The Temple Opened, Tract · Chapter 9
CHAP. IX. Of the Bond of Ʋnion in the Church.
1. WE have ſhewed that the Church of Chriſt is of the Nature of a Body-corporate, whether conſidered in its mystical …r viſible State; and therefore muſt …ave a Bond of Union, there being …o body Phyſical or Politick, but …ath ſome peculiar Bond that u…ites all the parts, whether ſimu…r or diſſimular, into one Body; …e Integrum or whole being made …p of all parts, brought into mu…al conjunction and communion …y the ſaid common Nexus, which … the Principle of the Life, Office, Motion, and Action of each part in its due Reſpect to the whole.
2. The Church of Chriſt coming under this twofold conſideration of Catholick and Viſible, in particular Congregations and Polities, we muſt look upon the Bond or Nexus to be agreeable to each conſideration, the Spirit of God having ſo adjuſted it.
3. Hence the Spirit of Chriſt is the real true fundamental and indiſſoluble Bond of Union, in this Catholick Body, between Chriſt and his Church, and every part and member thereof in Heaven and in Earth, in all Ages and Nations of the World; ſo that this, whether viſible or inviſible, is all but one Body: though as for the viſible part, in all Ages attended with various Manifeſtations, Diſpenſations, and Regiments, according a… Chriſt in his infinite Wiſdom wa… pleaſed to carry on, and reveal the Glory of his Goſpel-myſteries in the World.
Three States of the Church for its Oeconomy, hath appeared.
First, In Families, as it continued from the beginning of the world, till the increaſe of Abrahams Family into a Nation; and then aroſe by ſome ſteps to a National Typical Church, by Chriſts own conſtitution, furniſhed with a higher Degree of Glory then the former State, and inferiour to what was to follow.
The third and laſt, was of all moſt clear, perfect, and glorious; which was the Goſpel Eſtabliſhment, freed from Vails, Types, Figures, Shadows, both in reſpect of the true Doctrine, leading to Life and Salvation, the Sun of Righteouſneſs ſhining forth in his full Brightneſs, no way overſhadowed and in reſpect of Worſhip, and Order of his Houſe, wherein he excell'd all that Moſes, or any before him, could do, in right Ordinances and Statutes, for the managing the Form and Regiment thereof
4. This Bond of Union is purely myſtical, and no more viſible than the Vital or rather Animal Spirits, that vivifies the whole man in uniting the Soul and Body together, whereby every part conjoined is quickned and inabled to Act in its due place and kind; this we ſay is the Spirit of Chriſt, as it will appear from the expreſs words of the Scripture; 1 Cor. 12.3. I give you to understand, that no man ſpeaking by the Spirit of God, calleth Jeſus accurſed: and that no man ca… ſay Jeſus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghoſt.
Verſe 4. Now there be diverſit… of Gifts, but the ſame Spirit.
Verſe 5. And there are difference of Adminiſtrations under the O… and New Teſtament, but the ſame Lord, and Head of the Church; therefore the ſame Church Eſſential.
Verſe 6. There are Diverſities of Operations; [as in diſtinct Members, which operate according to their particular Forms and Meaſures] but it is the ſame God that worketh all in all, i. e. God by the ſame Spirit. Verſe 7. To another Faith by the ſame Spirit [to be underſtood of Faith of Miracles, or more then ordinary meaſures of Saving Faith, exerting it ſelf in an eminent manner, as Abrahams did, in particular trying caſes.] To another the gift of healing by the ſame Spirit; [he goes on to enumerate not only the extraordinary, but ordinary gifts and graces of the Spirit; thoſe given forth in the Primitive Times, and thoſe that are ſince continued, and ſaith verſ. 11. All theſe worketh that one and the ſelf ſame Spirit, dividing to every man ſeverally as he will; and then he goes on to tell us that the Spirit doth not only diffuſe it ſelf throughout, and influence all the Members, from the Head with every Gift and Grace, but that it ties all the Members together, to Chriſt the Head, and one to another; verſ. 12. For as the Body [i. e the Natural Body] is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body, being many, are one Body, [i. e. Myſtical] verſ. 13. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one Body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles [the Jews before Chriſts coming were baptized ſpiritually into this Myſtical Body] whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit [i. e. all partakers of the operations and influences of one Spirit, in Regeneration and Juſtification.] Now having ſhewed that the Spirit unites the many Members into one Body, and is the common Nexus, he goes on to ſhew from whence the diverſity of parts, in form, ſhape, uſe and office doth ariſe, and the harmony and agreement; yea the neceſſity of this variety in kinds and degrees for the good of the whole, verſ. 14. For the Body is not one Member but many, &c. and verſ. 24. God hath tempered the Body together [viz. with this diverſity of Gifts, of Parts, of Knowledg] For what end? To make a Schiſm? No, but that the deficient parts ſhould have the more honour, verſe 24. and not be trampled upon, abuſed and expoſed to ſhame; and verſe 25. That there ſhould be no Schiſm in the Body, but that the Members ſhould have the ſame care one of another, yea a ſympathy and fellow-feeling ſhould be eſtabliſhed among all Parts, verſe 26. much leſs any hatred, deteſtation and enmity betwixt them.
We argue then, That which works all Gifts and Graces, and knits together all the Members, diverſifyes all the Parts, and brings them into an harmonious office and agreement for the good of the whole Myſtical Body of Chriſt under the Old and New Teſtament, is the Bond of Union of that Body; but it appears the Spirit of Chriſt doth this; Ergo it's the Catholick Bond. I might mention many other places, I'll only name two or three more.
Eph. 4.1. The Apoſtle exhorts to walk worthy of their vocation, and mentioning many Chriſtian Graces; he tells them in the exerciſe of them, they ſhould keep the Ʋnity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace [foreign: this Unity, notwithſtanding all diverſities is the groundwork of all Uniformity among Chriſtians] There is one Body, one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling, &c. and remarkable is Epheſ. 2. from the 13th verſe to the end, where he tells us, that Chriſt having aboliſhed in his Fleſh all enmity [between God and us, and between Jews and Gentiles] thoſe that were a far off, are made nigh; he hath made in himſelf [being the common Head] of twain [i. e. Jew and Gentile] one new man [i. e. Chriſt Myſtical] ſo making Peace, &c. ſee verſe 17. and ver. 18. For through him we both [Jews and Gentiles] have acceſs by one Spirit unto the Father; and then he goes on to tell them, that they are no more Strangers, &c. but made a Spiritual Building upon the beſt Foundation, fitly framed together, growing up into an holy Temple in the Lord, in whom alſo ye are builded together [i. e. the whole Catholick Body] for a habitation of God through the Spirit, which is the great Cement of this Spiritual Building that unites all the parts together, and every particular part to the Head.
5. The eminent uniting Graces which are wrought by the Spirit, is Faith and Love; Faith to our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and Love to one another. Love indeed is the moſt extenſive Union-Grace, becauſe it reacheth the whole Myſtical Body, both the Church Militant and Triumphant; Faith is an Eminent Grace of unſpeakable uſe to Saints, but it's only for their Militant State, 1 Cor. 13. But by Love both Saints Militant and Triumphant dwell in God, and God in them; 1 John 4.7, 16. And hereby we know that we dwell in him, and he in us; becauſe he hath given us of his Spirit, verſe 13. But whilſt we are here, Faith muſt be primum movens, as to our Love; we muſt ſee him ſome way or other that we love; nay, we muſt be made nigh, reconciled in our minds, and embrace him; and this cloſing, yea, firſt taſting of Chriſt, is by Faith; hence the Goſpel Miniſtry and Miniſtration, Eph. 4.12. is for the building up the Body of Chriſt further and further, till all that do belong to him do come, verſe 13. foreign, to the one-neſs of Faith, or full agreement in the Faith of Jeſus, to the knowledge of the Son of God [the Head] to a perfect man, [i. e. to make up the perfection of the Myſtical Manhood of Chriſt, as Paul ſpeaks elſewhere of filling up in his Body the Sufferings of Christ that remain; the calling in the Elect, is the perfecting the Myſtical Body of Chriſt] that henceforth ye be no more Children, &c. But ſpeaking the Truth in love; [foreign, truthing it away in love, or walking ſincerely in love] doth grow up towards him, or upon him in all things, who is the Head even Chriſt; verſe 16. From whom [i. e. from the indwelling of whoſe Spirit] the whole Body is fitly articulated, conjoyned and compacted together [ſo the words ſignify] by the ſupply of every Member [receiving of the diſtributions of the Spirit for the particular Shape, Uſe, Dignity and Office of each part determined] according to the effectual working, foreign, according to the Energy or in-operation (viz. of the Spirit) in every part. We have alſo here foreign, and the ſame word Philip. 1.19. This ſhall turn to my Salvation, foreign, by the influence or ſupply of the Spirit, this influential ſupply is the cauſe of that excellency and beauty that appears in every part for the good of the whole.
6. Having proved the Spirit of Chriſt to be the common Nexus or Bond of Union in the Myſtical Body, or Catholick Church; it is not hard to evince a bond of Union alſo in every particular Church: As the totum contains all the parts, and the parts make up the whole; So the Catholick Church contains all particular Churches, and the ſame Bond that tyes the whole together, tyes and limits each part; but as the Catholick Church is yet Myſtical, and not Viſible; becauſe its Bond of Union is ſuch; ſo when ever any part of this Church becomes viſible, there muſt be a manifeſtation and diſcovery as much (as is poſſible) of this Bond of the Spirit, working by Faith and Love.
7. For conveniency of edification, Chriſt hath inſtituted ſeveral Congregations or Apartments in his Church, with a power of chooſing their own Officers, and enjoyment of all Ordinances according to Chriſts Will and Appointment.
Theſe particular Congregations muſt each of them, as they are parts of the Catholick, have a manifeſtation of the Bond of the Spirit uniting them to Chriſt and to his Body; which manifeſtation, is the viſible form of a particular Church, and Church Memberſhip.
8. This manifeſtation, if it proceed ſo far as to be a Bond of Union in a particular Spiritual Body Politick; it muſt be, firſt, A probable Profeſſion of this inward Bond of the Spirit working by Faith and Love, that the perſon or perſons ſo profeſſing may rationally, according to the Rules of Charity be eſteemed of the number of the Faithful; which Profeſſing Faithful Ones are the only matter of a Particular Church of Chriſt; this is doing as Chriſtians, in the ſame manner as Paul did as a Miniſter, 2 Cor. 4.2. Renouncing the hidden things of darkneſs, &c. by manifestation of the Truth commending our ſelves to every mans Conſcience, in the ſight of God; but of this before, viz. That the true matter of a Particular Viſible Church, is viſible Saints. 2. There muſt be ſomething or other to determine a man a Member of this or that Congregation, more then another; all men that ſpeak of Churches, ſay ſo: As ſome ſay Baptiſm, ſome ſay Cohabitation, and that Baptiſm only unites him to the Catholick Church, but Cohabitation determines him to this or that particular. But we ſay it muſt be a voluntary and free ſubmiſſion of a mans ſelf to this or that Society of Chriſts Flock, and the Diſcipline thereof, that can give him, or be to him the form of Viſible Church Memberſhip; it's not …ational or natural, that any man …hould be a Member, or be capable to claim the priviledges of any Society in the world, of what nature ſoever it be, without his conſent. It's therefore a free voluntary conſent and agreement, which is the true and proper external form of a particular Church, or Church-Memberſhip. Profeſſion is a viſible qualification of the matter, but it's conſent and agreement which is the Copula or Nexus.
For I challenge any man to give me one inſtance where Chriſt or his Apoſtles ever attempted to force any man to hear the Word, much leſs to believe it when they heard it, or to be of this or that Church. Beſides, it's a natural freedom to every man to chooſe what Government he will put himſelf under, as to his temporal Concerns; though when he hath done it, he be bound by the Laws thereof: much more a Chriſtian Liberty in reſpect of Spiritual Regiment. 3. God deſires nor accepts of any forced Service, but requires the greateſt freedom and voluntary reſignation of themſelves in this kind. 4. I ſhall make it evident, that all the Primitive Churches were ſo gathered: For the Apoſtles had no external force in any place of the Earth; it was not by power or might, i. e. humane, but by the Spirit of God; which wrought with the Word Preached, whereby their hearts were brought with freeneſs to embrace it, and with boldneſs to profeſs and practice it in the midſt of all oppoſition, and accordingly with the greateſt chearfulneſs and alacrity to conſent to a ſubjection to Chriſt, and all his Precepts and Inſtitutions in his Church. See in the firſt moſt Apoſtolical Church, the 120 that Chriſt left together at his Aſcention, Acts 1.14. And all theſe continued foreign &c. with one conſent, unanimouſly in Prayer, &c. Chap. 2.41. And as many as received the Word foreign chearfully or gladly, yielded and ſubmitted to the Truth Preached and adviſed by Peter, theſe were baptized and added to the Church by the Apoſtles Doctrine, and in Fellowſhip; which they would not have done, if they had not freely and upon choice and profeſſion embraced it. The firſt Church of the Gentiles that was gathered, was at Antioch. See how they came to be a Church, Acts 11.19, 20. And they that were ſcattered upon the Perſecution that aroſe about Steven, Travelled ſo far as Phenice, &c. verſe 20. And ſome of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which when they were come to Antioch, ſpake unto the Grecians, Preaching the Lord Jeſus, verſe 21. And the hand of the Lord was with them; [The Spirit and Power of Chriſt] and a great number beleived [i. e. freely embraced the Truth] and turned unto the Lord. Now when Barnabas was ſent from Jeruſalem to aid and encourage this great work, verſe 23. When he came and had ſeen the Grace of God, he was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpoſe of heart they would cleave unto the Lord; that is, that they would freely, voluntarily and ſincerely, without any hypocriſy, ſubmit themſelves to Chriſt and his Ordinances, with manifeſtation of the fulleſt aſſent, and freeſt conſent that might be; now you find, verſ. 26. that they were immediately a Church upon this cleaving to the Lord, with whom Paul and Barnabas aſſembled, Preaching unto much people that attended their Miniſtry beſides, which were not yet of that gathered Church. I need not enlarge on this Point any further, the aſſertion being not only moſt agreeable to the beſt reaſon, but it being ſo clear, that this was the only way of Gathering Churches, uſed by the Apoſtles, and all their Coadjutors in the times of the Primitive Purity: If any hath practiced otherwiſe ſince, we are not obliged to be of their minds, or follow their examples; Corruptions of the Church proceeding from Antichriſt, and not from Chriſt.
This is the day wherein the Lord is waſhing away the Filth of the Daughters of Zion [The Churches of Chriſt] and is purging away the Blood [The Antichriſtian Pollutions of Worſhip] of Jeruſalem, from the midst of her, by the Spirit of Judgment, and Spirit of burning, Iſa. 4.4.
And all the ſeven women that have laid hold on the Skirt of Chriſt, and called themſelves by his name, ſhall appear to be Harlots; yea, as for thee O Aholibah, thus ſaith the Lord, Thou haſt walked in the way of thy Siſter, therefore I will give her Cup into thy hand; thou ſhalt drink of thy Siſters Cup deep and large, thou ſhalt be laughed to ſcorn, and had in deriſion, Ezek. 23.31, 32. It containeth much.