The Communion of Saints, Chapter 19
for the obteyning of that promised ”Gen. 3. 15. & 15. 3. 4. 5. Act. 3. 25.seed that should bruise the Serpēts head, and bring blessing vponupon all families of the earth. And vntil that seed, (which was Christ,) came; our Fathers generally embraced that kind of life, & ”Deut. 25. 5. 6. &c. Gen. 30, 1. 1 Sam. 1. 6. Luk. 1. 13, 25.thought it a dishonour to die childlesse: a… since that time, it hath stil been kept in, and sanctified vntounto the church, to such as saw good, or had need so to live; ”1 Cor▪ 7. 2. &c. 9, 5, 1 Tim. 5▪ 14,both for the avoiding of syn, and for other help and cōfort which that estate affordeth. But they which have from God, *1 Cor, 7. 7.the gift to conteyn their vessels in holines and honour without mariage, and which addicting ‡Mat, 19, 12, 1 Tim. 5. 5, …, Luk. 2, 37themselves to the service of Christ, find it best for avoyding the burdens & ”1 Cor, 7. 32, 33, 34,cares of this life, to keep thēselves single, in virginitie or widowhood; are counselled by Mat▪ 19, 12, 1 Cor, 7. 37, 38. 4….Christ and his Apostle so to rest. Yet if any mary they vers. 28. 36.syn not; onelyonly they must so …ive as *vers. 29. 31.if they were not maried, & so vse al other worldly things, as if they vsed them not, because the fashion of this world passeth away. And in their marying, they must have care not to match themselves in an vnequal yoke with vnbeleevers, (for that ”Gen. 6. 2. 3. &c & 27. 46 Deut. 7. 3. Ezr. 9. 1. 2. Mal. 2. 11. 12.hath alwaies been reproved,) but onelyonly ‡1 Cor 7. 39.in the Lord: though if they be maried to vnbeleevers before they are caled to the faith, they must not then ”1 Cor. 7. 10. 12. 13. 16depart, or put away.
3. The faithful man & woman thus fastned in wedlock, are 1 Pet 3. 7.heyres togither of the grace of life; and so ought to live in peace and love, the wife *Eph. 5. 22. 1 Pe. 3. 1.being subject to her husbād (whose 1 Cor. 11. 7glory she is) as vntounto the Lord. Their fellowship as it is in †1 Pet. 3. 7.spiritual duties, so also in humane; such as be Gen. 2. 24. Mat. 19. 6. 1 Cor. 7. 3.living & cōversing togither; *Eph. 6. 4. 1 Tim. 5. 10.educatiō of children, governmēt offervants, & ordering of yCol, 4, 1, Pro, 31, 15, familie; joynt †1 Tim. 5. 8. Prov. 31. 16. 17. 18. 19. &c.labour & diligence for their livelihood; and al other offices, wherby their mutual love, help, and comfort may be mainteyned, in this honorable state of life, which to forbid any Christian, … a doctrine ‖1 Tim. 4. 1, 3of Divils; and which… a shadow *Eph. 5. 23. …5.of that mystical & hevenly communion between Christ & his church, whiles the man loveth & cherisheth his wife as ‡vers. 28. 29.his own body, the womā again loveth, †vers. 33.feareth, & obeyeth her husband. This societie endureth ‖Rom. 7. 2.vntil death and can not be dissolved except *Mat. 5. 32.for adulterie, for which trespasse if the magistrate inflict not death, according ‡Levit. 20. 10to Gods law; ye injuried person may *Num. 5. 31. Mat. 19. 7. 8. 9.lawfully divorce and put away the offender.
4. The next in the family, a… children; which as they are the †Psa. 1…7. 3.inheritance and wages of the Lord, so must they be †Eph. 6. 4. Psal 78. 3. 4. 6. 7.brought vp & nour…ured in his fear; for they are Ezek. 16. 21.his, & *… Cor 7. 14.holy frō the womb. And because foolishnes ‡Prov 2…. 15.is bound in the harts of children, therfore, the parents ar to governe †Prov. 23. 13 14.& correct, but without provoking them to wrath, least‖ Colos. 3. 21. they be discouraged. For them are parents also to *2 Cor. 12. 14 Gen. 25. 5. 6.store vp, & provide for their maintenance, ‡Gē 24. 3 &c Exod 22. 17. Deut 7. 3.mariage, and other necessities, what in them …ieth; the children againe, †Ephes. 6. 1. 2honouring and obeying their fathers and mothers in the Lord; & ‖1 Tim. 5. 4. Prov. 23. 22.recompensing them, (if they can & ther be need,) in their old age & povertie. And they that shal *Exod. 2…. 15. 17 Mat. 15. 4 Prov. 2…. 20.smite, curse, or blaspheme their parents, o ‡Deut. 21. 18 20. 21.stubbornly refuse to obey them; are for such vnnaturalnes, to die the death.
5 Servants ar the last in the familie, inferior vntounto children both †Io…. 8. 35. Heb. 3. 5. 5.in durāce and fidelity; yet as their fellowship may be in the faith, for which their maisters should regard them ”Philē. 1. 16.above servāts, even brethren beloved: so in civil societie they are notwithstanding to be in ‡Tit. 2. 9. 10.subjection to their maisters, faithfull and pleasing them in all things. Of these, ther be two sorts, 1. Free or hired servants; 2. and Bōdmen or Sclaves. Of the first sort wer… the poor Israelites, which ”Lev. 25. 39.sold or hired out themselves for necessitie to their brethren, or were chaff…ed by their *2 King. 4. 1.creditors. These were to be wel intreated like brethren, ‡Lev. 25. 43.not overruled with crueltie; they wer to be dismissed ”Exod. 21. 2.in the seventh, or at furthest in the fiftith year †Lev 25. 40. 41. 54.called the Iubilee. And when they went out, they were to be Deut. 15. 13 14.liberally rewarded with their maisters goods. Of the latter sort were the hethens, either *Lev. 25. 44. 45.bought with price, or conquered by battel; which remayned servants alwaies, thēselves and their seed after thē. Servitude, especially bondage, is a judgment of God vponupon the world for syn; inflicted vponupon Chams ”Gen. 9. 25. 26.posteritie as a curse; yet is the curse by Christ taken away, in whom the bond & the ‡ Gal. 3 28.free ar one. And this was the case of many strangers in Israel, as of the Gibeonites the offspring of Canaā, vponupon whom their fathers ”Ios. 9. 23.curse for outward slaverie was inflicted, wch they cheerfully ‡ver. 25. 27.vnderwent, and had Gods favour and blessing vpō their sowles; they serving him, and he continewing thē, (though Saul sought to root them out,) & ”2 Sam. 21. 1. 2. 3. &c.punishing all Israel for their injurie. The like was also to be seen in others of that progenie, whom Solomon subdued vnderunder ‖1 King. 9. 31servile tribute, & whose children remayned among the Israelits after the captivitie of Babylon, (as did also the Nethinims of Gibeon,) and wer named *Nehem. 11. 3 & 7. …0.the sons of Solomons servants. When such bondmen ar brought to the faith of the Gospel, their civil servitude is not therby at an end, no not though they hav 1 Tim. 6. 2.beleeving maisters; but they ar stil to giv honour, and do service, even Colos. 3. …. 2….hartily as to the Lord and not to men; … they serv *vers. 24.the Lord Christ in that estate, and ar his 1 Cor. 7. 22.freemen; therfore they should not vers 21.care for this yoke, yet if they may be free, they should vse it rather. The maisters, ar Clos. 4. 1.to do vntounto their servants that which is just and equal, knowing that they also hav a maister in heaven: they may *Gen. 16. 6▪chasten thē but not oppresse them, nor contemne their judgement ‡Iob, 31. 13.when they cōtend with thē. Thus servāts notwithstāding their freedom in the faith, ar to be in subjection, and ”Gen. 16. 9.humble themselves vnderunder the hād of their governours; they are to obey in Luk. 17. 7. 8 &c.labour and attendance, in service Gen. 2▪ 4, 2▪ 4▪at home or abroad, in peace *Gen. 14. 14. 15▪or in war; and both maister and servant ar to keep communion togither in their holy faith, (wherin is ‡Iam. 2. 1.no respect of persons,) without oppression, f…awd, murmuring, or debate; til they end their dayes in peace, and come to the place appointed for al the living; wher smal & great do lodge togither, and †Iob. 3. 19.the servant free from his maister.
6. This much of families, which being wel ordered, and conjoyned in the faith of Christ, are as litle churches, so caled by ‖Rom. 16. 5.the Apostle; and ought to hav care, whatsoever1 Cor. 16. 19, be done in others, that *Ios 24, 15. Gen. 35, 2.Gods true worship be continewed in them. The secōd sort of humane societie, is in Policies or Commune weals; wch may be diversly cōstituted, lesser or greater, & vnderunder sūdry sorts of govermēt. As, many families cōpact togither in one *Num. 1. 18. 20 22 &c.tribe; many tribes in one ‡Exo. 19. 6. Act, …0. 22.nation or Kingdome; many kingdomes in †Ezr. 1. 2. Luk. 2. 1.one Empire; & these menaged by one or by many; by Num. 7. 2.Princes, *Num. 11 16 17.S…natouis, ”Act. 13. 20.Iudges, ‡vers. 2.Kings or Act 25. 11. 12.Kaesa…s, as God shal dispose, & the publick states see best. For ‖Rom. 13. 1.al powers are of God, what soever be their names, titles ▪dignities or formes of regiment; and when or howsoever they be altered at the discretion of man, (in respect wherof they ar caled *1 Pet. 2. 13.…mane ‡or creatures foreign.creations▪ or ordināces,) they ar to be submitted vntounto for the Lords sake. And this though they be vnbeleevers; how much more if they also beleev, & hav brought their glorie to the Church of Christ, and have their ‡Ezek. 48. 21portion in the holy land.
7. These magistrats if they be freely chosen of the church, must be of their †Deut. 17. 15brethren, ‖Deut. 1. 13. 15. &c,men of wisdome and good conscience, who must judge al causes aright, & govern the people in justice, *2 Sam. 23. 3.and in the fear of God: whom the Commons are to honour, submit vntounto, and reverence, ‡Psal. 72. 9. 10. 15. Rom. 13. 6. 7. Iude. 8.in deed, word, and gesture, as to the Lord; for †Iohn. 10. 35.the word of God is committed vntounto them, and they therfore ar caled Psal. 82. 6. Exod. 21. 6.Gods. This subjection is due vntounto al, whither *1 Pet. 2. 13. 14.vntounto the King as to the superior, or vntounto the Governors, as they that ar sent of him. It must be both openly & ‡Eccles. 10 20secretly, even †Rom. 13. 5.of conscience, & not for fear of wrath onelyonly. The cōmunion of the faith, is not a cause, why eyther princes should forsake their place, titles, or dignities; or the people shake off their subjection. For seing Magistracie is stil Gods ‖Rom. 13. 1. 2 3.ordinance; none ar meeter to execute it, to hav his word and sword cōmitted to thē, to carie his titles, & to judge in his cōgregatiō, then his own servants *2 Chron. 1. 10 11. 12. Num. 11. 17▪furnished with his spirit. And seeing it is stil his ”Rom. 13. 4. 6.ministerie for the good of his people, ye punishmēt of malefactors, & praise of weldoers; none cā better performe this dutie, & be *Isa, 49. 23.noursing fathers & mothers of Christs church, then Christians▪ Kings ar not to cast away, but Revel. 21, 24bring their glorie & honour to Ierusalē, (as the gentiles do their *Isa. 60. 5. 6. 9. 11.riches,) & thēselves to ‡vers. 10.minister therevnto.
8. In which ministration, they both ”Ezek. 45. 17mainteyn and conserve the true religion of God according to his word, & reforme things amisse, in themselves and their subjects, (as is ‡Chap. 17. Sect. 10.before touched:) and also mainteyn civil peace, by executing †Psal. 101. 1.merciemercy and judgment, Psal 82 3. 4justifying & delivering the poor and needy, and *Psal. 72. 4.beating down the oppressor. Such magistrates ‡Iob. 29. 15. 16. 17.are eyes to the blind, feet to the lame, fathers to the poor; whose cause when they know not, they seek out diligently; breaking the jawes of the vnrighteous man, & plucking the prey out of his teeth. And as their sword preserveth peace at home, so ”Iudg. 11. 27. 29. &c. 2 Chro. 32. 1. 2. 5. 6. &c.it resisteth injuries from abroad; that they are not onelyonly ornamēts of cōmune weals, but their safety and strength vnderunder God; and may wel be caled, (as the Prophets name them,) the ”Psalm. 47. 9 & 89. …8. Hos. 4. 18.Shields of the world. For which cause, all Christians as they may (by †Act. 22. 25. 28. &. 25. 10. 11.Pauls example) be partakers of the benefit of their lawes politick; so do they ow ‖Rom 13. … 5. 6▪homage, service, and subiectiō vntounto thē, should allow them maintenance, pay them tributes, and other like duties; in recompence of their cares, labours, and employments: that so mutual peace and concord in the cōmunion of the Saincts, may all manner wayes be conserved.
9. There remayneth yet an other sort of civil duties among the Saincts, general vntounto al, maried or vnmaried, bond or free, magistrate or subject; which are, love, mercy, relief, kindenes, courtesie, and many other the like sociable actions, at al times to be performed, of al persons as there is occasion, and according to their power and place. For Christians are to have care of those ”1 Thes. 5. 12 13.that labour among them, a… over them in the Lord, and admonish them; that they have them in singular love for their works sake, & let thē ”1 Cor. 9. 11.reap their carnal things, which sow vntounto them spiritual. For God wch willed Israel to beware *Deut. 12. 19that they forsakt not the Levite, as long as they lived vpō the earth, ”Deu. 14. 27because he had neyther part nor inheritance with them, but was busied in †Deut. 33. 10teaching them the law, & other ministerial actiōs, ‖Deut. 10. 8. ….for which the Lord himself would be his inheritance: hath also ordeyned, ”1. Cor. 9. 14.that they which preach the Gospel, should live of the Gospel. And seing for the service of Christ in that warfare, ‡2 Tim. 2. ….they intangle not themselves with the affayres of life, because they would please him that hath chosen thē to be soldjers: they should have ”Phili. 4. 1…. 16.their wants supplied by the church, that they be not forced to war †1 Cor. 9. 7.at their own cost; but may …a… of the milk of the flock which they feed, & be made partakers ‖Gal. 6. 6.of al their goods; which wil not onelyonly be an incouragement to them in their ministerie, but also turne to the great good of such as reliev them, as it is written, ye ”Ezek. 44. 30shal give vntounto the Priest the first of your dough, that he may cause the blessing to rest vponupon thy howse. And togither with them, the poor, the strangers, the fatherlesse, and the widowes, (as was the manner ”Deu. 14. 2…in Israel,) are also to be releived; to them we must ”Deut. 15. ….open the hand and lend sufficient for their need, and that without ‡vers 10.grief of hart, and evē freely, †Luk 6. 35.looking for nothing again, but expecting a blessing & reward from God▪ Pilgroms and strangers are ‖Heb. 13. 2.to be harboured; our brethren in bo… *vers. 3.to be remembred, as though we were bound with them; ‡Isa. 58 7. Iob. 31. 16. 17 18. 19. Mat. 25. 35. 36. Iam▪ 1▪ …7.the nake to be clothed; the hungrie sowl filled; the sick and distressed, to be visited, tended, and comforted; and al other good works, which are to be done vntounto al men, ”Galat. 6. 10.especially to them which are of the howshold of faith. For these works of mercy, are better †Hos. 6. 6.then sacrifices; they are ‖Philip. 4. 18odours that smel sweet, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasant to God, who can make *… Cor. 9. 8. 9all grace to abound towards vsus, that we alwaies having al sufficiencie in all things, may abound in every good work, to an everlasting memorie of our justice, the ”vers. 13. 14▪ 15. 26.prayers of the Saincts for vsus, with prayse and thanks vntounto God for his vnspeakable gifts. These humane duties, are so vnited vntounto true religion, as God of old cōmanded them on his Sabbathes and solemn ”Deut. 16. 1… 14. Nehem. … 10.feasts; Christ hath ordeyned *Act. 6. 1. 2. &c. Rom. 1…. 8. &▪ 16. 1. … 1 Tim. 3. 12. & 5. 9. 10.Deacons in his Church, and other Helpers for this ministration; besides the general care of all the faithful; and on every ‡1 Cor. 16. 1 … ▪first day of the week, (which were dayes of the churches ”Act. 20. 7. Ioh. 20. 19.assēblies,) such care & provisiō for the poor was made. yea when occasion so required, the Christians †Act. 2. 45.sold their possessions & goods, and parted them to all men as every one had need; which work the ‖Act. 4. 3… ▪ 35. 37.Apostles themselves a while looked vntounto. Good therefore and comfortable is it for all the Saincts that have this worlds good, to do good and to distribute, *Heb. 13. 1… ▪because with such sacrifices God is well pleased; that they be rich in good works, and ready to communicate; that with the godly Tyrians, Isa. 23 1….their occupying and their gain may be holie vntounto the Lord; whiles they hoord it not vp, nor keep it in store, but let it be for them that dwel before the Lord, for food & clothing: by this meanes ”1 Tim. 6. 18 ….laying vp in store for themselves, a good foundation against the time to come, that they may obteyn eternal life.
10. Concerning other Christiā offices special regard must be had in al our actiōs of reverence & lov; for towards superiours, & the aged, men must shew al honour in giving them their Luk. 1. 3. Act 26. 25. 2 Iob. 1.titles of dignitie, when… Lev. 19. 32. 1 King. 1. 16. …3. Ruth. 2. 10 they speak or write vntounto them; rising vp; and bowing down before them for honour sake; they may not *1 Tim▪ 5. 1▪ 1 Sam. 1. 14 15.rebuke, but exhort them as fathers, they are to giv them ‡Luk▪ 14. 7. 8. 9. 10.the vpper places, and suffer them †Iob. 32. 4. 6. 7.first to speak in causes; And they again ar kindly to intreat the yonger sort as ‖Iosh. 7. 19. Philem. 9. 1 Tim. 5. 1.children and as brethren; yet as they may deserv, †Tit. 1. 13. 3. Ioh. 10. Num. 32. 6. 7.—14.sharply to rebuke also. Amongst al, ther should be, in behaviour, seemlines & ‖Eph. 4. 32.courtesie; in giving honour, *Rom. 12. 10to goe one before an other; ‡1 Thess. 5. 26. 1 Cor. 16. 20.saluting, kissing, and ”Act. 21. 6.embracing of freinds, as ther is occasion. In words, †Tit. 3. 2. Gal. 5. 23.softnes, meeknes and gentlenes towards all, without ‖Ephe. 4. 31bitternes or wrath, clamorous or evil speaking: even then giving good words, & blessing, *1 Pet. 3. 9.when we ar reproched. In actions; dealing ‡1 Cor. 16. 14. Prov. 18 24. 2 Cor. 1. 12. 1 Tim. 5 11.freindly, simply, faithfully; neither by force †1 Thess. 4. 6oppressing, nor by fraud deceiving our brethren in any thing; ready to ‖Mat▪ 5. 42.give, lend, or pleasure them any way; and vntounto everie honest action *Iam 3. 17.easy to be intreated; ‡Rom. 12▪ 15.rejoycing with them for their joy, & mourning for their sorow. Nourishing good wil by ‡1 Pet. 3. 8.affability, sociablenes, †Rom. 12. 16lowly cariage, ‖Iude. 12. Act …. 46.love-feasts, and rejoycing togither; that the bond of peace may by al good and lawful meanes be preserved amongst vsus during life; and when we are parted by death, the living to *Luk. 7. 12. … Sam. 3. …1. &c.cary and accompany the dead vntounto the grave.
11. In this maner men carying themselves, towards God whom they serv with reverence and with fear, and adore in spirit and truth; also to their neighbours, with whō they ar coupled in peace and amitie: the ‡Ezech. 34. 26.blessings of the Lord, as the rayn & showrs from heaven, ar powred vponupon them; †Levit. 26. 11. 12.his own tabernacle and gracious presence, and the ‖Num. 23. …1.joyful showt of a king is among them; and he wil *Isa. 60. 13.glorifie the place of his feet. Against al forreyn enemies he wil defend them, making ‖Psal. 147. 13.the barrs of their gates strong; salvation wil he Isa. 26. 1.set for walles & bulwarks, even himself, wilbe a ”Zech. …. 5.wall of fyre round about them; that they shal dwel ‖Isa. 32. 18.in the tabernacle of peace in sure dwellings, and in safe resting places: He will cloth them *Isa. 61. 1….with garments of salvation, wil cover them with the robe of righteousnes; & adorn them with his graces, as a bride garnisheth her self with her jewels. Here wil he make vntounto al people, ‡Isa. 25. ….a fest of fat things and ful of marow, a feast of wines fined and purified; feeding them †Psal. 8…. 1…with the fat of wheat, and filling them with honey out of the rock. Sion shalbe ‖Isa. 62. 3.a crown of glorie in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diademe in the hand of her God; and as a *vers. ….bridegrome is glad of the bride, so wil he rejoyce over her; and she againe shal joy in him, & prayse his name, because *Psa. 148. 14he hath exalted the horn of his people, which is a prayse for al his Saincts, even for the sons of Israel, a people near vntounto him.
Pray for the peace of Ierusalem: let them prosper that love thee.
Psal. 122. 6.