Gospel Churches a Standing Ordinance, Preface – Errata
THE PREFACE To the enſuing Diſcourſe.
OF the Creation of Man. Divine Inſtitutions in the State of Innocency. Man's fall. A New-ſtate of things thereupon introduced. Chriſt the Foundation of Inſtituted Worſhip, and Mans Communion with God therein. A Church-ſtate in Adam's Family. Cain Excommunicated. The Church-ſtate preſerved pure, till about the dayes of Enoſh. Separation from carnal Worſhippers in his dayes, Gen. 4.26. Explained. The Church-ſtate preſerved in a great meaſure of purity for (about) a thouſand Years. A grand Apoſtaſie there-from in the dayes of Noah. The purity of Worſhip preſerved in his Family. Apoſtates deſtroyed by the Waters of the Flood. A ſolemn Covenant made by the Lord with Noah upon his coming out of the Ark. The Statutes God gave to him. The purity of Worſhip continues uninterrupted for (about) forty Years. Ham excommunicated. A dredaful Apoſtaſie about the thouſandth Year after the Flood. A remnant kept pure. foreign, and foreign Who they are. The general defection, Idolatry that overſpread all in Abraham's time. His call. The erection of the pure Worſhip of God in his Family. Corruptions in Jacob's Family before their going into Egypt, whilſt there. Jehovah's bringing them out from thence: giving the Law at Mount Sinai. Their Idolatry. The ten Tribes led captive beyond Aſſyria; the two Tribes into Babylon: God looks after them there: brings them from thence. A new Reformation begun by Ezra, Nehemiah, &c. Their Apoſtacy afterwards; yet they are not totally rejected, till they had refuſed, rejected, crucified the Son of God. Then their Church-ſtate is vertually diſſolved. A new-Church-ſtate ſet up by Chriſt. What a Goſpel-Church is. That 'tis of the Inſtitution of Chriſt, together with the Ordinances thereunto belonging, Proved.
BEfore I come to that which is the main deſign of this Treatiſe; viz. A plain Scripture-Demonſtration of the Continuance of Goſpel-Churches, to the next Perſonal, Glorious coming, and Kingdom of Chriſt, 'twill not be altogether unprofitable, nor impertinent to take a view of the Churches of God, that have from the beginning been in the World; ſo far at leaſt as any foot-ſteps of them remain in the ſacred Scriptures, the alone unerring guide in this matter.
Firſt Then, that God made Adam upright, in his own likeneſs, after his own Image, and gave him a Law to walk by, with promiſes of a higher ſtate of Glory, if he continued in his integrity (figured forth by the Tree of Life in the midſt of the Paradiſe of God) and threatning of death in caſe of defection therefrom, is evident, Gen. 2.16, 17. That in this ſtate of Innocency, Adam offered Sacrifices to God; and that the skins wherewith he was afterward cloathed, were the skins of the ſacrificed Beaſts (as ſome affirm) ſeems to be an un-ſcriptural fooliſh figment. This is certain, that upon mans diſobedience, a New-ſtate of things was introduced.
1. He that could converſe with God, as a friend; now flies from him as an enemy, Gen. 3.8, 9, 10. Nor,
2. Can he any longer treat with God upon the terms of the firſt Covenant; nor draw nigh to him (as formerly) immediately by himſelf in his original, created Righteouſneſs. He had quickly (by his diſobedience) forfeited all his primitive Glory, Priviledges, with which in the day of his Creation he was inveſted; and brought miſeries, deaths of all kinds, Temporal, Spiritual, Eternal, both upon himſelf, and all his Poſterity that ſprang from him by a natural generation: So that in him, All ſinned, and came ſhort of the Glory of God, Rom. 3.23.
3. As an immediate diſcovery of Jehovahs diſpleaſure againſt him for his rebellion, he drives him out of Paradiſe; and guards the Tree of Life with Cherubims, and a Flaming Sword that he come not at, or eat of the fruit of it, Gen. 3.24.
4. It was therefore neceſſary that another Foundation be laid for fallen-mans drawing nigh to God (from whom he had thus dreadfully Apoſtatized) which being provided in the eternal counſel of God, and agreed upon in a Solemn-Covenant, betwixt the Father and the Son, is immediately (of the inconceivable Grace of GOD) revealed to Adam, viz. the Seed of the Woman, the Lord Jeſus, the only Way to the Father, Gen. 3.15. Joh. 14.4, 6.
5. That upon this Revelation of Jeſus Chriſt (mankind multiplying exceedingly by the Power of that word of God, Gen. 1.28.) there was a Church-ſtate erected by the Authority and Command of God in Adams Family, where ſolemn Worſhip was managed; as Praying, Preaching, offering Sacrifices, Gen. 4.3, 4. And out of this Church, were open notorious offenders Excommunicated. So was Cain, Gen. 4.12, 14. By whoſe ejection the Church was kept pure, till about the Age of Enoſh.
6. Much about that time, degeneracy in Worſhip had ſo far prevailed, that the Rigteous Seed, ſaw a neceſſity of ſeparating from the generality of the Worſhippers of that day, and gather themſelves together as a diſtinct People, for the ſolemn carrying on Divine ſervice amongſt themſelves, Gen. 4.26. The words are foreign, which are variouſly rendred. He began to invocate the Name of Lord, ſo the Vulgar Latine, and Syriac. He hoped to invocate the Name of the Lord, ſo the Seventy. Then (in his dayes) the Sons of men ceaſed from calling upon the Name of the Lord, ſo the Chaldee. Then the Name of God began to be called upon, ſo the Samaritan, Arabick Tranſlations renders it. I know there are ſome who will have the words to poynt at a great degeneracy in Worſhip, a ſad lapſe into Idolatry. But that a defection in Worſhip cannot be intended, is evident; for there had been long before, a great degeneracy, a total Apoſtaſie there-from in the Cainites: but ſomewhat that men began to do, which hitherto had not been attempted, is intimated thereby; which can be nothing elſe, then that Segregation, and aggregation in order to purity of Worſhip before intimated: For men had before, called on the Name of the Lord; but there was never tell now, ſo viſible a ſeparation from the reſt of the World, for the ſolemn management of Religious Worſhip amongſt themſelves. And as they began now to call upon the Name of the Lord, or to call themſelves by the Name of the Lord, as the margin reads, ſo are they upon the account of this act of theirs, Stiled, The Sons of God, Gen. 6.2.
7. About one thouſand Years after (all which time there was in a great meaſure purity preſerved amongſt them) great corruption invades the Church. The nature of it together with its occaſion, and ſpring, we have an account at large of, Gen. 6. And yet even now the Lord leaves not himſelf without a Witneſs. The truth and purity of Worſhip, together with practick-godlinesſs, being maintained in Noahs Family, Gen. 6.8, 9. & 7.1. who are enſafed in a fluctuating Ark; whilſt the whole body of Apoſtates, are ſwallowed up with the Waters of the Flood: of which Peter ſpeaks, 2 Pet. 3.6.
8. When Noah, and his Family are brought out of the Ark, the Waters of the Flood being gone from off the face of the Earth; Jehovah enters into a ſolemn Covenant with him; gives him ſeveral Statutes, and Judgments to Conform to, Gen. 9. Theſe are generally ſaid to be ſeven.
1. The Firſt, foreign; againſt extraneous Worſhip, or Idolatry, the Worſhipping the Stars, or Images.
2. foreign, againſt Blaſpheming the Name of God.
3. foreign, againſt ſhedding Blood.
4. foreign, againſt unjuſt, carnal Copulations.
5. foreign, againſt Rapine, or Robbery.
6. foreign, of Judgments, or Puniſhments, againſt Malefactors.
7. foreign, againſt eating any member or fleſh of a Beaſt taken from it alive. A ſpecial bleſſing as to propagation is given to him, Gen. 9.7. So that the Church in his Family ſoon enlarged its borders. The purity of worſhip continues amongſt them uninterrupted for fourty years, or thereabout. When the Wickedneſs of Ham committed againſt the light of Nature, in diſcovering the nakedneſs of his Father, breakes forth; by whom he's Curſed, Excommunicated; ſo the purity of the Church-ſtate is preſerved, Gen. 9.25. Curſed be the Father of Canaan; ſo the Arabick reads is. About the Hundredth year after the Flood, many Apoſtatized from the pure wayes of God, roſe up in rebellion againſt him; in defiance of him will build a Tower, the top whereof might reach to Heaven. But yet even in this grand defection, there were ſome (at leaſt) of the poſterity of Shem that kept pure; with whom therefore the Hebrew language remained entire, as Genebrardus Chron. lib. 1. tells us: The truth is, as the learned Bochartus ſaith, in his Geographia Sacra, l. 1. c. 10. It cannot be imagined, that either Noah, or Shem, or Arphaxad, or Sala, or Heber (with whom 'tis groundedly to be thought not a few continued) were in this mad attempt. The Spirit of the Lord ſeems to intimate the contrary; they which were engaged in it, were foreign, the Sons of Men, Gen. 11.5. viz. an apoſtate, vile crew, who ſtand in direct oppoſition to foreign, the Sons of God, as the faithful were called in the dayes of Enoſh, as was before ſaid.
How long the purity of Worſhip remained after this, is uncertain. This is moſt certain, that when God called Abraham out of Ur of the Chaldees, Superſtition, Idolatry, overſpread all. At that time both his Father, and he, were Idolaters, Joſ. 24.2.
9. This call of God to Abraham was effectual, he obeyes it, ſeparates from the degenerate, Idolatrous World; conſtitutes a New-Church, ſets up the pure Worſhip of God in his Family: Enjoyes more clear, full openings of Divine Myſteries than any before him. God enters into Covenant with him, inſtitutes circumciſion— See Gen. 12.3, 7, 8. & 13.15, 16. & 15.1, 5, 6. & 17.1, 2, 9. & 22.17, 18. So that the Church of God in Abraham's Family growes up in to greater glory, viſibility, than before. Several corruptions are not long after amongſt them in Jacobs Family before their going into Aegypt, which he reforms, Gen. 35.1, 2, 3, 4. They polluted themſelves with Idolatry in the Land of Aegypt, Joſ. 24.14. Ezek. 23.2, 3. (brought their Whordoms from thence, ver. 8. which they practiſed in the Wilderneſs, Exod. 32. (and never totally left till they were carried captive into Babylon): Nevertheleſs, the Lord caſts them not off: but oh the wonder of Love! brings them from under their bonds, leads them to Mount-Sinai; makes a Covenant with them, gives them good Statutes and Judgments to walk by. And now that Church becomes as a City on a Hill, viſible, conſpicuous unto the Nations round about: is decked, adorned, with viſible excellency, and glory▪ that her renown goes forth through the Nations, Ezek. 16.14. But wo, and alas! after all the grace of the Lord ſhewed to her, his wonders wrought for her, ſhe quickly forgets, departs from him. Is more notorious for ſpiritual Whordoms, Wickedneſs, than all the Nations round about her: Yet God gives her not up, woes, allures her to return to him—. But all to no purpoſe, Iſrael (or the ten Tribes) is led Captive by Salmanaſſur: Judah (or the two Tribes) is not betterd by it; but though now and then under the conduct of ſome good Kings, a reformation is introduced; yet anon all's ſpoyled, marr'd again. Jehovah call's to return, but their ear is deaf, their hearts hardned, none obey his voice: He profeſſes for all this, he knows not how to give them up, his bowels turn within him towards them, repentings are enkindled for them. Yet this affects them not, ſo that at laſt he is forced to ſend them into Babylon; yet doth not take off his love, care for them there, nor diſregards them as a People unchurcht; looks upon them as his own in Covenant with him, brings them from thence to their own Land again. Then is a new, moſt abſolute reformation begun, by Ezra, Nehemiah, &c. The Temple is rebuilt; the men of the great Synagogue inſtituted. A moſt diligent conſideration of the exemplars of the Holy Scriptures is ſet upon. The word of God is ſedulouſly Preached, Neh. 8.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. The wicked are excomunicated, Ezr. 4.2, 3. From the mixt People, there's a perfect ſeparation, Ezr. chapters 9.10. Neh. ch. ult. So that the Church ſeems to be again comely, through the comelineſs that God put upon her: But long abides not firm with him, pollutes his Worſhip, with the inventions, traditions of men; departs from the Doctrine he had delivered to her; particularly, the Doctrine of the free Juſtification of a ſinner before God; in oppoſition to which, they introduce juſtification by the works of the Law. In a word, they become as filthy, and abominable every way, as a people can well be▪ Nevertheleſs, God bears with them, their Church-ſtate is not diſſolved, they have their Temple, Ordinances, and even the moſt holy amongſt them attend there, as Zachary, Elizabeth, Simeon. The Lord ſends a Prophet to them, John (Elias in ſpirit) to reform, bring them back from their Apoſtaſie. At laſt he ſends his Son to reclaim them; Who▪ would have gathered them as a Chicken under his wings, but they would not. Him they refuſed, thruſt away, by wicked hands, took, condemned, crucified, ſlew him; and now the meaſure of their Fathers iniquity being filled up, and the time appointed by Jehovah, to take down that Tabernacle, being fully come, and to ſet up another in the room of it by the Meſſiah, CHRIST, he puts a full period to it, apotomizes, cuts them off, perfectly unchurches them, and (at laſt) layes waſte, deſtroyes their City, Temple, with an utter Deſtruction. Now was the total ruin of that Apoſtatick Judaick Church. And to purpoſe, in capital letters, is Lo-ammi, and Loruhamah written upon them, viz. Ye are not my People, I have no mercy for you; and not ſo plainly at any time as now. 'Twere eaſie to make many remarks to the advantage of the preſent truth we are riſen up in the defence of, from the foregoing diſcourſe. The prudent Reader, can do it himſelf. To whom we leave it. The whole Church-politie of the Jews, being vertually diſſolved at the death of Chriſt, a New-Church-ſtate is introduced by him: New Churches formed according to his rule, model, new-inſtitutions appointed by him, which 'tis the duty of thoſe Churches to conform to.
Two things muſt here briefly be enquired into.
1. What a Goſpel-Church, or an Inſtituted-Church of Chriſt is.
2. That ſuch a Church is of the Inſtitution of Chriſt.
As touching the firſt, A Coſpel-Church is a Society of Believers, once dead in treſpaſſes, and ſins; but now quickned by the Spirit, ſanctified, juſtified, by the Free-Grace of God in Chriſt; illuminated by the ſame Spirit in the knowledge of his Will, ſeparated from the World, and voluntarily joyned together for the exerciſe of the Communion of Saints in the due obſervation of all the Inſtitutions, Ordinances of Chriſt. This deſcription of a Goſpel-Church is proved in every part of it, from the enſuing Scriptures, Eph. 2.1. And you hath he quickned who were dead in treſpaſſes, and ſins, ver. 5. When we were dead in ſins, hath quickned us together with Chriſt. 1 Cor. 6.11. Ye are waſhed, ſanctified, juſtified, in the name of the Lord Jeſus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Cor. 1.2. Unto the Church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are ſanctified in Chriſt Jeſus, called to be Saints. 2 Cor. 6.16, 17. What agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? For ye are the Temple of the living God—Wherefore come out from amongſt them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you. Heb. 3.1. Holy Brethren, partakers of the Heavenly calling. Jam. 1.18. Of his own will begat he us by the word of Truth. Rev. 1.20. The ſeven (Golden) Candleſticks which thou ſaweſt are ſeven Churches, 1 Pet. 2.5. Eph. 2.21, 22, 23.
As touching the ſecond, that ſuch a Church was inſtituted by Chriſt, is evident,
1. From Chriſts appointment, and approbation of ſuch a Church, Mat. 18.15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20.
2. Chriſt charges his Apoſtles, Mat. 28. to teach thoſe, who ſhould be converted by their Miniſtry, to obſerve whatever he commanded them. In purſuance of which charge, we finde, that as ſoon as any were converted to the Faith, by the direction of the Apoſtles, they were gathered into Church-Societies, Acts 2.41, 42, 47. 8.1. 11.26. 14.23, 27.
3. Theſe are called the Churches of God, of Chriſt. Act. 20.28. 1 Cor. 1.2. & 10.32. 11.22. & 15.9. 2 Cor. 1.1. Gal. 1.13. 1 Tim. 3.5. Rom. 16.16. becauſe of their inſtitution, eſtabliſhment by him.
4. The Apoſtles, in the Name, Authority of Chriſt, direct their Epiſtles to them as ſuch. 1 Cor. 1.1. 2 Cor. 1.1. Gal. 1.2. Phil. 1.1. Col. 1.2. & 4.16. 1 Theſ. 1.1. 2 Theſ. 1.1. Eph. 1.1. compared with Acts 20.17. 1 Pet. 5.2. or unto particular perſons, giving directions touching their carriage, deportment, and duty towards them. 1 Tim. 3.15. Tit. 1.5.
5. Chriſt calls them his Churches, Rev. 1.20.
6. Own's himſelf to be their Head, Husband, Lord, King; they his Body, Bride, Houſe, Family — of which afterwards.
7. A great part of the Apoſtolick-writings conſiſts in giving Precepts, Exhortations, Counſels to guide, lead them in their duties to each other, in ſuch a relation; and for their preſervation in Purity, and Order. Of which we ſhall have occaſion particularly to make mention in the enſuing Diſcourſe.
8. His ſpecial care of them.
9. The particular notice he takes of them, in the book of the Revelations, ſending particular Epiſtles to them; Exhorting, reproving, counſelling, incouraging them; taking no notice of any that did not appertain to them, Rev. chapters 2. and 3. with much more that might be ſaid, doth abundantly demonſtrate that the Church deſcribed, was of the inſtitution of Jeſus Chriſt.
That the Ordinances practiſed in and amongſt thoſe Churches; ſuch as Preaching the Word, Prayer, Baptiſm, breaking Bread, &c. were of the Appointment of Chriſt, will not be denied, ſe Act. 2.42. and 6.2. 1 Cor. 14.3. 2 Tim. 4.2. Heb. 13.7. Act. 6.4. and 13.2, 3. 1 Tim. 2.1. Mat. 28.19. and 26.26, 27. 1 Cor. 11.23.
ERRATA.
Reader, Some few miſtakes in Printing, are here remarked; the reſt being inconſiderable, are left to thee to amend.
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