The holinesse of Chrisian [sic] churches, or A sermon preached at the consecration of the chappell of Sr. Iohn Baker of Sussing-herst in Cranbrooke in Kent, Baronet: upon I Cor. II. 22. By Robert Abbot, vicar of the same parish.

THE HOLINESSE OF CHRISTIAN CHVRCHES , OR A Sermon preached upon 1 Cor . 11.22 . Despise ye the Church of God ?

OF divers questions asked in the Scripture , this is a convincing , & denying question : smiting their hearts for despising the Church , and denying that it ought to bee so . It lookes fully upon the businesse in hand ; and that upon this text . For heere is a Church certainely , the Church of God , & the Church that must not be despised . Thus farre I am in a right way to speake something to you to the purpose : our good God grant both a beginning , and a good issue !

It is true , Sacrum , Sacellum . the present act is about a Chappell , not a Church : but that is but a diminutive of this , Rom. 16.5 . a daughter of the mother , for the Church that is in thine house .

All the question will bee double : What meant by the church of God . what is meant by the Church of God ? and what is meant by the despising of them ? Though this word Church be diversly taken , ( which hath occasioned a various interpretation ) yet certainely heere , Vide Fulleri Miscellanea . Ios . Mede , of Churches . God would have us understand the place where Gods people meete for his publick worship .

If yee say , that in the Apostles daies there were no such churches as wee have . I answer , that if by churches you understand large and stately buildings , such as heathens had then , and Christians have now ; I yeeld there were not . They were in ambulatory troubles , and had not wealth so flowing for the body , that they could spare so much for the soule . But if you understand a commodious & fit place , separate from common to holy use , then surely they had them , such there were . For otherwise they had wilfully neglected that golden rule , that all things bee done decently and in order , 1 Cor . 14.40 . for the avoiding of the snares of Heretickes and Schismatickes in private conventicles .

And that this mentioned heere , was such , doth appeare in the text at three turnes . First , 1 Cor . 11. ver . 18. They were a Church . 1 Cor . 1. before they came together now . ver . 20. Paul saith , when yee come together in the Church . Here are three considerables , the people ( yee ) : their act ( coming together ) : and the place where ( the Church ) . Secondly , what he called a church , hee calls a place ; when yee come together into one place ; not as one people . Thirdly , that which hee called a church , and a place , hee doth oppose to their own houses , have yee not houses to eate in at home ? ver . 22. despise yee the church of God ? where hee taxeth a double fault . First , that in eating and drinking they kept not to the use of their owne houses : and secondly , that they basely abused the church of God after their owne lusts , What meant by despising them . and how was that ?

Consider next , what is meant by despising them : They used them like common houses for works of nature and complement : like profane houses for sinne , and Epicurisme : and they used them not reverently , according to the uses whereto they were designed : So they despised them .

You see now , The division of the text . that wee have here , A place , the church of God ; and an use , not to despise , but to honour it . And thus it comes fully to the worke in hand , setting this holy truth upon our consciences , that when places are consecrated , The main bent of the text . and set a part to Gods services , they must not bee despised by ordinary and sinfull uses , but honoured as churches of God .

Shall I speake what reverence God required to the Tabernacle ? The Levites pitch their tents neere it , but the people were not to approach but for sacrifice , and other service . Num . 1.51 The stranger might not come neere when it was set up by the Levites upon paine of death . Num . 16. Levit . 10.2 The Priests were not to meddle with the high-priests office : and if they erred , they were judged . The high-priest was not alwaies to enter into the holy of holies : that must be but once a yeare , or he must dye .

All priests must bee sure not to enter with unwashen hands , and feet , or they must die . Thus God nourished their reverence to the place of his publicke worship : yet theirs was but a shadow of Christ , wee in our assemblies have a promise of Christ himselfe ( as in a place of presence ) made good in the midst of the seven golden candlestickes . Math . 18. Vt in loco praesentie . Apoc . 1.2

Shall I speake what reverence the Iewes had to their sanctuary ? Wiemse in legem cer . They would not enter with staffe , or shooes , no nor spit but in an handker-chiefe . They made not a thorough-fare of it , to shorten their way , but went about . They turned not their backe upon it , Ezek . 8.16 but went side-long to keepe themselves from suspicion of idolatrie . They went not the same way they came in : Ezek . 46. none of them sate in the outer court , save the Kings-house . They made not houses like that , 2 Sam . 7.18 . and all to nourish reverence to the house of God .

Shall I say how the very Turkes doe reverence their meeting places ? They punish with present death any man that voides excrements against them . They go not towards them to worship , but on hands and feete following their priest , neither doe they enter them , but with their shooes off . They cover the floores of them with tapestry or arras , whereupon they tread , and all to make shew of reverence to the house of their God .

Shall I speake how the church of Rome doth reverence her churches ? They do enough past question . They speake loftily among them , who ascribe some divine vertue to the stones and walls of them . Aliquam virtutem divinam saxis & parietibus . Vt sint Asili loco .

They also yeeld priviledges unto them , as places of refuge and sanctuary for capitall offences . But as this was not of the rigour of the law ( for thou shalt take the murtherer from mine altar , Ex 21.14 2 Chro . 23.14 . 1 King 2.29.30 . that he may dye ) , so it makes them dens of theevs , yet this must be granted , that this they doe , to nourish reverence to Christian Churches .

Shall I now say , what reverence wee ( if wee would be good Christians ) must have to churches ? wee must not despise them . The nicest Casuist , that I have seene , saith two things to our purpose . First , Ames . Cas . consc . 40 pag . 182. 1 In usu sacro . in sacred and holy use , instruments set a part to Gods worship must be used with singular reverence : because of the neere relation betwixt the act of worship , and the instrument of it . 2 Extra usum sacrum . Secondly , out of sacred and holy use , that , though no positive honour ( by Gods appointment ) bee due to such instruments , Exinstituto . as was to the Temple and Arke : yet there is a privative honour due , whereby we must be carefull so to demeane our selves that wee diminish not that honour which is due in holy use : that so our proper worship by this outward reverence may bee advanced .

But that I may be more distinct , I shall propound three particulars .

1 Whether holinesse bee to be attributed to churches ? 2 How Reverence is to bee shewed to them ? 3 The grounds of this Reverence .

If you aske , Whether holiuesse bee to bee attributed to churches . whether Holinesse be to bee given to churches ? I answer , there are two kindes of holinesse , an inherent and actuall holinesse , and an appendent and Relative holinesse . Inherent holinesse is double . The first is fundamentall in Christ , who is an holy thing , Luk . 1.35 . Act. 4.30 . Gods holy one Iesus , out of whom is derived all our annointing and saving holinesse . The second is derivative , which springs from Christ to his members , the holy prophets , Luk 1.70 . 1 Cor . 3.17 . men of God , and saints . The Temple of God is holy which yee are . Appendent and relative holinesse may bee in things not capable of reason , three waies . First , Ex instituto et exemplo . from institution , appointment , and from example . So the Sanctuary and Temple of old , whither God sent his people to seeke him , Deut . 12.5 and to which God tyed his visible presence : and where the Prophets , priests , Levites , Saints , Christ and his Apostles worshipped in their course . Secondly , Ex exemplo , sed non ex instituto . Psal . 74.8 . Deo approbante , non praecipiente . from example , but not from divine institution , and appointment . So the Synagogues of the Iewes were holy , which were appointed by men to advance holy worship . For though they are called the Synagogues of God , yet it is because God approved them , Analogicè pervoluntariam consecrationem . though hee commanded them not . Thirdly , from proportion , to the former and voluntary consecration , whereby the thing itselfe is not made more holy materially , and formally , but finally , and reductively for use , as when they are set apart and applyed to holy uses . Thus Churches and Chappels with their accessaries are rightly said to be holy ; and it is a snare to the man who devoureth that which is ( thus ) holy . Pro . 20.25

If you next aske , How reverence is to be shewed to churches . how reverence is to bee shewed unto them ? I answer , two wayes . First , in respect of the bulke and body of them , wee are to make them some way fit for the worship of such a God as is to bee worshipped there . Christ made choise of an upper chamber which was large and trimmed to eate the passeover in , Mar. 14.15 . and they are called blasphemers , Psal . 84.10 . who burnt up the Synagogues .

Secondly , Psal . 5. Vbirisus in ecclesia ibi Diaboli opus est . Greg . reverence is their due , in respect of the use of them , wee must come with feare unto them , where laughing is in the Church , there is the Devils worke , saith Saint Gregory : and B. Chrysostom thus expostulates with his auditors , Sacerdos orationem offerens , tu rides ? Nihil times , &c. Chrysost . when the Priest offereth up thy prayers to God , doest thou laugh ? doest thou not feare ? doest thou not tremble ? The church is no market-stall or standing , but the place of Angels , the pallace of the great God . Therefore as Iacob was afraid in Bethel ; Gen. 28. Psal . 5.8 . and David came in feare to worship : so reverently must we carry our selves : Psal . 95.5 . for holinesse becomes thy house for ever , saith every devout soule .

As wee must come with feare , so also must wee reverently performe the whole worship of God there . God hath made a promise to his people there ; and therefore choose to bee an abject in the house of God when thou prayest : bee as low as thou canst ; Pulverizato in pulvere sanctuarij . dust thy selfe in the dust of the sanctuary , said the Iew of old . When thou hearest , give attention with reverence : damnation came in by the eare , and salvation must come that way too . When thou comest to the table of the Lord , receive the seales of the covenant with reverence also ; to have God binde himselfe to thee , and to have thy selfe , binde thy selfe to God , Opus vel ipsis angelis formidandum . Hier . is a worke to be trembled at even by the Angels themselves .

Againe , wee must not apply churches or chappels , to any private use . Saint Paul blames the Corinthians heere for their feasts of love : and Saint Augustine saith of those kinde of Church-ales , which by abuse crept into them in his time , August . Epist. that if they came thither Christians , they went home Pagans . And this wee know , that many decrees have beene made against buying , selling , dancing and playing in them . Yea , Act. 20.9 . and when Eutichus did but sleep while Paul preached , he fell down , and it had almost cost his life , though he might have had his excuse , that Paul preached too long .

Lastly , wee must not apply Churches or Chappels to any sinnefull use . Heathen priests would perswade young virgines , whom they purposed to defloure , 1 Sam . 2.22 that their Gods desired their company : and yee know what the sonnes of Ely did . Such are they that make the church a place of gazing , pride , contention , lustfull thoughts , or the like . But as Ahasuerus dealt with Haman , Hest . 7.1 . will he force the queene before me in the house ? cover his face , away with him , hang him up : so , and worse , will God deal with them , that dare sinne before him in his house . This reverence yee owe to Churches in their bulke , and use ,

And that yee may be convinced , The grounds of reverence to Churches . 1 Dedication . consider thirdly , the grounds of this reverence , which are two . First , our churches and chappels are dedicated to God , for his holy uses and services : and what is this ? when is it done ?

It is their setting apart to holy uses for ever . What dedication is ? The Jewes did it by holy oyle appointed by God , as a type of Christs graces : and then no ordinary businesses , though the end was sacrificing , Ioh . 2.14 . Mar. 11.16 was to be done in them ; nor so much as a burthen to be carried thorough them . Bellarm . The church of Rome doth it by over-loading ceremonies , as oyle , salt , ashes , on which they write the Alphabet in Greeke , and Latine . They set up twelve crosses , and twelve lampes , burning , to signifie the twelve Apostles preaching the crosse . They are given to it ; let them alone , they will not doe otherwise . Hos . 4.17 . 1 Tim . 4.5 . But wee doe it with the word of God , & prayers , decent ceremonies , to hold them for Gods uses for ever . Thus Constantine having finished a goodly church , dedicated it with orations , sermons , prayers , praises , saith Eusebius .

And thus doe wee , that they may bee made publicke to prevent conventicles : Why dedicated . see Hook . eccles . pol . and that they may bee thus yeelded up to Gods worship , to keep off prophane bodies and soules , And though God doe not give such a sign of possession now as in the time of the law , Ex. 40.34 ( when a cloud covered the tent of the congregation , and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle ; 1 Kin . 18.11 and the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud : for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of the Lord . And therefore , when Pompey saw a cloud in the holy of holies , it grew to a perverse judgment that the Jews were Nubicolae , worshippers of a cloud ) : though God ( I say ) do not thus take possession of our churches , yet certainely hee accepts of the advancement of his worship by his owne rules of edifying , decency , 1 Cor . 14.26.40 . and order . Thus churches and chappells are consecrated , and dedicated ; therefore despise them not .

Secondly , 2 Houses of prayer , and so of glorious presence . our churches and chappells are the houses of praier , Though the sacraments and preaching of the word be there too ; yet is it prayer that fits them , sanctifieth and seasoneth them unto us , without prayer , the word ordinarily is not the word of life , nor the sacraments the seales of life , yee must knocke , if yee would have it opened , Math . 7 7. ye must aske , if yee would have . Shall I say more ? when Gods people are in them for worship , they are places of the best presence . The Father , Sonne , and Holy Ghost are there by way of love , grace , communion for our blessed assistance . For though he dwell not in temples made with hands , Act 7.48 by way of confinement , yet doth hee by way of speciall favour amongst two or three that are gathered in his name : Mat . 18.20 and therefore the publicke worship is called the face of God , Psal . 42.2 . yea , the angels are there at hand too , by way of service , 1 Cor . 11.10 . for the woman must have power on her head because of the Angels . They are therefore houses of prayer , and of glorious presence , despise them not .

Are all christians thinke you , Application . now without blame ? Are they not covered with Corinthian guilt ? Some care not for the reverent comlines of churches and chappels . To them that care not for comlinesse of churches . The profane man esteemes the church a prison , the ministery a bil of inditement , penitent prayers but a devout tragedy , and graves and tombes the shadow of death : therefore hee cares not for them . The Politicians build for themselves in state , Ier . ●2 . 14 15. closing themselvs in cedar , cutting themselves windowes , and painting them with vermilion ; Am. 3 15. Am. 6.4 . yea houses of Ivory , with beds of Ivory : but a lighter cloake will serve Iupiter , a worse church will serve an assembly of saints by calling . The covetous worldling eates thistles with the asse , and will serve God enough ; if he may do it cheap enough , hee will bee thrifty even to God himselfe . Mar. 10.21 But if hee heare of selling all , and giving to the poore , hee goes away sorrowing , yea , if hee heare of parting with some , to build a church , his devotion is at an hard lift , hee mootes Iudas his case , to what end is this waste ? Math . 26.8 The contemner of devotion careth not what place God hath among men , so hee have any . As Licinius in the dayes of Constantine ( pretending a more wholesome aire ) drew the people out of the city into the fields to serve God there , so plotting the ruine of churches , saith the historian : Cogitans eversionem ecclesiarum . Euseb . so hee ( provided hee may have liberty enough , and not bee troubled with that which men call devotion ) cares not if oates were sowed where churches stand , why comber they the ground ? The scrupulous christian ( fearing the superstition of churches ) cares not how low the streame runnes that way . Pater noster built churches , but his our father shall ptill them down , or let them fall . O saith hee , they have beene abused to superstition and idolatry ! therfore let not a stone lie upon a stone unpulled downe , or let them fall .

But put the case it be so , will nothing expiate their guilt but atheisme in their ruine ? Originally , they were built to the honour of God , and now by good lawes they are returned to their proper use , and sanctified unto us , by the word of God and prayer . Were the Spartan lawes good , for the rooting out of all vines , because men made themselves drunke with the fruite of them ? August . Epist. Saint Augustine tells such , that the scriptures have beene abused to make spells and amulets , and yet are they blessed to them that use them well : Iohn 2. and Christ imployed the water-pots of Jewish superstition in the worke of his first miracle . When Saint Paul was to doe the worke of God , hee conversed in Athens , Act. 17.16 dedicated to heathenish Minerva , and sayled in the shippe whose badge was Castor and Pollux . Act. 28.11

So may wee doe Gods businesse in those churches which have beene worse used . Yea , Iohn 4.21 but ( saith he ) the time is come that wee must not worship God in Samaria , 1 Tim . 2.8 nor Ierusalem , but pray with holy hands and hearts every where , therefore what should wee doe with churches ? It is rrue , wee have more freedome since the partition wall betwixt Jew and Gentile was pulled downe : but though all dayes are alike in themselves , Rom. 14 5 yet , I hope , hee will have one day holier then another in use : so though all places are a like in themselves , yet one place may bee holier then another in application , and use , for holy services . If this serve not the turne for the despisers of churches , let us forget that there are any such among CHRISTIANS , till wee see them judged , and passe further .

Others come not to churches and chappells with feare , To them that come to churches without feare . and so despise them . They doe not thinke of their dedication , nor of the fearefull presence of God and Angels , nor of the reverent Acts of worship : and therefore take not heede to their feete when they goe into the house of God . Eccles . 5.1 They forget Gods command to Moyses , when hee was to talke with GOD , put off thy shoes from thy feete . Ex. 3.5 . They forget GODS command by Moyses , Ex. 30. make a laver , to wash the priestes when they enter my house . They forget Davids exhortation , O come let us worship and bow downe , Psal 95.6 . let us kneele before the Lord our maker : yea , and CHRISTS zeale too , who , whatsoever hee endured would not suffer the house of prayer to bee dishonoured . Iohn 2. Hence is it that they come into churches and chappells , as into a playhouse to see and to bee seene , to heare one act his part for two houres , and away , yea worse , as into an alehouse , to laugh , fleere , and talke .

Others againe , care not to despise them by any common or sinnefull use . To them that put them to common and sinfull uses . As in our summer fields , the bee gathers hony , the sheep grasse , the hunter his game , but the storke peckes up some toade , or snake , to feede upon them . So they come not to picke up the foode of ANGELS , the heavenly Mannah , but some baser for some wicked lust of sinne to sleepe ' upon , from the word and prayer abused . Will yee steale , murther , and commit adultery , Ier . 7.9 , 10. and sweare falsly , and come and stand before mee in this house which is called by my name ? So will yee have gadding eyes , wandring thoughts , high lookes ? and worse , will yee abuse the meanes of salvation to flatter your selves in sinne , and come into the church of God ? will yee thus despise them ?

Though Israel play the harlot , yet let not Iudah sinne . Let others come and goe wirhout the communion of saints , yet let Saint Pauls wordes sinke into your soules , How churches ought not to bee despised . despise yee not the church of God . First , despise them not by base uncomelinesse , yee will build houses for the living , and surely if they bee not founded in confidence to perpetuate your names ; nor in unjustice as Ahab , to nigh Naboths vineyard for his good ; nor in oppression , when the stone cries out of the wal , and the beame out of the timber , Hag . 1. bloods , bloods ; nor for ostentation , but for use ; it is not unlawfull both for necessity , pleasure , defence , and state : yet the house of God must not lye waste . Yee will build sepulchres for the dead : and surely if they bee not in pride and vaine-glorie ; but if they bee to testifie our love to the dead , according to what they were alive ; and to testifie our faith in the resurrection of the dead : & to profite our selves by monitors of our mortality ; It is not unlawfull neither , yet the witnesse of our love to men ( in the grave ) must not be fairer then the witnesse of our love to God ( in the whole Church ) . In all ages ( when peace and plenty gave liberty ) Christians have beene flowing in workes of charitie and piety .

Heere might yee have seen work-houses for the sound , Wester . Jac . Wel . there hospitals for the sick : Heere almes-houses for the aged , there schooles for the children ; Heere colledges for the children of the Prophets , there bride-wells for the idle and incorrigible : Heere churches for parishes , there chappells for houses : and shall not this provoke your willing mindes ? Is nothing left for you ?

Behold , when Iehu came to Iezreel , and had executed vengeance upon Iezabel , hee said goe now and see this cursed woman , and bury her ; 2 Kin . 9.34 for she is a kings daughter . I have done a work of justice , do ye a work of charity to such a person . There is some little proportion betwixt her and this chappell : Similitudo non currit quatuor pedibus . for a similitude agrees not in every particular . It hath beene neglected since the first stone was laid : but now behold it is visited : for it was built as a daughter for the honour of the King of heaven .

Goe on ( right worthy christians ) ; and doe so to your owne churches and chappells too . Some monuments may make you infamous , as the building of Babel , Gen. 11. Iosh . 6. 1 King . 16 2 King . 23 the rebuilding of Iericho , the setting up of Calves , the erecting of the houses of the Sodomites , the horses of the sun , the houses of abomination to Baal , Ashtoreth , Chemosh , Milchom , and the like . But this worke , and such as this is , shall leave a sweet savour behinde you , when you are gone , as upon the Centurion , hee loved our nation , Luk 7 5. and hath built us a Synagogue . Yee have done worthily therefore in Ephrata , and made your selves famous in Bethlehem , that yee have not despised it by base uncomlinesse .

Secondly , despise them not by irreverent carriage in them , who can come neere a church or chappell , and not be humbled to thinke how many praiers he hath made in them ( or such like ) which are justly turned into sinne ? wee have sinned , and prayed , and prayed , and sinned , as if our prayers had beene a preparation to our future sinning . The very sight of the place doth , or may , justlie humble us for this . Who can come neere them , and not bee lifted up with such devout thoughts as this , O Lord heare us , heare thy people that humbly call upon thy name heere . O meete with us in thine own ordinances , ( when we meete heere ) that we may be taught of God , and furthered in that way that leades to life ▪ Who can enter into a church or chappell , and not thinke of the beautie of Gods house , and not crave that ( as occasion serves ) hee , and Gods people , may see Gods face there ?

When Cornelius was in a roome of his house ( it may be set apart , but for a time ) hee said , Act. 10.33 . now we are all heere present before God : much more may wee in our churches and chappells set a part for ever .

I know but three things which can bee a hinderance and impediment unto us , in so pious a worke , and those are , profit , pleasure , honour , the lust of the eies , 1 Ioh . 2. the lust of the flesh , and the pride of life . All these cannot give reasons weightie enough to conclude the despising of the church of God . As for profit , Math . 16. what will it profit ut to winne the whole world , if wee loose our soules ? As for pleasure , Eccles . 2.2 I said to laughter it is madde , and to mirth , what doth it ? the sonnes of men are deceitfull upon the weights : they over-weigh the pleasures of sinne , and under-weigh the paine of misery . As for honour , if wee seeke honour one of another , and seeke not the honour that commeth of God onely , Ioh . 5.44 . God will tread downe our life upon the earth , Psal . 7 5. and lay our honour in the dust . But howsoever these prevaile with others , I am sure , that all these three are ingaged , heere not to despise this church of God .

It is built and furnished with cost : profit therefore is engaged , and hath given way to the devout worship of God heere . It is built by a garden of pleasure , a parlour of plentie : pleasure therefore is engaged to give way to the devout worship of God . Iosephs tombe was in a garden , to put thoughts of mortality into his delights , and this chappell is in a garden , to be a monitor ( in the midst of refreshments ) to the way to immortalitie . It is garnished with the coate of armes below , looking upward : honour offers it selfe to bee serviceable to the devout worship of God . Therefore as I say , in generall , husbands teach your wives , parents teach your children , masters teach your servants , and all Christians provoke one another not to despise the churches of God : so in speciall in this place as opportunitie is offered . Oh worship God in the beauty of holinesse ! Psal 93.5 . for holinesse becomes thy house for ever .

Thus shall you bring honour to your God , ornament to your Gospell , edification to your neighbours , and comfort to your owne soules in the day of the Lord Iesus , to whom with the Father , and the Holy Ghost , bee all praise , power , and Glory , now and for ever .

Amen . FINIS .