Twenty-Nine Lectures, Lecture 9
The ninth Lecture of the Church.
THe laſt generall Point we ſpake of, was concerning the diuiſion of the Church, wherein we ſhewed, that the Church was diſtinguiſhed in it ſelfe in many reſpects, the laſt whereof was this, in regard of the outward ſtate of it in the eye and appearance to the World. In this ſtate we ſhewed that it was ſometime viſible, to bee ſeene by the eye of man; and ſometime inuiſible, not to be ſeene at all, or at leaſt very hardly to be ſeene. Of the inuiſible ſtate of the Church wee hauehave ſpoken already in the laſt Lecture. Now it remaines that by Gods aſſiſtance we ſpeake of the viſible Church, for that is the Point chiefely in queſtion. Therefore leauing the inuiſible Church to God, he onelyonly knowing who are his, wee in the meane while beleeuing it, and eſteeming reuerently thereof, wee proceed now to ſpeake of the viſible Church, which may and is knowne not to God onelyonly, but alſo to the eye of the world. That which hath been already ſpoken of the Church in generall, and eſpecially of the inuiſible, makes the way plaine before vsus for the vnderſtanding of that which followes; ſo that now wee may find out the viſible Church without any difficulty at all.
Nine things conſiderable in a viſible Church.In ſpeaking of the viſible Church, we muſt handle theſe Points, firſt, the definition of it; ſecondly, the cauſes of it; thirdly, the members of it; fourthly, the markes and notes of it; fifthly, the gouernment of it; ſixthly, the priuiledges of it; ſeuenthly, the aduerſaries of it; eighthly, the authoritie of it; and laſtly, the application of it to all Churches in the world ſo farre as they are knowne to vsus.
Firſt, for the definition of it, it is this; Namely, A true viſible Church is a Company of people called,Firſt, the definition of it. and ioyning together in the publike profeſſion of the true Religion. Marke the parts of this Definition: firſt, that they may be a Church, they muſt be a Company of people called; ſecondly, that they may be a viſible Church, they muſt ioyne together in publike profeſſion; And thirdly, that they may bee a true Church, they muſt profeſſe the true Religion. For the firſt, they muſt be a Company; for one man cannot make a Church, a Church being as much to ſay, as a Congregation; and a Congregation conſiſts of diuers perſons: one man cannot make a Congregation, and therefore one man cannot make a Church. Now whether this Company bee great or ſmall, three thouſand, or but three, it is not much materiall, ſo long as they be a Company, more or fewer; if they be ſo qualified as the reſt of the definition requires, they are a Church. Secondly, it is a Company called: for ſo you may remember that I ſhewed you before, that Church hath her name in the Greeke from calling. Now whereas there is a double calling, one outward, the othe inward, thoſe that hauehave onelyonly an outward calling are viſible members; if they obay the outward calling, it is ſufficient to make them to bee reputed in the Church: But if they be true and ſauing-members of the Church, ordinarily they muſt be called, not outwardly only, but inwardly too, and muſt yeeld obedience vntounto both. Thirdly, a Company of people; which is not ſpoken definitiuely, as diſcouering what company, that is, a Company of men and women, for that is vniuerſally vnderſtood; but indefinitely, and to inlarge the Capacity and boundes of the Church to all people and Nations in the world: For ſo it was in part euen vnderunder the former Teſtament; ſtrangers ioyning with the Iewes were reputed of that Church, Exod. 12. much more is it ſo now vnderunder the Goſpell, the partition wall being beaten downe, Iew or Gentile, or any people vnderunder the Sunne, if they be rightly qualified as in the definition, may make a true viſible Church. So much for the firſt part of the definition, that they muſt be a Company, and a Company called, and a Company of people called.
Secondly, that they may bee a viſible Church, as they muſt be a Company called to the profeſſion of Religion, ſo they muſt ioyne together in the publike profeſſion of it; wherein there are three things: firſt, that they muſt make profeſſion: ſecondly, that their profeſſion muſt be publike: thirdly, that they muſt ioyne together in this publike profeſſion. Firſt, there muſt be a profeſſion; for a Church is viſible onelyonly ſo farre forth as their faith and Religion is viſible: but this is not to be diſcerned but by their profeſſion, and therefore the Church is not viſible but onelyonly by profeſſion; ſo then there muſt be a profeſſion. Secondly their profeſſion muſt be publike or open, that is, it muſt be ſo publike and open, that there may be notice taken, that ſuch and ſuch men are of ſuch a ſociety and Religion; elſe they are rather of the inuiſible Church, ſpoken of before: And looke as their profeſſion is more or leſſe publike, ſo the Church is to be reputed more or leſſe viſible. Thirdly, as they muſt publikely profeſſe, ſo they muſt ioyne together in this profeſſion; and that intends, firſt, their ſeparation from all others, whether they be of none, or of a contrary and diuers Religion; and ſecondly, it intends their aſſociating, or ſorting of themſelues together with profeſſors of the ſame Religion, growing into and liuing in a louing Communion and fellowſhip with them. Thirdly, it intendes that they muſt doe it voluntarily, and of their owne accord; ſome ioyne for faſhion, ſome for feare, ſome for hope of gaine, and ſome others for the ſauing of their goods, and the like; yet all theſe doe it voluntarily, for the will cannot be forced; yea if they doe it againſt their will it is a ſinne to them, though they ioyne to the pureſt Churches in the world. And ſo much for the ſecond part of the definition; that they muſt ioyne together in a publike profeſſion of Religion.
Thirdly, that there may be a true viſible Church, the Religion which this Company make profeſſion of muſt be the true Religion: for as without the Church there is no ſaluation; ſo without the true Religion there is no true Church: there are diuers Religions in the world, and accordingly diuers Churches; yet there is but one onelyonly true Religion, which is that which is contained in the Scripture, the Word of Truth; and ſo there is but one only true Church, that is, that which embraceth that true Religion.Vera eccleſia eſt quae profitetur Chriſti fidem. Bellar. de eccl…ſ milit. p. 249. So that whatſoeuer Congregation vnderunder the Sunne doth not profeſſe that one true Religion, let them profeſſe whatſoeuer Religion they will beſides, they cannot iuſtly bee reputed true viſible Churches.
For the better vnderſtanding of this Point, I will draw it into an Obſeruation, and ſo diſcourſe of it at large; and the Obſeruation is this: Doctr. Whatſoeuer Company or Congregation of men doe openly profeſſe the ſauing Truth of God, the ſame Congregation and Company is to bee held and reputed a true viſible Church. The truth of this Doctrine holds generally in all Congregations whatſoeuer of that quality from the greateſt to the leaſt, and from the beſt to the worſt: for firſt, whereas all and eueryevery Profeſſor of Gods Religion through the world doe concurre and ioyne together in the acknowledgment of the common ſauing faith,Firſt, ſome Churches are either vniuerſall viſible Churches, or particular viſible Churches. though not in the outward Communion of the ſame Eccleſiaſticall Aſſembly, and therefore all theſe may bee termed a true vniuerſall viſible Church: ſo alſo eueryevery particular Eccleſiaſticall Aſſembly, profeſſing the ſame ſauing Truth, and ioyning together in the outward Communion of one ſetled Congregation, and obſeruing the ſame lawes and Orders at the ſame time and place, may be called a true particular viſible Church; and that whether it be in the ſame Countrey and Prouince, or in a Pariſh, or in a priuate houſe: and accordingly they are called a Prouinciall, a Parochiall, or a domeſticall Church; and each of theſe is a true viſible Church,Firſt, Particular viſible Churches are, firſt, Nationall, Parochiall, or domeſticall. Jnſtances, firſt, of a Prouinciall Church though one be vniuerſall and the other particular. For Inſtances of all theſe in Scripture.
Firſt, for a Prouinciall or Nationall Church, which is a Company of people profeſſing the ſame Truth in the whole Land or Nation; you may ſee an inſtance. Act. 9.31. Then had the Churches Reſt in Iudea, and Samaria, and Galile, &c. There were Prouinciall Churches, named by the Countrey they were in, as Iudea, Samaria, &c. And in the Reuelations the ſecond and third Chapters, the ſeuen Churches there mentioned were Nationall Churches, as Epheſus, &c. And 1. Cor. 1.2. vntounto the Church of God which is at Corinthus, &c. there was a nationall Church.
Secondly, of a Parochiall Church.Secondly, for a Parochiall or Pariſh Church, which is a Company of people profeſſing the ſame faith in a Towne or in a Pariſh, we ſhal reade of them in Act. 14.23. Where it is ſaid, that the Apoſtles ordained them Elders in eueryevery Towne.
Thirdly, of a Domeſticall Church.Thirdly, for a domeſticall Church, which is a Company profeſſing the ſame faith in a priuat houſe, as we may reade in the Rom. 16.5. and in the 1. Cor. 16.19. of Aquila and Priſcilla with the Church in their Houſe. And Coloſ. 4.15. We reade of a Church that was in the Houſe of Nimphas, though theſe are rather to bee reputed inuiſible Churches, except they may be ſo openly taken notice of, and ſo notoriouſly knowne, as the Church that was in Priſcilla and Aquila's houſe; then they may be called Domeſticall viſible Churches. So much for the firſt diuiſion, that ſome Churches are either vniuerſall viſible Churches, or particular Churches; and that either in a whole Land, or in a Towne, or in a priuat Houſe.
Secondly, they are either more or leſſe viſible.Secondly, whereas ſome Churches are more notoriouſly knowne, ſome leſſe; yet both are true viſible Churches, though one be more viſible, and the other leſſe viſible. In the time of the Apoſtles it was ſo: the Church of Rome was notoriouſly knowne; for their faith was knowne throughout the whole world, Rom. 1.8. and their obedience was come abroad amongſt all, Rom. 16.19. ſo that this Church was more viſible. Other Churches were leſſe knowne, as the Church at Cenchrea & Creet, which are only named in the Scripture, and no Epiſtle written to them. Now becauſe they are onelyonly mentioned, therfore they were leſſe knowne, and ſo leſſe viſible, & yet true Churches as wel as the other.
Thirdly, whereas ſome Churches profeſſe the ſauing faith more purely and ſincerely, others more corruptly;Thirdly, either more or leſſe pure. yet each of theſe is a true viſible Church, though the one bee more pure, (not more true) the other leſſe. Inſtances of theſe we hauehave in the ſecond and third Chapters of the Reuelation; ſome Churches there were more pure, ſome more corrupt, yet all true Churches. Churches more pure were Smyrna and Philadelphia, all commended in them, nothing diſprayſed. Churches leſſe pure were Epheſus, Pergamus, and Thiatira, in which Churches ſome things are commended, ſome things diſcommended. Churches yet leſſe pure were, Sardis and Laodicea, where there is nothing commended, but all things diſprayſed. So we ſee that ſome of theſe profeſt the true ſauing faith more purely, ſome leſſe purely, and ſome more corruptly, yet eueryevery one of them was a true viſible Church.
Fourthly, and laſtly,Fourthly, they are more or leſſe perfect. whereas ſome Churches are growne to ſome Ripeneſſe and perfection, and to ſome ſetled forme of Gouernment; others are in their infancy, and hauehave not ſuch a forme eſtabliſhed for Gouernment; yet each of theſe is a true viſible Church, though the one be more, the other leſſe perfect. Inſtances of theſe we hauehave in Scripture; Firſt, for them that were more perfect, as at Hieruſalem, where Iames was Biſhop, there the Church was growne to ſome perfection; there the Apoſtles met and had a Conſultation together, Act. 15.2. & there was a ſetled forme of Gouernment. And ſo the Church of Philippi, Phil. 1.1. was alſo grown to ſome perfection and ſetled forme of Gouernment, they had their Biſhops and Deacons: So likewiſe the Church of Epheſus, Act. 17.28. they had their Elders and Ouerſeers. Secondly ſome are leſſe perfect, as the Church in Creta, which had ſome things that were vnperfect, and therefore Titus was left there to redreſſe things amiſſe, Tit. 1.5. And ſo the Churches of the Gentiles were not growne to that perfection, and therefore the Apoſtles would lay no heauy burthen on them, but that which they ſhould be well able to beare, Act. 15.19. yet theſe were true Churches. So that though ſome viſible Churches be vniuerſall, ſome particular; ſome more notoriouſly knowne, ſome leſſe knowne; ſome more pure, ſome more corrupt; and ſome growne to ſome perfection and ripeneſſe, ſome in their infancy leſſe perfect; yet all theſe are true viſible Churches, ſo long as they profeſſe the true ſauing faith. This may ſuffice for the illuſtration of the Note.
Now we come to the proofes of the point, and firſt vnderunder the Law there was a ſet place choſen, where the Lord would put his Name; that is, where Religion ſhould bee profeſt, and he dwels there; that is, as a Father, or as a Maſter of the family begetting children, and ruling and gouerning that family by his Word. Now what is this vnderunder the Goſpell, but this, that where Gods ſauing truth is profeſt, there God himſelfe is preſent, as in his true viſible Church, Matth. 18.20. Where two or three are gathered together in my Name, ſaith our Sauiour, there am I in the midſt of them. What is a Church? but a company of people gathered together in the Name of Ieſus Chriſt. And what is it to bee gathered together in his Name? but ioyntly to profeſſe his ſauing Truth. And what are they in the midſt of whom he is, but his Church? For ſo in Reuel. 2.1. hee is ſaid to walke in the midſt of the ſeuen golden Candleſticks. And what are the ſeuen golden Candleſticks, but the ſeuen viſible Churches? Reuel. 1.20. and this is not tied to any one place more then other, but whereſoeuer, ſaith our Sauiour, two or three are gathered, &c. be it among the Iewes, or among the Gentiles, be it generally in the World, or particularly in a Pariſh or Houſe, whereſoeuer it is, ſaith our Sauiour, I am in the midſt of them: neither doth hee ſay, that of neceſſity there muſt be any great multitude of them, if but two or three are gathered together in his Name, he is in the midſt of them. So Act. 2.41, 47. there was a true viſible Church, there was a company of people that receiued the Word, that is, that heard it, and obeyed it; and they were baptized, that is, they did not onelyonly embrace, but outwardly profeſſe the ſauing Truth, and ſo they were added to the Church, that is, they were of the viſible Church. Doe but conſider how the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 1.2. deſcribes the Church of Corinth, to them that are ſanctified in Ieſus Chriſt; that is, to thoſe that hauehave true ſauing Faith in Chriſt that ſanctifies them; Saints by Calling, that is, ſuch as make profeſſion at the leaſt to be ſo; with all that call on the Name of the Lord Ieſus in eueryevery place; which phraſe, calling on the Name of the Lord, generally in Scripture ſignifies the profeſſion of Gods Religion; ſo that thoſe that thus profeſſe the true Religion are true viſible Churches. Reuel. 1.20. the Churches there are ſaid to be golden Candleſtickes. Now what is the vſe of a Candleſticke, but to hold forth the light to be ſeene of men? and this not onelyonly experience teacheth, but Chriſt himſelfe teacheth it, Mat. 5.15. Neither doe men light a Candle and put it vnderunder a Buſhell, but on a Candleſticke, and it giueth light to all that are in the houſe. And what is the true viſible Church? but a company that hold forth the light of the ſauing Truth to bee ſeene by the World. And thoſe inſtances alleaged of thoſe Churches that are ſome more viſible, ſome leſſe; ſome more pure ſome more corrupt; ſome more perfect, ſome more imperfect; yet all of them true Churches; prooues the whole ſubſtance of the Obſeruation cleerely and directly. And ſo much for the proofes.
The Reaſons of the point are theſe. Firſt, the ſauing Reaſ. 1 truth or faith it ſelfe is the life of the Church; therefore they that profeſſe it, and thereby make it publikely knowne to the World, that the ſame is the ſauing truth, and that embrace it, they are a true viſible Church.
Secondly, where there is ſuch a company profeſſing Gods Reaſ. 2 truth, there they hauehave the promiſe of Chriſts preſence in a ſpeciall manner, Matth. 18.20. but Chriſt is preſent no where in ſuch a ſpeciall manner, but in his Church; therefore ſuch a company are a true Church. Againe, they hauehave alſo the promiſe of life and ſaluation, Rom. 10.13. but none are ſaued but thoſe that are of the Church; therefore they are a true Church.
Thirdly, the true Church is built on the Prophets and Reaſ. 3 Apoſtles, Epheſ. 2.10. that is, on that ſauing faith which they taught and wrote: therefore they that profeſſe this faith muſt needs be a true viſible Church.
Fourthly, there Chriſt is honoured and obeyed publikely as their Head, Epheſ. 1.22. therefore they that profeſſe to be ſuch are his viſible Body.
Fifthly, there amongſt ſuch a company are the ordinarie meanes of ſaluation, which are no where elſe to bee found but in the viſible Church, Matth. 16.19.
Sixthly, there his voyce is openly heard, and in ſome meaſure obeyed; therefore they are his ſheepe, and that is his fold, Ioh. 10.27.
Seuenthly, all other ſocieties and companies conſiſt of thoſe that profeſſe ſuch a Calling or Myſtery, and obedience thereunto; therefore they that publikely profeſſe the ſauing faith of Chriſt, and the knowledge of his Lawes, and obedience thereunto, they, and none other are the true viſible Church of Chriſt.
Eighthly, the true viſible Church is diſtinguiſhed from all other ſocieties whatſoeuer by this profeſſion of the ſauing faith; for other companies of men either profeſſe no Religion at all, or not the true Religion; therefore whatſoeuer company doth profeſſe the true ſauing faith and Religion, that is a true viſible Church of Chriſt.
Laſtly, the particular profeſſion of the ſauing faith makes a particular man a true member of the true viſible Church, as we may ſee in the example of the Eunuch, Act. 8.37, 38. he beleeued the ſauing faith of Chriſt, and was baptized, and ſo made open profeſſion of it, and ſo became a member of the true viſible Church. If this profeſſion in particular make a particular man a true member of the viſible Church; much more in generall doth it make a company of men profeſſing the ſame faith to bee a true viſible Church.
Vſe 1 The Vſes of the point are many. The firſt is matter of reproofe againſt the Papiſts, who lay this as a generall ground, that the onelyonly way whereby we are to find out the true Religion, is by the true viſible Church (which may be true in ſome ſenſe, but not in this.) And their reach herein is to make all the Chriſtian World to ſuſpend thēſelues vponupon their Church, as that being alwayes viſible, and ſo to receiue that Religion, and none but that which their Church doth teach. For ſay they, there is no way to find out the true Religion, but by the true viſible Church: but ours is the true viſible Church; therefore if euer you will find out the true Religion, you muſt find it out by our Church. It is not to be denied, but that a true viſible Church is a good meanes to find out the true Religion, being aſſiſted with the continuall preſence of Gods Spirit, and being furniſhed with the Word and Sacraments, and gifts for that purpoſe: but whereas they ſay, it is the onelyonly way, it is not true; for the Scripture hath another way, and a better, Ioh 5.39. Search the Scriptures (ſaith our Sauiour) for they teſtifie of mee. Againe, if this be the onelyonly way to find out the true Religion by the Church, then a man muſt firſt be well aſſured which is the true Church, before hee can ſafely relie vponupon her iudgement for the truth of Religion; ſo that whereas before his care was to find out the true Religion, and thereupon reſolues to ſearch it out from the true Church; now his firſt and greateſt care is to find out which is the true Church: for other companies that are not, may and doe bragge oft-times, that they are the true Church, when there is no ſuch matter; what are wee to doe in this caſe? This Doctrine tells vsus directly what is to be done; where is it that the ſauing truth is profeſſed? There and no where elſe is a true viſible Church; ſo that whereas they ſay, the Church is the onelyonly way for the finding out of the true Religion, it is plaine (as we hauehave ſhewed) that the true Religion profeſſed is the onelyonly way, or at leaſt the chiefe way to find out a true viſible Church. The caſe is this: we ſay, the true Religion ſhewes forth the true Church; the Papiſts ſay the contrary, that the true Church ſhewes forth the true Religion. And this that they ſay is true in ſome ſenſe, but that which we ſay is true in a better ſenſe: for the true Religion ſhewes the true Church, as the cauſe ſhewes the effects; but the Church ſhewes the true Religion, as the effects ſhew the cauſe. As for example, the Sunne-ſhine is the cauſe of the day, and the day proues that the Sunne ſhines. Now one man may reaſon thus from the cauſe to the effect, and ſay; The Sunne ſhines, therefore it is day: another from the effect to the cauſe; It is day, therefore the Sunne ſhines; and both ſay true: but the firſt is the more forcible kind of reaſoning, when we reaſon from the cauſe to the effects. So when I reaſon thus; Here is the true Religion, therefore the true Church: here I reaſon from the cauſe to the effects; and this is a more forcible and better reaſon, then to ſay, Here is the true Church, therefore here is the true Religion, which is but to reaſon from the effect to the cauſe. This wee ſhall find to be true in the Scripture phraſe, where the Church is compared to a Candleſticke; now what ſerues that for, but onelyonly to hold out the light? then the ſauing truth is the Light or Candle: now the Candleſticke is not ſeene at all without the Light of the Candle in the dark night, though it were of gold: ſo in the darknes of this World, the Church which is the Candleſticke, if it hold not forth the ſauing truth, which is the Light or Candle, it cannot be ſeene it ſelfe. So that it is the truth of Religion that makes a true Church, and the profeſsion of this truth makes it viſible: then the Church is not the only way to find out the true Religion, nor yet the beſt way; but the beſt and ſafeſt way to find out the true viſible Church, is to find it out by the true Religion which they profeſſe. And ſo much for the reproofe of the Papiſts.
Vſe 2 The ſecond Vſe is for triall. Is it ſo that eueryevery Congregation openly profeſsing the ſauing truth of God, is a true viſible Church; then here is the ſtraiteſt and preciſeſt Rule, to meaſure the being of a true viſible Church by; the definition containing all true viſible Churches and no more. Therefore look whereſoeuer the true ſauing faith is profeſt, there is a true viſible Church; And looke where there is a true viſible Church, there true ſauing faith is profeſt; for theſe hold in reciprocall termes; ſo that whether wee would proue any aſſembly to bee a true viſible Church, or reproue and conuince any for a falſe, we muſt lay it to this Rule; ſo whether they profeſſe the ſauing truth of Chriſt, or not, and accordingly eſteeme and iudge of them to bee true or falſe Churches. Here certaine exceptions may bee made to this Doctrine. The firſt exception is this: What,Exception 1. doe you ſay, that a company profeſsing the ſauing truth makes a true viſible Church? Will profeſsion onelyonly make a true viſible Church? I anſwer, No: Firſt, it is required, Anſw. that the ſauing truth be amongſt them indeed, elſe they are no true Church. Secondly, that being amongſt them, it is not to bee ſmothered, but profeſt. Thirdly, that it bee not onelyonly outwardly profeſt, but inwardly imbraced too, at leaſt by ſome of them, Rom. 10.10.Exception 2. The ſecond exception is this: But what ſay you if they profeſſe it with their lips, and deny it in their liues and practiſe; is ſuch a Church, a true viſible Church? I anſwer, Anſw. a fearefull ſtate are all ſuch Churches in: for God cannot bee more diſhonoured, his Spirit more grieued, his Goſpell more reproched, his children more offended, Satan; and all Gods enemies more gratified and aduantaged then by this: yet farre bee it from vsus to denie them to bee a true viſible Church; ſo long as Gods ſauing Truth is profeſt amongſt them, it cannot bee, though there be neuer ſo great and generall a falling away from the practiſe of it, but that ſome doe liue as they profeſſe, though they be not ſeene to vsus. And therefore for their ſakes, though they bee but few, and not to bee outwardly diſcerned, it is to be reputed a true viſible Church, though a very corrupt and impure one.Exception 3. The third exception; But what ſay you of ſuch a Church, which though they profeſſe the whole ſauing faith; yet they doe in certaine ſome croſſe opinions, which ouerthrow it? Anſw. I anſwer▪ wee muſt conſider what manner of opinions theſe be which that Church holdes; Firſt, whether they be ſuch as ouerthrow the foundation; ſecondly, whether they bee publikely profeſt as the Doctrine of that Church; thirdly, whether they bee perſiſted in after they hauehave been admoniſht by neighbour Churches? Then they are no longer to be taken notice of as true viſible Churches. But on the other ſide, if they be matters of ſmaller moment, that doe not ouerthrow the foundation, then the hay and ſtubble ſhall burne, 1. Cor. 3.12, 15. but yet they ſhall remaine ſtill a true Church. Secondly, if they bee greater matters, errors that doe ouerthrow the foundation, yet if they be not publikely profeſt as the Doctrine of that Church; yea, though they be publikely profeſt, yet if vponupon admonition of other neighbour Churches they doe recant and reforme their Errors, then they are ſtil to be accounted true viſible Churches, and it is a ſinne for any to forſake them, being in them; yea, it is a ſinne not to ioyne as a member to them, liuing in them, Deu. 12.5. at leaſt we are to ioyne with them in conſ…nt and Communion of profeſſion. The caſe of the Churches in the ſecond and third Chapter of the Reuelation make the former exceptions cleere, as you may ſee in your owne reading of them.
Vſe 3 The third Vſe is this. EueryEvery man that hath any Touch of Conſcience, or any grace in him, is deſirous to be a member of the true viſible Church; for that is a good pledge and witneſſe to their ſoules, that they are members of Chriſt Ieſus. Here then thou mayſt learne to know whether thou art a member or no; and ſo likewiſe how to become a member. Firſt, therefore labour to finde out, to know, vnderſtand, and beleeue the ſauing Truth of God; and for this end we muſt heare the Word preached, and conferre of it, and ioyne with the godly, and frequent publike Chriſtian Aſſemblies; and alſo we muſt pray to God for his Spirit, that he would be pleaſed to acquaint thee with his ſauing Truth, and to open thine eyes, that thou mayſt ſee the right way, and that he would alſo leade thee therein. Secondly, thou muſt labour as thou knoweſt it, ſo likewiſe to profeſſe it, and make open ſhew of it to the world, be not aſhamed of it, it is a Royall Calling; if we bee aſhamed of it, Chriſt will be aſhamed of vsus before his Father, and before his Angls in heauen: and as we muſt not be aſhamed of it, ſo we muſt not be afraid to profeſſe it; it is not a matter of ſhame or feare to be of Gods Church, but a matter of glory and comfort; therefore bee not afraid of reproch, perſecution, temptation, all outward miſery which wee are ſure to endure, if wee bee knowne to profeſſe the ſauing Truth of Chriſt. Chriſt Ieſus did boldly oppoſe himſelfe againſt the high Prieſt, and Pilate, and the Iewes, the Scribes and Phariſies, and the Souldiers; yea, he oppoſed himſelfe to Death it ſelfe, and to all the powers of darkneſſe, and to the terrors of God himſelfe for thee; and wilt thou bee afraid to oppoſe thy ſelfe to ſome few outward dangers for him? Nay, it is for our ſelues in the end, for wee ſhall hauehave the glory of it: yet bee wiſe, and doe not raſhly thruſt thy ſelfe into any danger; but if thou hauehave iuſt occaſion, and a Calling from God, ſhunne it not for feare of men: Let not thy falſe heart betray the truth of Chriſt his cauſe, but relying vponupon Gods power, promiſe and protection, ſtand to it reſolutely and with a good Chriſtian courage, and ſay, I am a Profeſſor of Chriſt crucified, and ſo I will continew by his Aſſiſtance euen vntounto the very death, though I be crucified euen as he was. Thirdly, we muſt ſee that our profeſſion be not in hipocriſie: for this is the Canker-worme that eates out Religion in the hearts of many profeſſors; therefore profeſſe the Truth ſincerely and in ſingleneſſe of heart, as in the ſight of God, who ſeeth and ſearcheth the Reynes; doe it as the onelyonly cauſe whereby we may, and muſt bee ſaued, and whereby thou lookeſt for thy reward in mercy at Gods hand at the laſt day; doe it as in obedience to God, to glorifie his Name, and to aduance his Kingdome, and to the confuſion of Satan and his complices. Fourthly, as wee muſt do it without hypocriſie, ſo we muſt ſee we practiſe it, and that openly; for our publike practiſe of it is our greateſt and beſt part of our profeſſion: we muſt not be like thoſe, Titus 1.16. that in their words profeſſe that they know God, but by their workes deny him, that is, their workes ſtand vp againſt them, and tell them to their faces, that there is no ſuch matter; that which wee profeſſe with our lippes, wee muſt practiſe with our liues. Put the caſe that two men bee at ods, one man ſaith one thing, another man proues the contrary by plaine and euident Arguments; whether of theſe two is the beſt and greateſt auoucher of the thing? So it is in this, he that profeſſeth in his words onelyonly the Truth of God, and another which doth practiſe it in his workes, which is the beſt and greateſt auoucher of Gods Truth? ſurely he that practiſeth it in his workes. Fiftly, as wee muſt labour to doe theſe things our ſelues, ſo we muſt do the beſt we can to draw others to it, according to the Commandement of our Sauiour Chriſt to Peter, Luk. 22.32. When thou art conuerted, ſtrengthen thy Brethren. Which when I thinke on, it cannot but admoniſh mee of my Duty, and ſo it doth vsus all, that wee ſhould labour to draw others to that good, which wee our ſelues are partakers of. Thus it was with the woman of Samaria; when ſhee was conuerted, ſhe laboured to draw all the City of Samaria to Chriſt, Iohn 4.28, 29. Eſpecially wee ſhould labour with our owne families that they may ſerue God, as Ioſhua did, I and my houſe (ſaith he) will ſerue the Lord. So ſhall we hauehave true viſible Churches within the walls of our owne houſes, howſoeuer it be in the Land, or Countrey, or Pariſh where we dwell.
Vſe 4 Laſtly, this ſhould teach vsus thankfulneſſe for our State, that the Lord hath vouchſafed ſo gratiouſly to ſhew himſelfe to the people of this Land for many yeeres, that the whole ſauing Truth of God ſhould bee knowne and profeſſed, and that by publike Authority it is countenanced amongſt vsus:The Church of England a true viſible Church. we confeſſe there are many ſinnes in our liues, defects in our ſtate, and wee mourne for them, and groane vnderunder them, and pray with ſighes and teares againſt them; and we truſt, God in his good time will heare vsus, and redreſſe theſe corruptions and abuſes amongſt vsus; yet, through Gods mercy, we profeſſe the whole ſauing truth, and therfore we are a true viſible Church of God againſt all Schiſmatikes, and Papiſts, and ſlanderers whatſoeuer. EueryEvery one may ſee and ſay, that it is a miraculous and wonderfull of God, that ſtill this profeſſion is maintained; be thankfull for it, and walke in Obedience to it, and honor God for it, and vſe it well, and pray and labour for the continuance of it, to vsus and our poſterity to all generations.
The bleſſing is ſo much the greater, and thank-worthy,Eleuen Conſiderations to moue vsus in England to be thankefull for the truth of God amongſt vsus, and they ſhew the greatneſſe of the bleſſing. if wee conſider the State of this Land from the beginning. Before Chriſts comming what were wee, but Gentiles, and ſo without Chriſt?
And ſecondly, euen ſince Chriſts comming, what were wee, but euen Pagans in the higheſt degree? Like Nimrods and Giants, moſt brutiſh and vnreaſonable; and therefore it is a wonder that any of their ſeed ſhould be wrought vponupon and brought to grace.
Thirdly, when we were conuerted, by what meanes was it, but by the Romiſh Church? Which though it were more pure then, then it is now, yet it was in her declining dayes, and they could teach no better then they had themſelues; and therefore that wee hauing been Gentiles, and Pagans, and afterward conuerted by the Papiſts; that wee, I ſay, ſhould profeſſe Gods ſauing Truth, and ſo bee a true viſible Church, this ſhould ſtirre vsus vp to the more thankefulneſſe to God.
Fourthly, England hath beene as true a Slaue to Popery, and the Kings of England as true Slaues to the Pope, as Spaine, or any other Kingdome in the world is to this day.
Fiftly, Conſider when Reformation beganne, King Henrie the eighth and Luther were at great variance, the King oppoſing him, and threatning that if the Duke of Saxony would not puniſh him, he would fetch him thence by the eares.
Sixthly, conſider how all conſpired together, to keep out the true Religion: Abbies and Monaſteries filled the land, that were built of purpoſe for the honour of the Romiſh purple Whore.
Seuenthly conſider that King Edward, that firſt reſtored Religion amongſt vsus, was but a Child, and yet out of the mouthes of Babes and ſucklings God ordayned ſtrength, for the eſtabliſhing of his Truth amongſt vsus.
Eightly, his life being but ſhort, what followed? As bloody a Perſecution as euer was, all being bent againſt the profeſſion of this ſauing faith; and yet for all this, that God ſhould preſerue his Church amongſt vsus, this is a great bleſſing and worthy of all thanks; for the bloodſhed then was ſo farre from deſtroying the Church, as that it was a meanes to increaſe it; many by ſeeing the conſtancie of the Martyrs then were conuerted, and many by reading their ſtories ſince hauehave been confirmed in the Truth; ſo that, that which the Diuell intended for the deſtroying of Gods Church, was the meanes of eſtabliſhing it amongſt vsus.
Ninthly, come to Queene Elizabeths time; ſhee went through many troubles, and was very hardly preſerued, yet at length ſhee obtayned her right, and came to the Crowne, and ſhe eſtabliſhed Gods Truth amongſt vsus, againſt all the practiſes of the Inſtruments of Satan; yet ſhe was but a weake woman, much indangered, yet ſtill preſerued, and by her meanes God continued his Truth long amongſt vsus.
Tenthly, come to our King Iames, it was very ſtrange that he ſhould come in, in peace, though it were his right: it was the Goſpell that had preuailed with vsus, and ſubdued our affections, elſe there being an heart-burning betwixt that nation and vsus, we hauing beene enemies, there would hauehave followed a bloody warre, or elſe ſome ciuill diſſention, which would hauehave made a foule wracke of Religion, and a deſtruction of Gods Church amongſt vsus.
Laſtly, if we conſider how many Fauorites Popery hath had, and that of men of State and Authority, which hauehave laboured vnderunder hand to bring in Popery againe, and yet that God ſhould not withſtanding all his enemies, continew his ſauing-truth amongſt vsus: this ſhould ſtirre vsus vp to great thankfulneſſe: we cannot conſider of theſe things, but wee muſt confeſſe them to be the finger of God. And therefore this ſhould ſtirre vsus vp to the more thankfulneſſe to God, that hath thus brought in, and continued his Religion amongſt vsus, and ſo to continue vsus to be a true viſible Church; as alſo it ſhould ſtirre vsus vp to pray for the Continuance of it. And ſo much for this point.