The Divine Institution of Congregational Churches, Chapter 3
CHAP. III. Of a Congregational Church in General.
Of Christ's Diſpenſation as Head: A viſible Church defined: Revealed Worſhip exercis'd firſt in Families; then in Instituted Churches: The Foundation of viſible Churches laid in Abraham's Covenant: Two parts thereof: The Church of Iſrael: Firſt Eſſential, then Organized: The difference between the Moſaical and Goſpel Oeconomy: The Church of Iſrael Congregational.
§. 1. THE Lord Jeſus Chriſt exerts his Headſhip, not only by the more immediate Adminiſtration of his Spirit a1 Cor. 2.11, 12. & 12.4. & 7.13. Eph. 4.3, 7., internally in the hearts of his People, whereby he conſtitutes his Myſtical and Catholick Body; but alſo as the Apoſtle and High-Prieſt of our Profeſſion bHeb. 3.1.2, 6., by external Means of Grace, Conſtituting and Ordaining particular, viſible Churches, and in them, Miniſtry and Ordinances, ſuited to the State and reſpective Ages of the World cHeb. 9.1.8.10. Deut. 29.1, for the filling up, and edification of his Myſtical Body dEph. 4.12, 13., and bleſſeth ſuch accordingly, to his great Glory, and good of his Choſen eEph. 3.21 Pſ. 106.45 Exo. 20.24 Deut. 4.8..
§. 2. A Viſible Church is a Particular Aſſembly of Profeſſing Believers a1 Cor. 1.2, viſibly embodied in Chriſt b1 Cor. 12.27., for a ſtated and holy Communion cAct 9.31.in one place d1 Cor. 11 20., with God and one another, in all inſtituted Ordinances eAct 2.42, appertaining to themſelves and their immediate ſeed fAct. 2.39 Iſa. 61.9 & 65.23. Eph. 6.4., for God's Glory in Chriſt gEph. 3.21, and their mutual Edification h1 Cor. 14 5.12.26..
§. 3. God's External Worſhip by Revealed Religion, was firſt celebrated in Adam's Family aGen. 4.3, 4., and continued in the Families of the Faithful till the time of Abraham bHeb. 11.5.7, 8., which by many are eſteemed to have bin ſo many diſtinct Churches, and accordingly diſtinguiſh particular Churches into Oeconomick or Family, and Congregational. But others think, that tho God appointed to thoſe Patriarchs a ſolemn Family-Worſhip, yet that a Church was not inſtituted till Abraham's time, when the firſt Foundation of an Inſtituted Church was laid in the Covenant that God made with, and Sealed to Abraham and his Seed cGen. 12.2. & 17.1, 2, for before this Covenant, (tho God was Worſhipped in Families,) there ſeems not to have bin any Churches made up of divers Families, and therefore not Congregational, nor any Church-Covenant, or Seals thereof: Hence he is ſaid to have received the Sign of Circumciſion, the Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith which he had being uncircumciſed, that he might be the Father of all that believe both circumciſed and uncircumciſed dRo. 4.11., i. e. of Believers whoſe Church-Covenant was Sealed by an Inſtituted Seal appropriated thereto; or elſe how was Abraham ſaid to be a Father to all that ſhould afterward believe, any more than Noah was, or Sem? and moreover, becauſe in this Covenant, Chriſt the Head of the Church was explicitely contained eRo. 4.13. Gal. 3.18, 19., who indeed, was promiſed as Heir of the World, through the Righteouſneſs of Faith, therefore the Apoſtle tells us, that the Promiſe of Chriſt, and all Church-Priviledges and Ordinances of his Inſtitution, are ſure not only to Abraham's natural Seed, but to all who are of the Faith of Abraham, who is the Father of all Profeſſing Believers, and Covenanting with God for themſelves and Seed, by vertue of his receiving the Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith, which he had in his uncircumciſion fRo. 4.16., ſo that the ſtreſs of Abraham's Father-hood to the Faithful, is not laid upon his Eminent Faith alone, but upon his receiving an Inſtituted Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith to himſelf and his infant-Seed gRom. 4.11.16., and in this reſpect, as he is called the Father, ſo each Believer is his Seed in Chriſt hGal. 3.26, 27, 28., receiving a Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith to himſelf and Seed, as Iſaac did iGal. 4.28.
§. 4. In Abraham's Covenant was contained the Promiſe and Bleſſing of Chriſt to his Church, in all Ages, both in reſpect of its Myſtical and Viſible relation to him as its Head aGal. 3.8, 9, 14. Epheſ. 1.3., and therefore the eſtabliſhment of Church-Memberſhip was made in Abraham to the profeſſing covenanting-Believer un-alterably, as a ſubſtantial part of the Bleſſing which was to come on the Gentiles, and not to be removed bGal. 3.14 15, 16, 17, 18. Heb. 12.27. There were two things manifeſtly in Abraham's Covenant. 1. The ſubſtantial and abiding part of that Covenant both to Jews and Gentiles, both internal and Myſtical, yea and external, as to a Church viſible ſtate, Memberſhip and Priviledges, all which came upon the Gentiles cGen. 17.13, 19. Eph. 3.6. c. 1.3.. 2. There was the peculiar and moveable part of Abraham's Covenant, which was the increaſe of his Seed into a National Church dGen. 12.2 & 18.18., the growth and progreſs it ſhould make through Bondage and Pilgrimage to an external and Typical Reſt eGen. 15.13, 14, 16, 18., with all worldly Plenty and Proſperity fJoſh. 5.6, 7. & 22.4. & 21.43, and moſt eſpecially, the form and manner of that Church-Worſhip, according as was after eſtabliſhed by God's Ordination and Inſtitution gDeut. 4.7, 8.31, 32. to 37. Exo. 25.40, for the time then being, till the coming of Chriſt hHeb. 9.9, 10.; Circumciſion it ſelf being a part of that moveable Fabrick, begun in Abraham, and perfected in Moſes iAct 7.8.32.37, 38. Heb. 3.2, 3 & 8.5. Gal. 5.3, 4.; it was taken away with the other obſervances kHeb. 8.5.8.13. & 9.9 Col. 2.11, 17.; but a Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith whereby Abraham became the Father of all Believers Jews and Gentiles, was not taken away lRom. 4.11 & 15.8., but was a great part of the Bleſſing that came on the believing Gentiles mGal. 3.9 14., viz. that the Profeſſing, Covenanting-Believer ſhould both he and his Infant-Seed, receive a Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith, as the great Priviledge of Church-Memberſhip belonging to both, as to Abraham and his, they being his Seed by Faith as Iſaac was nRo. 4.12, 16. Gal. 3.26, 27. & 4.28. Col. 2.10, 11, 12. Acts 2.39. Ro. 15.8, 9. Iſa. 61.9. ch. 65.9..
§. 5. The Church of Iſrael before Moſes, was Congregational, and in a viſible Covenant with God, and truly an eſſential Church aEx. 12.3 Num. 20.4 Ex. 12.40, 41. & 16.22. Act. 7.38., but not organized with a Miniſtry and Ordinances of God's Inſtitution for a due and orderly Worſhip of God till Moſes bAct 7.38.44, 45.: which ſtate and ſtanding of that Church from Abraham to Moſes, and partly in its Wilderneſs condition, was a great Type of the Goſpel-Church in its perſecuted, bewildred and unſettled ſtate, under its great Adverſaries, wherein it hath been moſtly fed by God, and preſerved by him in its Myſtical State and ſtanding, as was before hinted cRev. 12.6.13..
§. 6. The Adminiſtration of the external Conſtitution by Chriſt in the Miniſtry and Ordinances of the Church of Iſrael aActs 7.38, was of a diſtinct form and manner, from the Church Adminiſtration, according to the Goſpel Oeconomy, Ordinances and Order bHeb. 9.1.9, 10, 11.. For the Adminiſtration of the Eccleſiaſtical State and ſtanding of that Church, was faulty in reſpect of the Ordinance of Circumciſion it ſelf cActs 7.8. Gal. 5.3, 4. 2 Cor. 3.14, and Moſaick Vail, drawn over Goſpel Myſteries dHeb. 8.6., the encouragement to Gods Service by temporal Promiſes, the Typical and Legal Nature of the Sanctuary, Miniſtry eHeb. 8.9 2 Cor. 3.9. Heb. 8.5.and Ordinances called carnal fHeb. 9.10 & 7.16., and worldly gHeb. 9.1, imperfect not reaching the Conſcience hch. 9.11. & 10.1, 2. & 7.19., Moſes the Mediator iGal. 3.20thereof, and Aaronick Prieſthood kHeb. 7.11, 23., both typical of the true Mediator l& 8.4, 5. & 3.1., and High-Prieſt of our Profeſſion: It was a faulty Covenant mHeb. 8.7, and called by the Apoſtle the Old Teſtament n2 Cor. 3.14., and is all done away as a ſhadow in the coming of Chriſt oIbid., and his bringing in to us a better, becauſe clearer ground of Faith and Hope pHeb. 7.19., by ſpiritual Promiſes qEph. 1.3., and a more Heavenly Goſpel Miniſtry and Ordinances rHeb. 8.5 & 9.23., and is therefore called a New Covenant ſHeb. 8.8., the bleſſings whereof are Abraham's, now come on the Gentiles tGal. 3.14, heavenly and ſpiritual in high places vEph. 2.6., much more Glorious, the Miniſtration of the Spirit, and not of the Letter w2 Cor. 3.6., the faithful Diſpenſation of the Son over his own Houſe xHeb. 3.2, 6., wherein he is more to be prized, and worthy of more honour than Moſes a ſervant could ever be capable of yIbid.; Chriſt's being a more excellent Miniſtry in that he was a better Mediator of a better Teſtament zHeb. 8.6, confirming and ſealing it with his own Bloud aHeb. 9.16, 17., and now liveth in the full execution of this laſt Will and Teſtament bHeb. 8.25 Eph. 4.11, and the glorious Witneſs thereof before God, Angels and Men cRev. 1.5, 18., ſtanding now our High-Prieſt, ſet down at the Right Hand of the Majeſty on High, a Miniſter of the Sanctuary, and true Tabernacle which God pitched and not Man dHeb. 8.1, 2..
§. 7. The Conſtitution of the Church of Iſrael, tho it was National aExo. 19.6. Gen. 35.11, as being made up according to that part of the promiſe, peculiar to Abraham's natural Seed, yet it was Congregational bExod. 12.6.47. Lev 4.13. 1 Kings 8.5, 14. 2 Chro. 6.3, according to the other part of the Promiſe, not to be ſhaken or removed cHeb. 12.28. Gal. 3.8.17, 29. Jer. 30.32, 37. & 33.26., becauſe it was incorporated into one Church by a viſible profeſſion of, and ſubjection to Abraham's Covenant dExo. 34.27., for ſuch as were Infant-Church-Members received the Seal of the Righteouſneſs of faith, and when they became adult and ſtood not to this Profeſſion, they forfeited their Church-Memberſhip; and thus it was with Iſmael and Eſau eGen. 21.10, 12. Gal. 4.30., upon which both, with their Seed, fell off from the Church, tho the natural Seed of Abraham and Iſaac. fGen. 25.31.And afterward, when the Seed of Iſrael grew up into a National Church, in all their Apoſtacies they were charged with the breach of Abraham's Covenant gDeut. 31 16. Ezek. 16.8. Jer. 11.10., or that made with their Fathers, which was the ſame, as therein going a whoring from God, and forfeiting the Right of Church-Memberſhip, and becoming a Loammi. Moreover, in all their great Reformations we find their returning to the ſaid Covenant, and often their publick renewing and recognition thereof h2 Chron. 34.31. Pſal. 105.4, 5, &c. Ezra 10.3. 2. It appears, in that all the Houſe of Iſrael, as to their ſtated Church-Worſhip, worſhipped under one viſible Paſtor (in their State after Moſes his Settlement) one High-Prieſt, and at one Altar, in one place iLev. 1.3. Deut. 12.14. & 14.23. & 16.2, 7.11, 15 16. Joſh. 22.18, 23.; and therefore the ſtated Church-Worſhip was attended in one Aſſembly, Tabernacle or Temple, Thrice every Year, where the whole Congregation had Communion in one and the ſame Worſhip, and acts of Worſhip kDeut. 16.16.. 3. This People were a ſeparated People from all others in the World lLev. 20.24. Deut. 4.7, 34. cap. 7.6. & 14.2. Pſa. 135.44. Jeroboam's Apoſtacy was condemned by God as an actual Rent and Schiſm from the viſible Church that ſtatedly worſhipped God at Jeruſalem m1 King 11.30, 31.. 5. The Synagogue-Worſhip was not the Church-Worſhip, neither was the daily Sacrifice, or others, nor any holy Convocations belonging unto them, any more than the meer reading of Moſes and the Prophets, and Expoſition thereof at moſt ſometimes nAct 13.15.. 6. All Church-Worſhip, of ſpecial communion, as offering Sacrifices elſewhere, than at the place choſen by God for that purpoſe, was condemned; witneſs the frequent complaint made againſt their High-Places under the Reign, even of their beſt Kings o1 King 22.43., till Hezekiah's time that deſtroyed them all p2 King 18.4..
§. 8. That a Congregational Church is of Divine Inſtitution, appears by theſe Reaſons.
1. Either a Congregational Church is of Divine Inſtitution, or elſe God hath no inſtituted Church; for there is no other viſible Church of God's Inſtitution ſpoken of in Scripture.
2. The Church of Iſrael was Congregational (as hath bin proved) and none will deny that to be of God's Inſtitution.
3. The expreſs Type of a Congregational Church under the Goſpel was of God's Inſtitution, therefore the Antitype, or thing Typified much more aRev. 1.20 Heb. 8.5, 6 & 3.5, 6..
4. This Church is Propheſied of by the Prophets of old bIſa. 56.5.6, 7. Eze. 43.11 Mal. 1.11, 12..
5. Chriſt and his Apoſtles planted ſuch Churches, as appears throughout the Hiſtory of the Acts.
6. Theſe Chriſt and his Apoſtles owned to be his truly inſtituted Churches, not only by the Epiſtles wrote to them by the Apoſtles, but by thoſe ſent to them by Chriſt himſelf cRev. 2. & 3..