An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 12
SERM. XII.
Of the Name and Nature of a Church.
2 COR. 1. 1.
To the Church of God, which is at Corinth, &c.
FRom the Perſons inſcribing, we come to the Perſons inſcribed, or to thoſe to whom this ſalutatory Preface, and ſo the whole Epiſtle is directed; and that is ſet down, 1. More particularly, and then more generally. More particularly; and they are deſcribed by the relative condition and eſtate they are in, viz. a Church [To the Church] which is further deſcribed topically from the place where it is, At Corinth.
Let us conſider this particular firſt. And for the opening the word Church, we might ſpend much time therein; but I ſhall briefly explicate it.
The word is uſed, and that only in Act. 19. for a Civil Aſſembly. Yea, it's What the word Church is uſed for in Scripture.ſaid foreign, The Aſſembly was confuſed. The Athenians called their publick meetings foreign; The word is uſed in Thucidides, as the learned obſerve. The Hebrew hath two words Cohel, which is for the moſt part tranſlated Eccleſia by the Septuagint, and Gnedeth which is tranſlated foreign; the Church, doth rather anſwer Cohel, than Gnedeth, becauſe under the New Teſtament it is not fixed. As for ſuch who would underſtand that place, Mat. 18. Tell the Church, of a Senate or Civil Power, it's ſo improbable, that it's not worth time to confute it. The word therefore is moſt frequently uſed in the New Teſtament, for an holy Society gathered together in an holy manner for holy ends. And thus it is uſed either for the Catholick, inviſible Church, which is the whole body of Chriſt, that ſhall be ſaved, as when he is ſaid, Epheſ. 5. To give himſelf for his Church; and the Church is made the wife of Chriſt. And Col. 1. 24. it's called the body of Chriſt. This Church is meant in the Creed, when we believe there is an holy Catholick Church, and ſo a Communion of Saints, though ſome would have it a communion in holy things. To this Church belonged all the godly that lived in the Old Teſtament. For that is a dangerous errour of the Socinians, that make the Church in the Old Teſtament ſpecifically diſtinct from that in the New, as if they were not ſaved by the ſame Chriſt, and the ſame faith, as we are under the Goſpel.
Now it's very neceſſary to diſtinguiſh this Catholick inviſible Church from a viſible particular one. The Papiſts confounding theſe, and making their Roman particular Church, a Catholick one, and applying ſuch Texts of Scripture, as are ſpoken of the Univerſal inviſible Church, to their particular, do thereby groſly miſtake in pleading for the infallibility and perpetuity of their Church. But
Secondly, The Scripture doth uſe the word Church for a viſible company of perſons profeſſing faith in Chriſt, and then it hath ſeveral acceptions. For ſometimes it is uſed for the general Company of believers, Act. 8. 3. Thus Paul is ſaid to perſecute the Church. Or elſe more particularly, and for a Church at ſuch a place, as the Church at Jeruſalem, the Church at Corinth. Again, the word Church is ſometimes uſed more ſtrictly, for the People onelyonly, as diſtinct from Paſtors. Thus the Epiſtles of John are directed, To the Angels of the ſeven Churches. Thus the Elders are exhorted, Act. 20. 28. To feed the Church of God, over which they were ſet. And in this ſenſe the Remonſtrants ſpeak confidently, That the word Church is moſt commonly uſed, and that never, or very ſeldom, it comprehends the Officers alſo. But this is not ſo, for Mat. 18. Tell the Church, by the Church muſt needs be meant Officers at leaſt with the Church, for they are ſaid to bind and loſe, which power is given to Officers only. It's true, they, and ſo Grotius, by Church underſtand a multitude, or more, in oppoſition to thoſe two or three witneſſes, that were required before: But the Context may eaſily be improved to overthrow that 1 Cor. 12. 28. God is there ſaid to ſet in his Church, ſome Paſtors, and Teachers, that is, as part, but the chief part of the Church. Even as the Starres are ſet in the firmament, but as parts of the Heavens, though the more noble and fulgent parts. Again, when the Apoſtle here writeth to the Church of Corinth, he muſt needs comprehend the Officers as well as the People, becauſe he writeth about ſuch duties, wherein the Officers were intereſted, as the cenſuring of the inceſtuous perſon; he ſpeaks alſo of Prophets, which were extraordinary Officers in that Church, and they are blamed for male-adminiſtration about the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper. So that although Grotius thinketh that abuſe was, becauſe they had no conſtituted Officers, yet it's plain they had ſome, becauſe they had the adminiſtration of the Sacraments.
Laſtly, The word Church is applied ſometimes to an eſſential Church, as it is called, for a company of believers ſimply as ſuch believing in Chriſt, of which often in Scripture, ſometimes for an organized Church, that is, formed and ſtated in that godly order by a Miniſtry, Government and Diſcipline conjoyned together. So that they make a particular flock being bound to ſubmit to their Paſtors, as their peculiar Paſtors, and Paſtors bound to watch over them, as their peculiar flock. Whether indeed this Church of Corinth was one Congregational Church, or one Church aggregated of ſeveral Congregations, is diſputed. But of this in its time. This Church of Corinth was formed and ſtated in ſome order, though there were great abuſes in it. As for our common uſe of the word Church, taking it for a place, or the material building, that is an improper ſpeech, but allowable by a Synecdoche, as the word foreign ſignifieth, both the place and perſons therein convened. And although one or two learned men from 1 Cor. 11. would have the word uſed there for a place; yet the arguments are not cogent; for the people are properly the Church, it's they that Chriſt hath redeemed, they are to be built up by Paſtors and Teachers, whereas the material Church is built by manual Artificers, not needing an Apoſtle, but a Carpenter.
This may ſuffice for Explication, only let this be added, that the Greek word relates to Gods calling, it ſignifieth a Society called by God. So that the Apoſtle directs his Epiſtle to that Society or company of perſons that did come our from the Heatheniſh Idolatries and abominations, that the other Corinthians lived in, and did profeſs their faith in Chriſt, with obedience to him. From whence obſerve,
That a Church is a company called of God by the preaching of the Word to the What we are properly to underſtand by a Church in Scripture.profeſſion of faith in Chriſt, and an obſervation of all that ſolemn worſhip and Ordinances which Chriſt hath appointed, with a life in external conformity thereunto.
This is a Church. When you read of a Church at Jeruſalem, a Church at Corinth, the ſeven Churches of Aſia, you are to underſtand ſuch a company. And this Doctrine about a Church is much to be inſiſted on. People are generally carnal, ignorant and prophane. And although they would think it an high reproach to have the name of a Church denied them, or to be caſt out of the Church, as ſo many Heathens, yet they do not attend to the nature of a Church, nor to the properties of thoſe who are to be members thereof. It is true, there are vaſt and infinite Diſputes about a Church, and every ſect or party, is ready to monopolize and appropriate that name to them, That they are only the Church. But theſe great Diſputes about it, argue we ſhould be more carefull to diſtinguiſh, leſt we take Babylon for Jeruſalem, leſt we take that for Gods Temple, which is indeed a den of thieves. Doth not the Popiſh party glory in the name of a Church? Do they not make it neceſſary to ſalvation to come into communion with it? and yet it is the place, that Gods people are called to come out of, leſt they partake both of her ſins and puniſhments.
But let us examine the chief particulars in the Doctrine, which is a popular deſeription of a Church. And
Firſt, We ſay, It is a Society or Company. So that one man cannot be called a Church. It's abſurd in the Papiſts, that when they have lifted up the name of a Church like a Gorgons head, to turn all men into ſtones, that they muſt not mutter a word againſt it; when you come to examine, what this Church is; at laſt it is but one man, and that is the Pope. What number goeth to make a Church is not defined. To a formed organized Church, there muſt be ſo many at leaſt, that Church duties, which are eſſential, may be performed; and a diſtinction between Governours, and governed maintained; otherwiſe where two or three are, there is a Church, ſaid Tertullian. Again, In that it is a Company, we ſee, That it is not lawfull for a man to think of ſerving God alone by himſelf, when there is an opportunity of joyning to a Church. You read Act. 3. and 4. as any perſons were converted, preſently they joyned themſelves to the Church. It is true, there may be ſuch perſecutions, or other impediments, that Chriſtians have wandered up and down, and could not enjoy publick or private meetings; but this abſence from Church-communion was an heavy burden on their ſpirits. And as David, when baniſhed from the publick Ordinances, lamented it more than baniſhment from his own houſe, and land, and native countrey. Thus they cryed out with him, As the Hart panteth after the water brooks, ſo pant our ſouls after thee, O God. You ſee then it's a duty to be of a Church. Hence becauſe a Church is a company, we are diligently to attend to what is our duty, as we are a Church, and this you had need hear of often. For you muſt know you are under a two-fold conſideration; One Abſolute, as a private and ſingle perſon, and ſo you have ſeveral duties to attend unto. 2. Relative, as you are a member of a Church, or part of ſuch a Society; and ſo there are choice and ſpecial duties. Your ſolemn Church-duties, ſuch as hearing, praying, and all other publick worſhip, are to be preferred above all private. He can never be a good Chriſtian that is not a good member of that Church he is of. As in Politicks it's acknowledged, he cannot be bonus vir, which is not bonus civis, not a good man, that is not a good Citizen. Now certainly, here is a wonderfull neglect and general fault in all our Congregations; we attend not to our Church-duties, to our Church-communion, what God doth require of us, as a Society, as a ſpiritual Company; there would not be that neglecting of the Aſſemblies, thoſe wicked and ungodly meetings, to be drunk, to be carnally merry and jolly, which are directly contrary to Church-meetings. Nothing doth ſo reſemble Heaven, as the Church Aſſemblies ſpiritually performed; and to ſuch meetings God hath promiſed his more peculiar preſence and aſſiſtance. But of this more in its time.
In the next place, there is added in the Doctrinal Deſcription, That it is a Company of perſons called of God by the preaching of the Word: Wherein are conſiderable, the Efficient Cauſe, and the Inſtrumental. The Efficient is God, Called by God. And firſt, In that they are ſaid to be called by God. This implieth theſe things:
1. That it's the meer goodneſs and grace of God that makes a people to be a Church. Therefore they are thus named Eccleſia. The Grecians called their Aſſemblies ſo, becauſe of ſome humane Authority gathering them together; but the people of God are called a Church, becauſe God calls them. So that as there is a difference between a garden and a wilderneſs; the one is naturally ſo, but the other is planted by art and induſtry; nature doth not of it ſelf, eſpecially ſince mans fall, bring forth gardens and choice flowers, but there is great art and culture required thereunto. Thus it is with the Church, men are made the Church by Gods grace, but they are the world of themſelves. The world and the Church are two oppoſites, God makes the one, and is preſent in a ſpecial manner there, but ſinne and Satan make and rule in the other. When the Pſalmiſt ſaid, It is he that hath made us, not we our ſelves, we are the ſheep of his paſture. Calvin underſtands it of their Church making; it was the goodneſs and power of God that made them ſo. Hence it is, that it is often compared to, and called the Kingdom of Heaven, becauſe it's original is from Heaven, and their Laws and Ordinances are heavenly. Thus you ſee, to be made a Church is not by our humane will and power, as men make themſelves Cities and Corporations, but by a ſpecial grace of God.
2. When therefore we are ſaid to be called by God, that doth neceſſarily ſuppoſe a terminus from which we are called. It's a company of perſons called out from the world, wherein once they were. Hence the Apoſtle, 1 Cor. 5. doth oppoſe the world, and the Church together; and the world is ſaid to be without God, then when he gathers a Church, He calls them out of the world; as Lot was called out of Sodom, which was ready to be deſtroyed with fire and brimſtone: or as a man is called out from an houſe that is ready to fall into its fulnes; and this it is that makes it to be ſuch an admirable priviledge and bleſſedneſs to be of the Church. For the world is ſure to periſh, is ſure to be damned; there is no abiding therein; as if an Iſraelite had continued in an Aegyptians houſe, when the deſtroying Angel paſſed by, he was ſure to be killed. Thus there is no way but of damnation in the world, without this Ark of the Church, every one muſt neceſſarily periſh. But this is that which ſhould make all our hearts ake and tremble at, to conſider, That though the Church be called out of the world, yet it's almoſt degenerated into the world again. Look over the face and converſation of all Churches, Are they not become the world? Is not a garden made a wilderneſs? Is not the luſts, the prophaneneſs, the ignorance, the impieties that are in the world to be found in the Church like wiſe? And what hath been the ſad occaſion of ſo many to ſay, Our Congregations are no Churches, that a man cannot with a good conſcience ſtay amongſt you, or have communion with you? Is it not becauſe of the univerſalimpiety they ſee amongſt us? As if the Church of God, which is like the Ark in other things were in this alſo, that all kind of things unclean, as well as clean, ſwine as well as ſheep, vultures as well as doves, were to be taken into it. We ſee, as it hath been Gods work, to turn the world into Churches: ſo it hath been the Devils work to turn the Churches into the world again. But wo be to the wicked man, that is ſo in the Church of God, God will be ſure to puniſh you! A nettle or weed in the garden is ſure to be plucked up, whereas in the wilderneſs it may grow, and never be medled with.