A Plain and Familiar Christian Conference, Title page – Text
ECCLESIASTICƲM: OR A PLAIN and FAMILIAR Chriſtian Conference, CONCERNING Goſpel Churches, and Order.
For the Information and Benefit of thoſe, who ſhall ſeek the Lord their God, and ask the way to Zion, with their faces thitherward; SAYING,
Come and let us joyn our ſelves unto the Lord in a perpetual Covenant that ſhall not be forgotten.
My People have been loſt Cheep: their Shepherds have cauſed them to go aſtray, they have turned them away in the Mountains, they have gone from Mountain to Hill, they have forgotten their reſting place, Jer. 50.5, 6.
Shew me thy ways, O Lord teach me thy Paths, Pſal. 25.3, 4. & 27.11. & 119.12, 33.
How goodly are thy Tents, O Jacob, and thy Tabernacles, O Iſrael! Numb. 24.6, 7.
Tell me, O thou whom my Soul loveth, where thou feedeſt, where thou makeſt thy flocks to lye down at noon; for why ſhould I be as one that turns aſide to the flocks of thy Companions? Cant. 1.7.
LONDON, Printed by T. S. for the Publiſher, and are to be Sold by W. Marſhall at the Bible in Newgate-ſtreet, 1690.
THE PREFACE TO THE READER.
HOW ſmall ſoever the ſtone cut out without hands, now ſeems to be, and hath been for many Ages, viz. A poor afflicted People truſting in the Name of the Lord, Zion whom no man regardeth, a Remnant, a Cottage, a perſecuted Woman in the Wilderneſs; Yet it is great in the Eyes of the Lord, and in the Eyes of every one that fears his Name, even exalted above all Mountains and Hills, in regard of it's ſpiritual beauty and preciouſneſs, and ſhall e're long in reſpect of Viſible ſplendor and Prevalency be ſet on the top of every Mountain, to fulfil thoſe Prophecies, Iſa. 2.2, 3. Mic. 4.1, 2. Zech. 8.20, 21, 22. When many People ſhall ſay, Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord, to the houſe of the God of Jacob, &c. Which intends the mighty and chearful gathering and aſſembling that ſhould be in the laſt days, unto a Viſible Church ſtate and Communion in the Faith and Order of the Goſpel; then will the Lord aſſemble her that halteth, and gather her that is driven out, and her that he hath afflicted, and then he ſaith, he will make her that halteth [thoſe who are not rightly inſtructed in the Order of the Goſpel] a Remnant [i. e. of living Stones to be built up on the Corner ſtone in the building of Zion] and her that was caſt far off [by Antichriſtian corruptions] a ſtrong Nation, and the Lord ſhall reign over them in Mount Zion from henceforth and for ever. In this Glory ſhall the Lord appear when he buildeth up Zion, Pſal. 102.16. And by Gods preſent Providences, ſeemingly unfolding ancient Prophecies, he is now ariſing to have Mercy on Zion, the time [of the end of one thouſand two hundred and ſixty days of her Deſolation, and therefore] to favour her being come, yea the ſet time, ver. 13. and no leſs ſeeming to be coming out of his place to puniſh the inhabitants of the Earth, Iſa. 26.21. For all their cruel Perſecution, and helliſh Idolatry, to deſtroy Babylon that hath waſted her, and the Children of Edom [Proteſtant Perſecutors of the Egyptian race] that have ſo long been crying aloud to Babylon, and the Antichriſtian Fowers againſt the inward court worſhippers, Race it, race it even to the Foundation, Pſal. 137. The building of this Zion will be gradual [for a Nation cannot be born in one day, this Royal Nation] by the accompliſhment of the great Prophecies, by wonderful and great Providences, and thoſe of two ſorts, in breaking, ſcattering, and overthrowing the Antichriſtian Powers, the Feet and Toes of Iron and Clay, and in ſetting up a Kingdom of Saints which ſhall not be left to another People. The Inchoation of which hath been already by Preaching the Everlaſting Goſpel, the auſpicious augmentation and growth, will be in gathering the Saints into a Viſible Church-ſtate; Churches ſhall be multiplyed and mightily encreaſed, as of old, Act. 2. & 9.21. To haſten this great and expected Glory, what can we do leſs than contribute by our Prayers and faithful endeavours, to the appearance thereof? and who that loves the Lord Jeſus and his glorious appearance can do leſs than to come to our great Corner-ſtone, as living ſtones that they may be built up an Holy Temple in the Lord, and thereto be edified in all holineſs, ſerving him therein Day and Night? And that this may appear to be the duty of every one profeſſing Faith, viz. to joyn himſelf in fellowſhip with a particular Church Viſible is all that I intend to do at this time, as a brief Preface to this ſhort Treatiſe.
1. It was the practice of Believers in the Primitive times, Act. 2.41. They that were converted to the Faith of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by gladly receiving the Word of Promiſe, ver. 38.39. were added unto the Church to the number of three thouſand Souls. And it's moſt evident that their believing, of it ſelf made them not Members of the Church, for the Text is expreſs in it, that they firſt believed, and then by another Act of their own and the Churches, receiving them, they were added to them that were before in fellowſhip, [the hundred and twenty,] and became Church Members, as it follows, ver. 47. And the Lord added to the Church daily ſuch as ſhould be ſaved. i. e. Such as were in a State of Salvation by believing. The Lord is ſaid to add them by his Grace, that wrought effectually upon their Hearts to believe, and believing enclined them alſo to joyn themſelves unto the Lord in Church fellowſhip. On the judicial proceeding of Chriſt by the Mouth of Peter againſt two Hypocrites that had joyned themſelves and were diſcovered, Act. 5.13. That of the Reſt [i. e. of the ſame ſort] durſt none to joyn himſelf; (Ananias and Sapphira having been made ſo eminent Examples) but the people magnified them, i. e. the Church and the Apoſtles, ver. 14. And Believers [i. e. ſincere-hearted] were the more added unto the Lord, Multitudes both of Men and Women. So that as ſoon as they believed they looked upon it, as their next duty to joyn themſelves to a Goſpel Church. Likewiſe ſee the ſame Practice by the Apoſtle Paul as ſoon as he was converted, Act. 9.26, 27, 28. There is alſo another eminent inſtance at Antioch, where the Diſciples were firſt called Chriſtians, they that were converted by the ſcattered Diſciples at Sauls Perſecution, were exhorted by Barnabas, Act. 11.23. To joyn together in Church fellowſhip, for it's ſaid, when he came, [being ſent for that end by the Church at Jeruſalem] and had ſeen the Grace of God in theſe converted ones, he was glad, and exhorted them all that with purpoſe or readineſs of Heart, they would joyn unto the Lord. i. e. In Church fellowſhip, for theſe phraſes of joyning and adding unto the Lord, do expreſs adding or joyning to the Church, becauſe the Church is the Lords, and joyned unto him by a viſible Covenant; and every one that joyns to the Church doth primarily and profeſſedly joyn themſelves to the Lord in Church Communion. And the immediate declared event of this Exhortation of Barnabas was, that they joyned to the Lord in Church fellowſhip, and became a Church, ver. 26. See alſo Act. 16.5.
2. It appears to be the duty of every Believer to joyn himſelf to a particular Church, from the Nature of Converſion; it is the turning the whole man unto God, in all the ways and appointments of Chriſt wherein he is to be found; but Church fellowſhip is a Divine Inſtitution where God is to be found, joyned with, and ſubmitted unto, as is abundantly manifeſt from the currant of the Old and New Teſtament. This ſeems to be the meaning of the Apoſtle when he doth beſeech the Romans, ch. 12.1. by the Mercies of God to preſent their Bodies, [i. e. their Perſons] to give up their Perſons by preſenting them to, or before the Lord [viz. in Church Communion] a living Sacrifice [of thanksgiving] Holy and Acceptable unto God, which is your reaſonable worſhip, [foreign] it ſhould be rendred, your word ſervice, or worſhip; the word is uſed for the Word of God, 1 Pet. 2. Or a ſervice of Words, As new born babes deſire, foreign, the ſincere Word, the Milk, or Milk of Word. So that the Exhortation of the Apoſtle ſeems to be made to Believers to devote and dedicate themſelves unto the Lord in Church fellowſhip by a Covenant or Obligation of Words, being called their ſervice of Words, viz. their explicate word, the Preſentment or Devotement of themſelves unto the Lord, according to Hoſ. 14.2. This Dedication or Devotement is lively ſignified in Baptiſm, wherein every Believer doth federally oblige himſelf, to Father, Son, and Holy Ghoſt, and thereby doth both bind himſelf to joyn unto the Lord in profeſſed Subjection to all his Ordinances, and doth ſhew it, Sign and Seal it before the Lord. And every adult one that profeſſeth himſelf baptized, and doth not actually joyn himſelf unto the Lord in Church fellowſhip, doth practically deny his Baptiſmal Dedication, wherein he is devoted to be a living, i. e. viſible lively Sacrifice of thanksgiving in his Perſon, and all his performances unto the Lord.
3. That Believer that joyns not himſelf in Church Society falls ſhort of many great ends of his profeſſed high, and holy Vocation; for we are called according to Gods purpoſe of Grace to be a choice Generation, a Royal Prieſthood, a People, foreign, i. e. for a peculiarity, i. e. unto God for his ſpecial viſible ſervice, to offer up Spiritual Sacrifices, of a true Goſpel Nature, acceptable unto God through Jeſus Chriſt, ver. 5. Wherein the Virtues of Chriſt are ſhewed forth or declared, ver. 9. Not only perceived in our ſelves, but ſhewed forth in Practice and Profeſſion, and this is, or can be no way ſo much as in Goſpel inſtituted worſhip, wherein a Believer comes unto, and is built up in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt as a living Stone. The great reaſon of ſquaring a stone is, to be laid in the building, as the end of ſquaring the Stones in Mount Lebanon was to lay them in Solomons Temple, a Type of a Viſible Goſpel Church, Such I doubt not but the Holy Ghost means by the Apoſtle Peter, ſaying, Ye as lively Stones are built a ſpiritual Houſe, ver. 5. and ſo the Apoſtle Paul, Eph. 2.20, 21.
Again the Lord Jeſus doth declaredly deſign that Believers ſhould be viſibly ſeparated from the World, to come out in the way of Goſpel Communion from all unclean things and Perſons, 2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16, 17. From all Heatheniſh, Antichriſtian, or falſe unwarranted worſhip, and from Communion with profeſſed Ʋnbelievers, and enter into a ſolemn explicite Covenant with the Lord; without doing of which they anſwer not the end of their calling in Chriſt. Laſtly our Calling is not only to be the Lords ſingly, but conjunctly with the Saints and redeemed ones, to a myſtical Relation to Chriſt, in a Community of the Elect and called ones, which is anſwered by us, as in our inward and ſpiritual, ſo by our external and viſible joyning our ſelves to the Society of the faithful, to ſerve the Lord in one Body with them; for we are called to the Peace of God that rules in our Hearts, in one body, Col. 3.15. i. e. with other Saints and Believers, and therefore are to walk worthy, as it becometh this vocation, not only as to Moral Duties but inſtituted worſhip, Eph. 4.1. &c. Phil. 1.26. Let your Converſation be as it becometh the Goſpel of Chriſt; and this in our Order and ſtedfaſtneſs of our Faith in Chriſt, Col. 2.5.
4. There are Duties to be performed by every Believer, by Virtue of his Relation to Christ as ſuch, which cannot be done but in a way of Church Communion; for he is obliged to obſerve what ever Chriſt hath commanded, Mat. 28.20. And how great things hath Christ required to be obſerved in a way of Church Communion? as the exerciſe of Brotherly love, Heb. 13.1.1 Joh. 3.11. And he there refers to our Saviours expreſs command, Joh. 13.34. The Obedience to which lyes in the ſenſible Expreſſion thereof, as it appears by what follows, Hereby ſhall all men know that ye are my Diſciples, if ye have love one for another, i. e. In outward viſible acts. And the Apostle ſpeaks of the …ommunion of Love, fellowſhip of the Spirit, Bowels of Mercy, ſameneſs of Mind, &c. Phil. 2.1, 2, 3. Love is a Grace that gives Life to all acts of Communion, it flou…iſheth and branches it ſelf in the most lively manner in a Society, and Societies are for the ſake of it. Destroy love, and not only the ends, but the very bond and Life of a Society comes to nothing. There are great commands of Christ that we are not capable of obeying him in but in Church Communion: As frequent aſſembling together, provoking one another to love and good works, Heb. 10.24. The remembrance of the Lords Death frequently in the Lords Supper. And this is to be obſerved in a Body or Society of Believers. See 1 Cor. 10.16, 17. I might instance alſo in all Duties that concern brotherly watch, Pastoral watch, each Officers duties by their reſpective places, and Members to them; all Diſcipline actively or paſſively conſidered, Christs Church Institution, Ordinances and Statutes are thoſe which are principally intended by David, Pſal. 119. And ſuch were thoſe that Zechary and Elizabeth walked in, blameleſs, Luk. 1.6.
5. Every one that ſuppoſeth himſelf in a state of Grace ſhould uſe all endeavours required by Christ, and means inſtituted by him for growth in Grace. Now that Church fellowſhip and Ordinances are inſtituted by Chriſt for growth in Grace, I think no ſound Chriſtian will go about to deny. Believers are exhorted, or commanded to grow in Grace, 2 Pet. 3.18. And that Churches, and their Officers and Ordinances are appointed for that end, which we are to abide ſtedfaſt in the uſe of, is manifeſt, from Eph. 4.14, 15. compared with the Primitive practice, Act. 2.42. ch. 9.5. See alſo Eph. 2.19.
6. All that profeſs themſelves to be tranſlated into the Kingdom of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt ſhould walk as profeſſed Subjects thereof; and this they cannot do but in Communion with a viſible Church, for particular Churches are the viſible parts of Chriſts Kingdom. Here Chriſt rules as King, Lawgiver, and appears as High prieſt and Prophet, giving forth himſelf to the Faith of his People with all his fullneſs of Grace in Goſpel Ordinances and Diſpenſations. Here then it is that a Believer doth exalt the Lord Jeſus Chriſt moſt eminently as to viſibility, in his regal Power; and therefore ſo long as a Believer joyns not himſelf to a particular Church, he ſtays in the Verge of Satans Kingdom, expoſeth himſelf at no ſmall rate, to his Temptations, Rage and Tyranny; and ſalls ſhort of one great end of his Faith in the Salvation of his Soul, which is to be a profeſſed Subject of Chriſts Kingdom, deals diſloyally with Chriſt, inſtead of promoting, prejudiceth the Intereſt of Chriſt both in reſpect of himſelf and others in the World, he may be a Nicodemus like Friend of Chriſt; but why doeth he not profeſſedly and openly practice Obedience to all the Laws and Ordinances of his Houſe, and bear witneſs thereto? Is it not a tacite and implicite denying of Chriſt? and will not Chriſt take it ſo? and mens talking of Chriſts Kingdom is but a vain ſhew, unleſs they do him this particular perſonal ſervice, as to joyn themſelves actually and viſibly to a Church of Chriſt; therein eſpouſing his Intereſt in giving up their Names unto him, and walking in his Name, as Micah 4.5. All people will walk every one in the Name of his God, and we will walk in the Name of the Lord our God for ever and ever.
Objections that are made againſt this practice are very inconſiderable, and ſhould bear little weight in a Mind truely enlightned; ſome of which are anſwered in the enſuing diſcourſe, others I ſhould here remove, if there were room for it. I think the Naming them is the ſhaming of them, to all men that have learned Chriſt, and taſted that the Lord is Gracious. 1. The ſcorn and reproach men ſhall fall under from the prophane World. I think no wiſe man will be laugh't out of his Eſtate, how much leſs out of his Religion and Souls Salvation? 2. A Suſpicion leſt they ſhould come under too ſtrict tyes and bonds to Holy and Religious Converſation. Read 1 Pet. 1.14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. 3. Others are kept off, by prejudices ariſen by reaſon of the ſins and failings of Churches and Church-Members. But will wiſe men refuſe a good Calling or Eſtate becauſe there are ſo many abuſe them? And name a Church or Chriſtian without failings, and conſiderable ones. It is your duty to chooſe the pureſt Society, and you are at your Liberty to do it where you may have moſt Comfort and Edification. Laſtly, Many are hindred from their ignorance, or miſled apprehenſions concerning the Nature of a Goſpel Church. For their Information and Rectification, eſpecially, I have publiſhed this Chriſtian Conference, that was in my hands, and that it may obtain the deſired end, is the ſincere wiſh and prayer of an unworthy Servant of Chriſt,
Iſa. Chauncy.
This Conference is managed by Mr. Cornelius Philomathes a Countrey Gentleman, and Mr. Peter Chriſtophilus a Miniſter, Neighbour to him.