Twenty-Nine Lectures, Lecture 4
The fourth Lecture of the Church.
THe third generall Point which we propounded to bee handled, before we came to the handling of the Queſtion was concerning the nature of the Church which we defined in this wiſe, To be the whole company of Gods Choſen in heauen and in earth. We ſhewed, that that part of Gods Church which is in heauen, contained as well Angels as men, and therefore we ſpake of them by themſelues, and proued that the Angels were a part of Gods Church as well as men: then we came to ſpeake of that part of Gods Church which conſiſts of men; and in handling this Point, we propounded three things to be ſpoken too; Firſt, to ſpeake of that part of Gods Church conſiſting of men which are in heauen by themſelues: Secondly, of thoſe which are in earth by themſelues. Thirdly, of both thoſe which are in heauen, and which are in earth together. Concerning the firſt, we hauehave ſpoken and ſhewed, that Heauen is the place of receipt for all Gods choſen after their departure out of this life.
Now we are to ſpeake of the ſecond, namely,Secondly, thoſe which are in earth. that part of Gods Church, conſiſting of men which are on earth, and ſo to proceede to the third Point. And firſt of that part of Gods Church on earth. For although there be the ſame choſen now in heauen, which ſometime were on earth, and the ſame now in earth, which ſometime ſhall be in heauen; ſo that the Church or Choſen in heauen doe not make a ſeuerall Church by themſelues, nor thoſe in earth a ſeuerall Church by themſelues, but both together make one and the ſame Church: yet becauſe there are ſome particular conſiderations incident to that in heauen, which they on earth hauehave not yet attained to; and likewiſe ſome other particular conſiderations incident to that on earth, which they in heauen hauehave already paſſed from, therefore each of them is to be handled by it ſelfe; and therefore hauing ſpoken of that part of Gods Church which is in heauen before, now wee are to ſpeake of that on earth. I ſhall not need to define this on earth, becauſe it is apparantly defined before in the generall: for if that were the whole company of Gods Choſen in heauen and in earth, then this muſt needes bee the whole company of Gods Choſen liuing on earth.
Doctr. All that I will ſpeake concerning this Point, ſhall be contriued into one obſeruation, and that is this; namely, That God alwayes hath had from the beginning, and hath now, and ſhall hauehave to the worlds end a company of Choſen people vponupon earth, belonging to him, calling vponupon him, beleeuing in him, and worſhipping him in ſpirit and truth. You ſee that the obſeruation conſiſts of three parts: firſt, that God euer had; ſecondly, that he hath now; and thirdly, that he ſhall hauehave to the worlds end a Company, &c. Firſt, God alwayes had. In matters of fact, examples are fitteſt and ſtrongeſt proofes; this being then a matter of fact already done, it is beſt to be prooued by examples taken out of Hiſtories of ſeuerall times: we will begin with the firſt beginning; God had his Church in Paradiſe. How prooue you that? Why firſt there was God, the Preacher; ſecondly, there was our firſt Parents Adam and Eue, the hearers; and thirdly, there was the Word and Commandement, Gen. 2.16, 17. There is the Doctrine of ſaluation, and the ſtrict forme and manner of worſhip preſcribed by God, which he will bee honoured by. Now what is here wanting to the full being of a true Church? For here is a Paſtor, and a People, and the Word, and ſuch a Word as is fitting for their ſaluation: Therefore in Paradiſe God had his Church. Alſo out of Paradiſe God ſtill had his Church: for there is ſtill the ſame Preacher God; the ſame hearers, Adam and Eue; the Doctrine of ſaluation, though not the ſame it was before; yet here is that Doctrine of ſaluation fitting their preſent ſtate and condition, a Doctrine of repentance, and of puniſhment of ſinne, and ſpecially the Doctrine of the Goſpell, a Doctrine of Faith in Chriſt, Geneſ. 3.16. The Seede of the Woman ſhall breake the Serpents head: ſo here God had his Church ſtill.Hyper. 535. To paſſe from them to Abel; there was Abels ſacrificing, and his Faith, and there was Gods preſence and acceptance, as we may ſee, Gen. 4.4. compared with Heb. 11.4. Now where theſe are, there is a true Church. Afterward in the time of Seth it is ſaid, Gen. 4 25. that then men began to call vponupon the Name of the Lord; that is, men did then begin more zealouſly to worſhip God: ſo here God had his Church ſtill. Let vsus paſſe from Seth to Enoch; It is ſaid of him, that he walked with God, beleeued in God, and that he pleaſed God, Geneſ. 5.24. Heb. 11.5. Now where there are men walking with God, beleeuing in him, and pleaſing him, there is a true Church. So in the time of Noah, Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, and in the time of the Patriarches, God had his Church ſtill, Heb. 11.6, 7, &c. to the end of the Chapter; there the ſucceſſion of the Church in the faithfull is ſet downe, as it were of purpoſe to proue this Point which we hauehave in hand, namely, that God had a Church from the beginning of the world. To proue this Point further, we will omit to ſpeake of the flouriſhing times of the Church (for of them there is no queſtion, there being then not embracers onelyonly of the heauenly truth, but profeſſors too in great number) and we will inſtance in thoſe times that were moſt obſcure, when there was the leaſt likelihood of a Church; and if we can prooue that God had his Church in thoſe times, then the Point will be prooued, that God hath alwayes had a Church. We will therefore inſtance in them; firſt, at the Flood, when all fleſh had corrupted their wayes, Gen. 6.12. and that the earth was filled with cruelty, Verſ. 13. yet in that deſperate time there was found Noah, a iuſt and vpright man in that generation, Verſ. 9. So God had his Church then. Let vsus paſſe from theſe times, and come to the bondage and ſlauery of the Children of Iſrael in Egypt when Gods peculiar people were in the hands of a moſt prophane, idolatrous, and cruell Nation, ſo that they had neither liberty, nor time, nor meanes of Gods true worſhip; yet as there was a light in Goſhen, when palpable darkneſſe was ouer all the Land of Egypt beſides; ſo when all the World was ouerwhelmed with groſſe ignorance, ſinne, and error, yet then God had his Church: amongſt the Iſraelites there were ſome Midwiues fearing God, Exod. 1.21. and there were ſome that cryed, and prayed, and ſighed to God, and were heard of him, Exod. 2.23, 24. So God had his Church in thoſe times. Likewiſe in the dayes of Elias, when the Church was brought to a low ebbe, the Prophet could ſee no more left but himſelf (and yet he had eyes to diſcerne it) yet he was a true worſhipper of God,Vogel. 751. and ſo God had his true Church then, if there had been no more then he, 1. King. 19.10. But the Lord ſaw ſeuen thouſand more that were true worſhippers, and had not bowed their knee to Baal, verſ. 18. In this deſperate time when they killed Gods Prophets, and brake downe his Altars, and ſought the life of Elias, yet in this very time God had his Church, and a flouriſhing one too in his eyes, though men could not diſcerne it. Afterward in that generall Apoſtaſie, when Iſrael and Iudah were both fallen from God; yet here is a true Church ſtill; here was one out of a Citie, and two out of a Tribe to worſhip God, Ier. 3.13, 14. So in the Captiuity of Babylon, when the Church is quite ouerwhelmed as it were, Ieruſalem was ſo diſtreſſed, Religion defaced, all turned into a miſerable deſolation, ſo as there was neuer the like: Is there any ſorrow like vntounto my ſorrow (ſaith the Prophet, ſpeaking in the behalfe of the Church, Lam. 1.12.) yet then God had his Church, there were both teachers and embracers, as Ieremy, Haggai, Zechariah, and Daniel, and many others. At our Sauiours comming in the fleſh, when the Law and the Temple, Prieſts and people, the Church and Common-wealth were vtterly corrupted and defiled, yet ſtill God had his Church; there was Zachary and Elizabeth, Ioſeph and Marie, Simeon and Anna, true beleeueres and right worſhippers of God. Laſtly, in the height of the pride of Antichriſt, the abomination of deſolation ſtanding in the holy place for many hundred yeeres, when all the Nations in the earth were made drunke with the Cup of fornications by the Whore of Babylon, the Synagogue of Rome, yet God had ſome from time to time that lothed her golden Cup; ſome that were not defiled with her fornications, but kept themſelues pure Virgins, and a chaſte Spouſe to the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, ſweetly embracing his ſauing truth. And ſo much for proofe of the firſt part of the obſeruation, That God alwayes had a Church and company of choſen people, &c.
The ſecond part is, that as God euer hath had, ſo he now hath a Church, &c. I ſhall not neede to ſpeake much for proofe of this point; for it cannot be denied, but that (bleſſed be God) there be many flouriſhing Churches at this day in Germany, France, England and Scotland; many in all theſe places that worſhip God in Spirit and Truth; yea vnderunder Popery no doubt but there are many true Chriſtians: yea euen amongſt the Turkes, and Iewes, and Infidels I doubt not, but that there are ye… remaining ſome that worſhip God with vsus: no queſtion but there are ſome ſparkes of fire amongſt thoſe burnt aſhes; ſome poliſhed ſtones of theſe decayed Churches; ſome gold amongſt all that droſſe; ſome that ſerue the Lord, amongſt ſo many thouſand ſeruants of ſinne and ſlaues of Sathan; we hauehave many inſtances now at this day of ſome that liue vnderunder Popery, and amongſt the Iewes, that profeſſe our Religion. So the ſecond part is proued, that God now hath his Church and choſen people.
The laſt part, and ſhall hauehave to the worlds end, &c. Wee cannot prooue this point by examples as we did the former, becauſe it is not yet throughly fulfilled; yet wee hauehave as ſure proofes for it, as examples; we hauehave Gods own Word for it, and that which God hath ſpoken is as ſure, as if it were already done; and therefore the Prophets deliuer many predictions in the Preterperfect Tenſe, as if they were already done, becauſe of the certaintie of it. I ſay wee hauehave Gods Word for proofe of this point, Pſal. 132.13, 14. For the Lord hath choſen Sion, and loueth to dwell in it, ſaying, this is my Reſt for euer, here will I dwell, &c. God will dwell and reſt and that for euer in his Church; as himſelfe is for euer, ſo his Church is for euer. So Math. 28.20. I am with you euer, euen to the worlds end. It is more then if hee had ſaid, I wilbe with you, &c. It is as much as if he had ſaid thus; As ſure as I am actually preſent with you now, ſo I will ſtill continue vntounto the very end of the world. And whereas in reſpect of his bodily preſence it was nor ſo, becauſe he was to aſcend into heauen; yet by his Spirit hee is with vsus effectually to all ſauing purpoſes, Ioh. 14.16. I will pray the Father, and he ſhall giuegive you another comforter, that he may abide with you for euer, verſ. 17. euen the Spirit of Truth, &c. And whereas there are many oppoſers of Gods Church, men and Deuils, and many times they hauehave a great hand ouer the Church; yet they are ſtill bridled and curbed, and the Church ſtill ſo protected and defended, that the gates of Hell ſhall neuer preuaile againſt it, that is, vtterly to diſanull it, Math. 16.18. There are many other proofes for this Point, but becauſe we ſhall ſpeake of them in the Reaſons, therefore we will paſſe to them.
The Reaſons of the point (that God euer had, now hath, and ſhall hauehave a Church to the worlds end) are theſe.
Reaſ. 1 Firſt, we hauehave Gods promiſe for it, who is truth and cannot lie. If that be too little, we hauehave his Oath for it, wherein it is impoſſible he ſhould lie, Pſal. 132.11, 12. The Lord hath ſworne in Truth to Dauid, and will not ſhrinke from it, ſaying, of the fruit of thy Body will I ſet vp thy throne for euer. He hath ſworne it, and will not ſhrinke from it, that is, hee will not recant: which although it be typically ſpoken of Dauid and his ſeede, yet in truth & ſubſtance of it, it is intended of Chriſt and his Church. The ſame promiſe is renewed, Ier. 33.17, 18. where it is ſaid, that Dauid ſhall neuer want a man to ſit vponupon the Throne of the houſe of Iſrael. And in the 20. and 21. verſes, it is ſaid, If yee can breake my Couenant of the day, and my Couenant of the night, then my Couenant may bee broken with Dauid my Seruant. Giuing vsus to vnderſtand, that his promiſe is irreuocable; ſo long as there is day, or ſo long as there is night on the earth, ſo long the Lord will hauehave his Church on earth; his Word and his Promiſe cannot be broken; no, ſaith our Sauiour, Heauen and Earth may faile, but my Word ſhall neuer faile: therefore he hauing paſſed his Word for the continuance of his Church for euer, it ſhall continue for euer in deſpight of all her aduerſaries.
Secondly, the ſauing Truth and doctrine of ſaluation Reaſ. 2 ſhall neuer periſh from the earth: therefore the Church that is the pillar of Truth ſhal neuer be aboliſhed from the earth, If the truth of God could faile, then the Church might faile; but that can neuer faile, for ſtill there ſhall be ſome witneſſes of Gods Truth, to feele the ſauing power of it in themſelues, and to teſtifie it to others; and therefore the Church ſhall neuer faile.
The third Reaſon is taken from Gods Fatherly Care ouer Reaſ. 3 his Church, euen for their owne ſakes; becauſe he loues them, and they are deare to him as the Apple of his eye: and therefore they ſhall neuer be all deſtroyed, except the Lord could forget his owne people, his dearlings, which is impoſſible.
Fourthly, he doth preſerue his Church on earth for the Reaſ. 4 worlds ſake, that muſt ſtand till the appointed time of diſſolution; but it cannot ſtand longer then the faithfull are in it, for whoſe ſake onelyonly it is vpholden; for the holy ſeed is the ſubſtance of the world, as I ſhewed Iſa. 6.13. and therefore, ſo long as the world ſtands, they cannot be vtterly deſtroyed.
Fiftly, the Church on earth is the Nurſerie for heauen; Reaſ. 5 now in heauen are many manſions to be filled vp eueryevery day, therefore there muſt be a continuall ſupply from the Nurſery on earth.
Sixthly, there muſt be a continuall warre betwixt the Reaſ. 6 ſeed of the Serpent, and the ſeed of the woman, Gen. 3.15. betwixt the wicked and the godly; therefore as the wicked, ſeed of the Serpent and the ſeed of the Woman, Gen. 3.15. betwixt the wicked and the godly; therefore as the wicked, the Serpents ſeed, ſhalbe alwayes on earth; ſo likewiſe the faithfull, the womans ſeed, ſhalbe alwaies on earth too.
Vſe 1 The vſes: Firſt, this ſhewes the antiquity of the Church, that it hath been from the beginning. Truth is elder then falſhood, righteouſneſſe was before ſinne, Gods Church is ancienter then all prophane Aſſemblies whatſoeuer: Caine is ancient being of the malignant Church; but his Parents, the Church in Paradiſe is ancienter. Eue and Adam harkened to the voice of the Serpent, and ſo committed ſinne ſoone after the Creation; yet there was a time before their fall, when they beleeued, and reſted on God and his Word, and were righteous. The Diuell is a Lier from the beginning, yet Gods Truth was in the beginning before that …ie; elſe it could not hauehave been peruerted with his Lye. This ſerues, firſt, to ſtop the mouth of all Gainſaiers, and aduerſaries of Gods Church, that Charge vsus with nouelty, to bee a new ſect, and challenge antiquitie to themſelues, that they are the ancient and true Church, which are both lies, for they are the nouelliſts, not wee. We are from the beginning, before they had any being; ſo that we are more ancient then they, and their religion is nouelty, and a new Sect. Secondly, it may ſerue to confirme vsus in the vndoubted aſſurance of the Truth, and of that Faith and Religion which we profeſſe. That which is moſt ancient is moſt true, as being immediatly and originally from the pure Fountaine, the pure hands of God himſelfe, who is the ancient of dayes. And contrarily, all Religions which are leſſe ancient, are from ſome corrupt Channels, degenerate from the originall ſinceritie. Now our Religion which we profeſſe is moſt ancient and moſt pure; and therefore let all contrary Doctrines and Religions hide their heads, and be aſhamed of themſelues, and yeeld the preheminence of pure Truth to our Religion that is moſt true and rightly ancient.
Vſe 2 Secondly, as this ſhewes the Antiquitie of the Church, ſo likewiſe it proues the perpetuity of it. As it was from the beginning of the world, ſo it ſhall continue by ſucceſſion to the end of the world, as it was before all other Congregations, ſo it ſhall ſee the riſing and fall of all other Congregations; but it ſelfe ſhall continue one and the ſame by a continuall ſucceſſion: where the Fathers are gone, there Children ſhall ſtand vp in their ſteads, and ſo Childrens Children to the worlds end. There ſhall bee many changes and alterations from time to time, yet ſtill there ſhall bee a Church in all theſe changes. If the Church faile in Paradiſe, it ſhall be found out of Paradiſe: If Iſrael fall away, yet Iudah ſhall ſtand: If the Iewes bee caſt off, yet the Gentiles ſhalbe taken in: Though Popery, Turciſme, and Iudaiſme, and Paganiſme abound and fill the world, and are vp in Armes againſt the Church, yet there are ſome corners in the world that God hath reſerued to ſhelter his Church in, wherein they ſhall be preſerued both from their perſecution and infection.
The third Vſe, Is matter of Comfort to the faithfull; Vſe 3 Firſt, in regard of themſelues, for they are the onelyonly people of continuance that are in the world, they onelyonly are ſure of their eſta…e, and none elſe. It is true, that the wicked may flouriſh a long time in great proſperitie like to a greene Bay Tree; but in time, and ſometimes very quickly, they ſhall vaniſh away like ſmoke, and conſume as the fat of Lambes, and nothing ſhall remaine of them: but the faithfull ſhall ſtand faſt for euer, Pſal. 102.28. they may be afflicted, perſecuted, and diſtreſſed on eueryevery ſide; yet they ſhall neuer be forſaken, nor giuen ouer vtterly as a prey to their enemies. If the wicked murder ſome of them, yet God wil hauehave ſome of them remaine ſtill: let perſecutours draw out the blood of Gods Children as long as they will or can, yet ſtill there ſhalbe found ſome that will offer themſelues to their bloody hands for the maintenance of Gods Truth: as ſome are taken away, God will ſtill ſend them a new ſupply. So then it is Comfort to them in regard of themſelues, that they ſhall neuer periſh.
Secondly, it is comfort to them in regard of their poſterity, and of the Church after them; they need not ſay on their deathbeds as worldlings doe, What ſhall become of my Children and goods after I am gone; they need not ſay ſo of their ſpirituall goods; let God alone with them, leaue them to him, the faithfull ſeed ſhall bee preſerued and vpholden by his Fatherly prouidence to the worlds end, and the gates of Hell ſhall not preuaile againſt them. And as for the Truth of God, the Goſpell and the graces of the Spirit, which themſelues are ſeized on in their life time, God will diſpoſe of them to the right heires, heires of his owne begetting add raiſing vp; he will find heires for them ſucceſſiuely from age to age to the laſt end. Then Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe ſhall come, and hee ſhall ſtand laſt; vponupon the earth, and ſo the Church ſhall be the firſt and the laſt; The firſt Adam, the firſt man on earth, beginning the Church on earth; And the ſecond Adam, the laſt man vponupon the earth, finiſhing it vp by his perſonall preſence, hauing continued and maintained it by his owne power from the firſt beginning to the worlds end. And ſhall the Church hauehave an end then? No, though all things bee then at an end, yet the Church ſhall not yet be at an end: but as it is for euer here, ſo it ſhall continue for euer in heauen too, and that in a farre ſafer, and happier, and more glorious eſtate, then euer it did in this world, Pſal. 102.28.
Vſe 4 The fourth Vſe is for diſcouragement to wicked men and Perſecutors, in that which they doe againſt Gods Church. What can they doe againſt it, roote it out, as many times they ſay they will? No, doe they what they can by themſelues, by their Inſtruments, they can neuer roote it out; Let Kings, and Rulers, and Gentiles, and people fret, and rage, and band themſelues together againſt the Lord, and againſt his Annointed, it is to no purpoſe, they ſhall not preuaile; it is all but the imagination of a vaine thing, Pſal. 2.1. Yet I wil tell them what they ſhal preuaile in; they ſhal preuaile thus farre to make the Church more in number, and more zealous for God, and conſtant in his truth, contrary to their end. For behold, when they hauehave done what they can againſt the faithfull, when they hauehave burnt them to aſhes, God will raiſe out of thoſe very aſhes a new ſeed to call vponupon his Name, and the blood of the Saints ſhed ſhall fatten the Church, and make it more fruitfull, and be a cauſe of the greater increaſe of the Faithfull. It is a vaine thing therefore for them to threaten them, and to ſay (as many times they doe) that they will root out theſe Profeſſors. It is more then they can do, nay it is more then the Diuell (their good Maſter) can doe himſelfe, and therefore let them neuer thinke to doe it.
Fiftly, this teacheth vsus not to Iudge of the Church by Vſe 5 ſight or appearance; It hath a being euen when it can hardly be diſcerned; reſt rhou vponupon this vndoubted Truth, that ſurely ſuch an one there is; where or how, &c. leaue that to God; for it may be hid from our ſight, euen as the Corne is amongſt the chaffe, ſo that we cannot diſcerne it, and yet it may hauehave a being. And ſo much for that Point.
Now wee come to ſpeake of the third Point, namely,Thirdly, of thoſe which are in heauen and earth both together. of the Church of God, conſiſting of men in heauen and in earth together. I will deſcribe it by certaine qualities and circumſtances, ſuch as may preſent and make it plaine to eueryevery mans view. And becauſe it is an Article of our Faith, and now that we are entred into it, it is needfull to ſpeake of all that is neceſſary for vsus to beleeue concerning this Point;The matter of this reduced to ſixe Heads, all raiſed out of the Article of the Creed, I beleeue the holy Catholike Church. therefore we will fetch theſe qualities from that Article in the Creede that concernes the Church; I beleeue the holy Catholike Church: and I will reduce all the matter we are here to ſpeake of to theſe ſixe Heads; Firſt, that the Church is one; ſecondly, that it is holy; thirdly, that it is Catholike; Fourthly, that it is ioyned to Chriſt; Fiftly, that they hauehave a Communion one with another; and ſixtly, that they are knowne onelyonly to God and themſelues; and all theſe are raiſed out of the Article in the Creed. That it is one, therefore it is ſaid the Church, not Churches; and the Nicen Creed which was penned after this ſaith, I beleeue one. That it is holy and Catholike, ſo it is ſaid in expreſſe wordes: that it is ioyned to Chriſt, and that they hauehave a Communion among themſelues; both theſe are intended when it is ſaid, they are a Communion of Saints. Laſtly, that they are knowne onelyonly to God and themſelues. How is this gathered hence? Why thus; becauſe it is ſaid, I beleeue it. Now that which wee beleeue is not ſeene; and therefore this Article muſt not be expounded of a viſible Church, as the Papiſts would hauehave it.
Doctr. Firſt Head, It is but one.Now firſt of the firſt note; It is but one; for ſo the Nicen Creed for plaineneſſe ſake ads this particle, one. We will draw it into an obſeruation, and that is this, namely, That all the faithfull that euer were, or ſhall be either in heauen or in earth, doe make vp but one onelyonly Church. It is prooued thus. The Scripture, when it ſpeakes of the true Church in the generall true nature of it, ſpeakes in the ſingular number, Eph. 5.27, 32. that he might make it a glorious Church, &c. This I ſpeake concerning Chriſt, and concerning his Church. And Math. 16.18. vponupon this Rocke will I build my Church. It is true that the Scripture ſpeakes ſometime in the plurall number of Churches, as the Apoſtle Paul 1. Cor. 11.16. we hauehave no ſuch cuſtome, nor the Churches of God; but then it ſpeakes of particular viſible Congregations: but of the generall Catholike Church it ſpeakes alwayes in the ſingular number, as being but one, and ſo expreſſely aſcribes oneneſſe to it, Cant. 6 8. Chriſt ſaith to his Church, My LoueLove, my Doue, &c. Eph. 4.4. there is one body, &c. The Church hath a threefold oneneſſe; it is one in it ſelfe, it is one with Chriſt, and it hath an oneneſſe amongſt the members. In this place we ſpeake but of the oneneſſe it hath in it ſelfe; of the other two we ſhall ſpeake in their due place.The Church hath a threefold oneneſſe. That it is one in it ſelfe, therefore it is called the houſe of God, not houſes; the temple of God, not temples; as in the time of the Law there was but one Tabernacle, and afterwards but one Temple, whereto all the people came, Leuitic. 17.3, 4. Deut. 21 5. and 16.2. 2. Chron. 2.4. ſo now there is but one onelyonly Church of the faithfull.
Reaſ. 1 The Reaſons of the Point are theſe: The firſt is taken out of Epheſ. 4.4, 5. there are many reaſons heaped together; there is but one Spirit, therefore but one Church, as there is but one ſoule, and therefore but one man. There is but one hope, at which all Gods people ioyntly aime, and therefore they are one corporation; one Lord, and therefore one family; one Faith, which is the life of the Church, and if there be but one life, then there can be but one Church; one Baptiſme, and therefore but one Promiſe and Couenant, which all doe make to God as one man.
Secondly, the Church is the Body of Chriſt, Epheſ. 5.23. Reaſ. 2 and Chriſt he is the Head of the Church; and therefore as there is but one Chriſt, ſo there is but one Church; elſe wee ſhould make a monſter of Chriſt, to ſay he hath one head and many bodies. Againe, the Church is the Spouſe of Chriſt, and he is her Husband, as is implyed, Verſ. 25. Now, Chriſt ſhould hauehave many wiues, if there were many Churches, which is abſurd; and therefore there is but one Church ſtill.
Thirdly, they hauehave all one Shepheard, and therefore they Reaſ. 3 are all but one Sheepefold, Ioh. 10.16.
Fourthly, they are all partakers of one Bread, and therefore Reaſ. 4 but one body, 1. Cor. 10.17.
Fifthly, all the differences that are betwixt them are aboliſhed Reaſ. 5 by Chriſt; and therefore they are but one, Epheſ. 2.14. Gal. 3.28.
The Vſes are theſe. Firſt, this teacheth vsus the vnchangeableneſſe Vſe 1 of Gods heauenly Truth, and of the courſe of ſaluation, becauſe there is but one Church ſtill, and therefore but one Truth ſtill, it is vnchangeable, there is but one Truth and courſe of ſaluation from the beginning to the end of the World: the diſpenſation or manner of carriage hath been ſome what different; ſometimes it hath been carried darkly, ſometimes clearely; ſometimes in ceremonies, ſometimes without ceremonies; ſometime by the Law, ſometime by the Goſpell; by Tradition (as before the Law) by reuelation, and by Scripture: yet the ſubſtance was euer one and the ſame; the ſame Faith and courſe of ſaluation that Adam was ſaued by before the Flood, and Noah in the Flood, and Abraham before the Law, and Dauid vnderunder the Law, and the Apoſtles whileſt Chriſt was on earth; the ſame ſaith are we and all the faithfull ſaued by from Chriſts aſcenſion till his returne to Iudgement. And therefore that is a damnable doctrine that ſome hold, that eueryevery man ſhall bee ſaued by his owne Religion, whatſoeuer it be, if he bee zealous in it: no, diuers Religions make diuers Churches; but there is but one Church to be ſaued, and therefore but one Truth and Religion to be ſaued by.
Vſe 2 Secondly, Is the Church but one? Then wee ſhould labour to maintaine the oneneſſe of the Church, to keepe the vnitie of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Epheſ. 4.3. Beware of factions and diuiſions, either of making or following them: for they are the very bane of this oneneſſe of the Church; and take heed of pride and ſingularitie, for that is the common Mother and Nurſe of diſſenſions and rents in the Church; and doe not receiue the Word with reſpect of perſons, as when one ſaith, I am of Paul, another, I am of Apollos, &c. What is Paul? and what is Apollos? but Miniſters by whom yee beleeue. They teach one Faith; they preach one and the ſame Chriſt crucified; they hauehave receiued one and the ſame miniſtration; therefore embrace them all as one Miniſtry of one and the ſame Church. What if God beſtow diuers gifts on diuers perſons, and one more excellent then another? Wilt thou abuſe Gods gifts to the making of rents and factions in the Church? No, thou muſt know that thou art bound to profit the more by him that hath more gifts, and to glorifie God the more for them, and not to dote vponupon them, and maintaine Sects by them: for that is not the end why God giues them, but it is the malice of the Diuell that doth thus abuſe them to a wrong end.
Vſe 3 Thirdly, this reprooues the Papiſts; for they make two Heads, and conſequently two Churches: except they will make a monſter of the Church to hauehave two Heads, and but one body. Yea, but ſay they, the Pope is the Head of the Church in earth. I am ſure hee is not Head of the Church in heauen, and therefore not Head of the Church on earth; for they make but one Church, and therefore can hauehave but one Head. Some of the Ieſuites hauing been preſſed with this Argument, and not knowing how to anſwer it, hauehave affirmed, that the Pope is Head of the Church in heauen; ſo groſſe and blaſphemous hauehave they been. So the Turkes and the Iewes that erect Churches of their owne, and hauehave no fellowſhip with this Church, they are not the true Church, nor hauehave any part in this oneneſſe of the Church; and whatſoeuer they are that hauehave no part in this Church, they are none of Gods Church, but of the Synagogue of Satan.
Fourthly,Difference of circumſtances doe not cut off from the true Church; as, Firſt, of ſtates. this teacheth that difference in matters of circumſtance Vſe 4 doe not cut off from the true Church, but holding one Faith with them, wee are ſtill in the vnitie of one Church. Firſt, difference of ſtates doe not cut off from the true Church: though ſome Churches are greater, ſome ſmaller, though ſome are in their cradle, others in their full age, ſome before Chriſt, others after Chriſt, ſome purer, ſome impurer; yea though ſome be in heauen triumphing, other ſome in earth fighting; yet all are but one Church, all are the ſame Wheate threſhed in the floore, and laid vp in the Garner, and the ſame Gold digged out of the Mine with ſome droſſe, and tried and fined by the fire. Secondly,Secondly, of times. difference of times doe not cut off from the true Church, before the Law, vnderunder the Law, and after the Law; the firſt and the laſt Churches all are one. Thirdly,Thirdly, of perſons. nor the difference of Perſons, Iewes and Gentiles, bond and free, male and female, poore and rich, all are one in Chriſt Ieſus. Fourthly,Fourthly, of place. nor yet difference of place, Ieruſalem, Antioch, Corinth, England, France, Denmarke; yea Paradiſe, Earth and Heauen, all are but one Church. Fifthly,Fifthly, of ceremonies. nor yet difference of Ceremonies, ſome worſhipping at one time and place, ſome in one habit, ſome in another; ſo long as all worſhip in Spirit and Truth, they are but one Church. Sixthly,Sixtly, of iudgement in Points not abſolutely fundamentall. no nor yet difference of iudgement, in Points not abſolutely fundamentall, doe not cut off from the true Church; ſo long as all hold Chriſt Ieſus, he is the head-corner-ſtone that knits them all together into one building. So much of the oneneſſe of the Church it ſelfe.
Second Head; The Church is holy.The ſecond Note or qualitie of the Church is. That it is holy. Wee will draw it into an obſeruation, as wee did the former, and that is this, Namely; That the whole Company of the faithfull both in heauen and in earth are a holy Company and eueryevery part and member thereof is holy; 1. Pet. 2.9. They are called a holy nation; and in the fift Verſe, a holy Prieſthood. And it is ſaid of Ieruſalem, that it is a holy Citie; not that in heauen onelyonly, Reuelat. 21.2. but that on earth too, Math. 4.5. And in Epheſ. 5.27. the Church is ſaid to be holy and without blame, &c. And hence it is, that thoſe which are parts and members of the Church are called Saints, and Saints on earth, as Pſal. 16.3. And ſo the whole Congregation is called the Congregation of Saints, Pſalm. 89.5. And their Head and Ruler is the King of Saints; and they are not holy in profeſſion onelyonly, for ſo are hypocrites too, that are no part of the true Church; but they are holy indeede, they are truly ſanctified; therefore the Apoſtle calls them holy brethren Heb. 3.1. And this Holineſſe is partly imputed, Heb. 10.10. We are ſanctified by the offering of the body of Ieſus Chriſt. And Coloſ. 1.21, 21. And partly inherent, 1. Theſſ. 5.23. Now the very God of peace ſanctifie you throughout, &c. this is begun here, but not perfected till we hauehave put off this body of ſinne.
Reaſ. 1 The Reaſons of this Point are theſe, Firſt God the Father being moſt holy himſelfe, he ſanctifies his Church, and eueryevery member of it, and ſo makes them holy; this Chriſt praies for, Ioh. 17.17. ſanctifie them with thy truth, &c. Iude. 1. ſanctified of God the Father, &c. and therefore they are holy.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, Chriſt their Head is holy, and he ſanctifies, and makes them holy, 1. Cor. 1.2. ſanctified in Chriſt Ieſus; and in the thirtieth verſe he is ſaid to be their ſanctification. And Eph. 5.25.26. Chriſt gaue himſelfe for his Church, that hee might ſanctifie it.
Reaſ. 3 Thirdly, the Spirit whereby they are enliuened, quickened, and ruled, is the holy Ghoſt, and he ſanctifies them and makes them holy, 1. Cor. 6.11. but now yee are ſanctified by the Spirit of our God, and Rom. 15.16.
Fourthly, the Word whereby they are gathered, and the Reaſ. 4 ſeed whereby they are begotten, is a holy Word, 2. Pet. 2.21. It is called the holy Commandement, and therefore they muſt needs be holy.
Fifthly, the effects which they feele in themſelues are Reaſ. 5 holy effects, holy motions, and holy deſires, holy life, and holy obedience, and their ſpirituall life (that is to ſay, their faith) is moſt holy, Iude 20. therefore they are holy.
Sixtly, they are choſen to Holineſſe. 1. Pet. 1.2. and therefore Reaſ. 6 they are holy.
Seuenthly, they are regenerate and borne again to Holineſſe; Reaſ. 7 and therefore cannot ſinne, 1. Ioh. 3.9. and Eph. 2.9. we are created in Chriſt Ieſus to good works: and therefore muſt needes be holy.
The vſes are theſe: Firſt, this ſhewes the eſſentiall difference Vſe 1 betwixt Gods Church, and all other Congregations whatſoeuer: For this is holy, and all other are vnholy. And this Holyneſſe carries a kind of Reciprocation with Gods Church; for eueryevery Church of God is truly holy, and eueryevery Congregation that is holy is the true Church of God. And ſo whereſoeuer there bee any men or women that bee truly holy, though they be out of the knowne Church, yet they are liuing members of the true Catholike Church. And on the contrary, whereſoeuer there are any that are not holy, though they liue in the viſible Church, and are in great place, and of great gifts; yet they are no members of the true Church of God. So then here is the triall whether we be of the true Church or not; if wee hauehave holineſſe in our hearts and in our deſires, then wee are of the true Church, elſe we are not. But you will ſay, Is eueryevery one holy that is of the true Church? I anſwer; Yes, in ſome meaſure, firſt or laſt.
Secondly, this ſhould teach vsus to labour for Holineſſe, Vſe 2 without which we ſhall neuer ſee God to our Comfort in heauen, nor by faith here on earth, Pſal. 15.1, 2, &c. The Prophet askes this Queſtion; Lord, who ſhall dwell in thy Tabernacle, or who ſhall reſt in thy holy Mountaine? The anſwer is; euen he that walks vprightly, and worketh Righteouſneſſe, and ſpeaketh the Truth in his heart. Reuel. 21.27. There ſhall enter no vncleane thing into the heauenly Ieruſalem: there, if euer we will ſee God with Ioy and Comfort, we muſt labour for a pure heart, and pure hands. It ſhould teach vsus therefore, Firſt, to take heed of ſinne, and to auoide it, for it is filthineſſe and vncleanneſſe, as oppoſite to Holineſſe, as darkneſſe is to light, and Satan to God himſelfe. Let eueryevery one that calls on the Name of the Lord, (that is, eueryevery member of the true Church) depart from iniquitie; let them leaue their lying, and ſwearing, and couetouſneſſe, and labour to flie from the corruptions that are in the world through luſt, and reſiſt the inticements of the Diuell, and fight againſt the rebellions of their owne hearts, and not ſuffer their corruptions to breake forth, but to roote them out; put off your ſhooes, for you ſtand on holy ground; lay by your ſinnes and wicked affections, for the Church is a holy Church, that you are members of; the Temple of God is holy, which Temple yee are; defile not your ſelues with ſinne and vncleanneſſe therefore; remember what God ſaith, Ier. 11.15. What ſhould my Beloued tarry in my houſe, ſeeing they hauehave committed an abomination. As if hee ſhould ſay; I hauehave no roome for them in my houſe, if they commit abomination. And Pſalm. 50.16. What haſt thou to doe (ſaith God to the wicked) to take my Couenant in thy mouth, ſeeing thou hateſt to bee reformed. Therefore ſay with the Church in the Canticles, Chap. 6.5. I hauehave put off my coat, how then ſhall I put it on? I hauehave waſhed my feet, how ſhall I defile them? And as it teacheth vsus to flie ſinne, ſo in the ſecond place it teacheth vsus to follow that which is good; Whatſoeuer things are true, whatſoeuer things are honeſt, &c. thinke on thoſe things, Phil. 4.8. GiueGive your ſelues to holy meditations and conferences, frequent good companies and exerciſes, vſe the meanes of holineſſe, be conuerſant in hearing and reading the Word, and receiuing the Sacrament, and be frequent and earneſt in Prayer to God for the Spirit of ſanctification, that hee may make your harts, mindes, willes and affections, and liues holy and vnblameable; that ſo as you profeſſe your ſelues to be Saints, ſo you may liue like Saints.
Laſtly, this may ſerue for reproofe of the graceleſſe and Vſe 3 wretchleſſe people of the world, that ſcoffe at the holineſſe of Gods people; there are a kind of people in the world, that if they be in their Cups, or vponupon the Stage, or in their paſtimes, or in their ordinary talke, if they can hauehave a leſt at the holy Brethren in it, though without cauſe or ſenſe, it makes them all merry, it ſeaſons all their buſineſſe. But firſt let them know, that they hauehave no part in Gods Church, for all the parts and members thereof are holy. And further let them know,John 3. that they muſt be either Saints or Diuels, either of the ſeede of God, or of the Diuell. And therefore let them know, that as they ſcoffe at vsus vniuſtly, ſo the Lord from heauen doth moſt iuſtly deride them, and will one day laugh at their deſtruction, and this is to them a token of perdition, and a moſt certaine token too, becauſe they are not onelyonly without holineſſe themſelues, but they hate it, and deride it in others: but to vsus it is a ſigne of ſaluation, both that we are endued with holineſſe, and alſo that we ſuffer perſecution for it, Heb. 3.3. The Apoſtle vſeth this word very grauely, which they doe ſo deride, he calles them holy Brethren. And therefore in the ſecond place, let vsus bee ſo farre from being daunted by their ſcoffing at vsus, as that it may rather incourage vsus to be more holy. Let vsus ſay as Dauid did to Michal, when ſhe ſcoft at him for dancing before the Arke, Am I vile in thine eyes for this? I will be yet more vile. So let vsus ſay, Doth our holineſſe diſpleaſe you? I will be yet more holy. Let vsus therefore labour by prayer to God, and all good endeauour not onelyonly to begin, but to grow on from grace to grace, from one meaſure of holineſſe to another, notwithſtanding their ſcoffes, that ſo at laſt we may bee fit to enter into that holy place whereinto none vnholy nor vncleane thing ſhall enter.