Twenty-Nine Lectures, Lecture 12
The twelfth Lecture of the Church.
THe third point propounded to bee ſpoken of concerning the finding out of a true viſible Church, was touching the members of it; for as I ſhewed you, the Church being a body, and that eueryevery body conſiſts of certaine members, therefore if wee would exactly know the body, we muſt know the members: Now the members were taken either in a more generall ſenſe, including the head; or elſe in a more ſtrict and particular ſenſe being conſidered, as a diuerſe thing from the head: now becauſe we would carry the matter fully before vsus, we tooke it in both thoſe ſenſes, and hauing ſpoken of the members of the Church in the firſt ſenſe (where wee ſhewed that our Lord Ieſus Chriſt was the head, and the onelyonly head of the true viſible Church,) now we come to ſpeake of the members of the Church in a more ſtrict and particular ſenſe,The ſecond thing conſiderable in the third thing touching a viſible Church, viz. the members thereof in a more ſtrickt ſenſe; and they are of three ſorts. being conſidered as a diuerſe thing frō the head. And thus conſidered, the members are of three ſorts: Firſt, ſome are members by right onelyonly, and not by poſſeſſion; ſecondly, ſome are members by poſſeſſion, not by right; and thirdly, ſome are members both by right and by poſſeſſion.
Firſt, ſome are members of the viſible Church by right onelyonly, not by poſſeſſion; for ſome members hauehave a good right in the body of the viſible Church, and the priuiledges thereunto belonging;The firſt ſort, and of the diuers kinds. but yet are not actually poſſeſſed of them. And of theſe there are diuers kindes; irſt, generally all the elect of God liuing vponupon the face of the earth, that as yet are not called; for the Church is theirs, and the Word is theirs, and the Sacraments are theirs, and the Miniſtry is theirs, the Lord ſpecially intending his owne ordinances to the benefit of his choſen, though indeed they themſelues be notable ſo much as to know their own right in them, much leſſe are they able to reach forth their hands to claime it and enioy it: yet becauſe the Lord hath appointed them to be heires of ſaluation, and therefore conſequently hee hath appointed them a time in which hee will call them to the outward profeſſion of the ſauing faith, therefore in reſpect of the purpoſe of God they are by right, true members of the true viſible Church, though they be not as yet actually poſſeſſed of it. And thus one and the ſame man may be at one and the ſame time, a member of the Church malignant, and Synagogue of Satan in his owne practice and profeſſion; and by right (in reſpect of Gods purpoſe) a true member of Chriſts true viſible body. This was the caſe of Saul, who by his practice was of the malignant Church, and perſecuted the true Church of God, and yet by right he was a member of the true Church of God.
Secondly, thoſe that are members of the true viſible Church by right and not by poſſeſſion, are ſuch as onelyonly hauehave heard of Chriſt and of the Goſpell, and are endued with ſome little ſmatch of religion, yet they are but entring into the Church, onelyonly their feet are in the Porch, they are not yet come within the holy place, they hauehave not yet receiued the Sacrament of Baptiſme, which is our admiſſion into the viſible Church; ſo that after that time, the Church doth acknowledge vsus from thence forward to bee her children; and wee acknowledge her to be our mother, and ſo we are incorporated, and become members of that body. So then thoſe that hauehave onelyonly heard of Chriſt and of the Goſpell, and hauehave ſome little ſmatch of Religion, they cannot iuſtly bee ſaid, to bee members by poſſeſſion; yet notwithſtanding becauſe that by the ſweetneſſe of that little Religion they hauehave, they are whetted on to an hunger and thirſt after more, and doe vnfainedly ſeeke and deſire to be further partakers of the Churches Communion; therefore they are in reſpect, partly of thoſe beginnings and taſtes which they hauehave of Religion; and partly of thoſe deſires to be further partakers of the Churches communion; they are, I ſay, in this reſpect true members of the viſible Church by right, though not by poſſeſſion; of this ſort were thoſe in the primitiue Church, which were called Catechumeni or Nouices, that began to be inſtructed in the grounds of Religion, that vponupon their further growth and fitneſſe they might ſoone after bee made partakers of Baptiſme, and ſo become members by poſſeſſion: It is in this ſpirituall building, as it is in the building of a materiall Church, which is built of ſtones, whereof ſome are layd already, and ſo are parts of the Church by poſſeſſion; others are onelyonly taken out of the Quarry, and are vnderunder the workemans hand in fitting and preparing for the building, and are not yet placed within the building as the others are, and ſo are no parts by poſſeſſion, yet theſe ſtones becauſe they are not onelyonly appointed, but alſo being in the Workemans hand a fitting for the building, therefore they hauehave a place by right in the building; So likewiſe it is in the ſpirituall building of the Church, there are ſome members that are placed in the Church already, and ſo are members by poſſeſſion, of which we ſhal ſpeake in their due place; others there are that are a fitting and preparing vnderunder the workmans hand, that Faith may be wrought in thē, that ſo they may afterward be baptiſed & become members of the church by poſeſſion, as it was with thoſe Nouices in the primitiue church: Now that theſe are members by right, before they are baptized, the reaſon is very good, for put the caſe that theſe ſhould dye before they bee baptized, ſhall we ſay, they are damned, or that they died out of the Church? God forbid; But rather we muſt ſay that they died within the Church, though not by poſſeſſion, yet by right, and ſo were ſaued.
A third ſort that are members by right, though not by poſſeſſion, are the ſeed of the faithfull that die before they can be conueniently baptized: I ſay, before it can conueniently be had; for if it be neglected or contemned, where it may conueniently be had, it is ſinne: but if it cannot conueniently be had, and ſo they die before they bee baptized, theſe are members by right, though not by poſſeſſion; they hauehave no poſſeſſion among the members of the Church, becauſe they are not baptized; yet being borne within the Couenant, wee are charitably perſwaded that they are a holy ſeed, and we muſt acknowledge them to hauehave a right among the members of the viſible Church.
A fourth ſort are thoſe that hauehave true repentance and faith in Chriſt, begotten in them in an extraordinary manner, as amongſt the Turkes and Infidels; but yet doe not know any other to ioyne with them, nor for them to bee ioyned with, if they did know any ſuch, and might conueniently ioyne with them, they would: of theſe we are charitably to be perſwaded, that they are members by right, though not by poſſeſſion.
Laſtly, there are ſome that hauehave been poſſeſſed, as members of the Church, and yet either of their owne accord hauehave made a voluntary ſeparation, and ſo hauehave diſmiſſed themſelues, as Schiſmatikes doe; or elſe they are excommunicate by the Diſcipline of the Church, and ſo are diſpoſſeſſed by others for ſome ſinne; theſe afterward, if they repent of their ſchiſme, or of their ſinne, and deſire to be reſtored into the Church againe, though they die before their ſecond admiſſion, yet ſtill we are charitably to bee perſwaded, that by right they are members of the Church, though not by poſſeſſion.
The ſecond Branch is,The ſecond ſort. that ſome are members by poſfeſſion, and not by right, and they are ſuch as are baptized and planted in the Church already, but hauehave no true right nor title to it; for after they hauehave gotten to be members by poſſeſſion, they grow lewde and profane in their liues, and ſo by right they are no members of the Church. They are ſo but by intruſion and vſurpation, and hauehave gotten poſſeſſion by colourable and fraudulent meanes, pretending to bee that they neuer were, that is, that they are true beleeuers, when indeed they are not, nor euer were ſuch; for if they were, they would bring forth better fruits.And of this two ſorts. Of theſe there are two ſorts; notorious offenders, and ſecret hypocrites. Firſt, notorious offenders, ſuch were the ſonnes of Eli, 1 Sam. 2.12, 17. they were members of the Church by poſſeſſion, but they were ſuch notorious wicked men, ſo that they made the offering of the Lord to be abhorred; therefore they were not members by right. And ſuch are many amongſt vsus, that were baptized in their infancy, but when they are of yeares, they ſhew themſelues openly prophane, and of diſſolute liues; their Baptiſme giues them poſſeſſion, but their prophaneneſſe and diſſoluteneſſe of life vtterly diſables them from hauing any right at all in this body; for if they had their right, they ſhould bee turned out. But you will ſay; So they are caſt out when they are once knowne to bee ſuch, and then they are not members by poſſeſſion neither. I anſwer; It is true, they are ſo where matters are carried as they ought to bee, but yet ſometimes the Church is in a weake caſe, and hath not this power, their hands are tyed, and they cannot doe it; or elſe if they hauehave power, ſometime they are negligent, and do not exerciſe that power they hauehave; or if they be forward in it, yet at leaſt there muſt be a time for admonition betwixt their diſcouery and caſting out, and ſo ſtill for a time they are members by poſſeſſion, but yet not by right.
In the ſecond place, there are ſome ſecret hypocrites that are members by poſſeſſion, but not by right; and theſe are all ſuch as are baptized, and accordingly goe on in an outward conformitie to the lawes and gouernment of the Church in outward ſhew, as well as true beleeuers, but yet are not ſuch, for within they are full of wickedneſſe, and hauehave not that true faith in their hearts which outwardly they profeſſe: like to Iudas that profeſt himſelfe to be one of Chriſts Diſciples, and a member of the true Church, and outwardly carried himſelfe as a true beleeuer; but yet within he was a diuel, and a child of perdition; no member of the Church by right, though he were by poſſeſſion. It is with them in this caſe, as it is with a man that wrongfully poſſeſſeth an houſe, all the while that it is not diſcouered, he is accounted the true poſſeſſor of that houſe: but afterward when it is proued he is not ſo, then he is thruſt out; ſo that though he had poſſeſſion, yet he had no right to it: ſo theſe hypocrites profeſſe themſelues outwardly to bee true members by poſſeſſion, and are ſo accounted of others, yet they are not that within, which outwardly they profeſſe; and therefore are no true members by right.
The third ſort.Thirdly, there are ſome that are members both by right and by poſſeſſion too, and ſo are onelyonly the faithfull that make profeſſion of the ſauing faith, and none but they, Rom. 10.10. If they beleeue with the heart, and confeſſe with the mouth, they are true members: for faith giues vsus right to be true members of the Church, and the outward profeſſion of this faith giues vsus poſſeſſion of it: ſo that onelyonly the faithfull making profeſſion of their faith, are true members of the viſible Church by right and by poſſeſſion: I will giuegive you an inſtance of all theſe kinds of thoſe that are members by right, and not by poſſeſſion, and alſo of thoſe that are members by poſſeſſion, and not by right; laſtly, of thoſe that are members both by right and by poſſeſſion. In Matth. 21.29. there is a Parable of the two ſonnes; the eldeſt ſonne hee was bid to goe and worke in the Vineyard, and he ſaid he would not, but afterward hee repented himſelfe and went: here was a member by right, though not by poſſeſsion then, becauſe hee refuſed to goe: in the 30. verſe, there is the younger ſonne that was bidden goe, and ſaid he would, but went not; there was a member by poſſeſsion, becauſe he ſaid he would goe, but not by right becauſe he went not. So likewiſe the Scribes and Phariſies, Mat. 23.3. made ſhew to be members of the Church, but by right they were not; for they ſaid and did not. Laſtly, members by right and by poſſeſsion too, ſo were all the Prophets and Apoſtles, ſo was the Prophet Dauid, Pſalm. 116.10. I beleeued (ſaith he) therefore I ſpake: and ſo was the Apoſtle Paul, and the reſt of the Apoſtles, 2 Cor. 4.16. We beleeue, and therefore we ſpeake. We beleeue; here is our right: therefore we ſpeake; here is our poſſeſsion. So that in theſe inſtances we hauehave examples of theſe three ſorts of members. Now the matter of greateſt doubt and moſt conſequence, is concerning the wicked, how they can be members of Gods Church; therefore that is moſt to bee inſiſted on. And for the better vnderſtanding thereof, I will draw it into an Obſeruation.
And the Obſeruation is this; Doctr. That Hypocrites and Caſtawayes may be, and are oftentimes members euen of a true viſible Church: for proofe of this you ſhall heare it witneſſed out of their owne mouthes, Luk. 13.26. We hauehave eaten and drunke in thy preſence, and thou haſt taught in our ſtreetes, &c. Therefore they were members of the true viſible Churches, and yet they were Reprobates; for our Sauiour ſaith vntounto them, verſ. 27. I know yee not, depart from me yee workers of iniquity. And ſo Matth. 7.22. they ſhall ſay to our Sauiour; HaueHave not we by thy Name propheſied, and by thy Name caſt out Diuels, and by thy Name done many great workes? And yet our Sauiour ſhall ſay vntounto them; I neuer knew yee, depart from me yee workers of iniquitie. Theſe were members of true viſible Churches, and yet they were hyprocrites and caſtawayes: ſo yee hauehave heard it from their owne mouthes. Now take it from a ſurer witneſſe, out of the mouth of our Sauiour himſelfe, in that Parable, Matth. 13.47, 48. where the kingdome of heauen is compared to a draw-Net caſt into the Sea, that gathereth all kind of fiſh good and bad. Here it is ſo clearely laid downe, as if the Parable had been framed of purpoſe to proue this point. I will not ſtand here to proue, that by the kingdome of heauen is meant the viſible Church, though the place would beare it wel enough, but it ſignifies plainely the preaching of the Goſpell, or the Goſpell preached, whereby a Church is gathered and fitted for the Kingdome of heauen: for in that ſenſe it is taken in verſ. 31. Now vnderſtand the compariſon thus; Like as a draw-Net that is caſt into the Sea, gathers of all kinds good and bad, ſo the preaching of the Goſpell is caſt forth into the World, and gathers all kind of men, good and bad, choſen and reprobates, hypocrites and true beleeuers, all are gathered by this Net, into the outward communion of the faithful, and as the bad fiſhes are part of this draught; as well as the good; ſo the wicked outwardly gathered by the Goſpell, are alſo parts and members of the viſible Church, as well as the godly. So likewiſe another Parable we hauehave to proue this point, Ioh. 15.1, 2. In the firſt verſe our Sauiour ſaith, I am the Ʋine; and in the ſecond verſe hee ſets downe two ſorts of branches; ſome that abide in him, and bring forth fruit, and theſe are the faithfull: others that beare no fruit, that are taken away, what are theſe but hypocrites and caſtawayes? Therefore they are parts of the viſible Church as well as the faithfull.
Obiect. But, will ſome ſay, Was there euer any hypocrite or caſtaway a true Branch of Chriſt? then belike the true branches, that is, the true members of Chriſt, may bee caſt away.
I anſwer; None are in Chriſt, Anſw. but ſuch as are ingrafted into his body: now ſome are ſo ingrafted, as that they receiue iuyce and life from the root, and they are the faithfull: others are ſo ingrafted, as they receiue iuyce only from the barke, and ſo neuer thriue, but only continue in ſhew for a ſhort time, a yeare or two, &c. and then fall away, and theſe are hypocrites. The faithfull that are ingrafted into the body of Chriſt, they receiue iuyce and life from him and can neuer fall away: but hypocrites and caſtawayes, they are but grafted into the barke, that is, into the outward communion, and ſo receiue iuyce onelyonly, and continue for a time, but afterward they fall away: ſo wee hauehave ſeene it proued by Parables. See it likewiſe proued by examples, and that will make it more plaine; and in alleaging theſe examples, I may propound theſe two things: Firſt, what Church euer was there, but had ſome wicked men in it: and ſecondly, what wickednes was there euer ſo great, but it hath been found in the members of ſome viſible Church or other, as by theſe examples may appeare. Looke into Gen. 4.3. Caine was a member of the viſible Church, his outward conformity to religious duties proues it; for he brought his offering to God, and yet hee was a wicked reprobate. So Gen. 9.18. Ham he was a member of the viſible Church, for he was preſerued in the Arke, and yet hee was an accurſed wretch as we may ſee in the 25. verſe. If we looke into our Sauiours choſen Diſciples, they were certainely a true viſible Church, elſe there was neuer any in the world, and yet there was a Iudas a member of it and a Diuell, Ioh. 6.70. So if wee looke into thoſe Churches in the Reuelation, 2. and 3. Chapters, many of them were full of wicked and vngodly men in one kinde or other. The Church of Corinth may be a witneſſe of all this; there were carnall people, 1 Cor. 3.3. there were fornicators, and one in the higheſt degree, an inceſtuous perſon, 1 Cor. 5 1. ſo there were deprauers of the Doctrine of the Reſurrection, 1 Cor. 15.12. And for the Lords Supper, how horribly did they abuſe it, 1 Cor. 11.21. yet for all this though there were ſuch notorious offenders in it, it was a true Church: So likewiſe if you would find out falſe brethren, you ſhal hauehave them in the Church, Gal. ….4. So for heretiks you ſhal hauehave them in the Church too, 1 Cor. 11.19. there muſt be hereſies amongſt you (ſaith the Apoſtle) And Reuel. 2.6, 14, 15 in the Church of Epheſus there were the Nicholaitans. And ſo in the Church of Pergamus, there were they that maintaind the Doctrine of Balaam, and the Doctrine of the Nicholaitans: So for Schiſmaticks, they are in the Church too, before they are ſeparated, 1 Cor. 11.18. There were diſſentions amongſt them. Nay, I will ſay further that Antichriſt may bee a member of a true viſible Church; The Text intends he muſt be ſo, 2 Theſ. 2.4. He muſt ſit in the Temple of God: diuers Diuines tyre themſelues with opinions vponupon this place. Some ſay he muſt ſit in that which was the temple of God; but that anſwers not the meaning of the words, for he muſt ſit in that which is the Temple of God. Yea, but ſay others, he may ſit in that which is the Temple of God, becauſe ſome faithfull lye hid within it; but this cannot be the meaning of it, for it is meant of a viſible Church, as if he ſhould ſay, Antichriſt ſhall ſit in that which is the Temple of God, that is, in a true viſible Church; till he bee vtterly corrupt, and fully diſcouered. And no queſtion but that many yeeres after Antichriſt fate in the Church, it was a true Church. So that it is plaine that hypocrites and caſtawaies in the higheſt degree, are & may be of a true viſible Church.
Reaſ. 1 The Reaſons of the point are theſe: firſt, the nature of the Goſpell requires it, that ſome members of the Church ſhould be reprobates and caſtawaies, for the Goſpell, 2 Cor. 2.16. is the ſauor of death vntounto death to ſome, and to others it is the ſauour of life vntounto life; to the wicked it is the ſauour of death vntounto death, the ſweetneſſe and the comfort of the Goſpell drawing them on to profeſſe and to imbrace it for a while; but the hardneſſe of the practice of it makes them to giuegive ouer, and to fal away at laſt, and ſo it becomes a ſauour of death vntounto them.
Reaſ. 2 Secondly, the excellency of the Church, and of a Chriſtian profeſſion is ſuch, that generally all men deſire to bee of it, and therfore euen the wicked would ſeeme to be ſuch; and ſo they ioyne to the outward Communion of the Church, though they bee but Reprobates and Caſtawaies.
Thirdly, it is the corruption of mens hearts to be ſatisfied and to reſt in ſhadowes, but leauing the ſubſtance; ſo Reaſ. 3 that if they bee baptized and ſo receiued into the Church, they reſt in that and go no further, fooliſhly flattring themſelues that all is well, when as yet they want the ſubſtance of Baptiſme, and ſo whereas they think, that they are in the way to Heauen, they are in the high way to hell.
Fourthly, it is from the ſubtilty and malice of the Diuell; Reaſ. 4 hee it is that ſowes the Tares amongſt the good Corne, Matth. 13.28. he ſeekes aboue all the diſgrace and ſpoyle of the Church; and this he knowes, he cannot doe more, than by drawing the members and profeſſors thereof into hypocriſie and wickedneſſe.
Fifthly, elſe there ſhould be no hypocrites at all, vnleſſe Reaſ. 5 they be found in the Church: For he cannot be an hypocrite vnleſſe he make profeſſion of the faith, and ſo be of the viſible Church.
Sixthly, the viſible Church conſiſts onelyonly of men, now Reaſ. 6 men cannot ſee the heart, and therefore if Hypocrites ioyne to the Church, ſhe cannot disburden herſelfe till ſhe know them by their outward courſes; and therefore till then ſhe is conſtrayned to nouriſh them as her owne members: hence it is that reprobates and caſtawaies are in the viſible Church.
Seuenthly, it is for the triall of the faithfull; and therefore Reaſ. 7 hypocrites, Heretiks, and falſe Brethren are amongſt them, to proue them as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 11.19. God will try vsus whether we will follow him in his word, or them in their hereſies and fancies, and therefore they are amongſt vsus, euen as the Canaanites were left among the Iſraelites to proue them, whether they would keepe the wayes of the Lord or not, Iudg. 2.22. and Chap. 3.1.12.
Reaſ. 8 Eighthly, Gods goodneſſe and readineſſe to all, intendring to all ſorts the meanes of grace is another Reaſon of it. Matth. 22.10. all both good and bad were brought into the wedding Feaſt, hee would hauehave the bad to come as well as the good, that they might hauehave the tender of grace: and hence it is that Reprobates and Caſtawayes are in the viſible Church.
Reaſ. 9 Ninthly, it is ſo, becauſe God would hauehave the Arguments of his Iuſtice vponupon hypocrites within his Church, that the faithfull ſeeing it practiſed vponupon them, it might ſtrike a greater reuerence of God into their hearts, Matth. 22.13. 1 Cor. 11.30, 32. that when the wicked are puniſhed, the righteous may take warning; therefore there are Reprobates in the Church.
Reaſ. 10 Laſtly, ſuch muſt be in the Church, that Diſcipline may be exerciſed in cutting them off: 1 Cor. 5.4, 7. and 2 Cor. 2.7, 8. ſuch muſt be deliuered to Satan, that they may bee wonne if it be poſſible; or at leaſt that the faithfull may be admoniſhed by their example, and may take heed by their reproaches and cenſures: for when the wicked are puniſhed, the righteous will beware.
Vſe 1 The firſt Vſe teacheth vsus, that if Hypocrites and Caſtawayes may be, and oftentimes are members of a true viſible Church, then we are not to looke for ſuch a pure and perfect eſtate of a Church in this World, that it ſhould bee without hypocrites and vngodly men in it. So long as wee liue here in this World, good and bad, Wheate and Tares, are promiſcuouſly and confuſedly ſcattered and mingled together; the vtter and thorow ſeparation of them is reſpited to the end of the World. It paſſeth the skill and power of man to doe this, it is to bee done by the Angels at Chriſts direction when hee comes to Iudgement. Matth. 13.39, 40. It is true that a ſeparation from the bad muſt bee endeauoured by vsus here in this life, ſo farre as they are knowne to vsus, and ſo farre as wee are able to ſeparate. But firſt it is impoſſible for vsus to know all that are wicked; ſecondly, for thoſe we doe know, it is impoſſible alſo to bee quite ſeparated from them, for then wee muſt goe out of the World, as the Apoſtle ſaith, 1 Cor. 5.10. howſoeuer ſome heretikes (as the Donatiſts) hauehave maintained, that the viſible Church conſiſts onelyonly of the elect and choſen; and ſome of our Diuines hauehave vſed the ſame words; but the heretikes meant it in one ſenſe, and our Diuines in another. The heretikes intend it as they ſpeak it, and ſo it is not true; but our Diuines meane it principally of the Church inuiſible, and ſo it is true, that none but Gods choſen are members thereof: and when they doe apply it to the viſible Church, they vnderſtand it of the liuing, abiding, and fruitfull members of the Church, and ſo it is true too, that none are liuing members of the viſible Church, but the choſen, but yet there may be rotten and dead members too.
Secondly, this teacheth vsus what to eſteeme of ſuch as Vſe 2 make profeſſion to be of the Church, and yet their liues are not anſwerable to their profeſsion, ſhall wee ſay preſently, they are none of the Church? Certainely wee muſt iudge of them as members at leaſt by poſſeſsion, and for ought wee know, they may bee members by right too. It is very hard and impoſsible for man to iudge who is an hypocrite, and who not; becauſe that though hypocrites may diſcerne themſelues by notorious falls, yet the faithfull ſometimes fall as dangerouſly as they; and therefore wee muſt leaue that to God, who onelyonly knowes the heart; in the meane time we may ſafely ſay, that they are members by poſſeſsion, and for ought we know by right too. This is harſh in many mens eares, but yet the Doctrine is true and ſound, and the exceptions againſt it are eaſily anſwered. The firſt exception is this; How can theſe bee members of the true viſible Church, and yet are not members at all of the Catholike Church? I anſwer: Yes, they are of the Church to vsus, both becauſe they ſeeme ſo, and in charity wee are to hold them ſo, till we ſee the contrary. Yea, but doth not the Apoſtle ſay, 1 Ioh. 2.19. They went out from vsus, becauſe they were not of vsus. I anſwer, this is ſpoken of them after their falling away, but yet while they abode with them, they were members by poſſeſsion,Hyper. method. 574. though not by right: and it is confeſt of the Apoſtles, that Iudas had obtained fellowſhip with them, and was numbred amongſt them; beſides,Additum diminuens. viſible is additum diminuens, that is, it addeth not to the thing, but diminiſheth from the ſtrict acceptation; ſo that the wicked reprobates and caſtawayes may be of the true viſible Church, though not of the true Church ſimply. The ſecond exception is this: How can they bee the members of the Church, the body of Chriſt, ſeeing they hauehave not Chriſt to be their Head? for Chriſt is the Head of no Reprobate. I anſwer; Yes, they are members of that body whereof Chriſt is the Head, though ſimply he is neither Head to them, nor they members to him, but he is the Head properly of the faithfull in that body; and therefore proportionably he is reckoned the Head of the whole. Beſides, the wicked pretend and counterfeite themſelues to bee the members of Chriſt, but Chriſt neuer pretends and counterfeites himſelfe to bee their head; and therefore though head and members bee relatiues, yet it is ſo that they may be members of him in their ſenſe, and yet he no way pretending to bee their head. Laſtly, hee is their head in that ſenſe that they are his members, that is in the ſhew of the world, and in their owne pretence, though not in his. The third exception: But how then is the viſible Church the Kingdome of heauen? for ſo it is called many times in the Scripture. I anſwer; Firſt, it is ſaid ſo in reſpect of the faithfull that are in it; ſecondly, it is ſaid ſo, becauſe there is the meanes, to bring all, euen the wicked to heauen; thirdly, they doe all outwardly profeſſe to be Citizens of heauen, and are ſo to be reputed, till there be euident proofe to the contrary, and then they are to be caſt out. Fourth exception: But what if all bee hypocrites, is that a true viſible Church? I anſwer: It is impoſsible; for where the Word is truly preached, it cannot bee but that there are ſome that▪ doe ſincerely profeſſe. Secondly, I ſay, that if it were poſsible, yet till it be diſcerned to be ſo, it is to be held a true viſible Church. The fifth exception: Yea, but you confeſſe your ſelfe, that though they be members, yet they are not liuing but dead members; and will any man ſay, that a dead member is a member of a liuing body? I anſwer; Yes, euen as a rotten branch of a tree, till it be cut off, is a member of the tree as well as the ſoundeſt. In Reuel. 3.1. the caſe is auouched in this very kinde; the Church of Sardis is ſaid to be a dead Church, becauſe it had dead members, and yet it was a true viſible Church. And ſo they may be members by poſſeſsion and by ſhew, though they bee dead members, and ſo by right are not members, for that belongeth onelyonly to the faithfull.
Thirdly, this teacheth vsus, that we ſhould not be raſh, to Vſe 3 condemne a Church for to be a falſe Church, or no Church, becauſe it hath in it many hypocrites and wicked members, for you ſee that true viſible Churches hauehave alwaies hypocrites in them. It is true that a Church full of hypocrites may bee called, and doth well deſerue to bee accounted a corrupt and an vnſound Church: yea,A Church cannot be denied to be a true viſible Church, though there be an hundred hypocrites in it to one beleeuer. The Browniſts obiection of our Church being a prophane multitude, anſwered diuers wayes. but ſo long as there are ſome it, and of it, that do openly profeſſe the ſauing faith in ſincerity, though otherwiſe it be full of wicked men and hypocrites, it cannot bee denied to be a Church, yea a true viſible Church, though there be a thouſand hypocrites to one true Beleeuer. This matter concernes vsus neerely, for it is one of the maine Reaſons alleaged by Browne and Barrow and Greeneway and the reſt of the ſeparation, to proue vsus to bee a falſe Church. Oh, ſay they, your Church is a profane multitude, promiſcuouſly mingled together of good and bad, all were admitted together into the Church, and ſo you continue in it without ſeparation. I anſwer, If it were ſo, this might proue vsus to be an impure and corrupt Church, but not a falſe Church, ſo long as wee hauehave the Word, and Sacraments openly embraced and obeyed by ſome amongſt vsus, wee are ſtill a true Church, though wee ſhould bee in a miſerable and fearefull eſtate, becauſe the wicked, if they were not rooted out would bee likely at length to ouerthrow the Church. But ſecondly, wee anſwer; It is not ſo: For firſt for admiſsion, we receiue none into our Church, that are profeſſedly wicked, for our baptiſme is adminiſtred to none, but vponupon ſolemne proteſtation and promiſe of the profeſsion of the ſauing faith, and obedience to the ſame: Now becauſe they are receiued into our Church being young, therefore this promiſe is not made by themſelues, but by ſureties; and when they come to yeeres, ſuch ſureties as are conſcionable, and likewiſe the Miniſters call vponupon them to conſider and performe their promiſe made in baptiſme: ſo then firſt our Church admits none, but ſuch as make ſolemne proteſtation of faith and obedience.Obiect. You let wicked ones continue in your Church without ſeparation. And ſecondly, whereas they alleage that wee let the wicked continue in our Church without ſeparation, whereas we ſhould cut them off when we finde them to be hypocrites. I anſwer, wee doe ſeparate, as much as in vsus lies, for we labour to hauehave them ſeparated from vsus, and alſo Anſw. 1 wee labour to ſeparate our ſelues from them. Firſt, wee labour their ſeparation from vsus, deſiring their remouall, bewailing their wickedneſſe, and our condition that liue in Meſech and Kedar, and reprouing them for their ſinnes; and if that will not ſerue, complayning againſt them to thoſe that are in Authority, that they may bee excommunicate, and withall wee are inſtant with God by prayer to ſtirre up the hearts of ſuch as are in Authority to execute his Ordinances vponupon them: wee doe what wee can to ſeparate them from vsus, and it comes ſometime to paſſe, that many are ſo ſeparated from vsus; but if they ſhould not, that indeed were the Churches ſinne, and a foule ſinne too; yet it deſtroyes not the true being of our Church. Secondly, Anſw. 2 if we cannot get them ſeparated from vsus, yet wee ſeparate our ſelues from them,Hyp. 577. 580. &c. and that is the ſeparation that the Scripture ſo much beates vponupon in priuate perſons, as we are more conſcionable, ſo wee doe more ſeparate from them, from their wills, affections and courſes; yea, wee muſt ſeparate as much as conueniently we may from their perſons, at leaſt from their ſinnes, which for our parts wee are perſwaded to bee the chiefe ſeparation that the Scripture intends. Yea, but this is a ſecret ſeparation, ſay they, vnderunder hand, not openly knowne. Nay, this is a notorious and knowne ſeparation: For firſt, it is ingenuouſly profeſt on our part, to the mouing of their after-hatred and deſpight againſt vsus; wee diſclayming them that are lewd, ſwearing and prophane wretches, and that openly, not caring who know it; and likewiſe it is knowne on their part, they vpbraiding vsus therefore very reproachfully, with the names of Puritanes, Preciſions, holy Brethren, and ſuch like, becauſe wee will not accompany with them, if this bee not an holy and a plaine ſeparation, What is? I maruell then, the matter being ſo notorious, that they are not aſhamed to ſay, that wee doe not ſeparate from the wicked: this therefore is an horrible ſlander. Yea, but ſay they, yee ſhould ſeparate from them in the Aſſemblies, from the Word and the Sacraments? I anſwer, rather the wicked ſhould ſeparate from vsus in theſe things: where the Aſſembly and buſineſſe are naught in themſelues,Bernard againſt Browniſts. 1034. where the aſſemblies are bad, there the good muſt ſeparate; but where the aſſemblies be good, there the bad muſt ſeparate. as at Playhouſes and ſuch like, there the good muſt ſeparate: but where the Aſſembly and buſineſſe is good in themſelues, there the bad muſt ſeparate; and the reaſon is good, for it is none of theirs, and the good muſt tarry and be preſent, for it is their owne right; and it is ſin to refuſe Gods ordinances for the pollution of others, 1 Sam. 2.17.24. Yea, but ſay they, Can your holines ſanctifie them? If not, then your Congregations are prophane. I anſwer; No, our holineſſe ſanctifies not them, yet our holineſſe being true in vsus, and openly profeſſed and practiſed, it ſhalbe enough to make vsus a true viſible Church, yea, and an holy Congregation in Gods acceptation, and in the charitable eſtimation of our Brethren. Yea, but ſay they, their filthineſſe defiles you, and your holy things; either really, or at leaſt by imputation? I anſwer; they defile theſe holy things to themſelues indeed, Numb. 19.22. compared with Hag. 2.14, 15. and Titus 1.15. but not to vsus, ſo long as by faith we receiue them; neither can they defile vsus, ſo long as we communicate not with them in their ſinnes, no not ſo much as by imputation, Galath. 6.3.15.
The fourth Vſe. Seeing wicked men and Reprobates Vſe 4 may bee members of a true viſible Church, this may teach vsus to bee wiſe as Serpents, to try before we truſt, be not too credulous to belieue eueryevery ſhow of profeſſion. Our Sauiour ſaith, Matth. 7.15. beware of falſe Prophets that come to you in ſheepes cloathing, but inwardly they are rauening Woolues, &c. And the Apoſtle Iohn, 1 Ioh. 4.1. bids vsus, Beleeue not eueryevery Sprit, but try the Spirits whether they are of God or no. And for this end the gift of diſcerning of Spirits is giuen to the Church, 1 Cor. 12.10. therefore let eueryevery one of vsus labour to bee wiſe in this kinde.
Vſe 5 Laſtly, this teacheth vsus, that ſeeing Hypocrites and caſtawaies may bee members of a true viſible Church, wee muſt therefore take heed that wee bee not carried away with this common error, that becauſe wee are members of a true viſible Church, and hauehave beene baptized; therefore wee ſhall certainely bee ſaued. But take heed, fift and examine, and bee alwaies digging into thine owne heart, for feare of hypocriſie; for though thou makeſt a good profeſſion as thou thinkeſt, yet there is that corruption in thy heart, which if it bee not ript vp before God dayly, it will betray thee, and preuaile againſt thee to fall away, as many doe in theſe dayes. Let vsus take heed therefore, as the Apoſtle doth admoniſh vsus, Heb. 3.12. That there bee not in any of vsus, at any time, an euill heart and an vnfaithfull to depart away from the liuing God. As great and as bright ſtars as thou art hauehave fallen from heauen; therefore, as the Apoſtle ſaith, Let eueryevery one that thinks he ſtands, take heed leſt hee fall; not that he which doth ſtand can fall, but hee that thinks he ſtands, take heed leſt he fall. Try therefore, and examine thy ſelfe daily, fift hypocriſie out of thy heart; that ſo as thou art a member of the Church by poſſeſſion, ſo by thy ſtanding and continuing in the faith, and the ſincere profeſſion thereof, thou maiſt ſhew thy ſelfe to bee a member by right too. And ſo much for this point, that Reprobates and Caſtawaies may be, and often are members of true viſible Churches. And ſo much likewiſe bee ſpoken of the members of the Church.