A Gospel Church, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
Of the Formal cauſe of a Congregational Goſpel-Church.
6. QUeſt. What is the formalis ratio; or formal cauſe of a particular Church of Chriſt? or how, and by what means ſhould Believers and fit materials be formed up, and become a beautiful formal Houſe or Temple of God, for him to dwell in?
Anſw. Firſt, it is certain (in experience) that every houſe conſiſts of matter and form, and as men cannot have houſes to dwell in, without matter and form, or materials formed up, and laid together in order by the Art of Men, ſo cannot God (properly) have a Spiritual houſe without matter and form. God alludes to mens houſes, and the old Jewiſh Temple, when he calls and ſtiles his Goſpel Churches, his houſes and Temples; ſo likewiſe, Cities and Corporations, that are of mens forming: and we all know, that a great number of materials ſcattered abroad, lying here and there, make not a houſe, although they are well fitted and framed for a houſe, but it is the orderly forming them up together that makes a houſe. David provided many excellent materials to build God a houſe, yet ſays God, thou ſhalt not build it, but Solomon thy Son ſhall: and it was not a houſe until Solomons days; he made the houſe of Davids materials. So a Company, or great number of Believers ſcattered up and down here and there, make not a Goſpel-Church, or holy Temple of God, how holy and excellent ſoever they are; no more than the materials for the Temple, made a Temple in Davids days: It is contrary to every mans reaſon and experience to imagine it. Neither are a number of Believers meeting occaſionally together for the celebration of ſome Ordinances (though often) therefore a Church, although they know and love each other, and are ſatisfied of the good ſtates of each other: Neither doth their living together within the bounds or limits of a Pariſh make them a Church, nor all of them together: becauſe they want the conſtitutive cauſe, or (formalis ratio) of a Church or Houſe of God. Hence ſays the Text in alluſion unto material houſes, and the Jewiſh Temple, which was once the place of the ſpecial worſhip and preſence of God, Deut. 12.5, 11. 2 Chron. 7.15, 16. Ye are built and fitly framed, for a habitation of God, and being ſo framed, and that not by man, but the Spirit, ye grow into a Holy Temple in the Lord. And the Church of Corinth, was ſo built into a Holy-Temple, 1 Cor. 3.16, 17. 2 Cor. 6.16. Now if a number of company of Believers dwelling near together, as in Cities uſually they do, and their occaſional meeting together to worſhip God in ſome Ordinances, did make them a formal houſe of God; what need of building them up into a houſe? and it is a matter of great weight and moment to me, what the Apoſtle ſays in the Text, (laſt verſ.) concerning the holy Spirit, namely, that he ſhould be the great Agent and doer of it; which clearly ſhews, that it is a matter of very great concernment, with reſpect to God and Believers, to have them well and orderly formed together into a Church, Houſe or Temple of God: for elſe the holy Spirit would never thus appropriate it, and the whole of it unto himſelf, as being only able to do it, as his own proper work; it being too great for men & Angels to do, but from and by him. And I think if it were ſo light and inconſiderable a matter as ſome would have it, it would have been a great diſhonour, rather than an honour to the holy Ghoſt, to have entitled himſelf to it, and have taken it upon himſelf, as the ſole cauſe thereof.
And as the Jewiſh Temple was ſo to be built and formed, as that it might continue in its beauty and glory, ſo undoubtedly ought the Lords Spiritual Temples now: not for a few days, but for ever: for otherwiſe they will be rather like the Iſraelites Tents and Tabernacle in the wilderneſſe, tranſcient and removing from place to place, while they were Journeying towards their reſt; but when they were ſetled in their Land, then they were to have a fixed Temple to meet God in: and ſo the Apoſtle ſpeaking to and of the particular congregated Church of Epheſus, alludes unto the Temple of God at Jeruſalem, as a fixed ſetled place of Gods worſhip; when he ſays, they are a holy Temple and habitation of God. Now if perſons occaſionally meeting together for the worſhip of God, make a Goſpel Church without any more adoe, then they may be here to Day, and gone to Morrow; In ſuch a place was a Church & Temple of God Yeſterday, but none to Day; for they are not fixed, but tranſcient: they are no more bound to one another, with whom they ſometimes walked, than to others of Gods People, which they never ſaw till to Day: And if they have a mind to do ſo, they may go to five or ten ſeveral places to Morrow, and five take up with one Miniſter, and ten with another, &c. for a Week, Month or Year, as they pleaſe; if they be not formed and builded together, and bound faſt together, as a Houſe, Temple or Family under the rule, Inſpection, and teaching of fixed ſtated Officers. For either they belong to one fixed houſhold and Family, or to none at all; they have their own Officers or none at all: for if they are as a Common, without any bounds or property, as they muſt be, if not fixed and tyed ſome where, how many abſurdities will unavoidably follow? As firſt, while they are in this moving and wandering condition, they are not a Houſe or Temple of God, but ſcattered Stones and Timber, and ſo cannot bear the name and honour of a Holy Temple and Church of God. 2. They cannot whileſt in ſuch a condition, be called, owned or accounted a Holy Church and Temple of God, either by God or Men. 3. Neither ſhall they have, neither indeed can they expect or look for Church-bleſſings and priviledges, or claim the Good of the promiſes made to Saints as a formed, fixed Temple or Houſe of God, as that God ſhould dwell & walk with & amongſt them, as he hath promiſed to do in his Churches and Temples, 2 Cor. 6.16. Rev. 2.1. Eph. 2.22. Neither can they orderly participate of the Lords Supper, for that Ordinance belongs to the fixed houſholds of God, not to ſcattered Saints occaſionally meeting together, as Saints only, without any tye or obligation one to another, and to their Miniſters, that ſhould Miniſter it unto them; theſe and other priviledges they cannot claim while they walk irregularly and diſorderly. 4. They make the ordinance & Inſtitution of particular Churches null and void, and of no force and vertue at all; and ſo Chriſt hath Inſtituted and appointed them in vain, that they are of no uſe, profit or concernment unto Saints. For it will inevitably follow (I think) that in caſe their looſe walkings, without any fixed order or obligation on each other, to live together as a diſtinct houſhold or Family of God, be the condition wherein they ſhould live and walk; that then they have found out a better way to live and walk in, for the glory of God, and their own profit, than Jeſus Chriſt hath done, and ſo they do practically controul him, and in effect ſay, that they are wiſer than Chriſt, the Wiſdom of God; for they have found out a more pleaſing and profitable way for themſelves than Chriſt appointed and inſtituted for them; ſo that Jeſus Chriſt and the holy Ghoſt, might have ſpared their pains in that matter; & ſo the Inſtitution, and the Love, Wiſdome, care and Authority of Chriſt in that caſe, are all thrown down to the ground. 5. There can be no Diſcipline, orderly or profitably exerciſed amongſt Believers, while in an unchurched ſtate and condition. For how can offended perſons after the firſt & Second Admonition, tell the Church of an offending perſon his Sin and obſtinacy, and of their dealings with him to bring him to Repentance, as commanded, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17. if there be no fixed Church to which they do belong? and how can the cauſe be heard, and the offender dealt withall, according to that charge, by the Church, when there is none? What power have any Believers one over another but by their mutual conſent, and engagement one to another, to give and take Reproofs and Admonitions, to and of one another? or how can they call Offenders to an account, and require their attendance and ſubjection to their executing the Laws of Chriſt upon them, unleſſe they are a formed Body, and by virtue of their joynt Relation, not as Believers only, but as united and engaged Believers to one another in that Society? The Rulers of a Corporation may not exerciſe Authority, or execute their Corporation Laws on ſuch perſons as have no Relation to them, although they are the Kings ſubjects as well as thoſe that are incorporated: Neither may a thouſand perſons in a place exerciſe Juriſdiction over each other, becauſe they live and often converſe together: Neither have many Believers ſuch power over each other, while they walk as ſo many ſingle & individual perſons, without a Church-relation to one another, as they might have in a Church-relation, as the forementioned Text evinces. Beſides, (6.) The officers or Miniſters of Chriſt will not be able to diſcharge their work and duty unto them, while they walk looſely and diſorderly.
For how can they watch and feed them as their own particular Flocks and charge, unleſs there be a fixed Relation between them, and they know where to find them? which they cannot do, unleſſe their flocks be tyed to them, and have mutually choſen each other, (as was ſaid before) the officers are to adminiſter in the name of Chriſt unto them, in an eſpecial manner; and they are to wait on, and ſubmit to their regular miniſtration. Church-Officers muſt officiate in the Church, and all muſt know and work within their own bounds, and to their own charge. So the Elders of the particular congregated Church at Epheſus were charged to feed and watch over that particular Church, as their own peculiar flock and charge, Acts 20.17, 28. and ſo were the ſeveral Angels or Officers of theſe other Churches, mentioned in the Revelations, all which are called Churches, which had matter and form. And beſides theſe evil conſequences, there are many other that I could name, if it were needful, and time would permit, which would ſufficiently evince the Truth pleaded for.
Now I ſhall proceed to ſhew how Believers ſhould (by the Holy Ghoſt) form up themſelves into a Church-ſtate, or Temple of God, for his Glory and their own profit and Spiritual welfare; or what the form of a Church is, and wherein it lies. Shew them the form of the Houſe, and the faſhion of it, and the goings out thereof, and the comings in thereof, and all the forms thereof, and all the Laws thereof, and all the Ordinances thereof, Ezek. 43.11. Firſt, the perſons intending to joyn themſelves together, & to become a Church or Temple of God, for his Name and Glory, and the Spiritual good of their own Souls, and for the orderly celebration of all the Lords appointments and worſhip in a Church; they ſhould be ſatisfied in each others fitneſſe, that they are ſuch as Jeſus Chriſt hath received, Rom. 15.16. and Regenerated, Joh. 3.3. wrought and made ready for it 2 Cor. 5.5. that they are united to Chriſt by Faith, and ſanctified to his uſe; Members of Chriſt, and heirs of the Kingdom. I ſay, they ſhould be ſatisfied in a charitable Judgment, that they are ſuch; that ſo they may take each other, and have their hearts kint to one another in Spiritual real Love, as ſuch; and ſo have confidence in and of each other, that they will live together, as ſuch, in their Church-ſtate. God would not have an Oxe and an Aſſe draw together in ore Yoke, neither will he have viſible Saints and Sinners joyn together and build him a Goſpel-Church, or holy Temple to dwell in. What have the uncircumcized to do in the Lords Holy Temple, with the circumcized? If Gods houſe muſt be a holy Temple, yea holyneſſe to God, Iſa. 63.15. then it muſt conſiſt of, and be formed of holy perſons; for unclean and unholy perſons cannot make a holy ſpiritual houſe for his glorious preſence. Therefore ſuch as joyn together into a Church-ſtate, ought to know (as well as they can) and be ſatisfied of the fitneſſe and meetneſſe of each other, as well as each perſon of himſelf, for theſe and other Reaſons that might be named.
Secondly, When a competent number of Believers are well ſatisfied in and of each others ſitneſſe to build a holy Temple for God, they ſhould meet together, and ſolemnly preſent themſelves before God; humble themſelves and acknowledge their own weakneſſe, ignorance and unworthyneſſe: for although they may be in a ſenſe meet and worthy, yet becauſe of their indwelling Luſts and actual Trangreſſions, they may ſee matter enough in and by themſelves, to cry out (as Iſaiah did) we are unclean and unworthy, and to ask pardon and forgiveneſs of God: ſo alſo to tell God what they are about to do, and entreat him to ſend forth his Light and Truth into their hearts, and by his holy Spirit to lead, aſſiſt and guide them in the right way, according to this promiſe, Pſal. 25.12. Pſa. 61.8. Joh. 16.13. For although they may have (as they have) a plain and perfect Rule before them; to guide them in this weighty matter, yet they may want light in their hearts, to walk by it clearly and exactly, as they ought to do; which the holy Spirit (that hath made them willing by his power) Pſal. 110.3. will ſupply with his light, upon importunate asking it. Thus Ezra did, when concerned in Temple-work, chapt. 8.21. and it is prophefied by David, that when God ſhould build up his Church, he would do it upon his peoples prayers, Pſal. 102. And as they ſhould pray for light and counſel in their hearts, from the holy Ghoſt, (who is and will be owned and accounted the chief Agent in the work of building Goſpel-Churches; as in preparing Materials, making them willing, guiding and directing them in the work) ſo that God would vouchſafe them his preſence, own and bleſſe them in their Church-ſtate; ratifie and confirm the labour of their hands, and proſper them to his Glory, & their own edification & comfort.
3. When this is done, and their hearts are warmed with the preſence of God, and their minds enlightned with the Spirits Beams of Light, ſhining in upon them, in anſwer to their Prayers; and their hearts thereby faſter knit to each other in Love, as to the living Members of Chriſt; then they ſhould declare to each other their free, full and cordial acceptance of, and ſatisfaction in one another; expreſſe to one another their real, hearty and joynt Reſolutions, purpoſes and Intentions (by the help of God) to live and walk together as a Church of Chriſt, in the celebration of all the ordinances of Chriſt in the Church: and engage, covenant and promiſe to take upon themſelves the practice and obſervation of all the Laws of Chriſt, and duties one to another in that ſtate and Relation; taking hold of the Covenant of Grace, accepting the Lord Jeſus for their Lord, Head and Saviour, reſigning up themſelves unto him, and profeſſing their unfained ſubjection to him and all his Rules, Laws and Orders, and that they will ſubmit themſelves one to another in the fear of God, Eph. 5.21. as he hath commanded them. And which may be confirmed to one another, by giving each other the right hands of fellowſhip, Gal. 2 9.
This I take to be the formal conſtituting cauſe of a Church, or Temple of God; and I know no other: but ſome there muſt be; and I think to this agree ſeveral Scripture-inſtances, that (if rightly underſtood) amounts to as much as aforeſaid. Thus the Iſraelites became a Church; God propounded to them, what he would have them obſerve and do, and accordingly the whole congregation received what was ſaid, and engaged to do and obſerve what God required of them, Exod. 24.3. And Moſes came and told the people all the words of the Lord; and all the people anſwered with one voice, and ſaid, All the words which the Lord hath ſaid, will we do: ſo Deut. 5.27. Exod. 20.19. Deut. 29.9.—14. This was freely and voluntarily done by them, and thereby they became a Church, and were ſolemnly admitted unto all the worſhip and priviledges thereof, and God accepted and approved of what they had done, Deut. 5.27, 28. Go thou near and hear all that the Lord our God ſhall ſay, &c. and we will hear it, and do it. And the Lord heard the voice of your words when ye ſpake unto me, and the Lord ſaid unto me, I have heard the voice of the words of this People, which they have ſpoken unto thee: They have well ſaid, all that they have ſpoken. And the like proceedure we find amongſt them after they had corrupted themſelves and their Church-ſtate, broken their ſolemn engagement, and departed from God; and upon conviction of their ſo doing, and of their duty to God and one another, they return to God and renew their Church-engagement, Ioſhua 24.16, to 27. verſ. So in Aſa his daies, 2 Chron. 15.10, to 16. v. and Ezra. 10. and Neh. 9. and 10. chapt. And ſomewhat like to this we find in the New Teſtament, 2 Cor. 8.5. And this they did, not as we hoped, but firſt gave their own ſelves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God: And the Apoſtle minds the Church at Corinth, of their profeſſed Subjection unto the Goſpel of Chriſt, 2 Cor. 9.13. which it ſeems was ſolemnly done at their congregating and enchurching; for then is the time of doing it ſolemnly and publiquely, for the ſatisfaction of one another, when they openly and avowedly take upon themſelves by mutual conſent and agreement, as an incorporated body, the obſervation of all the Laws and Ordinances of Chriſt together. To the ſame purpoſe alſo, is that paſſage in Col. 2.6. As ye have therefore received Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, ſo walk ye in him. The Apoſtle writes to them as a particular congregated Church, and tells them that they had received Jeſus Chriſt the Lord, which was ſolemnly done, (in all probability) at their embodying. And this ſeems to be ſpoken of in Pſal. 50.5. Gather my Saints together unto me: thoſe that have made a Covenant with me by Sacrifice. And to the ſame purpoſe, in Jer. 50.4, 5. And indeed, it is clear to me, that the nature of the thing requires it, were there no Scriptures to countenance it. For they are (as hath been ſaid) called and compared to Houſes, Temples, Corporations, Cities, Families, and to voluntary, not meer natural Relations, they muſt of neceſſity, be knit and formed into ſuch a State and Relation, by their own free choice and engagement, to live and walk together as ſuch: And this action of Believers is of, and by the Lord, in Act. 2.41. it is ſaid, foreign, were added, and in verſ. 47. foreign, the Lord added, namely, to the particular congregational Church at Jeruſalem. So that upon the whole I infer, that Believers ought ſo to joyn themſelves together into Churches, as hath been ſhewed; which I hope I may affirm and aſſert without reflection on, or offence to ſuch as are otherwiſe minded, if any ſuch there be that fear God.
Believers being thus built and formed together, are now become a holy Temple of God; and are accordingly owned by him as ſuch; and now they are the ſeat and ſubject of all the Laws, and Ordinances, power and Authority, that Jeſus Chriſt hath given to, and for his Churches uſe and benefit: I mean they, or this Church ſo formed and built, have all theſe eſſentially, though not formally, until Chriſt ſet one or more teaching Elders in it, for the orderly uſing and managing of that his power and Authority given to the Church. Yet I ſay, (I think) that it doth eſſentially reſide in them, as the firſt ſubject of the Keys; for I find the keys given unto, them for the uſe and behoof of the Church, Matth. 16.18, 19. which ſaid power of the Keys, cannot be given only to Peter, nor unto the univerſal or Catholick Church, that it ſhould uſe them as ſuch, for that is impoſſible; but they were given to particular Churches, as formed up of Believers, namely, to ſuch as could have matters brought to, and be received and heard by them, from an offended Brother, Matth. 18.15, 16, 17. and ſuch a Church is here meant, as had power to deal with a ſinning member, in caſe of obſtinacy, and therefore the Catholick Church (as ſuch) is nor there intended.
Now this Church ſpoken of hath power to elect and call ſuch perſons (out from amongſt themſelves, to uſe and exert the power and authority of Jeſus Chriſt already given them, and Miniſtring to them in the Name of the Lord) as they judge the Lord Jeſus hath fitted, qualified for, given to, and ſent amongſt them, and inveſted with Authority and abilities for their Good. I ſay, they have power to elect and call ſuch to office power over them, in the Lord, and that they ought with all convenient ſpeed, after they are built up, to do it, becauſe till that be done, they cannot orderly and regularly adminiſter or receive the Seals of the Covenant: for all cannot exert and exerciſe that power that doth eſſentially reſide in themſelves, as a Church; neither can any private Member, while ſuch; and therefore it muſt be done by Officers, or one in Office, that is called, ſet apart and wholly dedicated to the work of the Miniſtry amongſt them. Therefore they may and ought, to look out from among themſelves, and call to Office, ſuch as they judge Chriſt hath ſent them, Act. 6.3. Act. 14.23.