The Temple Opened, Tract · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Of the moſt uſual acceptation of the word Church, in the New Teſtament.
WE have ſhewed that in one place the word foreign is taken for any common Aſſembly, lawful or unlawful, Acts 19.32, 39. and likewiſe that it's once taken for a National Church, Acts 7.38.
But in all other places, it's either taken for the Univerſal Church of Chriſt, or for particular Congregations; and for no other ſorts of Churches.
The Univerſal Church of Chriſt is one Organized Body, Chriſt being the Head, and all the Saints Triumphant, and Militant, the Members; united together, either by a real Bond, viſible or inviſible, or both.
This Church of Chriſt either is mentioned in the New Teſtament in the moſt general conſideration; or more particularly, referring to it in the myſtical part of it, or to the Viſible Externally Organized parts of it, which are the particular Churches. I ſhall briefly go through the places of the New Teſtament, where it's uſed, for the Readers ſatisfaction. It is taken for the Body of Chriſt under the moſt general and comprehenſive ſignification, and ſo it's to be underſtood of a Body conſiſting of Head and Members, made up of viſible and inviſible, real and profeſſing only.
The places carrying it in this ſence, are, Mat. 16.18. Ʋpon this Rock will I build my Church, i. e. my whole Spiritual Fabrick ſhall be built upon that Perſon and Doctrine which thou haſt born witneſs to in this Profeſſion.
Epheſ. 1.22, 23. Hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be Head over all things to his Church, which is his Body, the fullneſs of him that filleth all in all. Col. 1.24. Who now rejoyce in my Sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind, of the Afflictions of Chriſt [myſtical] in my Flesh, for his Bodies ſake, which is the Church. Note that where the Church is called the Body of Chriſt, it is meant of the Univerſal Church for the moſt part.
Eph. 3.10. To the intent that now unto Principalities and Powers in Heavenly Places, might be made known by the Church the manifold Wiſdom of God, i. e. by the whole Church both militant and triumphant, by the eminent Grace and Glory ſhinning forth in them, even to the admiration of Angels; even to ſee, ver. 9. The Fellowſhip of the Myſtery which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, &c. And ver. 21. Ʋnto him be Glory in the Church by Jeſus Chriſt, throughout all Ages, world without end.
Epheſ. 5.25. He hath loved his Church, and given himſelf for it; ver. 27. to make it a glorious Church, 29. No man hateth his own fleſh, but nouriſheth it and cherisheth it, even as the Lord the Church, i. e. the whole Church; for we are Members of his body, of his flesh and his bones: ver. 32. This is a great Mystery, but I ſpeak of Chriſt and his Church.
Heb. 12.23. To the General Aſſembly and Church of the firſt born, which muſt be underſtood of the Univerſal Church in its pureſt and moſt glorious ſtate, both militant and triumphant; to which every true Believer comes when he is united by Faith to Chriſt the Head. foreign there is the only word in the New Teſtament can be rendred Catholick Aſſembly.
2. Church is taken in the New Teſtament for the viſible part of the Catholick Church, 1 Cor. 12.27, 28. Ye are the Body of Christ, and Members in particular, and God hath ſet ſome in the Church firſt Apoſtles, then Prophets, &c. In this and ſuch like places Church is taken primarily for the Univerſal Church, though there be many things applyed thereto, which more immediately belong to the viſible parts of it in particular ſimular Congregations, and differing Members, in reſpect of Office, Grace, or Gifts. And ſo i:'s to be underſtood in the place laſt quoted; as alſo, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. a Parallel Place, and ſuch is, Rom. 12.4, 5, 6, 7.
Laſtly, 1 Tim. 3.15. That thou may'ſt know how to behave thy ſelf in the houſe of God, which is the Church of God, [i. e. in a particular part of the Univerſal Church] which is the pillar and ground of truth [i. e. the Univerſal Church is the pillar and ground of Truth in the world, to defend and maintain it, and hold forth the light of it; but every particular Church is a Candleſtick to hold the Candle of the Goſpel-Light, and Profeſſion, and Ordinances, among which Chriſt walks. Theſe are all the places ſo near as I can find, which have reference to the Catholick Church, where Eccleſia, or Church, is mentioned, unleſs thoſe that ſpeak of Pauls Perſecuting the Church, which may be underſtood not only actual Perſecuting the Particular Church of Jeruſalem, but of the whole Body of Chriſt, becauſe 1. that Church was all as yet Planted, and 2. becauſe Chriſt takes his rage and enmity to be levyed and managed againſt his myſtical Body, Acts 9. Saul, Saul, why Perſecuteſt thou me? The places are theſe, 1 Cor. 15.9. Gal. 1.13. Phil. 3.6. Acts 8.3.