The Divine Institution of Congregational Churches, Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Of a Goſpel Viſible, or Congregational Church.
Reſtipulation to Abraham's Covenant double: A Goſpel Viſible Church defined: A viſible Church always particular, not Catholick: The Catholick not the Genus of a particular Church, but a diſtinct Species of Church in general: Corporation diſtinguiſht into its Species: The Political relation of a Church to Chriſt: The immediate matter of a viſible Church: What is the form of it: Separation inſeparable from it: The immediate Infant-Seed Members by Covenant: Communion the end of Church-Ʋnion.
§. 1. HAVING ſhewed what a Viſible or Congregational Church is in general, when the firſt Inſtitution of it was, and where founded, viz. in Abraham's Covenant of Circumciſion; that for the ſubſtance of the ſaid Covenant it was immutable, both as to the Perſon, Natures, Offices, Miniſtry, Sacrifice and Exaltation of Chriſt the Head, both Myſtical and Political aGal. 3.8 cap. 4.26, 27.; ſo as to the Body of Chriſt the Church in its Catholick bEph. 3.5, 6. Acts 15.7, 9.or Viſible relation to him cDeut. 14.2. 1 Pet. 2.9., (ſetting aſide only the difference of Oeconomies and the Adminiſtration thereof, called the Old and New Teſtaments dHeb. 8.6 & 9.15.) it is the everlaſting Covenant well ordered in all things and ſure e2. Sam. 23.5. 2. Cor. 3.11, to which as to the more myſterious and hidden part under the efficacious work of the Spirit, every ſincere-hearted Believer doth reſtipulate when he becomes an actual Member of the Myſtical Body f2 Cor. 11 2, 3. Heb. 12 22; and as to the more External, Viſible and Political part, he doth viſibly reſtipulate by confederation and embodying to Chriſt the Political Head gIſa. 56.6, 7. & 44.5., and with a particular Congregation a Political Body of Chriſt.
§. 2. The Eccleſiaſtical Bleſſings, as belonging to the viſible State, Standing and Priviledges of a Congregational Church, unalterable under either Diſpenſation, are theſe eſpecially: Firſt, Its Foederal Conſtitution aIſa. 61.8, 9. Gen. 17.9, 10.. Secondly, Its Divine Inſtitution bIbid.. Thirdly, The Nature of its Church-Memberſhip cRom. 4.11, 12, 16. Gal. 3.27, 28, 29., and the profeſſing Right thereto to the Believing Parent covenanting, and his immediate Infant-Seed in him dIſa. 65.23. chap. 44.3. Gal. 4.28.. Fourthly, The Seal of the Righteouſneſs of Faith given to both Parent and Seed. Fifthly, The Miniſtry of the Goſpel, with all other Ordinances of Chriſt's Inſtitution, which each is capable of for ſpiritual advantage, in the communion of the reſpective Members thereof eGal. 3.7, 8..
§. 3. A Viſible Church is a ſpiritual a1 Pet. 2.5.Body bRom. 12.4, 5.of Believers c1 Cor. 1, 2, with their immediate Seed dGal. 3.26, 27, 28. & 4.28., ſeparate from the World e2 Cor. 6.17., and given up unto Chriſt and one another in a Publick Covenant f2 Cor. 8.5. Iſa. 56.6, 7., for fellowſhip g1 John 1.3, 7. Phil. 1.5. 1 Cor. 11.20.in all inſtituted Worſhip and Ordinances hMat. 28.20.in one place i1 Cor. 14.23., to the Glory of God k1 Cor 10.31.and their own Salvation lPhil. 1.9, 11..
§. 4. A viſible Church is always particular aRev. 1.20 Col. 2.5., a Catholick being not viſible as hath bin ſhewed: for a Viſible Church is not a Society gathered together and made up of all the ſelect People in the world, there is none ſuch can be here; but its ſuch as is limited to a People and Place, and is the ſubject of the Miniſtry and Ordinances there b1 Cor. 11.20. & 14.23. Act 2.41.. And though it ſhould be ſuppoſed that there is a Catholick, viſible Church (which cannot be granted) it is to be obſerved, that the Spirit of God, ſpeaks always of Churches in their reſpective places, as diſtinct Churches, each one entire in it ſelf c1 Cor. 1, 2 1 Theſ. 1.1; not one Epiſtle wrote to any under the Name of the Catholick viſible Church, nor to any Church or Congregation as part of it, but we read of writing to a Church in ſuch a place dRevel. 3.1, &c. 1 Cor. 1.1.; and divers Churches in a place (as Country or Province) we find diſtinguiſht by the places where they were, as Town, City in which they were eGal. 1.2 Rev. 1.4.. Again, each particular Congregation had its proper Elders relating to it fAct. 20.17. Phil. 1.1. Act 14.23, and not to others, or to a Catholick viſible. Laſtly, the Church at Jeruſalem, the firſt Primitive was indeed the biggeſt and largeſt we read of, but to make it any other than a particular Congregation, is as weak Divinity as it is Logick, for it continued to Aſſemble together in one place gAct 5.12, and was called but one Church, and was not the Church that was viſibly Catholick, for it contained not the Churches of Samaria hAct 9.31and Antioch iib. 15.2, 3, ſoon after gathered.
§. 5. Wherefore the Subject defined by us, is a particular Church; not becauſe the Catholick is a Genus of it, but becauſe the Catholick, and a Particular, are two diſtinct Species of Church, by proper Adjuncts, e. gr. A particular Church is viſible here on Earth in coetu aAct 5.12, which the Catholick Church is not. It aſſembles in one place b1 Cor. 11.20., which the Catholick cannot here: It's the ſubject of external Ordinances, Officers and Diſcipline cPhil. 1.1. 1 Cor. 5.4., which the Catholick is not: The Members are known by viſible Profeſſion and confederation d2 Cor. 9.13., which the Members of the Catholick are not known by.
§. 6. The next general Nature (as we have ſhewed) to a Church is a Body Politick or Corporation, for Body is thus diſtributed in Scripture Acceptation, it is Natural or Political; Political is Civil or Spiritual; the Spiritual is a Church, which is a ſpiritual Body Politick; and that is inviſible and Catholick, or viſible and Particular. Here we are on a Particular Congregation, which we ſay is a ſpiritual, viſible Body Politick aRom. 12.4, 5. 1 Co. 12.27. That it is a Body in a Political ſence is moſt manifeſt, for the Scripture calling it ſo, it muſt be concluded, that it cannot be ſo in any rational ſence, but as it is a Body Corporate, not Civil but Spiritual; it being of ſpiritual Matter b1 Cor. 3. 1 Gal. 6.1., ſpiritual Form c1 Pet. 2.5, and for ſpiritual Ends d1 Cor. 12 3.3, 7.8. Eph. 5.19. 1 Pet. 2.5.9.. Neither is it inviſibly ſpiritual, for ſpiritual things are both viſible and inviſible eCol. 1.16 18. & 2.5. 1 Pet. 2.5., but its ſpiritual in oppoſition to civil. Hence the Church we are ſpeaking of is a viſible ſpiritual Body-Politick, and as ſuch having a ſpecial and peculiar Relation to Chriſt the Political Head fHeb. 3.1.6., wherein the ſpecial Glory and Excellency of this Church doth ly.
§. 7. The great Concern therefore of this Body, is its true Political Relation to Chriſt, as the head thereof aEph. 4.15, 16., that it be by its viſibility, at leaſt, Chriſt's Corporation b1 Cor. 12.27.. 1. By his Purchaſe cAct. 20.28.. 2. By his Charter and Inſtitution, being founded upon his Doctrine, Rules and Appointments dMat. 28.20.. 3. That the Diſpenſation be Chriſt's, ſo that all things therein tranſacted be in the Name and Power of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt eCol. 3.17, and to God's Glory by him fEph. 3.21. 4. That the Matter of this Church be viſibly approved as Members of Chriſt's Myſtical Body, and ſo in Chriſt Jeſus by Faith viſibly at leaſt gPhil. 1.1 2 Cor. 6.15, 16.. 5. That their aſſociation into one Body be by explicite Covenant firſt to Chriſt the Head, and to one another as viſible Members of Chriſt, ſuppoſed faithful and Loyal to him hRom. 15.6, 7. Iſa. 56.7. 1 Pet. 5.9.. 6. The great ends of it are, 1. A freedom in Chriſt iGal. 5.1., and the Spirit k2 Cor. 3.17., from all other Political Heads, as ſuch (in this ſpiritual relation) and all pretendedly Eccleſiaſtical l2 The. 2.4.or Civil mIſa. 26.13., or Paſtoral compulſion, and Arbitrary Government within themſelves n1 Pet. 5.3. 3 John 10.. 2. The great enjoyment of the Preſence and Bleſſing of Chriſt oRev. 3.1. Eph. 1.3.. 3. Their communion in Chriſt with one another p1 Cor. 10 16., and thereby their edification in Grace q1 Cor. 14 26., and continued growth in Chriſt rEph. 4.15, in the ſolemn and ſacred uſe of all his holy Inſtitutions and Appointments: All which they look upon (not as Bondage) but their deſirable Enjoyments and Priviledges granted to them by the Charter and Seal of the New Teſtament ſEph. 1.3. Col. 2.19. Eph. 1.18, 19..
§. 8. As it is and ought to appear a ſpiritual Body a1 Pet. 2.5, and therefore viſible; it muſt be made up of ſuch Members as to the adult part are Profeſſors of their Myſtical Relation to Chriſt bEph. 5.30.; for the trueſt Believer cannot be known but by ſuch Profeſſion that muſt come into viſibility, before any one can have any approved Church-Memberſhip, or any fair or plauſible pretence to a right thereto cJam. 2.18. Act 11.23.
2. Tho Profeſſing Believers, with their immediate Infant-Seed are the true and fit Matter for a Viſible Church dAct 2.39, yet is not their Profeſſion the Viſible Form of a Church: Stones may be good and well ſquared for a Building, but do not give Form to any Houſe e1 King 6, 7.till they be viſibly conjoyned and knit together to a Corner-Stone f1 Pet. 2.5 Eph. 2.21., therefore the Band muſt be viſible in this Building of Chriſt; all the ſitted parts, as living Stones, freely coming to Chriſt the Corner-Stone, and by common conſent uniting themſelves to Chriſt and one another, to make a ſpiritual Houſe, a Habitation of God by his Spirit gEph. 2.21, 22., every one of which, being ſuppoſedly at leaſt, united to Chriſt the Myſtical Head hEph. 4.15, and ſo becoming living Stones, do now come to Chriſt by a ſecond explicite viſible Union in a Political Body of his iRom. 12.1, 4, 5., which can be no other than Confederation, whereby each one, with his immediate Infant-Seed, is given up unto Chriſt, and aſſociated to the ſaid Members in one Corporation or Body Politick.
§. 9. That explicite confederation gives form to a viſible Church, appears beyond all doubt, 1. From the nature of its being a Body Politick or Corporation aRo. 12.4, 5. 1 Cor. 12 12, 13, 14, 27., for all Civil Corporations are in this manner made a Body. 2. Men may be very honeſt and good Subjects under the King's Government, but not incorporated in any diſtinct Body Corporate under the King. 3. They that are incorporated, are bound by a promiſe of Fidelity to the King the Political Head, and by a promiſe obliging to Memberſhip with, and fidelity to that particular Body. 4. There is no Perſon governable by any ſuch Body Politick, that is not thus bound to it by ſuch confederations, for what hath it to do with ſuch as are without b1 Cor. 5.12.? 5. It is not fit that any ſhould partake of the granted Liberties and Priviledges of any particular Society, without becoming a faſt Member thereof; and how can any one that is at his choice whether he will or will not, be made a faſt Member thereof, without a declared mutual obligation between him and ſuch Society? As all theſe Reaſons hold good, as well in a ſpiritual Body Politick, as a Civil, and bear a great Analogy with the Natural Body of a Man therein: So likewiſe it appears in the ſecond place from the Word of God, ſpeaking of a Church as ſuch a Body. 1. The firſt conſtitution of a Congregational-Church in Abraham and his Seed, was by Covenant cGen. 17.2, 10., and ſo the great Reformations thereof afterwards, were by renewing Abraham's Covenant. 2. All the deſcriptions of a Viſible Church by alluſion to a Natural Body dRo. 12.4, 5., to a Houſe eEph. 2.21, 22. 1 Pet. 2.5or Temple, hold forth ſuch an explicite Band of parts together as well as the whole to the Head, as parts of a Body or Houſe are knit together, which nothing can do in a Body Politick but a voluntary Confederation. 3. The expreſſions of joining to the Lord, and adding to the Church fAct. 2.47 & 5.13, 14.. 4. Church-Covenanting under the Goſpel is foretold gIſa. 56.6 & 62.5.. 5. The Apoſtle is expreſs about it, when he treats purpoſely and directly of the true matter of a Church, and foederal form of it h2 Cor. 6.15, 16, &c. Act. 11.23. 6. Profeſſed Subjection to the Goſpel is explicite covenanting i2 Cor. 9.13., as alſo in that place ſpeaking of giving up ones ſelf to the Lord and one another k2 Cor. 8.5..
§. 10. Hence as it is a Covenanting Body, ſo a Body ſeparate from the World Heatheniſh and Antichriſtian a1 Cor. 10 19.20. Rev. 18.3 2 Cor. 6.16 17.. A Church cannot be a peculiar and ſelect People without ſeparating from communion in Church Ordinances with viſible unbelievers, and from falſe Worſhip of all kinds whatever b2 Cor. 6.15, 16. 1 Pet. 2.9..
§. 11. The immediate Infant-Seed of the Confederate-Believer, becomes given up unto God, and receives Church-Memberſhip in and by the Parents Covenant a1 Cor. 7.14. Gal. 4.28. Rom. 9.8.; for ſuch was the Conſtitution of the firſt Congregational-Church which remains un-altered: for the righteouſneſs of faith, and the Seal of the righteouſneſs of Faith remaining to Believers bRo. 4.11, 12., as the Goſpel preached cGal. 3.8.to Abraham was the Bleſſing that came on the Gentiles dibid. 14., it belongs to them to whom he was the Father, even in that reſpect eRom. 4.11.16., and they are Heirs according to the Promiſe fGal. 3.29, being the Children of God by Faith in Chriſt gib. v. 26. ib. v. 9., are bleſſed with faithful Abraham hib. v. 27; yea as many as have bin baptiſed into Chriſt have put on Chriſt as Abraham did, both in reſpect of the righteouſneſs of Faith, and the Seal thereof iRo. 4.11, 12., the Priviledge he hath for himſelf and Seed in Covenant, and both Jew and Greek, Male and Female, are all one (as to this reſpect) in Chriſt Jeſus kGal. 3.28. And being Abraham's Seed lRo. 4.16., yea his Children as Iſaac was, they inherit the Bleſſing in the righteouſneſs of Faith and the Seal thereof, to themſelves and Seed. But this Bleſſing as it comes upon the Gentiles as fellowheirs of the ſame Promiſe made to Abraham mEph. 3.6., which neither the makeing or abrogation of Moſes his Conſtitution did or could diſannul nGal. 3.17, comes not on this or that Nation, or Race of any Family ſpecified, as it was upon Abraham's, but it comes only in the right of a confederating Believer oRom. 9.6, 7, 8., and therefore on him and his immediate Seed only; for the Child of a Believer when he comes to be adult, by his non-profeſſion of Abraham's Faith, and noncovenanting accordingly, his Memberſhip ceaſeth, and his Seeds; and therefore the Grandfather's Faith cannot give the Grand-Child any right to the ſeal of the righteouſneſs of Faith; but the Infants Memberſhip and Right to any Church-Priviledge, as it muſt ly in the immediate Parent, ſo the unbelief of the immediate Seed, cuts off from any right to that Seal.
§. 12. The ends of Viſible Church-Union are very great, viz. The conſtant and frequent waiting and attending upon God in his Worſhip, and that by a People aſſembling together for this end and purpoſe; with one Heart and Mind aActs 2.4.2. & 5.12., in one Place b1 Cor. 11 20., and therefore in communion with Chriſt the Head c& 10.16, 17., and all the Members of the Body together d1 Joh. 1.3., whereby each Member is nouriſhed and edified, and grows up into Chriſt the Head in all things eEph. 4.15; the Ordidinances of communion the immediate ends of Viſible Church-Union; The ſtedfaſt abode therein fAct 2.42, the offering up ſpiritual Sacrifices unto God acceptable through Chriſt g1 Pet. 2.5, and ſhewing forth the Vertues of him that hath called them out of Darkneſs into his marvellous Light hIbid. v. 9.