And 't is not to be passed by in silence that the Apostle makes part of the excelling Glory above that of the Law of the Gospel-Ministration to consist in the duration of it If that which is done away was glorious much more that which remaineth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that fixed abiding unalterable Ministration 6. The managery of all the Worship Ordinances appertaining to this Ministration is to be in the Spirit Without whom all that 's done is not will never be acceptable to God 7. The means of its support upholdment continuance progress is the same Spirit 2 Cor. 10.4 The Weapons of our warfare are not Carnal but Mighty through God Antichrist hath other wayes to support promote his filthy Worship senseless traditions ridiculous fopperies viz. the arm of flesh Horrid Bloody Plots Conspiracies to massacre destroy cut off such as stand in the way of his devices Prisons Gibbets Stakes Flames to consume devour such as refuse to drink of the Cup of his Fornications but Lex nova non se vindicat ultore gladio the Law of Christ knows no such wayes methods for its support increase 'T is the Spirit Power of God by which it is ever was maintained a neglect of whom and turning aside to the Power Wisdom of Man warring after the flesh was the bane of Christianity and the first spring off the Antichristian apostacy Three things necessarily follow from hence 1. That a slighting undervaluing withdrawing from Gospel-Institutions is a slighting of the most glorious Ministration that ever was set on foot in the World 2. 'T is a contempt undervaluing of the Holy Spirit of the Lord whose they are and from whom they did proceed Let persons pretensions be what they will it cannot be otherwise Gospel-Institutions are of through the Spirit to slight these is to cast contempt upon him from whom they are 3. That the Spirit is obliged to support maintain them against all oppositions He remains with his People for ever for that end John 16.13 Howbeit when the Spirit of Truth is come he shall guide you into all Truth v. 14. He shall Glorify me for he shall receive of mine and shall shew it unto you And he hath actually done so hitherto keeping alive a blessed witness testimony to them for them in his called chosen witnesses more or less in every day Though sometimes this their testimony hath cost them dear viz. loss of Goods Enjoyments Friends Liberty Life it self yet they have Gloryed Triumph'd under all through this Spirit of Glory and of God that rested upon them and enabled them in this work The very truth is as the great controversie of Christ with the Nations of the European World hath been upon the account of their Spiritual fornications or false worship
are also intended by these Gates The armoury of the City was over the gates of it But in this forcible attaque of the Church he hath also fail'd He did his uttermost by bloody cruelty during the first Persecutions But what was the issue The executioners of his wrath the Roman-Pagan-Emperors had Torments within them perpetually gnawing them whilst the Holy Ones that kept the Commandements of Jesus were fill'd with Peace and Joy and triumph'd over them in the Spirit and Power of Jesus both living and dying The vengeance of God eminently wrought on their notorious Persecutors whil'st the blessing and good will of him that dwelt in the Bush was with these and the more they were Persecuted the more they grew So that it became a Maxim Sanguis Martyrum semen Ecclesiae The Blood of the Martyrs the seed of the Church And Satan not being able to hold it in the Roman-Pagan-State enters into the Papal-Antichristian-Monarchy and hath therein hector'd and ranted breathing forth nothing but threatnings and slaughters against the Saints of the Most-High who have the Commandments of God and Testimony of Jesus Millions of the Lords poor People have been destroyed by this Roman-AntiChristian-Beast in days past of late not a few In the Massacres of Paris Ireland and the Vallies of Piedmont c. Not to mention the Bonfires they made of the bodies of our Brethren in the bloody Mary's days Which notwithstanding their haughty confidence they 'l shortly pay dearly for The judgements of the Lord God Almighty will speedily come upon the great Whore for these cruelties his Wrath will consume Her utterly But what 's the Issue The number of the Lambs-followers are multiplied their faith confidence and courage heightned And let the Pope and that bloody Crew know that they are ready to withstand him in his next attaque and advance against them being encourag'd thereunto by that great Cloud of worthy Witnesses they are encompas'd about with and that plerophory of assurance that in this last Attempt he with his whole Party will stumble fall go into Perdition never to appear more The sum is 1. The Church is built upon a Rock who then is able to evert overturn it What winds blasts storms what ragings of Waves Seas can over-whelm destroy it Satan hath fail'd in all his Attempts hitherto against it and prov'd in-successful 2. Christ hath engaged that it shall continue un-shaken immovable notwithstanding all attaques by fraud or force Is he not faithful Will he not make good his Word Can he depart from it Wants he Will or Power to accomplish what he hath promised What more derogatory to Christ impious wicked can be Asserted Object But Churches may Apostatize and so dis-Church themselves They may provoke the Lord by his judgments to do so The first is notoriously Evident in the Church of Rome The latter manifestly true with respect to other Churches Answ Both the first and second is granted But 1. The promise of Christ cannot fail Therefore 2. The defection of this or that particular Church the removing the Candlestick from it the taking away its Church-state was never denyed by us Such a dispensation is not in the least contrary to the promises of Christ Mat. 16. But 3. A total Apostasy of all the Churches of Christ in the World with the suspension cessation of the Ordinances of the Gospel-thereupon is what is impleded by us as diametrically opposite to this promise of our Lord. Two things are also heedfully to be attended to 1. That we un-Church not a Church when that is not to be found upon it for which the Lord hath declared they are un-Churched nor before he doth un-Church them Some Errors in doctrine formallity luke-warmness departure from first-love doth not un-Church a Church rightly Constituted These things were found in the Churches of Corinth Ephesus Laodicea c. yet at the same time true Churches of Christ The latter are own'd writ to by Christ as such as the former was by the Apostle of the Gentiles when yet these evils were found amongst them 1 Cor. 1. 2 Cor. 2. Rev. ch 23. 2. That 't is the Duty of particular Believers upon the un-Churching a Church to joyn themselves to some other Church or if a number sufficient of themselves so to do to form themselves into a body or Church of Christ for otherwise they disobey and offer an open affront to the authority of Christ in that great Gospel-appointment of his and so indeed lift up themselves against his Kingly Soveraignty over them Thirdly This Church-state is represented under the Notion of the Kingdom of Heaven 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that Kingdom of Heavens Mat. 13.24 31 33 44 45 47. 25.1 The Kingdom of Heaven shall be likned unto ten Virgins c. And it wants not its weight that this Kingdom of Heaven or Gospel-Church-State notwithstanding the declension drowsiness sleepiness of the subjects of it or Virgin-professors visibly Espoused to Christ in respect of their subjection to his Institutions 2 Cor. 11.2 is expresly affirm'd to continue unto the coming of our Lord v. 6 7 10. And at midnight there was a Cry made Behold the Bridegroom Christ cometh go ye out to meet Him Then all those Virgins arose and trimmed their Lamps c. And while they went to buy the Bridegroom came and they that were ready went in with him to the Marriage and the door was shut I. Why the Gospel-Church-State is represented under the Notion of the Kingdom of Heaven must a little be enquir'd into 'T is so upon the account 1. Of its Original from thence 'T is not of man but from Heaven as was John's Doctrin Baptism Ministry 2. Of its supereminent Glory whatever persons account of it 't is of Heaven heavenly beautiful glorious 3. Of the design of God in the Institution Erection of it viz. to lead Persons to Heaven Eternal Life 4. Of its Stability Duration Heavenly things are stable abiding The Kingdoms of this world are changing mutable the Kingdom of Heaven fixed permanent II. That none but He who dwells in Heaven is higher than the Highest who is the alone Supreme Soveraign of this Kingdom hath Power to alter the Frame of it put a Period to it The Devil hath no Power or Authority in it He 's indeed styl'd the Prince of this World Joh. 14.30 the Prince of the Power of the Air Eph. 2.2 The whole World is said to be in subto him 1 Joh. 5.19 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He hath a Presidency Authority in the Anti-christian Kingdom is the Head of it is Worshipt in it The Devil gave him the Beast the Pope his Power Rev. 13.2 4. And the Anti-Christians are expresly said to Worship Devils Rev. 9.20 because they Worship Idols of Gold Silver c. A Worship Instituted introduced at first by them But with respect to the Kingdom of Heaven he hath nothing to do nor can he by any of his Wiles Strength cause it to
Rev. 1.13 20. and 2.1 5. Nothing unclean might come into the Temple nor any impure unholy persons into the Churches of Christ If any such privily creep in when discover'd they are to be ejected cast out 6. There was the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Daughter of the Voice the Answer of God who spake unto the people from the Oracle The secret voice and teachings of God is amongst these Isa 8.16 The Vial-Angels have light into their work in the Temple or Gospel-Churches for out of it they come when they address themselves to it Rev. 15.5 6. 7. In the Temple every one spake of his Glory Psal 29.9 in and amongst these is he praised Eph. 3.21 8. All the solemn Worship of God was of old affixt to the Temple 'T is now to Gospel-Churches 9. His special care protection was over his Temple to preserve defend it So 't is over his Churches Hence is their continuance notwithstanding the furious various advances of Men and Devils against them 10. He severely punish'd the violaters destroyers of his Temple Jer. 50.28 and 51.11 He hath done will do so with respect to such as attempt the ruine destruction of these Five things evidently follow from what we have been discoursing touching this matter 1. That Gospel-Churches being God's Temple c. He is obliged to support defend uphold his own Building House Temple 2. That if there be no Churches at this day he hath no Temple nor solemn visible Worship 3. That none have Power over these Churches to plant pull down nor have they or shall they have permission so to scatter destroy them that the Church-state should not somewhere or other be kept up in the World 4. That Gospel-Churches are Honourable Glorious They are God's Temple House Building 5. That those who reproach revile them Blaspheme God his Temple Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven Rev. 13.6 Object But though the Tabernacle Temple were God's Building yet both the one and the other were taken down abolished Answ True And so shall the present Church-State be dissolved at last But 1. Neither the one nor the other were taken down but by God's own Authority and Appointment and that too at last to make way for a more glorious State 2. The Worshippers in that Tabernacle Temple never deserted it till God drove them out of it They offer'd not violence to it themseves attempted not with their own hands to consume destroy it 'T is true as to the last Temple Josephus tells us that the Jews themselves set fire on 't but these were not the Worshippers in it but a company of apostate deboyst miscreants that cared neither for God Temple or Worship CHAP. II. The continuance of Gospel-Churches farther evinced from the Titles given to Jesus Christ with respect to such Churches Christ the Builder of them Zach. 6.12 Heb. 3.3 4. explained What Christ did doth as the Builder of these Churches Christ the Foundation Head Lord of Gospel-Churches In what sense He is so The Husband Bridegroom of them Vpon what accounts he is so called Objections Answered HAving in the former Chapter evinced the continuance of Gospel-Churches from the Titles given by the Spirit of the Lord to the Gospel-Church-State and those who Worship him therein We purpose in this Chapter further to evince the truth thereof From Demonstration II. The Titles Appellations given to Jesus Christ with respect to such Churches each of which is an unshaken basis upon which their continuation is founded We think it necessary to premise that 't is not our intendment to discourse of all the Titles given to Christ in the Scripture but only of such as give countenance assistance strength to the matter of our present enquiry and of these only so far as is necessary thereunto I. Then the Lord Jesus Christ is styled in Scripture the Builder of these Churches Zach. 6.12 He shall build the Tem-of the Lord. So the Vulgar Latine The House of the Lord Seventy Ar. The Temple of the Lord Syr. The Chaldee reads the whole verse thus Behold the Man his Name is Christ who is to be revealed and magnified and about to build the Temple of the Lord. For he shall Build the Temple of the Lord and he shall bear the Glory The Hebrew is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Behold the famous Noble Man the Branch 'T is evidently-spoken of Christ who is frequently called Tsemach the Branch Isa 4.2 Jer. 23.5 33.15 Zach. 3.8 Of whom Joshua was a Type 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He himself shall build that Temple of Jehovah viz. that Temple which was to be erected upon his coming into the world whereof the Temple that Joshua and Zerubbabel were in building was a Type viz. Gospel-Churches These Christ is said to Build because he gave forth Directions Laws to his Apostles for their Erection Establishment Heb. 3.3 4. Inasmuch as he who hath builded the House hath more honour than the House For every House is builded by some Man But he that built all things is GOD. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all these things the the Church Persons Ordinances pertaining thereunto The design of the Apostle is to evince Christ's preheminence above Moses 'T is true Moses was an honourable Person he received testimony from God that he was faithful in his House but he was but a servant in it a part of it Christ is the Builder of the House or Church For that by House we are to understand the Church or Churches with all the Ordinances of Worship in it was before proved Mat. 16.18 Vpon this Rock I will build my Church Three things Christ did doth as the Builder of this House 1. Gives forth the idea and plat-form of it in its Laws Ordinances and Institutions 2. Provides materials by his Spirit in the Ministration of the Gospel quickning sanctifying making lovely excellent glorious dead polluted vile base sinners 3. Closely conjoyning compacting these materials that they may grow up together a spiritual House an habitation of God through the Spirit To this he uses not outward Compulsion Force Violence but sweetly allures inclines their hearts by the power of his Spirit making them willing visibly to give up themselves to the Lord and one another by the Will of God And in this work the Lord Jesus met meets with the greatest opposition imaginable All the Power Wisdom of Satan the greatest wisest of the World appearing against it Sin Corruption in the hearts of those that are to be prepared for materials for it advancing also against it but Christ being invested with infinite Power carries the work through the difficulties and makes the greatest Mountain become a Plain before him and having erected set it up comes and takes up his dwelling makes his abode in it as was before proved Four things necessarily follow from hence 1. That there is really a Glory in the Churches of Christ 'T is true they have been are as to outward view
Revelation then made by him with respect to Institutions Worship is in every day to be attended to by the Saints A Church-state is then bottomed upon the Prophetick-office of Christ and to continue from the time of its erection by him to the consummation of all things II. As 't is bottomed upon the Prophetick-Office of Christ so 't is upon his Sacerdotal or Priestly The Apostle argues from the change of the Levitical priest-hood to the change of the whole of that Church-polity its Laws and Institutions Heb. 7.12 For the Priest-hood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law If this be a cogent Argument it follows strongly on the contrary If there be no change of the priest-hood as the Melchizedekian Priest-hood or the priest-hood of Christ after the order of Melchizedeck abides for ever as the same Apostle tells us then there is no change of the Law or institutions appertaining thereunto That the whole of Gospel-institutions have a dependance upon the Priestly-Office of Christ is manifest 1. That the legal Ministration or Worship was affixt to had a dependance upon the Aaronick Priest-hood the Apostle plainly enough declares in the forecited place Heb. 7.12 Now if the Worship of that day had such dependance upon that Priesthood that it liv'd and dyed stood and fell with it the Gospel-ministration and Worship must have the same dependance upon the real Eternal Priesthood of CHRIST for that was Typick of this throughout 2. Christ by his Death or the Oblation of himself which was a principal part of his Priestly-Office vertually put a period to the Law of Commandments contain'd in Mosaick-Ordinances Eph. 2.15 And so by the removing of them made way for the erection of the Gospel-church-state with the Institutions appertaining thereunto This the Apostle fully declares v. 18 19 20 21 22. For through him as our High-Priest for as such he 's discoursing of him as is Evident from v. 13 14 15 16 we both viz. Jewes and Gentiles have an access in Gospel-institutions by one Spirit unto the Father Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Forreinners but Fellow-citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone In whom all the building fitly joyn'd together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. In whom you are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Nothing could be more Evident if written with the beams of the Sun than this that Gospel-churches call'd the Houshold the Building of GOD with all the Institutions of CHRIST through which they have access to God are bottom'd upon the Priestly-Office of Christ 'T is through him as our Priest that we have access in Worship to the Father and equally in and through him as such that we are of the houshold of God his Habitation Temple 3. All the fittings preparings of Souls as fit materials for this Spiritual-Temple Building and the management of the Ordinances thereof are bottom'd upon the Priestly-Office of Christ That men in their natural state are altogether unfit for such a building or work will be granted otherwise Arguments enough lie near at hand for it's confirmation Our Lord hath solemnly determin'd this Controversy if with any it be a Controversy Joh. 3.3 5. That persons fitness lies in the communication of the Spirit a divine principle of Life the participation of the grace of the Covenant that therein also lies their meetness ability for the work and service of this Temple will not be denied Now whence flowes all this but from the Oblation Intercession of Christ the two signal parts of his Priestly-Office Nay 4. The Saints comming to God with their Temple-Worship all of it hath its Foundation here were it not for the Priest-hood of Christ they must stand off at an eternal distance Jehovah would be a terror consuming fire to them This all know who have a sight of themselves in their lapsed corrupt depraved state and of the infinite purity and righteousness of God This the Apostle treats of Heb. 4.14 15 16. and 7.19 Yea 5. All the acceptance of their Persons and all their Temple-worship with the Father of Spirits is bottomed here Were not Christ our High-priest had he not as such made an Attonement Reconciliation for us did he not make Intercession as such for us both we and our most solemn performances would be loathed rejected by the Lord. 6. Their encouragement to come to God with boldness the great motive to abide in their Temple-Worship and not to forsake the Assembling themselves together to be diligent in the discharge of the duties they are obliged to perform to one another in their Church-relation is fixed here Heb. 10.20 21 22 23 24 25. Their rejection of Gospel-communion is accounted an undervaluing of the Priestly-Office of Christ v. 28 29. To which add 7. That the preservation of Gospel-churches Ordinances is a fruit of the Priestly-Office of Christ bottomed upon his Oblation Intercession Why are they not dispersed scattered Why have not their Adversaries ruin'd destroyed them Whence is it that they have liberty to tread the Lords Court and Worship before the footstool of his Throne in Peace yea whence is it That the Devil with all his power policy hath not been able to ruin destroy the Churches of Christ It 's Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who ever lives to make Intercession Rom. 8.34 so that in this matter hear's full measure of Demonstration pressed down running over that Gospel-Churches Institutions appertaining to them are bottomed upon the Priestly-Office of Christ If he continue our High-priest if there be any vertue in his death energie power in his Intercession they must continue also And when these fail we are content to sink perish Maluimus cum Christo perire quam cum Caesare regnare III. Gospel-churches Institutions are also bottomed upon the Kingly-Office of Christ whence their perennity perpetuity is Evident That Christ is a King hath his Subjects Laws by which he governs them cannot be denied That he hath yet doth exercised his Kingly-soveraignty over them will be granted if he do not do so he is not King his despotick authority is at an end Who are his Subjects Those that dwell in Sion his Church his Body his House his Kingdom which hath been demonstrated to be Saints embodied and worshipping him in a Gospel-church-state to these he is a Head Lord King What are the Laws he Rules them by gives forth for the tryal of their Faith Love Obedience They are Gospel-Ordinances of his own institution and appointment And as of old the people of the Jewes that Church of God when they rejected his Ordinances are said to reject him cast off his Soveraignty Ruledom So because of their pertinacious adherence to the Laws of Moses when Christ had perioded that Ministration had left the World and was gone to his
understanding so far blinded as to think there 's any weight to be laid upon such Puerile Ludicrous arguments Object 3. But you have no Wise-master-builder which the Apostle saith he was 1 Cor. 3.10 therefore you have no true Churches Answ This Objection is the same with the first To it we will nevertheless speak a few words which will abundantly evince the emptyness of it 1. Paul asserts himself to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Chief-Bulder not with respect to Christ for so he was not but an under-work-man but with respect to others who afterwards built upon that Foundation CHRIST he had laid Nor doth he 2. Assert himself to be the Chief-builder with relation to all the Churches but with respect to that particular Church at Corinth Were all the rest of the Churches that had not this Master-Builder false Churches This will not be asserted Yet we hear of no Wise-master-builder with respect to any other of the Churches The word is only used here But 3. Paul as wise a Master-builder as he was was sure a Work-man under Christ who is the Builder of the House or Churches as hath been proved and he was indispensibly bound to walk by rule the rule of his Lord and Master Christ Jesus This he tells us he did 1 Cor. 11.23 Now 4. The Saints have this Rule and they have the Spirit of the Lord with them in them to open it and explain it to them For if they have him not and for this end to lead them into all truth they are not Saints Rom. 8.9 what hinders then but that Saints having the same Rule the Apostle walked by and the Spirit to instruct them in it they may conform to it and so constitute Churches of Christ If they have but so much Wisdom as to understand the rule constitutive of Churches and so much Conscience and honesty as to apply themselves to it and they are poor Saints that are devoid of the one or the other they cannot but do so The very truth is Paul none of the Apostles were Builders or Wise-master-builders but with respect to the Rule of Christ To have Built in their own Wisdom with a neglect thereof had been folly and madness So that any that attend to this Rule in Church-Work may be as well said to be Builders and if they lay the Foundation of a Church afterward built upon by others as truely said with respect to such a Church to be Wise-master-builders as Paul c. 'T would hardly be an effectual argument to a man under the sense of inconveniencies almost to starving to death by winds and stormes for want of an habitation to dwell in to tell him 't is true here are Materials for a House and here is a Rule to build it by which if you attend to you cannot build amiss but the Truth is the Wise-master-builder who acted by the same Rule in building all the strong and beautiful Houses in the Country is thousands of miles off and perhaps may not come hither again till you are dead and rotten in your grave therefore you had best not attempt the work till he come Nay stay will the poor man say I have the Rule that he walked by and I 'le up and be doing as well as I can and I hope the Lord will be with me Christ commands as hath been proved to build an House gives us rules to walk by in such a work but hath no where said he will send us such Wise-master-builders in every respect as Paul was nor told us the Work must cease till they come but the contrary Object 4. But you have not the gifts of the Primitive-Churches therefore you are no true Churches of Christ Answ 1. 'T is Grace not extraordinary Gifts that is the qualification of Church-members that constitute a Church When the Apostles speak of Church-members they decypher them as Sanctified ones partakers of the Grace of God Christ requires no other qualification of a Church-member than being born again of God John 3.3 5. which persons may be without those extraordinary Gifts Nay the truth is the Churches that have most excelled in these have not been the most comely or beautiful Churches For instance the Church at Corinth who perhaps in these Gifts excell'd other Churches but I am sure came short of some of them in Divine graces 2. 'T is most evident that the Primitive-Churches were constituted converted believers added to them without any immediate participation of these gifts Act. 2.40 41 42. We have an account of Three Thousand Soules added to the Church but not a tittle of their partaking of these extraordinary Gifts The Church at Antioch was a true Church of Christ before the Apostles any of them came to them or they had received the Holy Spirit i. e. were made partakers of the extraordinary Gifts of the Spirit Act. 8.12 14 15 16 17. The like may be said of other Churches 3. The Apostle having discoursed at large of these Gifts 1 Cor. 12. at the close v. 31. tells them that he shews unto them a more excellent way or the most excellent way as the Greek reads it viz. the way of love of which he discourses at large chap. 13. And this not the Gifts mentioned is that which Christ makes the badge of his Disciples Joh. 13.35 Were there more of this there would not be so much talk of the nullity of Churches as there is amongst some at this day nor that undue withdrawment from them 4. These Gifts are so far from being essential to a Church that the Apostle tells us persons may have them all and yet not be fit matter for a Church for they that have them may nevertheless be nothing devoid of true grace 1 Cor. 13.1 2. Object 5. But the Churches have only the Form of things and deny the Power and from such we are commanded to turn away 2 Tim. 3.5 Answ 1. I must crave leave to say that the framers of this Objection are ascended not only to the height of censorious uncharitableness but invade the Throne of God himself and will become Judges of the secrets of hearts For who told them that they deny the Power did any of the Churches themselves Do any principles owned by them any practices found amongst them declare as much Let the individuals hereof Guilty plead for themselves I 'le not be their advocate Though I must add I know no such Churches and yet they are not a few I am acquainted with 2. It had been severe enough for the Objectors to have that They have the Form but not the Power therefore are not true Churches But this perhaps they thought would not have served their purpose Inasmuch as the Lord himself saith concerning the Church of Sardis Rev. 3.1 Thou hast a Name to live and art dead and of Laodicea v. 15. Thou art neither cold nor hot v. 17. Wretched Poor Miserable Blind Naked yet even these are owned by Christ for his Churches Rev. 3.1
call upon the Name of the Lord or to call themselves by the Name of the Lord as the margin reads so are they upon the account of this act of theirs Stiled The Sons of God Gen. 6.2 7. About one thousand Years after all which time there was in a great measure purity preserved amongst them great corruption invades the Church The nature of it together with its occasion and spring we have an account at large of Gen. 6. And yet even now the Lord leaves not himself without a Witness The truth and purity of Worship together with practick-godlinesss being maintained in Noahs Family Gen. 6.8 9. 7.1 who are ensafed in a fluctuating Ark whilst the whole body of Apostates are swallowed up with the Waters of the Flood of which Peter speaks 2 Pet. 3.6 8. When Noah and his Family are brought out of the Ark the Waters of the Flood being gone from off the face of the Earth Jehovah enters into a solemn Covenant with him gives him several Statutes and Judgments to Conform to Gen. 9. These are generally said to be seven 1. The First 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against extraneous Worship or Idolatry the Worshipping the Stars or Images 2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Blaspheming the Name of God 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against shedding Blood 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against unjust carnal Copulations 5. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against Rapine or Robbery 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Judgments or Punishments against Malefactors 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 against eating any member or flesh of a Beast taken from it alive A special blessing as to propagation is given to him Gen. 9.7 So that the Church in his Family soon enlarged its borders The purity of worship continues amongst them uninterrupted for fourty years or thereabout When the Wickedness of Ham committed against the light of Nature in discovering the nakedness of his Father breakes forth by whom he 's Cursed Excommunicated so the purity of the Church-state is preserved Gen. 9.25 Cursed be the Father of Canaan so the Arabick reads is About the Hundredth year after the Flood many Apostatized from the pure wayes of God rose up in rebellion against him in defiance of him will build a Tower the top whereof might reach to Heaven But yet even in this grand defection there were some at least of the posterity of Shem that kept pure with whom therefore the Hebrew language remained entire as Genebrardus Chron. lib. 1. tells us The truth is as the learned Bochartus saith in his Geographia Sacra l. 1. c. 10. It cannot be imagined that either Noah or Shem or Arphaxad or Sala or Heber with whom 't is groundedly to be thought not a few continued were in this mad attempt The Spirit of the Lord seems to intimate the contrary they which were engaged in it were 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sons of Men Gen. 11.5 viz. an apostate vile crew who stand in direct opposition to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Sons of God as the faithful were called in the dayes of Enosh as was before said How long the purity of Worship remained after this is uncertain This is most certain that when God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees Superstition Idolatry overspread all At that time both his Father and he were Idolaters Jos 24.2 9. This call of God to Abraham was effectual he obeyes it separates from the degenerate Idolatrous World constitutes a New-Church sets up the pure Worship of God in his Family Enjoyes more clear full openings of Divine Mysteries than any before him God enters into Covenant with him institutes circumcision See Gen. 12.3 7 8. 13.15 16. 15.1 5 6. 17.1 2 9. 22.17 18. So that the Church of God in Abraham's Family growes up in to greater glory visibility than before Several corruptions are not long after amongst them in Jacobs Family before their going into Aegypt which he reforms Gen. 35.1 2 3 4. They polluted themselves with Idolatry in the Land of Aegypt Jos 24.14 Ezek. 23.2 3. brought their Whordoms from thence ver 8. which they practised in the Wilderness Exod. 32. and never totally left till they were carried captive into Babylon Nevertheless the Lord casts them not off but oh the wonder of Love brings them from under their bonds leads them to Mount Sinai makes a Covenant with them gives them good Statutes and Judgments to walk by And now that Church becomes as a City on a Hill visible conspicuous unto the Nations round about is decked adorned with visible excellency and glory that her renown goes forth through the Nations Ezek. 16.14 But wo and alas after all the grace of the Lord shewed to her his wonders wrought for her she quickly forgets departs from him Is more notorious for spiritual Whordoms Wickedness than all the Nations round about her Yet God gives her not up woes allures her to return to him But all to no purpose Israel or the ten Tribes is led Captive by Salmanassur Judah or the two Tribes is not betterd by it but though now and then under the conduct of some good Kings a reformation is introduced yet anon all 's spoyled marr'd again Jehovah call's to return but their ear is deaf their hearts hardned none obey his voice He professes for all this he knows not how to give them up his bowels turn within him towards them repentings are enkindled for them Yet this affects them not so that at last he is forced to send them into Babylon yet doth not take off his love care for them there nor disregards them as a People unchurcht looks upon them as his own in Covenant with him brings them from thence to their own Land again Then is a new most absolute reformation begun by Ezra Nehemiah c. The Temple is rebuilt the men of the great Synagogue instituted A most diligent consideration of the exemplars of the Holy Scriptures is set upon The word of God is sedulously Preached Neh. 8.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. The wicked are excomunicated Ezr. 4.2 3. From the mixt People there 's a perfect separation Ezr. chapters 9.10 Neh. ch ult So that the Church seems to be again comely through the comeliness that God put upon her But long abides not firm with him pollutes his Worship with the inventions traditions of men departs from the Doctrine he had delivered to her particularly the Doctrine of the free Justification of a sinner before God in opposition to which they introduce justification by the works of the Law In a word they become as filthy and abominable every way as a people can well be Nevertheless God bears with them their Church-state is not dissolved they have their Temple Ordinances and even the most holy amongst them attend there as Zachary Elizabeth Simeon The Lord sends a Prophet to them John Elias in spirit to reform bring them back from their Apostasie At last he sends his Son to
Holy City so long are the Witnesses to Prophesie A few things must further be enquir'd into 1. Who we are to understand by the Gentiles 2. What by the Holy City 3. What their treading under foot the Holy City means 4. What space of time the fourty-two Months take up in which 't is said the Gentiles shall tread down the Holy City 1. By the Gentiles we are to understand the Antichristians particularly the bloody Papists headed by the Pope That 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Man of Sin that Son of Perdition that Lawless One 2. Thes 2.3 8. These are call'd Gentiles because 1. Of their Introduction of Idolatrous Worship practised amongst the Gentiles I mean not only the Worship of Statues Idols of Wood Stone Brass Silver Gold but the Worship of Heroes or Saints in imitation of the Gentile-Heroes whom they Worship'd 2. Of their being actuated by the same Spirit of bloody cruelty against the Worshippers within the Temple and Altar or the true Spiritual Worshipers with which the Gentiles before them were actuated against the Primitive Believers and actually murdering the true Servants of the Lord as they did 2. The Court without the Temple and the Holy City which Type out the same thing is the Antichristian Church-state Worship Worshippers Orders Ordinances The Temple of God the Altar and the Worshippers therein v. 1. are the Gospel-Church-state with the Worship and Worshippers thereunto belonging as hath been proved The Court then without the Temple and the Holy City to be left out as a matter of no worth is the false Church-state with its Worship and Worshippers 3. Their treading under foot the Holy City denotes 1. The numerousness of the Antichristian Worshippers 2. Their frequency in their Antichristian Service as the Phrase is taken Isa 1.12 Psal 121.2 q. d. Measure not the Court The false Worship Worshippers are so contemptible vile they deserve not to be taken notice of are so numerous that they cannot well be measured They throng the City as if they would tread it under foot at once 4. The fourty-two Months cannot possibly denote fourty-two ordinary Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty natural Dayes or three years and an half for these Reasons 1. The Papacy represented under the notion of the Gentiles have been already rampant hundreds of Years persecuted murder'd destroyed millions of Saints for not treading together with them the Holy City 2. As was said The forty-two Months and the One thousand two hundred sixty dayes are the same Now a day for a year is the prophetick reckoning See Num. 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 So in the prophesie of Daniel Chap. 8.21 23. and 9.24 and 12.11 12 And for ought I find in all Prophetick Books where any signal time is spoken of 3. That the Gentiles treading down the Holy City and the wild Beast Rev. 13.2 3. are the same hath hitherto been taken for granted and 't is evident they are so as from other considerations so from this that the same term is given to them both ver 5. And Power was given to him forty-two Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes as was before intimated Now t is impossible that what is said to be done by and ascribed to this wild Beast should be shut up in so short a period as three years and an half For 1. He brings the whole world under his subjection is a dread and terror to them grows so considerable that none is able to make War with him ver 4 7. And they Worshipped the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make War with him 2. All the World wonders after the Beast ver 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Word is very emphatick denoting honour reverence fear of any one upon the account of some wonderful strange thing done by him 'T is translated Jude 16. The having mens persons in admiration It comes from the Hebrew 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 greatly to observe reverence worship to magnify have in great esteem Some read it He was admired in the whole Earth The Arabick translates it The whole Earth wondring followed the Beast Which is indeed the sense of the place q. d. such wonderful things shall be done by the Beast in the sight of the World that with the greatest admiration highest approbation and consent they shall take the Beasts part list themselves under his standard The Aethiopick reads And the whole Earth wondred and followed this Beast to the same purpose 3. He makes War with the Saints and overcomes them v. 7. Acts that must certainly take up more time than three Years and an half for their production III. Antichrist who is the same with the Wild Beast but now mentioned as is granted by all was in the womb in the Apostles dayes wrought then under ground in a mystery labouring to come forth which he at last did Exalting himself above all that is called God or worshipped shewing himself that he is God 2 Thes 2.4 7. He more openly shew'd himself whilst the Apostle John was yet alive than he did in Paul's dayes John 2.22 23. and 4.2 3. So that it 's evident that the Antichrist was in the womb in the Apostles dayes and openly discover'd himself not long after the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that which letted call'd the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Letter or he which letteth 2 Thes 2.6 7. was taken out of the way Various are the sentiments of the Learned touching this Letter The Learned Brightman makes him to be the sixth head of the Roman Empire others think him to be the Holy Spirit who by his signal presence power with the Primitive believers kept Antichrist from ascending to that heighth of dignity supremacy he aimed at Some adjudge it to be the apostasie spoken of ver 3. Except there come a falling away first and that man of Sin be revealed the Son of Perdition q. d. The general Apostacy must first be ere the man of Sin or Antichrist openly manifest himself when that is he will quickly appear to head it It s not yet coming is that which lets his Revelation The generality take it for the Roman-Pagan-Empire or Emperour in his full Power and Majesty flourishing and living at his seat in Rome Which I humbly conceive is Paul's intendment For 1. No reason can be given why Paul expresses himself in so dark terms that which letteth this Letter if the Roman-Pagan-Empire be not intended but if so the reason is obvious They had an opinion that this Empire was everlasting to have talk'd of its removal would have stirr'd them up to have persecuted the Saints as the Enemies of it Less occasions they many times took so to do 2. Antichrist's seat was to be Rome Rev. 17.9 The seven heads are seven Mountains on which the Woman sitteth i. e. The City built on seven Hills is Antichrists Seat viz. Rome alone famous amongst Historians upon that account Septem urbs alta jugis toti quae
inviolably to be observed to the end of the World To the proof of which we now address our selves I. Christ himself seems to intimate as much when he gives commission to the Apostles to go forth to preach the Gospel teaching them who shall be converted by their Ministry to observe his whole charge Mat. 28.19 20. Go ye therefore and teach all Nations Baptizing them in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit Teaching them to observe all things whatever I have commanded you and lo I am with you alway even unto the end of the World Two things are plainly asserted 1. That whatever Christ gave them in charge to communicate to others was to be observed and kept by them to the end of the World 2. That the Lord Jesus Christ would all along communicate his presence to such as should to that great period of time be found in the observance of what he commanded II. The great Apostle of the Gentiles who also had seen the Lord and converst with him when he was caught up into the third Heavens expresly asserts concerning one part of this Gospel-Ministration or one great Ordinance appertaining thereunto and such an one as none can regularly be found in the practice of but such as are in a Church-state Act. 2.42 viz. The Ordinance of Breaking Bread that it was to continue to the coming of our Lord 1 Cor. 11.26 For as often as ye eat this Bread and drink this Cup ye do shew forth the Lords death until he come Christ commanded his Disciples a little before he was offer'd up a Sacrifice for them to be found in this practice Luke 22.19 20. This do in remembrance of me And afterwards charges them as they love him to be found in the observance of it as of other his Commandments John 14.15 If ye love me keep my Commandments Tells them it 's an argument of their love and true friendship to him so to do John 14.21 23. and 15.14 Ye are my Friends if ye do whatsoever I command you Which saith our Apostle we are to do till our Lord comes Object 1. But we witness the Lord already come to us therefore we are no longer to be under the observation of it Answ And thus some in the Apostles dayes were wont to talk that they had experienced the Resurrection 't was to them past already so endeavouring to evert the great Doctrine of the Gospel the Resurrection from the Dead Against whom he smartly disputes 1 Cor. 15. But in what sense it is that any pretend that Christ is already come must be a little consider'd 1. He is come in Spirit Power say some Answ And so he was before the writing of this Epistle yea before any one particular Church was gathered by the Apostles Never such a coming of Christ in Spirit and Power as was that in the day of Pentecost Act. 2. Every believer 't is true witnesses his coming to him in Spirit Power Quickning Raising him from the death of Sin to the life of Righteousness Sanctifying Cleansing him which whoever doth not whatever his profession is or by what name soever he is call'd he is not a Believer but in this sense he was already come to these Corinthians before Paul writ this Epistle to them He ownes them for a Church of God affirmes that they were Sanctified in Christ Jesus call'd to be Saints that the grace of God was given them by Christ Jesus that in every thing they were enriched by him in all utterance and in all knowledge that the testimony of Christ was confirmed in them so that they came behind in no Spiritural gift that they were call'd unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ 1 Cor. 2.4 5 6 7 9. with much more that might be mentioned evidently declaring that Christ was in Spirit Power already come to them yet the Apostle speaks of another coming till which the Saints are to be found in the practice of this institution which coming also these Corinthians waited for 1 Cor. 1.7 Waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Object 2. He is come already to some in person say others there 's therefore an end of this Institution the whole Ministration Answ But the coming of Christ in a corner is not the coming the Apostle here speaks of 'T is an unscriptural anti-scriptural notion as hath been demonstrated but that coming which the Corinthians with all the Saints ever since his departure have been waiting for viz. his Glorious Visible coming in the Clouds of Heaven when every eye shall see him III. The same Apostle most solemnly charges his beloved Son Timothy to keep the Commandment without spot to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Tim. 6.13 14. I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickneth all things and before Christ Jesus who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession that thou keep this Commandment without spot till the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ What 's meant by Commandment Answer The words in the Greek are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That you keep the Commandment So the Ar. Syr. V.L. render it His Commandment so the Aeth reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Commandment for the Commandments so Piscator renders it Vt serves haec mandata that thou keep these Commandments viz. the Commandments he had as the Apostle of Jesus Christ communicated to Timothy from Christ These Believers were to observe keep till the appearing of Christ Jesus If the words be strictly adhered to and there be no enallage of the number allowed it comes to the same purpose For 't will not I presume be denied that by Commandment we are not to understand any Commandment given forth by Paul's private Spirit but the Commandment of Christ through him Now of all Christ's Commandments there 's the same reason our reception owning of obedience to any one is grounded upon his Soveraign Authority If I may reject one I may reject all and if I am bound to attend to obey one I am bound to attend to obey all For 't is the same Law-giver that hath given them all forth Besides the Apostle in this Epistle Chap. 5.21 charges him before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the Elect Angels that he observe the things delivered to him without preferring one before another which seems to be the Commandment he thus solemnly charges him in the words under consideration to keep without spot and unblameable to the coming of Christ The plain meaning is the Apostle writes this Epstle to Timothy on purpose to instruct him how to behave himself in the Church of God Chap. 3.15 He had given him sundry directions touching the Officers to be chosen in the Church Chap. 3. Speaks of the Apostasie from the Doctrine and Worship of the Gospel that should be in an after-day Chap. 4. of which also he had treated in his second Epistle to the Thessalonians
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
under the Old Law so under the New there are special Promises made to Saints Worshipping God in a Community as a Church Whence three things necessarily follow 1. That there must be Gospel-Churches to whom these Promises may be made good 2. That a denial of a Gospel-Church-state Churches Ordinances is as much as in us lies to make these Promises of GOD of none effect For if their be no Churches there are none to whom they should be performed And besides some of them have in them a special engagement for their preservation As that Isa 4.5 6. Is God unfaithful Can any charge him with breach of Promise without being guilty of horrid Impiety Blasphemy against him 3. That a withdrawment from Church-Fellowship Ordinances is a practick-contempt of the presence of God promised to his People as they are found walking according to his will herein Demonstration XIII 'T Is the Duty of Saints in every Generation to confess make a Profession of Christ as well as to believe in him Rom. 10.9 If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus and shalt believe in thine Heart This will not be denied Now our solemn most signal Profession of our Lord Jesus lies in a visible subjection to him in Church-Institutions Therefore are we said by Baptism to put on Christ Gal. 3.27 i. e. have taken upon you a most solemn profession of his name And our Lord tells us Mar. 8.38 That to be ashamed of his words is to be ashamed of him that we shew our selves his Friends if we do whatever he commands us John 15.14 So that evidently an owning of visible subjection to the Words Institutions of Christ is that wherein our Profession of his name doth lie That it did so in the Primitive dayes will not cannot be denied Well then either there are no Saints in the World or they are discharged from the command to confess Christ or there are Churches walking together in Gospel-Ordinances at this day and must be such to the consummation of all things The truth is 't is utterly impossible for any to hold the nullity of the Church-state Ordinances but they must affirm as some have done that there are no visible Saints in the World For the same Law of Christ which directed the Saints in the first-dayes of the Gospel to make a profession of Christ by their subjection to his Institutions abides still as a standing rule for them to walk by Demonstration XIV THe great charge of Christ to his People is To hold fast that which they have received 'till he comes Rev. 2.25 3.11 Now 't is not only the grace and Doctrine of the Gospel that they received but the Laws Institutions thereof relating to Gospel-Fellowship Worship These then in every day they are bound to hold fast till Christ comes and those that do so are upon that foot of account publickly commended by him Rev. 14.12 Here is the patience of the Saints here are they that keep the Commandments of God and the Faith of Jesus Demonstration XV. MUch of the Honour Glory of the Lord Jesus as the Mediator of the New-Covenant lies in his Churches Zach. 6.13 He shall build the Temple and bear the Glory Let these be removed and he will have but little glory in the World Demonstration XVI MAny are the evil consequences that follow upon the denial of Gospel-Churches We 'll instance but in a few I. The Ministration of the Law wherein Moses was a Servant was more lasting than the Ministration the Son was on purpose sent from the Father to introduce II. That 't is lawful to be partial in Jehovah's Law 'T is true we are to pray by our selves or perhaps some very few with us to watch attend the inward work press after a further degree of sanctification conformity to Christ we are to love him believe in him But as to the law of Institutions we will have nothing to do with it And why so Are not these last as much the charge Law of Christ to his people as the former III. 'T is a condemning the generation of the Righteous which we ought to be tender of and that many wayes 1. They are have been a generation of Will-worshippers Their Church-state fellowship breaking bread is Will-Worship Churches are gathered Ordinances administred in the will of man 2. They are Self-persecutors Self-murderers Self-destroyers The loss of their liberty goods enjoyments lives for their being found in these wayes they may thank themselves for they bring it upon themselves for Christ requires no such thing at their hands IV. 'T is a Justifying Gratifying the Wicked against the Righteous As 1. A Justifying them in their charge against the Lords People You may say they be of what religion you will pray preach a few of you together but nothing will please you except you have a great company together You talk of conscience this is nothing but your stubbornness self-will pride of Spirit And the truth is it must be somewhat of that nature for conscience to Christ it cannot be if Church-Assemblies with the administration of Ordinances in them be not of Christ's appointment 2. 'T is a Gratifying Satan Antichrist in his grand design he hath from the beginning been managing against the Lord and his People viz. to dissipate scatter drive them into corners 3. 'T is a Justifying the wicked in all their bloody persecutions of the Saints They persecute them not as the Worshippers of Christ for he requires them not so to Worship him but as breakers of the Law Factious Seditious ones V. 'T is as much as in us lies a dispoyling Christ of all the visible Soveraignty he hath at this day in the World VI. 'T is a Withdrawment of our selves from that Yoak of Christ he commands encourages his Disciples to take upon them Mat. 11.29 30. VII 'T is to be ashamed of Christ's words in an Adulterous Generation Mar. 8.38 with much more that might be instanced in These things might have been particularly more improved but we have already past the bounds designed in the managery of this Controversie And if what hath been said will not convince Gain-sayers I am out of hopes by any thing that I can offer though with the brightest Scripture-evidence so to do and shall pray to God to shew them the error of their way and reduce them to his Foot 'T is time we attend to those Objections that are made at least as many of them as we have heard of against the subject matter of the present discourse which is the design of the next Chapter CHAP. XI Objections against the continuation of the Gospel-Church-state Churches Ordinances particularly considered answered Object 1. Some of the Officers that were in the Churches viz. Apostles Prophets Evangelists are now wanting that hence a cessation of Churches Ordinances doth not ensue evinced for then there had been a cessation of these ever since the Apostles dayes the absurdity whereof demonstrated That 't was never 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