The Leper and the Lepers House Cleansed, Part 9
PART IX.
Thus having diſpatch'd what related to the Diſeaſe of the Houſe, which was a Leproſie; together with what the Inhabitant in it was to do upon the breaking forth of the Diſeaſe, namely, he was to go to the Priest, and ſay, It ſeems to me that there is as it were a Plague in the Houſe.
WE next come to the Grounds and Reaſons why the Inhabitant of the Houſe was to make ſuch a Diſcovery of the Plague to the Prieſt. The Reaſon was this, (viz.) To preſerve the things in the Houſe from the like Infection, Lev. 14. 36. Then the Priest ſhall command that they empty the Houſe before the Priest go in to ſee the Plague, that all that is in the Houſe be not made Ʋnclean. Now if we apply this to the ſpiritual Houſes of Jeſus Chriſt, it will afford us this profitable Obſervation:
Doct. That it is the Duty of the Churches of Christ, who are ſound and healthy in the Faith, (in order to their Preſervation) to keep as much at a diſtance as they can, from ſuch Churches as are corrupted, and will not be healed.
The Truth of this Obſervation appears both from the Old and New Teſtament:
First, From the Old Teſtament, when the ten Tribes became Corrupt with Idolatry, through their Compliance with Jeroboam's Calves at Dan and Bethel, who had ſeveral Prophets of the Lord ſent to them, to reduce them to their Obedience again, but would not be reclaimed; upon this Refuſal, God ſends an Exhortation to the Church of Judah, not to do as Iſrael had done, Hoſea 4. 15. Though Iſrael play the Harlot, yet let not Judah offend. But to prevent Judah, from being defiled with Iſrael's Pollution, a thorough Separation is enjoyned upon Judah, that their Communion with the ten Tribes might not occaſion their Pollution with the ſame Idolatry, Hoſ. 4. 15. with 17 Ver. Come ye not unto G…lgal, neither go ye up to Bethaven; Ephraim is joyned to Idols, let him alone. I know, that ſome are of the Opinion, that this 17 Verſe is to be applied to the Prophet Hoſea, he only was to let Ephraim alone, ſo as not to Preach or Propheſie to them any more, ſeeing they would ſtill be a rebellious Houſe; but who ever ſhall compare Chap. 1. Ver. 9, with the 4 Chap. and the 15, 16, 17 Ver. muſt needs conclude, that it was Judah's Separation from the ten Idolatrous Tribes, which was principally intended in theſe Texts.
Secondly, The like Truth will the New Teſtament afford us; for if we conſider the Church of Rome in its original and firſt Plantation, none can deny but that it was a famous Goſpelchurch of Jeſus Chriſt, and one of the Golden-candleſticks amongſt which he delighted to walk; for we read that their Faith was ſpoken of throughout the World, Rom. 1. 8. but withal, you may read, when they became a leprous Church, and would not be healed, are then all the ſound People of God required to ſeparate from her, Rev. 18. 4. And I heard another Voice from Heaven, ſaying, Come out of her my People, that ye be not Partakers of her Sins, and that ye receive not of her Plagues.
Queſt. But what kind of Corruption is it, which will warrant our Separation from any Church in order to our Preſervation?
Anſ. That moſt of our Divines do agree in this, that a Churches Corruption in the Doctrine of the Goſpel, and will not be reformed; this gives Warrant for our Separation from ſuch a Church. And, that a Separation from ſuch a Church appears to be our Duty, will appear from theſe Grounds:
First, Becauſe of the Reaſon which is given in the Caſe of the Levitical Houſe, Lev. 14. 36. Ye ſhall empty the Houſe, that all that is in the Houſe be not made Vnclean. But ſpiritual Pollution is the moſt dangerous of all, it ſeizeth the ſpiritual part, therefore the more to be abandoned; Nature teacheth Men to avoid the Plague, which only endangereth the Body; and ought we not much more avoid that Plague which doth inevitably endanger our Souls to our eternal Dammage? A corporal Leproſie doth only ſhut out the Diſeaſed from Communion with Men, but a ſpiritual Leproſie, ſhuts Men out from Communion with God, Iſa. 59. 2. But your Iniquities have ſeparated between you and your God, and your Sins have hid his Face from you, that he will not hear. God can Love us, Comfort us, and hold Communion with us, under the greateſt outward Pollution that can light upon our outward Man; but he can neither Love us, or Delight in us, not hold the leaſt Fellowſhip with us, in our allowed Sins.
2d Reaſon.] Why we ought to ſeparate from corrupt Churches, if unreclaimable, becauſe, otherwiſe, we make our ſelves Partakers with them in their evil Deeds, for we ought not to partake with other Mens Sins, Rev. 18. 4. Partake not with her in her Sins.
3d Reaſon.] Becauſe if we partake with others in their Sins, we are liable to partake with them in the Puniſhment which God ſhall inflict upon them for the ſame, Rev. 18. 4. Partake not with her in her Sins, lest ye partake of her Plagues. God hath Plagues for Apoſtatizing Churches, and Puniſhments for thoſe that ſhall ioyn with them: Good Jehoſhaphat's joyning with an Idolatrous Ahab, was like to coſt him his Life; God will puniſh the Circumciſed with the Uncircumc…ſed, if they be both found in one Tranſgreſſion.
4th Reaſon.] Why we muſt ſeparate from unreclaimable corrupted Churches, is, becauſe in ſo doing we are Witneſſes for God againſt their evil Deeds: You may read, that when the Church of Rome became a corrupt Church, firſt, God gave his reformed People a Call to ſeparate from her, Rev. 18. 4. And, ſecondly, Stirs up his People to be Witneſſes againſt her, Rev. 11. 6.
And ſo we come to the Application: Vſe, From all that hath been ſaid upon this Point, let us learn theſe four Leſſons:
1st, Let us learn to be Humble. 2dly, Fruitful. 3dly, Thankful. And, 4thly, Watchful.
First, Let us learn to be Low and Humble in our own Eyes, many of us may have Parts, Gifts and Graces, enough to make us to forget our ſelves, if the Lord, by a ſtrong Hand upon our Hearts, did not keep us Humble. Oh! remember that all your Advancements are of Free-grace, you have nothing which you can call your own but your Sins, therefore have you nothing of your own to be proud of, or to glory in, unleſs you will glory in your Shame; your Sins are yours, and your Corruptions are yours, and your inward Thoughts are full of Rottenneſs, and can you boaſt of this? And what you have beſides this, is none of yours but God's; And will you be proud of that which Free-grace hath beſtowed upon you? Doth not the Apoſtle ſay, Who is it which makes thee to differ? And what haſt thou which thou haſt not received? You yet retain the Eſſentials of a Church, whileſt others have loſt theirs, and you yet ſtand when ſome other Churches are dropt to the Ground, you yet retain the Soundneſs of the Doctrine of the Goſpel, and good Diſcipline according to the Order of the Goſpel is upheld amongſt you, when both Doctrine and good Diſcipline are almoſt worn to nothing in ſome other Churches: Oh! be not High-minded, but fear: Oh! remember that you are as liable to fall from your Stedfaſtneſs as any Church which hath fallen before you; and you are liable to the worſt of Errors and Corruption both in Doctrine and Diſcipline as well as others, and you ſtand by Faith, ſaith the Apoſtle: Oh! take heed, becauſe you are never nearer Ruine, than when your Gifts, Parts and Priviledges do lift you up, Luke 10. 15. And thou Capernaum, which art exalted to Heaven, ſhall be thrust down into Hell.
Secondly, Let it teach us Fruitfulneſs, becauſe there is nothing which will preſerve your ſtanding more than this; not to receive the Truth in the Love of it, is the ready way to loſe it, and to be given up to believe Lies, that you may be Damned, 2 Theſſ. 2. 11, 12. and not to hear the Word mixed with Faith, is the ready way to loſe the Faith at laſt; it's the Barrenneſs of the Vineyard which makes the Huſbandman to throw it open to the wild Beaſts, which was the Threatning of God to his Iſrael of old, Iſa. 5. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 Ver. therefore look to it, that your Hearts and Lives be fruitful; God will not be put off with the fruitleſs Leaves of an empty outward Profeſſion, Matt. 21. 19. When once we let go the Power and Life of Religion, and think to pleaſe God with an empty Form of Godlineſs, he will ſ…ew ſuch Churches, or particular Church-members out of his Mouth, Rev. 3. 16. Oh! let us labour for a ſpirit of Zeal and Fervency in all we do for God; let the Heart-ſearching God, ſee more of our Sincerity, Faith, and Love to him, in all the Duties of our Obedience which we direct to him, with more of our Self-denia, Meekneſs, Mercy, Charity and Holineſs in our Converſations before him: Oh! account not your ſelves truly ſafe, longer than you are anſwering the ends of your ſpiritual Priviledges; you have had much from God, many choice Ordinances, many a precious Waterings, many rich Gifts and Graces. all which do call ſor great Fruitfulneſs: Oh! have a care, that for theſe golden Doilars, you pay him not off with a ſew braſs Counters again at laſt.
Thirdl…, Let it learn you the Duty of Thankfulneſs to God, that you are yet a People, bearing his Name upon you, and that you are yet Churches and Houſes ſtanding in the Faith of our Lord Jeſus; and eſpecially, let us bleſs God for this, namely, in that he hath made ſuch proviſion for our Preſervation, to keep us from that Corruption which hath ſo much endangered other Churches, which Proviſion lieth in that Precept of his, Rev. 18. 4. with 2 Cor. 6. 16, 18. requiring our Separation from other infected Churches that will not be …aled. What a ſad condition had the reformed Churches been in, who lived in the Bowels of the Roman Apoſtacy, if they might not have had liberty to ſeparate from them? But, you hear, it was not only their Liberty, but their commanded Duty ſo to do. You have alſo ſeen in the …evitical Houſe, which was a Tipe of the ſpiritual Houſes of Jeſus Chriſt, the Prieit was to command, that the things in the Houſe not infected, ſhould be all brought forth, that they might be preſerved from the Leproſie within; which was a merciful Proviſion to be embraced with Thankſgiving: Oh! therefore, be you truly thankful to God, Firſt, In that you may ſeparate your ſelves from …prous Churches for your own Preſervation. Secondly, Be thankful that it is not your Portion to be ſeparated from by others for your own Pollution, that the red Croſs is not yet fixed upon your Church-doors, to be a Warning to all others to ſtand off from you: Oh! how doth this call upon all ſuch Churches for Thankfulneſs to God for his hither to preſerving of you, and to cry out with David, Let us take the Cup of Salvation, and give Thanks to thy Name; and ſee to it, that it be not a Lip-thankfulneſs only, but a Life-thankfulneſs principally: Let your Obedience to God, be the Interpreter of his Goodneſs to your Souls, becauſe he delighteth more in Obedience, than in whole Burnt-offerings, or Sacrifices of the fatteſt Lambs.
Fourthly, Let this Truth teach us Watchfulneſs; wakeful Chriſtians are uſually the ſafeſt Chriſtians, ſafeſt from the Errours and Pollutions which ſecure Chriſtians and Churches are endangered by. The Watchman's ſleepy Seaſon, was the Evil Ones ſeeding Seaſon, Matr. 13. 25. the Devil (by whoſe hand the Churches of Chriſt are defiled) is a wakeful Enemy, who doth but watch when Chriſtians are ſecure, then is his time to work and plot their Ruine. St. Peter well underſtood this, therefore gave the Churches this Admonition, 1 Pet. 5. 8. Be ſober, be vigilant, becauſe your Adverſary, the Devil, like a roaring Lion, goeth about ſeeking whom he may devour. You know in peſtilential Seaſons, when the Plague is hot in a Town or City, then will Men keep Watch and Ward in thoſe Towns and Cities which are free from the Diſeaſe, that they may preſerve themſelves, becauſe, otherwiſe, a great deal of Hurt may acrue to ſuch Places in a little ſpace of time: No leſs Security ought the Churches of Chriſt to take to preſerve themſelves, becauſe they live in a World of Danger; the Plague is every-where round about them, in every Heart, in every Houſe, that they have to do with all; the Plague of Hypocriſie, Formality, Pride, Earthly-mindedneſs, Errour, Idolatry, with all manner of lying Wonders, with ſtrong Deluſions of deceivable Unrighteouſneſs, in every Place you can light upon, or enter into; all which calls upon all Chriſtians and Chriſtian churches, to be watchful, and narrowly to look to themſelves.
And ſo we come to the ſecond Ground of Diſcovery, namely, Why the Inhabitant of the leprous Houſe, was to go to the Prieſt, and to ſay, That it ſeemeth to me, there is as it were a Plague in the Houſe; the Purpoſe of it was, that the Houſe might be healed, Lev. 14. 41. And he ſhall cauſe the Houſe to be ſcraped within, round about, and they ſhall pour out the Dust, that they ſcraped off, without the City, into an unclean place. Which leads us to the ſecond General, namely, To the Remedy it ſelf, about which we may obſerve theſe things:
First, The Healer, or the Perſon healing, and that was the Prieſt, Ver. 36.
Secondly, We are next to obſerve, what was to be done by the Prieſt, in order to the Healing of the leprous Houſe; where, firſt, he was to ſcrape off that part of the Wall which was infected.
Secondly, If that would not do, then was he to take out the infected Stones, and to place other Stones in the room of the former, Ver. 40, 41, 42. Which leads us to the laſt thing, (viz.) If nothing of all this Means uſed, will prove healing to the Houſe, then was the Prieſt to break down the Houſe, the Stones thereof, the Timber thereof, and the Mortar thereof, and carry it out of the City, into an unclean place, Ver. 45.
But, firſt of all, we are to take notice of the Perſon who was the Healer, and that was the Prieſt, Ver. 36. 37. The Priest ſhall go into the Houſe, and ſhall look on the Plague: Which Prieſt in this Work was a Tipe of Chriſt, who is our great Goſpel High-Prieſt, whoſe Office it is to heal his Goſpel-houſes of their ſpiritual Leproſies, which they are ſubject unto whilſt in this World.
From whence we may obſerve this Note:
Doct. That Jeſus Christ is the great Healer of all the ſpiritual Leproſies, Pollutions and Defilements, which happens to his Churches in this Life. Jer. 3. 22. Return ye back-ſliding Children, and I will heal your Back-ſlidings. Exod. 15. 26. I am the Lord that healeth thee. 2 Chron. 30. 22. The Lord hearkned to Hezekiah, and healed the People.
First, He healeth his Churches of the Guilt of Sin, by the ſprinkling of his Bloud upon them, 1 John 1. 7. The Bloud of Jeſus Christ cleanſeth us from all Sin.
Secondly, He healeth them of the Prevalency of Sin, Rom. 6. 14. Thirdly, He healeth them of the Fruits and Effects of Sin; as, firſt, he healeth his Churches of their erronious Doctrine, Prov. 8. 20. Iſa. 42. 16, with Chap. 29. 24.
Fourthly, He healeth his Churches of their Lukewarmneſs, Mal. 4. 2.
Fifthly, He healeth them of their Barrenneſs and Unfruitfulneſs under the Means of Grace, which conſiſts of his Word of Inſtruction and Rod of Correction, Hoſ. 14. 4, 5, 6 Ver.
Sixthly, Chriſt healeth his Churches of their Diviſions, and that unhappy contentious Spirit, which the Devil is always kindling amongſt them, Iſa. 11. 13.
Seventhly, Are the Churches of Chriſt, (ſometimes) torn and rent to pieces with Errour and violent Perſecution? Chriſt will have his time, when to heal his Churches of all theſe Rents and Wounds, which they have ſuffered for his Name and Glory in this World, Ezek. 34. 16. In a word, he hath not only Healing in himſelf for his Churches (who is their Tree of Life for that purpoſe) but the Leaves which hang about him, brings Health and Healing to the Nations of the Earth, Rev. 22. 2. becauſe where-ever he goeth, he carrieth Healing in his Wings, Mal. 42. 2.
And ſo we come to the Application.
1ſt Ʋſe, Is this ſo, that Jeſus Chriſt is the great Healer of the ſpiritual Leproſies of his Churches? this ſerves to inform them, then, where to go, and unto whom to repair, for ſpiritual Healing, when their ſpiritual Leproſies do at any time break out upon them. You have ſeen that it was the Levitical Prieſt, which was appointed to heal the leprous Houſe under the Old Teſtament, ſo it is Jeſus Chriſt our Goſpel-Prieſt, and only him, which is appointed to heal the ſpiritual Houſes of the Lord under the New Teſtament; and as God the Father appointed him to this Healing Work, ſo did he fit him with all unſpeakable Accompliſhments for it, Iſa. 61. 1. The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, becauſe the Lord hath anointed me to preach good Tydings to the Meek, he hath ſent me to bind up the broken Hearted, and to proclaim Liberty to the Captives, and to open the Priſon-doors to them that are bound. And, ſaith John, The Fulneſs of Grace is in him, John 1. 16. not only a fulneſs of Grace, but a fulneſs of Grace and Truth too, Ver. 17. Certainly we do but run from the Living to the Dead, when we go for a Cure of Church-pollution, to any means (primarily) but Chriſt in this caſe: Yet, how common is it to hear ſome Chriſtians, relieving their dying Hopes under Church-decays and Diſorders, in looking to ſome outward Means for help at this ſide Chriſt? Oh, their great Hopes have been, that the King, or ſuch and ſuch a Parliament, Synod, or Convocation would ſet things in better order, and give us a Cure to all our Church-deviſions and Diſtempers: But, alas! Princes, Parliaments, Synods and Counſels, may pity, but little profit the Churches under their ſpiritual Maladies; but to cure them, they cannot, becauſe the Gilead-balm which ſhould do the Work, they have not with them: Conſtantine the Great, laboured as much to heal the Churches of the Arian Hereſie, as ever did any Emperour, but he found it a Task for no earthly King to perform: Oh! no, it was only Chriſt that was appointed and fitted for this Work, it is Chriſt and not Man, that hath the Honour to be the Repairer of Zion's Breaches, and of raiſing up the decayed Tabernacles of David, it's none but he that can cloſe up the Breaches of his divided People, Amos 9. 11. At that Day I will raiſe up the Tabernacle of David that is fallen down, and cl…ſe up the Breaches thereof, and I will raiſe up his Ruins, and I will build as in the days of old. Hence then we need not wonder at ſo many ſick and ſore Churches, which we hear and ſee to be in the World; ſome almoſt over-ſpread with the Leproſe of Superſtition; others ſick with a proud haughty Spirit, ruling with Rigour over the Conſciences of their Brethren; others again, full of the boils and botches of Prophaneneſs; others bliſter'd all over with the ſores of a contentious and dividing Spirit, the Cauſe of all this, even from whence theſe Maladies do ariſe, lieth here, (viz.) Theſe leprous Churches, either labour not for Healing at all, or ſeek not to the true and right Phyſician for help; they ſeek not to Chriſt, but to Creatures for a Cure, their Help ſtandeth not in the Name of the Lord, but rather in the Name of worldly Powers, in Synods, Convocations and Parliaments, and if their Help and Succour come not in this way to them, they will ſeek it no where elſe, or if they do, it ſhall not be to Chriſt; But whenever, or where-ever we hope to ſee ſuch Churches in a better Condition, without the uſe of better M…ans then the moſt have hitherto uſed (in the neglect of Chriſt) you may plainly ſee what the Portion is which ſuch Churches may expect at Chriſt's Hands, Jer. 17. 5, 6.
2d Ʋſe, Let what hath been ſaid, perſwade the Churches of Chriſt in general, and every Chriſtian in particular, to give the whole Honour of their ſpiritual Cure to Chriſt alone; have a care of thruſting him out of his Work, by thruſting in of any thing into it, or by employing of any one elſe about this Work, which is only proper to him: there is no Man ought to take this Honour upon him, but he that is called of God as Aaron was, Aaron was …ut a Typical Healer to the Church of the Jews; it's true, he was a viſible Healer of their Plagues, Peſtilence, Sins, and Sufferings which they were ſubject unto, but ſtill, the principal Healer was Chriſt, in the Perſon of Aaron: Oh! take not away this Honour from Jeſus Chriſt, either by not making uſe of him, or by making uſe of others for help in oppoſition to him; which is worſt of all: For, he will not give his Glory to another, nor his Praiſe to Graven Images, Iſa. 42. 8. Chriſt is the Head of his Church, and who ſhould the Members make uſe of for Healing if not him? as … once ſaid, John 6. 68. Lord, to whom ſhall we go? for thou hast the Words of eternal Life. Chriſt is the good Shepherd, John 10. 11. and unto whom ſhould the Sheep repair for Help, but to the…r S…epherd? Chriſt is the good Phyſician, and unto whom ſhould his …ick Pa…ients have recourſe unto for Health and Healing, if not to him? In a word, He is that Sun of Righteouſneſs, which carrieth that Healing in his Wings, which makes the feebleſt of his People to grow up as Fat as the Calves of the Stall, Mal. 4. 2. Thus having viewed the Healer of the leprous Houſe, which was the Prieſt; we next come to conſider, what was to be done by the Prieſt, in order to the Healing of the Houſe.
First, He was to ſcrape off that part of the Wall in the Houſe, which was infected with the Leproſie, Ver. 41. He ſhall cauſe the Houſe to be ſcraped within round about.
This Action of the Levitical Prieſt, doth livelily Type out the Work of Chriſt, who is our Goſpel High-Prieſt, in the cleanſing of his Goſpel Spiritual-houſes; we need not doubt, but the levitical Prieſt had his Inſtruments and other Means, to uſe in the cleanſing of the leprous Houſe. So Jeſus Chriſt he hath alſo his Inſtruments and Means to uſe in the cleanſing of his leprous Churches; no doubt but the Levitical Prieſt had his Levites to aſſiſt him in ſcraping off the infected Plaiſter of the Houſe; ſo hath Jeſus Chriſt, his Miniſters to work by, in the ſcraping off the Pollution of his Churches: Hence they are called Work-men, 2 Tim. 2. 15. and Labourers, ſuch as labour in the Word and Doctrine, 1 Tim. 5. 1…. even ſuch by whoſe Labours they preſent Men perfect in Chriſt Jeſus, Col. 2. 28.
Secondly, The Means which Chriſt uſeth in cleanſing of his Churches, is the Preaching of the Word, with the Power of the Holy Ghoſt working with it, John 15. 3. Now are ye clean through the Word, which I have ſpoken unto you. By this it is, that Chriſt ſcrapes his Churches clean, from that leprous Filth which is apt to cleave unto them; by this it was, which h… healed his diſeaſed Church in the Wilderneſs, from thoſe frequent Rebellions which ſo often broke out amongſt them, Pſal. 107. 20. He ſent his Word and healed them, and delivered them from their Deſtruction. By this it was which he healed by ſcraping his People in Babylon, from that Uncleanneſs, which they went away Foul and Filthy withal from their own Land: He ſent his Word and Prophets to them, to ſcrape them clean of that Defilement, Ezek. 3. 11. …o get thee to them of the Captivity, unto the Children of thy People, and ſpeak unto them, and tell them, thus ſaith the Lord God, Whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear. So Ezek. 36. 33. Thus ſaith the Lord, In the Day that I ſhall have cleanſed you, from all your Iniquities, I will cauſe you to dwell in the Cities. And by the ſame Means it was, which our Lord endeavoured to cleanſe the ſeven Churches of Aſia, as Epheſus, from their coldneſs of Love to him, Perga…os of its unſound Doctrine, Thyatra of its Neglect in Diſcipline, Sardis of its ſpiritual Deadneſs, and Laodicea of its Lukewarmneſs, he ſent his Word to them all by his Servant John, to cleanſe them from their ſpiritual Leproſies and Pollution, Rev. 1. 4, 5 Verſes.
Secondly, But if the uſe of this means will not do, Chriſt will uſe other means that ſhall, and that is Affliction: If the Word will not ſcrape, the …od ſhall rake, until Chriſt hath fetch'd off the Ruſt from his People; the Rod, ſometimes, eff…cts and brings to paſs what the Word doth not; the Word may, and doth ſhew Men their Duty, but it's the Rod which drives Men to it; many a Man, which hath leapt over the Word, yet at laſt hath been fetcht back again by the Rod: Afflictions (if ſanctifyed) are as neceſſary for the People of God, as Phyſick is for a diſeaſed Body, they are purging Means in order to a healthful Conſtitution. David found much good by his Afflictions, Pſal. 119. 71. Afflictions makes way for the entrance of the Word into the Affections, which have lain for ſome Years as lifeleſs upon the Heart, as Seed upon the Ground that wants Rain. Joſeph's Brethren, who ſinfully ſold him into Egypt, lay under the unrepented Gilt of that Sin for twenty Years together, until the Rod of Affliction awakened it in their Conſciences, Gen. 42. 21.
So we come to the Application.
1ſt Ʋſe, This then ſhould teach the Churches of God great Thankfulneſs to him, who hath made ſuch gracious Proviſion againſt their ſpiritual Maladies, he might have ſuffered you all to have periſhed in your Pollutions and Defilements, and have took as great Satisfaction in the glorifying of his Juſtice in your final Deſtruction, as in magnifying of the Riches of his Grace and Mercy in your Recovery: Oh! but on the other Hand, what cauſe have we all to adore the Riches of boundleſs Grace with a thankful Admiration, that a Fountain of Mercy is ſound out, and ſet wide open for the worſt of Lepers, and leprous Churches, to Waſh in and be Clean? Are you liable to the Leproſie of Pride, Paſſion, Lukewarmneſs, Errours. Earthly-mindedneſs? Doth a Spirit of Diſcord, Backbiting and Envy break forth amongſt you? Lo here is the Word and Ordinances of the Goſpel in Place, to ſcrape and cleanſe off all this from you, which if attended with a divine Bleſſing, it is a quick and powerful Means, ſharper than a twoedged Sword, to divide aſunder the Joynts and Marrow, the Soul and Spirit, and is a Diſcerner of the Thoughts of the Heart, Heb. 4. 12. And you have heard, if this Means will not do, rather than God will ſuffer his People to Periſh and Rot in their Corruption, he will uſe his Rod of Correction, to ſet home his Word of Inſtruction upon their Souls, which ſhall ſmart their Backs, to recover their Hearts, Iſa. 27. 9. By this therefore the Iniquity of Jacob ſhall he purged, this ſhall be the Fruit thereof, I will take away their Sin. Oh! therefore all ye that are the Seeds of Jacob, be you thankful to God that he hath given you his Word, and will not ſuffer you to want his Rod, they being both appointed in his divine Wiſdom, as a healing Means againſt your ſpiritual Leproſies, whenever they ſhall break out upon you: How ſhould the thoughts of this abundant Care of God over you, make you to cry out with David, Pſal. 103. 2, 3. O bleſs the Lord, O my Soul, and all within me forget not his holy Benefits, who forgiveth all thy Iniquities, and healeth all thy Diſeaſes.
2d Ʋſe, Let this Truth ſerve to perſwade, all the cleanſed Lepers of Chriſt, to carry the Matter as they ought to do, towards the means of their Cleanſing, which, as you have heard, conſiſts of theſe two things: First, The Word of Inſtruction. Secondly, Of the Rod of Correction.
First of all, See to it, that you carry the Matter well towards the Word of Inſtruction, ſo as not to impriſon it in your Heads; make not your Heads (as too many do) a Jayl to the Word: there be but too many that will hold the Truth in Unrighteouſneſs, who are unwilling that the Light of the Word, which is got into their Heads, ſhould come down into their Hearts, for fear leſt its ſhining Light ſhould become a perplexing Heat within them; to prevent that, they ſtrive to hold faſt the Doors againſt the Truth, as a Man who fears an Arreſt, bolts faſt the Doors of his Houſe againſt the Bailiffs; but if ever you mean co have benefit by the Word, ſo as to be cleanſed from your ſinful Leproſies, you muſt let the Truth out of Priſon, and give it a free Paſſage, that it may be glorified in you: Let it run from Room to Room, from the Head to the Heart, and from the Heart to the Will, and from the Will to the Conſcience, and from thence to the Affections, that ſo it might have an uninterrupted Out-let into the Converſation; ſo to do, is co carry the Matter as you ought towards the Word of Inſtruction.
Secondly, Be ſure you carry the Matter well towards the Rod of God's Correction; when Afflictions do light upon you, do not fret, repine, nor murmur at them, as if ſome ſore Evil had hapned to you for your Hurt; but rather rejoyce under them, that God by them is about to ſcrape and cleanſe you from that Heart-naughtineſs which cleaveth to you; and if the Rod ſeems to ſmart, do not ſay to God as Jonah did, Jonah 4. 9. I do well to be angry to Death: But rather to ſay with David, Pſal. 119. 75. In faithfulneſs hast thou afflicted me. And inſtead of muttering at the length or ſtrength of your Affliction, you ſhould reaſon thus: It ſeems that our Luſts are ſtrong, and our Corruptions are rooted faſt in us, which makes our dear Redeemer to put the greater ſtrength into our Afflictions; for, where the Diſeaſe in a Body is more malignant than ordinary, there the Ingredients muſt be the ſtronger in the Medicine to work it forth again: Chriſt had rather his People ſhould be preſerved in Brine, than rot in Honey; and you may be ſure of this, that when Chriſt by his Rod hath done his Work upon you, then may you expect the removal of it from you, Iſa. 4. 4, 5. When the Lord ſhall have waſhed away the Filth of the Daughter of Zion, then will be create upon the Dwelling-places thereof, a Cloud and a Smoke by Day, and the ſhining of a flaming Fire by Night, and a Glory, with a Defence upon it.
Thus you have ſeen what the Prieſt was to do, in order to the Cleanſing of the Levitical leprous Houſe, and how well it ſhadowed out the Way, Inſtruments, and Means, which our great Goſpel High Prieſt uſeth, in Cleanſing of his Churches from their ſpiritual Leproſies and Defilements: We now come to a ſecond Work which the Prieſt was to do, in order to the preſerving of the Levitical Houſe that was infected; his Work was to pull out the infected Stones thereof, and to put other Stones in the room of them, Lev. 14. 40, with 42 Ver. Then the Priest ſhall command that they take away the Stones, in which the Plague is, and be ſhall take other Stones, and put them in the place of thoſe Stones, and he ſhall take other Mortar and plaiſter the Houſe.
Thus you ſee, if ſcraping of the Walls, wherein the Infection lay, would not ſerve the turn, then the infected Stones muſt be pulled out, and caſt away into an unclean Place; which Action, in a moſt lively manner, leads us to behold the ſacred Order which our Lord Jeſus Chriſt obſerves, in the Cleanſing and keeping Clean of his Goſpel-churches; who, in like manner, if the Means he hath already uſed will not do, (as his ſcraping of them by his Word of Inſtruction, and the ſmarting of them with his Rod of Correction,) if nothing of this Means will heal, then out muſt the Stones be pluckt in which the Infection lay.
Quest. But ſome may ask, What, or who may we underſtand by the Stones of Chriſt's ſpiritual Houſes?
Anſ. They are the viſible Members of Chriſt's Churches, 1 Yet. 2. 5. Ye alſo as lively Stones, are built up a ſpiritual Houſe, an holy Priest-hood, to offer up ſpiritual Sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jeſus Christ. So that the Meaning will amount to this, That if any of theſe Stones ſhall be ſo leprous, as that neither the Word nor Rod will procure their Amendment, wherein they walk contrary to ſound Doctrine, either in Judgment or Practice, then ought they to be ſeparated from the reſt of their Brethren, by a Church-excommunication. You ſee how clear this appears in the Tipe, the infected Stones were to be pulled out of the Houſe, to ſhew us that the incurable infected Members of Chriſt's Houſe (which Peter calls the Stones thereof) muſt be pulled out from thence alſo.
From whence we may obſerve this Note:
Doct. That when ordinary Means have been uſed to reclaim offending Church-members, but all to no purpoſe, then is the Church to cast out ſuch corrupt Members, by an Act of Excommunication.
This is ſuch a neceſſary Rule to the keeping of the Churches clean, that it is an eſtabliſhed Rule by our Saviour himſelf, Matt. 18. 15, 16, 17, 18. If thy Brother ſhall treſpaſs against thee, go to him and tell him his Fault, between thee and him alone; and if he ſhall hear thee, thou hast gained thy Brother; but if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more, that in the Mouth of two or three Witneſſes, every Word may be eſtabliſhed; and if he ſhall neglect to hear them, tell it to the Church, but if he ſhall neglect to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as an heathen Man and Publican. The meaning is, let him be caſt out of the Church, no more to be communed, with than a profeſt Pagan, or the worſt of Men, unleſs he Repents; which act of Excommunication, paſt upon incurable Offenders, you may read at large in the Corinthian-Church, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5 Verſes.
And as an Addition to this ſevere Corinthian. Excommunication, which was executed upon the Inceſtuous Perſon, you may read what a ſtrict Charge the Apoſtle gives to the Members of this Church, that if a Brother be known amongſt them, to be a Fornicator, or Covetous, or a Railer, or an Idolater, or a Drunkard, or an Extortioner, not to keep Company with ſuch a Man. Thus you ſee the Point proved by the Word of God.
And ſo we come to the Reaſon of it:
The firſt Reaſon is drawn from the Will of God, God will have it to be ſo: So that a Neglect in the doing of this Work by the Churches, it will be groſly inexcuſable on their Part: The Will of God in this Matter, hath been ſufficiently revealed to you already, both in the Tipe of the Levitical Houſe under the Old Teſtament, and by our Saviour's Words under the New, Matt. 18. 15, 16, 17, 18. with 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5 Verſes. And it will be eſteemed as our Righteouſneſs, (I mean a Righteouſneſs of Sincerity) if we fulfil the Will of God, Matt. 3. 15.
Second Reaſon why the Churches of Chriſt ſhould caſt out incurable leprous Perſons from amongſt them, is, Becauſe, as by their Sin they have forſaken their God, they thereby have given God cauſe to forſake them; therefore ought the Churches to forſake the Company of ſuch too: The ground of the Churches Union one with another, is that viſible Union which they all proſeſſedly hold to Jeſus Chriſt, but when in outward Appearance, the Bond of that ſacred Relation (which any proſeſs they hold to Chriſt) ceaſeth, then is their viſible Union to Chriſt diſſolved by it: Becauſe it was founded and built upon viſible Holineſs, and when viſible Holineſs ceaſeth, the Union ceaſeth alſo: Therefore whoever they are that oppoſe the Father and Son, as to their Laws and Government, ought to be oppoſed by all the Lord's People, Pſal. 139. 21, 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee? am not I grieved at them that riſe up againſt thee? Yea, I hate them with a perfect Hatred, I count them my Enemies.
Third Reaſon: It's ſo becauſe God hath promiſed his peculiar Preſence amongſt his Churches, Matt. 18, 20. But he will not be in any ſuch Sence with any Church, but upon Terms of their Purity, and that they keep themſelves clean Houſes to him and for his Company, Pſal. 93. 5. Holineſs becometh thine Houſe, O Lord. Men that return (after a religious Profeſſion made) to their old ſinful Courſe again, are compared to the Sow that was once Waſhed, to Wallow in their old Mire again, and as a Dog that licks in his old Vomit: And be ſure of this, that God will not make his abode with dirty Swine and filthy Dogs: Therefore if the Churches do not proceed to the Caſting out of ſuch Swine and Dogs from amongſt them, they may expect that God will not continue long amongſt them.
Fourth Reaſon, why Churches ought to Caſt out their irrecoverable infected Members, is, Becauſe otherwiſe, they may be infected, with the ſame Infection themſelves; according to the old Proverb, One ſcabbed Sheep may ſpoil a whole Flock: And doth not the Apoſtle ſay as much, 1 Cor. 5. 6. Know ye not that a little Leaven, leaveneth the whole Lump? Pſal. 106. 35. They were mingled …nong the Heathen, and learnt their Works. As one rotten Apple may corrupt a whole Heap, ſo may one rotten Member corrupt a whole Church, nothing more da…gerous than to be Familiar with Men of corrupt Lives and corrupt Principles; for their Words will Eat as doth a Canker, (ſaith Paul) of whom is Hymeneus and Philetus, 2 Tim. 2. 17. If Corab be of a terbulent Spirit himſelf, and over-run with Pride and Envy, he quickly draweth no leſs than two hundred and fifty Princes of the Congregation into his Conſpiracy, to their utter Ruine, Numb. 16. 1, 2. with the 35 Verſe.
Fifthly and Laſtly, The Reaſon why the Churches are to caſt out their polluted Members, is, That thoſe of them who belong to the Election of Grace, may thereby be recovered again, and made the fitter for the Bulding at laſt: It is a common Saying, That a Bone once broken, if well ſet again, is ſtronger in that part than ever it was before: This is that merciful End which God aims at towards ſome, (who are habitually living Stones) in and by their Excommunication. To this Purpoſe it will not be amiſs to read the Inſtitution, 1 Cor. 5. 4, 5. In the Name of our Jeſus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my Spirit with the Power of our Lord Jeſus Christ, to deliver ſuch a one unto Satan, for the Deſtruction of the Fleſh, that the Spirit may be ſaved in the Day of the Lord Jeſus. Mark the word, That the Spirit might be ſaved in the Day of the Lord Jeſus; that is, at the great and laſt Day, when he ſhall come in flaming Fire to Judge both Quick and Dead. So that you ſee, that God cuts off ſome of his here in this Life, that they may not be out off from the Life which is to come; he will caſt ſome out of the Church milirant, that they may not be caſt off from the Church triumphant: God delivers the Soul (by this Ordinance) into the hands of Satan for a time, that thereby he might deliver him from the Power of Satan for ever; though the Means applied be ſharp, yet it being bleſt of God to that end, the Effect you ſee will be good, gracious and profitable: Oh the depths both of the Riches of the Grace, Wiſdom, and Counſel of God, which appears in this thing! How unſearchable are his Judgments, and his Ways poſt finding out!
Thus having given you the Reaſons of the Point, we next come to Apply it:
Vſe, Let what hath been ſaid upon this Head lead us to a Uſe of Lamentation; How may we take up the Apoſtle's Complaint of old, and apply it to our ſelves, Phil. 2. 21. For all ſeek their own, and not the things of Jeſus Christ. So, how few are there which do truly value the Honour of Jeſus Chriſt in this Matter, namely, in labouring to keep the ſpiritual Houſes of our Lord clean and pure? How have we loſt that ancient primitive Spirit, in caſting out the inceſtuous Perſon? Where is that ſc…aping of the Walls, and Pulling out the infected Stones of God's Houſes, which have their Leproſies viſibly upon them? How are our faithful Jeremiah's ceaſed, that would put a difference between the Precious and the Vile? Jer. 15. 19. Where …e our reforming Nehemiah's, who ſo ſtoutly refuſed the Sanballars, and Tobiah's (Men of unſound Principles) to build the Houſe of God with them? Neh. 2. 19 20. Where are our zealous Pauls, who are ready to deliver over to Satan the Hymeneuſer and Alexanders that ſhall dare to Blaſpheme? 1 Tim. 1. 20. How in the Glory of Reformation gone to the Grave, with theſe famous Worthies? For want of whoſe Zeal for the Truth, how are the Vines of God degenerated into wild Fig-trees, and his Trees of Righteonſneſs (in many places) turned into Trees of Rottenneſs? Have we not cauſe to run to the Graves and Tombs of thoſe deceaſed Worthies, Moſes, Samuel, David, Nehemiah, Jeremiah and Paul, with the reſt of our Church-reformers, beſeeching them all to ariſe from their Graves again, to put their helpful Hands, to the reforming of our diſordered Churches, in the pulling out of the leprous Stones, which have infected the Walls of ſo many of the Houſes of God in our Land, which hath made the Sanctuaries of the Lord both unſafe and unpleaſant, for the ſounder ſort of Chriſtians to abide in them? Oh! if the Graves of the Dead will not hear our bitter Complaints, where ſhall we go to find out any Healers, that will cloſe up our Wounds, repair our Breaches, and make clean our leprous Houſes, that we may with more pleaſure and ſafety inhabit in them? But, alas! ho… is the Gold of our Zion's become dim! How is the moſt find Gold changed, and the Stones of the Sanctuary poured out in the top of every Street! Oh! how lamentable is it, that ſome Churches that were the perfection of Beauty, and the joy of our Land, are now, in many places, ſo polluted and defiled, that they are become the Objects of Grief and Sorrow to many thouſands of ſound-hearted Chriſtians; and that which adds to their Grief is, that there is not one Nehemiah to be found in a Country, that zealouſly concerns himſelf about theſe things, either to remedy it, or labour to be helpful in it; but inſtead thereof, the moſt of Men fall upon the Work of building up the Honour, Dignity, and Wealth of their own Houſes. Is this Mens Love to Jeſus Chriſt? Is this their Faithfulneſs to their Lord and Maſter? And had they the Houſes of God committed to their Care for no other end and purpoſe, but to let them lye in their leprous Uncleanneſs, whileſt themſelves are building their own ceiled Houſes, at the coſtlieſt and cleaneſt Rate they can invent and imagine? Will this Work endure the fiery Trial at the great Day of Account?
2d Vſe, Is for caution to thoſe, who yet have not ioyned themſelves to any particular Church: Beware then amongſt whom you liſt your ſelves for Church-communion, eſpecially where Diſcipline is openly neglected; be ſure of this, that the Leaven of Sin and Wickedneſs remains a Leaven to be avoided to this day, and the danger of leaping into leaprous Houſes is as great as ever; and the more refined a Church out wardly ſeems to be, yet if Wickedneſs do allowedly lodge in it, the more dangerous will ſuch a Society be to you: The Church of Rome hath a Golden Cup, but the Poyſon of Aſps was in it; you would account it a high piece of preſumption againſt God, ſhould you adventure to lodge in a Houſe infected with the Plague or Leproſie, when you may be entertained in other Houſes which are free from ſuch Diſeaſes, and are willing to receive you; and will you be leſs careful where to houſe and harbour your Souls? Therefore make your Choice of holy Societies and well-governed Congregations, then may you expect the Bleſſing of God upon you, and his Preſence with you.