An Expository Comment on 2 Corinthians 1, Exposition · Sermon 17
SERM. XVII.
A further Diſcovery of the truth of this Aſſertion, that a Church may be a true Church, though much defiled both in Doctrine and Manners.
2 COR. 1. 1.
To the Church of God, which is at Corinth, &c.
THis Church of Corinth is dignified (as you heard) with this glorious Title of the Church of God, notwithſtanding thoſe manifeſt and notorious depravations that were amongſt them, and that of all ſorts.
This truth we entred upon, and before we give you ſome demonſtrations to evidence it, it is good to take notice of ſome obſervable particulars, which tend to the clearing of it. Only this muſt be premiſed, that whereas a Church may be denied to be ſo, either from its conſtitution, or from its converſation. We are ſpeaking of the later way, and ſo conſider,
Firſt, That the ſoundneſs and purity of Churches doth admit of degrees: That Some obſervations clearing the truth, that a Church, though defiled may be the Church of God.as one Starre doth excell another in glory, yet both Starres: So one Church may greatly tranſcend another in orthodoxy and purity, and yet both be Churches. In thoſe ſeven Churches of Aſia, there were ſome reproved more than others. We cannot expect that all Churches ſhould be of the ſame meaſure in knowledge and grace, no mor than particular Chriſtians: and therefore we are not to conclude ſuch a Church is no Church, becauſe not ſo pure as another Church, no more than ſuch a man is not a godly man, becauſe he hath not ſuch a meaſure of Illumination and Sanctification, as another. And to ſay in the general, That it is a Chriſtians duty to find out the pureſt Church in the world, and there to aſſociate himſelf with it, muſt needs fill a Chriſtian with infinite perplexities of conſcience; as alſo to expoſe him to inſupportable outward inconveniencies. Let us not therefore do with a Church, as a godly tender heart is apt to do with himſelf, becauſe he finds many failings and great imperfections, therefore he is ready to judge that he hath no grace at all. Thus becauſe there are ſeveral diſorders and diſtempers in ſuch a Church, which are deſervedly daily matter of groan, and ſorrow to thee, therefore thou beginneſt to ſentence ſuch a Church; as no longer Gods Church. Again, ſeeing that there are gradual differences of ſoundneſs and purity in Churches, this ſhould alſo make every Church take heed of appropriating the glorious name of a Church, or Saints, or Chriſtians to themſelves only, as if none were Saints or Chriſtians, but what are members of their Society. This is and hath been a moſt uncharitable proud diſpoſition of ſome Churches. The Popiſh Church ſaith, There is no ſanctity or holineſs, but with them. Inter Catholicos (ſaith Bellarmine) multi quidem ſunt mali, ſed inter haereticos ne uniu quidem eſt bonus. What a cenſorious condemnation is this? Not one good Proteſtant (whom they call Hereticks) not in all our Churches. Thus they only appropriate the name of Church and ſanctity to themſelves. So the Donatiſts did of old, they incloſed the Church only amongſt themſelves; they called none Chriſtians but themſelves: To become a Donatiſt was to become a Chriſtian with them. So that we ſee, it's very hard for Churches not to admire their own wayes and conſtitutions, thinking that none are Churches but themſelves; there may be phariſaical Churches, that may condemn other Churches as Publicans, as well as it is ſo in perſons; whereas it is good to obſerve, that the Scripture doth deſcribe Chriſtians by ſuch names as do not at all relate, or diſtinguiſh by any Government, or external conſtitution, to be a believer, to be a Saint, to be a Chriſtian. Theſe titles denote either ſome inward qualification or external profeſſion, but do not at all inſinuate, what kinds of order or way they are in; yet this is not ſo to be underſtood, as if Chriſts order and way, his Government and Diſcipline were an indifferent or arbitrary thing; only it is to ſhew, that we are not to monopolize godlineſs amongſt our ſelves, meerly becauſe of a Church-conſtitution, although we are not to receive any form or ſpiritual order in our Churches, but of Chriſts appointment. There is a great difference and latitude in the ſoundneſs and purity of Churches.
Secondly, When we ſpeak of a Church being Gods true Church, though greatly corrupted, we muſt take heed of two extreams, the firſt of thoſe, who therefore would have no Reformation, though there be never ſo many diſorders, but ſay, It's wiſdome and prudence to let all things be, as they have been, for it may be Gods Church, though there be divers abuſes. Take heed of ſuch carnal indulgence as this, becauſe it's the Church of God, therefore make no more ſtirre, let errours and prophaneneſs alone, let diſorders continue; and this many times is palliated with fair ſpecious pretences, that ſuch indeavours to reform, will breed great diſcontents and diviſions, in ſtead of having a pure Church, it may be made no Church at all, eſpecially this is the more difficulty obtained, if it be a Reformation in worſhip and manners; for we are more willing to ſit down under an Orthodox Church, then a pure Church. We can more eaſily endure to have ſound Doctrine eſtabliſhed, then pure and holy Order, becauſe this doth ſo directly contradict our luſts, and pleaſures. Hence Malachy propheſieth of Chriſts repurgation of his Church, as a very dreadfull time, even like the day of judgement, Mal. 3. 2, 4. Chriſt is there ſaid to ſit as a refiner, and as a purger to take away dro…, but who ſhall abide the day of his coming? Chriſts coming being thus like the Refiners fire, and the Fullers ſope, was as terrible as the day of judgment to them, Who may abide it (ſaith he?) You ſee then orthodoxy is ſooner received than godly and holy order; but we are to know, that though we have many things to glory in, that we are a true Church, that we have excellent preaching, and many learned Officers in it, yet if there be not an endeavour to take away all offences and ſcandals, there is great matter of humiliation. The Apoſtle ſpeaketh notably in this matter to the Corinthians, 1 Cor. 5. 6. Your glorying is not good, &c. The Corinthians they gloried and boaſted in many things, but as long as they did not caſt out the old leaven, or the wicked man, but this leaven was in danger to leaven the whole lump, therefore he telleth them, Their glorying was not good, there was greater cauſe to be deeply humbled, becauſe of ſuch diſorders amongſt them. Let us not then, though we can and may prove our Church to be the Church of God, therefore ſit down and take our reſt, as if therefore reformation of corruptions were needleſs: No the Apoſtle doth farre otherwiſe to this Church of Corinth, though he call it the Church of God, yet his Epiſtle is full of ſharp reproof to them; he is very zealous and lively in putting of them upon this, that they became a new lump, that they be made as it were a new Church, and a new Congregation. Farre be it therefore from us to excuſe or connive at our publick impieties, becauſe Corinth, though ſo polluted is a Church: No, we are to tremble and humble our ſelves under ſuch diſorders, they are great provocations of Gods anger. You ſee God did begin to judge and chaſten this Church of Corinth; God takes notice, and is very angry with all theſe diſorders, and great neglect. Therefore if you obſerve thoſe Epiſtles of Chriſt from Heaven, to the ſeven Churches of Aſia, where their works were not perfect, where there were any decayes; yea, if Chriſt had any thing againſt them, though there were other things commendable, yet he will take notice and rebuke them therein; yea, to ſome he threatens to take away their Candleſticks, that is, their Ordinances, and to unchurch them. Oh then, let us humble our ſelves under Gods hand for all our Church-ſins, all our Aſſembly-iniquities, leſt the wrath of God break out upon us!
The ſecond extream we are to take heed of, is, That becauſe of the corruptions that are in a Church, we are not ſo farre transported with miſguided zeal, as to take no notice of the truth of a Church. Some are apt ſo to attend to a true Church, that they never matter the corruptions of it. Others again, they do ſo eye the corruptions, that they never regard the truth of it: but it is good to avoid both theſe extreams; Whence cometh that impatiency in us to bear any evil in a Church? Whence is it that we uncharitably rend from it? Is it not becauſe we do not conſider it may be a true Church, and ſalvation is there to be had, yea converſion and regeneration, though there be many things to be reformed? There is no Church ſo pure, but that there are ſome imperfections in it; no Church ſo reformed, but in ſome things it needeth a reformation. Thou mayeſt go from Church to Church, and be like Noah's Dove, not know where to ſet thy feet: if thou look for abſolute perfection in any Church whether thou goeſt. As there is no conſtitution of the body, which hath an exact temperament ad pondus, but ſome humour or other doth predominate; ſo there is no Church that is of ſuch a perfect frame, but it hath its ſeveral grievances, and though it may be freed from thoſe evils they ſeparated from, yet they may be aſſaulted with others that are as deſtructive of a Church in a contrary way, though freed from tyranny, yet not from diviſions, and daily ſubdiviſions amongſt themſelves. So that in theſe things we are diligently to make the Scripture our Rule.
Thirdly, Though that Church be a true Church where we live, yet if many corruptions do abound therein, we muſt take heed, That we do not pollute our ſelves thereby, or become partakers of any ſinne indulged amongst them. As we may not ſinfully ſeparate upon this ground, becauſe they are no Church, ſo neither may we continue ſo, as to pollute and defile our ſelves with any known ſin. The Apoſtles exhortation to the Corinthians under theſe manifold pollutions, is, that every one in their proper place, ſhould endeavour their new moulding. So that under Church-pollutions, thou art to conſider, what God cals thee to do, to rebuke, exhort, admoniſh; and if this will not do, to complain to Church-Officers, who are to guide and watch over the flock; and if yet this will not do, then to be the more earneſt with God in prayer, to bring about Reformation notwithſtanding all the gainſayings of wicked men: To mourn and ſigh unto God, as a Lot in Sodom, vexing thy righteous ſoul continually; as a lamenting Jeremiah among the apoſtatizing Iſraelites. And certainly God doth in a ſpecial manner take notice of ſuch, who do mourn for thoſe abominations, that they cannot remove or take away, Ezek. 9. 4. when thou canſt appeal to God, ſaying, O Lord, theſe corruptions, theſe diſorders, they grieve me to the very heart! I cry out daily, Wo be unto me, becauſe I dwell with men of polluted lips. This will much ingage God to thee. Likewiſe we read, Revel. 3. 4. in what a ſpecial manner God takes notice of a few names in Sardis, which had not defiled their garments. To be therefore in the midſt of a defiled Church, and yet to keep thy ſelf unſpotted, this is admirable; as they record of the river Alpheus, which though it runne into the Sea, yet it keeps its own natural ſweetneſs; though we have communion with the Church in thoſe things, that are commanded by God, yet we are not to partake with them in any evil way: as thoſe ſeven thouſand in Eli…ah's time, though they did not depart from the Church of Iſrael, yet they would not bow their knee to Baul.
In the next place, Let us demonſtrate this, that a Church may be Gods Church, Reaſons ſhewing the truth of it.though it be greatly corrupted. And
Firſt, It may be ſeen from the induction of ſeveral Churches; as for example, the Church of the Jews, they were Gods people, and God did own them as his; yet, as appeareth by the Prophets complaints and daily reproofs, they were full of Idolatries and all moral impieties; and for all this, there were many repentings and turnings in Gods bowels, to ſpeak after the manner of men, before he would call them Lo-ammi, a people no more to him. But you may ſay, That was in the Old Teſtament, when the Spirit of God was not poured out ſo effectually. Conſider then beſides, this Church of Corinth, the Churches of Galatia; were not they farre infected with doctrinal pollutions and vicious luſts of the fleſh? That the Apoſtle mentioneth not any where, ſuch zeal and ſharpneſs as he doth to them, threatning them with Apoſtaſie from Chriſt, and that having begun in the Spirit, they would end in the fleſh. We might inſtance alſo in ſeveral other Churches: But as the Father ſaid elegantly, We need not drink up the whole Sea, to know whether the water be ſaltiſh; a drop or two will ſuffice.
Secondly, This may be demonſtrated from the relation and compariſon, the Church is adorned with, in reference to Chriſt. It's often compared to Chriſts wife; now the wife continueth a true wife, and is not to be deſerted, unleſs for Adultery, which breaketh the conjugal knot; otherwiſe though ſhe have many ſad infirmities, which may make the relation bitter and uncomfortable, yet it doth not unwiſe her. The Church is alſo Chriſts body; now a body is not forſaken by the ſoul, though it be a ſore body, a leprous body; a leper is a man, though a leper: It's Chriſts …arden; now this may have many weeds in it, and many things defile it, yet it is not preſently made a waſte wilderneſs. Thus it is with the Church of God, ſhe may have many failings in Doctrine and manners, yet not be quite unchurched.
Thirdly, From a godly man. A true child of God may have ſad falls, as we ſee in Peter and David, yet for all this not be quite excluded out of the Covenant of grace; they did not loſe their ſonſhip, even in thoſe ſad tranſgreſſions, and will God be more ſevere to a whole Church than to one perſon?
Uſe of Inſtruction, what a deal of prudence and wiſdome is required in every godly man under Church-pollutions? To know what to do, to underſtand how to deport himſelf; for this he muſt be guided by the Word, and the adviſe of thoſe that are faithfull, on the one hand, not to be ſtupid or careleſs, much leſs complying and communicating with the Church defilements; and on the other ſide, not to be ſo tranſported with miſguided zeal and impatiency againſt evil, as there by to rend the Church cauſleſly, and to ſin our ſelves, becauſe others ſin.