A gospel church describ'd in its author, names, head, matter, form, and end wherein are various cases concerning the ministery, divination, admission of members, discipline, schism ... / by Michael Harrison in Potters-Pury.

A GOSPEL CHURCH DESCRIB'D .

THE INTRODUCTION .

IF the Lord Jesus Christ was so Ravish'd with the Beauty and Holiness of the Church , while she yet remain'd under a ●… egal and more Unbeautiful Dispensation , as ●… ven passionately to long for , and desire her ●… ompany ; As is expressed , Cant . 4.9 , 10 , 11. ●… 2. and Cant . 5.14 , &c. Which Love , at last , ●… rought him down into a state of Incarnati●… , Humiliation and Death ; that thereby he ●… ight Redeem his Church , and make all the ●… embers of it Kings and Priests to God , Rev. 〈…〉 v. 5 , 6. And , by the Merits of his Sufferings , ●… esent this Church to God , a Glorious Church , ●… t having Spot or Wrinckle , or any such thing , but that it should be holy and wit●… blemish , Ephes . 25 , 26 , 27.

I say , if Christ thus Loveth the Church , 〈…〉 will certainly be a very pleasant and delig●…ful Work , to enquire into the Nature 〈…〉 Properties of this Church ; which has now 〈…〉 off her Vail , and is set in a clear Gospel-Li●… being arriv'd at Mature Age , and more B●…tifully Adorned with the Glorious Robes 〈…〉 Christ then ever .

And , this is the more needful , because ( ●… we live in an Age of Light , yet ) many 〈…〉 Scuffling in the Dark ; As about other th●… so especially about the Nature of a G●… Church .

It is , indeed , sad to behold , what odd●…treams Men run into ; and , what yet o●… Notion some take up concerning the Ch●… for , while on the one hand there are a C●…ration of Men , who are still crying , the C●… the Church ; we are Sons of the Church ; 〈…〉 all the while , they either mean that Fr●… of Wood and Stone , where the Church N●… to Worship God ; or , a few Unscriptural ●…monies , Devised by Men , and Imposed on ●…der Consciences : Whereas the Church of 〈…〉 is something more Excellent then either .

Whilst , on the other hand , some , who●…tend to higher Attainments then othe●… Religion , fancy to themselves such a C●… on Earth , as is only to be found in He●… and while they fly aloft on the Wings 〈…〉 ●… iery Zeal , born up with Affections without Knowledg , they really want the Feet of Solid ●… rinciples to guide them in God's Way ; So ●… hat though they have Wind in their Sails , yet , ●… or want of Ballast in their Judg●ent 〈…〉 ●… re in danger to be Overset by every 〈…〉 Temptation .

Now I humbly conceive , that if we could possibly find out a Mean , to set Persons Right in their Notions concerning a Gospel-Church , it would prove an excellent Means to Compose our Differences ; And that an Agreement in that Article of our Creed , I Believe the Holy Catholick Church , would do Wonders in Uniting us in Unity and Peace : If there were but an amicable Agreement here , I assure my self that what differences there might yet remain in other Points , it would not Kill Christian Love , or Spoil the Union or Peace of the Church .

And therefore this is the Design of this Weak Attempt now put into thy hands , by one , who is no Bigot in Religion , but bears a Universal Love and Tenderness for Christians of different Denominations ; and if he miscarry in any thing , it is not out of any fondness to any one Party above another , nor for want of Pains to know the Truth , no , nor Love to it , but meer unavoidable Human Frailty .

CHAP. I. T● 〈…〉 consider'd in its Names . 2. It ●ture . 3. Whether the Church or M●…stry be first in order of Nature . 4. Of Church Invisible and Visible , &c.

First . LET us first consider the Ch●… in those Names , Titles and E●…thets that are given to it in Holy Scriptu●… It is called by our Saviour , Mat . 16 . ●… {αβγδ} , On this Rock I will build my Ch●… According to the Notation of the Greek wo●… it signifies an Assembly called together , a●… comes from the Hebrew , Kahal , which sign●…fies to be Congregated , or Gather'd togethe●… The Word signifies , 1. Any Multitude g●…thered together into one place , for any Cause as Acts 19.32 . The Assembly was confused {αβγδ} , the Church was confused . 2. Ye●… its put for a Company of Malignant Wicke●… Men , as here ; and , Psal . 26.5 . The Congregation of evil doers , Heb . Kahal . 2. For Christians Assembled together to Worship God 1 Cor . 14.34 . 3. For the Glorified Saints i●… Heaven , Heb . 12.23 . 4. For the Rulers and Pastors of the Church , as distinct from the Flock , Mat . 18.17 . Tell the Church , i.e. the Pastors and Rulers of the Church , in whose Hands the Governing-Power is Lodged . 5. For the Faithful in one Family , Rom. 16.5 . 6. For 〈…〉 Particular Church , Rev. 2.1 . both Rulers ●… d Ruled Pastor and People . The Word ●… hurch is now Peculiarly Appropriated to ●… gnifie a Society standing Related to God , 〈…〉 his Covenant People , and that both , 〈…〉 their Assemblies together , and when they ●… re apart ; and that whether they be the U●… iversal Society of God's People , the Whole ●… hurch , or Particular Societies , as Parts of ●… e Whole .

Farthermore , This Church hath other Ti●… es and Epithets given it in Scripture : 1. The ●… hurch is called the People of God , 1 Pet . 2. ●… 0. 2. The Sons of God , Gen. 6. 1 John 〈…〉 1 , 2. 3. A Righteous Nation , which keep ●… e Truth , Isa . 26.2 . 4. The Saints of the ●… ost High , Dan. 7.8 . 5. A Chast Virgin , the ●… ouse of Christ , 2 Cor . 11.2 . The Wife 〈…〉 the Lamb , i.e. of Christ , Rev. 19.7 .

The House of the Living God . 7. The ●… llar and Ground of Truth , 1 Tim . 3.15 .

A Chosen Generation , a Royal Priesthood , 〈…〉 Holy Nation , a Peculiar People , with ma●… other .

II . Let us now consider the Nature of this ●… urch ; It is not a Worldly , but Spiritual Socie●… , united together , not by Human , or Civil , but ●… cred Bonds ; not for Worldly Ends , but ●… e Glory of God , and their own Spiritual ●… ification , and Eternal Salvation . But , the ●… ter to consider the Nature of this Heavenly Society the Church , we must consider 〈…〉 under those Various Notions , whereby it 〈…〉 usually Represented to us , i.e. as Invisible o●… Visible , Triumphant or Militant , Catholick 〈…〉 Universal , or Particular .

III . But before we come to these Distinct●…ons of the Church , let us give some Light 〈…〉 that Question so often put , whether the Ch●… or Ministry , as Related to each other , are fir●… in Order of Nature ; some have fancy'd , the he that is Pastor of a Church , should first be a Member of that Church ; and , according to that Notion , the Church must be before the Ministry : but , if so , How came that to be 〈…〉 Church ? The Preaching of the Gospels 〈…〉 the Means appointed by God , to Con●… Persons to Christ , and so Plant Church●… Faith comes by Hearing , Rom. 10.17 . 〈…〉 there been no Ministry , we cannot , accord●… to this Order , see , how there could be 〈…〉 Churches . Christ first set up a Gospel Mini●… before any Church was Planted ; the Apo●… and Seventy Disciples , Luke 9.1 , 2 , 3 . 〈…〉 Luke 10.1 . These went up and down Prea●…ing the Gospel , and Converted many to Ch●… which were afterwards gather'd into Chur●… So that though the Church be the end of 〈…〉 Ministry , and in Design before it , yet t●… may be a Ministry whereas yet there is 〈…〉 Church ; and , as the Church is to be Gath●… and Planted by the Ministry of the Word , 〈…〉 that Ministers may , and sometimes must , 〈…〉 ●… t apart by Solemn Ordination , when as yet ●… hey may have no Particular Church to fix in ; ●… ut , to Preach the Gospel , in order to Convert Men to Christ : But , of the Nature of a Gospel-Ministry I shall speak afterwards .

IV . Now let us consider the Church as it is Invisible or Visible .

1. Let us consider the Nature of the Invisible Church .

The Church , as Invisible , is the Whole Number of the Elect , effectually Called by God out of a state of Sin , to Faith in Christ , by the Word and Spirit of God , according to his own Good Pleasure , Uniting them to Christ their Spiritual Head , whereby they partake of Grace here , and Glory hereafter , to the Praise and Glory of God's Free Grace .

Now , in this Description of the Church Invisible , you may observe , 1. The Author , 2. The Matter , 3. Form , 4. The Head , 5. The End of the Church .

1. The Author , is God , Father , Son and Spirit . God the Father Elects and Ordains to Eternal Life , as the End ; and to Holiness , as the Means conducing to that end , Eph. 1.4 . He hath chosen us in him , before the Foundation of the World , that we should be holy and without blame before him in Love .

The Lord Jesus Christ he Redeems us from Sin and Hell , by his Precious Blood , Ephes . 1.7 . In whom we have Redemption by his precious Blood , the Remission of Sins : The Holy Spirit he Sanctifies us , Unites us to Christ , and fi●… for Heaven .

2. The Matter of the Invisible Church , 〈…〉 that is , Elected and truly Regenerated Be●…vers : Tho' a Credible Profession of Religi●… be sufficient to make one a Member of t●… Church Visible , yet nothing short of Real U●… on with Christ will make one a Member of●… Church Invisible . The Elect themselves , ●…fore they Believe , are no otherwise Membe●… but in God's Decree , 2 Thes . 2.13 , 14. C●… hath from the beginning chosen you to Salva●… through Sanctification of the Spirit , and 〈…〉 of the Truth . 1 Pet . 2.5 . Ye also as li●… Stones , are built up a Spiritual House , an 〈…〉 Priesthood , to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices , 〈…〉 Thus none but Elect Converted Believers 〈…〉 the Matter of the Invisible Church .

3. The Form of this Invisible Church is 〈…〉 whereby the Elect Believing Members of 〈…〉 Church are United to Christ their Head ; 〈…〉 that which is the Bands of our Union 〈…〉 Christ , is also the Form of the Invisible Chu●… And what can that be but the Holy Spirit 〈…〉 Faith ? By the Holy Spirit God immediate●… takes us by the Heart , Ezek . 36.27 . I will 〈…〉 my Spirit within you , and cause you to walk in 〈…〉 ways , Ephes . 2.22 . In whom also you are b●…ed together , for an Habitation of God by the Sp●… And , by Faith , which is the Believer's Inv●…ble Hand , whereby the Believer takes hold 〈…〉 Christ , and is United to him , John 17.21 . 〈…〉〈…〉 united to Christ by Faith , Epes . 3.17 . Christ ●… ells in our heart by Faith , and by Love we are ●… ted one to another , John 13.35 .

4. The Head of this Church is Christ , Eph. 〈…〉 10. That he might gather together all things Christ , Vers . 22. hath given him to be Head ●… er all things to his Church . Ephes . 5.23 . ●… rist is the Head of the Church . The End of ●… e Church is either Supream or Subordinate .

The Supream End is the Glory of God's ●… ee Grace and Mercy , Eph. 1.5 . Who hath ●… edestinated us to the Adoption of Children by ●… sus Christ to himself , according to the good ●… asure of his Will , Vers . 6. to the Praise of ●… e Glory of his Grace .

The Subordinate End is the Salvation and ●… ernal Blessedness of the Church , and every ●… ember of it , 2 Thes . 2.13 , 14. God hath 〈…〉 the beginning chosen us to Salvation , through ●… u●tification of the Spirit , and Belief of the ●… th .

Note the Church , thus consider'd , is said to 〈…〉 Invisible , not as Men , but as Elect , and cho●… of God ; for , though their Persons are vi●… e , yet their Effectual Calling , their Grace , ●… liness and Union to Christ is Invisible ; as they 〈…〉 Men , they are Visible to Men ; but , as Saints , 〈…〉 they are only Visible to the Lord Christ , Tim . 2.19 . The foundation of God standeth ●… e , having this seal , the Lord knoweth who are 〈…〉 The Church is , in this Respect , a Garden ●… osed , a Spring shut up , a Fountain sealed , ●… at . 4.12 .

But the Church , thus consider'd , is not t●… Rule we ought to go by in Gathering a●… Planting Churches , nor in Admitting Me●…bers ; for , if we are to joyn with no Chur●… but such as we are sure are all Real Saints , ●…nited to Christ by a Living Faith , we must th●… never joyn with any ; or Separate from 〈…〉 Churches on Earth , because the Church , as th●… consider'd , ever hath been , still is , and 〈…〉 will be in this World Invisible .

Now this Invisible Church may yet be co●…der'd as Triumphant or Militant ; as Unive●…sal or Catholick ; or Particular ,

1. The Invisible Church is called Tri●…phant , as part of it is got to Heaven , and there Triumphing with Christ , having obta●…ed a compleat Victory over the World , t●… Flesh and the Devil .

This Triumphant Church consists of t●… Spirits of Just Men made Perfect , toget●… with the Blessed Angels , Heb . 12.22 , 23 , 〈…〉 Ye are come unto the Mount Zion , and unto the 〈…〉 of the living God ; the Heavenly Jerusalem ; 〈…〉 to an Innumerable Company of Angels . To 〈…〉 General Assembly and Church of the First-b●… which are written in Heaven , to God the Ju●… all , and to the Spirits of Just Men made p●… &c. And Rev. 7.9 — 15. I beheld , and 〈…〉 great Multitude , which no Man could number 〈…〉 all Nations , Kindreds and People , and Tong●…stood before the Throne , and before the L●… Cloathed with White Robes , and Palms in 〈…〉 h●… s ; and cryed with a loud voice , saying , Sal●… on to our God . And if you would know 〈…〉 these are , the Question is Asked , Vers . 13. 〈…〉 Answer'd , Vers . 14. These are they which ●… e out of great Tribulation , and have washed 〈…〉 Robes , and made them White in the Blood of 〈…〉 Lamb .

〈…〉 . It is said to be Militant , as part of it is 〈…〉 in this World , in a Suffering condition , ●… hting under the Cross of Christ , against 〈…〉 World , the Flesh , and the Devil : Suffer●… s being the usual Lot of God's Church in ●… s Vail of Misery ; for Christ saith , If any ●… n will come after me , let him take up his ●… ss and follow me , Luke 9.23 . and through ●… y Tribulations we must enter into the ●… gdom of God : With the Church thus con●… er'd , God is Graciously Present , Isa . 43.1 , ●… 3. But now , thus saith the Lord , that created ●… e , O Jacob , and that formed thee , O Israel , fear 〈…〉 : for I have Redeemed thee , I have called ●… e by thy Name , thou art mine . When thou ●… est through the Waters , I will be with thee : ●… d through the Rivers , they shall not overflow ●… e : When thou walkest through the Fire , thou ●… lt not be burnt ; neither shall the Flame kindle ●… n thee : For I am the Lord thy God ; the Holy ●… e of Israel , thy Saviour , &c.

3. The Church is called Catholick , because it ●… ot confined to one Family , Kingdom , or ●… tion ; and tho' a Particular Church or ●… or may be term'd Catholick in respect of Soundness of Doctrin , but here the term ●…tholick Signifies the Church , as taking all 〈…〉 very Nation in the whole World ; that 〈…〉 longs to Christ , as Acts 17.30 . He comm●… all Men every where to Repent . Acts 10 . 〈…〉 35. God is no respecter of Persons , but in 〈…〉 Nation him that fears God and worketh Righ●…ness is accepted of him . The Church thus●…sider'd , is extended to all Times and P●… and is but one Church , which is the My●… or Spiritual Body of Christ , having but 〈…〉 Faith , one Hope , one Baptism , one Rule , and●…joying one and the same Salvation , 1 Cor . 〈…〉 17. Eph 4.4 , 5 , 6 , 7.

4. Or the Church is Particular ; as the ●…versal Catholick Church is divided in s●… lesser Societies : so many as can conveni●… meet together in one Place , and Uni●… Worship God ; such were the Churches●…tion'd in the New Testament , as the Ch●… Corinth , Ephesus , Philippians , &c. But I 〈…〉 first speak of the Church as Visible , bef●… proceed any further in the Discription of●…ticular Churches . Let us therefore com●… the Second remarkable distinction of 〈…〉 Church , Namely , as it is ,

II . Visible : Now when we say the C●… is Invisible or Visible , it must not be im●… that there are two Churches , the one In●… and the other Visible ; but it 's the same C●… diversly consider'd , that in one respect is●…ble , and in another respect is Invisible , 〈…〉〈…〉 a Remarkable Saying of the Lord Plessis a gentleman of France , in his Treatise of the ●… ch . " We will ( saith he ) commit unto ●… od , the Searcher of Hearts , the Know●… dge of the Invisible Church , and will con●… nt our selves to Search for the Visible in ●… od's Word ; into which all must in this ●… ife retire themselves , which desire to be ●… ather'd into the Invisible Church in the ●… orld to come . Notwithstanding , by the ●… ay , we will note the difference between ●… hese two , the Invisible Church , contains ●… one but the Good , the Visible Church con●… ains both the Good and the Bad ; the In●… isible Church contains none but the Elect , ●… e Visible Church all those indifferently ●… at are brought into her by the Preaching 〈…〉 the Gospel .

●… ow let us consider what this Visible Church 〈…〉

●… ffinition . The Visible Church is the So●… of all those , who do Profess Christianity , ●… egeneration , and are Joyn'd Externally ●… rist , and one to another by the Profession ●… aith and Love , together with their Chil●…

●… d here , as before , consider the Author , ●… atter , the Form , the Head and the End , 〈…〉 Visible Church .

We are to consider as before , That the 〈…〉 of the Church , both Invisible and Visi●… the same Holy God , who hath Instituted and Appointed it ; and who hath gath●… by the Preaching of the Word ; the 〈…〉 Christ , by a Saving Union ; and others 〈…〉 outward and Visible Profession .

2. The Matter of the Visible Chur●… that is , All who Profess Christianity , 〈…〉 generation ; tho' all of them may not●…stians indeed , nor truly Regenerate 〈…〉 but all that make such a Credible Pr●… together with their Children , are the 〈…〉 of the Visible Church .

Now here are Three Things to●…sider'd .

1. That all true Christians are Perso●… generated by the Word and Spirit , 〈…〉 by Faith , united to Christ , are , in p●… Matter of the Visible Church ; That 〈…〉 the Matter of the Invisible Church , 〈…〉 prov'd ; and therefore , that they are 〈…〉 Matter in part of the Visible Church 〈…〉 think , none will deny .

2. But the question may perhaps 〈…〉 some , whether such as Profess the●…ligion , Profess Regeneration , and to 〈…〉 and Believe in Christ ; when , it may 〈…〉 have no real Regeneration , nor Vita●… with Christ ; Whether these may be 〈…〉 in part the Matter , and Members of ●…ble Church .

Now , to Answer this ; indeed , Vita●… Members they are not , but yet Memb●… are , and are to be esteemed so . The 〈…〉 ●… ch has always had such in it , of whom , 〈…〉 there has been Reason to suspect Insin●… , yet still they have been looked on , and ●…ed , both by God and the Church ; and to ●… m outward Church-Priviledges are not to ●… eny'd . And this I prove by these Arguments . 〈…〉 . A Visible Profession of Christianity , and ●… eneration , is all that we are capable of dis●… ing ; we may have Good hopes of such 〈…〉 such , that they truly love God , are Re●… erated , and United to Christ . But , alas ; ●… w oft are we mistaken , and , to our Grief , 〈…〉 such , of whom we had Good hope , make ●… pwrack of that , which , in them , looked 〈…〉 Faith and a good Conscience ? 1 Joh . 2. 〈…〉 They went out from us , but they were not of 〈…〉 for if they had been of us , no doubt they would ●… e continued with us . As to a Profession , 〈…〉 Church is Judge ; but as to Saving Grace , 〈…〉 Union to Christ ; the Lord Christ is ●… ge alone : Hence Mr. Corbet Notes , " That ●… any Profess Christianity , or Dedication to 〈…〉 God in Christ , that are not really , that is ●… eartily and intirely so Dedicated . And ●… resently adds , " That those , who , by such 〈…〉 External Profession , are of this Society , ●… ough but Anologically , and as to the Ex●… rnal form only , have Just Right and Title 〈…〉 it 's External Priviledges , according to ●… eir disposedness before them that can dis●… rn of things that only appear outwardly ; So that if Men debar them of those●…ledges , they do them wrong .

2. Whoever in the Apostles days , 〈…〉 such an outward Profession , were pre●… taken into the Church , and admitted t●… Communion : This is beyond all dispute●… Acts 2.41 , 42. Then they that gladly 〈…〉 the Word were Baptized , and the same da●… was added to the Church Three thousand 〈…〉 and they continued stedfast in the Apostles 〈…〉 and in fellowship , and in breaking Brea●… Prayer . In which Place 't is Evident , 〈…〉 soon as they did Profess to Believe , eve●… in a few hours after they were Conve●… i . e . Professed Repentance for their S●… to Believe in Jesus Christ ; they were●…tiz'd , without waiting to see whether 〈…〉 Repentance was Sincere or no : And 〈…〉 soon after admitted to the Lords Supper 〈…〉 here Breaking of Bread ; and this was 〈…〉 Single and Singular Instance , but it was●…postles constant Practice , as may be sec●… 8.13 . Acts 16.29 , 30 , 31.

Objection : Some will perhaps say , T●… Apostles , by Immediate Inspiration , kne●… those they Baptiz'd were truly Conve●… United by Faith to Christ .

Answ . They acted as Ministers of th●…pel , by a Gospel Rule , to be Imitate●…thers in after Ages ; And though Saving●…version was what they much desir'd to 〈…〉 their Hearers , yet it was a Visible Pro●… ●… ey look at , and that was the Ground on ●… hich they Baptiz'd : All they Baptiz'd were ●… t Sincere Believers ; as is more then Evi●… nt by many Examples , as of Ananias and ●… phirah , Acts 5.1 , 2. and Simon Magus , Acts 〈…〉 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13. and many more Bap●… z'd by the Apostles themselves , or by some ●… nt out by them , who Enjoy all the External ●… iviledges of Church-Members ; and yet ●… me of them proved very Hetrodox , and un●… und in their Judgments , and others very un●… ly in Life and Conversation : But more of ●… is hereafter .

But before we leave this Point , the Matter 〈…〉 the Visible Church , we must take notice of ●… e Third thing Promised , viz. to prove that ●… e Infants of Believing Parents are in part ●… e Matter of the Visible Church : But they shall 〈…〉 the Subject of the Second Chapter .

CHAP. II . ●… oving , That the Infants of Believing Parents are , in part , the Visible matter of the Visible Church ; Shewing also , who is the Head , and what the Form and End of the Visible Church .

NOw , though I have fully proved this in another Place , in my Infant-Baptism , ●… d's Ordinance , Part 1. Page 18 , 19 , 20. 〈…〉 in my Second Part , yet I will now say something to it . That some Infants are V●…ble Church-Members ; I Argue thus ,

1. If by the Merciful Appointment of 〈…〉 Infants were once taken into the Visible Ch●… by vertue of the Covenant of Grace , and 〈…〉 Merciful grant never Repeal'd or taken do●… by God , then it is certain , that some Inf●… are still Members of the Visible Church : 〈…〉 the former is true , that by God's own●…pointment , some Infants were sometimes 〈…〉 into the Visible Church , by Vertue of the Co●…nant of Grace , and that Priviledge never●…peal'd ; therefore 't is true , that some Infa●… ( i.e. the Infants of Believing Parents ) 〈…〉 yet Visible Church-Members : Here co●… Three Things .

1. Some Infants were once taken by C●… own Appointment into the Visible Churc●

2. That they were so admitted by V●… of the Covenant of Grace .

3. That this Infant Church-Membership 〈…〉 never repeal'd , or taken down .

1. Infants were by God's own app●…ment taken into the Visible Church as V●… Church-Members , this is plain ; that all 〈…〉 Jews Infants were at Eight days Old , by ●…cumcision , Solemnly admitted into the 〈…〉 Church , is most certain , Gen. 17.12 . A●… think , to stand upon farther proof woul●… be to bring a Candle to look at the 〈…〉 And ,

2. That this Infant Church-Membership was , by Vertue of the Covenant of Grace , is as certain , Read Deut. 29.10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15. There you see that God Solemnly re●… ews , both with Parents and little Ones , that Covenant made with Abraham , Gen. 17.7 . I will be a God unto thee and to thy Seed after thee ; And Infants being thus by God himself Solemnly taken into the Visible Church by Vertue of the Covenant of Grace , God takes care they be dealt with as Church-Members , by not being meerly Circumcised the Eighth day , Gen. 17.12 . Which was their receiving the Seal of the Covenant of Grace ; but that they should be brought to Church-Assemblys , as Deut . 29.11 . and Deut . 31.10 , 11 , 12. Gather the People together , Men , Women and Children , &c.

Now that this Covenant , by Vertue whereof Infants were by God's own appointment brought into the Visible Church , is the Covenant of Grace , is the Universal Judgment of ●… ll Sound Churches and Divines in the World ; ●… s might be made good by a Multitude of In●… tances ; and Mr. Tombs himself , one of the ●… est Men our mistaken Brethren had , who ●… eny Infant Church-Membership and Baptism , ●… onfesses , That it was a Covenant which con●… ains in it Redemption by Christ ; A better ●… rgument there needs not , to prove it the ●… ovenant of Grace , Apology , Page . 131. And ●… ho would see more Arguments to prove it ●… e Covenant of Grace , may find them in my Infant Baptism , God's Ordinance , Page . 16 , 1●… Part II . To which I shall add more proof b●… and by .

3. Let us now consider whether this I●…fant Church-Membership was Repeal'd or take●… down by Christ in the Erecting the Gospe●… Church .

Now that Infant Church-Membership 〈…〉 never Repeal'd , or taken down , I prove ,

1. If Infants , that were sometimes Vis●… Church-Members , are cast out , and their Pri●…ledges Repeal'd , this Repeal is somewh●… Recorded in the Holy Scriptures ; if any b●… it is so Recorded , let them shew us where●… But if it be no where in the Holy Scriptures 〈…〉 Recorded , that Infants , who were sometimes Church-Members , are cast out ; then 't is beyond all Rational Contradiction , that so●● Infants still are Church-Members : But it 〈◇〉 where so Recorded ; therefore the Priviledge●… still continues to them .

I have met with a great many weak O●…jections , urged by our mistaken Brethren 〈…〉 Anabaptists ; but this seems to me to be 〈…〉 strength of all , viz. The Jewish Church is ta●… down , together with Circumcision , and 〈…〉 Abrahamical Covenant ; and the Jews b●… therefore cast off , Infant Church-Membersh●… Repeal'd

Asw . The Covenant of Grace was al●… the same ; it has indeed been more cle●… Reveal'd ; but still it is the same Coven●… the Covenant made with Abraham , Gen. 17.7 . was the very same made with Adam , Gen. 3.15 . only it was a clearer Draught , and that is the same Covenant the Church has all along had ; only the nearer the time came to the appearance of Christ in the World , still the brighter Discoveries was made of it : So that the Covenant of Grace , now to the Church , is but a clearer and brighter Draught of what was made to Adam and Abraham : The Jews are not all broken off , but only some of them for their Unbelief ; yet the Believing Jews were not Translated to stand upon any other Foundation then the Covenant they were in before ; and the Gentiles , that were added to the Church , were grafted into the same Stock and Root whereon the Believing Jews stood ; And were hereby made partakers of the same Covenant , the same Priviledges , which the Vnbelieving Jews lost ; nothing can be more Evident then this , to an unprejudiced Person , that shall Impartially consider what the Apostle saith , Rom. 11.17 . And if some of the Branches be broken off , And thou being a Wild Olive-Tree wer 't grafted in amongst them , and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the Olive-Tree . Than this there cannot be a clearer proof ; for as the Unbelieving Jews , together with their Children , were broken off , the Believing Gentiles , with their Children , were grafted into the Stock , and stood upon the foot of the same Covenant the Jews did .

2. Infant Church-Membership is not●…peal'd ; for our Lord Jesus Christ assures 〈…〉 that the Gospel Church , is , in part , made 〈…〉 with such , Mat . 19.13 , 14. Then were brou●… unto him little Children , that he should put 〈…〉 hands on them and pray , and the Disciples rebu●… them : But Jesus said , suffer little Children 〈…〉 come unto me and forbid them not , for of such 〈…〉 the Kingdom of Heaven . The question is , 〈…〉 what end these Infants were brought to Ch●… it was not for Baptism , for Christ Bapti●… none himself , but his Disciples ; And it 's v●… probable they were Baptiz'd before : 〈…〉 was it for Healing any Disease ; for the D●…ciples knew Christ used to heal ; they wo●… not have rebuked them for that ; but it w●… that Christ might Pray over them , and Bl●… them ; and the Disciples being at that the weak and raw , in many things , they had , a doubt , such thoughts as our mistaken Brethres the Anabaptists have ; namely , That Infa●● were not capable of receiving any thing fro●… Christ ; and it was therefore , in their App●…hension , An idle thing to bring Infants 〈…〉 him : But Christ was not of their Mind , 〈…〉 bids them bring little Children to him , givi●… this Reason for it , That of such was the Ki●…dom of Heaven . Now , by the Kingdom 〈…〉 Heaven here can be meant nothing but 〈…〉 Church State here ; for we find this Phra●… the Kingdom of Heaven , is mostly , if not a●ways , to be understood of the Gospel Chur●… here , as Mat . 4.17 . Mat . 10.7 . Mat . 13.24 , 33 , 44 , 45 , 47. Now , if in these , and a Multitude of other Places , the Kingdom of Heaven is to be understood of the Gospel Church ; then this Place , Mat . 19.14 . is to be so understood likewise . So from hence 't is Evident , that Infants are Members of the Gospel Church , as well as they were of the Jewish Church .

3. That Infants are Members of the Gospel Church , I argue from Acts 2.39 . The Promise is to you and to your Children , &c. If this Promise was the Promise of the Covenant made to Abraham , Gen. 17.7 . and Children here , the same with Seed there ; then the Infants of Believing Christians are Visible Church-Members now , as the Infants of the Jews were then ; but the former is true , ergo , the latter .

1. The Promise here mentioned , is , that great Promise made to Abraham , for it 's a Promise of Pardon , and Life , and that God would be their God . 't is a Promise they very well knew ; {αβγδ} : Repromissio , a repeating a Promise , that Prepositive Article {αβγδ} , doth Point , as with the Finger , to some well known Promise ; it must be a Promise that Circumcision had been , and Baptism now , was to be a Seal of it , otherwise it would signify nothing to these awakned Jews ; that was the great Promise , they were least acquainted with , and that would yield them most Comfort in their present Distress .

2. By Children here is meant the same with Seed , their seed and Children being Synonymous Phrases : So , the plain meaning of the Apostle is , Repent , and be Baptized , for that Great Promise that God made with you Father Abraham , I will be thy God , and the God of thy seed , will also stand firm to you , and to your Children , &c. This is a Good Proof of Infant Church-membership . If any would have this Text set in a clearer Light , let them see my Infant-Baptism , God's Ordinance , Part II . Page 20 , 21 , &c.

4. That Infants are Visible Church-members , I might Argue from 1 Cor . 7.9 . Else were your children unclean ; but now are they holy . By Holiness there , cannot be meant Legitimation ; nor that they are truly Sanctified : but a Federal Holiness , i.e. they are in the Covenant of Grace , and are Church-members : Much more might be said , to Prove Infant Church-membership ; but this is enough to Prove it .

And tho' abundance of Arguments may be brought to Prove Infant Baptism ; yet , with me , this is instar omnia , such an Argument as will for ever carry the Cause ; and , against which , no Solid Objection can be made , viz.

Those Infants , which are to be received as Visible Church-members , ought to be Baptized ; and it 's a very sinful thing to deny them this Priviledge : Baptisme is the only Rite Jesus Christ has appointed for the Admitting Visible Church-members : Who dare deny Baptisme to a Visible Member of the Church ? But such as want more Proof of Infant-Baptism , let them see my Books above-mention'd on this Subject .

III . Let us now consider the Form of the Visible Church . Now the Invisible Form , as hath been shewed , is the Union of the Church with Christ , its Spiritual Head , by the Holy Spirit drawing us to Christ , and Faith laying hold on Christ : Now , Answerable hereunto the Visible Form is made , and must needs be such a Visible Profession of Christianity and Regeneration , as is requisit to Visible Church-membership in the Adult ; and , what a Profession that is , may be seen in these Two things .

1. God Graciously gives the Gospel , affords the Means of Grace to a People , sends amongst them the Ministers of his Word , to offer them Salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ ; And hereby they are Externally and Visibly called , and Invited to enter into a Covenant Relation to God and Christ , Mat . 28.19 , 20. Mark 16.15 . 2 Cor . 5.20 . We are Embassadors for Christ , and we pray you in Christ's stead be ye reconciled to God , &c. Thus the Preaching of the Gospel is the way of Gathering a Visible Church .

2. When the Gospel thus Preached , is Received and Believed by a People , God , by the Word , Working in them a Willingness to ●… nter themselves into the Lord's Covenant . When a People do , either in Sincerity , own and Profess Christ , or , at least , in Appearance , seem willing to Receive Christ , and Believe the Great Doctrines of the Gospel , and so being Baptized in his Name , become God's Visible Church : For , as the In-dwelling of the Spirit , and Saving Faith is the Invisible Form , so a Credible Profession of Christianity is the Outward Form : And therefore the Apostle , who , in these things erred not , did take Profession of Faith in Christ , for a Sufficient Qualification of Church-membership and Baptism ; without staying to see what the Persons would be ; as to After-Obedience , as Acts 2.4 . and Acts 8.13 , &c. And this they would not have done , had they not been directed so to do by the Holy Spirit of God .

IV . The Head , as before , is only Jesus Christ , Col. 1.18 .

't is Christ that is the King , and Great Law-giver to his Church ; he is the Chief Corner-stone on which the Church is built , 1 Pet . 2.4 , 5.

V. The End of this Visible Church is , 〈…〉 Worship and Glorifie God , and to be there●… made meet to enjoy him for ever : to ho●… forth the Word of Life ; to preserve the O●…dinances pure ; to Contend earnestly for t●… Faith ; to Honour and Glorifie God by H●…liness ; and , at last , to be made Blessed in 〈…〉 sweet and perfect Injoyment of God in He●…ven .

Thus we have consider'd the Church , as Visible and Invisible , as Triumphant in Heaven , or yet Militant on Earth ; as Catholick , or Universal : It now remains that we speak of Particular Churches .

CHAP. III . A Particular Church Describ'd . 1. In its Nature , 2. In its Parts , 3. In its Ministry and Officers .

1. LEt us consider a Particular Church in its Nature .

Now , forasmuch as the Militant Catholick Church can never Meet alltogether in one place to Worship God ; It is distinguished or divided into particular Churches , or lesser Societies : and these are either National , Provincial , Diocesan , or Congregational . A National Church is , when the Inhabitants of one Nation and Kingdom , living under the same Government , and joyntly Professing the Christian Religion , may be called a Church ; the same may be said of a Province , or Diocess , as the Church in England , or in Scotland , Holland , Geneva , &c. But , when the Term , Church , is thus used , it must not be understood , as if all the Christians in such a Nation , Province , &c. were one Individual Congregation , immediately under the same Church Guides ; but only several Particular Congregations , each being under the Rule and Inspection of their Bishop , or Bishops , and Associated together by Consent : but , as Mr. Troughton well observes , a Parochial , or Congregational Church is the only Organical Church , Directly and Immediately Appointed by the Lord Jesus Christ : And these are the Churches we shall now consider .

Now a Particular Church may be thus Defined .

A Particular Church is a Society of Persons Professing Christianity , or Regeneration , living in the same Neighbourhood , so as conveniently to Meet together in the same place , who are , by Mutual Covenant , ingaged first to God , and then to each other , to Worship God in Purity , and perform Mutual Duties of Church Members one to another , Walking together in a due Obedience to all God's Ordinances , and to the Pastor , or Pastors which are set over them in the Lord .

Here Observe ,

1. That a Particular Church should have no more Members than may conveniently Meet together in the same place , nor than the same . Church-Officers can comfortably ●e form a Pastoral Charge to : And that the Members of the same Church may perform the Mutual Duties of Church-Members one to another .

Those particular Churches we Read of in the New Testament , were such as lived in the same City , Town or Village , and so could con●… eniently Meet , and have Personal Communi●… one with another .

Churches , either so Numerous , and so Di●…ant one Member from another , as neither ●… an the Minister Inspect , Watch over , and O●… ersee them all ; or their Habitations so Re●… ote , as not to Meet frequently for Personal ●… ommunion , we have no Account of in Holy ●… cripture .

2. Note here , That the Members of a par●… cular Church , are ingaged by Covenant to ●… od , and one to another ; to God , as the A●… ostle hints , 1 Cor . 8.5 . They first gave ●… emselves up to the Lord ; as in our Baptism , ●… e Seal to the Covenant of Grace ; so , when 〈…〉 Riper Years , we are Admitted to the Lord's ●… upper ; we Seal to , and Renew our Baptismal engagements to be the Lord's for ever .

And then , one with another , to walk toge●… er in all God's Ordinances , and in the Mu●… al Performance of the Duty of Church-Mem●… rs one to another , as is hinted , 2 Cor . 8.5 . — And then to us , by the Will of God , to 〈…〉 Governed according to Gospel Order .

And it s to be observed , that all Particular ●… hurches have an Intrinsick Power , of first ●… rming , and then Governing themselves ac●… rding to the Laws of Christ .

Now , particular Churches , as they are ●… rts and Members of the Universal Catholick ●… litant Church on Earth , so they are more or less Pure , according to the Time in whic●… they Live , and the Place where they are : for 〈…〉 the Church being in the World , and the Wor●… being an Unclean World , and there bein●… sad Remains of Ignorance and Corruption i●… the very best of God's Children , even Min●…sters and Church-Rulers being subject to Ignorance , Pride , and many Corruptions as we as others , it unavoidably follows , that th●… Church is still in a state of great Imperfection 〈…〉 nay , sometimes bad Men , that have no Vit●… Union with Christ , nor are Members of th●… Church Invisible , yet Intrude themselves int●… the Visible Church for base ends , and great●… hinder its Reformation : thus it happens , th●… there is so great a difference in the Purit●… and Reformation of Particular Churches , som●… being much more pure and better Reforme●… then others .

Now , as it is in a Town or City , some 〈…〉 the Inhabitants are Sound and Healthful , others are labouring under some Indispositi●… yet not so great as to hinder Business , wh●… others are in a dying condition , gasping 〈…〉 Breath . So it is in the Visible Church , fo●… Particular Churches be much more Sound a●… Pure , keeping closer to the Rules of the G●…pel , both in Holy and Sound Doctrin , and 〈…〉 Evangelical Discipline .

And yet in these purer and best Reforme Churches , there is , and will be , in this Worl●… something amiss , as may be seen in the Pure●… ●… d best Churches that ever were , or , I be●… ve will be , those Recorded in the New ●… stament , and planted by the Apostles them●… ves .

That Famous Church of Corinth , that did 〈…〉 abound in Spiritual Gifts , that , when they ●… me together , there was not room for to Ex●… cise them , 1 Cor . 14.26 . One had a Psalm , ●… nother had a Doctrin , another the Gift of speak●… g in an unknown Tongue , another the gift of In●… rpreting Tongues , another a Revelation , &c. ●… he Members of this Church were filled with ●… he Spirit in an extraordinary way ; yet there ●… as much amiss in this Church , there was ●… ividing and making Parties , and setting up ●… ne Minister above another , 1 Cor . 1.12 . One was for Paul , another for Apollos , and others ●… or Cephas , &c. and this was the occasion of ●… reat Contentions . There was also some in ●… his Church who deny'd the Resurrection from the Dead , 1 Cor . 15.12 . And great disorders there was among them in their approaches to the Lords Table , Chap. 2.

And so likewise in all the other famous Churches , as Ephesus , Galatia , Smyrna , Pergamos , &c. and others were yet much more corrupt , as Sardis , Laodicea , Rev. 3.1 , 2 , 3. and 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20. And from hence I would draw an Inference or two .

1. It is hence Evident that there may be very much amiss in a Particular Church , and yet it may be a Church of Christ . And here I shall give the words of that Learned Fre●… Protestant , Lord Plessis Mornai , There ar●… saith he , in his Treatise of the Churc●… Page 31. Erring Churches , which Err eith●… Heretically , or Scismatically , either in Fai●… or in Charity , against the Right Rule 〈…〉 Christ ; and yet , for all this , both the o●… and the other are truly Churches , i.e. A●…semblies , that make Profession of Chri●… but they are not Pure Churches , not servi●… God in Purity ; even as a Lying Person 〈…〉 truly a Man , tho' not a true Man ; or 〈…〉 Person under some Disease , is a Man , th●… not a Sound and Healthful Man . We 〈…〉 not presently conclude that Churches are n●… Churches , because there is much amiss in them

2. That in Seperating from any Churc●… it must not be with the breach of Charity 〈…〉 from the Sin and Corruptions of any Churc●… we may , nay , we must Seperate : We m●… have no fellowship with the unfruitful works t●… darkness . But yet , we are not hastily and m●…ly to Unchurch a People for some remaini●… Corruptions amongst them ; but still to mai●…tain the Unity of the Spirit , in the Bonds 〈…〉 Peace , and to depart from none further the●… they depart from Christ ; but still to ho●… Communion with them in all lawful things .

Object . But suppose a Church make 〈…〉 things the Terms of her Communion , as are either really Sinful , or doubtful ; And so Impose them on me , that , if I conform not t● them , I am Suspended , Excommunicated , or 〈…〉 off from the Communion of that Church .

Answ . In this case I do not wilfully or ●… lingly Seperate my self from them ; I ●… uld gladly yet hold Communion with ●… m , in all lawful things , I would con●… m and comply so far as God's Word , ●… d my own Conscience will allow me : But 〈…〉 they make Laws and Canons , that , unless I ●… me up to such an height of conformity ●… ich God's Word and my Conscience con●… mns as Sinful , I am depriv'd , Suspended , ●… communicated , and thereby deny'd Com●… nion , it is my Duty to Worship God else●… ere ; nor am I any Schismatick , nor guilty 〈…〉 any Schism , or breach of Charity , for ●… aching , if I am a Minister , or joyning for ●… istian Communion , if I am a Private Chri●… n , to another Congregation , where these ●… ngs are not Impos'd upon me . Mark what 〈…〉 Apostle saith , Rom. 16.17 . Mark them 〈…〉 cause Divisions and Offences , contrary to the ●… ctrin that ye have learned . So that those ●… ch make unwarrantable Terms of Church ●… mmunion , that impose things as necessary 〈…〉 Church Unity , that God's Word disallows , 〈…〉 thrust me out for not complying ; these 〈…〉 the true cause of the Schism . But a Learn●… Gentleman , a Justice of the Peace , and one 〈…〉 liv'd and dy'd in the Communion of the ●… rch of England , Mr. Polehill of Burwash , 〈…〉 , in a Discourse of Schism , in Print , so Learnedly cleared the Protestant Disse●… from being guilty of this Sin , that I need 〈…〉 no more but desire the Reader to Read 〈…〉 small Treatise , if he want further satisfa●… in this matter : See all the VII . Chapte●… this Book .

3. Altho' I am thus , by unwarran●… Terms of Communion Imposed upon 〈…〉 forced to joyn with another Congrega●… yet , as I dare not Unchurch that Church 〈…〉 whence I am driven , so I dare not cal●… Church , to which I am now United , a●… distinct or several Church , any otherwise 〈…〉 as it is a part or Member of the Uni●… or Catholick Church ; and , upon this gr●… I am yet willing to hold Communion w●… other Churches , tho' less Pure , and mor●… reform'd , provided they yet hold the fo●…tion , so far as I can do it without o●… and consenting to their Corruptions .

II . Next let us consider a Particular C●… in it 's Parts .

Now every Particular Church may b●… ●…sider'd as consisting of two Parts , wh●… Scripture thus represents , Acts 20 . 28. 〈…〉 Ministers are called {αβγδ} , Bishops , ●…dred Overseers in our Translation 〈…〉 the rest of the Church , as distinguish 〈…〉 it 's Officers , are call'd {αβγδ} , a Fa●… little Flock ; so here are the two p●… Parts of the Church .

1. The Overseers , the Ministers , 〈…〉〈…〉 Rulers of this Flock , or Church of God .

2. The Flock , as distinct from its Officers , ●… ich are to be Overseen , Fed , Ruled , and ●… vern'd according to God's Word .

1. I begin with the first , viz. The Churches ●… ficers , and these are such as God hath Law●… y called , and whose Ministry he useth in 〈…〉 gathering and governing of the Church , 〈…〉 these are either , 1. Extraordinary , or 〈…〉 Ordinary .

1. Extraordinary Ministers are such whom ●… d raised up , upon extraordinary occasions , ●… er to establish a new Government in the ●… urch , or to repair the Old Government , ●… en it was decay'd : And such an Extraordi●… y Ministers have always Extraordinary 〈…〉 , and Extraordinary Gifts ; such as Pro●… cy , Tongues , and Miracles ; such were the ●… phets in the Old Testament , who were ●…ed up , and immediatly sent of God ; and 〈…〉 was John the Baptist , Jesus Christ , and the ●… stles , in the New Testament .

Now these Extraordinary Ministers , to●… her with Extraordinary Gifts , continu'd so ●… g as it pleased God , and the Churches ne●… ty requir'd them , and is now wholly ●… sed ; for none are now thus Extraordina●… called , nor Miraclously Gifted , for the ●… rk of the Ministry .

〈…〉 . Ordinary Ministers are such who have ●… inary Gifts , and an Ordinary Calling , are ●… e continued in the Church to the end of 〈…〉 World .

And of these Ordinary Church-Off●… there are Two sorts .

1. A lower and Inferior sort of Off●… whose proper Work and Business is to 〈…〉 the Alms and Collections , or other Pro●… made by the Church for the Poor ; and 〈…〉 distribute them to the Poor .

And , tho' this be an Inferior Office to 〈…〉 Tables , as the Apostle terms it , Acts 6.2 . 〈…〉 the Power of Ordaining these doth not 〈…〉 the People ; they , indeed , make choice of 〈…〉 Persons , Acts 6.3 , 4 , 5. but the Apostle●…dained them by Fasting , Prayer , and Imp●…on of hands , v. 6.

2. A higher , and more noble Order 〈…〉 Church-Officers , whose work principally 〈…〉 in Prayer , and the Ministry of the Wo●… the Apostle tells us , v. 4.

Now these Church-Officers are call'd {αβγδ} , Bishops or Overseers , Acts 20.28 . 〈…〉 {αβγδ} , Presbyters or Elders , v. 17. ●… Eph. 4.11 . Pastors and Teachers , two N●… as is most probable for one and the same O●… Now , in discribing these Church-Office 〈…〉 shall answer these five Questions .

I. Whether Scripture Bishops , Presbyt●… Elders , and Pastors , are several distinct Of●… in the Church , or one and the same ?

II . Whether now , under the Gospel 〈…〉 Ministry be a standing Ordinance , and●…sters set apart , from all others , for the 〈…〉

III . Whether a meer Layman , that has ●… fts , and is desir'd to Exercise them , may ●… rdinarily Preach , and Administer the Sacra●… ents ?

IV . Whether Ordination of Persons , to ●… inister in the Church , be to be perform'd 〈…〉 Fasting , Prayer , and Imposition of hands , 〈…〉 not ?

V. Where this Ordaining Power is lodg'd , 〈…〉 Jesus Christ , whether in a Diocesan Bishop , 〈…〉 in the Elders , Presbyters , all Pastors of the ●… urch , or in the Body of the People , i.e. 〈…〉 the graver Members of a Particular ●… hurch ?

I. Whether Scripture Bishops , Presbyters , or ●… ders , are several distinct Officers in the ●… urch , or several Names for one and the ●… e kind of Church-Officers ?

Now that a Bishop , and Presbyter or Elder , 〈…〉 the New Testament , are but several Names 〈…〉 one and the same Church-Officer , is abun●… ntly Evident ,

1. From Acts 20.17 . St. Paul sent to ●… hesus for {αβγδ} , the Elders , or Pres●… ers , for the Word signifieth both ; these ●… ere the same 28. are call'd {αβγδ} , Bi●… ps . Take heed to your selves , and to the Flock ●… er which the Holy Ghost hath made you {αβγδ} , Bishops , or Overseers , those he terms ●… ders , v. 17. he calls Bishops , v. 28.

2. 't is clear from Phil . 1.1 . Paul and Ti●… theus , the Servants of Jesus Christ , to all the Saints in Christ Jesus , which are at Philip●… with the Bishops and Deacons : here are in 〈…〉 Church but two sorts of Church-Officers , 〈…〉 Bishops and Deacons ; Deacons were to 〈…〉 after the Poor , so that by Bishops must 〈…〉 be meant the same Church-Officers as 〈…〉 Acts 28.17 . called Elders . Therefore , in 〈…〉 Syriac Version , it s rendr'd Presbyters and ●…nisters ; the Word Bishop and Presbyter 〈…〉 Promiscuously used for one and the 〈…〉 Church-Officer . Again , in 1 Tim . 3 1 . 〈…〉 Apostle speaks of the Office of a Bishop , 〈…〉 makes no mention of any other Church-Of●… till he comes to that of a Deacon , v. 12. 〈…〉 makes it evident the Apostle knew of●…ther then to be Ordain'd in the Church ; 〈…〉 by Bishops must needs be the same Of●… meant as are before called Presbyters or ●…ders .

3. This is also evident from the Fa●… and Learned Protestant Divines , Mr. C●… gathers many Testimonies from Antiqui●… prove a Bishop and a Presbyter all one ; 〈…〉 Corbets Remains , Page 111. and Learned ●…lanus tells us Presbyters Polan . Sigtag . lib . 7. cap . 11. Presbyteri 〈…〉 copi sunt jure divino pares , i.e. Administrant in●…cium , eodem modo et codem Autoritate . and Bishops are 〈…〉 by Divine Right , both Ministring the 〈…〉 ●… ice in the same manner , and by vertue of 〈…〉 same Authority . Of the same Mind are ●… st of our English Protestant Divines .

Quest . 2. Whether now , under the Gospel , the ●… inistry be a standing Ordinance , and Ministers 〈…〉 apart , from all others , for Gospel Work .

Answer this Affirmitively , and prove it 〈…〉 these Arguments .

Arg. 1. The Ministry's a standing Ordi●… ce ; for , from the Beginning of the World ●… d had a certain Order of Men set apart 〈…〉 the Ministry . Under the Law , every one ●… ght not be a Priest , the Priesthood belonged 〈…〉 the First-born , Gen. 25.31 . Which was af●… wards conferr'd upon the Levites , Numb . ●… 5 , 16 , 17. The Priesthood rested in the 〈…〉 be of Levi , they were Ordained and set ●… rt by God to Serve in the Tabernacle : thus ●… ested till the coming of Christ ; and those 〈…〉 Invaded it were severely punish'd by ●… d ; a dreadful Instance we have in Numb . ●… 2. They rose up before Moses , with certain of 〈…〉 children of Israel , 250 Princes of the Assem●… famous in the Congregation , Men of Re●… n , Vers . 3. And they gathered themselves ●… ther against Moses and against Aaron , and 〈…〉 unto them , Ye take too much upon you , see●… all the Congregation are holy , every one of 〈…〉 , the Lord is amongst them : Wherefore then ●… e up your selves above the Congregation of 〈…〉 Lord . Now observe , that the Priesthood 〈…〉 , by God's own Appointment , fixt in Aaron and his Sons ; now , this they 〈…〉 on to be Pride and Usurpation in Mos●… Aaron ; they crying out , they take too 〈…〉 upon them ; the People are all holy , every 〈…〉 them , i.e. The whole Congregation are all●…dom of Priests ; and have as much Rig●… Minister in the Priests Office as Aaron a●… Sons have : So the Controversie was , whe●… Aaron and his Sons only were to be Pries●… whether all the Congregation had not as 〈…〉 Right to it as they : But , behold how 〈…〉 decides this Controversie ; Moses orders 〈…〉 Aaron and all his Sons , on the one part , and ●…rah and all his Company on their Part , to 〈…〉 each one his Censer , and appear before 〈…〉 Lord , that God might shew who he 〈…〉 Chosen , Vers . 5 , 6 , 7 , 9 , 10 , 16 , 17 , 18 〈…〉 But behold the Dreadful Judgment of G●… all these that were not content to Serve 〈…〉 in their Place , but would Invade the O●… of the Priests ; the Earth Opens and Suc●… them up , Vers . 31 : 32. together with all 〈…〉 Company , Wives , Children , Goods , 〈…〉 that pertained to them , see Vers . 33 , 〈…〉 Terrible Example upon the Invaders 〈…〉 Ministry .

And tho' when Christ came he took the Priesthood of Aaron ; yet the Gospel●…stry was set up in the Room of it , to co●… to the end of the World . Christ Twelve Apostles ; these , together with 〈…〉 Disciples , he sent forth to Preach , Luke 〈…〉 ●… nd these , by Fasting , Prayer , and Imposition 〈…〉 Hands , Ordained , and sent forth others , as 〈…〉 evident , Acts 1.24 , 25. Acts 6.6 . Acts 〈…〉 4.23 . And thus it was all along in the ●… rimitive Church , and was never Controvert●… d till in the last Age , by those Furious Inno●… aters in Germany , Servetus , Knipperdoling , ●… on of Leiden ; together with the Socinian ●… est : from whence those in England , that ●… e for Denying , or Invading the Ministry , ●… ve borrowed all their Arguments .

Arg. II . That Ordinance , to which many ●… recious Promises are made , must certainly ●… ontinue until those Promises are fulfilled ; but ●… ere are many Promises to Ministers , and the Ministry of the Gospel ; And these Promises ●… e not , nor will not be all fulfilled till the end 〈…〉 the World ; therefore a Gospel Ministry ●… ust so long continue .

God , long before Christ's Coming , Promised ●… e Gospel Church a Distinct Order of Men to 〈…〉 Ministers , Isa . 52.7 , 8. How beautiful upon ●… e Mountain are the feet of him that bringeth ●… od Tidings of Good , that publisheth Salvation . ●… at saith unto Zion , thy God Reigneth . Thy ●… atchmen shall lift up their voice , &c.

Now , that something more is here design●… then the Deliverance from Babylon , is evi●… t ; and that it is a Promise of a Gospel ●… istry is clear from Rom. 10.14 , 15 , 16 , 17.

Again , in Isa . 62.7 . I have set Watchm●… upon thy Walls , O Jerusalem , which shall ne●… bold their peace day nor night , &c. So Isa . 3● 20 , 21. and Jer . 3.15 . I will give you●…stors after my own heart , Jer . 23.4 . I will 〈…〉 up Shepherds over them . Now , these , and●…ny more , that might be Quoted , are Prom●… of a Gospel Ministry , as most , if not all , Ort●…dox Divines Interpret them .

Again , Mat . 28.20 . Go Preach and Ba●… ( saith our Lord Christ ) and lo I am with y●… to the end of the World .

Arg. III . If the Ministry was appointed 〈…〉 Christ , for the Perfecting the Saints , the●… must continue till the Saints are Perfected a●… that will not be till all Saints are gather'd 〈…〉 Heaven ; but the former is true , Ephes . 4. 〈…〉 therefore the latter .

Arg. IV . If Jesus Christ in the Gospe● 〈…〉 made Provision for a Gospel Ministry , the 〈…〉 Gospel Ministry is God's Ordinance . But 〈…〉 former is true , Gal. 6.6 . Let him th●… Taught in the Word , communicate to him 〈…〉 Taught him , in all good things , 1 Cor . 9 . 〈…〉 The Lord hath ordained , that those who 〈…〉 the Gospel should live of the Gospel .

Arg. V. If the Gospel call the Minist●… Office , it certainly is an Office ; but the 〈…〉 doth call the Ministry an Office , and M●… the Officers of Jesus Christ , 1 Tim . 3 . 1. 〈…〉 Man desire the Office of a Bishop , he desires 〈…〉 work .

Quest . III . Whether a meer Lay-man , or Private Christian , who has Parts and Gifts , and is desired by any Church , or Number of Christians , to Exercise them ; may ordinarily Preach , and Administer the Sacraments ?

But here , to remove Mistak s this Question doth not concern ,

1. Such , who are bred up , and designed for the Ministry , and Preach sometimes before Ordination , ad probandam facultatem .

2. Nor what may be done where no Ministry may be had .

3. Nor what Persons Extraordinarily called , as the Prophets and Apostles were , may do .

4. Nor what Private Christians may , and ought to do in their Families .

5. Nor whether a Company of Christians may not , out of the time of Publick Worship , on the Lord's Day , or other Days , meet together to Pray , Sing Psalms , and Repeat Sermons , and tell their Experiences one to another .

All these things are granted to be the plain Duty of Christians .

But , the Question is , Whether it be lawful or Private Christians , how well soever Gifted ( tho' they are desired ) to Exercise those Gifts in a Ministerial Way , to take a Text , ●… aise Observations , Preach , and Administer the ●… araments in Publick Church Assemblies ?

To this Question , the Answer is , That it i●… Sinful and Unlawful for any Private Christian , except as before Allowed , how well soeve●… Gifted , tho' desired , in any Well Ordere●… Church , for to take upon him the Preachin●… of the Word , and Administring the Sacr●…ments .

This I Prove by the following Arguments 〈…〉

Arg. 1. Such who undertake to Administe●… any Gospel Ordinance , without Precept , P●…mise , or Example in God's Word , Sinneth in 〈…〉 doing : But , for a meer Private Christi●… ( except as before excepted ) to Administ●… any Gospel Ordinance , Peculiar to the Ministr●… he doth it without Promise , Precept , or Allo●… Example in all God's Word ; therefore he 〈…〉 greatly in so doing .

Now there is nothing more plain in 〈…〉 New Testament , then this , viz. That Gosp●… Precepts require , and Gospel Presidents 〈…〉 forth , That all those that Preach the Gos●… should not only have Grace and Parts , and 〈…〉 desired to Exercise them , but that they 〈…〉 Solemnly set apart for the Work , as is e●… from Tit . 1 , 5. For this cause left I thee in Cr●… that thou shouldest set in order those things that 〈…〉 wanting , and Ordain them Elders in every City 〈…〉 I had appointed thee .

By Elders , here is not meant Gifted Bret●… simply , but Bishops and Presbyters , as Vers . 6 , 〈…〉 8 , 9 , 10 , 11. and these must be Ordained 〈…〉 I shall shew anon .

Another Command is , 1 Tim . 5.22 . Lay on hands suddenly on no Man . q . d . Ordain Ministers to Administer Gospel Ordinances , but do it with great Deliberation ; have a care thou dost not Ordain unmeet Persons to that Office . This is plain from the Context , v. 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21.

Another Precept is in Acts 13.2 , 3. And as they ministred to the Lord , and fasted , the Holy Ghost said , Separate me Barnabas and Saul , for the work whereunto I have appointed them : And when they had Fasted and Prayed , and laid their hands on them , they sent them away .

Here 't is very observable , that tho' Paul and Barnabas were Extraordinarily called to the Ministry , and had Miraculous Gifts ; yet God ●… ommands them to be solemnly set apart for ●… he Work , by Fasting , Prayer , and Imposition of Hands . Thus Scripture Precepts require such ●… s Preach , to be Solemnly set apart .

So , in like manner , if we eye Gospel Exam●… les , we find , that such as were sent out to Preach , were thus Solemnly set apart , and none ●… ent out without it .

For , the Apostles themselves had , besides ●… itness for the Work , a Commission from ●… esus Christ , Mat . 28.20 , 21. and , in Acts 6. ●… ou have Men full of the Holy Ghost ; yet ●… ey must be Solemnly set apart by Ordination . This was the Order in all Churches , none were ●… nt out till Solemnly set Apart , Acts 20.17 , ●… 8. 1 Tim . 5.17 .

Arg. 2. For any to take upon him an Act of Office , being no Officer , is Sinful ; but for Gifted Brethren to take on them to Preach , &c. is an Act of Office , therefore Sinful .

Now Preaching the Gospel is an Act of Office , proper to Ministers , as is clear fro●… 1 Tim . 5.17 . Tit . 1.5 , 9. Acts 20.17 , 28. 1 Cor . 4.1 . 1 Tim . 2.7 . 2 Tim . 2.11 . Nor when a Private Person shall do an Act o●… Office , it is Sinful , even in Civil Affairs : Suppose a Private Person shall take upon hi●… to do the Office of a Constable , Recorder , M●…jor , Justice of the Peace or Judge ; How Cr●…minal would this be ? And is it not much more so in Religion .

Now Preaching the Gospel is the Princip●… and chief Part of a Ministers Office ; the very first thing in the Commission , Mat . 28 . 20. 〈…〉 Paul lookt on Preaching to be his great Work , 1 Cor . 1.17 . 2 Tim . 4.2 . Preach the Word , 〈…〉 instant in Season and out of Season .

Arg. 3. If God was angry , in the time 〈…〉 the Law , with those who did usurp the Pri●… Office ; then God , being the same for ever , 〈…〉 will be angry , in the days of the Gospel , w●… those who usurp the Ministers Office .

But God was angry with such in the time 〈…〉 the Law , &c.

Ergo , he will be angry with such as , in 〈…〉 days of the Gospel , usurp the Minister Off●…

The Major is clear from Heb . 13.8 . God ●… s Immutable , the same yesterday , to day , and for ever .

The Minor is prov'd from ,

1. The Example of Uzzah , 2 Sam . 6.6 , 7 , 8. He dy'd for meddling with the Ark , which none might do but the Priests only , as is evident , Num . 4.16 . Uzzah's intention was good ; the Oxen stumbled , he lays hold on the Ark to prevent its falling , but he had better have let it alone ; the Lord smites him dead on the Place for touching it . Good Intentions can never justify Irregular Actions : O that such who thrust themselves into the Ministry , would remember Uzzah ; Are your intentions and aims good , so was his , but God smote him for it .

2. 't is clear from the Example of King Uzziah , 2 Chron . 26.16 , and 20. He pre●… um'd to burn Incense in the Temple , which alone belong'd to the Priests , and the Lord smote him with a Leprocy .

3. But especially this is clear from the Ex●… mples of God's very remarkable Judgment on Korah , Dathan , and Abiram , Num . 16.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , and 39. these Men thrust themselves ●… nto the Priests Office , and would offer Incense ●… hemselves ; And what was their Pretence ? Why , vers . 3. Ye take too much upon you , seeing all the Congregation is holy , every one of them , &c. therefore they may offer Sacrifice , Preach and Pray as well as you : And is not this the very Controversy at this day , all may Preac●… any that have Gifts may Preach .

But oh that such would remember the en●… of those Men , whose design was to level bo●… Majestry and Ministry , by crying down M●… and Aaron , the Lord shew'd a dreadful Judgment on them ; the very Controversy 〈…〉 the same then as now , Korah and his part●… said all might offer Incense , all were holy : Our Brethren now say the same , every o●… who hath Parts may Preach , &c.

Oh let the Lord himself decide this C●…troversy between us . And 't is here done 〈…〉 such an awful manner , that might make the bold Invaders tremble .

Arg. 4. If none may Preach but such 〈…〉 are sent , then every gifted Person may 〈…〉 Preach . But none may Preach but such 〈…〉 are sent , Ergo , &c. This is prov'd Rom. 〈…〉15 . How shall they Preach except they be se●… All that Preach Authoritatively from Ch●… must be sent Immediatly from God or Chris●… and then they much prove their sending 〈…〉 Miracles ; or else mediatly by Men , i.e. 〈…〉 such whom Christ hath appointed to seper●… set apart , and ordain them to this Work .

Now , without such sending , how can th●… Preach ? i . e . they cannot do it duly , prof●…bly , and by Authority from Christ ; for otherwise there were , and still are , some 〈…〉 run before they are sent , Jer . 23 1. I h●… not sent these Prophets , yet they run , &c.

Obj. Gifting is sending .

Answ . I deny it , Gifts are one thing , and ●… nding another ; many Thousands are Gifted ●… at are not sent to Preach ; Paul and Barna●… had singular Gifts , yet they must be Or●… in'd , Acts 13.1 , 2 , 3 , in Mat . 10.1 . Christ ●… ifts the Apostles , but , besides this , they must 〈…〉 sent , therefore , vers . 5. Christ sends them , 〈…〉 .

Arg. 5. If all that have Gifts may Preach , ●… en all that have Gifts may Baptize , for none ●… ay Preach that may not Baptize ; the Com●… ssion is to do both , Mat . 28.19 . Go Preach ●… d Baptize . To Preach is the greater Work , 〈…〉 Baptize the lesser Work ; now he that may 〈…〉 the greater , may undoubtedly do the Jer , 1 Cor . 1.17 . Christ sent me not to Bap●… , but to Preach , &c. i.e. Comparatively , ●… t so much to Baptize as to Preach .

If you have no Commission to Baptize , as 〈…〉 Layman hath , then have you none to ●… each , &c. but few Laymen pretend a Power 〈…〉 Baptize , &c.

Arg. 6. If none may Preach but such as 〈…〉 Ordain'd ; then every one who hath Gifts ●… y not Preach .

But none are to Preach but such as are Or●… n'd , as is clear , Acts 13.3 . Acts 15.22 . 〈…〉 14.23 . but more of this by and by .

Arg. 7. That which springs from Pride , ●… f-conceitedness within us , or from Hereti●… and Schismatical disturbers of the Church without us , cannot be of God ; for Q●… causa , talis effectus , as is the Cause , such is 〈…〉 Effect .

Now that one Man invades anothers Pl●… and Office , is from Pride , the thing pro●… it self ; suppose I should intrude into the King Privy Council , or the Judges Seat , or 〈…〉 Place of a Constable , or Justice of the Pe●… it would be evident that Pride was the Ro●… &c.

Again , this Opinion , That all , that 〈…〉 Gifts , may Preach , was first invented , bro●…ed , and set on foot by Socinians , Armi●… Quake●s , Antipedobaptists , and such like , 〈…〉 the last Age , in Germany and elsewhere , th●…fore a Sinful and dangerous Practice , & 〈…〉 Now that this Opinion had such an Orig●… is evident from their own Writings , as 〈…〉 the Reformed Divines of Germany , that 〈…〉 the History of that time , &c.

Arg. 8. That which is contrary to al●… Reformed Churches , Principles and Pract●… in every Age and Place in the whole W●… must be very Sinful , but this Practice of 〈…〉 men Preaching , is so contrary , Ergo , &c.

Read you all the Ancient Fathers , L●… Divines , they all condemn this Practice ; 〈…〉 all the Canons , Decrees of Councils : 〈…〉 Foreign and Domestick Divines , s●… Calvin , Luther , Occulam Padius , Bucer , C●…nitius , Pool , Hammond , Perkins , Burgess , wolds , Scudder , and a Thousand more ; 〈…〉 ●… p all Confessions of Famous and Reformed Churches of Piedmount , France , Geneva , Hel●… aetia , Scotland , England , &c. All , as out of one Mouth , condemn these Lay-Preachers as not sent of God , &c.

Objections Answered .

Error hath always something to say for it self ; so have our mistaken Brethren : They Plead ,

Object . I. The Lord commends Abraham for Teaching his Family , Gen. 18.19 . therefore Private Persons may be Preachers

Answ . 't is a non sequitur , that , because Abraham taught his Family , therefore Laymen may Preach : 't is the Duty of every Christian that hath a Family to instruct them in the fear of God ; but it follows not that therefore they may Preach : The one is a Private Christians Work , the other an Act of Office , nay , let it be granted Abraham Preached Publickly , yet it helps not the Objectors , for Abraham was a Prophet , Gen. 20.7 .

Object . II . Eldad and Medad Prophecy and Moses wishes all the Lords People were Prophets , Num . 11.25 . and 30. Therefore we may Preach .

Answ . You Err , not knowing the Scripture , these Seventy Elders were Extraordinarily Called , and Miraclously Gifted , so are not you .

Again , This was only a Spirit of Government ; the Lord hereby convinces the Whole Congregation of Israel , that he had Chose these to Assist Moses in the Government ▪ What a Wild and Far-fetcht Inference is it to conclude , that because God chose 70 Elder to Assist Moses in the Government , therefore any that have Gifts may Preach .

Object . III . 't is said , 2 Chron . 17.7 , 8 , 9 Compared with 2 Chron . 19.6 , 7 , 8. That Jehosaphat and Hezekiah sent Judges and Pri●… to Teach the People . Therefore such as are out 〈…〉 Office may Preach .

Answ . A pretty sort of Logick ; That because Judges , or others , Employed by the King , in Reforming the Disorders of a Kingdom , go from City to City , Teaching and Instructing the People in the Nature of the Law , therefore Gifted Men out of Office may Preach . D● not our Kings give Instruction to the Judges ? And do not the Judges at every As●●●● give a Charge to all present , especially Magistrates ? And is not Religion oft the Subject they give in Charge ? Would not this be wild for one to Argue ; I may Preach , because the Judge speaks of Religion ? Moreover , ●e● it be consider'd , that the Civil Laws , whereby the Jews Common wealth was Govern'd , was the Holy Scripture ; So that it was impossible to Reform the Common wealth , but the●… 〈◇〉 open the Nature of the Divine Law : and yet we have no assurance that this was done otherwise , then by their Commanding the Priests and Levites , that went with them , to do their Duties , in Preaching and Expounding the ●… riptures .

Object . IV . Elisha was called from the Plow , 〈…〉 King . 19.19 . and Amos from the Heards ; 〈…〉 may we , &c.

Answ . These , as they were Miraculously ●… alled , so they were Miraculously Qualify'd ; ●… d when Amos was forbid to Preach , he does ●… t Plead his Gifts , but his Commission , Amos . ●… 15.

Object . V. The Apostles were mean Men , ne●… br●d Scholars , &c. They Preached , so may 〈…〉 .

Answ . Jesus Miraculously fitted them with ●… fts ; even the Gift of Miracles ; and then ●… ve them a Commission : Hath he done so by ●… u ? Prove it , and we will heartily own you , ●… at . 10.1.5 .

Object . VI . The Scribes and Pharisees were 〈…〉 Persons in Office , yet they Taught , so may 〈…〉

Answ . I deny it : They were either Priests ●… d Levites , as John 1.19 , 24. or else Prophets ; ●… d so of any Tribe .

Object . VII . Stephen being a Deacon , and Pastor in Office , yet Preached , so may we .

Answ . Stephen was an Ordained Church●… icer , &c. And what he said was no Ser●… n ; but , being accused of Blasphemy , he ●… kes an Apology for himself ; as the Martyrs 〈…〉 . This Proves nothing .

Object . VIII . Acts 8.4 . They that were scatered abroad , went every where Preaching t●… Word ; Ergo , we Lay-men may Preach .

Answ . In all Persecutions , the Rage of th●… Enemy falls first and foulest on the Ministry there were now Multitudes of Preachers bredge●sides the Apostles ; we connot suppose the 〈…〉 and other Ordained Ministers , should conti●… Peaceably in Jerusalem , when all the Priva●… Christians were Banish'd : nay , To what purpose should the Apostles stay in Jerusalem , wh●… the Multitude of Private Christians were driven thence ; it should rather seem they wer●… Ministers , and such as were set apart to Prea●… the Gospel , that were driven away , and th●… Preached every where : However , if any o●… them were not Officers before , they we●… made so then ; for the hand of the Lord 〈…〉 upon them , Acts 11.21 . i . e . They were E●…traordinarily called , and Inabled to Work M●…racles to confirm them , as this Phrase I●…ports , Ezek . 3.14 . 2 Kings 3.15 .

Object . IX . Apolos Taught , and knew 〈…〉 the Baptism of John , &c. Acts 18.24 , 25.

Answ . Apollos was a Minister , 1 Cor . 3 Who is Paul , or who is Apollos but Ministers ? He was an Eloquent Man , mighty in the S●…ptures , excellently qualified by God in an●…traordinary way .

Object . X. 't is said , 1 Cor . 14.31 . 〈…〉 may all Prophecy one by one ; So may w●…

Answ . They are deceived by the Word all ] here : Who are the [ all ] here ?

Not All the Saints : for Women and Children are Saints , yet they may not Prophecy : but , by [ all ] here is meant , all the Prophets : for , in that Famous Church of Corinth , there were many Prophets , and some disorder in the Exercise of their Gifts ; the Apostle here directs them to Order , to Prophecy not together , but one after another , as Vers . 29. Now , What Logick is this , because 10 , 20 , or more Ministers , or Prophets in a Church may Prohecy and Preach , one after another ; therefore Lay-men may Preach , &c.

Object . XI . Heb . 5.11 . When for the time ye ought to Teach others , &c.

Answ . There is a kind of Teaching , the the Duty of every Christian ; as Parents , Masters ; and one Christian another ; 't is such , and not Ministerial Teaching the Apostle speaks of .

Object . XII . Christians are a Royal Priesthood , Kings and Priests , therefore they may Preach .

1. This is spoke of all Christian Saints , Men , Women and Children ; but all such may not Preach .

2. Every Christian is a King ; May he then Invade the Throne ? The meaning is , every Child of God is brought nigh to God , to offer the Sacrifices of Prayer , Praise , &c. to God . What 's this to the purpose .

All the rest of their Objections are of as like force , prove nothing to the purpose ; I am weary with Answering them .

CHAP. IV . Whether Ordination of Persons to the Ministry is to be perform'd by Fasting , Prayer and Imposition of hands ? As also shewing where this Ordaining power is lodg'd by Jesus Christ whether in a Diocesan Bishop , the People , 〈…〉 in the hands of Presbyters ? Whether it ●e Lawful to hear Laymen Preach , &c.

Quest . IV . WHether Ordination of Persons to the Ministry be to be perform'd by Fasting , Prayer and Imposition of hands , or not ?

Answ . 't is necessary , in a Well-Order'd Gospel-Church , that all who are sent out to Preach the Gospel , be Ordain'd to that Work by Fasting , Prayer and Imposition of hands : And this I prove by these Arguments .

Arg. 1. Ordination by Fasting , Prayer and Imposition of hands is necessary , because all Scripture Examples of Ordination of any Persons to Divine Offices in the Church , were thus made , and none without it . None , saith Mr. Clark , is , or can be produced to be done without it ; we have Scripture Warrant for it , but none for the neglect of it . Num . 8. 10. Thou shalt bring the Levits before the Lord , ●… d the Children of Israel shall put their hands ●… n the Levites , &c. So Acts 6.6 . There ●… u have Seven Deacons that were to serve ●… ables , i.e. Administer to the Poor , an In●… rior Office in the Church , yet these must be ●… rdain'd by Fasting , Prayer and Imposition 〈…〉 hands . So Acts 13.3 . Paul and Barnabas , ●… ho were Extraordinary gifted and called , ●… od would yet have them Ordain'd by Fast●… g , Prayer and Imposition of hands : So Acts 4.23 . And a multitude of other Places .

Arg. 2. We have an express command for 〈…〉 1 Tim . 5.22 . Lay hands suddenly on no Man ; where the Negative includes the Affir●… ative i . e . lay hands on Meet Persons , and ●… ne else .

Now , as the Apostles Ordain'd Ministers , 〈…〉 must all Ministers be Ordain'd ; but the ●… postles Ordain'd by Fasting , Prayer and Im●… sition of hands , therefore all that are Or●… in'd to Preach the Gospel must be Ordain'd 〈…〉 the same manner .

Arg. 3. If it has been the constant Practice 〈…〉 the Church , all along from the Apostles ●… mes hitherto , to Ordain Ministers by ●… ayer , Fasting and Imposition of hands , then ●… ought to be continu'd in the Church . But 〈…〉 has been the Practice of the Church all a●… g therefore it ought to be continu'd .

Mr. Calvin in his Institutions , Lib . 4. Chap. 〈…〉 Sect . 1. after he had , in the closing Section of the last Chapter , shew'd how the Apost●… Ordain'd Elders in the Church , viz By fa●…ing , Prayer and Imposition of hands ; he te●… us , that the Primitive Churches , in their O●…der and Discipline , and Particularly in the making Ministers , kept Precisely to the Ap●…stles Rules in their whole frame of Chur●… Offices and Church-Government .

Quest . V. Where is this Ordaining Po●… lodg'd by Jesus Christ ? Whether in a Dioce●… Bishop , or in the Body of the Church , or in 〈…〉 Ministers of Christ ?

1. To be sure it is not lodg'd in a Dioces●… Bishop , for it was proved before that a D●…cesan Bishop , as such , is no where found 〈…〉 Scripture , for being but a Presbyter , can , b●… God's Word , claim no Superior Power abo●… other Presbyters , but what is given him 〈…〉 consent .

2. This Ordaining Power cannot lye in t●… People , for tho' the People have a power 〈…〉 Elect and chuse , as is Evident Acts 6.3 . i●… ye out Seven Men — whom we may appo●… but they have not the Ordaining Power , 〈…〉 5 , 6. And they chose Stephen , &c. Whom 〈…〉 set before the Apostles , and when they had Pr●… they laid their hands on them . Meer Elect●… to the Ministry doth not confer the Off●… Nil dat quod non habet .

If there be neither Precept , Promise or●…ample in all God's Word , of , or to any●…ple or Church that did Ordain their 〈…〉 Pastors ; then the People have no power so ●… o .

But there is neither Precept , Promise or Ex●… ple , therefore those Ordain'd by the People ●… ly , are no Ministers of Jesus Christ .

3. But this Ordaining Power lyeth wholly 〈…〉 the Presbyters and Officers of the Church : ●… ere is no Command , nor Promise , nor Ex●… ple to , or of any others in Scripture , that ●… er did Ordain . Officers in the Church have ●… ly Authority from Christ to Ordain others 〈…〉 the Ministry , as Scripture abounds with ●… xamples , Acts 6.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6. the People ●… uld not so much as Ordain the Deacons , and not the less , then not the greater , Acts 13. 〈…〉 Acts 14. This was the custom in every ●… urch , as this Scripture proves , and in every ●… ty , Tit . 1.5 .

And here let me add

Quest . VI . Whether it be Lawful to bear Lay●… n Preach ? You have heard they have no ●… uthority to Preach ; But may we hear them without Sin ?

How far it may be Lawful to hear them , ●… en we can possibly hear no Ministers , is now ●… ubtful , and I shall not determine .

But to chuse to hear them , when Ministers ●… y be heard , is a Sin , which I prove thus ,

't is certainly the Duty of every Serious ●… ristian to joyn himself a Member to some ●… rticular Church , and to sit down under the ●… stor of that Church as their Pastor , and constantly to hear him ; this is clear from t●… Scriptures compar'd together , Mat . 18 . 〈…〉 Act. 28.28 . We are to feed the Flock ; 〈…〉 must then know to what Flock or Fold 〈…〉 belong , Eph. 4.11 , 12. Heb . 13.7 , 17.

2. 't is Sin to hear such that we can 〈…〉 pray for a Blessing upon their Ministry ; 〈…〉 this we cannot do in Faith , for such , wh●… God never sent ; we can pray for nothing 〈…〉 what God has promised ; but God never p●…mised to Bless these Mens Preaching .

3. Nay , we are forbidden to hear the●… Jer . 23.16 . Thus saith the Lord , hearken n●… the word of the Prophets that Prophecy 〈…〉 you .

Object . These were false Prophets , — those , you speak against , speak the Truth .

Answ . Do not they say God sent th●… whereas God never sent them , nor gave th●… any Commission , see vers . 21. I never s●… them . So Jer . 27.14.15 . 't is cert●… saith Learned Chemnitius , that none are to heard in the Church which are not sent God .

4. Yet consider further , that if they S●… Preaching , as has been prov'd , then do 〈…〉 you , in hearing them incourage them in t●… Sin , and thereby make your selves parta●… of it ?

Would to God weak , well-meaning C●…stians , that have more Affections then J●…ment , would seriously lay these things to ●… rt .

CHAP. V . ●… wing the Duties of all the Members of the 〈…〉 Church , both Ministers and People , to God , 〈…〉 and One to Another .

WE have largely spoken of the Nature of the Ministry ; let us now consider the ●… ty of Ministers , both towards ●od , and to ●… e Flock , or Church over which they are pl●●… d .

I. Ministers are to be Skilful , or Well In●… ucted in the Mysteries of the Gospel , which 〈…〉 committed to their Trust , 1 Cor . 41.1 . he ●… st be one holding fast the faithful Word , 〈…〉 that is able , by Sound Doctrine , to Exhort 〈…〉 Convince Gainsayers , Tit . 1.9 . able to di●… e the Word aright , to give every one ●… od in his Season , 2 Tim . 2.15 . they must 〈…〉 well acquainted with the Scriptures , and ●… ll seen in the Great Doctrines of the Go●… , 2 Tim . 1.13 . 2 Tim . 2.2 .

II . Ministers are to Preach the Gospel ; this 〈…〉 a Ministers Great and Principle Work , ●… or . 1.17 . For Christ sent me not to Baptise , but 〈…〉 Preach the Gospel : i.e. Baptism was not his ●… ncipal Work , nor the main Business he 〈…〉 sent about ; for , that was to Preach but an Inferior and Subordinate Work , whic●… he did sometimes , 2 Tim . 4.1 , 2 , I 〈…〉 thee therefore before God , and the Lord 〈…〉 Christ , who shall Judge the quick and dead 〈…〉 appearing , and his Kingdom ; Preach the 〈…〉 be instant in season , and out of season , rep●… rebuke , exhort , with all long-suffering and●…ctrine .

III . Prayer is another part of a M●… Work , Isa . 62.6 , 7. I have set Watchm●… thy Walls , O Jerusalem , which shall neve●… their peace day nor night : Ye that make m●… of the Lord , keep not silence ; And give 〈…〉 res● till he make Jerusalem a praise in the 〈…〉 Acts 6.4 . But we will give our selves o●…ally to Pr●yer , and to the Ministry of the W●…

IV . To Catechise and Instruct the Ign●… in the Doctrin of Christ , to acquaint 〈…〉 with the Form of sound Words ; this 〈…〉 charges Timothy , To hold fast the Form of 〈…〉 words , or Scheme of Gospel Truth , 2 T●… 13. And in Ordaining others to the W●… the Ministry , he charges him , Chap. 2.2 〈…〉 commit these things to faithful Men , who 〈…〉 be able and willing to Teach others . 〈…〉 is a plain Command , not only to Pare●… Ministers , to Catechise Children in the f●…mentals of Religion , Prov. 22.6 . Trai●… Child in the way he should go : Heb . ( Ch●… to Catechise , Imitate , or Instruct .

V. Another part of a Minister's Wo●… to Administer both the Sacraments o●… ●… w Testament , Baptisme and Lord's Supper , ●… t . 28.20 . 1 Cor . 11.23 . ad finem .

VI . Another part of a Minister's Work is , 〈…〉 Rule and Discipline the Church according to ●… e Will of God . Ministers are Church ●ulers , ●… urch Governours ; and it s the Duty of the Church 〈…〉 honour and submit to them , Heb . 13.7 . ●… member them which have th● Rule ove● you , who ●… ve spoken to you the Word of God , whose ●aith ●… ow , considering the end o● their Conversation . ●… d , Vers . 17. Obey them that have the ●ule ●… r you , &c. The Key of Doctrine , and the ●… y of Discipline is committed to them , Mat . 〈…〉 .19 . And I will give unto thee the Keys of 〈…〉 Kingdom of Heaven , and whatsoever thou ●… lt bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven ; ●… d whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth shall be ●… sed in Heaven . This Text the Papists much ●… se , to prove Peter to have a Power over all 〈…〉 Apostles , and the Pope to be Peter's Succes●… ; so that according to them , the Pope's ●… wer of Forgiving Sin is pretended to be ●… rived from hence . But what is here given 〈…〉 Peter , is but given him in the Name of all ●… e Disciples , as appears from John 20.23 . As 〈…〉 the Binding and Loosing Power , some think 〈…〉 only a Power to the Apostles to constitute ●… nding Ordinances for the Church ; others 〈…〉 Power of Church-Discipline to all Pastors 〈…〉 the end of the World .

VII . Another part of a Ministers Work ●… o visit the Sick , Jam . 5.14 . Is any Sick let him call for the Elders of the Church , and let 〈…〉 Pray over him .

VIII . To comfort the feeble-minded to●…blish the Weak and Wavering , 1 Thes . 5 . 〈…〉 Now we exhort you Brethren warn them th●… unruly , comfort the feeble-minded , supp●… weak , be patient towards all men .

IX . To Teach not only Publickly but 〈…〉 House to House , Acts 20.20 . I have kept 〈…〉 nothing from you , but have taught you p●… and from House to House .

X. To be an Example to the Flock i●… Pious Affections and Holy Conversatio●… Tim . 4.12 . Be thou an Example of Belie●… in Word , in Conversation , in Charity , in S●… in Faith , in Purity .

II . Now let us consider the Duty of C●…stians or Chur●h-Members .

1. Towards God . 2. To their Pastors . 3. One to another .

We are now come to consider the 〈…〉 or Members of a Particular Church , as d●… from their Rulers and Officers ; and the●… all the Members of the Church excep●… Officers . Now ,

I. Their Duty towards God is exp●… in the first Table , which is to know Go●… fear him , cleave to him ; to hear , receive 〈…〉 ●… bey his Word , to sanctify his Name and ●… abbaths , to wait on him and worship him in ●… pirit and Truth , Joh . 4.24 . To chuse him ●… or our God , to follow hard after him , and to ●… elight in him , and love him with all our ●… oul , Mind , and Strength , and to place all ●… ur Rest and Happiness in him , Mat . 22.37 . ●… sal . 37.4 , 5.

II . The Duty of Church-Members towards ●… heir Pastors and Ministers ; and these are

1. To obey them in the Lord , Heb . 13.7 . ●… emember them that have the Rule over you , ●… d vers . 17. Obey them that have the Rule over ●… ou , and submit your selves , for they watch for ●… our Souls .

2. To imitate their Pious and Holy Ex●… mples , Heb . 13.7 . Remember them that have ●… e Rule over you , who have spoken to you the ●… ord of the Lord , whose faith follow , considering ●… e end of their Conversations .

3. To Pray for them , for their Work is ●… eat , and their Temptations and Discourage●… Discouragments are very many , Heb . 13.18 . Pray for 〈…〉 , &c. 1 Thes . 5.25 . 2 Thes . 3.1 . Finaly ●… rethren pray for us , that the Wo●d of the Lord ●… ay have free passage .

4. To Love , Honour , and very highly ●… teem them for their Works sake , 1 Thes . 5 . 〈…〉 , 14. We beseech you Brethren to know them ●… ich labour among you , and are over you in the ●… rd , and admonish you . And to esteem them ●… ry highly in love for their works sake . The World hates , despiseth and Reprocheth the●… therefore you must Love and Esteem them .

5. To wait on and constantly attend th●… Ministry , for they watch for your Souls , Heb . 1●… 17. If they are to be instant in Season 〈…〉 out of Season , in Preaching , you must be i●…stant in Season and out of Season in he●…ing .

6. Not hastily or rashly to receive an A●…cusation against them ; the World is apt 〈…〉 fling Dirt and Reproach upon them , but 〈…〉 are not hastily and groundlesly to believe 〈…〉 receive what they say , 1 Tim . 5.19 . Ag●… an Elder , receive not an Accusation , but left 〈…〉 two or three witnesses .

7. You are carefully to examin and c●…pare what they say and Preach to you 〈…〉 the Holy Scriptures , and what is con●… thereto reject , and what is agreeable the●… to retain , Acts 17.11 . These were more 〈…〉 then those in Thesalonica , In that they r●… the word with all readiness of mind , and se●… the Scriptures dayly , whether those things 〈…〉 so .

8. 't is also their Duty to fly 〈…〉 Teachers , who cause Rents and Division 〈…〉 the Church : All are to be look'd on as 〈…〉 Teachers who are not sent of God , and C●…missioned according to the order Jesus C●… hath fixed in his Church , Rom. 16 . 17. 〈…〉 I beseech you Brethren mark them which 〈…〉 divisions and offences , contrary to the Doctrin which ye have learnt , and avoid them .

III . Let 's now see the Duty of Church-Members one towards another .

Now the Duties Christian Church-Members owe to each other are ,

1. To Love one another and bear with one anothers Infirmities , Joh . 15.12 . This is my Commandment that ye love one another , Rom. 15.1 . We that are strong ought to bear the Infirmities of the weak , and not to please our selves .

2. To indeavour to Edify and build up one another in Knowledge , Graces , and Holiness , and for that end to be often together ●… n Christian Communion , in Prayer , Repeat●… ng Sermons : Tell one another your Experi●… nces , and what God has done for your Souls , Mal . 3.16 . Then they that feared the Lord spoke ●… ften one to another .

3. Another Duty is Brotherly Admoni●… ion and Reproof , which is to be done with much meekness , Lev . 19.17 . Thou shalt not ●… ate thy Brother in thy heart , thou shalt in any ●… ise rebuke thy Neighbour , and not suffer Sin up●… n him . Psal . 141.5 . Let the Righteous smite ●… e , &c.

4. Another Duty is to be very tender of ●… e Churches Peace ; avoiding all causes of ●… ivision and Strife , Rom. 16.17 . Mark them ●… hich cause Division , &c. Maintain the Unity ●… f the Spirit in the Bonds of Peace , not withdrawing drawing and seperating from the Church in light manner .

5. A Tenderness and Respect for the poo●… Saints , the meanest Christian , Gal. 3.28 . 〈…〉 are all one in Christ ; and yet this must 〈…〉 hinder our shewing Civil Respect to Men a●…cording to their Age , Office , or Estate 〈…〉 Degree in the World .

6. Another Duty is Charity to all 〈…〉 want , but especially to the Poor Saints , H●… 13.16 . To do good and communicate fo●… not , &c. Jam . 1.27 . Pure Religion and 〈…〉 defiled before God and the Father is this , To 〈…〉 the Fatherless and Widdows in their Affli●… and to keep himself unspotted from the World .

7. To put the most Charitable Co●…struction on the Words and Actions of●…thers that they will bear , 1 Cor . 13.7 . Ch●… beareth all things , believeth all things , hopeth 〈…〉 things , endureth all things .

8. Prayer for one another is an●… Duty we owe , Jam . 5.16 . Pray one for●…ther .

9. Another Duty is to walk Exampla●… so as that we may give no Offence to the 〈…〉 to the Gentile , or to the Church of Go●… Cor . 10.32 . So as not to open the m●… of open Enemies , nor grieve the Spirits of 〈…〉 that fear God .

CHAP. VI . Of Church Discipline ; Lodg'd in the hands of the Ministers of Christ . Who are to be own'd and receiv'd as Church Members . What the Power of the Church is , in taking in , Censuring and Rebuking , and casting out such as Repent not .

THe Lord Jesus Christ , who is the King and Supream Ruler and Governer of ●… s Church , hath appointed a certain Rule and ●… rder of Church-Government to be own'd , ●… bey'd , and submitted to by all the Members 〈…〉 the Church ; and they who oppose and re●… t that Government Christ has appointed in ●… s Church , they oppose and resist Christ him●… f .

Now , as the Churches are Parts and Mem●… rs of a Nation , or Kingdom , so they are ●… bject to the Civil Magistrate ; and all the ●… embers of the Church , whether Ministers 〈…〉 private Christians , are , and ought to be ●… ject to the Magistrates ; for , so hath God ●… mmanded , 1 Pet . 2.13 , 14. Submit your ●… ves to every Ordinance of Man , for the Lord's ●… e , whether it be to the King , as supream , or ●… o Governours , as unto them that are sent by ●… n , &c.

But we are speaking of the Church , as cal●… out of the World , and separated from it , and Incorporated together in an Holy Society , to Serve and Worship God : And , in th●… respect , the Church has Peculiar Laws , a●… Rules of Government , distinct from the Ci●… Laws of Princes .

The Church is a Spiritual Society , Gover●… by Officers and Laws of Christ's Appoi●…ment .

I. In whose Hands is the Government o●… the Church Lodged ?

Ans. 1. Not in the Hands of all the People●… that would be a strange Confusion to have 〈…〉 Rulers ; Christ never gave the Power of 〈…〉 Keys to the Whole Church .

2. Not in the Hands of a Lay-Chancelor Registers , Surrogate , Appariter ; these are C●… Officers the Scripture knows not .

3. Not in meer Lay-Ruling Elders ; 〈…〉 by careful Inquiry into God's Word , there●…pears to me no such Church-Officers , 〈…〉 had a Power to Rule in the Church , but 〈…〉 to Preach and Administer the Sacraments ; t●… place so much pleaded for it , in 1 Tim . 5. ●… The Elders that can Rule well , &c. seems to 〈…〉 nothing to the purpose : For , as Mr. Fo●… Notes upon the Place , That nothing 〈…〉 be thence concluded , but that as in the●…mitive Times there were many Elders , 〈…〉 Ministers in one Church , the Work of Pr●…ing and Ruling being distributed as 〈…〉 thought fit , but , all having one and 〈…〉 same Office .

4. But this Power is Lodged in the Hands ●… f the Presbyters and Ministers of the Church ; ●… is is very plain from Scripture , they are cal●…ed Rulers , Heb . 13.7.17 . And to them the Keys of Church-Power and Discipline are com●… itted , Mat . 16.19 . Neither is there any ●… cripture to shew , Christ committed this Go●… erning-Power to any other .

II . But what is the Governing-Power given ●… y Jesus to these Church-Rulers ?

Answ . It is a Power given by Jesus Christ , ●… nd entrusted with the Guides and Officers of ●… e Church ; to Order , Rule , and Govern the ●… hurch ; and to Administer all Christ's Ordi●… ances according to the Gospel .

But here I only take notice of Four Things .

1. The Power of Admitting Members into Particular Church , and what manner of Per●… ns they are that are to be received and own●… as Church-Members : In this , as well as o●… er Cases , we must be guided by God's Word ; 〈…〉 speak here only of Members in full Com●… union ; and here let it be carefully observed , ●… at such Persons as were by the Apostles and ●… rst Planters of the Gospel-Churches , re●… eived , owned , and taken in for Church-Members ers ; are , by us , to be received and owned 〈…〉 such now , the Rule to them and us being ●… e same .

Now the Persons that were the Subject-●… atter of the New Testament-Churches , are ●… lled Saints , Rom. 1.7 . Called to be Saints : They were , many of them , so in Truth , all 〈…〉 them so in Profession ; while Persons make 〈…〉 Tollerable Profession of the Christian Religi●… not contradicting that Profession , by such a●…lowed Sin , as will prove them no Saints ; 〈…〉 are bound , in the Judgment of Charity , to esteem them Saints , tho' many of them may 〈…〉 be really so : So likewise the Church of Cori●… 1 Cor . 1.2 . Unto the Church of God which i● 〈…〉 Corinth , to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus , called to be Saints , with all that in ev●… place call on the Name of the Lord Jesus . 〈…〉 2 Cor . 1.1 . Gal. 1.2 . Ephes . 1.1 . P●… 1.1 . Col. 1.1 . 1 Thes . 1.1 . 2 Thes . 1.1 , &c. In all which places you have eit●… Saints or Church in such a Place , which are●…nonimous Phrases ; the Saints were the Ch●… the Church were all Saints ; i.e. such , wh●… having received the Doctrin of the Gosp●… and Professed to own Christ as their Savio●… were united in one Ecclesiastical Body for●…ly Worship and Christian Communion ; t●… there were yet not only many Imperfecti●… in the best , but many who were Scandalo●…ly Guilty , as is very evident in the Church 〈…〉 Corinth ; in some Errors in Judgment , 〈…〉 their very undue Approach to the Lord's T●…ble , 1 Cor . 11. But we must not supp●… these Persons , known to be Erroneous 〈…〉 Scandalous , when first admitted , but aft●…wards appeared to be so .

Now , forasmuch as the Lord's Supper is 〈…〉 Ordinance of full Communion , only for such ●… s are Church-Members ; therefore that Person ●… hat hath a Right to sit down at the Lord's Table , hath a Right to Church-Fellowship . Therefore let us enquire what is necessary to fit us for that Ordinance , and the same will qualify us for Full Communion and Church-Membership .

1. There must be a Competent Measure of Knowledge in the Doctrines and Mysteries of ●… he Gospel ; this Knowledge must be especial●… y in the Fundamentals of the Christian Religion , particularly in the Person and Offices of Christ , John 17.3 .

2. The Persons admitted must be such , as are Dedicated to Christ in the Sacrament of Bap●… sm ; such as have not received the First Sa●… ament are not to come to the Second .

3. Such as come to the Lord's Supper , or to ●… ull Communion in the Church , must Solemnly ●… enew and Ingage to stand to their Baptismal ●… ovenant , i.e. to Repent of Sin , to Believe in ●… esus Christ , to Deny Ungodliness , and Worldly ●… usts , and to live soberly and righteously in this ●… esent evil World , Tit . 2.11 , 12. A prophes●… d Subjection of Soul to Jesus Christ , or of ●… egeneration and Holiness in Christ's Name ; ●… ogether with a Promise of performing the ●… uties of a Church-Member to God , to our Pa●… ors , and Fellow Christians ( as before . ) I know no reason why such a Person should be deny'd Full Communion , unless the Person should be Guilty of such known Sin , or Disorderly Walking , as may evidence the Profession he makes to be meerly in Hypocrisie : And , i●… this case , 't is better to be too Large in o●… Charity , then too Sensorious ; for when we have done all , the Heart is God's Fort-Royal , none but God can search it out : many that are unsound , will yet have such a Right to Visible Church Membership , as that we shall not be able to keep them back .

Now the Whole Church ought to be Judge of the Conversations of Persons Admitted ; because they live amongst them , and are be able to Judge .

But the Officers of the Church are the 〈…〉 meet and fit Judges of their Knowledge 〈…〉 Qualifications for Church Communion , for 〈…〉 they , by the Ministry of the Word , Ga●… and Plant Churches , 1 Cor . 3.5 , 6 , 7.

II . Likewise the Care of Feeding , Watc●…ing over , and Rebuking , Reproving , and A●…monishing belong to the Pastors and Officers the Church . Indeed the Duty of Rebuk●… and Reproving belongs to all the Me●… of the Church , as is shewed before ; But es●…cially to the Officers of the Church , 1 Thess. 〈…〉 12. And we beseech you , Brethren , to know th●… that labour amongst you , and are over you in 〈…〉〈◇〉 , and admonish you , 2 Thess. 3.6 . 〈…〉 we command you to withdraw your selves from every Brother that walks disorderly .

III . To the Officers of the Church doth it likewise belong to debar Persons of Church Fellowship , and Full Communion , i.e. to Suspend Persons from the Lord's Table , which is , by some called , The Lesser Excommunication ; or , Excommunicate and cast them out of the Church , 1 Tim . 5.20 . Them that sin rebuke before all , that others also may fear , Mat . 7.6 . Cast not that which is holy to Dogs , neither cast your Pearls before Swine , and 1 Tim . 1.20 . Of whom is Hymeneus and Alexander , whom I have delivered unto Satan , 1 Cor . 5.4 , 5.5.13 . Mat . 18.17 .

IV . To the Officers of the Church likewise ●… t belongs to Revoke these Censures , that when Admonish'd , Censur'd , or Excommunicated Persons Humble themselves and Repent , to Admit them again to Full Communion . Mat . 16.19 . And I will give unto thee ( i.e. to Peter , in the Name of all the ●est ) the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven , and whatsoever thou shalt bind on Earth , shall be bound in Heaven , and whatsoever thou shalt loose on Earth , shall be loosed in Heaven , Compare with 2 Cor . 2.6 , 7 , 8.

CHAP. VII . Shewing what Schism is , and when Persons a●… guilty of it . And of Consociation of Church●… and Synods .

NO Religion can possibly more obli●… those that Profess it to Unity than th●… Christian Religion doth . The Christian Religion affords us very Excellent helps , yet too many who profess the Christian Name an●… sadly guilty of the breach of this Unity , whic●… is called Schism .

Schism is a causeless Rupture , or Renti●… of Churches , or Christians in Church-Co●…munion , one from another . And this Schis●… is either in the Church , or from it : A Schi●… in the Church consists in differences and Dissentions between the Members of a Church 〈…〉 thus we find a Schism in the Church 〈…〉 Corinth , they differed concerning their Ministers , crying up one above another , as o●… weak or Carnal Professors use to do , 1 Co●… 1.12 . They looked more on the Teach●… then on the Truth , and they had other diffe●…ences about coming to the Lords Table , 〈…〉 Cor . 11.21.22 . As also concerning the●… several Gifts , 1 Cor . 12.25.26 . This is 〈…〉 very great Sin .

Again , there is a Schism from the Church , ●… d that is when an unwarrantable Rent and ●… peration is made from a Church ; when ●… ersons withdraw themselves from the Church ●… illingly , without any just cause , or for every ●… ght Trifle . This is Sinful Schism when we ●… ave a Church where all the Ordinances of ●… hrist are purely Administred , and nothing ●… at is Sinful imposed upon us ; and so to ●… ave or seperat from a Church , out of gidi●… ss or weariness , is very Sinful .

But , to depart from a Church in which the ●… eat Doctrines of the Gospel are overturn●… , and Idolatrous and Superstious Cerimo●… es are introduced ; and where we can have 〈…〉 Tolerable Comfort or Edification , we may , ●… y , we must depart : Seperation in this case 〈…〉 no Sinful Schism ; So that tho' the Papists urge the Protestants with Sinful Schism for departing from the Romish Church , yet the Protestant Churches have committed no Crime seperating from Rome , but have done what ●… s and is well-pleasing to Jesus Christ . For 〈…〉 well proved , by many Protestant Divines , ●… t the Church of Rome is Mystical Babylon , 〈…〉 Synagogue of Satan , and therefore the ●… ty of all to seperate from her , Rev. 18.4 . ●… e out of her my People , that ye be not per●… er of her Sin , and that ye receive not of her ●… gues .

But as to the Seperation among Protestants , ●… y Seperation is not Schism ; we would not seperate from the Church of England if 〈…〉 could avoid it , but there are Terms of Churc●… Unity Imposed upon us , which we cann●… comply with without violating our own Co●…sciences ; we have studdied , Read , and Pray●… and done all we can to satisfy our selves , 〈…〉 the more we search the Scriptures , and 〈…〉 God's Direction , the more we dislike the l●…posed Ceremonies , and are brought to this i●… evitable strait , that we must conform agai●… Conscience , and so wound our Peace , or 〈…〉 Silenced , Suspended , and thereby rende●… uncapable of Publick Communion . We wo●… gladly Exercise our Ministry in the Publ●… Churches , were not the Doors lock'd agai●… us . So that we cannot , by any light we 〈…〉 in God's Word , look on our selves to 〈…〉 guilty of Schism ; nor our People that will●…ly own and receive us as their Pastors : A●… tho' we indeavour to have high Thoughts i●… many that do conform , yet we look on th●… to be the Schismaticks who impose Uns●…tural Terms of Unity upon us , and thru●… out for not complying . There ought to no more imposed on us then Christ and 〈…〉 Apostles have made necessary to Church U●… Acts 2.42 . They continued stedfast in the●…postles Doctrin , and fellowship , and in b●… of Bread , and of Prayers . We part wit●… Church as a Marriner parts with his 〈…〉 in a Storm . 't is Bishop Bramhall's A●… to the Papists , saith he , " If they did i●… on us a necessity of doing Sinful things , and offending God , and wounding our Consciences , then we did not leave them , but they did drive us out from them . So we ●… y we are not departed from the Doctrin of ●… rist , nor any of his Ordinances , and seeing ●… ey will not permit us to Worship God with ●… em , without doing what we judge to be ●… nful , must we therefore forbear to worship 〈…〉 all ?

Our Assemblies are true particular Church●… , for where there are Lawful Pastors dis●… using Holy Ordinances , and a People meet●… g , and unanimously joyning in the use of ●… em , there is a true Church . Hic est fons ●… ritatis , hoc est templum dei , hoc domicilium dei , as Lactantius speaks ; What want our ●… ssemblies , except the Controverted Cere●… onies , we Read the same Holy Scriptures , ●… e Preach the same Holy Doctrin , we have the ●… me Prayers in Substance , tho' no Liturgy , we ●… ve the same Holy Sacraments Administred 〈…〉 Ministers duly called , and rightly Ordain'd 〈…〉 Scripture-Bishops : We have a great Love ●… d a very honourable Esteem for Churches and Ministers that differ from us , if they yet ●… ld the Foundation : Where , or what then the Schism we are guilty of .

II . Of the Consociation of Churches .

The Church of Christ which is Catholick , be●… g distinguished into lesser Societies , i.e. Particular Churches , and tho' these Partic●… Churches , being rightly constituted and O●…ganiz'd , have the Government within the●… selves , i.e. Every stated Church hath its o●… proper Pastor or Pastors , having full Aut●…rity to Teach and Govern it in the Name 〈…〉 Christ .

Yet there is a Subordination of Partic●… Churches taken distributively , to an Asociati●… or Collective Body of the same Churches , i●… whether there ought not to be a Union 〈…〉 Consociation of Particular Churches a●… themselves ?

Now it must be granted that Partic●… Churches are so many distinct Members one great Body , i.e. They are Parts and M●…bers of the Universal Catholick Church ; 〈…〉 therefore being all United to one Head , w●… is Christ , and all walking by one Rule 〈…〉 Holy Word or Gospel of Christ ; that 〈…〉 cannot but be interested in each other , 〈…〉 have a Mutual concern in each others 〈…〉 being ; as a Particular single Church 〈…〉 Provincial , and a Provincial for a N●ti●… Church ; and again , this National Church 〈…〉 all other Nations and Churches abroad●…fessing the same Holy Gospel of Christ .

And if the Faithf●l 〈◇〉 or one , tw●… more Pastors in a ●ingle Church , by their●…ly Diligence and Wisd●● , can advise wh●… most to the Glory of God , and Edifica●… of this single Church ; much more like ●… hat an Association of such Faithful Pastors , ●… hered together by consent from many ●… urches , should be able to judge what is best 〈…〉 the whole .

III . Of a Synod .

And such an Association of the Pastors of ●… veral Churches may be called a Synod , when ●… e Pastors or Deputies of several Particular ●… urches meet to advise and consult for the ●… od of the whole : And that the Unanimous ●… reement of the Associated Pastors is bind●… g to all the Churches whom they represent , ●… ovided their Decrees are not contrary to ●… ipture , is evident , Acts 15.2 , 4 , 6. When ●… efore Paul and Barnabas had no small dissen●… and disputation with them , they determined 〈…〉 Paul and Barnabas and oth●rs of them should ●… p to Jerusalem unto the Apostles and Elders ●… ut this question : Read vers . 4 , 6. Acts. 15. 〈…〉 19. But this question I leave to others ●… o are better able to speak to it , as being ●… ond the design of this Discourse .

●… he Conclusion : Proving it to be the Duty of ●… y Christian to joyn in , and be a Member of ●… e well-order'd Particular Church .

Now as a Conclusion to the Discourse con●… ing the Church , let me exhort and per●… de every one that love their Souls to give ●… hemselves to be a Member of some Parti●… r well-order'd Church . And I hope I have prevailed , when I have proved it y●… Duty : Now that every one ought to be joyn 〈…〉 as a standing Church-Member , to some pa●…ticular Church , I prove it ,

1. Because those Saints we Read of 〈…〉 Scripture were Members of some Partic●… Church , Rom. 16.1 , 2. Phebe was a Me●… of the Church of Cenchrea , see v. 3. ad f●… Mat . 18.17 . Tell it to the Church , i.e. t●… Church whereof you are a Member , Acts 〈…〉 47.

2. It was the manner of the Apostles , t●… whereever God Blessed their Ministry to 〈…〉 Conversion of Souls , they still United t●… into a Particular Church , Ordaining them●…ders to watch over them and feed the●… the Name of the Lord , Acts 14.23 . Or●…ing them Elders in every Church .

3. Christ commands us so to do , Cant . 〈…〉 7 , 8. The Church comes there with ease 〈…〉 Christ , Oh! shew me thou whom my Soul h●… where thou feedest , where thou makest thy F●… to rest at Noon , &c. Now Christs Answ●… plain , vers . 8. — Go thy way forth by the steps of the Flock , feed thy Kids beside the 〈…〉 herds Tents .

4. Because Christ is there Graciously 〈…〉 sent , and where should we be , but 〈…〉 ●… is t is , Rev. 1.12 . — I saw seven Golden ●… dlesticks : ( i.e. Churches ) and in the midst ●… e seven Golden Candlesticks one like unto the 〈…〉 of Man , cloathed with a Garment down to the 〈…〉 , &c.

5. The Titles and Epithets given to the ●… rch in Scripture , it is called the House of ●… d , 1 Tim . 3.5 . The Flock of God , Acts 〈…〉 28 , &c. The Terms plainly intimate , ●… t every Believer must be an Inhabitant in ●… s House , a Member of this Flock .

6. The Names given to Ministers , they are ●…ed Shepherds , Overseers , Acts 20.28 . Watch●… , Rulers , Heb . 13.7 , 17. This proves ●… y have a Peculiar House , Flock , &c. to Rule 〈…〉 Govern .

〈…〉 . The Duty of Ministers to their Flock ●… h suppose them to have some who are their ●… liar Charge , if we know not who are of 〈…〉 Flock or House , how can we perform the ●… y of Pastors to them , Acts 20.28 .

● . The Duties of People to their Ministers , 〈…〉 submit to them , Heb . 13.17 . and obey ●… m , to love them , pray for them , afford ●… m a comfortable Maintainance , this they ●… not do if they know not who are their own ●… ors .

9. From the end of the Ministry ; to●…struct , Edify and build them up , Eph. 4 〈…〉 12.

10. Every Christian is to pertake of 〈…〉 Ordinances , which he cannot do unless ●e 〈…〉 a Member of some Church , Psal . 119.4 , 5 , 〈…〉 Luk . 1.5 , 6.

Numb . IX . 13. But the Man that is clean , and is not in a Journey , and forbeareth to keep the Passover ; even the same Soul shall be cut off from his People ; because he brought not the Offering of the Lord in its Appointed Season : that Man shall bear his Sin .

GOD having , with a Powerful Arm , brought up his People out of Egypt , and led them as far as Sinai in the Wilderness ; where he now Com●… ands them to keep the Passover .

The Passover was first Instituted in Egypt , ●… s a Memorial of their present Deliverance ●… ut of their Egyptian Slavery ; It was a Sa●… ament of the Covenant of Grace , and it look●… d forward , Pointing at Salvation by the ●… eath of Christ .

Now the Passover , in its First Institution , ●… e have , Exod . 12. wherein every Family , or 〈…〉 the Family was too small , two Families ●… ight joyn together ; they must take a Lamb ●… at had no Blemish , upon the Tenth day of ●… e Month Abib , which was the First Month ●… ter the Vernal Equinox , and Answers to part 〈…〉 March , and part of April ; This Lamb was to be kept till the Fourteenth Day , by wa●… Preparation , and then to be killed , and w●… a Bunch of Hyssop , to Sprinkle the Blood 〈…〉 on the upper Door-post , and upon the T●… Side-posts of the Door ; And to Roast 〈…〉 Whole Lamb , and then to Eat it in a Tra●…ling-posture , i.e. with their Staves in th●… hands , and their Loyns Guirded . They w●… to eat it in Remembrance of their Deli●…rance out of Egypt ; And as a Sign of t●… Salvation by Jesus Christ , the Lamb of God , 〈…〉 was , in Due Time , to be Offer'd up for t●…

Now the Passover was a Divine Ordin●… and whoever did not make Conscience to●…pare themselves for , and to Worship Go●… it , were to be Cut off .

Now the Case standing thus , with Relati●… the Passover , this occasions a Case to be b●… to Moses , v. 6.7 . Certain Men , who 〈…〉 defiled by the Dead Body of a Man , so●… they could not keep the Passover on that 〈…〉 came to Moses , and said , We are defiled 〈…〉 Wherefore are we kept back that we may●…fer , &c. q. d . If we forbear , we are to be 〈…〉 off ; and if we come thus defiled , we a●… be Cut off : Wha● shall we do ? No●… Text is part of Moses Answer ; shewi●… what cases a Man might be excused from●…ing to the Passover .

1. In case of Legal Uncleanness , whi●… by touching a Dead Body , or any U●… thing , &c. these must not come to the Pas●… over , till Cleansed , according to the Law .

2. If any were in a Journey , upon needful Business , forced abroad , at the Time when the Passover was Celebrated , then he was Excused ; ●… ut otherwise , if not thus hindered , it was a ●… ery dangerous thing to Absent from the Pas●… over ; For ,

1. He that Omits , or Neglects the Passo●… er , he shall bear his Sin , as in the Text , i.e. The Punishment of his Sin , for so this Phrase ●… ignifies , Gen. 4.13 . My sin is greater then I ●… an bear . So 't is in the Hebrew , This neglect is a Sin , and a Sin that shall be Reward●… d back in the Due Punishment of it : And if ●… he Question be Asked , What is the Punish●… ent of this Sin ? 't is Answer'd ,

2. He that Omits , or Neglects the Lord's ●… aessover , shall be Cut off : Now this Phrase , ●… o be Cut off , imports either ,

1. An Exclusion from Communion with the ●… hurch by Excommunication , which is a Sore ●… udgment .

2. Rather an Untimely Death to be Inflict●… d by the Hands of the Magistrate , to whom ●… od committed the Execution of this , as well 〈…〉 of other Laws .

And least any should complain of the●…verity of this Law , a Reason is in the Text ●…ven of it , viz. Because he brought not the O●…fering of the Lord in his Appointed Season , i●… Because they did not appear before the Lo●… and Offer such Sacrifices , and perform 〈…〉 Services to him in that very Season God co●…manded it .

Now the Passover being the Second S●…ment of the Covenant of Grace , and the G●… Thing therein Signified , and Represented , ●…ing Jesus Christ , and Redemption by his De●…

I shall hence take occasion to speak of 〈…〉 Second Sacrament of the Covenant , as it●…stands , viz. the Lord's Supper ; being , in S●…stance , the same with the Passover ; for , 〈…〉 Passover-Lamb was Christ , John 1.29 . B●… the Lamb of God! As the Paschal Lamb 〈…〉 to be without Blemish , in this it was a Ty●… Christ , 1 Pet . 1.19 . Christ was a Lamb 〈…〉 out Blemish and without Spot : The Apostle expresly calls Christ , Our Passover , 1 Cor . 5 〈…〉 Christ , our Passover , is Sacrificed for us . q●… Though the Feast of the Jewish Passo●… ceased ; yet Christ , who was Typified , 〈…〉 Signified thereby , is come , and hath Off●… up himself a Sacrifice for us ; and we are b●… to Commemorate his Death in that way●… hath appointed : Now , tho' Circumcision 〈…〉 the Passover were taken down together , 〈…〉 the Mosaical Ceremonies ; yet the Covena●… Grace , of which they were Seals , is not 〈…〉 down , but stands firm for ever : Therefore ●… r Lord Jesus Christ , the Head and King of ●… s Church , hath Instituted Baptism , and the ●… ord's Supper in stead of them ; Baptism being ●… e same to us , which Circumcision was to ●… em ; and the Lord's Supper being , in Sub●… ance , the same with the Passover .

Now , as the Gospel is more Excellent then ●… e Law , so it does not loose the Reins , and 〈…〉 us at Liberty to Obey or not . But Chri●… ans lye under an higher Obligation , to sub●… it to all Gospel-Ordinances now , then the ●… ws did to obey and submit to the Ritual Or●… nances of that Dispensation .

Doct . Such as causelesly forbear coming to ●… e Lord's-Table , do incurr great Guilt ; and ●… ovoke God to inflict upon them grievous ●… nishments .

In speaking to this Doctrin , I shall do these ●… hree things ,

I. Shew you the Nature and End of the ●… ord's Supper .

II . That Christians have not only an Equal , ●… t a greater obligation to attend on and ob●… eve duly the Ordinance of the Lord's Supper , ●… en the Jews had to observe the Ordinance of ●… e Passover .

III . That a careless and causeless Negle●… of this Blessed Ordinance of the Lord's Supp●… is a great Sin , producing sad Effects .

I. Let us consider the Nature and E●… the Lord's Supper .

The Lord's Supper is the Second Sacram●… of the New Testament , or Covenant of Gra●… instituted by Jesus Christ , in the Room 〈…〉 Place of the Passover , now taken do●… wherein by Bread and Wine set apart and●…ceived , according to Christs Institution ; 〈…〉 Death and Sufferings , together with all t●… Benefits Believers receive from Christ , 〈…〉 therein shew'd forth and sealed to such a●… a right manner receive it ; as also the wo●… Communicant does hereby Solemnly r●… his Baptismal Covenant , and engage him●… to Christ and his Church for ever . Here●…serve ,

1. Jesus Christ is the Author of this Sac●…ment , Mat . 26.26 . And , as they were eat●… Jesus took Bread , and Blessed it , &c.

2. It is the Second Sacrament of the 〈…〉 Testament , or Covenant of Grace ; Baptis●… the first , and to be first Administred : 〈…〉 are to Receive the Lord's Supper , that are 〈…〉 first Baptized . And it 's a Sacrament of 〈…〉 New Testament , or Covenant of Grace ; 〈…〉 Tenure whereof is , Believe on the Lord Jesus ●… rist , and thou shalt be saved and thy House , ●… cts 16.31 .

3. The Lord's Supper comes in the Room ●… d Place of the Passover , 1 Cor . 5.7 . Christ 〈…〉 Passover is sacrificed for us : both of them ●… rected to Christ for Salvation , but , with this ●… ference , the Passover looked at Christ to ●… me ; the Lord's Supper a Memorial of Christ already Come and Crucified .

4. The External and Visible Elements in the Lord's Supper are Bread and Wine , set apart 〈…〉 a lawful Minister of the Gospel , Mat . 26 . 〈…〉 , 27.

Bread is the Stay and Staff of Life ; Wine ●… e of the greatest Cordials , and therefore the ●… est to Represent Christ , and the Benefits of 〈…〉 Death .

5. The End of this Sacrament is , to shew ●… th the Death of Christ , with the Benefits ●… reof to Believers , 1 Cor . 11.24 . Take , eat , 〈…〉 is my Body , which is broken for you ; i.e. a ●… ramental Sign of my Crucified Body , v. 26. ●… oft as you eat of this Bread , and drink of this 〈…〉 , you shew forth the Lord's Death ; and so ●… ewise all the Benefits of Christ's Death , as ●… don , Peace , Spiritual Life , and Increase of ●… ce , &c. 1 Cor . 10.16 .

6. Our Engagement to be the Lord's ; 〈…〉 herein Solemnly Renew our Baptismal Cov●… nant , and Engage our selves to Christ and hi●… Church for ever , 1 Cor . 10.16 , 17. The 〈…〉 of Blessing , &c. Is it not the Communion , 〈…〉 Communication of the Blood of Christ ? &c.

II . That Christians have not only an●…qual , but a greater obligation to attend 〈…〉 and observe duly the Ordinance of the L●… Supper , then the Jews had to observe the O●…dinance of the Passover . The Reasons are ,

1. The Passover was instituted by M●s●… but the Lord's Supper by Jesus Christ ; M●… was a Servant in God's House , Christ wa●… Son ; Moses was a faithful Servant , so th●… there was a great deal of Respect due 〈…〉 Moses , but much more to Jesus Christ , 〈…〉 was Lord and Head of the House , Heb . 3●… For this Man ( i.e. Christ ) was acco●… worthy of more glory then Moses , forasmuch he who hath built the House hath more glory 〈…〉 the House . Moses was a Servant , a Ste●… in the House ; Jesus Christ a Son , the H●… Lord , and Builder of the House , which is Church ; so that there is a Veneration , ●…dience , and Respect due to Christ , and t●… Institutions he gave his Church , above M●… Hence we are exhorted to give the 〈…〉 earnest heed to Gospel-Institutions , He●… 1 , 2 , 3.

2. Because the Lord's Supper more clearly Reveals Christ , and Salvation by him , then the ●… assover did . Polanus well observes , That ●… e Sacraments of the New Testament do more ●… early Reveal Christ , then those of the Old : T is true , the Death of Christ , and Salvation hereby , was the chief thing represented in ●… e Passover ; yet the Death of Christ and the ●… enefits thereof are more clearly held out in ●… e Lord's Supper . The Bread very aptly sets ●… rth Christs Body and his Crucifixion in its ●… reaking , and our Eating it very aptly Repre●… nts our Union with Christ , and Spiritual Par●… cipation of him : So the Wine very aptly ●… epresents the Blood and Death of Christ , ●… d our being Justified and Redeemed there●… , Mat . 26.26 , 27.

3. The Lord's Supper is an Ordinance under 〈…〉 Gospel , the last and brightest dispensati●… , and therefore , as the Gospel is more ex●… ent then the Law , so it calls for the more ●… nest Regard , Heb . 2.1 , 2 , 3. Heb . 10.28 , 〈…〉 A New Testament-Ordinance is the ●… hest and purest degree of Gospel-Wor●… ; so 't is evident that the obligations of ●… ristians are so m●●t the greater , by how ●… ch more excellent the Ordinances are , to ●… at they were under the Law .

4. Because our Preparations for the L●… Supper is to be more Solemn , and our atte●…ance more frequent then theirs was at and 〈…〉 the Passover ; For ,

1. Our Preparation for the Lord's Su●… was to be more Solemn then theirs was 〈…〉 the Passover . The Preparation for the P●…over consisted chiefly in certain External Ri●… as putting away Leaven out of their Hous●… External Purifications and Cleansings acco●…ing to the Law of Moses . I deny not 〈…〉 grant that all these Legal Cerimonial Cle●…ings had a particular Respect to the He●… and so the Consciencious Israelites underst●… them , as is evident , Psal . 51.7 , 8 , 10.

But now under the Gospel these Ceri●…al Washings and Cleansings being laid a●… our Preparation consists principally in●…paring our Hearts , to offer up Spiritual S●…fices to God , J●●h . 4.24 . God is a Spirit , 〈…〉 they that worship him must worship him in 〈…〉 and Truth . 't is the Spiritual Uncleanne●… our Hearts , the Leaven of Hypocrisie tha●… are to put away .

2. Our Attendance on Christ in this●…dinance must be more frequent ; to the 〈…〉 over they were requir'd to come but o●… Year , but to the Lord's Table we are to 〈…〉〈◇〉 , 1 Cor . 11.26 . As often as you 〈…〉 ●… c . Intimating we should come often to the ●… ord's Table .

5. The Threatnings for the Neglect of ●… f the Passover were Temporal Judgments , ●… e Soul that refused to come was to be cut ●… ff by the Civil Magistrate ; but the Judg●… ents now Threatned are more Spiritual , a ●… uch sorer Doom is Pronounced against the ●… users or slighters of Gospel Ordinances then ●… hose of the Law , Heb . 10.29 . A Punishment ●… uch more bitter than Death , that has even ●… ell and Eternal Damnation in it , 1 Cor . 11.29 . He that Eateth and Drinketh unworthily Eateth and Drinketh Damnation : And an un●… orthy coming and Careless neglect are alike ●… ainous and displeasing to God ; 't is a dis●… ising the Gospel , a slighting the last , best ●… d Purest Dispensation the Church ever ●… ad .

III . That a careless and causeless neglect ●… f the Lord's Supper is a great Sin , producing ●… d Effects . Now here I shall do these Three ●… hings ,

I. Shew what may be a just Excuse to keep ●… ersons from the Lord's Table .

II . That a Careless and Causeless Neglect a great Sin .

III . What those sad Effects are that 〈…〉 Coreless and Causeless Neglect are likely to produce .

1. What may be a sufficient Excuse to kee●… Persons from the Lord's Table .

1. When the Providence of God has c●… our Lot in such a Place where we can●… ( tho' we desire ) receive this Ordinanc●… God doth not require Impossibilities at o●… hands . This was Josephs case in Egypt , D●…vids case among the Philistians , and is t●… day the case of Thousands in Pagan Co●…tries .

2. When the state of the Church wh●… we live is so Polluted , and this Ordinance●…mongst others so defiled , that we cannot 〈…〉 to it without Sin , nor have any toller●… hopes of getting any good by it , then we 〈…〉 be Excused , as the Church of Rome at 〈…〉 day . True , 't is not every Corruption i●… Church that will warrant our Separation f●… this Ordinance ; but when the Mixture 〈…〉 Corruptions are so great that we cannot 〈…〉 to get any good , God will make up the 〈…〉 of it in another way .

3. When the Lords Hand is upon us in 〈…〉 Bodily Disease , that renders us unable or 〈…〉 capable , either in Body or Minde , this will Ex●… e us .

4. When Works of Charity or Mercy re●… re it , &c.

But now setting these , or what other things ●… y amount to a just excuse as●de , 't is a very ●… ful and dangerous thing to keep away from 〈…〉 Lord's Table .

1. None ought to stay away upon any Pre●… ice of Worldly Business , Luk . 14.18 , 19 , 〈…〉 . And he sent his servants at supper time , to 〈…〉 to them that were bidden come : And they all ●… h one consent began to make excuse , &c. One ●… d bought a Piece of Ground , another a ●… ke of Oxen , another had Married a Wife , 〈…〉 .

2. Nor do any ought to keep off from the ●… rd's Table for any unworthiness in your ●… ves , this is indeed what many plead , I dare ●… t come , I am unworthy , but this is no just ●… se . For ,

1. Either you see your own unworthiness , ●… d are made sensible of the Plague of your ●… n Hearts , and so are sick of Sin , weary of 〈…〉 your Hearts being melted and broken for 〈…〉 ; if so , this is your Gospel worthiness ●… d you are the Persons Christ invites , Mat . 〈…〉 . 28. Come to me you that are weary and heavy laden , &c. This is all the worthi●… Christ requires of us , that we see our own 〈…〉 worthiness , that we are sick of Sin , and w●…ing to come to Christ as to our Spiri●… Physician .

2. Or this is only a formal Hypocri●… Plea , when you think rightly you have 〈…〉 right to this Ordinance , but are in the 〈…〉 of Bitterness and Bond of Iniquity , under 〈…〉 Power and Dominion of your Lusts ; a 〈…〉 stranger to any Gracious renewing W●… upon your Souls by the Gospel ; and not●…ing willing to part with your Sin , you 〈…〉 use this Plea of unworthiness to prevent●…formation , which you know must be in o●… to your being admitted to the Lord's Ta●… you must not indeed come to the Lord's Ta●… in your Sins , but you must Reform , put 〈…〉 all Sin , Isa . 55.7 . Let the wicked forsake 〈…〉 way , and the unrighteous man his thoughts , 〈…〉 turn unto the Lord , and he will have mercy 〈…〉 him . So Isa . 1.16 , 17 , 18.

3. Nor are we to keep away from 〈…〉 Lord's Table under a pretence of the 〈…〉 worthiness of others ; thus some will 〈…〉 come because they are affraid all that 〈…〉 have not Grace . But ,

1. Either these Persons you dislike 〈…〉 openly Scandalous , they have the very 〈…〉〈…〉 Unregeneracy upon them , and if so you ●… e directed by Christ what to do in this case , ●… at . 18.15 , 16 , 17. Go and tell him of it , ●… y his Sin before him in the Spirit of Meek●… ss ; and if the first Reproof gain him not , 〈…〉 it a second time , and if that succeed not , ●… ll it the Church , i.e. the Rulers and Officers 〈…〉 the Church , in whose hands the Discipline 〈…〉 lodg'd , that they may deal with him . Or ,

2. You only suspect them to be Hypocrites , ●… d yet can prove nothing against them ; Oh ●… ke heed of being too Censorious of Judging ●… nothers Heart , when you find it so difficult 〈…〉 know your own ; how much of this would 〈…〉 cured if we always put the best Constructi●… upon the Words and Actions of others , ●… at . 7.1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5. Judge not that ye be not ●… dged . Why beholdest thou the Mote that is in ●… y brothers eye , but considerest not the Beam that 〈…〉 in thy own eye .

4. Nor is it warrantable to keep off from ●… e Lord's Supper , because we are first to give 〈…〉 account to the Guides of the Church con●… rning our knowledge and fittness for the ●… crament ; this is what some pretend , they ●… ould come , might they come hand over ●… ead , and give no account of their fittness for ●… is Ordinance . But let such consider ,

1. This is nothing but what you your sel●… are willing to do in another case ; Are not 〈…〉 desirous when you are sick to let the Phys●… know your case ? you are then willing to●…swer such questions as he shall ask you●…lating to the state of your Bodies , you do 〈…〉 think that one that knows not your case 〈…〉 administer what is fit and proper for y●… And is it not most true and reasonable 〈…〉 the case of your Souls ; the Ordinance of 〈…〉 Lord's Supper is not a Converting Ordinan●… but only for Converted Believers , i.e. S●… as in the Judgment of Charity we hope 〈…〉 so ; and is it possible for us to judge wh●… you have any Title or fittness for it when●… will not come at us .

2. What is that we require of you b●… credible Profession of Religion , a Compe●… knowledge of the Doctrins of the Gospel , 〈…〉 Regular well-ordered Conversation ?

5. Nor ought any to keep away because 〈…〉 the frequent return of the Sacrament . 〈…〉 an ill sign when Persons begin to be sick 〈…〉 Oppertunities for their Souls , to loath th●… Spiritual Manna ; we are to lay hold o●… Oppertunities , and when we grow slack 〈…〉 weary of them 't is a sad sign we got little 〈…〉 no good by them .

II . A Careless and Causless Neglect of this ●… inance is a great Sin .

It 's a slighting an Ordinance of God , 〈…〉 that 's very dangerous . All God's Ordi●… ces are to be own'd and honour'd ; and 〈…〉 being a part of God's Instituted Wor●… and God commands you to come often , 〈…〉 you never come , or very seldom , this must ●… s be a great Sin , Mat . 22.1 , and 13.

't is a Sin not to come to the Lord's Ta●… because 't is a slighting Jesus Christ himself : 〈…〉 at a Sin was it in the Jews , to slight Ca●… , that was a Type of Heaven ? Psal . 106. ●… ut much more to slight Christ , Heb . 2.3 . 〈…〉 shall we escape if we neglect so great salvati●… In this Ordinance Jesus Christ his Death ●… ufferings is Represented to us ; now , to 〈…〉 the Death , and trample under foot the 〈…〉 of Christ , must needs be a great Sin .

Because the Neglect of this Ordinance 〈…〉 great Stupidity and Unacquaintance ●… ur own Hearts .

But what are those sad Effects produ●… 〈…〉 a Careless and Causeless Neglect of the 〈…〉 Supper .

Such a Neglect brings Temporal Judg●… ; such , as a Blast upon our Affairs , Sickness , and Death it self : and this not only the Ungodly , but the Saints themselves ; God threatens , Psal . 89.32 . When they si●… will visit their Iniquities with a Rod . Th●… was with the Corinthians , 1 Cor . 11.29 , 3●… {αβγδ} , it signifies any kind of Judgment , 〈…〉 Punishment , either Temporal , Spiritual , 〈…〉 Eternal , in this Life , or that to come : 〈…〉 Corinthians were Sick , and many Dead , a●… was for Contempt of the Lord's Supper ; 〈…〉 these are too often over-looked ; but ,

2. Such a Careless Neglect of the 〈…〉 Supper is oft attended with Spiritual●…ments ; as ,

1. For such Neglect God oft takes 〈…〉 the Means of Grace from them , as A●… 10 , 11 , 12. 't is a Prophecy of the Ca●… of the Ten Tribes , for their Despising 〈…〉 dinances of God , they slighted the 〈…〉 and behold they shall search the Whole 〈…〉 for a Prophet , but shall find none .

2. For such Neglect God leaves th●… a Spirit of Giddiness , to be led away 〈…〉 Error of the Wicked ; or , they settle 〈…〉 their Lees again , lose their First Lo●… because Luke-warm , lose their Hearts i●…tual Things , as Rev. 2.4 . Rev. 3 . 1. 〈…〉 16 , 17 , 18.

3. Eternal Judgments , 1 Cor . 11.29 . Dam●… on for him that eats and drinks unworthily : ●… d may we not say , he that slights and ●… lects , also incurs Eternal Damnation .

Application .

●… S this so , that such as Carelesly neglect 〈…〉 coming to the Lord's Table , incur great ●… lt , and Provoke God to Inflict upon them ●… e Punishments ?

〈…〉 . Use . Shall be of Reproof to Four sorts 〈…〉 Persons .

●… irst . This Reproves those which look up●… the Sacraments of the New Testament , to 〈…〉 Old Antiquated Ordinances , and of no use 〈…〉 to Christians : Are there not some who ●… e thrown away both the New Testament ●… aments , under pretence of More Spiritual ●… ainments ? Some will have no Baptism but ●… iritual Baptism ; nor no Supper , but a Feast ●… hin . 't is indeed strange , what such can 〈…〉 to say against Plain Gospel Commands : ●… st saith , Go , Baptize , Mat . 28.20 . These 〈…〉 , No Baptism , but that of the Spirit : and that Holy Apostle , Paul , must be brought 〈…〉 Pleading for them , 1 Cor . 14.15 , 17. C●… sent menot to Baptize , but to Preach , &c. S●… Paul did Baptize ; and , had it not been a●…vine Ordinance , he would not have done 〈…〉 at all : But Baptism was not his Main his Pri●…pal Work , but to Preach the Gospel , &c.

And then , as to the Lord's Supper ; the ●…postle tells us , 1 Cor . 11.26 . That it is to 〈…〉 forth the Lord's Death till he come ; not ti●… come in the Spirit , as the Day of Pentec●… some have weakly pretended ; but , till he 〈…〉 in the Clouds of Heaven , to Judge the Quic●… the Dead at the Last Day .

Secondly . This Reproves those which 〈…〉 and confess it to be an Ordinance of C●… yet seldom or never come at it , nor Wo●… God in it : What have such to say for t●… selves ? they will own , that Christ Insti●… this Ordinance , and that it 's a Duty to 〈…〉 on Christ in it , and yet never come at it 〈…〉 never take take any care to Prepare●…selves for it : Are not these Persons very●…ty , and even self condemned ? Read b●… Text , and Heb . 2.3 . How shall we escape neglect so great salvation .

Thirdly . This Reproves those , who they do come , do it seldom , rarely , 〈…〉 ●… ar , or twice a Year , serves their turns : ●… e Apostle saith , We must come often , 1 Cor . 〈…〉 26. and 〈◇〉 come seldom , very seldom ; ●… s Neglect is a great Sin .

Fourthly . This Reproves those who come , 〈…〉 come as oft as the Table is Furnish'd , but ●… e in a Careless ●●●ner ; without Humble , ●… o●s , and Solemn Preparation : O let such 〈…〉 and hear what the Apostle saith , 1 Cor . 11. 〈…〉 He that ●at●● and drinks unworthily , eates 〈…〉 drinks Damnation .

II . Use of Exhortation .

●… et me now speak , in the Name of God , to ●… y one of you ; If you have any desire to ●… ake of the Blessings of the Gospel , or to a●… the Judgments the Contempt of God's ●… nances will bring ; then I beseech you 〈…〉 this as a Serious Call from God to every 〈…〉 of you , to set about Serious and Solemn ●… ntance , and Hearty Refermation ; and , as ●… ves , Consider ,

Without Serious Repentance , and Re●… ation , the sad effect produced by Sin , and , ●… rticular , this Sin of Carelesly Neglecting ●… ord's Supper , can never be removed , Isa . 〈…〉 Let the wicked forsake his way , and the ●… teous Man his thoughts , and turn to the Lord , &c. Without this there can be no 〈…〉 of Mercy : You must Repent , and bed 〈…〉 Hubled for every Sin ; and , in particular 〈…〉 this Sin of slighting this Blessed Supper , 1 〈…〉 11.31 . If we would judge our selves , i . e . 〈…〉 mine , Accuse , Condemn , Find our Sin 〈…〉 Condemn our Selves for it ; and for eve●… all Iniquity far from us , Psal . 119 . 113. 〈…〉 12.10 , 11.

2. You that Carelesly Neglect this●…nance of the Lord's Supper , you neglect 〈…〉 as well as this , this is not all you have to 〈…〉 your selves with ; you dare not come 〈…〉 Lord's Table , because you Hear seldom , 〈…〉 seldom ; or do , what you do in Religion●…lesly ; not Hating Sin , not Examining 〈…〉 own Souls .

3. Your Neglect of this Ordinanc●… sad Sign there are some Sins you Love , a●… not willing to part with ; you have so 〈…〉 Sense , as to know , if you come to this●…nance , you must Reform ; therefore it 's 〈…〉 to your Darling Lusts , that keeps yo●… the Lord's Table .

4. A Constant and Careless Neglect 〈…〉 Lord's Supper , proves you , in a great 〈…〉 strangers to the state of your Souls . D●… know your Sins and your Wants , you 〈…〉 dare , from time to time , to turn your ●… s on this Ordinance .

●his makes it too evident , that you 〈…〉 great Love to Religion , nor to Jesus 〈…〉 , if you had , you durst not from time to time Carelesly Neglect that Ordinance , ●… ein the Death and Satisfaction of Christ ●… ther with his great Love in Dying for ●… ers , is Represented and held out to us .

Nor do you ever Seal to your Baptism , you come to the Lord's Table ; In Baptism , ●… nter into Covenant , and , at the Lord's ●… e we renew that Covenant ; now , to keep ●… rom the Lord's Supper from time to time , ●… s , as if we did Repent of our first entring 〈…〉 Covenant , and refuse to Renew our ●… enant with God .

●… nd therefore let me earnestly perswade 〈…〉 , to prepare your selves in an Humble , ●… ous manner , for the Lord's Table ; mistake ●… ot , I am not perswading you to come 〈…〉 over head , to come in your Sins ; but , to ●… are to come , to labour to fit your selves this Ordinance ; and that you may come ●… he Lord's Table Comfortably ,

●… xamin your selves , 1 Cor . 11.28 . Let a ●… n examin himself , and so let him eat of that ●… d , and drink of that cup . Now there are Five Things we must carefully Exam●… selves about , and labour to find in our 〈…〉 in order to our Comfortable Coming 〈…〉 Lord's Table .

1. We must have Knowledge to 〈…〉 the Lord's Body , 1 Cor . 11.29 . W●… know the Nature , End and Use of●…cramental Elements ; and how Jesus 〈…〉 and the Benefits of his Death , is H●… Represented , and Sealed thereby .

2. We must Examine our Faith ; ●…ther we Believe in Christ , and , by 〈…〉 Feed on him , 2 Cor . 15. Examine 〈…〉 whether you be in the Faith , &c. A●… not a bare Beliefe of the Article of 〈…〉 That Christ is the Son of God , the Savi●… World : Devils and Ungodly Sinners 〈…〉 that ; but , it must be such a Faith as●…fies the Heart , Acts 15.9 . and 〈…〉 Love .

3. We must Examine our selves ●… our Repentance ; A Loathing of S●… our Selves for it , Zech . 12.10 . T●… ●…pentance is a Mourning for Sin ; A●…ing of Sin , and a Turning from all 〈…〉 God , Isa . 55.1 .

4. Another Thing to be Enquired 〈…〉 order to your Coming to the Lord's Ta●… is , Whether you Truly and Sincerely ●… e God , Jesus Christ , and God's Peo●… , Cant . 1.1 . Shew me , O thou whom my 〈…〉 loveth , Acts 2.46 , 47. 1 Cor . 10. 〈…〉 , 17.

5. New and Sincere Obedience to the ●… spel , 1 Cor . 6.7 , 8. Purge out therefore 〈…〉 Old Leven , that you may be a New Lump , ●… c .

This is what you are earnestly to beg of ●… od to give , and when you find your Hearts ●… d Lives thus prepared , as that you can but ●… y , in Sincerity , That you hate all Sin , and ●… e willing to leave it ; And you do Sincere●… desire to Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ , ●… ngering and Thirsting after Union , Com●… union , and Likeness with him , and to him , ●… a 55.1 . Mat . 5.6 . When you can Love ●… ur Enemies heartily , Forgive , and Patient●… Forbear Injuries , Mat . 5.23 , 24. Mourn●… g for Secret Sins , Vain Thoughts , Dead●… ess , Lukewarmness , and Indifferency in ●… eligion ; and Resolving to Live the rest 〈…〉 your Days to the Honour and Glory of ●… od , then may you come Comfortably to ●… e Lord's Table .

This you are to do Speedily , Delays are Dangerous ; you are not to keep off 〈…〉 the Lord's Table because you are Si●… but do as Commanded , Isa . 55.1 : L●… Wicked forsake his way , and the Unrig●… Man his thoughts , and turn to the Lord .