Truth Held Forth and Maintained, Part 1 · Chapter 25
CHAP. XXV. Concerning the Church of Christ, and Goſpel Order in the Government of the Church of Chriſt.
IN the World among men of divers Perſwaſions, each Society pretends to be the Church of Chriſt, and each have their differing Forms to govern in their Church. Now Chriſt is but one in God the …ather, and ſo are his Children but one in him, who are begotten by the quickening Word of his Spirit, which governs the Righ…ous in Thought, Word and Deed, by which they know his government in his Church, which are the true People of God, in whom Chriſt is glorified, John 17.9, 10, 11. for as God is but one in Chriſt, and Chriſt is but one in God, ſo are the People of God but one in Chriſt, and Chriſt is but one in them; for as their Body is the Temple of the living God, he hath ſaid, That he will dwell in them, and walk in them, and will be their God, and th…y ſhall be his People, 2 Cor 6.16. Then Gods People, begotten by him, through their Fa…h and Obedience to the gift of his Grace, in and through Chriſt Jeſus, by whom, through Grace, his People are of an upright heart and willing mind, to part with all that is not agreeable to his holy Will, who will not take up his abode in men of corrupt hearts, whoſe minds are not free to part with every delight to gain Chriſt, and only to delight in the performing of his holy Will, who knocks at the door of mans heart, for obedience to his holy Truth, which if any man will obey the Word of his Grace, he ſpiritually will come in and ſup with them, and they with him, Rev. 3.20. Then the Table of the Lord is in a clean heart, and with them of a willing mind; for Chriſt will not enter the Door to remain (for his abode) with them of corrupt hearts and unwilling minds, whoſe ſtate is alway to confeſs, but never to forſake all ſin againſt God and his Chriſt, neither doth the most High dwell in Temples made with hands, Acts 7.4.8. & 17.24. For thus ſaith the high and lofty One, that inhabiteth Eternity, whoſe Name is holy, I dwell in the High and Holy Place, with him alſo that is of a contrite and humble Spirit, and revive the heart of the contrite Ones, Iſa. 57.15. But to this Man will I look, even to him that is poor, and of a contrite Spirit, and Trembles at my Word. Iſa. 66.2. By which it is manifeſt, that God in Chriſt, by the Grace of his Spirit of Life and Light, dwelleth not in outward Covenants, made by men in their own time and will, whoſe hope of Salvation (as they ſay depends on the Promiſes of God by Chriſt, who is not to be found in all their humane Precepts and Ordinances, which from time to time, for many years, People have obſerved, which to the D… obedient, the Lords coming to them will be, even as his coming was to a Generation in days paſt, whom ſavingly he did not know, becauſe their works and way was not in obedience to his holy Commands, for which cauſe, though many Works by them were done in the outward Profeſſion of his Name, yet they were commanded to depart from him, as workers of Iniquity, becauſe they had not kept the Commandment of God, Mat. 7.23. Luke 13.22, 27. for the Works of their own eſtabliſhing were found unclean before the Lord, even as all mens works will be, which are not eſtabliſhed by the Power of Gods Spirit, in and through the Lord of Life, whoſe Life is only witneſſed in men of clean hearts and willing minds, who are made willling that Chriſt ſhould rule every Thought of the Heart and Intent of the Mind, that all their Works may be done to the Honour and Praiſe of his own Name, and they to receive the Comfort of it to their own Souls; in which ſtate of Obedience they witneſs the Cords of Gods Love to draw the heart and mind in to a more and more fellowſhip of his divine Nature, in and through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, by which they remain in the true Worſhip of the Spirit, and in the Truth, and ſuch Worſhippers are they whom the Lord ſeeks to worſhip him, Joh. 4 22, 23, 24. & 6.44 Then the true Church and People of God witneſs a drawing by his Spirit, or the Power of his Spirit, in and through the Lord of Life, otherways they cannot rece…ve Life; for no man cometh to the Son, except the Father draw him, for all things of the Father are delivered unto the Son, and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father, neither knoweth any man the Father, ſave the Son, and he to whomſoever the Son reveals him. Therefore all that will come to the knowledge of God by Jeſus Chriſt, it muſt be through Faith and Obedience to the gift of Gods Spirit of Grace, which comes by Jeſus Chriſt, under whoſe eafie Yoke and light Burthen all may learn of him, who is meek and lowly, whereby they that are heavy laden may come to find rest in him to their Souls, Mat. 11.27, 28, 29, 30. for by and through the Power of God in Chriſt, every obedient Child learns of the will and mind of God in Chri…, Joh. 6.45. by which Life and Salvation cometh to them that believe, neither is there any true Believers, but as they are come to witneſs, in meaſure, of the like ſtate; for he that hath not received the Son, hath not received the knowledge of God by the Son, through whom every true Believer in him receives Life; for he that hath the Son, hath Life, and he that hath not the Son of God, hath not Life, 1 Joh. 5.12.
Now they that have received this Life, they manifeſt it by fruits of a holy Life, in all manner of holy Converſation, doing no other to another, then as themſelves are willing to be done unto; for as the outward Tree is manifeſted by its fruits, ſo is every mans works manifeſted by the outward manner of Life; for Grapes of Thorns, nor Figs of Thiſtles can no man expect to gather, neither is any mans Faith accepted of God without Works of Obedience to his holy Will; for as the Body is dead, without the Spirit, in the ſight of men, ſo is Faith, without Works of Obedience, alſo dead in the ſight of God, Mat. 7.16, 17, 18, 19. James 2. Then where Faith is, without Works of Obedience, they cannot perform the Commands of God by the Power of his own Spirit, in and through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, that Church and People remain in a dead Faith to God, who is not a God to that which is dead, but a God to that which is living, in true Obedience to the mani…eſtation of his Spirit, which they have received to profit withal, 1 Cor. 12.7. for as in the time of the Law, there was means for the Peoples outward cleanſing, who were to remain without the Camp, as not fit for the ſervice of Gods Worſhip, before they were cleanſed of their Filth, Lev. 13.46. & 23 42, 43. Neh. 8.14. even ſo in this Goſpel Day, is no man fit for the ſervice of Gods Worſhip in Spirit and Truth, before he comes to witneſs ſomething of an inward cleanſing, through the little Leaven, whereby (through Faith and Obedience to his Talent received) he will come to witneſs more and more of Gods Power by Jeſus Chriſt, until the whole Lump be leavened into the new Nature of Gods Kingdom in Jeſus Chriſt, which only belongs to them of his Church, who are not in a ſtate of always confeſſing, and never ſo faking; but as the true Church acknowledgeth her Weakneſſes and Inabil…t…es, as of themſelves not able to do any one work acceptable to God, ſo through Faith and Obedience to the Word and …ower of God, by Jeſus Chriſt (through his Grace) are they made able to do all things, according to what the Lord of his Church and …eople requires; ſo that they remain not in a ſtate of always confeſſing what great Sinners they are, but withal forſake their ſins, in Obedience to God, whoſe Power gives Victory over their ſins, in which ſtate they grow from one degree of Grace to another, till they become perfect Men and Women in Chriſt Jeſus, which is according to the Apoſtles Doctrine, who were ſent of God by Jeſus Chriſt, to turn People f…m Darkneſs to Light, and from the Power of Satan to the Power of God, and praying, that they may preſent every man perfect in Chriſt Jeſus, whoſe Church and People are not to remain in ſin all the days of their appointed time here in this Life; and therefore many Teachers of this Age with their Hearers, are out of Gods holy Truth, in the Doctrine of Imperfection, and even ſo is the Life and Practice of many who call themſelves by the Name of Chriſt, to ſay, that their Church is the Church of Chriſt, when in neither Doctrine, Principle nor Practice are they according to the Command of Chriſt, nor Example of his holy Apoſtles, but in a faith of their own Works, teaching for Doctrine the Commandments of men, Mat. 5.19. But the Church of Chriſt are they of the Circumciſion, which worſhip God in Spirit, and rejoyce in Chriſt eſus, having no Confidence in the fl…ſh, Phil 3.3. and in all things relating to the Worſhip of God and Government in his Church, are they led and guided by the Power of Gods Spirit, in and through the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, who ever was, and will rem…in to be the Head of his Church, whom God hath bu…lt upon that Rock of Ages, and Foundation of many Generations, againſt which the Gates of Hell can never prevail, for he is the firſt born of God whom the Father hath put all things under his feet and gave him to be Head in all things over his Church; ſo that in him is the fullneſs, that filleth all in all, Epheſ. 1 22, 23. for he is the Head of the Body, the Church, who is the beginning, the firſt and the laſt, the firſt born …rom the Dead, that in all things he may have the Preheminence; for it pleaſ…d the Father, that in him ſhould all fullneſs dwell, Col 1.18 19. for he is the Head of his Church, from which all the Body, by joynts and bands, have nouriſhment miniſtred increaſeth with the increaſe of God, Col. 2.19. which increaſeth the knowledge of God in Chriſt, that not any one Member of the Body may be ignorant in ſpiritual things; and as every one hath received the true Knowledge and Faith of Chriſt, the Spirit of Chriſt will enable and move them to confeſs with the Mouth, God and Chriſt, in whom they have believed, and openly to confeſs and profeſs, without fear or ſhame, the Doctrine of Chriſt; & ſuch have their Minds wholly given upto wait the movings of Chriſt, the Head, through whoſe Power the ſpiritual Underſtanding in each Member, comes to receive the true knowledge, in things relating to the well-fair of the Body; for no man can truly ſay that Jeſus i… the Lord, but by the holy Ghoſt, 1 Cor. 12 3.
Which doth manifeſt, that there cannot be the performing of any one Work, by any one Member, which will be …ted of God, but as they receive Power from the gift of his Spirit by Jeſus Chriſt, who is the Head, by which the whole Body of true Believers witneſs his Government, in which Body, as every Member keeps faithful to the Head, it comes to know a true Government in its right place belonging to the Body, of which Chriſt remains the Head; for as every Member of the Body keeps faithful to the gift of Gods Spirit, he is ſerviceable, according to the meaſure of his gift, which is of ſervice to the whole Body, in which Body each Member hath his gift, according to that meaſure which God …ath given him to p…o…t with…; for there are dive…ſ…ies of Gifts but the ſame Spirit; and there are differences of Adminiſtrations, but the ſame Lord; and there are diverſities of Operations, but …he ſame God, which worketh all in all; for the manifeſtation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal; for to one is given by the Spirit, the Word of Wiſdom, to another the Word of Knowledge, by the ſame Spirit; to another the working of Miracles, to another Propheſie, to another the Diſcerning of Spirits, to another divers kinds of Tongues, to another the Interpretation of Tongues; but all theſe worketh, that one and the ſelf-ſame Spirit, dividing to every man ſeverally as he will; for as the Body is one, and hath many Members, and all the Members of that one Body being many, are one Body, ſo alſo is Chriſt; for by one Spirit are all the faithful baptized into one Body, whether Jews or Gentiles, Bond or Free, and have been all made to drink into one Spirit; for the Body is not one Member, but many; for if the Foot ſhall ſay, becauſe I am not the Hand, I am not of the Body, is it not therefore of the Body? And if the Ear ſhall ſay, becauſe I am not the Eye, I am not of the Body, is it therefore not of the Body? for if the whole Body were an Eye, where were the hearing? or … whole Body were hearing, where were the ſmelling? But now hath God ſet the Members every one of them in the B…y, as it hath pleaſed him; for if they were all one M…ber, where were the Body? But now are they many M…mbers, yet one Body, and the Eye cannot ſay to the H…, I have no need of thee; nor again, the Head to the …, I have no need of thee; nay, much more, thoſe Members of the Body which ſeem to be more feeble, are neceſſary; and thoſe Members of the Body which we think to be leſs honourable, upon theſe we beſtow more abundant honour, and our uncomely parts have more abundant comelineſs, for our comely parts have no need, but …od hath tempered the Body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacke…, that there ſhould be no ſchiſm in the Body, but that the Members ſhould have the ſame care one of another, and then where one Member ſuffers all the Members ſuffer with it, and when one Member is honoured, all the Members rejoyce with it.
Now the Church of Chriſt, which are the choſen People of God, they are the Body of Chriſt, and Members in particular, and God hath ſet ſome in the Church, firſt, Apoſtles, ſecondly, Prophets, th…rdly Teachers; after that Miracles, then gifts of H…aling, H…lps, Government, Diverſity of Tongues; a… all A…oſtles? are all Prophets? are all Teachers? are all Workers of M…racles, having all the gifts of Healing? Do all ſpeak with T…n…es? do all Interpret? but covet earneſtly the beſt Gifts: And yet ſhew I unto you a more excellent way; though I ſpeak with the Tongues of Men and A…gel, and have not Charity; I am become as ſounding Braſs, or a tinckling …mbal, and though I have the gift of Prophecy, and underſta…d all Myſteries, and all Knowledge; and though I have all Faith, ſo that I could remove Mountains, and have no Charity, I am nothing: And though I beſlow all my goods to feed the Po…r, and though I give my Body to be burnt, and hav… Charity, it profiteth me nothing. So that theſe thing left recorded by the Spirit of God, with which every faithful Believer, which is a Member of the Body, re… his Duty, to follow Chriſt the Head, even as the Men of God in days paſt have done for Example, 1 cap. 12, 13. in which holy Work the hol… Scriptures… great help; for through Faith in Chriſt J…ſus they are to make the Man of God wiſe to Salvation; for of the N… of God and Chriſt is every true Believer, begotten by and by his Spirit, gifted in meaſure, and are to mark that live not up in good Works of Faith, to the w… Gods holy Truth, according as it is manifeſted by … Chriſt, and left recorded by his Spirit of Tru…h, w… hath commanded each Member of the Body, to w… over one another, not for evil, but for good, and i… Member be out of place, the next Members are to ſee… the way of the Lord, for to reſtore it into its place ag… but when all diligent care and means hath been uſe… its reſtoration, and with long waiting cannot be recov… but remains in a ſtate of diſhonour to the Body, the … is to cut off that Member, in obedience to God, by w… means all the other Members of the Body may receiv… nefit in the Work of the Lord, by by caſting that … from the Body, which hath offended the whole Body, by all the other Members of the Body cannot be reſ… to the Body again; for its better that one Member … periſh, than that the whole Body ſhould be caſt into Hell, 5.29. & 18.8. Mark 9.47. So that of what uſe for that Member hath been, as to the benefit of the E… whether as the right …ye or the right Hand, yet if o… …orrupted, and cannot be recoved by all the other M… …ers of the Body, it is not to remain whereby to deſtroy …he who…e Body, and to cauſe it to periſh. So that all is …o be done by and through the gift of Wiſdom, which is from him who is the great Phyſitian of Value; ſo that all …e to ſtand faithful upon their Watch, and to watch over one another for good, and not for evil, that all may be done to the praiſe and honour of Gods Name, and for the Proſperity of his Truth, in and among his choſen People, which are the Church of Chriſt, among whom there can …e no real forgiving of each other, further than thy Brother turns to thee, and ſays, he does Repent; for the Lord forgiveth no man, but as he doth turn by Obedience, and Repent. So that al… may live ſo as to keep out that Canker Worm of Prejudice, which hath caten up ſome, till they are become nothing, as to the Life and Power of Gods ſaving. Truth by Jeſus Chriſt, but are turned with the Dog to the Vomit, and with the Sow to the wallowing in the Mire; ſuch went out from the People of God, becauſe they never were of the Church of Chriſt, but remain as Land-marks, and not as Way-marks for any of the Lords People to follow; ſo there is no unbinding that on Earth which is … unbound in Heaven, neither binding that on Earth which is not bound in Heaven, but that all may be done to the Honour of God, and Proſperity of his Truth, whoſe People are to pray, that in all their Undertakings for his Truth, the Will of God by them may be done on Earth, as it is done in Heaven, through which he will have the Honour of his own Work, and they the Comfort of it to their own Souls, which I deſire may be fulfilled.
When all the ſcattered Sheep ſhall come
Into that Fold, in which are ſome,
Then will the faithfull come to ſee
Chriſts Church in glorious State to be.