A Treatise of the Church, Book 2 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. The titles which the Separiſts aſcribe to the viſible Church, are to be vnderſtood of the inviſible Church onelyonly.
AS the deſcription theſe men giuegive of the viſible church, and that which they ſay is the matter and forme thereof, is not a deſcription, nor the matter and forme of the viſible, but rather of the inuiſible Church militant: euen ſo it is with ſundry titles they giuegive to the viſible Church. It is called (ſay they) a kingdome of Prieſts, a royall Prieſthood the ſheepe of the Lord, Appologie 44. communion of Saints 248. & 470. Deſcrip: of the viſible Church pag. 1.the Temple of God, a choſen Generation, an holy Nation, the peculiar people: yea, Chriſt his Siſter, his LoueLove, his Spouſe, and his Body. Theſe titles which in the holy Scriptures are vſually giuen to the inuiſible Church militant, and company of the faithfull, and if at any time to the viſible, it is becauſe and with reſpect had to the elect and Church inuiſible, to whom alone properly the aforeſaide titles doe belong: they ignorantly apply and vnderſtand of the viſible Church, and company of profeſſors, with diuers more of the ſame kinde, which for breuitie I omit.
But let vsus briefely and in order conſider of theſe or the moſt of them If the viſible Church be a kingdome of Prieſtes, and royall Prieſthood, then all of this Church & company are Kings and Prieſts vntounto God: but the laſt is falſe: therefore the firſt. To the propoſition you as willingly ſubſcribe as wee. The aſſumption which is this: All of the viſible Church are not Kings and Prieſtes vntounto God, with open mouth you deny: which thus I prooue.
All that be Kings and Prieſts vntounto God ſhall raigne, and offer to God the ſacrifice of praiſe for euer in heauen.
But all of the viſible Church ſhall not raigne, and offer to God the ſacrifice of praiſe for euer in heauen.
Therefore all of the viſible Church be not Kings and prieſts vntounto God.
The aſſumption is in it ſelfe cleare. The propoſition is euident by Reuel. 5.6. Thou waſt killed, and haſt redeemed vsus to God by thy blood out of eueryevery kindred, and tongue, and people, and Nation. And haſt made vsus vntounto God Kings and Prieſts, and we ſhall raigne on the earth. Heere wee learne, that theſe Kings and Prieſtes ſhall raigne and inherite the kingdome: and beſides who be theſe Kings, which ſhall thus raigne, not the viſible Church, as theſe men teach: but thoſe whom the lambe hath redeemed to God by his blood out of eueryevery kindred, and tongue, and people, Confeſsion of Faith, 29.and nation: which are the Elect or inuiſible Church, as they themſelues confeſſe. This is further confirmed and made more euident in the firſt of the Reuel. where Iohn ſaith that thoſe whom Chriſt Ieſus loueth and waſheth from their ſinnes in his blood, are Kings and Prieſts vntounto God. But this Chriſt doth onelyonly to the Elect, and Church inuiſible: for them alone hee loueth; their ſinnes onelyonly hee waſheth away: therefore they onelyonly are this kingdome of Prieſtes, or Kings and Prieſts vntounto God.1. Pet. 2.5.7.9. Peter telleth vsus that the faithfull are this royall Prieſthood, and calling them alſo an holy Prieſthood, he ſaith that they offer vp ſpirituall ſacrifice acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt. But the inuiſible Church (of which ſocietie the faithfull are) onelyonly doth and can offer ſuch ſacrifices: Therefore the inuiſible Church, are this royall Prieſthood, or kingdome of Prieſtes, and not the viſible Church. If I ſhould hauehave ſaide nothing, M. Ainſworth himſelfe wil ſuffice for the conuiction of this error.Communion of Saints. 248. They whom Chriſt hath made Kings and Prieſts vntounto God his father, being a Kingly Prieſthood, euen a kingdome of Prieſtes, and a holy nation: hauing part in the firſt reſurrection, the ſecond death may hauehave no power ouer them; but ſit with Chriſt in his throne, euen as hee ouercame, and ſitteth with his Father in his throne. From your owne words I argue thus againſt you. They who are this royall Prieſthood, that is, Kings and Prieſts vntounto God, hauehave part in the firſt reſurrection, the ſecond death hath no power ouer them, but ſit with Chriſt in his throne: But the inuiſible Church onelyonly and company of the Elect hauehave part in the firſt reſurrection, the ſecond death hath no power ouer them: Ergo, the inuiſible Church is this royall Prieſthood. The propoſition your owne words doe prooue: The aſſumption needes no proofe. And againe in another place hee conuinceth himſelfe and his friends. Seeing then (ſaith he) we hauehave receiued ſuch grace from God, Communion of Saints 487. 488.(ſo many as beleeue in the name of his ſonne Chriſt) as that we are through his mercy made a choſen generation, a kingly Prieſthood, waſhed from all our ſinnes in the blood of Chriſt, and raigning with him on earth by mortifying and ſubduing our earthly members: what remaineth then but that we purge our ſelues from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and Spirit. From hence I inferre, that either the viſible Church, and conſequently all the members thereof are waſhed from their ſinnes: mortifie and ſubdue their earthly members, which no man will affirme: or elſe the viſible Church is not that royall Prieſtood whereof the Scripture ſpeaketh: for they that are this royall Prieſthood, are waſhed from their ſinnes, by your owne confeſſion. Iudge now thy ſelfe (Chriſtian reader) whether this that M. Ainſworth writeth heere, doeth not conuince that he ſaith elſe where.Communion of Saints 470. And now that all Chriſtians are made Prieſts vntounto God, euen a Kingly Prieſthood to raigne vponupon earth, and to hauehave their power of Chriſt to iudge all that are within the Church, and caſt out the wicked from among them: they ought to reteine and vſe their power. By Chriſtians he meaneth here the members of the viſible Church, and of all them he affirmeth, that the are Kings and Prieſts vntounto God. And to increaſe his ſin, after his and their accuſtomed manner, he alleadgeth three places to prooue this his error: namely, 1. Pet. 2.9. Reu. 1.6. & 5.10. For the conuincing of which errors their are no teſtimonie in holy Scripture more excellent, as we may appeare by the premiſſes. Whereby it is euident, they are ſtrangely blinded in their vnderſtanding: ſeeing in the middeſt of a glorious light they ſee not the light, but grope as men in palpable darkeneſſe. And heere fitly I returne that vponupon you, M. Ainſworth: which you falſely apply to vsus. The Reader may ſee how your right eye is blinded, to bring Scriptures ſo plaine againſt your ſelues. Beſides the three former teſtimonies you alleadge one another, that likewiſe maketh not for, but againſt you. If you will heare my voyce indeede, Counterp. 79. Exod. 19.5.and keepe my couenant, then you ſhall bee vntounto me a kingdome of Prieſts: but the Elect onelyonly and they which are of the inuiſible Church doe this which the Lord heere requireth: Therefore they onelyonly are the kingdome of Prieſts here ſpoken of. Againe, the viſible Church theſe fewe excepted in it which are of the inuiſible Church, doeth not heare Gods voice indeede, but contemne it; doeth not keepe but breake his couenant, and therefore is not a kingdome of Prieſts to God. For what though this ſpeech was ſpoken to the viſible church? They therein of the inuiſible Church onelyonly could & did keepe the condition heere required. They therefore alone make this Kingdome of Prieſts. Thus your owne ſword helpeth to pierce your ſide.
Neither is that ſo fit a title for the viſible Church the ſheepe of Lord, ſeeing in the Scriptures ſpecially of the new Teſtament, ordinarily by ſheepe are ment the Elect, and Church inuiſible: I am the doore of the ſheepe, Ioh. 10.7.15. Matth. 25, 33.I lay downe my life for my ſheepe, when the Sonne of man commeth in his glory, he ſhall ſet the ſheepe on his right hand, and the goates on the left. In a word, If wee would knowe who indeede are the ſheepe of the Lord, and rightly ſo to be called, Chriſt himſelfe telleth vsus againe in the 10. of Iohn ſaying:Verſ. 27. my ſheepe heare my voyce, and I know them, and they follow me, and I giuegive vntounto them eternall life, and they ſhall neuer periſh. Thereupon M. Ainſworth ſaith well: ſuch were not of Chriſts ſheepe for then he would hauehave giuen them life eternall, and for confirmation therof he quoteth this place of Iohn. Communion of Saints 58.Wherby he imployeth that all Chriſts ſheepe ſhall hauehave life euerlaſting. From whence it followeth that this title Chriſts ſheepe, or the ſheepe of the Lord, appertaineth to the elect and inuiſible church, and cannot rightly be ſaide of the viſible Church: except all the viſible Church ſhall be ſaued. A great part of the viſible Church are ſo farre from being like to ſheepe, that they may more fitly be compared to wolues.Mat. 10.26. Luke 10.3. Behold I ſend you as ſheepe in the middeſt of wolues. Theſe whom Chriſt calleth wolues, were the viſible Church of the Iewes: In which Church, were but a fewe ſheepe.
You teach further that the viſible Church is in the Scripture called the Temple of God, and this you will proue by 1. Cor. 3.17. Knowe yee not that you are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? 17. If any man deſtroy the Temple of God, him ſhall God deſtroy: for the Temple of God is holy, which yee are. I would deſire no better place for the confutation of this error, then this you alleadge for probation thereof. See you not that the Spirit of God dwelleth in all thoſe, who be this Temple of God? now God his ſpirit dwelleth onelyonly in the Elect: They are of the Elect therefore and inuiſible Church who are the Temple of God. That God breatheth his Spirit onelyonly into the Elect, it is manifeſt by Rom. 8.14. as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the Sonnes of God. And by. Gal. 4.6. And becauſe yee are ſonnes, God hath ſent foorth the Spirit of his ſonne into your hearts, which cryeth Abba Father. Againe the Temple of God is heere ſaide to be holy, which muſt needes be becauſe the Spirit of God dwelleth in him that is this Temple, and it is holy, which is therefore called the holy Spirit, and the holy Ghoſt: …to o…e…y becauſe in his owne nature he is holy, or holineſſe itſ…l…e, but alſo in reſpect of his effect and operation, for that all thoſe in whom he is, he ſanctifieth and maketh holy. Hereupon it followeth that if the viſible Church and members thereof be the Temple of God; Then are they ſanctified by the Spirit of God, and Saints indeede, and conſequently ſuch as to whom the heauenly inheritance belongeth. For the inheritance ſhall be giuen to all them that are ſanctified, as is taught, Act. 20.32. Beſides we hauehave heard that prophane Eſau, and many more who hauehave beene vnholy and vncleane, diſobedient, yea abhominable, rebellious, and reprobate to eueryevery good worke, hauehave beene of the viſ. Church. We may heere alſo remember that this Spirit (which dwelleth in eueryevery one that is the Temple of God) is called the Spirit of Life, as Rom. 8.2. not onelyonly becauſe in whomſoeuer it is it killeth and ſubdueth ſinne, and quickeneth to righteouſneſſe, as Rom. 8.10. But for that he who hath this Spirit hath life it ſelfe, euen eternall life begun in him. This Spirit likewiſe is called the ſeale and earneſt of our inheritance. 2. Cor. 2.22. Epheſ. 1.13.Whoſoeuer therefore hath this ſpirit is ſure to inherite the kingdome of heauen; becauſe he hath God his ſeale and earneſt thereof. For as much therefore as the inuiſsible Church onelyonly and members thereof, hauehave and ſhall hauehave this life, and inherite this kingdome: They therefore onelyonly hauehave this ſpirit, and conſequently are this Temple. And this argument one may drawe from your owne words, thereby to conuince this your error, Chriſt (ſay you) dwelleth in and gouerneth by his holy Spirit his elect: Confeſsion of Faith, 34.which he hauing once giuē, neuer taketh away from them, but ſtill begetteth and nouriſheth in them repentance, faith, and louelove, and all Chriſtian vertues vntounto immortallity. From theſe and ſome other lines of yours, I argue againſt you thus. They whoſoeuer they be which are the Temple of God, hauehave the ſpirit of God dwelling in them, whereby they are quickened, and hauehave the life of God in them, yea are quickned to immortallitie: But the Elect onelyonly hauehave this ſpirit as your ſelues affirme pag. 34. of your confeſsion of Faith, whereby they are quickened as pag. 26. of the ſame booke: therefore the Elect onelyonly and inuiſible Church are by your owne doctrine the Temple of God, and not the viſible Church. Thus your owne ſword againe helpeth to pierce your ſide. And heere this reaſon may be vſed againſt you. Thoſe whom Peter calleth a ſpirituall houſe,1. Pet. 2.5. Epheſ. 222. and Paul the habitation of God by the ſpirit, bee heere called the Temple of God: but by the firſt are meant the faithfull who are of the inuiſible Church: therefore by the latter, the propoſition is euident: And ſo is the aſſumption to them who vnderſtand theſe places: it hath alſo in part beene cleared and ſhall be further foorthwith. Finally this is eaſily conuinced by 2. Cor. 6.19. Knowe you not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghoſt which is in you, whom you hauehave of God? And you are not your owne: for you are bought for a price. Here we ſee that they who are the Temple of the holy Ghoſt, or the Temple of God are ſaide to be redeemed, or bought with a price: But the elect onelyonly are redeemed, euen by your owne confeſſion: therefore they are of the Elect and Church inuiſible who bee the Temple of God, and in whome God dwelleth by his Spirit.
But it is no maruell though this and many other Scriptures which by the holy Ghoſt are meant of the members of the inuiſible you vnderſtand of the viſ. Church,Deſcription of the viſ. church. 2 ſeeing you doe the like by 1. Pet. 2.9. then which there is ſcarce a place in holy writ,Confeſsion of faith 6. Apologie 44. Communion of Saints 248. & 470. Paralleles 61. Iuſtification 44. wherein the Spirit of God ſpeaketh more manifeſtly of the inuiſible Church or thoſe thereof vvho be effectually called, and that can worſe be vnderſtood of the viſible. And this I hauehave ſhewed in the ſecond Chapter where I ſpeake at large of this Scripture: So that it may ſeeme altogether needleſſe to adde any thing thereunto. Yet neuertheleſſe I will: And the rather becauſe you being told of your miſ-applying of this Scripture doe iuſtifie it, and confidently affirme, that it is meant of the viſible Church, and argue for the ſame.Counterp 158. Iuſtification 43. For the better vnderſtanding vvhereof, I will ſet downe ſome verſes going before. Yee as liuely ſtones, bee made a ſpirituall houſe, an holy prieſthood, to offer vp ſpirituall ſacrifices acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt. Wherefore it is contained in the Scripture; Behold, I put in Sion a chiefe corner ſtone, elect and precious: and he that beleeueth therein ſhall not be aſhamed. 7. vntounto you therefore which beleeue, it is precious: but vntounto them which be diſobedient, the ſtone which the builders diſallowed, the ſame is made the head of the corner. 8. And a ſtone to ſtumble at, and a rocke of offence, euen to them which ſtumble at the word, being diſobedient, vntounto the which thing they were euen ordained. 9. But yee are a choſen generation, a royall Prieſthood, an holy Nation, a peculiar people, that yee ſhould ſhew forth the vertues of him that hath called you out of darkneſſe into his maruellous light.
In the fift verſe of this Chapter, they who are ſpoken of in this 9. verſe are there called: Firſt, liuely ſtones: Secondly, a ſpirituall houſe: Thirdly, an holy prieſthood: Fourthly, as Prieſts they are ſaid to offer vp ſpirituall ſacrifices acceptable to God by Ieſus Chriſt. Now theſe liuely ſtones, this ſpirituall houſe, and theſe prieſts offering ſacrifices acceptable to God in Chriſt, are ſuch onelyonly as bee of the elect and inuiſible Church as I hauehave plainely ſhewed in the ſecond Chapter: and eueryevery babe in knowledge may hereby know, becauſe the Reprobate cannot offer any acceptable ſacrifice to God: Therefore of the inuiſible Church, and not of the viſ. Church Peter ſpeaketh in this 9. verſe, By the 6. and 7. verſes it is plaine that in this 9. verſe he ſpeaketh of the faithfull, euen ſuch as doe beleeue in Chriſt. And this alone the elect doe. In the 7: and 8. verſes this our Apoſtle turning his ſp…ech from them that did beleeue, to them that were ſo farre of from beleeuing in Chriſt, that they did ſtumble at him, ſo as hee was to them a rocke of offence, endeth the 8. verſe thus vntounto the which thing they were euen ordained, leaſt now the beleeuing Iewes, of whom hee had newly ſpoken, ſhould be terrified with that he had ſaid of reprobation, and ſome of them in their weakeneſſe feare leaſt they were of the number of the Reprobates, and ſuch as God bad ordained to iuſt condemnation: he telleth them in the 9. verſe, that this he meaneth not by them, neither neede they to feare this at all: for as much as they are not of that generation, and ſtocke of mankinde which God hath ordained to deſtruction, as the former deſpiſers of Chriſt: but of the generation which God hath choſen and appointed to life euerlaſting: which generation is that we call the inuiſible Church. Why the elect bee heere called a choſen generation, you may reade further Chap. 1. And there alſo ſee that theſe titles, royall Prieſthood, holy Nation, peculiar People, which theſe men vnderſtand of the viſible Church, cannot be ſo taken; But are meant of the faithfull or true beleeuers, al which are of the inuiſible church. Both by the words themſelues then of this Scripture, (… meane verſe 9.) and alſo by the coherence or depe…dance thereo… with that goeth b…fore, it is euident that this Scripture is pe…uerted by th…ſe men and miſapplyed. Nay this is euident by their owne vvritings. And here with mee obſ…rue a ſecret ouer ruling h…nd of God. M. Ainſworth hauing made a large Treatiſe i…tituted the Communion of Saints, and there hauing ſpoken many excellent and glorious things of the Saints, rightly vnderſtood, that is, of Saints indeed, or the faithfull ſanctified by the Spirit of God and Faith in Chriſts who are ſo of the viſible Church, as withall they be of the inuiſible Church: but by him meant and miſapplyed to all the members of the viſ. Church, Saints by profeſsion; which ſhameth the whole Treatiſe, making it almoſt as full of lies as lines: Hee, (I ſay) hauing done this euer and anone throughout his whole booke, behold how in a concluſion, which he affixeth to the ſaid booke, he conuinceth himſelfe of errour, touching a great part of that hee had ſaid before: and namely concerning this place of Peter, whichaPag. 470. before he vnderſtood of the viſible Church, and members thereof. Thus beginneth he his concluſion:b487. 4. 88. ſeeing we hauehave receiued ſuch grace from God, (ſo many as beleeue in the name of his Sonne Chriſt) as that we are raiſed vp from the graues of ſinne, &c. being through his mercy made a c1. Pet. 2.9.choſen generation, a kingly prieſthood, waſhed from all our ſinnes dDeut. 1.5.in the bloud of Chriſt, and eReu. 5.10.raigning with him on earth, by mortifying and ſubduing our earthly members: what remaineth but that wee purge our ſelues from all filthineſſe of the fleſh and ſpirit. With your owne weapons thus I fight againſt you. All they and they only who beleeue in Chriſt, are by his bloud waſhed from their ſinnes, mortifie, and ſubdue their earthly members, are this choſen generation, and royall prieſthood: But onelyonly the elect and inuiſible Church beleeue in Chriſt, are by his bloud waſhed from their ſinnes, mortifie and ſubdue their earthly members: Therfore the elect onelyonly and inuiſible Church are this choſen generation, and kingly prieſthood: and therefore not the viſible church, as theſe men do teach. The propoſition is your owne: the Aſſumption deny if you will.
But M. Ainſworth by three reaſons will proue that this ſcripture is not to bee vnderſtood of the inuiſible,Counterp. 158. but of the viſ. Church. The firſt is layed downe in theſe words. This place of Peter ſpeaketh of and to the viſ. or ſenſible Church: for the Apoſtle wrote to the viſ. Christians the ſtrangers that then dwelt in Pontus Galatia, &c.
In the tenth Chapter of this booke I hauehave anſwered this reaſon at large, and ſhewed the vanitie of it: notwithſtanding ſomething I will adde heere.
Be it granted that Peter writ to the viſ. church, though ſomething might be ſaid againſt it: as that he writeth to them that had obtained like precious faith with him, which none but the choſen and of the inuiſ. chureh hauehave: yet this proues not that this 9. verſe is true and to be vnderſtood of the viſ. Church, no more then it followeth that theſe ſayings of Paul are true and to bee vnderſtood of the viſ. Church, and all the members thereof, Yee are bought for a price; 1. Cor. 6.20. Rom. 8.15. Gal. 4.20. & 3.26. Epheſ. 1.13.yee hauehave receiued the ſpirit of Adoption; ye are the ſonnes of God, who hath ſent forth the ſpirit of his Sonne into your hearts; ye are all the ſonnes of God, yee are ſealed with his holy Spirit of promiſe, the earneſt of our inheritance, with many ſuch like: becauſe the Epiſtles wherein theſe are, vvere vvritten (as you affirme) to viſible or ſenſible Churches.
The ſecond reaſon followeth in theſe words: This which Peter ſpeaketh chap 2.9.10. is as Moſes ſpake of old to the viſible Church of Iſrael, Exod. 19.6. I anſwere, though Exod. 19.6. was ſpoken to the viſ. church of Iſrael, yet it was in reſpect of them therein vvho were of the inuiſible church and of Gods elect, and is true onelyonly of ſuch, as I hauehave ſhewed before: euen ſo it is here.
Your laſt reaſon followeth. Againe (ſay you) Peter mentioneth the end of their calling to this dignitie, (viz.) to ſhew forth the vertues of him that hath called them out of darkneſſe into his maruellous light; which whether it appertaines not to the viſible Church, I leaue it for eueryevery true member thereof to Iudge.
It cannot be denied but that Peter ſpeaketh of them vvho of God are called out of darkneſſe, that is, out of ſinne and ignorance, into his maruellous light, that is, to the knowledge of God and holineſſe: for which maruellous mercy receiued, out of the very ſenſe and feeling therof, they praiſe God, and indeauour all the dayes of their life to walke worthy of it, which is heere called the ſhewing forth of the vertues of him that hath called them. But the inuiſ. church onelyonly and company of the el…ct, are called out of darkneſſe into this maruellous light, being called therefore the children of the light; and they alone out of a ſenſible feeling of this great mercy doe praiſe & bleſſe God for the ſame, and indeauour to liue to him vvho hath thus called them. Of the inuiſible Church therfore called heare a choſen generation, doth the Apoſtle Peter ſpeake in this place. So this reaſon maketh greatly againſt you.
Counterp. 158.No leſſe blame-worthy are you, for maintaining this, That no places of Scripture ſetting forth the inuiſible Church, are by you brought to ſet forth the viſible Church. The contrary to this appeareth plainely by this Treatiſe. To proue that they vvho be of the true viſ. church are called out of the world, Apologie 44. Counterp. 133.or ſeperated from the world, a ſeperated company of righteous men, vſually you quote Ioh. 15.15.19. and 17.9.14 16.20. Tell mee now, who be they that beeing in this world, are not of this world: Are not the elect onelyonly ſuch? know you not that they who be not of this world, doe belong to a better world? Moreouer doth Chriſt pray for the viſ. Church, or the inuiſible onelyonly, and company of the elect? what meane you then to apply Scriptures concerning theſe things to the viſ. Church, ſeeing they be ſpoken and are true onelyonly of Gods elect, vvho are the inuiſ. Church? And notwithſtanding to tell vsus, That places ſetting forth the inuiſible Church, are not by you applyed to the viſ. Church? And vvhere you ſay that the viſ. Church is Chriſts ſiſter, his louelove, and his ſpouſe; how can this poſsibly bee true, ſeeing the greateſt part of the viſ. Church and ſometimes almoſt the whole viſ. Church is hatefull to God, & abhorred of him, as before hath been made manifeſt? And by what titles I pray you doth Ieſus declare his louelove to the inuiſible Church, if theſe be the titles of the viſible? Chriſt Ieſus himſelfe telleth vsus, that whoſoeuer doth his fathers will which is in heauen the ſame is his ſiſter: But this doe onelyonly they who are of the inuiſible church: They therefore onelyonly are Chriſt his ſiſter. If the viſ. church and members thereof bee Chriſt his louelove, then none of them ſhall bee damned: For it cannot bee that Ieſus will condemne them whom he loueth. It is the elect likewiſe and inuiſ. church, which being contracted here to Chriſt, ſhall bee married to him the Kings ſonne in the vvorld to come, when they ſhall partake vvith him in glory: And not the viſ. church whereof the greateſt part ſhall be damned, and but a few therof ſaued.
Laſtly (ſay you) the viſ. Church is the body of Chriſt: Wherevpon all thoſe places in Pauls Epiſtles, where mention is made of Chriſts body, you expound of the viſible, when they are to be vnderſtood of the inuiſible church, or the vvhole company of the faithfull, which is a part thereof. If the viſ. church be the body of Chriſt, as you tell vsus, then eueryevery one of the viſ. church is a member of Chriſt his body, and hath therefore the ſame ſpirit abiding in him, that is in Chriſt Ieſus. For the very ſame ſpirit that dwelleth in Chriſt the head, is from thence deriued to his body, and all the members thereof. If any man hauehave not the ſpirit of Chriſt, the ſame is not his. But if the ſpirit of him that raiſed vp Ieſus from the dead dwell in you, he that raiſed vp Chriſt from the dead ſhall alſo quicken your mortall bodies, by his ſpirit that dwelleth in you. Rom. 8.9.11. Hereby wee know (ſaith Iohn) that we dwell in him and he in vsus: 1. Ioh. 4.13.becauſe hee hath giuen vsus of his ſpirit. From hence wee learne that Ieſus doth communicate his ſpirit to all his members: ſo as whoſoeuer hath not this ſpirit, bringing forth the like or the ſame effects in him that it did in Chriſt, the ſame is no member of Chriſt, nor part of his body; Chriſt dwelleth not in him, nor hee in Chriſt. As by louelove all the members of this body are vnited together, ſo by the ſpirit of God this body with all the members thereof, are coupled and knit together to the head Chriſt, whereby it receiueth grace, and increaſe of grace, growing vp into Chriſt;Iohn 1.16. Epheſ. 4.15.16. for the furniture thereof, according to the effectuall power of this ſpirit, which is in the meaſure of eueryevery part.Ioh. 15.1. This ſpirit is as the iuice that from Chriſt the vine, is conueyed into eueryevery branch. And it is as the ſoule of this body, giuing ſpirituall life, to all the members thereof: euen as the ſoule of man doth animate the body, with all the part or members thereof. But eueryevery one of the viſ. Church is not a member of Chriſt his body, foraſmuch as the ſpirit of Chr ſt dwelleth not in eueryevery one of the viſ. church: and therefore the viſ. church is not the body of Chriſt: but ſome other company of men there is, which make that body vvhereof Chriſt is the head, and eueryevery particular man of that ſocietie a member thereof. Neither can you deny that which I doe inferre herevpon, and neceſſarily followeth vponupon the former. Namely, if eueryevery one of the viſ. church be a member of the body of Chriſt, then eueryevery one of the viſ. church hath the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in him.Counterp. 128. Nay, your ſelfe M. Ainſworth confeſſe and vrge this againſt vsus, ſaying, That we cannot poſſibly be members of the body of Chriſt, nor hauehave him for our head; Being we are not partakers of his life and ſpirit. It reſteth therefore that either you yeeld to the concluſion, That the viſ. church is not the body of Chriſt; or elſe affirme, That eueryevery member of the viſible church hath the Spirit of Chriſt dwelling in him.Apology 44. That eueryevery one of the viſ. church is not a member of Chriſts body, hath already been ſufficiently proued: and is hereby likewiſe euident, becauſe then none of the viſ. Church could be damned. For tell me I pray you, can a member of Chriſt poſsibly bee condemned? EueryEvery member of Chriſt, is (as it were) fl…ſh of his fleſh, and a bone of his bones. We are members of his body, Epheſ. 5.30:of his f eſh, and of his bones. Doth Chriſt hate his owne fleſh, or rather nouriſh and cheriſh it? Will or can Chriſt the iudge condemne any who is thus neare and deare, vntounto him? It is not poſsible. Againe, Chriſt is life it ſelfe. I am that way, Ioh. 14.6.that truth, and that life, ſaith he. Whereby we learne, that as without Chriſt, no man can hauehave ſpirituall and eternall life, ſo whoſoeuer hath Chriſt, and is a member of Chriſt, the ſame hath this life deriued vntounto him a member, from Chriſt the head. How then can ſuch a one die, ſeeing he hath already life it ſelfe, and that life begun in him which is eternall, and whereof their is no end. Herevpon the Scripture ſaith;Rom. 8.1. That to them which are in Chriſt Ieſus; members of his body, there is no condemnation. And that to ſuch Chriſt is made wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, 1. Cor. 1.30:ſanctification and redemption. Beſides, what creature is able to pluck away a member from this body, and to break that bond whereby one of theſe members is tyed to the head Chriſt Ieſus. Who can ſ perate betweene Chriſt and his members? Surely not principalities nor powers: much leſſe fleſh and bloud. None ſhall plucke theſe out of my hand ſaith Ieſus.Rom. 8.35. Ioh. 20.28. Verſe 23. I doe not deny but that as the viſ Church in a certaine reſpect may be called the body of Chriſt: ſo Chriſt I…ſus not in one but in diuers reſpects may fitly be called the head of the viſ. Church. This lets not but th…t which I here affirme is true. And hereof he rendreth a reaſon. My Father which gaue them mee, is greater then all, and none is able to take them out of my fathers hand. I and my Father are one.
But leauing this argument we will proceed to ſome others. In the 5. to the Epheſ, Thus we reade. The husband is the wiues head, euen as Chriſt is the head of the Church, and the ſame is the Sauiour of his body. 25. Husbands louelove your wiues, euen as Chriſt loued the Church, and gaue himſelfe for it. 26. That hee might ſanctifie it, and cleanſe it, 27. That hee might make it vntounto himſelfe a glorious Church, not hauing ſpot or wrinckle or any ſuch thing: but that it ſhould be holy and without blame. Here be diuers reaſons to proue that that Church which in the holy ſcriptures is ſaid to be the body of Chriſt, and whereof Chriſt is the head, is the inuiſible Church, and not the viſible, as you do hold. For firſt, Chriſt is the Sauiour of that Church (or company of men) which, is his body: But hee is the Sauiour and giueth ſaluation onelyonly to the Church inuiſible: Ergo, &c. Secondly,Pſ 55. & 11.5. Chriſt loueth the Church which is his body: But hee loueth onelyonly the elect and church inuiſible, hating all others, as workers of iniquitie:Rom. 9.13. Ergo &c. Thirdly, Chriſt died or gaue himſelfe to death for the church which is his body: But hee died onelyonly for the elect and church inuiſible: Ergo the inuiſible church on ly is his body. Fourthly, that church which is the body of Chriſt, Ieſus by his ſpirit in this life ſanctifieth and cleanſeth in part, and pe…fectly in the life which is to come, at which time it ſhall be without ſpot or wrinkle, holy and without blame, and ſo a glorious church indeede: But this onelyonly Chriſt doth to the inuiſible church and all the members thereof: and not to the viſ. church, the greateſt part whereof h…e leaueth to the vncleane ſp…rit, who leadeth them into all manner of vncleaneneſſe, and wickedneſſe: Therefore the inuiſible church onelyonly, and not the viſible, is the body of Chriſt: The ſeuerall Propoſitions of theſe foure arguments are euident by this preſent Scripture. The Aſſumptions of them all are ſo cleere that you neither will nor dare deny: It reſteth therefore that you imbrace the concluſion.Epheſ. 2.22.23 & 4.12 15.16. Col. 1.18.24. And here we learne how to vnderſtand thoſe places of holy Scripture, where Chriſt is ſaid to be the head of the Churth, and the Church is called his body: Not of the viſ. church, as you doe: but of the inuiſible church, or that company of the elect vvhichwhich is by faith vnited to Chriſt, and by louelove one to another, that is, of the faithfull. Theſe are they which are the myſticall body of Chriſt, whereof he is the head.
Counterp 127. Apologie 44. A true Deſcription of the viſ. church. 2. pag. 1. 1. Cor. 12.27. 1. Cor. 6.19. & 7.23.But you will ſay, doth not the Apoſtle writing to the viſ. church at Corinth ſay, Ye are the body of Chriſt, and members for your part? What proofe can be more plaine then this?
I anſwere, doth not the ſame Apoſtle writing to the ſame church likewiſe ſay, Ye are not your owne, yee are bought with a price? If this argument of yours were ought, hence it vvould follow, that Chriſt Ieſus hath redeemed the viſ. church, and ſo by conſequent Reprobates. When Peter teacheth that only the Elect or church inuiſible are redeemed with the precious bloud of Chriſt;1. Pet. 1.2.18. Confeſsion of faith 26. which you likewiſe acknowledge. From hence alſo it will follow that all of the viſ. church are in Chriſt Ieſus; and that Chriſt is vntounto them wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanct…fication and redemption: becauſe Paul writting to the Corinthians ſaith, yee are of him in Chriſt Ieſus, 1. Cor. 1.30. 2. Theſſ. 1.1.who of God is made vntounto vsus wiſedome, righteouſneſſe, ſanctification and redemption. By this reaſon you may as well Prooue, that all of the viſible Church are the Sonnes of God▪ and that therein is no childe of the diuell, becauſe Paul writing to the viſible Churches of Galatia ſaith thus: Yee are all the Sonnes of God by faith in Chriſt Ieſus. Gal. 3.26.And that all in the viſible Church hauehave faith (in) Chriſt Ieſus, that is true and iuſtifying faith: and an hundred more of moſt falſe poſitions will enſue of this kinde of reaſoning, as hath ben ſhewed before. To make this argument good you muſt proue, that all the ſpeeches of Paul in his Epiſtles written to Church or churches were by him ſpoken & meant to all the members of the viſible Church, and are true of them. In the meane ſeaſon for the better informing both of you and others, we muſt vnderſtand that where the Apoſtle writing to a Church, or certaine Congregation, ſaith that they are redeemed by Chriſt; 1. Cor. 6.15.1▪are in Chriſt Ieſus; that they beleeue in Chriſt; that the Spirit of God dwelleth in them; that their bodies are the members of Chriſt; the Temple of the holy Ghoſt; are ſealed with the holy Spirit of promiſe, the earneſt of their inheritance, Epheſ. 1.13.that they are all the Sonnes of God, the body of Chriſt and eueryevery one a member for his part, and he their head: Wee muſt (I ſay) knowe that theſe ſpeeches with many more of this kinde, are not ſpoken and meant ſimply of the viſible Church, and ſo of all the members thereof: but of ſome certaine perſons in the inuiſible Church, that is, the elect. Theſe alſo are very probable the Apoſtle reſpected and meant onelyonly in and by the title of Saints, ſo often vſed in the beginning of his Epiſtles, as Rom. 1.7. 1. Cor. 1, 2. Epheſ. 1.1. If by Saints, we vnderſtand Saints indeede, that is, ſuch as whoſe hearts are purified by faith, and ſanctified or made holy by the Spirit of God: which expoſition theſe two laſt teſtimonies fauours much: then this title he vſed onelyonly in regard of the elect that were in the viſible Churches, whom ſolely or at leaſt chiefly he reſpected in his ſaide Epiſtle…, and for whoſe ſake he did write them: and not in reſpect of the viſible Churches with all their members. Which being ſo, as it is very abſurde to conclude from this title of Saints, that none are in a true viſible Church but Saints, I meane Saints indeede; ſo is it no leſſe abſurde to collect from this ſpeech of Paul, yee are the body of Chriſt, and members for your part, that the viſible Church is the body of Chriſt, and eueryevery member thereof apart. Yea this latter the two next verſes going before theſe wordes, yee are the body of Chriſt, doe manifeſtly conuince: for in them it is ſaide and implyed, that as the members of a mans body hauehave care one for ano…her,1. Cor. 12.25.26. and ſuch a fellow-feeling, as if one member ſuffer all will ſuffer with it: and if one member be had in honour, all the members reioyce with it: ſo is it with the members of the body of Chriſt. But this care and fellow-feeling, this mutiall ſorrowe and reioycing is onelyonly to be found in the faithfull and Saints indeede, members of the inuiſible Church, they therefore are the body of Chriſt, or at the moſt, the viſible Church is ſo called hauing relation to theſe. Theſe are they that weepe, with them that weepe: and reioyce, with them that reioyce in the proſperitie one of another. Theſe alone remember the affliction of Ioſeph, and them that are in bonds, as if they were bound with them. But with the viſible Church it is cleane otherwiſe. The viſible Church we hauehave heard is a mixt company of good and bad,Prou. 11.10. nay, that in it there be men notoriouſly wicked: Now when theſe periſh (ſaith Salomon) there is ioy, meaning amōg the godly, And ſo on the other ſide, when it goeth hardly with the godly, (as it doth alwayes, more or leſſe) the wicked that bee in the Church, they reioyce. Of the members of this Church, ſome forget and minde not the affliction of Ioſeph, others clap their hands for ioy. Behold the care & fellowfeeling, the mutual ſorrow & reioycing, that is between the mēbers of the viſi. church. Such it is, as was betwixt Cain & Habel, of whom the one ſlew the other; betweene Iſmal and Izhak, Eſau and Iacob, Saul and Dauid, the Scribes and Phariſees, and Chriſt himſelfe, with all that acknowledged and profeſſed him: whereof the one ſort hated and abhorred the other, as appeareth by the holy Scriptures. Remember alſo what in holy writ is gene…ally ſaide: that the righteous are an abhomination to the wicked, Prou. 29.27.& the wicked vntounto the righteous. This conſidered, how can the viſible Church bee the body of Chriſt, and the particular perſons of the viſible Church, members for their parts? and this is yet further confirmed in the very ſame Chapter:1. Cor. 12.13.] when Paul ſpeaking of the body of Chriſt, ſaith, that by one ſpirit we are all baptized into one body, and all (the members of this body) made to drinke into one ſpirit. Whereby we learne that all the members of the body of Chriſt, hauehave the ſpirit of Chriſt, by which they are quickened, and vnited to him the head. But this ſpirit hauehave onelyonly the memb…rs of the inuiſible Church, who truely beleeue in Chriſt, and by faith are ingrafted into him: they therefore alone are the body of Chriſt.
The error of theſe men in this particular ſpringeth from hence, that thoſe things which by the Apoſtle are ſpoken in a certaine reſpect, and of a part of the viſible Church, they vnderſtand ſimply, and of the whole viſible Church. And that we may yet further and better ſee both your folly and ſinne herein, remember wee here: Firſt that the viſible Church is a mixt company, conſiſting of diuers ſorts of people good and bad, godly and wicked, Saints indeede, and ſinners. Secondly that from thence doe ariſe different kinde of ſpeeches of and concerning the Church, accordingly as God in his word directeth and intendeth his ſpeech to the godly, or wicked in the church. When to the wicked God applyeth and bendeth his ſpeech, reproouing them, or denouncing iudgement againſt them, becauſe of the multitude of ſuch in the church, he ſpeaketh as if they were all wicked and no godly in it. And this is frequent in the Scriptures. The oxe knoweth his owner, the aſſe his maiſters ſcribbe, but Iſrael hath not knowne, my people hath not vnderſtood, 4. Ah ſinfull nation, a people laden with iniquitie, &c, Iſa. 1.3 Heare O Princes of Sodom, hearken O people of Gomorrah, verſ. 10. Oh, that I might leaue my people, and goe from them: for they bee all adulterers, and an aſſembly of rebels. Ier. 9.2. Truſt you not in any brother, for eueryevery brother will vſe deceite, verſ. 4, 5, 6. The good man is periſhed out of the earth, and there bee no righteous men: they all lye in waite for blood▪ eueryevery man hunteth his brother with a net, &c. Micah 7.2. On the other ſide, when in his holy writ God applieth and intendeth his ſpeech to the Godly, as either commaunding, exhorting or comforting of them, he ſpeaketh as if all in the Church were ſuch: Of this kinde are theſe. Yee are all the ſonnes God by faith in Chriſt Ieſus. Gal. 3.26.Yee are ſealed with the holy ſpirit of promiſe. Epheſ. 1.13. 1. Cor. 3.17.The Temple of God is holy, which yee are: knowe yee not that yee are the Temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? You are the body of Chriſt, and members for your part. 1. Cor. 22.27.And where the Church is called Chriſts Spouſe, his LoueLove, Salomons long Counterp. 66.his Queene, his Doue, his Sſter, &c. And let vsus here remember a ſpeech of M. Ainſworths, and apply it to them. You may (ſaith hee) much abuſe any mans wordes, if what hee ſpeaketh reſpectiuely, you will take and alleadge as ſpoken abſolutely. Thus deale you (my brethren) with the word of God. Thoſe things which in holy writ are ſpoken with reſpect and relation had to them of the inuiſible Church, you take as ſpoken abſolutely of the viſible Church. Is this by your owne confeſſion a great abuſe and iniurie offered to mens writings: and is it none (torwe ye) to deale in this manner with the holy Scriptures and writings of God?
In your Apologie you doe not onelyonly tell vsus, that the viſible Church is the body of Chriſt, but who be the members of this body. Not the Elect, as one would hauehave thought, but ſay you, the Officers be members thereof. Apologie 42. and 53.And ſome pages after: The Church Officers are members of Chriſts glorious miſticall body: whereby Iudas comes to be a member of Chriſts miſticall body: for he was a Church officer. If ſuch be members of the miſticall body of Chriſt, then to be in Chriſt, ingrafted into him, euen a member of his body, bone of his bones, and fleſh of his fleſh, is not a matter greatly to be reioyced in, (ſeeing it may fall into a reprobate) which I hope you abhorre to ſay. If you doe not, ſpeake it out. Then alſo reprobates may be members of the miſticall body of Chriſt. For ſome Church Officers are reprobates: and all Church Officers (by your diuinitie) are members of the miſticall body of Chriſt. But I will let theſe goe, and vrge them no further. If the viſible Church be the body of Chriſt, then ſay I againe, all of the viſible Church be members, and not Church Officers alone. And this you teach in vnderſtanding. 1. Cor. 11.27, Yee are the body of Chriſt, and members for your part, of the viſible Church: and M. Ainſworth in the 128, 129. pages of the Counterpoyſon. In telling vsus now that the Church Officers are members, and therein appropriating the being of a member to an Officer, and denying it to others, and in another place and booke, that all of the viſ. church are members of Chriſt his glorious body: what doe you elſe but contradict your ſelues? But to come nearer vntounto you. I confeſſe the viſible Church is or may be compared to the body of man, and the Officers of the Church to the members thereof thus, or in this reſpect: that as the body being one, hath yet many members, & eueryevery mēber his diſtinct office; the tye to ſee the eare to heare, the noſe to ſmell with, &c. Euen ſo a viſible Church as it were or like a body, hath many officers, eueryevery office hauing his diſtinct office. Will you hereupon collect that the viſible Church is the body of Chriſt, the miſticall body (I ſay) of Chriſt? By the ſame reaſon we may conclude that whatſoeuer in Scripture is compared to a body, the ſame is the body of Chriſt. Such collection is very abſurde. And thus much concerning the titles which theſe men aſcribe to the viſ. church, and that which is farre worſe with reſpect had to the whole church, as appeareth by their writings: whereas by the holy Ghoſt they are meant and giuen to the inuiſible church, or if to the viſible, it is in reſpect of the Elect which are therein; who onelyonly are the body of Chriſt, his Siſter, his LoueLove, his Spouſe, &c.