The World that Now is and the World to Come, Part 1

The World that Now is and the World to Come · Part 1

p. 1THE VVORLD That now is.

THE holy Scripture of Truth ſpeaketh of three Worlds; viz. The WORLD that was, 2 Pet. 3.6. The WORLD that now is, called this WORLD; Mat. 12.32. & the WORLD to come, Heb. 2.5. The WORLD that now is, is the Subject of the firſt Part of this Treatiſe: And the WORLD to come, ſhall be the ſubject of the latter Part thereof. The principal matter of which we intend to treat touching the WORLD that now is, doth concern the firſt Coming of Chriſt into this WORLD, when the WORD was made Fleſh, and dwelt among us, Joh. p. 21.14. The chief matter of the latter Part of this Treatiſe doth concern the Second Coming of Chriſt in the WORLD to come. Wherein there will be New Heavens, a New Earth, and a New Jeruſalem, and all things will be new-created, Rev. 21.1-5.

CHAP. 1. Wherein our general Poſition is propounded, proved and explained.

§ 1. The Poſition propounded.

THat the Chief WORK of Jeſus Chriſt in his firſt Coming into the WORLD was to ſave ſinners; to build up his own Houſe, the Church of the Living God; and to inſtitute all Goſpel-Ordinances neceſſary for his Diſciples to worſhip God in Spirit and in Truth.

§ 2. The Poſition proved.

1. That our LORD Jeſus Chriſt came into the WORLD to ſave p. 3ſinners, Luk. 5.32. I came not to call the Righteous, but Sinners to Repentance, Matth. 18.11. For the Son of Man is come to ſave that which was loſt. And 1 Tim. 1.15. — Chriſt Jeſus came into the WORLD to ſave Sinners.

2. That our LORD Jeſus Chriſt being come in the Fleſh, did build up his own Houſe, the Church of God, Heb. 3--6. For this Man [Chriſt Jeſus] was counted worthy of more glory than Moſes, in as much as He who builded the Houſe, hath more honour than the Houſe. Moſes was faithful in all his Houſe, as a Servant, but Chriſt as a Son over his own Houſe, the Church of God, 1 Tim. 3.15.

3. That our Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath inſtituted all Goſpel-Ordinances neceſſary for his Diſciples, to worſhip God in Spirit and in Truth, 1 Cor. 11.1, 2. Be ye followers of me, even as I am of Chriſt—And keep the Ordinances as I delivered them unto you, Joh. 4.21, 22, 23, 24.—The true Worſhippers ſhall worſhip the Father in Spirit and in Truth. God is a Spirit, and they that worſhip him muſt worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth.

p. 4§ 3. The Poſition explained.

The firſt part of our general Poſition to be explained, is, That our LORD Jeſus Chriſt came into the WORLD to ſave ſinners, 1 Tim. 1.15. Now the Method I ſhall obſerve in the Explanation of this part of our Poſition, ſhall be to ſhew,

1. What kind of Saviour Chriſt is.

2. What Salvation Sinners may have by Jeſus Chriſt. And

3. How Sinners are ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt. And of theſe in order.

Firſt, What kind of Saviour is Jeſus Chriſt? I anſwer, 1. The LORD Jeſus Chriſt is an Almighty Saviour. As there is none other, Act. 4.12. ſo there needs none other Saviour. None can pull a Soul out of Chriſt's hand, Joh. 10.27--30. Chriſt is [foreign] God-Man, Emmanuel, God with us, Matth. 1.23. Jehovah our Righteouſneſs, Jer. 23.6. The Mighty God, Iſa. 9.6. The Almighty, Rev. 1.8. The true God, and Eternal Life, 1 Joh. 5.20. There is no Saviour, but God, Iſa. 43.3, 11. I even I am Jehovah, p. 5and beſide me there is no Saviour. And Jude v. 25. To the only wiſe God our Saviour, be Glory, and Majeſty, Dominion and Power, both now and ever. Amen. It is abſolutely neceſſary unto Salvation to know and believe, That the LORD Jeſus Chriſt is very God, as well as very Man. So the Virgin Mary believed, when ſhe ſaid, My Spirit hath rejoyced in God my Saviour, Luk. 1.46, 47. And ſo did all the holy Apoſtles and Saints believe and confeſs, Rom. 9.5. 2 Cor. 5.19. 1 Tim. 2.3. Tit. 1.3. Tit. 2.10. Tit. 3.4. & 1 Joh. 5.20. Who is the true God and eternal Life. They that do not believe, but deny Jeſus Chriſt to be God, do deny the LORD that bought them, and bring upon themſelves ſwift damnation, 2 Pet. 2.1, 2, 3. They undervalue his moſt precious Blood, Heb. 10.29. compared with Acts 20.28--To feed the Church of God, which he hath purchaſed with his own blood. And they in effect deny the Alſufficiency of Chriſt's Satisfaction for the ſins of Mankind, whoſe Nature he took, namely, the Seed of Abraham, Heb. 2.16. [foreign, that is] But he taketh p. 6hold of the Seed of Abraham.

2. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is a gracious Saviour, Eph. 2.5. By Grace ye are ſaved. And verſ. 8. For by Grace are ye ſaved. This Free Grace is the kindneſs and Love of God our Saviour towards ſinful ſinners, Tit. 3.3-7. whom he juſtifies freely by his Grace, Rom. 3.24. & 2 Tim. 1.9. And ſaveth them with an everlaſting Salvation. And alſo ſanctifies them by Faith in him, Acts 26.18. where Faith is put ſynecdochically for all the Graces of Sanctification, which our LORD Jeſus Chriſts imparts unto, and implants in the Souls of Juſtified Believers, 1 Cor. 6.9, 10, 11. Joh. 1.16. And of his Fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace, Eph. 4.7. To every one of us is given grace. And James 4.6. He giveth more grace. Such is the unſearchable [and the exceeding Riches of his grace, Eph. 2.7.] Riches of Chriſt, Eph. 3.8. that he will be gracious to whom he will be gracious, &c. Read Exod. 33.19. & Rom. 9.15.

3. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt is an Alſufficient Saviour, Heb. 7.25. He is able to ſave to the utmoſt, &c. Chriſt hath p. 7made full ſatisfaction for the ſins of all them whom the Father gave him to Redeem, Iſa. 53.10. His Soul was made an Offering for Sin; And he gave himſelf a Ranſom for all, 1 Tim. 2.5, 6. There's enough in Chriſt; there's all in Chriſt, Col. 1.19. For it pleaſed the Father, that in him ſhould all Fulneſs dwell. And in him dwelleth all the Fulneſs of the God-head bodily, Col. 2.9. He is a full Chriſt, and hath an infinite Alſufficency in himſelf, to ſupply all the wants of his Saints, 2 Cor. 12.9. My Grace is ſufficient for thee, &c.

Secondly, What Salvation may ſinners have by Jeſus Chriſt? I anſwer, 1. Sinners may be ſaved from their ſins by Jeſus Chriſt, Matth. 1.21. For HE ſhall ſave his People from their ſins. It is a very great mercy to be ſaved from our ſins. This Salvation is not by any other, Act. 4.12. There are three things in ſin, from which Chriſt ſaveth ſinners, viz. Firſt, the dominion of ſin. It was David's prayer, Pſal. 19.13. Pſalm. 119.133. Let not any iniquity have dominion over me; and Chriſt's promiſe, Rom 6.14. Sin ſhall not have dominion over you; becauſe ye are not under the Law, but p. 8under Grace. There is a Reigning power in ſin, Rom. 6.12. Let not ſin therefore Reign in your mortal body, &c. Alſo Rom. 5.21. which Chriſt ſubdueth, Mich. 7.19. He will ſubdue our iniquities, and deſtroyeth, Rom. 6.6. Secondly, The captivating power of ſin. This the Apoſtle ſadly experienced, Rom. 7.23, 24. I ſee another law in my members, warring againſt the Law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the Law of ſin, which is in my members. But yet he bleſſed God for Jeſus Chriſt, verſ. 25. through whom he had deliverance, Rom. 8.2. The Law of the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus hath made me free from the Law of Sin and Death. Thirdly, The guilt, curſe and condemnation of ſin, Jam. 2.10.— And offend in one point, is guilty of all. Gal. 3.18. Curſed is every one, that continueth not in all things which are written in the Book of the Law, to do them. Tit. 3.11—And ſinneth being condemned in himſelf. But there is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus, Rom. 8.1. for Chriſt hath Redeemed us from the Curſe of the Law, Gal. 3.13. and ſaved us from p. 9the Wrath of God, Rom. 5.9. and 1 Theſ. 1.10. And giveth us eternal Life and Salvation.

Thirdly, How are ſinners ſaved by Jeſus Chriſt? In Anſwer to this Query, two things in general muſt be conſidered, 1. What Jeſus Chriſt hath done for ſinners? 2. What he doth in them in order unto their everlaſting Salvation?

Firſt, Jeſus Chriſt hath made full ſatisfaction unto the Divine Juſtice of God for all the Tranſgreſſions of ſinners, Iſa. 53.5, 6, 8, 9, 11. He was wounded for our Tranſgreſſions, verſ. 5. When thou ſhalt make his ſoul an offering for ſin, verſ. 10. He ſhall ſee the travel of his ſoul and be ſatisfied, v. 11. Chriſt through the eternal Spirit, offered himſelf to God, Heb. 9.14. & 1 Pet. 2.24. Who his own ſelf bare our ſins in his own Body on the Tree. Now once in the End of the WORLD hath he appeared to put away ſin, by the ſacrifice of himſelf, Heb. 9.26. And 1 Tim. 2.6. Who gave himſelf a Ranſom for all, to be teſtified in due time.

Secondly, Jeſus Chriſt hath purchaſed and obtained for ſinners eternal Redemption, and everlaſting Salvation by p. 10his own precious Blood, Heb. 9.12.— By his own blood he entred in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal Redemption for us: Therefore eternal Life and Glory is called the purchaſed Poſſeſſion, Eph. 1.14. and an Inheritance reſerved in Heaven for us, 1 Pet. 1.3-5.

Thirdly, Jeſus Chriſt hath inſtituted and ordained the Miniſtry of the Goſpel, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. and all Goſpel-Ordinances for the ſalvation of ſinners, to the Glory of God the Father. And after he was crucified, he roſe from the Dead, aſcended into Heaven, and is ſet down on the Right hand of God, where he ever liveth to make Interceſſion for ſinners, that they may be ſaved, Heb. 7.25. The LORD Jeſus Chriſt having done all theſe things for the ſalvation of ſinners; he doth by his holy Spirit and Word work all his Works of Grace and Salvation in them. Iſa. 26.12. LORD, thou haſt wrought all our works in us. And Phil. 2.12, 13. It is God that worketh in you to will and to do according to his good pleaſure. Therefore ſinners are ſaid to be God's workmanſhip, Eph. 2.10. Created in p. 11Chriſt Jeſus unto good works, &c. that thereby it may yet more plainly appear, that they are his Workmanſhip.

The firſt Work that God doth ordinarily by his holy Spirit and Word upon a ſinful ſinner in the Miniſtry and Adminiſtration of the Goſpel of his Grace, is a work of Conviction, John 8.9. Being convicted in their own conſcience. Tit. 1.9. To convince gainſayers, Jam. 2.9. They are convinced of the Law as Tranſgreſſors. And Joh. 16.8, 9. He ſhall reprove the world of ſin. The World, that is to ſay, thoſe ſinners that are without Chriſt, and without God in the World, Eph. 2.12.

Now God Reproves the ſinner, and ſets his ſins in order before him, Pſal. 50.21. and makes him poſſeſs the ſins of his youth, Job 13.26. God doth by the Scripture (as in a Glaſs) give the ſinner a ſight of his ſinful Nature; ſhews him the ſinfulneſs of his ſins, Rom. 7.13. God doth by his Spirit and Word convince the ſinners conſcience of his Tranſgreſſions againſt his holy Law, and againſt the Goſpel of his Grace. The holy Spirit, ordinarily, by the Miniſtry of the Word, convinceth p. 12the ſinner of his Original corruption; tells him, that every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own luſt, and enticed; Then when luſt hath conceived, it bringeth forth ſin, and ſin when it is finiſhed, bringeth forth death, Jam. 1.14, 15. The wages of ſin is death, Rom. 6.23. The ſoul that ſins ſhall dye; and alſo convinceth him of his Actual Tranſgreſſions; to wit, his ſins of Omiſſion, and his ſins of Commiſſion, both in doing that which God hath forbidden in his holy Word, and in not doing that which he hath commanded, or not as he commandeth it to be done. God convinceth the ſinners conſcience of his ſinning againſt Light, againſt Checks of Conſcience, and many good Motions of the holy Spirit; and ſhews him how he hath ſinned againſt the mercies, patience and long-ſufferings of God, and how he hath ſinned under God's chaſtiſements, corrections and righteous Judgments; and that neither the Word of God, nor his Rod, hath wrought Repentance in him, nor cauſed him to turn from his ſinful courſes.

The ſinful ſinner being under this great work of Conviction of Conſcience, p. 13begins to ſee and apprehend the vileneſs of his Nature, and the ſinfulneſs of his ſins to be ſuch, ſo many, and ſo great, that he trembles, and is afraid of Death and Damnation; he begins to have ſome ſenſe and feeling in his conſcience of the wrath of God, and fears he ſhall dye in his ſins, and go to Hell, and be damned to eternity.

Now the terrours of the Almighty are in his conſcience; his heart is filled with horrour; the ſting of ſin hath wounded his Spirit; and a wounded Spirit who can bear? Prov. 18.14. and being pricked in the heart, cryes out, What ſhall I do? Acts 2.37. I am a ſinful ſinner, a vile ſinner, a loſt undone periſhing ſinner. Woe's me, that ever I was born! I am a damnable wicked wretch; my heart is deceitful and deſperately wicked. Ah my vain thoughts, my vile affections, my evil concupiſcence, my ſinful luſts! Alas! alas! my idle words and blaſphemies, and my ungodly life and ſinful converſation! Woe and alas! the deceitfulneſs of ſin hath ſo hardened my heart, that I cannot Repent; and I have been ſo accuſtomed to do evil, that I know not how p. 14to Reform and amend my life, and forſake my ſins; and if I go on in my former ſinful courſes, I ſhall certainly be damned.

Hereupon the ſinful ſinner ſets upon Reformation; ſaith to his ſinful companions, as David did, Pſal. 6.8. Depart from me all ye workers of iniquity: And ſaith to his Luſts, as Ephraim did to his Idols, Hoſ. 14.8. What have I to do any more with ſinful luſts and pleaſures? Now the convinced ſinner reſolves to leave his ſins, that he fears elſe will damn his ſoul; and now he begins to perform ſome holy Duties; he will hear Sermons, and read the holy Scriptures, and good Books, and pray. And it may be the convinced ſinner will mourn for his ſins, and humble himſelf, (as Ahab did) and Reform ſome of his evil courſes.

And by this Reformation, Humiliation, mourning for his ſins, and performing ſome holy duties, the ſinner may have ſome calm, and feel ſome quiet in his conſcience for a ſeaſon, and begin to hope all will be well with him, until the Reigning power of ſin, that hath yet the dominion over him, prevail p. 15againſt him; and he being yet a ſervant of ſin, and free from Righteouſneſs (as the Apoſtle ſpeaks, Rom. 6. v. 20.) yieldeth willing and ready obedience to his own luſts, that inticeth him to ſin, and when his luſt hath conceived and brought forth ſin, then his conſcience accuſeth him, and Satan now begins to ſuggeſt, that there is no hope of pardon, nor ſalvation for him; Now his latter end is worſe than his beginning; and therefore the Devil tells him, It is in vain for him to pray any more, or to hear any more, or to perform any holy duties.

And now the convinced ſinful ſinner judgeth his Soul's ſtate and condition to be worſe than ever it was; he hath ſo many dreadful Temptations, he is ſo filled with blaſphemous Thoughts, that he begins to be a terrour to himſelf, and is tempted to chuſe ſtrangling rather than life, he is ſo tormented in his conſcience, and ſo tempted by Satan, and terrified with fears of Hell. He ſees now the Law curſeth him, Gal. 3.10. and the Goſpel judgeth him, 2 Theſ. 1.9. And he is made to receive the ſentence of Condemnation in himſelf, & is made p. 16to read it in the written Word of God, Joh. 3.18. He that believeth not is condemned already.

Now God goes on with his work of Conviction, which he had before begun in the ſinful ſinners Conſcience, and ſends his holy Spirit to convince and reprove him of Sin, of Righteouſneſs, and of Judgment, Joh. 16.8, 9, 10. And the Spirit by that Scripture, Joh. 3.18. or ſome other Scripture to that purpoſe doth thoroughly convince the ſinner, that although his pride, paſſion, worldlineſs, uncleanneſs, prophaneſs, his lying, ſtealing, ſwearing, drinking, whoring, or any one or other of his ſins deſerves eternal Death, Rom. 6.23. Yet that ſin for which the wrath of God abideth on him, and for which he is by the written Word of God condemned already, is his great ſin of unbelief, Joh. 3.18.36. and Heb. 3.11, 18. God hath ſworn, that thoſe who do not believe, ſhall not enter into his Reſt; that is, into Heaven, Heb. 3.18, 19.

Take notice, Reader, that in Conviction of ſin, becauſe we believe not, the holy Spirit doth by the Word convince the Sinner; Firſt, That he is an unbeliever, p. 17and hath not obtained the precious Faith of God's Elect, whereby the Soul is united unto Chriſt, Eph. 4. v 13. adopted the Child of God, Gal. 3.26. juſtified, and all its ſins pardoned, and at peace with God, Rom. 5.1. and now the convinced ſinner ſees he is without God, without Chriſt, and without Faith. Secondly, That he muſt believe, or he cannot be ſaved, Mar. 16.15, 16. He that believeth not, ſhall be damned. His praying, mourning, reforming, though they are good in themſelves, and are his duty, yet the doing theſe, or any other; yea all other holy duties, without this precious Faith in Chriſt, will not, cannot ſave him; and now the ſinner is convinced, that there is an indiſpenſible neceſſity of his believing in Chriſt for ſalvation. Thirdly, That he cannot believe. Faith is not of our ſelves, it is not of Works, Eph. 2.8, 9. They err, not knowing the Scriptures, nor the holy Will of God revealed therein; who ſay, that men may believe, if they will; and they have power in themſelves to believe. Ask now the ſinner that hath been convinced of ſin, by the holy Spirit and p. 18Word of God, becauſe he believes not (and is commanded to believe, 1 Joh 3.23.) I ſay, ask that convinced ſinner, if it hath power of himſelf to believe; or if Faith in Chriſt be of our ſelves, or of our good works, or of holy duties; and he will tell you, No; Nay, Nay, Faith in Chriſt is not of our ſelves; Jeſus Chriſt himſelf is the Author and Finiſher of Faith, Heb. 12.2. It is not of our works; but it is the Faith of the Operation of God, Col. 2.12. It is the exceeding greatneſs of God's mighty Power, that doth make the ſoul of a ſinful ſinner (convinced of ſin becauſe he believes not) willing and able to believe in Chriſt, Eph. 1.19, 20.

Now ſaith this convinced Sinner, I know and am perſuaded, that whoſoever believes in Chriſt, ſhall be ſaved; and I know and am convinced, that I ought to believe in Chriſt, and it is my ſin, that I do not believe in him: Yea, I am alſo perſuaded (upon Scripture grounds) that if I did believe in Chriſt, I ſhould not periſh, but have everlaſting Life: But this is my impotency, and here is my miſery, I cannot believe p. 19in Chriſt of my ſelf; I know not which way to begin to believe; I could do ſomething materially about the works of the Law, though but weakly and inſufficiently; but I can do nothing about obedience of Faith according to the Goſpel: It is ſuch a Myſtery as I am very ignorant of; Faith is the Gift of God, and unleſs he give it me, I periſh. Now is the ſinner convinced of his ſin of unbelief, This is God's workmanſhip upon a ſinful ſinner's conſcience; but this is not the whole work of Conviction; therefore God proceeds in this work, and convinceth the ſinner by his Spirit and Word of Righteouſneſs, Joh. 16.10. ſhewing the ſinner whilſt he goes about to eſtabliſh his own Righteouſneſs by the works of the Law, and by performing thoſe duties, that the Law requireth, he maketh void (as much as in him lyes) the Righteouſneſs of God by Faith in the Goſpel, Rom. 10.3.4, 5, 6. and thereby convinceth the ſinner,

1. That all his own Righteouſneſſes are as menſtruous Raggs, Iſa. 64.6. our moſt holy duties and performances are polluted and defiled with ſin, and p. 20God might abhor to accept an Offering at our hand, did not Chriſt offer up his Incenſe with our Sacrifices, they could not come up to God, Rev. 8.3, 4 both our prayers and our perſons are accepted only and alone in and thorow Jeſus Chriſt.

2. That Sinners muſt be covered with the Robe of Chriſt's Righteouſneſs, and the Garments of his Salvation Iſa. 61.10. He is the LORD our Righteouſneſs, Jer. 23.6. And Chriſt is made of God unto us Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, &c. 1 Cor. 1.30. This Righteouſneſs of Chriſt, is that skirt, which God caſteth over the Sinners Soul (when he lyes in his Blood) to cover his nakedneſs, Ezek. 16.6, 8.

3. That Chriſt's Righteouſneſs is the Righteouſneſs of God by Faith, Rom. 3.21, 22. which Righteouſneſs the Apoſtle Paul did ſo much prize and deſire to be found in, Phil. 3.8, 9. And now the convinced Sinner will ſay with holy Job, chap. 9. v. 21. If I juſtifie my ſelf, mine own mouth ſhall condemn me,—though I were perfect, yet would I not know my Soul.

This is also God's workmanſhip upon p. 21a ſinful Sinners Conſcience: But yet this is not the whole work of Conviction; for when God hath by his holy Spirit and Word convinced the Sinner of his ſtate of unbelief, and reproved him for ſin, becauſe he believes not: And when God hath alſo convinced him, that his own Righteouſneſs is as filthy Raggs, and that he muſt ſubmit to the Righteouſneſs of God, and take Chriſt's Righteouſneſs by Faith unto Juſtification of life: Then God proceeds on in the work of Conviction, and reproves or convinceth the Sinner of Judgment, Joh. 16.11. And this God doth by cauſing the Sinner to know,

1. That there is a Day of Judgment, called the Eternal Judgment, Heb. 6.2. and the Judgment of the great DAY of God, Jude verſ. 6.

2. That All ſhall appear and ſtand before the Judgment Seat of Chriſt, Rom. 14.10. & 1 Cor. 5.10. And every one ſhall then give accompt of himſelf unto God, and ſhall receive a juſt Reward of all that he hath done in the Fleſh, Rom. 2.5-13. and Rev. 22.12. and Matth. 16.27.

p. 223. That the Prince of this world is judged, and therefore none of the Children of Diſobedience, in whom the God of this World now worketh, ſhall eſcape the Righteous Judgment of God, Rom. 2.3, 5, 6. for the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, (who ſhall judge both the quick and the dead at his Appearing and his Kingdom, 2 Tim. 4.1.) ſhall come from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the Goſpel, who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction, &c. 2 Theſ. 1.7, 8, 9. And the Spirit and Word of God doth witneſs and teſtifie to the Sinner's Conſcience, that he muſt come to Judgment, as Solomon told the young man, Eccleſ. 11.9. Know thou, that for all theſe things, or ſins, God will bring thee to Judgment. And now the ſinful Sinner is throughly convinced; and this is the firſt part of God's workmanſhip upon him, in order unto his Converſion and everlaſting Salvation.

And I deſire the Reader to take notice, that the want of a thorow work of Conviction, is the cauſe of the want of a ſound and ſaving work of Converſion. p. 23One Reaſon why there are ſo few true Converts in this our Day and Generation, is becauſe the Miniſters of the Goſpel do not labour in the Word and Doctrine of a thorow Goſpel-Conviction. The Reaſon why ſo few Hearers do believe in Chriſt, is becauſe they were never thorowly convinced of the ſin of unbelief. How many Herod-like Hearers are there in and about London? Mark 6.20. How many ſtony-hearted Hearers follow and flock after the Preachers of the Goſpel, who hear the Word with Joy, & believe for a time, Luk. 8.13. But when the time of the Tryal of their Faith comes, by ſufferings and perſecutions, then they fall away, Matth. 13.20, 21. And you have the Reaſon of their falling away expreſſed by both the Evangeliſts, They had no Root in themſelves; that is to ſay, They had not Chriſt in their Souls to be the Root of their Faith, Col. 2.6, 7. As ye have therefore received Chriſt Jeſus the Lord, ſo walk ye in him, rooted and built up in him, and ſtabliſhed in the Faith. Faith rooted in Chriſt will ſtand out all Storms of Temptation and Perſecution; it will indure all fiery p. 24Tryals; but Faith without Chriſt will fall away. And the Spirit tells us expreſly, that ſome (who made a great and glorious profeſſion of Faith) will depart from the Faith in the latter daies, 1 Tim. 4.1. becauſe they have not poſſeſſion of Chriſt, and their Faith is not Rooted in him. Do but diligently obſerve and enquire into this matter, and you ſhall find, That thoſe Miniſters of Chriſt are moſt inſtrumental in converting Souls unto God, who labour moſt in the Word and Doctrine of Goſpel-Conviction of Sinners. Thoſe Miniſters that Preach Chriſt and the Goſpel of Free-Grace, moſt convincingly, & labour in the Application of every Doctrine to convince the Conſcience of Sinners, that they are in danger of the Wrath of God, and of eternal Death for their ſins; eſpecially becauſe they believe not in Chriſt, exhorting them to Repent of their ſin and Believe in the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that they may be pardoned & ſaved by him: I ſay, thoſe Miniſters have moſt Converts; thoſe are workers together with God, and their convinced, humbled, converted and ſanctified Hearers, have not received the p. 25Grace of God in vain, 2 Cor. 6.1.

Some poor Souls may haply object, or rather query, Is there not a ſound work of Converſion, where there hath not been ſo great a work of Conviction and Humiliation, nor ſo great horrours, fears, terrours, and ſo clear and diſtinct a work of the Spirit's Reproof of Sin, Righteouſneſs and Judgment, as God works upon ſome Sinners? I anſwer; Though this be God's workmanſhip upon ſome; yea many, if not upon moſt notorious ſinful ſinners, yet we may not limit the Holy One of Iſrael; God is a free Agent: And becauſe I would not break the bruiſed Reed, nor quench the ſmoaking Flax, I know and acknowledge, That ſome ſinful ſinners have leſſer terrours, fewer temptations, fears and horrours than others have; and ſome are longer under the work of Conviction and Bondage than others are, though they have been as great and notorious ſinners, as they that were more and longer exerciſed with fears and terrours. Yea and I know both by Experience and by Scripture, that ſome ſinners, who have had Religious Education under godly Parents or Governours; p. 26and have lived (from their youth up) under a godly Soul-ſaving Miniſtry, and have thereby been reſtrained (by the Common Grace of God) from all groſs ſins, that have not experienced the ſaid terrours and temptations; nor have they had ſuch horrours of Conſcience, and fears of Hell. Yet this I know, that they have been thorowly convinced of their ſinful natural ſtate, and of their loſt and undone condition, being (and ſeeing themſelves to be) without Chriſt, and without Grace; and they have been thorowly convinced that their own Righteouſneſſes are filthy Raggs, and that they muſt have Chriſt's Righteouſneſs to juſtifie them, and his Holineſs to ſanctifie them, and his precious Blood to redeem them from their iniquity: But as for Time, whether longer or ſhorter; and as for Meaſure, whether greater or leſſer, whereby God did this work of Conviction upon them, who can limit God?

God having wrought a thorow Conviction upon a ſinful ſinner, the next part and piece of his workmanſhip upon his Soul, is Spirituall Illumination, in the Saving Knowledge of the p. 27LORD Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 1.17, 18· whereby the Eyes of his Underſtanding is enlightened, that the ſinner may know, that there is hope of pardon and ſalvation in Chriſt for him through Faith and Holineſs.

In the work of Spiritual Illumination, God doth by his holy Spirit and Word, diſcover to him, and enlighten the Eyes of his Underſtanding firſt, to ſee the Divine Beauty, and glorious Excellency of Jeſus Chriſt above all other perſons and things in the world. A poor ſinful ſinner ſees no beauty nor comelineſs in Chriſt, why he ſhould deſire him, Iſa. 53.1, 2, 3. The Daughters of Jeruſalem ſaid, What's thy Beloved (Lord Jeſus Chriſt) more than anothers Beloved? Cant. 5.9. The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God-neither can he know them, for they are ſpiritually diſcerned, 1 Cor. 2.14. until it pleaſe God to make an inward diſcovery thereof by his holy Spirit and Word in the Soul, 1 Cor. 2.9, 10, 11, 12. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit. So 1 Joh. 5.20. We know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an underſtanding p. 28that we may know him, &c. The Pſalmiſt tells the ſinner, That Chriſt is fairer than the Sons of Men, full of Grace is his Lips, Pſal. 45.2. The Spouſe told the Daughters of Jeruſalem, That her Beloved is white and ruddy, the chiefeſt of ten thouſand. He is altogether lovely, Cant. 5.10-6. And the Apoſtle counted all things loſs and dung for the Excellency of the Knowledge of Chriſt Jeſus his LORD, Phil. 3.7, 8.

Secondly, God inlightens the Eyes of Sinners Underſtanding, to ſee the worth of Chriſt, in ſome meaſure and degree: As poor loſt Sinners diſcern not the Beauty and Excellency of Chriſt; ſo they underſtand not the worth of Chriſt, until God diſcover it unto them, and reveal it in them by his holy Spirit and Word, Gal. 1.15, 16. Now God makes known to the Sinner the worth of Chriſt, by ſhewing him in the Glaſs of the Goſpel.

1. The unvaluable preciouſneſs of the Blood of Chriſt, that cleanſeth Sinners from all ſin and unrighteouſneſs, 1 Joh. 1.8, 9. The precious Blood of Chriſt purgeth the Conſciences of Sinners from dead works, Heb. 9.14. And p. 29Chriſt both juſtifieth and ſanctifieth Sinners by his precious Blood, Rom 5.9. Heb. 13.12. & 1 Cor. 6.11. This ſpeaks forth the worth of Chriſt.

2. God ſhews the Sinner in the Glaſs of the Goſpel, the unſearchable Riches of Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 3.8. the exceeding Riches of his Grace, Eph. 2.7. And though Chriſt hath freely, richly, and abundantly given forth of his fulneſs ſo much Grace to ſo many poor Sinners from the day of Adam's tranſgreſſion, even to this day; yet in this Viſion of Chriſt's Riches, the poor ſinful Sinner ſees him ſtill as full of Grace and Truth, as the Diſciples did, Joh. 1.14.

3. God ſhews the Sinner in the Glaſs of the Goſpel, the glorious Liberties of the Spirit of Chriſt, Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty, 2 Cor. 3.17. And the Saints are commanded to ſtand faſt in the Liberty wherewith Chriſt hath made them free, Gal. 5.1. called the glorious Liberties of the Sons of God, Rom. 8.21.

This Goſpel-Liberty is not a Liberty to ſin; nor may this Liberty be uſed for an occaſion to the fleſh, Gal. 5.13. p. 30but it is a freedom from ſin, Rom. 6.18, 22. in reſpect of the condemnation due thereunto, Rom. 8.1. There is no condemnation to them that are in Chriſt Jeſus; and in reſpect of the dominion thereof, Rom. 6.14. Sin ſhall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the Law, but under Grace.

Thirdly, God ſhews the Convinced Sinner in the Glaſs of the Goſpel, his need of Chriſt, and acquaints him with an indiſpenſible Neceſſity of accepting Chriſt upon Goſpel-terms of Free-Grace, Without money, and without price, Iſa. 55.1, 2, 3. & Rev. 22.17. God doth by his Spirit and Word inform the Sinner, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt alone is the only Saviour of Sinners, Act. 4.12. Neither is there Salvation in any other. And hereby the poor loſt ſinful Sinner ſees his need of Chriſt to juſtifie him, and pardon all his ſins; alſo to ſanctifie him, and ſave him from his ſins, and the wrath of God due unto him for his ſins; and to ſave him with an everlaſting ſalvation.

God having thorowly convinced, and ſavingly inlightned the Sinner, the third and next part of God's workmanſhip p. 31upon his Soul, is the work of Converſion. Sinners are often called upon to turn unto God, and to turn from their ſins, Ezek. 14.6, 18, 30, 32.33.11. that they may know it is their duty ſo to do; and that finding by experience it is not in their power, being faln in Adam, they ſhould pray to God to turn them from their ſins unto himſelf by his Spirit and Grace, Jer. 31.18, 19. Turn thou me and I ſhall be turned, &c.

Converſion is that part of God's workmanſhip upon a Sinner's Soul, wherein God doth firſt change the whole Man from the ſinful ſimilitude of Adam, into the Image of Jeſus Chriſt, 2 Cor. 3.18. We are changed into his Image, &c. I ſay, in the work of true Converſion, the whole Man is changed; the heart is made a new heart, Ezek. 36.26. A new heart alſo will I give you, and a new ſpirit will I put within you. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cauſe you to walk in my ſtatutes. The Man is made a New-man, Eph. 4.23, 24. And that ye put on the New-man, which after God is created in Righteouſneſs and true Holineſs. And p. 32his Life, a New-Life, Rom. 6.4. Even ſo we alſo ſhould walk ill newneſs of Life.

Secondly, God doth in the work of Converſion, ſanctifie the converted perſon wholly and throughout in Spirit, Soul and Body, 1 Theſ. 5.23. The very God of Peace ſanctifie you wholly, &c. Upon (or at the time of) the Sinner's Converſion God imparts unto him, and implants in him of every Grace, (that is in Chriſt) a meaſure, Joh. 1.14.16. And from his fulneſs have all we received, and grace for grace. Alſo Eph. 4.7. To every one of us is given grace, according to the meaſure of the gift of Chriſt; which grace is called the incorruptible ſeed of the New-birth, 1 Pet. 1.23. which ſeed abideth in ſanctified Believers, 1 Joh. 3.9. It is implanted, and it is inherent grace, which grows like the grain of Muſtard-ſeed, Matth. 13.31, 32. unto which Spiritual Growth every ſanctified Believer is exhorted, 2 Pet. 3.18. But grow in grace, &c.

Thirdly, God doth in the work of Converſion actually and really turn the converted perſon from darkneſs to p. 33light, from the power of Satan and Sin unto God, Act. 26.18. Before Converſion the Sinner was under the Vaſſalage of Satan, who had dominion over him, and ruled and worked in him, Eph. 2.2. And he was then the ſervant of ſin, which had alſo dominion over him, and reigned in him, Rom. 5.21. And though the Sinner was convinced of his ſins, and troubled in his mind for his ſins; yea, and ſaw the danger that his Soul was in by reaſon of his ſins (whereupon the Sinner reſolved to forſake his ſinful courſes, and to commit his ſins no more) yet until he was truly converted, he had no power nor ſtrength to overcome them, nor could he pray and perform holy duties with delight and comfort, but as a task and work, that was hard and burdenſom, Iſa. 43.22, 24, 25. Thou haſt not called upon me, O Jacob, and thou haſt been weary of me, O Iſrael; But thou haſt made me to ſerve with thy ſins; thou haſt wearied me with thine iniquities; I, even I am he, that blotteth out thy Tranſgreſſions for mine own ſake, and I will not remember thy ſins. Now that the Sinner is converted, he is by the Spirit and Grace of p. 34God called to Repent, and to Turn from his ſins to God, with his whole heart, Jer. 31.18, 19, 20. Surely after that I was turned, I repented—I was aſhamed, &c.

Thus we may ſee, what work God doth upon ſinful ſinners, in reſpect whereof they are God's workmanſhip, created in Chriſt Jeſus. Let us in the next place conſider, what Work God doth upon ſanctified Believers, in reſpect whereof they alſo are God's workmanſhip.

God having called and converted ſinful Sinners unto himſelf by his holy Spirit and Word, formed Chriſt in them, and changed them into the Image of Chriſt, given them his holy Spirit, and imparted grace unto them, and implanted it in them; and having of his free Grace adopted, and juſtified them through Faith in Chriſt, Gal. 3.26. Gal. 2.16. God is pleaſed out of the exceeding Riches of his free Grace, to go on with his workmanſhip gradually, until he have made them compleat in Chriſt, Col. 2.10. whom he hath created in Chriſt Jeſus. And in order thereunto, there are divers other works of p. 35God, which he doth by his holy Spirit and Word in and upon the Souls of thoſe Converts, in reſpect whereof they are his workmanſhip.

And the firſt is the work of Faith with Power, 2 Theſ. 1.11. called the Faith of the Operation of God, Col. 2.12. wherein God demonſtrates what is the exceeding greatneſs of his Power toward us, who believe, according to the working of his mighty Power, which he wrought in Chriſt when he raiſed him from the dead, Eph. 1.19, 20. And this God doth in raiſing Souls from the death of ſin, to the life of Righteouſneſs by Jeſus Chriſt, Eph. 2.5, 6.

This Faith Jeſus Chriſt is the Author of, and will be the finiſher of it, Heb. 12.2. and therefore called the Faith of the Son of God, Gal. 2.20. by which Faith the Soul in its Converſion is united unto Chriſt, and kept through it by the Power of God unto ſalvation. Compare Eph. 4.13. with 1 Pet. 1.3, 4, 5. it's called the precious Faith of God's Elect, 3 Pet. 1.1. even the ſame Spirit of Faith, that Abraham had, and that all the Sons and Daughters of p. 36Ahraham have and do receive, 2 Cor. 4.13. This Faith is the Subſtance of things hoped for, and the Evidence of things not ſeen, Heb. 11.1.

This Faith God worketh in us ordinarily, by his holy Spirit and Word in the Miniſtry, and adminiſtrations of the Goſpel of his Grace, Rom. 10.8. That is the Word of Faith, which we preach. And verſe 17. So then, Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God; By which Faith we receive Jeſus Chriſt our Lord, John 1.12. Adhere and cleave to him with purpoſe of heart, never to forſake him or deny him, Act. 11.23. but to own him for our Head, Lord and Lawgiver, our King, Prieſt and Prophet: And truſt and reſt upon him alone, and on him only for Wiſdom, Righteouſneſs, Sanctification and Redemption, Iſa. 26.3. with Iſa. 50.10. And by this precious Faith Believers are juſtified, Rom. 3.28. adopted, Gal. 3.26. and ſanctified, Act. 26.18. through our Lord Jeſus Chriſt. But the converted Believer is not yet fully aſſured that Chriſt will ſave him; he is fully perſuaded that there is not Salvation in any other; and believing that p. 37Chriſt is able to ſave to the utmoſt all that come to God through him. And being drawn to Chriſt by God the Father, he doth by a lively Act of Faith go to him, and adventure his Soul upon him, reſolving, If I periſh, I will periſh here.

This Faith is God's workmanſhip, Eph. 28. By grace are ye ſaved, through Faith, and that not of your ſelves, it is the Gift of God. Faith is not of our ſelves, for when the poor loſt Soul ſees a neceſſity of believing, and is willing to believe, he experienceth, that it is not in his own power to believe; he cannot believe; Faith is the gift of God: and the Convert lies under doubting, until God give him to believe. Though to believe be our duty, yet it is God's Grace, Gift, and Work, 1 Theſ. 1.11. Called the Work of Faith with power, and the Faith of the operation of God, Col. 2.12. As before.

Another part of God's Workmanſhip upon Converted Believers is Mortification of Sin; Rom. 6.6. Our Old-man is Crucified with him, that the Body of Sin might be deſtroyed, this is alſo our duty, Rom. 8.13. But if ye through the Spirit do mortify the Deeds of the p. 38Body (to wit, of ſin,) ye ſhall live. And it is the Effect of true Faith in Chriſt, Acts 15.9. Having purified, or purged their hearts by Faith. The Spirit of God by Faith works out ſin and corruption, both out of the heart, and out of the life gradually, killing and crucifying our Old Man, Gal. 5.24. that the body of ſin might be deſtroyed. That henceforth we ſhould not ſerve ſin, Rom. 6.6. nor fulfil the luſts of our fleſh, and of our carnal mind; for to be carnally minded is death.

This part of God's Workmanſhip called Mortification, is begun in Evangelical Repentance, and godly ſorrow for ſin; whereby a ſanctified Believer is made to loath, abhor and hate his ſins, 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. and by the Grace of God to deny ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts: And to live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this evil world, Tit. 2.11, 12. Now his heart being out of love with ſin, the Young Convert doth by the Aſſiſtance of the holy Spirit, and Grace of God, labour and endeavour the mortification of every corruption; and the power of the indwelling Spirit in every ſanctified Believer p. 39oppoſeth and ſubdueth the power of indwelling ſin, that remains in him after Regeneration, Gal. 5.17. And the Spirit and Grace of God in him gets the Victory, whereby Grace Reigns, Rom. 5.20, 21. And the Law of the Spirit of Life in Chriſt Jeſus makes him free from the Law of ſin and death, Rom. 8.2.

Free, firſt, from the Reigning power of ſin, Rom. 6.11, 14. Sin hath not dominion over a ſanctified Believer; nor will Chriſt ſuffer ſin to reign in him, nor ſuffer him to obey it in the luſts thereof. Secondly, From the captivating power of ſin, which Paul ſo ſadly complained of, Rom. 7.23, 24, 25. and was freed from by the power of the indwelling Spirit of Chriſt, Rom. 8.2. Thirdly, From the Motions of ſin in the fleſh, Rom. 7.5, 6. So that no luſt ſhall conceive and bring forth ſin, Jam. 1.14, 15. And at laſt Chriſt will free ſanctified Believers from the indwelling preſence of ſin. Death will make a total and final ſeparation between their ſins, and their ſouls for Eternity.

Another part of God's Workmanſhip p. 40upon converted Believers in order to their Salvation, is ſanctification of heart and life. God hath choſen you to Salvation, through ſanctification of the Spirit, 2 Theſ. 2.13. And Jeſus Chriſt ſanctifieth his People, Heb. 2.11. As the End of our Faith is the ſalvation of our ſouls, 1 Pet. 1.9. ſo the way to Salvation, is Sanctification and Holineſs, Iſa. 35.8. And without Holineſs no Man ſhall ſee the LORD to his comfort and ſalvation, Heb. 12.14. Sanctification conſiſts in the Truth of Grace, in the Growth of Grace, and in the Perfection of Grace. The Truth of Grace produceth the Spiritual Fruit of the Goſpel, Col. 1.5, 6.—The Word of the Truth of the Goſpel—bringeth forth fruit ſince the day ye heard it, and knew the Grace of God in Truth. The Growth of Grace hath a threefold gradation; ſome ſanctified Believers grow like little Children in the grace and knowledge of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Pet. 2.2, 3. As new-born Babes deſire the ſincere Milk of the Word, that ye may grow thereby. Thoſe St. John calls little Children, whoſe ſins are forgiven, 1 Joh. 2.12, 13. And St. Paul calls them Babes in Chriſt, p. 411 Cor. 3.1. & Heb. 5.13. For he is a Babe; one that is weak in Faith, Rom. 14.1. & 15.1. Though ſuch have but a little grace, yet it is true grace, and doth grow. Grace is of a growing nature, like a grain of Muſtardſeed, Matth. 13.31. Other ſanctified Believers grow like young men; they are ſtrong in Faith, and overcome the wicked One, 1 Joh. 2.13, 14. Their Faith is great, their Love is fervent, and their Patience hath its perfect work, that they may be entire lacking nothing, 1 Theſ. 1.3. And ſome ſanctified Believers are compared to Fathers, that is to ſay, gracious, grave, grown and experienced Chriſtians, 1 Joh. 2.13, 14. Such were ſome of the Saints in the Church at Theſſalonica, 2 Theſ. 1.3, 4. Your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all to each other aboundeth. The Perfection of Grace is the ſtate of ſanctified Believers in Heaven; there are the ſpirits (that is the ſouls) of juſt men made perfect▪ Heb. 12.23. Sanctified Believers ought to go on to perfection, Heb. 6.1. And they that have received the Promiſes ought to cleanſe themſelves from all p. 42filthineſs of fleſh, and filthineſs of ſpirit, perfecting Holineſs in the fear of God, 2 Cor. 7.1, 2. And God hath ordained the Miniſtry of the Goſpel for the perfecting of the Saints, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. Until we all come in the unity of Faith unto a perfect man. And though the Apoſtle was not perfect (as he confeſſed) yet he preſſed toward the mark, for the prize of the High Calling of God in Chriſt Jeſus, Phil. 3.12, 14. So ought all the Saints to do, until they be tranſlated from Earth to Heaven, and from Grace to Glory, and ſhall be ſet down in the Father's houſe among the Spirits of juſt men made perfect. Thus Jeſus Chriſt (who came into the WORLD to ſave ſinners) brings them to ſalvation.

The next particular in our general Poſition to be explained is, that Jeſus Chriſt came into this WORLD to build up his own Houſe, the Church of God. As Moſes was faithful in the Houſe of God, as a ſervant, who did all things about the Tabernacle according to the Pattern ſhewed unto him by God in the Mount, Exod. 25.40. Acts 7.44. & Heb. 8.5. So Jeſus p. 43Chriſt was faithful unto God, that appointed him, as a Son over his own Houſe, the true Tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not Man, Heb. 3.2, 3, 5, 6. & Heb. 8.2. called The Church of the Living God, 1 Tim. 3.15.

The LORD Jeſus Chriſt, in order unto the building up his Houſe, the Church of God, did ordain a Goſpel-Miniſtry, Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. He gave ſome Apoſtles, and ſome Prophets, and ſome Evangeliſts, and ſome Paſtors and Teachers, &c. And ſet them in his Church, 1 Cor. 12.28. And God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, &c.

The Apoſtles, as wiſe Maſter-builders, did prepare fit Materials for to build the Houſe of God, and to that purpoſe they having received Commiſſion and Command from the LORD Jeſus Chriſt, Mark 16.15. went out into the WORLD, and Preached the Goſpel, beginning at Jeruſalem. And when they had made and baptized many Diſciples, they planted thoſe Churches that we read of in the holy Scriptures, which were built upon the Foundation of the Apoſtles and Prophets, Jeſus Chriſt himſelf being the p. 44Chief Corner Stone, in whom all the building fitly framed together, was builded together an Habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.19-22. The Church at Jeruſalem was the firſt of all thoſe Goſpel-Churches, Act. 2.47. And the Lord added to the Church daily ſuch as ſhould be ſaved. Which Church was at its firſt Conſtitution a particular Congregation of ſanctified Believers baptized with Water in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, Matth. 28.19. and ſeparated from the Synagogues of the unbelieving Jews, to worſhip God in Spirit and in Truth, Joh. 4.21, 23, 24. according to the ſacred Inſtitutions of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, even the Ordinances of God delivered unto his Churches of Saints, 1 Cor. 11.1, 2. And although the number of the Diſciples were multiplied from one hundred and twenty, Act. 1.15. to three thouſand, Act. 2.41. yea to five thouſand, Act. 4 4. & Act. 5.14. And Believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women. So that the Apoſtles had their own diſtinct Companies, Societies, or Congregations in Jeruſalem [Act. 4.13, 19, 23. p. 45And Peter and John being let go, they went to their own Company.] Yet they all being of one heart, and of one ſoul, were but one Church, and are ſo denominated, Act. 15.4. And when they were come to Jeruſalem, they were received of the Church, &c. Act. 15.22. The whole Church. And ſo were all the particular Congregations in every City denominated and called, viz. The Church of God at Corinth, 1 Cor. 1.2. And ſo our Lord and Saviour denominated all the Churches of God in Aſia, by the particular Cities wherein they were firſt planted, and aſſembled to worſhip God, Rev. 2.1, 8, 12, 18. & Rev. 3.1, 7, 14. Read thoſe verſes.

I intreat the Reader to conſider, 1. That our Lord Jeſus Chriſt in building up his own Houſe, the Church of God, ordained and appointed a preceding Miniſtry, to be workers together with him in building his Houſe, Heb. 3.4. 1 Cor. 3.9, 10, 11. We are labourers together with God—Ye are God's Building, &c. 2. That the Churches of God under the Goſpel, are not National, but Political, and Congregational. 3. That a particular viſible p. 46true Conſtituted Goſpel Church of God doth conſiſt of fit Matter, and due Form. Jeſus Chriſt the Chief Corner Stone, is a lively Stone, and the Materials of the Church ought to be living Stones,Mat. 3.16.Matt 3:16 1 Pet. 2.4, 5. Sanctified Believers, 1 Cor. 1.2, 6. And Chriſt himſelf was Baptized with Water,Act. 10.44, 47, 48.Acts 10:44Acts 10:47Acts 10:48 and with the holy Spirit; every one in his Viſible Churches of Saints, ought to be Baptized with Water, and with the holy Spirit.(a)(a)Joh. 5. v. 5.John 5:5 2. Thoſe ſanctified Believers ought to he fitly framed together, and orderly compacted, joyned and built together, an habitation of God through the Spirit, Eph. 2.19, 20, 21, 22. & chap. 4.15, 16. which is the Form of the Houſe of God, the Church of the Living God, 1 Tim. 3. v. 15.

God commanded his Prophet Ezekiel, chap. 43. v. 10, 11. ſaying, Thou Son of Man, ſhew the Houſe to the Houſe of Iſrael(b)(b)foreign [ex foreign] in conjugatione hiph. Annunciavit, expoſuit, narravit, indicavit. — And let them meaſure the Pattern—Shew them the Form of the Houſe—And write it in their ſight. A wiſe Maſter-builder will p. 47take care to prepare fit Materials in every reſpect anſwerable and ſuitable unto the Houſe he is about to build; and ſo ought the Miniſters of Chriſt, who are Co-workers with God in building his Houſe, (which is his Church) to take heed both what, and how they build, 1 Cor. 3.9-14. Every mans work ſhall be made manifeſt, for the Day ſhall declare it: And the fire ſhall try every mans work, of what ſort it is, &c. Young Converts, new-born-Babes in Chriſt may be added to the Church of God, Act. 2.41, 47. But they are not fit Materials to be laid next unto the Corner Stone of that Spiritual building I ſay again, they are not fit for the Foundation-work of God's building; nor are they fit for Pillars in the Houſe of God. Conſider what St. Paul, that wiſe Maſter-builder, ſaith of ſuch young Converts, 1 Cor. 3.1, 2, 3. & Heb. 5.12, 13. Read the words. Theſe, and ſuch as theſe are not fit Matter for the Foundation, nor for Pillars, nor for Beams in the Houſe of God, at the firſt Beginning, Planting, and Building, or Gathering of a Church of God. But rather Fathers, p. 48that is, grave, gracious, holy, wiſe, and experienced Believers▪ Alſo ſome young Men, that is, ſuch Chriſtians that are ſtrong in Faith, and have in ſome meaſure overcome the World, the Devil, and their own Corruptions, who are full of the holy Spirit, rich in Grace, and zealous for the Houſe of God, and the Purity of his Worſhip; I ſay, a competent number of ſuch Chriſtians, being ſound in the Faith, holy in their Life, and fitly qualified with diverſity of ſpiritual gifts, knowledge and grace, are (in my Opinion) moſt meet to be (by their own mutual free conſent and agreement) joyned tegether to become a particular Church of Saints by the help of ſome wiſe Maſter-builders, and faithful Miniſters of Jeſus Chriſt, 1 Cor. 3, 9-11.

The Goſpel-Form of a particular Church of God conſiſts (as we ſaid) in the fitly framing, compacting and joyning thoſe ſanctified Believers together into▪ ONE Fellowſhip, Society and Goſpel Brotherhood in a ſolemn Day of Prayer, with Faſting, wherein ſome Able Miniſter of the Goſpel, having by Preaching the Word unto them, p. 49ſhewed them their Reſpective Duties in a Church Relation, the Elders and Chief Brethren of ſome particular Churches of Saints being preſent, and aſſiſting in the work of the Day (if they may be obtained) may in the Name and Authority of the LORD Jeſus Chriſt (by virtue of this Commiſſion given to him) conſtitute and make them a particular Viſible Church of God; they giving up themſelves profeſſedly firſt to the LORD, and then one to another, mutually and ſolemnly with one accord engaging themſelves to come together in ONE Congregation, and to Aſſemble themſelves together in ſome one Place every firſt Day of the week, to worſhip God publickly in all his holy Ordinances, with their mutual profeſſed Subjection unto the Laws of God's Houſe, and with a Profeſſed Reſolution to Continue in the Apoſtles Doctrine, and in Fellowſhip, and in Breaking of Bread, and Prayer, through the Help of God. All which being done, the ſame Miniſter ought to declare them to be a Church of Saints, and the Miniſters and Brethren of other Churches being alſo preſent, ought to own and p. 50acknowledge them to be a Siſter-Church, by giving them the Right hand of Fellowſhip; and ſo to commend them by Prayer unto God, and to the Word of his Grace, who is able to build them up, and to give them an Inheritance among all them which are ſanctified.

The Well-Being of a particular Church of Saints, doth principally conſiſt in three things, viz. Oneneſs, Order, and Government. That Goſpel-Oneneſs which maketh very much for the Well-Being of a particular Church, is threefold: Firſt, That there be but ONE Church in one City;1 Cor. 14.19, 34.1 Cor 14:191 Cor 14:34 and that all the Congregations of Saints in that City (called Churches) bear but one Name, to wit, the Church of God in that City, as in the Apoſtles daies, Act. 15.4.22. 1 Cor. 1.2.Rev. 2. & 3. chap.Rev 2 That ſo there may be no Schiſm, Diviſions, nor ſinful Separations from the Church of God; but that the whole Church may be perfectly joyned together in ONE, As a City that is compact together, Pſal. 122.3. as an Houſe or Building fitly framed together, Epheſ. 2.21, 22. and as a Body fitly joyned p. 51and compacted by every joynt of ſupply, Eph. 4.16.

Secondly, That this Church be of one Heart, and of one Soul, Act. 4.32. being perfectly joyned together in the ſame Mind, and in the ſame Judgment, 1 Cor. 1.2, 9, 10. that ſo they may all with one Mind, and one Mouth, glorifie God, even the Father of our LORD Jeſus Chriſt, Rom. 15.6. having the ſame Love one to another, Phil. 2.1, 2, 3. and the ſame Care one for another, 1 Cor. 12.25, 26, 27. each one endeavouring to keep the Unity of the Spirit in the Bond of Peace, Eph. 4.3-6. This Oneneſs will make the Communion of Saints very comfortable, Col. 2.2-5. And hereby they will enjoy Fellowſhip with the Father, Son and Spirit, in all God's holy Goſpel-Ordinances, to the Glory of God, and their own Edification.

Thirdly, That this one Church, and all the Congregations of Saints, that are Members thereof, walk by one and the ſame Rule of the written Word of God, Phil. 3.16Phil 3:16being Ordered and Guided by their Biſhops, Paſtors, Teachers, Preſbyters, or Elders, according to the p. 52Royal Laws of God's Houſe (called the perfect Law of Liberty, Jam. 1.25.) ſubmitting themſelves unto thoſe Guides,Act. 20.28Acts 20:28 whom God hath made their Overſeers, who watch for their Souls, as they that muſt give an Account, Heb. 13.7, 17.

Cant. 6.4.10.Song 6:4Song 6:10Goſpel-Order is a great Beauty and Ornament to the Church, Col. 2.5. and Order makes very much for the Well-Being of the Church. And Goſpel-Order conſiſteth in theſe things;Pſal. 48.2. & Ezek. 16.12, 14.Ps 48:2Ezek 16:12Ezek 16:14 Firſt, That the Biſhop and Presbyters ſet in Order the things which are wanting in the Church, Titus 1.5. & 1 Cor. 11.34. Secondly, That all things in the Church be done decently, and in Order, which Chriſt hath commanded to be done: 1 Cor. 14.40.1 Cor 14:40And for which his Apoſtles and Diſciples have given us Example.Phil. 3.17Phil 3:17 Thirdly, That the Order of the Goſpel be carefully obſerved, and kept in the Adminiſtration of God's Sacred Ordinances, in the Admiſſion of Members, in the Ordination of Church-Officers, and in withdrawing from every Brother that walketh Diſorderly. God was offended with his Church under the Law, becauſe they ſought him not in due p. 53Order, 2 Chron. 15.11, 12, 13.1 Cor. 14.33.1 Cor 14:33 And God hath committed the Government of his Goſpel-Church and Kingdom unto Chriſt, to Order it, &c. Iſa. 9.6, 7. & God is not the Author of Confuſion.

Goſpel-Government is ordained and appointed of God for the Well-Being of his Church: The Church of God cannot have a Well-Being without Chriſt's Inſtituted Goſpel-Government. And to that end God the Father hath laid the Government of his Church upon his Son Jeſus Chriſt, Iſa. 9.6, 7. To whom he gave all Power in Heaven and Earth, Matth. 28.18. And he hath made Chriſt Lord of his Houſe, and King of his Church, Heb. 3.1-6. & Pſal. 149.2. The Lord Jeſus Chriſt deligated this his Eccleſiaſtical Government of the Church unto his holy Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Paſtors and Teachers, called Biſhops, Presbyters or Elders, who where allowed of God to be put in Truſt with the Goſpel, 1 Theſ. 2.4. And the Apoſtles and Evangeliſts did commit the ſame unto faithful men, 2 Tim. 2.12. whom they Ordained Biſhops, Presbyters or Elders in the Churches of Saints, Titus 1.5, 7. p. 54Act. 14.23. which Goſpel-Government (as we ſaid before) is not a Coercive-Power over Mens Conſciences; nor is it a Dominion over their Faith; neither is it a Lordſhip over God's Clergy or Heritage; but it is a Stewardſhip of the Myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2, 3, 4. Let a Man ſo account of us, as of the Miniſters of Chriſt, and Stewards of the Myſteries of God. And Titus 1.7. For a Biſhop muſt be blameleſs, as the Steward of God. Unto this Goſpel-Government appertains Church-Cenſures of Admonition, 2 Theſ. 3.15. and Titus 3.10. Suſpenſion (or withdrawing from a Brother or Member, that hath, and doth walk diſorderly,) 2 Theſ. 3.6. and Excommunication of thoſe Members that live in groſs and ſcandalous ſins, 1 Cor. 5.1, 4, 5, 13.

p. 55CHAP. II. Of Goſpel-Miniſtry.

§ 1.

THE LORD Jeſus Chriſt is the Chief Miniſter of God's Sanctuary, and of the true Tabernacle,(a)(a)foreign Heb. 8.1, 2.Heb 8:1Heb 8:2 which the Lord pitched, and not Man; He is the Chief Paſtor of God's little Flock,(b)(b)foreign Paſtorum Princeps, 1 Pet. 5.4. foreign, &c.1 Pet 5:4 & the Biſhop of our Souls,(c)(c)foreign, 1 Pet. 2.25. & Heb. 13.20. —foreign.1 Pet 2:25Heb 13:20 Heb. 13.20. The great Shepherd of of the Sheep, who in all things hath the Pre-eminence,(d)(d)—foreign in omnibus Ipſe Primatum tenens. or Supremacy.

§ 2.

HE gave Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts, Paſtors and Teachers, for the work of the Miniſtry, Epheſ. 4.11, 12, 13. & 1 Cor. 12.28. The Apoſtles, Prophets & Evangeliſts, were appointed p. 56by Chriſt to Preach the Goſpel to the World, Mark 16.15. and for the Gathering of the Saints, framing, and perfectly joyning them together,(e)(e)Eph. 4.11, 12, 13. foreign, &c. foreign, &c.Eph 4:11Eph 4:12Eph 4:13 The Paſtors and Teachers were Set by Chriſt in the Churches, as fixed Officers, for the Edifying of the Body, until we all meet together in the Unity of Faith, &c.

§ 3.

Thoſe Paſtors and Teachers are called Elders, 1 Pet. 5.1. Elder is a name of Office in the Church of God: Elders are indeed fixed Officers for Rule and Government, who are to be counted worthy of double Honour, 1 Tim. 5.17. They are alſo called Biſhops, Phil. 1.1. And the Elders of the Church of Epheſus, Act. 20.17. were called Biſhops, Act. 20.28.(f)(f)Act. 20.17, 28. — foreign— 28. foreign.Acts 20:17Acts 20:28 over which the holy Spirit hath made you Overſeers, or Biſhops. The Office of a Paſtor, Biſhop, and Presbyter, or Elder in the Church of God, is to take the Charge, Overſight, and Care of thoſe Souls which the Lord Jeſus Chriſt hath committed to them, to feed the Flock p. 57of God; to watch for their Souls,(g)(g)Act. 20.28. Heb. 13.17 1 Tim. 5.17. 1 Tim. 3.15. Iſa. 33.22.Acts 20:28Heb 13:171 Tim 5:171 Tim 3:15Isa 33:22 to Rule, Guide and Govern them (by virtue, of their Commiſſion, and Authority received from Chriſt, Mat. 28.18, 19, 20. & Titus 2.15.) according to the Laws, Conſtitutions and Ordinances of the Goſpel.

§ 4.

The Office of Epiſcopacy and Preſbytery, or Elderſhip in the Church of God, is Divine and Sacred, but not Lordly, 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3.(h)(h)—foreign —foreign, proſpicientes, ne que ut dominantes Cleris, &c. neither over-ruling the Clergy: No Biſhop, Paſtor, or Presbyter, is [foreign] the Maſter of the Houſe of God, which is the Church of the Living God, but [foreign] a Steward (or Diſpenſor) of the Myſteries of God, 1 Cor. 4.1, 2. The Apoſtles, Biſhops, Paſtors and Teachers, were Fellow-Elders, 1 Pet. 5.1. The Elders which are among you I exhort, who am a Fellow-Elder: (i)(i)foreign, &c.But they were not all of equal Dignity and Authority.

p. 58§ 5

It doth appear, (at leaſt I think ſo, and indeed it is my Opinion) that there was (even from the Beginning of the Goſpel of the Grace of God) a Priority and Pre-eminence among the Miniſters of Chriſt, approved of God; yea, and appointed by himſelf in the Church,(k)(k)foreign, &c. 1 Cor. 12.28, 29. And God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt Apoſtles, ſecondarily Prophets, thirdly Teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diverſities of Tongues. Are all Apoſtles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? are all workers of miracles? Chriſt gave Priority, and Pre-eminence unto his Apoſtles above the Ordinary Prophets and Evangeliſts, Paſtors and Teachers, and all other Miniſters, Eph. 4.11.(l)(l)2 Cor. 2.9. & 11.28. 2 Theſ. 3.6.2 Cor 2:92 Cor 11:282 Thess 3:6 The Evangeliſts Timothy and Titus (called Biſhops in the ſubſcriptions of St. Paul's Epiſtles to them, both in our Engliſh Bibles, and in the Greek Testament) had Authority and Pre-eminence above other Paſtors, Teachers and p. 59Elders in the Epheſian Church, and in Crete, 1 Tim. 1.3. As I beſought thee to abide ſtill at Epheſus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mighteſt charge ſome that they teach no other Doctrine. Titus 1.5, 10, 11, 13. and 2.15. and 3.10, 11. For this cauſe left I thee in Crete, that thou ſhouldeſt ſet in order the things that are wanting, and ordain Elders in every City, as I had appointed thee. For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, eſpecially they of the Circumciſion; whoſe mouths muſt be ſtopped; who ſubvert whole houſes, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucres ſake. This witneſs is true; wherefore rebuke them ſharply, that they may be ſound in the Faith. Theſe things ſpeak and exhort, and rebuke with all Authority. Let no man deſpiſe thee. A man that is an Heretick, after the firſt and ſecond Admonition, reject; Knowing, that he that is ſuch, is ſubverted, and ſinneth, being condemned of himſelf.

§ 6.

And the conſonant Teſtimonies of the Antients, with the general conſent p. 60of Modern Divines, and Proteſta… Writers of good eſteem and approbation do aſſent and acknowledge, That Timothy and Titus were not only Evangeliſts, but Biſhops ſet and fixed by ſome of the Apoſtles to Overſee, Order, and Govern Churches, Ordain Biſhops and Presbyters, and to exerciſe Authority over them, according to the Laws, Canons and Conſtitutions of Chriſt and his Apoſtles given unto them. Walo, (m)(m)Walo, alias Salmaſ. lib. de Epiſc. pag 229. Titum Cretae Inſulae praefecit Paulus, qui non ſingulari in aliqua Civitate Epiſcopus fuit, ſed totam illam Provinciam ad tempus procuraret, &c.called Salmaſius, who profeſſedly pleaded for the Identity of Biſhops and Presbyters, confeſſed concerning the Antients that Chryſoſtome, Epiphanius, Theophylact, Theodoret, and other Greek Commentators have collected out of the words of St. Paul, That Titus was verily the Biſhop of Crete.(n)(n)Hierom. de Eccleſ. ſcript. Epheſiorum Epiſcop. à Paulo ordinatus, &c. Hierom hath recorded both Timothy and Titus Biſhops, the one of Epheſus, and the other of Crete, to whom(o)(o)Ambroſ. in Praefat. ad Timoth. c. 3. hunc creatum Epiſcopum, &c. Ambroſe, Primaſius and(*)(*)Gregor. Pap. de Curat. Paſt. part. 2. c. 11. Prima… in Trin. Gregory the p. 61Great, do conſent; ſo do Reverend Beza, (p)(p)Beza, de Miniſt. gra. cap. 22. Habuit jam tum Presbyterium ſuum aliquem foreign Presbyterum, etiam Presbyterorum manente communi appellatione.Learned Scultetus, Luther, Maſter Moulin, Toſſanus, Zuinglius, Calvin, Dr. Gerard, Dr. Reynolds, and ſeveral others aſſert and acknowledge, That the Presbytery had their Presbyter (or Preſident) over them, in the Apoſtolical Age, when the community of Names of Presbyters and Biſhops remained among them. Such were Timothy and Titus, whom the Apoſtles ordained Biſhops, 1 Tim. 4.14. & 2 Tim. 1.6. & Titus 1.5. Scultetus in Titum, cap. 8. p. 10. At Paulus Epheſi, & in Creta aliquandiu docuerat, ideo Titum & Timotheum in Creta jubet manere, non utique ut Evangeliſtas, ſed Eccleſiae Gubernatores, &c. Luther. tom. 1. fol. 309. concluſ. 13. Probo quamlibet civitatem habere debere Epiſcopum proprium jure divino, quod ex Paulo ad Titum oſtendo dicente, v. 5, 7. foreign, As I have ordained thee, Calvinus in Titum, 1.5: Diſcimus (ſaith he) ex hoc loco non eam fuiſſe aequalitatem inter Miniſtros, quia unus aliquis Authoritate praeeſſet.

p. 62§ 7.

Jeſus Chriſt commanded his Servant John the Apoſtle, to write a Book, and ſend it to the ſeven Churches in Aſia, Rev. 1.11. He directed his ſeven ſeveral Epiſtles to the ſeven ſeveral Angels of the ſeven Churches beginning thus, Unto the Angel of the Church of Epheſus, and ſo the reſt, Chap. 2.1.8.12.18. and Chap. 3, 1, 7, 14. And thoſe ſeven Epiſtles were by thoſe ſeven Angels to be communicated to all the Aſian Churches, and every one was called upon (in that Epiphonema, at the End of every ſeveral Epiſtle) He that hath an Ear, let him hear, &c. Rev. 2.7, 11, 17, 29. & chap. 3.6, 13, 22. that is, to hearken, attend, and obſerve what the Lord Jeſus Chriſt by his Spirit ſaith utno the Churches, not to this or that particular Church only, Rev. 2.1, 7. nor to theſe ſeven Churches excluſively, but unto all the Churches of Saints in all other Countries, Cities and Places in all the future Ages of the World. Dr. Scultetus ſaith,(a)(a)Scult. obſervat. in Titum. Doctiſſimi quique interpretes per ſeptem Eccleſiarum Angelos interpretantur ſeptem Eccleſiarum Epiſcopos; ne que enim aliter poſſunt, vim niſi facere Textui velint. All the moſt p. 63Learned Interpreters by Angels expound the Biſhops of the Churches, nor can it be otherwiſe interpreted without Violence to the Text. As punctually and pertinently ſpeaks Marlorat, (b)(b)Marlorat. in Apoc. 1.12. Quamvis quaedam tam in Clero, quàm in Populo corrigenda eſſent, non tamen Populum, ſed Clerum aggreditur: nec quemlibet de Clero, nominatim Principem Cleri, utique Epiſcopum.Rev 1:12Some things (ſaith he) were to be corrected, as well in the People, as in the Clergy; yet, doth not Saint John write unto the People, nor yet to the Clergy, but to the Chief of them, which is the Biſhop. Dr. Reynolds in his Conference with Hart. cap. 2. diviſio 3. ſaith, Although in the Church of Epheſus, there were ſundry Elders and Paſtors to guide it; yet among theſe ſundry Paſtors was there one Chief, whom our Saviour calleth the Angel of that Church, Apoc. 2.1. And the ſaid Doctor telling us of that very Time, when St. Paul aſſembled the Elders of Epheſus at Miletum, Act. 20. 17, 28. chap. 8. diſtinct. 3. ſaith, One was choſen as Chief—called Biſhop.

p. 64§ 9.

Smectym. &c. aſſert, that the word Angel, Rev. 2.1, &c. doth ſignifie only the Presbytery, or the Colledge of Elders, Paſtors, and not the Church.(a)(a)Smectym. Vindication, pag. 146, 148. And they draw argument from the Epiſtle of Chriſt, to the Church in Thyatira, Rev. 2.18.20, 24. Upon which place Beza thus paraphraſed, Unto you, that is (ſaith he) unto the Angel as Preſident; and unto the reſt (of the Elders, viz. the Colledge of Preſbyters) in Thyatira: And as many as have not this Doctrine, that is have not received this Doctrine of Jezebel. But why would Chriſt have the Angel or Chief Biſhop of the Church of Thyatira blamed for ſuffering falſe Teachers in that Church to Teach and Seduce his Servants, if he was not their Preſident, or Superintendent, who had Priority, Preeminency and Authority above other Paſtors, Teachers, Presbyters, or Elders (called Biſhops) in that Church?(b)(b)Beza in Apoc. 2.1. Angelus foreign, quem oportet admoneri, & per eum Collegas, totam que adeo Eccleſiam. Gualther. Hom. 9. in Apoc. 2.8. Angelo, id eſt, Epiſcopo Smyrnenſi atque toti Eccleſiae, conſtat ex Hiſtoriis Polycarpum fuiſſe hunc Angelum.Rev 2:1Rev 2:8 Conſult Beza, Gualter, eſpecially p. 65Ignatius that holy Martyr, (who is ſaid to live in the daies of the Apoſtles, who writ an Epiſtle to the Epheſians, wherein he hath plainly and fully diſtinguiſhed between Biſhops and Presbyters, and towards the end of that Epiſtle he doth exhort them to obey both the Biſhop and the Presbytery with an undivided mind.(b)(b)IgnaEpiſt. ad Epheſ. p. 17-29. &c. foreign. Ibid. foreign.

§ 10.

Polycarpus was Biſhop of Smyrna, when St. John wrote that Epiſtle, Revel. 2.8. Unto the Angel of the Church of the Smyrnians, ſaith Irenaeus. And who can better inform us than they that lived in the daies of the Apoſtles. Polycarpus (ſaith Irenaeus)(c)(c)Iren. adverſ. Haereſ. l. 3. c. 3. foreign, &c. was not only taught by the Apoſtles, and converſed with many that had ſeen Chriſt; but alſo was p. 66by the Apoſtles Conſtituted in Aſia Biſhop of the Church, which is in Smyrna; Whom we our ſelves alſo did ſee in our younger Age; for he continued long: And being very aged, he moſt gloriouſly and nobly ſuffering Martyrdom, departed this Life. To this let me add the Teſtimony, which thoſe Brethren of the Church of Smyrna, who were preſent at the Martyrdom of their Biſhop Polycarpus gave him,(d)(d)Smyrnenſ. Eccleſ. epiſt. de Martyrio Policarpi. Euſeb. lib. 4. hiſt. foreign. 15. foreign. Vide Euſeb. l. 2. foreign. & lib. 4. foreign. as Euſebius, l. 4. Hiſt. foreign 15. He was (ſaid his Brethren) the moſt admirable Man in our Times, an Apoſtolical and Prophetical Doctor, and Biſhop of the whole Church in Smyrna. Famous and certain is the Teſtimony of Hegeſippus, in his Hiſtory of the Church, as Euſebius noteth to the ſame purpoſe. The next and laſt I ſhall cite, is the Teſtimony of Clement, whom St. Paul mentioneth among other his fellow Labourours, Phil. 4.3.

§ 11.

Clement is ſaid by the Antients, to have written an Epiſtle to the Church p. 67and Saints at Corinth, which Epiſtle hath the Atteſtation of Irenaeus, who calls it [foreign] a moſt ſubſtantial Epiſtle to the Corinthians, and of Photius, that ſtiles it [foreign] an eloquent (or a worthy ſpoken) Epiſtle. It is alſo highly commended by Origin, Cyril, Juſtin Martyr, St. Jerom, and other godly and learned men. Which Epiſtle Mr. Patrick Young ſaith, is extant in the King's Library at Oxford. His words in that his Epiſtle are theſe,(a)(a)foreign, &c. Clem. Epiſt. ad Corinth. pag. 57. D. Patrieii Junii. Our Apoſtles knew (ſaith he) by our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that there will be Contention about the Name of Epiſcopacy; And therefore for this very ſame cauſe, having received perfect knowledge, thy appointed the foreſaid Degrees, and gave thereupon a Deſigned Order, and Liſt of Offices, &c.—And it would be no ſmall ſin in us (ſaith he) if we ſhould refuſe or reject them, who have ſacredly, and without Reproof, undergone the Offices of Epiſcopacy, &c. The Magd. Cent. 1, 2, 3. do make mention of ſuch Biſhops in the Churches of God: p. 68And all Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtorians (that I have Read) do teſtify the Priority and Pre-eminence of Biſhops.

§ 12.

I would not be miſunderſtood, therefore I will take liberty to tell the Reader, That this Priority, Preſidence, and Pre-eminence of any one Biſhop above other Biſhops, Paſtors, Teachers, Preſbyters, or Elders, and Miniſters of Chriſt, is not any Lordly Prelacy, with coercive Power over the Conſcience, or Dominion over the Faith of God's Clergy: For the holy Apoſtles did approve themſelves to every Mans Conſcience in the ſight of God, 2 Cor. 4.1, 2. not having Dominion over their Faith, 2 Cor. 1.24. Neither as being Lords over God's Clergy, or Heritage, 1 Pet. 5.1, 2, 3. But I mean and intend any one of the Biſhops, Paſtors, Teachers, Presbyters, or Elders, who are, or ſhall by the Conſent, Approbation and Choice of the reſt be appointed, ordained, and ſet over them as Chief Biſhop or Presbyter of the Church in any City and Villages adjacent, who p. 69for Order ſake in Goſpel-Government, hath Priority, Pre-eminence, and Authority above the reſt of the Presbyters or Biſhops of the ſame Church, not alone, nor without them, but when Convened with them, to Act, Rule, Guide, Order and Govern with their Conſent, Suffrage and Aſſiſtance, according to the Laws of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the Conſtitutions and Commandments, the Practice and Example of his holy Apoſtles, Act. 15.2, 6, 19, 22. Nor ſhould the Miniſters of Chriſt ſtrive which of them ſhould be greateſt, Luk. 22.24, 25, 26. Neither ought any of them to Love (and Affect) to have Pre-eminence among them, as Diotrephes did 3. Epiſt. of John v. 9.(a)(a)foreign. 1 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. Titus 1.7, 8, 9. 2 Tim. 4.1, 2, 3, 4, 5.1 Tim 3:11 Tim 3:21 Tim 3:31 Tim 3:41 Tim 3:51 Tim 3:6Titus 1:7Titus 1:8Titus 1:92 Tim 4:12 Tim 4:22 Tim 4:32 Tim 4:42 Tim 4:5 But a Biſhop muſt be blameleſs, an Enſample to the Flock, vigilant, patient, apt to teach, not covetous, not greedy of filthy lucre, and one that Ruleth well his own Houſe, that he may take Care of the Church of God; holding faſt the faithful Word, &c.

p. 70CHAP. III.

THE Third Work that our Lord Jeſus Chriſt came into this World to do, was to inſtitute thoſe Goſpel-Ordinances, in which his Churches of Saints muſt worſhip God in Spirit, and in Truth. When the Church is Aſſembled on the firſt Day of the week, in ſome convenient place to worſhip God, Chriſt hath appointed, that firſt of all Prayers, Supplications, and Thankſgivings be made, 1 Tim. 2.1, 2, 3. For this is good and acceptable in the ſight of God our Saviour. Men having their Heads uncovered, and Women having their Faces vailed or covered, 1 Cor. 11.4, 5, 7, 10, 13. reverently kneeling, Pſal. 95.6. & Acts 21.5. or decently ſtanding, Luk. 18.11, 13. They ought not to ſit in Prayer-time, unleſs ſome weakneſs of body, or ſome bodily infirmity doth conſtrain them. This part of the Worſhip of God ought to be adminiſtred by one of the Elders of that Church, who ought to pray in the p. 71Spirit, and to pray with the underſtanding alſo, 1 Cor. 14.15. To pray with the Spirit, implies two things:

Firſt, That the Miniſter have a ſpiritual Gift to pray, Zech. 12.10.

Secondly, That he have the Spirits Aſſiſtance in praying, Rom. 8.26. To pray with the underſtanding, is to pray with ſuch words as all the Congregation doth hear and underſtand, that they may ſay Amen, 1 Cor. 4.16.

After Prayer, the Teacher ought to Read the Written Word of God diſtinctly, and give the ſenſe thereof by Expounding and Interpreting the words of that Scripture, that ſo the People may underſtand, and be inſtructed or taught to know the Will and Mind of God therein revealed for their Learning and Edification, as they did, Neh. 8.4, 5, 6, 7, 8. And as Chriſt himſelf, and his Apoſtles alſo did, Luk. 4.16, 17, 21, 22. & Act. 28.23. Reading the holy Scripture, is an Ordinance of God, unto which Chriſt hath promiſed a Goſpel-Bleſſing, Rev. 1.3. & Col. 4.16.

And then the Paſtor ought to Preach the Goſpel, and to exhort the People p. 72to Repent, and Believe the Goſpel; to be holy, and to walk in all the Commandments and Ordinances of the Lord blameleſly; Labouring in the Word and Doctrine to Convert Sinners, to Edifie Believers, to Convince Gainſayers, and to Comfort, Strengthen and Eſtabliſh them that Believe in Chriſt. Alſo let the Prophets ſpeak two or three, and let the reſt judge, 1 Cor. 14.29, 31. & Rom. 12.6, 7, 8. Having then Gifts differing, according to the Grace that is given unto us: Whether Propheſie, let us Propheſie according to the Analogy of Faith: Or Miniſtry, let us wait on our Miniſtring; Or he that Teacheth, on Teaching; Or he that Exhorteth, on Exhortation; And he that Ruleth, with diligence. The Apoſtles ſo Preached, that many believed, Act. 14.1. And it pleaſed God by the Fooliſhneſs of Preaching to ſave them that believe, 1 Cor. 1.21.

Our LORD Jeſus Chriſt did command his Miniſters alſo to Baptize them that do believe in him, with Water, in the Name of the Father, Son, and holy Spirit, Mat. 28.19, 20. & Mark 16.15, 16. & Joh. 1.33. Our Lord p. 73himſelf was Baptized by John in the River Jordan, Mat. 3.13. Then cometh Jeſus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be Baptized of him. Ver. 16. And Jeſus, when he was Baptized, went up ſtraightway out of the Water. [foreign, ut immergeretur, ver. 13. and ver. 16. foreign, & immerſus Jeſus,] Mark 1.5, 9. And were all Dipped of him in the River Jordan, confeſſing their ſins. We read, that both Men and Women were Baptized (when they Believed) Acts 8.12. (But we read not in the holy Scripture of Truth, that any Infants were Baptized.) They that had received the holy Spirit, were commanded to be Baptized with Water, in the Name of the LORD, Acts 10.47, 48. Thoſe Men and Women are fit Subjects of Baptiſm, that have received the Spirit of Chriſt; do Believe in Chriſt; Confeſs their ſins; and Repent, Acts 2.37-41. The Manner of the Adminiſtration of this Goſpel-Ordinance of Baptiſm, was thus practiſed in the Daies of Chriſt, and of his Apoſtles, to wit, The Perſon Baptizing, and the Perſons Baptized, went into the Water, p. 74Acts 8.38, 39. And they went down both into the Water, both Philip and the Eunuch; and he Baptized him: That is, Philip Dipped the Eunuch under the Water; and then they came out of the Water, v. 39. The Spirit of God hath inſpired the Apoſtles in writing the holy Scriptures to uſe one Greek word [viz. foreign] for Dipping;Joh. 1.25, 26, 33. Heb. 9.19, 21.John 1:25John 1:26John 1:33Heb 9:19Heb 9:21 and another, [viz. foreign] for Sprinkling. So that if to Dip in Water, be to Baptize, to Sprinkle with Water is to Rantize. And the Manner of Baptizing in Water is repreſented in the holy Scripture by Burying in Water, and raiſing up out of the Water, Col. 2.12. & Rom. 6.4. whereby is alſo figured forth the Believer's Fellowſhip with Jeſus Chriſt in his Death and Reſurrection. Col. 2.12.

Jeſus Chriſt alſo before his Death did Inſtitute his own Supper, Matth. 26.26, 27, 28. & 1 Cor. 11.23, 24, 25. and commanded his Diſciples to do ſo, and to do ſo often in Remembrance of him, 1 Cor. 11.25, 26. and as a Memorial of his Death, until he come again, ver. 26. In Adminiſtring this Sacred Ordinance of the Lord's Supper, p. 75according to the Example of Chriſt and his Diſciples, theſe particular things ought to be obſerved;

1. The Time; The Lord's Supper ought to be Adminiſtred ordinarily on the Lord's Day, that is, the firſt Day of the week, Acts 20.7. foreign, &c. On the only Day of Sabbaths, (It is an Hebraiſm.) And upon the firſt Day of the week, the Diſciples came together to break bread, &c. And the time of the day was at Evening; then Chriſt adminiſtred his Supper, Mark 14.17, 22.

2. The Miniſter ought to take the Bread, and conſecrate it by the Word and Prayer, with Thankſgiving; and after the Bread is ſo conſecrated, he ought to break it in pieces, and give it unto the Communicants, expreſſing the words of Jeſus Chriſt, ſaying, Take, eat, This is my Body. And after the Communicants have eaten the Bread, the Miniſter ought to take the Cup with Wine in it, and in like manner conſecrate it by Prayer and Thankſgiving, and then give it all the Communicants, expreſſing the words of Chriſt, ſaying, Drink ye all of this, for this is my blood p. 76of the New Teſtament, which is ſhed for you, and for many, for the Remiſſion of ſins, Luk, 22.20. & Matth. 26.27, 28. And the Miniſter alſo having received with them; 3. They all ought to praiſe God together in ſinging an Hymn, as Chriſt and his Diſciples did, Matth. 26.30. Mark 14.26.

Singing is alſo a Goſpel-Ordinance, which ought to be performed by the Church as a part of God's Publick Worſhip, Iſa. 52.8. With the Voice together ſhall they ſing. The Matter that we are to ſing is the Word of God, namely, the Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs contained in the holy Scriptures, the Written Word of God, Col. 3.16. Let the Word of Chriſt dwell in you richly in all Wiſdom, &c. The Manner of Singing Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, is to Sing in Meeter and Meaſure, with audible Voice, as our Engliſh manner is.

The Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs in the Book of Pſalms, were Sung in Meeter and Meaſure, [As they that underſtand the Hebrew Tongue know well.]

p. 77The End of Singing is to make Melody in your heart to the Lord, Eph. 5.19. Singing with a tunable Voice, makes Melody in our Ears, and ſtirs up our pure Minds to rejoyce in the Lord; but Singing with Grace in our Hearts, doth make melody to the Lord. Though the Voice of the Church (eſpouſed to Chriſt) was ſweet and pleaſant unto him, in the Song of Songs, Cant. 2.14. yet the Spirit acting Grace, (viz. Faith, Love, and Joy) in the Hearts of the Saints, is much more ſweet, well-pleaſing, and acceptable unto God, than their Voice in Singing Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs to the Lord, Col. 3.16. Singing with Grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Query. Did not ſome of the Saints in the Church at Corinth, Sing other Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, which they themſelves indicted, and ſang alone by the Spirit with Grace in their hearts to the Lord?

Anſwer. I think ſome Members of that Church did compoſe a Pſalm upon occaſion, 1 Cor. 14.26. And it is my Opinion, That a Miniſter or Member of the Church (if he hath received a p. 78Gift of the Spirit to Sing) may Sing in the Church to Edification, 1 Cor. 14, 15. yea and ought ſo to do, 1 Pet. 4.10, 11. But this I ſay,

Firſt, That thoſe Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, which Miniſters, or Members of the Church do indict and Sing, are not Pſalms; and we are commanded to inſtruct and exhort one another in Pſalms, and to Sing Pſalms, as well as Hymns and Spiritual Songs, Eph. 5.19. & Col. 3.16. And I know that the word Pſalms is interpreted David's Pſalms, the Book of Pſalms, and the Pſalms of David, Aſaph, &c. Search thoſe Scriptures, Acts 1.20. Acts 13.33, 35. Luk. 20.42.24.44.

Secondly, That thoſe Miniſters and Members of the Church cannot affirm, will not aſſert, that their Hymns, or Spiritual Songs, are materially the Inſpiration of the holy Spirit, as the Book of Pſalms were; they may Sing with the Spirit, and with underſtanding, unto Edification; but the Pſalms of David, and of Aſaph; and the Song of Songs, which is Solomons; and the Hymns of Jeſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles, muſt have the Pre-eminence.

p. 79Thirdly, Although I have alſo, through the riches of Free Grace, received the holy Spirit, and have learned in ſome meaſure, what it is to pray in the Spirit, and to pray with underſtanding: Alſo to Sing in the Spirit, and and to Sing with Underſtanding; yet I rather chuſe to Sing in the Church thoſe Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, which are contained in the holy Scripture, than any of my own inditing; for theſe Reaſons, becauſe,

Firſt, Although I ſhould be aſſiſted by the holy Spirit of God, to indite an Hymn, or a Spiritual Song, and Sing it in the Church with Grace in my heart, and ſo make melody to the Lord, and edifie the Church; yet ſome matter thereof may be doubtful to ſome perſons that hear me Sing it; if that matter be Prophetical, or Myſterious, and they underſtand it not; or if there ſhould be any words or ſentences therein expreſſed, which are not ſound words, [For I pretend not to Sing by the Spirit, otherwiſe than to pray by the Spirit, to wit, as the Spirit helpeth mine Infirmities,] which I may be ſubject p. 80to, and ſo through my Infirmity, may err, or utter ſome unſound words.

Secondly, When I Sing a Pſalm, Hymn, or Spiritual Song, which is written in the holy Scripture of Truth, none but an Atheiſt, or an Atheiſtical Spirit will object againſt the Matter of it; for thoſe Pſalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, were given by Inſpiration of God, and Revelation of the holy Spirit; and I do only tranſlate them into Engliſh Meeter and Meaſure, out of the Hebrew Text, that the Church may Sing them together, with their Voice making Melody to the Lord, by Singing praiſes to the Lord with Grace in their hearts.

Thirdly, The Church cannot practiſe the Lord's Command given by the Apoſtle to thoſe two Churches, and all other Churches of Saints, though they Sing Hymns, and Spiritual Songs, unleſs they alſo Sing Pſalms; which are by the ſame holy Spirit that inſpired David to indite them expounded and interpreted, The Book of Pſalms; and The Pſalms of David, &c. as hath been proved by thoſe Scriptures aforecited, which the Reader is humbly deſired to ſearch.

p. 81CHAP. IV.

Laſtly, THE Lord Jeſus Chriſt having finiſhed the work for which he came into this WORLD, being to leave the WORLD, and return to Heaven, whence he came, Eph. 4.9.10. did at the Requeſt of his Diſciples, Matth. 24.3, 4. foretel them the Signs of his Second Coming, and of the End of this WORLD. The Ending Time of this WORLD, and the Second Coming of Chriſt, have ſome evident Signs ſet upon them. And God hath cauſed thoſe Signs to be Recorded and Written in the holy Scripture of Truth; Firſt, To ſtrengthen the Faith of his People, that they might upon Scripture ground believe that this World ſhall have an End, and that the LORD Jeſus Chriſt will come again from Heaven in Power and great Glory; And Secondly, To leave all Unbelievers without excuſe.

One Sign of the Ending Time of this World, is the laſt and greateſt Apoſtaſie of Profeſſors, and the Laodicean p. 82Lukewarmneſs of Miniſters and Members in the Churches of Chriſt.

The firſt & great Apoſtaſie, which the Apoſtle foretold, was a departing from the Faith of the Goſpel, which Chriſt and his Apoſtles had preached, and which the Churches, their Miniſters and Members had imbraced and profeſſed, 1 Tim. 4.1, 3. Now the Spirit ſpeaketh expreſly, that in the latter times ſome ſhall depart from the faith, giving heed to ſeducing ſpirits, and doctrines of Devils: Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abſtain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thankſgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Which Apoſtaſie happened in the fourth Century, (as Eccleſiaſtical Hiſtorians tell us) when the Church at Rome, and other Churches, their Biſhops, Presbyters and Members departed from the Faith, and fell away from the ſound Doctrine, pure Worſhip, and true Diſcipline of the Goſpel. And then the Apocalyptical Beaſt, the Pope, and the great Whore, Myſtery Babylon the Great, that Mother of Harlots, and the falſe Prophets, thoſe Roman croaking Frogs did begin to Riſe, who afterwards p. 83greatly increaſed in the ten European Kingdoms. See my Book intituled Myſtery-Babylon unvailed, Printed 1679.

But the laſt and greateſt Apoſtaſie noted in the holy Scripture of Truth, is both in Faith and Manners, by Men of corrupt Minds, and carnal Principles, having the Form of Godlineſs, but denying the Power thereof, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5. This know alſo, that in the laſt daies perillous times ſhall come. For men ſhall be lovers of their own ſelves, covetous, boaſters, proud, blaſphemers, diſobedient to Parents, unthankful, unholy, without natura laffection, Truce-breakers, falſe accuſers, incontinent, fierce, deſpiſers of thoſe that are good, Traitors, heady, high-minded, lovers of pleaſures more than lovers of God, having a form of godlineſs, but denying the power thereof: from ſuch turn away. The particle foreign, v. 1. This, likewiſe, or beſides, directs us to look back to the former Epiſtle, ch. 4. v. 1, 2, 3. before-mentioned, to wit, the Time of the firſt Apoſtaſie; In the latter daies, v. 1. But here the Apoſtle ſpeaks of the Time of the Laſt Apoſtaſie, v. 1. That in the laſt daies, &c. The great Inquiry now will be, What p. 84Daies the Apoſtle meant here? I anſwer, My Opinion hereof is, That by the Laſt Daies here, we are to underſtand thoſe three Prophetical Daies and an half of the 1260 Daies that Chriſt's two Witneſſes ſhall propheſie in ſackcloth, Rev. 11.3, 7-12. And I will give power unto my two Witneſſes, and they ſhall propheſie a thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days clothed in ſackcloth. And when they ſhall have finiſhed their Teſtimony, the Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſs Pit, ſhall make War againſt them, and ſhall overcome them, and kill them: And their dead bodies ſhall lie in the ſtreet of the great City, which ſpiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified. And they of the people and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, ſhall ſee their dead bodies three daies and an half, and ſhall not ſuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. And they that dwell upon the Earth, ſhall rejoyce over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth. And after three daies and an half, the Spirit of Life from God entred into them: p. 85And they ſtood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which ſaw them. Read my Expoſition of the Eleventh chapter of the Revelation, publiſhed 1679. Theſe Daies of ſlaying the Witneſſes (are thoſe laſt Daies) and will be perillous Times: For

1. The Roman Beaſt will make war againſt the Witneſſes, and overcome them, and kill them, Rev. 11.7.

2. They will be perillous, hard difficult, dangerous, grievous, and troubleſome Times, or Daies, becauſe the Rights, Liberties and Freedoms of the People will be infringed, and taken from them; and ſuch temptations and ſnares will be laid, whereby mens Liberties, Lives and Eſtates ſhall be in great hazard and danger, Mat. 24.21. & Luk. 21.22, 26, 27.

3. Theſe laſt Daies will be ſo full of amazing Diſtractions, Diſturbances, and Tribulations, that wiſe men ſhall be at their Wits end, not knowing what to do, nor what courſe to take for their own ſafety: And many eminent Profeſſors of Religion will fall off from their former Principles and Practice, and be drawn aſide to follow the p. 86pernicious waies of ungodly men, and ſo fall in with the ſins of thoſe laſt Daies here mentioned, 2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4. foreign, Lovers of their own ſelves. Self-love is the Root of Apoſtaſie, both Political and Eccleſiaſtical. When men of Name began to love themſelves more than their moſt ſolemn Oaths, Vows, and Covenants, more than Truth and Righteouſneſs, more than the good Laws of the Nation, and the juſt Liberties and Rights of the People, then began the laſt and greateſt Political Apoſtaſie. And when men of Eminency for Religion, began to love themſelves more than the Waies and Worſhip of God, more than the Churches and Saints of God, more than Jeſus Chriſt the only begotten Son of God, then began the Eccleſiaſtical Apoſtaſie of thoſe laſt Daies: This is one Sign that Chriſt gave his Diſciples of the Ending Time of this world, Matth. 24.3, 4, 12. And as he ſate upon the Mount of Olives, the Diſciples came unto him privately, ſaying, Tell us when ſhall theſe things be, and what ſhall be the ſign of thy coming, and of the end of the world. And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them, Take heed p. 87that no man deceive you. And becauſe iniquity ſhall abound, the love of many ſhall wax cold. foreign, Covetous, Danaeus in Loc. ſaith, foreign hic à Paulo dicitur, qui ſive aurum, ſive argentum, ſive agros—ſive quaſlibet alias opes ardenter expetit & vitioſe. foreign is often rendred ſtudium pecuniae, the deſire of money. And the love of money, ſaith the Apoſtle, 1 Tim. 6.10. is the root of all evil, which whilſt ſome have coveted after, they have erred from the faith, &c. How much of the ſpirit of the world, and of the things of this world is crept into the hearts of many Profeſſors, and Church-Members in theſe laſt Daies, who conſider not the Teſtimony of the Apoſtle againſt them, 1 Joh. 2.15. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Covetouſneſs is Idolatry, Col. 3.5. Another Character of thoſe Apoſtates of the laſt Daies is Pride, foreign, Proud; ſo are thoſe covetous ſelf-loving Profeſſors, and Church-Members in theſe evil Daies, witneſs the Perriwigs and Petticoats of London Profeſſors, and Sermon hearers in this City. Doth not even Nature it ſelf teach you, that if p. 88a man have long hair, it is a ſhame unto him, 1 Cor. 11.14. Yea it is a ſhame indeed for men profeſſing Godlineſs to wear ſuch long Perriwigs of Womens hair, as ſome men do. What an abomination is it unto the Lord, to ſee an hoary Head covered with long hair, (that hath been cut off from a Whores Head) when he is praying to God, and worſhipping the All-ſeeing God, Heb. 4.13. All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. And doth not the holy Scripture teach Women profeſſing godlineſs, when they come to pray and worſhip Gods, to adorn themſelves in modeſt Apparel, with ſhamefac'dneſs and ſobriety, not with broidered hair—or coſtly Aray, 1 Tim. 2.8, 9, 10, 11, 12. & 1 Pet. 3.3, 4, 5, 6. And more eſpecially in daies of Humiliation and Tribulation (even at ſuch a time as this, which is indeed a perillous time. Read Exod. 33.4, 5, 6, 7. & Iſa. 3.16-24. Another Character of thoſe Apoſtates of the laſt Daies, is Truce-breakers, foreign, Covenant-breakers; ſuch as do break their Oaths, Vows, Promiſes, Ingagements. Oh how guilty have ſome p. 89Courtiers, Counſellors, Souldiers, Mareners, Citizens, Profeſſors, and Church-Members been of thoſe hainous ſins! Read the Army-Remonſtrance 1648. and that Book intituled, A Looking-glaſs for the ARMY; in which Book you may find collected the Vows, Promiſes and Covenants, that thoſe Sword-bearing Profeſſors made, and ſeveral of them brake: To ſay nothing of the Scots and Engliſh Covenants ſo ſolemnly taken in their Pariſh-Churches. Many Profeſſors have broken God's Covenant, as Iſrael did, Jer. 31.23. Which my Covenant they brake. Another Character of the Apoſtates of the laſt Daies, is Falſe-accuſers, foreign, Calumniators, Devils incarnate; ſuch are thoſe falſe witneſſes, that riſe up againſt men; and do falſly accuſe them, Pſal. 35.11. And when may falſe witneſſes do not agree in their Teſtimony, which men ſuborned, at laſt comes other falſe witneſſes, and then the Sentence of Death is given, and afterwards executed. Thus they dealt with the Lord of Life, and put him to death, Matth. 26.59, 60. and with Stephen, Act. 6.11, 12, 13. and ſtoned him to death. Another p. 90Character of the Apoſtates of the laſt Daies, is this, Lovers of Pleaſures more than Lovers of God. Who more than rich Profeſſors for fine Clothes, ſumptuous Houſes, delicate Fare, coſtly Furniture, and Court-faſhions, wherein they have exceeded ſince the Burning of the City; beſides other vain Pleaſures wherein they have delighted themſelves more than in the waies of God and Godlineſs? Amos 6.1. Woe to them that are ſecure in Zion. Ver. 3. Ye that put far away the evil day. V. 4. That lye upon Beds of Ivory. V. 5. That chant to the ſound of the Viol. V. 6. That drink Wine in Bowls—But they are not grieved for the Affliction of Joſeph. The laſt Character of theſe Apoſtates in the laſt Daies, which is a ſign of the Ending-Time of this Evil WORLD, is this, viz. Having a Form of Godlineſs, but denying the Power thereof. To have a Form of Godlineſs, is to hold on in Religious duties, and Goſpel-Ordinances, as Praying in their Families, often hearing Sermons, attending daies of publick Faſting and of Thankſgiving; alſo frequent Aſſembling themſelves with the ſeparated Congregations of p. 91Saints, and therein partake of all Goſpel-Adminiſtrations; ſuch are Sinners in Zion, and Hypocrites, (like them, Iſa. 33.14.) yet are lovers of themſelves, and lovers of Pleaſures more than God, Chriſt, Godlineſs, and the poor afflicted Children of God: Proud-Profeſſors, Covetous Church-Members, Covenant-breakers, and falſe-accuſers, denying the Power of Godlineſs: For, though theſe Apoſtates profeſs they know God, yet in works they deny him, Tit. 1.16. Read Iſa. 1.11, 12, 13, 14, 15. & Iſa. 6.2, 3, 4. I am not againſt the True Form of Godlineſs, that is to ſay, Church-Fellowſhip, and Goſpel Order, and the Worſhip of God in Spirit and in Truth, according to the Conſtitutions of Jeſus Chriſt and his Apoſtles: But I thus ſpeak and write to open and expound the words of this Prophecy.

Another Sign of the Ending-Time of this world, is the abounding of Iniquity among the profane perſons of the world, Mat. 24.3, 12. Tell us what ſhall be the ſign of thy Coming, and of the End of the world; And Jeſus anſwered and ſaid unto them—Iniquity ſhall abound. The p. 92Apoſtle alſo tells us, 1 Joh. 5.19. The whole world lyeth in wickedneſs. Ungodlineſs was the deſtruction of the Old World, Gen. 6.5, 6, 7. And God ſaw that the wickedneſs of man was great in the Earth. V. 5. And the Lord ſaid, I will deſtroy Man—from the face of the Earth. V. 7. The deſtruction of the Old World was by the Flood, but the deſolation of the world that now is ſhall be by Fire. 2 Pet. 3.6, 7. The Earth alſo, and the works that are therein ſhall be burnt up. By Iniquity we are to underſtand thoſe Immoralities, and abominable wickedneſſes that are committed, and practiſed by ungodly men, who declare their ſins as Sodom, and boaſt of their abominations. Now Reader, conſider how doth Iniquity abound, to wit, Adultery, that hath gotten a Whores forehead, which is not aſhamed of that abomination: Alſo profane and falſe-ſwearing, which is an abomination to the Lord, who hateth profane and falſe Oaths: And Drunkenneſs, which ſo unmans men, and ſo effeminates them, that they are thereby fit for nothing but ſinfulneſs, wantonneſs, laſciviouſneſs, and all manner of wickedneſs. Likewiſe oppreſſion, violence, p. 93robbery, injuſtice, bribery, and all ſorts of unrighteouſneſs. Laſtly, Perſecution, Impriſonment, and Baniſhment for Preaching the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and Practiſing the Ordinances of the Goſpel. Do not theſe, Iniquities abound in our daies? I think that the Inhabitants of this Nation do abound in theſe Iniquities, much more than in former Ages.

Another Sign of the Ending-Time of this World, is that great Tribulation, which our bleſſed Saviour ſpake of, Mat. 24.21, 29, 30. This is that hour of Temptation, which Chriſt ſaid ſhall come upon all the world, Rev. 3.10, 11. This day of Tribulation will be a time of trouble, ſuch as never was ſince there was a Nation, even to that ſame time, Dan. 12.1-4. Shut up the words, and ſeal the Book even to the Time of the End. The Tribulation of the People of God, will be the War that the Roman Beaſt will make againſt Chriſt's two Prophetical Witneſſes, wherein he ſhall overcome them, and kill them, Rev. 11.7. See my Expoſition of that Chapter and Verſe, Printed 1679. And the Tribulation of the Roman Beaſt, p. 94the great Whore, and the falſe Prophet will be the ſeven Vials of the laſt Plagues of God Almighty, which ſhall be poured forth upon Myſtery Babylon the great, Rev. 16.17, 18, 19, 20, 21. And the ſeventh Angel poured out his Vial into the Air, and there came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven from the Throne, ſaying, It is done. And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings: And there was a great Earthquake, ſuch as was not ſince men were upon the Earth, ſo mighty an Earthquake, and ſo great. And the great City was divided into three parts, and the Cities of the Nations fell, and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the Cup of the Wine of the fierceneſs of his wrath. And every Iſland fled away, and the Mountains were not found. And there fell upon men a great Hail out of Heaven, every ſtone about the weight of a talent, and men blaſphemed God becauſe of the Plague of the Hail; for the Plague thereof was exceeding great. And immediately after the Tribulation of theſe daies, they ſhall ſee the Son of Man coming in the Clouds of Heaven with power and great glory, Matth. 24. p. 95v. 29, 30. Then will Chriſt take unto him his great Power and Reign; he will create New Heavens, and a New Earth, wherein dwells Righteouſneſs, Iſa. 65.17. & 66.22. 2 Pet. 3.13. & Rev. 21.2-5. And he that ſate upon the Throne ſaid, Behold I make all things New. Now this New Creation is the WORLD to come.

CHAP. V. Of Separation.

§ 1.

GOD did ſeparate his Antient People the Jews from all other People in the World, to be his peculiar People, to worſhip him according to his Inſtitutions and Commandments, Levit. 20.24, 26. And God hath commanded the Believing Gentiles to be ſeparated from Idolaters, and Unbelievers, or Infidels, and to have no Communion or Fellowſhip with them in any falſe Worſhip, 2 Cor. 6.14-18.

p. 96§ 2.

But though Believers may be, and ought to abide ſeparated from the Worſhip and Worſhippers of Idols in their Temples,(a)(a)2 Cor. 6.16, 17.2 Cor 6:162 Cor 6:17 and from the Worſhip of the Unbelieving Jews in their Synagogues;(b)(b)Act. 19.8, 9.Acts 19:8Acts 19:9 And alſo from the Worſhip and Worſhippers of the Beaſt, or his Image,(c)(c)Rev. 14.9, 10. & 20.4.Rev 14:9Rev 14:10Rev 20:4 and from the Aſſemblies of all falſe Worſhippers, and from all falſe Worſhip; yet ſanctified Believers ought not to ſeparate themſelves from the true Churches of God, and of his Saints, that Worſhip him in Spirit and in Truth, and walk in the Faith and Order of the Goſpel, according to the Rule of the written Word of God, ſo far as they have attained.

§ 3.

The moſt pure Churches of Saints on Earth, are ſubject to mixture; ſome falſe Brethren may creep into a Church of Chriſt unawares,(d)(d)Gal. 2.4.Gal 2:4 and ſome falſe Teachers too,(e)(e)2 Tim. 3.1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8.2 Tim 3:12 Tim 3:22 Tim 3:32 Tim 3:42 Tim 3:52 Tim 3:8 Men of corrupt minds, and corrupt manners alſo.(f)(f)2 Cor. 2.17.2 Cor 2:17 And p. 97there may be ſome Errours in Doctrine, and ſome Evils in Converſation among them; as there was among ſome of the Churches of Chriſt in Aſia, in the Apoſtles time,(g)(g)Rev. 2.14, 15, 20, 24.Rev 2:14Rev 2:15Rev 2:20Rev 2:24 But yet Believers ought not to ſeparate themſelves from thoſe Churches of Saints, whereof they are Members for thoſe Errours in Doctrine, or Evils in Converſation, until they have firſt, faithfully and orderly born their teſtimony againſt them; ſecondly, until they have humbly entreated the Church, and the Miniſters thereof, to Reform thoſe things that are amiſs among them; and thirdly, until the Church, and the Miniſters thereof, do utterly Refuſe to Reform thoſe Errours in Doctrine, and thoſe Evils in Converſation among them.

§ 4.

The Miniſters and Members of the Churches of God ought to imitate Chriſt in this matter, and to follow his ſteps. Our LORD Jeſus Chriſt did ſee many things amiſs in ſome of the Churches in Aſia, viz. unſound Doctrines, and corrupt Manners; to wit, p. 98the Doctrine and Deeds of the Nicolaitans, which Chriſt hated, &c. But notwithſtanding Chriſt did not preſently forſake thoſe Churches, nor did he command any of the Miniſters, or Members thereof to ſeparate themſelves from them; neither did Chriſt blame any Believers that were ſound in their Judgments, and holy in their Converſations for holding Communion with thoſe Churches. But Jeſus Chriſt did, firſt, bear his Teſtimony againſt thoſe Errours in Doctrine, and Corruptions in Converſation. Secondly, Chriſt called upon the Church and Angel to Repent, and Reform what was amiſs. And Thirdly, Chriſt gave them ſpace to Repent, and waited for their Amendment, before he did forſake them. Read the ſecond and third chapters of the Revelation: And therefore I conclude, That none of the Miniſters nor Members of any true Church of God ought to ſeparate themſelves from the Church; nor ought they to forſake the Aſſembling of themſelves with the Church, nor abſent themſelves from any part of the true Worſhip of God, nor turn p. 99their back of any Goſpel-Ordinance of Chriſt in the Church, becauſe of Offence againſt any Member or Miniſter in the Church: But they ought to bear, and have patience, and to wait upon Chriſt and his Church, until ſuch Offenders be orderly proceeded againſt, and thoſe offences be reformed or removed by the Laws of God's Houſe: Or elſe until the Candleſtick be removed out of its place, for ſuffering thoſe Errours in Doctrine, or Corruptions in Manners and Converſation; and for adding impenitency unto ſuch impiety & iniquity ſuffered and indulged in the Church by the Miniſters therein, and by the Members thereof, to the diſhonour of God, the ſcandal of the Goſpel, and the great offence and grief of the godly, who have walked orderly, and have not defiled their Garments, but have watched and kept themſelves unſpotted of the world, and uncorrupted with thoſe Evils in the Church; which would not be healed, and therefore ought to be forſaken and ſeparated from, by the faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, and all the holy People of God. Seeing then that the Ending Time of this evil p. 100world will be ſo perillous, and a Day of ſo great Tribulation, I do intreat both unconverted Sinners, and ſanctified Believers, to ſuffer a word of Exhortation. I do therefore exhort unconverted Sinners, upon whom the End of this WORLD is coming by Death, or Diſſolution, That you would come to Chriſt, Believe in Jeſus Chriſt, and Repent of your ſins.

Firſt, I exhort you to come to Chriſt; for there is not ſalvation in any other, Acts 4.12. If you will not come to Chriſt whilſt you live, you will certainly go to Hell when you dye, Pſal. 9.17.

Some poor ſinner haply will ſay, Alas! I am a vile ſinful ſinner; I am unworthy, may I preſume to come unto Chriſt? Yes, Jeſus Chriſt who came into the world to ſave the chiefeſt of ſinners, doth invite all, that will, to come unto him, Iſa. 55.1, 2, 3. & Rev. 22. v. 17. But if I do come unto Chriſt, will he not refuſe me, and reject me, and caſt me off? No! Joh. 6.37. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wiſe caſt out. Some poor loſt ſinner may haply ſay, Indeed I ſee a great need of Chriſt to juſtifie me, and to ſanctifie me, and p. 101to ſave me; but I know not how to come to Chriſt; I cannot come to Chriſt; what ſhall I do? I anſwer, It is true, no man can come to Chriſt, except the Father draw him, John 6.44. but God the Father doth draw ſinners unto Chriſt with his Cords of Love, Jer. 31.3. Yea, I have loved thee with an everlaſting Love; therefore with loving-kindneſs have I drawn thee. Though thou canſt not come to Chriſt, yet know, that the Lord Jeſus Chriſt can, and will come to thee, and teach thee to go to him, as he did Ephraim, Hoſ. 11.3, 4. The danger is not in thy own Inability, that thou canſt not come to Chriſt, accept of Chriſt, and take Chriſt upon Goſpel-terms of Free Grace: but thy ſouls danger lyeth in thy own unwillingneſs, Thou wilt not come to Chriſt; this Jeſus Chriſt complained of, John 5.40. But ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. Ah! woe's me, ſaith the poor loſt ſinner; If I were ſo deeply humbled for my ſins; if I had a ſoft, broken, penitent heart; if I could get victory over my corruptions, then I ſhould be willing to come to Chriſt for pardon, and for ſalvation; p. 102but theſe things hinder me, and diſcourageth me from coming to Chriſt; I am aſhamed to come; I am afraid to come; I confeſs I am unwilling to come; yet know, God and Chriſt is willing that thou ſhouldeſt come, Mat. 11.28. And ere long, the Day of God's Power will come upon thee; and then thou wilt be willing, Pſal. 110.3. Thy People ſhall be willing in the Day of thy Power.

Secondly, I exhort you to believe in Chriſt. When the Jaylor asked Paul and Silas, and ſaid, Sirs, What muſt I do to be ſaved? They ſaid, Believe on the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and thou ſhalt be ſaved, Acts 16.30, 31. This is that glad Tydings of the Goſpel, which Chriſt hath commanded and commiſſioned his Miniſters to Preach unto every creature, Mark 16.15, 16. He that believes ſhall be ſaved, but he that believes not ſhall be damned. There is an abſolute neceſſity of believing in Jeſus Chriſt unto ſalvation; for without faith it is impoſſible to pleaſe God, Heb. 11.6. Alas! ſaith a poor ſinner, I cannot Believe, I know not how to Believe; what ſhall I do to Believe? I anſwer, p. 103Faith is not of our ſelves, it is not of works, but it is the Gift of God, Eph. 2.8, 9, 10. The Faith of the Operation of God, Col. 2.12. It is the exceeding greatneſs of his mighty power, Eph. 1.19, 20. The ſame Almighty Power of God, that raiſed Jeſus Chriſt from the dead, muſt raiſe the ſoul of a ſinner from the death of ſin, unto the life of Righteouſneſs. The ſoul being dead in treſpaſſes and ſins, muſt be quickened together with Chriſt, and raiſed together with Chriſt, Eph. 2.5, 6.

Thirdly, I exhort you to Repent of your ſins. Repentance is alſo the Gift of God, Act. 11.18. Then hath God alſo to the Gentiles, granted Repentance unto life. Evangelical Repentance is a godly ſorrow for ſin, or a ſorrowing for ſin after a godly manner, 2 Cor. 7.9, 10. For godly ſorrow worketh Repentance to ſalvation, &c. which Goſpel-Repentance conſiſts of confeſſion of ſins to God, contrition, and mourning for ſins before God, and turning from ſins unto God with our whole heart, and with our whole man, in Spirit, Soul and Body.

And I do exhort ſanctified Believers, p. 104to prepare themſelves to leave this world, and to enjoy the world to come. Noah did prepare himſelf, all the time he was building the Ark, by being a juſt and perfect man, and walking with God, Gen. 6.9. for the Ending Time of this world draws near: And the End of our natural life is to us the End of this World: And that we may be prepared, we ought to dye daily to ſin, to ſelf, and to this evil world; And we muſt live to God, live God in Chriſt Jeſus, Titus 2.11, 12, 13, 14. For the Grace of God that bringeth ſalvation, hath appeared to all men, teaching us, that denying ungodlineſs, and worldly luſts, we ſhould live ſoberly, righteouſly, and godly in this preſent world; looking for that bleſſed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God, and our Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, who gave himſelf for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purifie unto himſelf a peculiar people, zealous of good works.