Gospel Churches a Standing Ordinance, Treatise · Chapter 10
CHAP. X.
A Tenth Demonſtration of the Continuation of Churches, Ordinances; otherwiſe a great part of the Scriptures of the New-Teſtament have been, are, of little uſe to the Saints. An Eleventh, A Twelfth evidence to the ſame thing; Chriſt hath power to preſerve his Churches, and 'tis his will ſo to do. There are ſpecial promiſes, both under the Old oeconomy, and the New, to Saints, as they attend upon Jehovah (as a Church) in the Obſervation of Ordinances. Exod. 20.24. Explained. And 29.42, 43, 44, 45. at large. Why the Tabernacle is call'd foreign Iſa. 4.5, 6. Opened. Zach. 2.10. Mat. 18.20. 2 Cor. 6.16. Rev. 3.10. Conſidered. A Thirteenth, Fourteenth, Fifteenth, Sixteenth, Demonſtration of the continuation of Churches, and Ordinances. 'Tis the duty of Saints in every generation to confess Chriſt. Gal. 3.27. Opened. Subjection to the Inſtitutions of Chriſt, one ſignal way of confeſſing him. Saints are charged to hold faſt whatever they have received from Chriſt till he comes. Much of the Glory of Chriſt, as Mediator of the New-Covenant, lies in his Churches. Many evil and abſurb conſequences of the denial of the Continuation of Goſpel-Churches, Ordinances, remarked.
Demonſtration. X.
IF there have not been, be not, a continuation of Goſpel-Churches, Ordinances, a great part of the Scriptures of the New-Teſtament, have been, are, of little uſe to the Saints. Now it cannot be imagined, that the Lord Jeſus, out of his ſpecial love to, and care of his People, ſhould appoint the Scriptures to be written; and yet no ſmall part of them to be of no concern in this World to them. Of this kind are all thoſe Scriptures, which contain rules of direction to the Saints, touching their embodying together, in order to their becoming a Church of Chriſt; diſcovering who are fit matter, their Power for the Election, ſetting apart of Officers, to miniſter in the name of Chriſt amongſt them; the qualification of ſuch as are to be choſen by them; their Office, Work, Duty in, and to the Church; the Churche's duty to them: the way and manner of the management of the Inſtitutions of the Goſpel amongſt them: the mutual duties of Church-members each to other, as they ſtand in a Covenant-relation together. How great a part of the Scriptures of the New-Teſtament, and particularly the Epiſtles to the Churches, is taken up in theſe things, is known; to enumerate particulars, is almoſt endleſs. See, Matth. 28.19, 20. Act. 2.41, 42. 1 Cor. 12.28. Eph. 4.11, 12. Matth. 18.17, 18, 19. 1 Cor. 4.17. & 7.17. Act. 14.23. Tit. 1.5. 1 Tim. 3.15. & 2.1. Act. 6.4. & 13.2, 3. Eph. 5.19. Col. 3.16. 2 Tim. 4.2. 1 Cor. 14.3. Act. 6.2. Heb. 13.7. Matth. 26.26, 27. 1 Cor. 11.23. Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. Rev. 2.3. Rom. 1.5, 6. 1 Cor. 1.2. & 14.15. Heb. 3.1. Jam. 1.18. Rev. 1.20. 1 Pet. 2.5. Eph. 2.21, 22, 23. 2 Cor. 6.16, 17, 18. Act. 20.17, 18. 1 Cor. 12.28. Eph. 4.11. Phil. 1. 1 Tim. 3.1, 2. & 5.17. Heb. 13.7, 17. 1 Pet. 5.1. Eph. 4.8.13. Tit. 1.7, 8, 9. 2 Tim. 3.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. 1 Pet. 5.2, 3. Act. 13.2. 1 Tim. 5.22. & 4.14. & 3.10, 11, 13. & 4.12. 2 Tim. 2.3. Col. 1.24. Phil. 2.17. & 3.17. Heb. 13.17. Act. 20.28. 2 Tim. 2.15. & 4.2. Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. 1 Tim. 6.20. Jude 3. 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. 1 Tim. 3.15. & 4.14, 15, 16. Act. 20.18, 19, 20, 25, 26. 1 Theſ. 3.5. 2 Tim. 2.24, 25. Rom. 12.8. 1 Tim. 5.17. & 3.5. Col. 4.17. 2 Cor. 10.4, 8. 1 Tim. 4.11. Tit. 2.15. 1 Pet. 1.2, 3, 4, 5. 1 Theſ. 5.12, 13. 1 Cor. 16.16. Eph. 6.18, 19. Col. 4.3. 2 Theſ. 3.1. Gal. 6.6. 1 Cor. 9.14. & 16.10. 2 Tim. 1.16, 17, 18. 2 Tim. 4.16. Rom. 12.8. 1 Cor. 12.28. 1 Tim. 5.17. Act. 6.3, 5, 6. Phil. 1.1. 1 Tim. 3.8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13. Phil. 2.15, 16. & 4.8, 9. 1 Theſ. 3.8. 1 Pet. 4.10, 11, 12, 13, 14. 1 Tim. 3.15. Heb. 10.23. Act. 2.38, 39, 46. & 16.33. 1 Cor. 1.16. & 11.20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 29, 33. Act. 20.7. Mat. 16.19. Rom. 12.8. 2 Cor. 10.4, 5, 6. Rev. 2.2, 20. Mat. 24.45. Eph. 4.13, 14. 1 Tim. 3.5. & 5.17. Heb. 13.17. 1 Pet. 2.3. 1 Theſ. 5.12. Gal. 6.1, 2. 1 Cor. 4.14. & 5.2, 4, 5. 2 Cor. 2.6, 7, 8. 2 Tim. 4.2. Mat. 18.15. 1 Theſ. 5.14. Tit. 1.13. & 2.15. 2 Tim. 4.2. 1 Tim. 5.19, 20. Mat. 18.16, 17. Tit. 3.10. 1 Tim. 1.20. 1 Cor. 5.5. Gal. 5.12. & 6.1. 2 Cor. 2.7. 2 Theſ. 3.15. Gal. 6.2. 1 Cor. 5.2, 4, 5, 12. 1 Cor. 6.2. 2 Cor. 2.6, 7, 8. Phil. 2.10. & 2.15. 1 Cor. 10.32. 1 Theſ. 2. 11.12. Tit. 2.10. Joh. 6.15. Act. 26.18. 1 Pet. 2.9. 2 Cor. 4.3, 4, 6. 1 Tim. 1.19, 20. 2 Tim. 4.3, 4. Tit. 1.13. Jude 3. Eph. 4.20, 21, 22, 23, 24. 2 Cor. 8.5. Act. 8.20, 23. Tit. 1.10. Rev. 2.2. Act. 18.26. 1 Theſ. 2.7, 8, 11. Act. 9.26, 27. Rom. 14.1. 1 Cor. 13. throughout. & 10.32. Eph. 6.18. 1 Tim. 2.1. 2 Cor. 8.4, 6. Act. 11.29, 30. Rom. 15.26, 27. & 16.1, 2. 3 Joh. 8.9. Act. 15.2. 1 Tim. 3.15. Cum multis aliis.— Are all theſe Scriptures (with many more) of no uſe to the Saints? Are they not at all concern'd in them? Credat Apella! And yet this muſt be aſſerted upon the ſuppoſition, that there are no Churches of the Inſtitution of Chriſt; for as ſuch, are the Saints alone concerned in them.
Object. If it be Objected, that a great part of the Old-Teſtament is of little, or no uſe to the Saints now; therefore the argument is invalid, of no weight.
Anſw. The Anſwer is eaſie. 'Tis readily granted, that whatever is ſpoken in the Old-Teſtament, touching Circumciſion, Prieſts, Altar, Temple, Sacrifices, Veſtments, &c. We are not under the Goſpel-Miniſtration at all concerned with; an introduction of theſe things, is a plain practick-denial of Chriſt come in the fleſh: But whileſt that Prieſt-hood, oeconomy ſtood in force, 'twas the duty of all the Saints, to attend diligently to the commands of the Lord, relating to them: not to have done ſo, had been Rebellion, High-treaſon againſt him. Till a Prophet greater than Moſes, a Prieſt greater than Aaron, even Jeſus the Son of God came, and put a Period to the whole of that Miniſtration, and erected a new one by that Authority that was given to him of the Father as Mediator of the New-Covenant, every tittle of that Law contained in Ordinances they were obliged to. Whileſt that Church-ſtate continued, they were concerned in them. And ſo by a parity of reaſon are the Saints with all the Laws given by Jeſus Chriſt in the New-Teſtament, 'till either a greater than he come, (which can never be) or he by his own Soveraign Authority, ſuperſede them; by his ſecond perſonal glorious coming, introducing a New State of things, without any Inſtitutions, or Ordinances, put a Period to them.
Demonſtration. XI.
IF there be not a continuation of the Church-ſtate, with Inſtitutions thereunto belonging, 'tis either becauſe Chriſt could not, or would not continue it. The firſt connot be aſſerted. All power is given unto him in Heaven, and in Earth, Matth. 28.18. He is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, 1 Tim. 6.15. Rev. 17.14. & 19.16. The Almighty, Rev. 1.8. Is above Principality, Power, Eph. 1.21. Hath all Angels, and men at his foot; can order, diſpoſe of them as he pleaſes. Nor the ſecond, for he hath promiſed its continuance; engaged his preſence with it, for that end: Theſe are all the viſible enſigns he hath in the world of his Authority, Soveraignty; not a relation he ſtands in to them, his concern in point of honour, and glory, in their preſervation; the prophetick diſcoveries of his reſolution, that they ſhould Continue, (of which we have already treated) amply diſcover, that his will is their continuation. They then that oppoſe, advance themſelves againſt the Churches of CHRIST, reſiſt his will, and are found fighters againſt G0D.
Demonſtration. XII.
THe Lord hath, both under the Old-oeconomy, and the New, made ſpecial promiſes to his people, as they attend him, wait upon him (as a Church) in the Obſervation of Inſtitutions, and Ordinances. So in the Old-Teſtament, Exod. 20.24. An altar of earth thou ſhalt make unto me, thou ſhalt ſacrifice thereon, thy Burnt-Offerings, and thy Peace-Offerings: thy Sheep and thine Oxen: In all places where I record my Name, I will come unto thee, and I will bleſs thee. The latter words are variouſly rendred. In every place in which ſhall be the memory of my Name, V.L. Where ye remember my Name, Sy. Ar. Whereſoever I ſhall name my Name, Seventy. Where I ſhall cauſe my Glory to dwell, Ch. Where I ſhall make my Name to be remembred, Pi. Where I ſhall make the memorial of my Name, or cauſe the remembrance of my Name to be, or make you to remember my Name, Ainſworth. The meaning is, in every place, in every inſtitution of mine, where I command you to Attend me, as a Church, in publick Worſhip, and Service, (as at the Tabernacle, Temple, &c.) there Il'e come to thee, meet thee, manifeſt my gracious preſence to thee, aſſuredly bleſs thee, Exod. 29.42, 43, 44, 45. This ſhall be a continual burnt-Offering, throughout your Generations, at the door of the Tabernacle of the Congregation before the Lord, where I will meet with you, to ſpeak there unto thee. And there I will meet with the Children of Iſrael, and ſhall be ſanctified by my Glory (the Tabernacle is not in the Hebrew; ſome render it, Iſrael; others, the Place, or the Tabernacle, ſhall be ſanctified by my Glory) And I will ſanctify the Tabernacle of the Congregation — And I will dwell amongſt the Children of Iſrael, and I will be their God. That the Tabernacle was at that day, the place that Jehovah had appointed, for the Church of Iſrael as a Church to Worſhip him, is known. As you do ſo, ſaith the Lord, Ple meet with you (or as the Greek tranſlateth, will be known unto thee) to ſpeak there unto thee, &c. 'Tis the ſpecial preſence of God with them, that is intended by thoſe Expreſſions. And the Tabernacle, is call'd, the Tabernacle of the Congregation, Heb. foreign Tabernacle of Aſſembly, or Convention, becauſe there God, and his people met together; he to Inſtruct them by his Word, they to Worſhip Him, and to receive His Oracles. See Exod. 40.34. Lev. 1.1. and 9.23, 24. Num. 1.1. and 7.89. and 12.4, 5. and 14.10. and 16.19, 42, 44. So alſo in the Goſpel-day, Iſa. 4.5, 6. The Lord will Create upon every dwelling-place of mount Sion, and upon her Aſſemblies, a cloud, and ſmoke by day, and the ſhining of the flaming fire by night, for upon all the glory ſhall be a defence: And there ſhall be a Tabernacle for a ſhadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from ſtorm, and from rain. The word tranſlated the dwelling-place, is not foreign an ordinary dwelling-place, or common Habitation; but foreign a prepared place of, and for God. They are the Church-aſſemblies he intends by it. To theſe he promiſes his Preſence, Favour, Direction, Guidance, Defence, Protection, under the notion of the Cloud, Pillar, Tabernacle; which were the ſignal viſible Enſigns of theſe to his people of old, Zach. 2.10. ſing and rejoyce, O daughter of Sion; for lo, I come, and I will dwell in the midſt of thee, ſaith Jehovah. And many nations ſhall be joyned to the Lord in that day, and ſhall be my people. ('Tis evidently of the Converſion of the Gentiles, and their walking together in Goſpel-fellowſhip, that he ſpeaks) and I will dwell in the midſt of thee — Mat. 18.20. where two, or three (a few Saints walking together in the fellowſhip of the Goſpel, for theſe two or three are call'd the Church, v. 17.) are gathered together in my Name, (or Authority) there am I in the midſt of them. 2 Cor. 6.16. Ye (the Church of God at Corinth. v. 1.) are the Temple of the living God; as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people. — Rev. 3.10. Becauſe thou haſt kept the word of my patience, I alſo will keep thee from the hour of temptation, that ſhall come upon all the world to try them that dwell upon the earth. The words are a promiſe made to the Church in Philadelphia, and ſo to all Goſpel-churches; eſpecially to ſuch as are the Antitype to the Philadelphian-Church, of preſervation from the temptations, ſnares, diſtreſſes, that are coming upon Profeſſors: others ſhall fall by them, ſink under them; ſhe ſhall be kept, becauſe ſhe kept the words of Chriſt's patience, i. e. the Doctrine, Precepts, Inſtitutions of CHRIST, he deliver'd in the day of his patience, when he Tabernacled amongſt men, and endured the contradiction of Sinners. The ſum is, as under the Old Law, ſo under the New; there are ſpecial Promiſes made to Saints Worſhipping God in a Community, as a Church: Whence three things neceſſarily follow:
1. That there muſt be Goſpel-Churches, to whom theſe Promiſes may be made good.
2. That a denial of a Goſpel-Church-ſtate, Churches, Ordinances, is as much as in us lies, to make theſe Promiſes of GOD of none effect. For if their be no Churches, there are none to whom they ſhould be performed. And beſides, ſome of them have in them a ſpecial engagement for their preſervation. As that Iſa. 4.5, 6. Is God unfaithful? Can any charge him with breach of Promiſe, without being guilty of horrid Impiety, Blaſphemy againſt him.
3. That a withdrawment from Church-Fellowſhip, Ordinances, is a practick-contempt of the preſence of God promiſed to his People, as they are found walking according to his will herein.
Demonſtration. XIII.
'TIs the Duty of Saints in every Generation, to confess, make a Profeſſion of Chriſt, as well as to believe in him, Rom. 10.9. If thou ſhalt confeſs with thy mouth, the Lord Jeſus, and ſhalt believe in thine Heart—. This will not be denied! Now our ſolemn, moſt ſignal Profeſſion of our Lord Jeſus, lies in a viſible ſubjection to him in Church-Inſtitutions. Therefore are we ſaid, by Baptiſm, to put on Chriſt, Gal. 3.27. (i. e. have taken upon you a moſt ſolemn profeſſion of his name): And our Lord tells us, Mar. 8.38. That to be aſhamed of his words, is to be aſhamed of him: that we ſhew our ſelves his Friends, if we do whatever he commands us, John 15.14. So that evidently an owning of, viſible ſubjection to, the Words, Inſtitutions of Chriſt, is that wherein our Profeſſion of his name doth lie. That it did ſo in the Primitive dayes, will not, cannot be denied: Well then, either there are no Saints in the World, or they are diſcharged from the command, to confeſs Chriſt, or there are Churches walking together in Goſpel-Ordinances at this day; and muſt be ſuch, to the conſummation of all things. The truth is, 'tis utterly impoſſible, for any to hold the nullity of the Church-ſtate, Ordinances; but they muſt affirm, (as ſome have done) that there are no viſible Saints in the World. For the ſame Law of Chriſt, which directed the Saints, in the firſt-dayes of the Goſpel, to make a profeſſion of Chriſt by their ſubjection to his Inſtitutions, abides ſtill, as a ſtanding rule for them to walk by.
Demonſtration. XIV.
THe great charge of Chriſt to his People, is, To hold faſt that which they have received 'till he comes, Rev. 2.25. & 3.11. Now 'tis not only the grace, and Doctrine of the Goſpel, that they received, but the Laws, Inſtitutions thereof, relating to Goſpel-Fellowſhip, Worſhip. Theſe then, in every day, they are bound to hold faſt till Chriſt comes: and thoſe that do ſo, are upon that foot of account publickly commended by him, Rev. 14.12. Here is the patience of the Saints, here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the Faith of Jeſus.
Demonſtration. XV.
MUch of the Honour, Glory of the Lord Jeſus, as the Mediator of the New-Covenant, lies in his Churches, Zach. 6.13. He ſhall build the Temple, and bear the Glory. Let theſe be removed, and he will have but little glory in the World.
Demonſtration. XVI.
MAny are the evil conſequences that follow upon the denial of Goſpel-Churches—. We'll inſtance but in a few.
I. The Miniſtration of the Law wherein Moſes was a Servant, was more laſting, than the Miniſtration the Son was on purpoſe ſent from the Father to introduce.
II. That 'tis lawful to be partial in Jehovah's Law. 'Tis true, we are to pray by our ſelves, or perhaps ſome very few with us; to watch, attend the inward work; preſs after a further degree of ſanctification, conformity to Chriſt; we are to love him, believe in him: But as to the law of Inſtitutions, we will have nothing to do with it. And why ſo? Are not theſe laſt, as much the charge, Law of Chriſt to his people, as the former?
III. 'Tis a condemning the generation of the Righteous (which we ought to be tender of) and that many wayes.
1. They are (have been) a generation of Will-worſhippers. Their Church-ſtate, fellowſhip, breaking bread — is Will-Worſhip: Churches are gathered, Ordinances adminiſtred in the will of man.
2. They are Self-perſecutors, Self-murderers, Self-deſtroyers. The loſs of their liberty, goods, enjoyments, lives, for their being found in theſe wayes, they may thank themſelves; for, they bring it upon themſelves: for Chriſt requires no ſuch thing at their hands.
IV. 'Tis a Juſtifying, Gratifying, the Wicked againſt the Righteous. As,
1. A Juſtifying them in their charge againſt the Lords People. You may (ſay they) be of what religion you will, pray, preach, a few of you together; but nothing will pleaſe you, except you have a great company together. You talk of conſcience, this is nothing but your ſtubbornneſs, ſelf-will, pride of Spirit. And the truth is, it muſt be ſomewhat of that nature (for conſcience to Chriſt it cannot be) if Church-Aſſemblies, with the adminiſtration of Ordinances in them be not of Chriſt's appointment.
2. 'Tis a Gratifying Satan, Antichriſt, in his grand deſign, he hath from the beginning been managing againſt the Lord, and his People, viz. to diſſipate, ſcatter, drive them into corners.
3. 'Tis a Juſtifying the wicked in all their bloody perſecutions of the Saints. They perſecute them not as the Worſhippers of Chriſt; for he requires them not ſo to Worſhip him, but as breakers of the Law, Factious, Seditious ones.
V. 'Tis as much, as in us lies, a diſpoyling Chriſt of all the viſible Soveraignty he hath at this day in the World.
VI. 'Tis a Withdrawment of our ſelves from that Yoak of Chriſt he commands, encourages his Diſciples to take upon them. Mat. 11.29, 30.
VII. 'Tis to be aſhamed of Chriſt's words in an Adulterous Generation, Mar. 8.38. with much more that might be inſtanced in. Theſe things might have been particularly more improved, but we have already paſt the bounds deſigned in the managery of this Controverſie. And if what hath been ſaid, will not convince Gain-ſayers, I am out of hopes by any thing that I can offer (though with the brighteſt Scripture-evidence) ſo to do: and ſhall pray to God, to ſhew them the error of their way, and reduce them to his Foot. 'Tis time we attend to thoſe Objections that are made (at leaſt as many of them as we have heard of) againſt the ſubject matter of the preſent diſcourſe: which is the deſign of the next Chapter.