The Sacred and Sovereign Church Remedy, Treatise 2
VERSE 5.
And ſo were the Churches eſtabliſhed in the faith and increaſed in number daily.
SEE here the ſucceſſe of this firſt Councell, ſo managed, ſo proſecuted Oſerv.as you have heard▪ Succeſſeleſſe it was not. All Councells then are not ſo. If any of them at any time prove ſo, let it not be imputed to the Ordinance, but to ſome accidentall, perſonall miſcarriage. Otherwiſe the Ordinance it ſelfe is very promiſing, very uſefull and hopefull, very profitable and advantagious to the Church: So was this firſt Councell, this Pattern of Councells, the ſucceſſe and event whereof (as the Text informes us) was double. Hereupon there accrued unto the Churches a double bleſſing: The one of Confirmation, the other of Augmentation. Confirmation, they were eſtabliſhed in the faith: Augmentation, they were increaſed in number daily. Upon theſe two I ſhall look two wayes; firſt, ſeverally and ſimply, then joyntly and relatively, viz. as they both ſtand in a joynt reference to that firſt particle in the verſe; [So] So were▪ the Churches eſtabliſhed, and ſo were the Churches increaſed, &c. A word of each: Beginning with the former, the Churches Confirmation.
And ſo were the Churches eſtabliſhed in the faith] They were eſtabliſhed, and they were eſtabliſhed in the faith; ſo I break them in two.
1. They were eſtabliſhed, foreign, confirmabontur, they were confirmed, ſetled. Setling preſuppoſeth an unſetling. And ſurely ſuch was the ſtate of theſe Churches before Paul brought theſe Decrees unto them, they were unſetled, ſhaken.
Obſerv.Behold the proper fruit of Diviſions and Diſſenſions; where they take place, they unſettle, they ſhake; unſettle a State, unſettle a Church, ſhake both. This David found true by experience in his Kingdome. Heale the breaches thereof, for it ſhaketh, Pſal. 60. Both Church and State were unſetled by reaſon of thoſe Civill broyles, thoſe home-bred diviſions Pſal. 60. 2.in his Kingdome. And I ſhall not need to tell you that wee have found the like in this Kingdome. Was ever State, was ever Church more unſetled then ours at this day? And whence is this? why, this have our home-bred diviſions, diſſenſions done. To hold to the Text; the unſetling of the Church. This will Diviſions doe, Diviſions in judgement; I, and thoſe ſometimes ſleight ones. Such were at leaſt ſome of thoſe which had broke in upon theſe Churches; ſleight differences, one would think, whether they ſhould eat ſuch or ſuch meates, blood, things ſtrangled, &c. yet even theſe had an influence upon the Churches, for the unſetling of them.
Appl. Let not ſleight differences then be ſleighted of us, much leſſe pertinaciouſly and obſtinately maintained by us. But do what we may all of us for the healing, for the compoſing even of them. So long as theſe continue, and break forth, there is little hope of the Churches eſtabliſhment, which is a thing that all the Lords people ought ſeriouſly both to deſire and endeavour, let that be a ſecond Obſervation.
Obſer. 2.Church-eſtabliſhment is a thing much to be deſired and ſought after. It is the Lords promiſe to his Church under the Goſpel, Iſ. 2. repeated Mic. 4. The mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the Iſa. 2. 2. Mi…. 4. 1.Mountains. A bleſſing much to be deſired for all particular Churches, that they may be eſtabliſhed, ſetled in a quiet and ſteady way, put into a ſolid and conſtant frame and temper (as the word in the Text ſignifieth.) Such a frame and temper I ſhall not need to tell you what a bleſſing it is in the naturall body, it is no leſſe in the myſticall.
Reaſ. Not to uſe many Arguments and Reaſons about it; I finde one inſinuated in the text: Church-confirmation maketh much for Church-augmentation. Mark the connexion of theſe two together; So were the Churches eſtabliſhed and increaſed. The latter depends much upon the former, Church-encreaſe upon Church-eſtabliſhment: where Church…s are divided, diſtracted, unſetled, there can be nothing more prejudiciall to the gr…wth of them, and of religion in them. Their union, ſettlement, eſtabliſhment maketh much for the encreaſe of both.
Applic. And doth it ſo? Then let every of us be put in minde to ſeek this great bleſſing for the Church or Churches wherein we live: Taking heed of being any wayes acceſſory to the unſetling hereof; whether by hatching or brooding any new opinions, or ſetting up any new wayes, which have not cleare light and warrant from the word. In theſe caſes let that of the Apoſtle take place with us; Haſt thou Rom. 14. 22.faith? have it to thy ſelfe. Haſt thou a ſtrong apprehenſion and firm perſwaſion touching ſomething which is not ſo fully and clearly revealed in Scripture, as that others may ſee it? have this faith to thy ſelfe; enjoy thine own opinion and conſcience, but let it not break forth to the offence and ſcandall of others, much leſſe to the trouble and diſquietment of the Church, the ſettlement whereof ought to be exceeding precious in our eyes. And ſo let it be. Every of us ſeek it. Seek it Iſa. 62. 6, 7.by Prayer: Ye that are the Lords Remembrancers keep not ſilence, give him no reſt, untill he eſtabliſh, and till he make Jeruſalem a praiſe in the earth. Seek it by all holy endeavours, every one in our places, private perſons in theirs, and publike perſons in theirs, all of us willingly embracing, and carefully improving what ever advantages or opportunities God ſhall put into any of our hands, for the effecting, the furthering of ſo great, ſo good a work. So doth the Apoſtle here in the Text: He receiveth the Decrees from the Councell; and receiving them, delivereth them whereever he commeth. And what was his aime therein? why, that the Churches might be ſetled, might be eſtabliſhed.
Quest. But what eſtabliſhment was it that Paul here principally 1 Tim. 1. 19. 3. 9. 4. 1.eyed and looked at? A. The next word reſolves it, foreign; So were the Churches eſtabliſhed in Faith.] i. e. in the Doctrine of Faith, the true Religion of God: So the word is frequently uſed in Scripture, Faith Cujus unicum fundamentum eſt fides, Calv. ad loc.put for the whole Religion of God: Calvin gives a reaſon for it, viz. becauſe Faith in Chriſt is the foundation and ground-work of all. And this it was that Pauls eye was here mainly upon; not ſo much the ſetling of an externall Order in the Churches. This indeed he endeavoured, but (as Calvin ſaith of it) this was but veluti parergon, & acc…ſſ…ium, Calv. ibid.a thing which he undertook by the by, as being conducible and ſubſervient to his maine deſign, which was the Eſtabliſhment of the Churches in the Faith.
Obſerv.As for Externall Order indeed, it is a thing of great concernment to the Churches, without which they will never be throughly eſtabliſhed. Thence is it the Prophet Eſay puts theſe two together, Iſa. 9. 7. Iſa. 9. 7.To Order and to eſtabliſh, ſpeaking of the Church: But the Kingdome ….of God is above it. Regnum Dei externo ordine altius eſt, ac praeſtantius. The Kingdom of God (ſaith Calvin) which con…iſteth in the doctrine and practice o Faith and Holineſſe,) it is a thing of a more tranſcendent and excellent nature, then externall Order is Superioregradu loca…ur religio, & pietas. (So he goeth on,) Religion and true piety are to be looked on as things in a higher ſphear, to be far preferred before Order & Diſcipline.
Reaſon. And great Reaſon they ſhould be ſo, in as much as the one maketh only for the bene eſſe▪ the other for the eſſe: the one for the well-being, the other for the being of the Church. There may be a Church, (an Eccleſiaſticall Church, I, and an Integrall one too) without Order, but not without Faith, the Doctrine and Profeſſion of the Eccleſia per fidem haber ſuum ſtatum eſſentialem; & per combinationem, Integralem. D. Ames. Med. Theol. l. 1. c. 33.Faith, wherein lyeth the Eſſentiall State of a Church. Not to dwell upon it.
Applic. Learne we hence how to look upon theſe two, faith and order, viz. upon the one as the Miſtreſſe, the other as the hand-maid; ſo they are, and ſo let us account of them; giving to each that reſpect which is due unto them: not preferring the hand-maid before the Miſtriſſe, not ſtanding ſo much upon Order, as that in the mean time we ſhould ſeem to neglect the faith. True it is, both are to be ſtood upon, and contended for, but not with a like heate. As for the faith; we have an expreſſe warrant for that, That yee contend earneſtly for the Jud. v. 3.faith, Jud. 3. I do not finde the like for Order. However take heed, leſt our over-eager conteſtations about the one, which is but the acceſſory, prove prejudiciall and detrimentall to the other, which is the Principall. Let our firſt and maine care be for the faith: ſo was Pauls here in the Text, he delivereth theſe Decrees for the regulating of the Churches in theſe externall obſervances: wherefore? why, that they might be eſtabliſhed in the faith: this was the pearle in his eye, the main thing which he aimed at. The other was only in order, in a way of ſubſerviency unto this.
Applic.A pattern in ſpeciall to the Miniſters of the Goſpell, ſhewing them what ſhould be their maine deſigne in the courſe of their Miniſtery, viz. to propagate the faith, to ſet up the true Religion of God, true piety, and godlineſſe, faith and holineſſe in the hearts and lives of their people. As for matters of order, having juſt occaſion, they may and ought to deale with them, that ſo they may approve themſelves faithfull Stewards, 1 Cor. 4. 1, 2. Act. 20. 27.not detayning any part of the truth, not ſ…unning to declare unto their people the whole Councell of God, (as Paul ſaith of himſelf, Act. 20.) But their maine and principall worke ſhould be the eſtabliſhing of the Churches in the faith: this is the maine end of our Miniſtery, ſo ſaith Paul of his Apoſtleſhip, Rom. 1. 5. We have received grace and Apoſtleſhip, Rom. 1. 5▪(i. e. the grace or gift of Apoſtleſhip) for obedience to the faith among all Nations; i. e. that by his Miniſtery the Gentiles might be brought to imbrace the faith, the Doctrine of the Goſpell. The beſt ſervice that the Miniſters of Chriſt can do for their Lord and Maſter: hereby is his name exalted, hereby is his Scepter and Kingdome advanced, hereby is he ſet up…n the Throne. It is a miſtake, (but too common in the times) to think that the Kingdome of Chriſt ſhould conſiſt either wholly or chiefly in the Externall Politie and Government of the Church. No. our Saviour himſelf, Lack. 17. teacheth the Phariſees to entertaine higher thoughts and more ſublime conceptions, touching I …k. 17. v. 20, 21.his Kingdome, telling them firſt, that the Kingdome of God commeth not with obſervation, verſ. 20. i. e. (ſaith Beza) it a ut obſervari poſſit, ſo as it may be obſerved and taken notice of by any outward garbe that it hath; or (as others) it doth not conſiſt in externall obſervation. Verſ. 21. Vid. Bez. ad Loc.Then, that it is aliquid intus, The Kingdome of God is within you, i. e. (as it is commonly expounded) in your hearts and ſouls, which expoſition whether it be proper for that place or no, I will not now contend. But this I am ſure to be a truth; the Kingdome of God and of Chriſt is chiefly ſpirituall and inward, a Government exerciſed in the hearts and ſouls of men, where Chriſt ſetteth up his throne, his ſcepter, ruling there by his word and ſpirit, ſubduing rebellious luſts, bringing them under, and keeping them under, bringing every thought into obedience, to the obedience of faith. As for the externall Order and Diſcipline of the Church, if it do belong properly to the Kingly Office of Chriſt, yet it is one of the leaſt parts of it. So let Miniſters.
And ſo let the people look upon is, not ſpending all, or the chief of their time, about matters of Church-government, Diſcipline, ſtudying this▪ diſcourſing of nothing but this, as if this were the Cardinall buſineſſe, the maine hinge, upon which all Religion turned; nor yet ſo overzealouſly affecting this, that for want of what herein they would have, they ſhould renounce Church-Communion, and diſtaſte all other the Ordinances of God, even thoſe ſoul-ſaving Ordinances, wherein the Doctrine of faith is held forth with power and efficacy, Word and Sacraments. No, let your maine care (my brethren) be for the faith, the Goſpell of life and ſalvation, that you may, eſtabliſhed in that, growing 2 Pet. v. laſt.up in that, Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt, (ſaith St. Peter) in the ſpeculative and experimentall knowledge 1 Pet. 5. 9.of Jeſus Chriſt. This is the knowledge which muſt and wileſtabliſh you; be yee therefore eſtabliſhed in it; that you may be (as the ſame Apoſtle exhorts) foreign, ſteadfaſt in the faith, not like children, (a… St. Paul pr…ſſeth i… upon his Epheſians) toſſed to and fro, and Eph. 4. 14.carried about with every winde of Doctrine, by the ſlight of men, and cunning craftineſſe of them which lye in waite to deceive. Thus is it with multitudes of well meaning ſouls at this day, who, being unſtable, ungrounded in the faith, are carried away, ſome with the Anabaptiſt, others with the Antinomian, a third with the F…iliſt, &c. That it may not be ſo with us, labour we to be confirmed and eſtabliſhed in the faith which we have received, growing up in it.
Obſerv. This we are to do at all times, but ſpecially then, when God affordeth us more ſpeciall means of growth and eſtabliſhment, when God (as it were) ſoliciteth us hereunto by the labours and endeavours of his ſervants. It is an obſervation hinted to me by Maſter Calvin upon the Calv. ad Loc.words, upon Paul and Silas comming to the Churches, and beſtowing their labours upon them, Now were they eſtabliſhed in the faith: where means of confirmation are wanting, there weakneſſe and unſetledneſſe are the more pardonable, rather to be pittyed then cenſured; but where God doth ſend his ſervants, able & faithfull inſtruments, who do put forth themſelves in the uſe of all poſſible endeavours, for the ſetling and eſtabliſhing of a people in the faith, here God expecteth from them growth and increaſe anſwerable.
Applic. Take this truth home to your ſelves, and make Application of it as you ſhall ſee occaſion▪ I ſhall … to the ſecond particular, the ſecond fruit of the Apoſtles ind…avo…s, and that is the Churches Augmentation.
And ſo were the Churches increaſed in number daily.] In … it may be underſtood two waies, with reference either to Perſons … Churches, the number of perſons was increaſed, or the number of Churches was increaſed.
Obſerv.Each a good hearing, ſo is the latter. To hear that the number of Churches is increaſed▪ But underſtand it rightly, viz. If this increaſe be by way of addition, not of diviſion, the latter is of ſad conſequence. To heare of Churches multiplyed after the ſame manner as the leaves and Mar. 14. 19.fiſhes in the Goſpell are ſaid to have been … frangendum▪ multiplyed by breaking, by dividing; one Church broken into many, …nd that through Schiſmes and Diviſions, this is a ſad multiplication. The Lord keep his Churches from ſuch increaſes, True it is, where a Church is grown over numerous▪ or ſome of the members of it are upon occaſion Baals Tryall of the ground of Separation. p. 261.to be tranſplanted▪ in this caſe Ed…r… Co…ni…m▪ to … forth a Colonie, a Congregation, one or more to plant elſewhere, (as probably it was in the Church of Jeruſalem) it may be both war…antable and neceſſary. But to multiply Churches by breakings, by diviſions, this (I ſay) is a ſad multiplication. But having only touched this, I leave it, leave it to the Donatiſt and Separatiſt, the firſt and laſt Authors of it.
The Text (as I conceive) confines me to the former, They were increaſed in number] i. e. the Churches already planted and conſtituted, they were increaſed in number of members, in number of perſons joyning themſelves to their Communion: So the originall carries it▪ foreign ▪ Exuberabant, (ſaith Beza;) Abundabant, ſaith the vulgar; they abounded in number, like a tree which putteth forth young ſhootes, and branches abundantly. So was it with the Churches now, even as it was with the Church of Jeruſalem before, the Church of the believing Jewes, to which God made daily new additions, and thoſe (ſome Act. 2. laſt. Act. 6. 7.of them) wonderfull ones, The Lord added to the Church daily ſuch a… ſhould be ſaved, Act. 2. The number of the Diſciples multiplyed in Jeruſalem greatly, Acts 6. So was it now with the Churches of the Gentiles: Upon Pauls comming to them they alſo were multiplyed and increaſed in number daily.
Obſerv. A good and a bleſſed hearing, to heare of ſuch a m…ltiplication, ſuch an increaſe. It was the firſt bleſſing which God pronounced Gen. 1. 2….upon mankinde, Creſ…ite & … Increaſe and multiply▪ a barren wombe in it ſelf is a curſe, a fruitfull one a bleſſing; and ſo is it with a barren and a fruitfull Church. Where God giveth to a Church (as the Prophet threatens that he would do to Iſrael,) a miſcarrying or H…. 9. 14.barren▪ …ombe, and dry breaſts, ſo as there is no increaſe, this is a ſad and omino… judgement: whereas (on the other hand) to ſee the Churches fruitfull, like the Sheep in the Ganticles, whereof every one is ſaid Cant. 4. 2.to beare twins, and none to be barren amongſt them, all bringing forth children unto God, encreaſing in number daily; it is one of the greateſt bleſſings that Earth can receive from Heaven.
Applic.Applic. And is it ſo? why then let all of us do what in us lyeth to further this increaſe: taking heed of being any occaſions of bl…dering it, whether by our ſcandalls or diviſions; both which oft times cauſe the Churches wombe to miſcarry, by bringing an evill report upon the good waies of God, diſcouraging others from adventuring upon them, who, it may be, had ſome eye towards them. Taking heed of this, of being any waies acceſſary to the Churches barrenneſſe, do what we may to further her increaſe, every one in our places, Miniſter… … …or▪ 4▪ 1…. … Per. 1. 23.in their places endeavouring as ſpirituall fathers to beget ſons and d…ughters unto God, by the incorruptible ſeed of the Word, that ſo we may every of us be able to ſay at that great day, as the Prophet I…iah once did, Behold, Lord, here am I, and the children whom them haſt given me. Iſa. …. 1….Magiſtrates in their places, ſhewing themſelves nurſing fathers and nurſing Iſa. 49. 23. Gen. 30. 3.mothers to the Church, ſo as upon their k…es the Churches may beare children, (as Rachel once ſaid of her ſelf and her maid Bilhah, Gen. 30.) Parents and Maſters of families in their places, endeavouring to bring up their children and ſervants in the knowledge and feare of God, that ſo they may be true living members of the Church, not only like wooden legs or armes tyed on to the body, having only an outward viſible communion with the Church, but like naturall members, they may be knit both to the head and body by joints and ligaments, Col. 2. 19.ſo as the Church may be increaſed with the increaſe of God. Private perſons in their places, not only joyning themſelves to the true Churches of God, bnt endeavouring what in them lyeth, to winne and gain others, ſpecially by their holy and exemplary converſation Mat. 5. ….and demeanour, Let your light ſo ſhine before men, that they ſeeing your good works, may glorifie your heavenly father. Glorifie him, as by other waies▪ ſo by comming in and putting themſelves under his government; to which purpoſe there is ſcarce any one means more effectually availeable, then for Chriſtians to thrive and growe in grace. So much Maſter Calvin collects out of the Text from the connexion of theſe two together; Innuit quatenus ſide pr… ficiunt qui primi ſunt vocati, plures ad Chriſtum adducere. C…l. ad Loc.the Churches were eſtabliſhed in the faith▪ and increaſed in number daily.] The growth and proficiency of thoſe which were firſt called to the faith in theſe Churches was a ſpeciall meanes to bring in others.
Old members in a Church (it is a compariſon which Ca…on giveth me the hint of) they are like old ſtands in a Coppice, or like old Vines or P…tars, or the like trees, which being once throughly rooted themſelves, they put forth many imps and young ſhootes from their roots▪ So was it here in theſe Churches. The firſt members of choſe Churches being rooted and eſtabliſhed in the faith; the Churches were daily Calv. ibid.increaſed in number▪ A… ſ… propagi…e fides latius ad alios ſerperet, (ſaith my Author) As if their faith being ſpread abroad had been a means to propagate itſelf unto others▪ ſo it often commeth to paſſe. It is that which Paul telleth his C…rinthi…ns, concerning their forwardneſſe in works of charity and mercy. Your zeale (ſaith he) hath 2 Cor. 9. ….provoked ver… many. And ſo is it with faith and holineſſe. To be zealous in profeſſion, and conſ…ientious in practice▪ it is a moſt effectuall incitement to provoke, to draw, to win others▪ and in this way let all private Chriſtians be active and forward, that ſo they may do what in them lyeth, to help forward this bleſſed Augmentation and Increaſe of the Churches.
And thus have I looked upon theſe two fruits of the Apoſtles endeavours ſeverally, and ſimply. It remaines now that we put them together, conſidering them joyntly and relatively, as they ſtand in joint reference to that firſt particle in the Text. [So] were the Churches eſtabliſhed; and [So] were the Churches increaſed.
So] What, meerly by the delivery of theſe Decrees? Was this the proper and immediate cauſe of the Churches confirmation and multiplication?
Anſw. Not ſo: The Decrees here delivered were not matters of Faith, but of Order, and conſequently not apt to produce ſuch noble effects as theſe were, to work ſuch an eſtabliſhment, ſuch an increaſe, being but Decrees touching meates. Now (as the Apoſtle ſaith) The Heb. 13▪ 9.heart muſt be eſtabliſhed with grace, not with meates: The proper and immediate inſtrumentall cauſe of both theſe was Pauls preaching of the Goſpel to the Churches.
Queſt. What influence then had theſe Decrees hereupon?
Anſw. I anſwer, they were, though not properly Cauſa efficiens▪ yet removens and promovens; though not the immediate Efficient cauſe of both theſe, yet the promoting and furthering cauſe, facilitating the work, and making way for it, and that by removing obſtacles and impediments, and putting the Churches into ſuch a poſture, ſuch a ſtate▪ as they might be fit to be wrought upon by the preaching of the Word. Even as it is with Phyſick, however it ſelf be not Nutritive, yet by removing obſtructions, it putteth the body into ſuch a ſtate and temper, as it may be apt to receive nouriſhment from ſuch meanes as ſhall be applyed unto it, proper for that purpoſe. Even ſo was it here. The Churches being diſtempered, and out of courſe by reaſon of ſome jarres and differences, which (no queſtion) much obſtructed and hindred the courſe of the Goſpel, the Apoſtle by applying and miniſtring of this Soveraign Remedy, a Recipe of Synodicall Decrees, he put them into ſuch a temper, as that his Miniſtery might take place with them, both for their confirmation and increaſe.
Obſerv.And of ſuch uſe Eccleſiaſticall Decrees may be, and often are; though they be not meat, yet they may be medicine: making much for the propagation of the Goſpel; and that eſpecially by compoſing Church▪differences, which otherwiſe would be a maine obſtruction and hinderance to it. Of this latter we have had but too much experience. How is the courſe of the Goſpel at the preſent impedited, and interrupted by theſe ſad diviſions which are broke in amongſt us? O that wee might but have the like proofe of the former, of the Soveraign vertue of this Church-Remedy, for the healing of theſe breaches, and the compoſing of theſe differences, as the Churches here had! Then might we hope and expect the like ſucceſſe, that the Churches amongſt us alſo ſhould be eſtabliſhed and increaſed. Otherwiſe it is but in vaine to flatter our ſelves. In an ordinary courſe this is the laſt Remedy. Where this availes not there is little hope. Where a Colledge of Phyſitians cannot maſter a diſeaſe, it is commonly accounted deſperate. And therefore take we heed how we ſleight, much more oppoſe this way.
Applic.Take but this word of counſell, and I have done. In other matters I preſume we would not be unwilling to be ordered by counſell, eſpecially by the counſell of a Councell. (In the multitude of Counſellors there Prov. 11. 14.is ſafety:) As in Military affaires by a Councell of warre; in Maritime occaſions by a Councell of Sea-men; in a Law caſe by a Bench of Lawyers; in a caſe of ſickneſſe by a Colledge of Phyſitians. And why then ſhall we ſo farre leane unto our own underſtandings in matters of Eccleſiaſticall concernment, (matters of Order) as not to hearken to the conſultations and determinations of a Religious and judicious Aſſembly? Of all wayes (for my owne part) I muſt profeſſe, I know none ſo likely to heale our breaches, to compoſe our differences as this, and conſequently to procure the Churches eſtabliſhment. Without Counſell Prov. 15. 2….purpoſes are diſappointed, but in the multitude of Counſellours they are eſtabliſhed (ſaith the wiſe man.) Thus were the Churches eſtabliſhed here, viz. by the counſell of a C…cell. This was the Apoſtolicall way for the ſetling, eſtabliſhing of unſetled, divided, diſtracted Churches. Take we heed then (I ſay) how we ſleight, much more oppoſe this way. What were this but (as it is ſaid of Adultery) peccatum contra remedium, … againſt the Remedy? And let me adde, the marſt office that can poſſibly bee done to the Church. For if this be the way to ſettle and eſtabliſh it, (I beſeech you mark it, and take it home with you) ſurely then all other oppoſite and contrary wayes muſt needs be diſtractive and deſtructive, tending to nothing but unſettlement and confuſion.
A … which I might make a further improvement of, by giving … a juſt charge againſt all thoſe who indeavour what they can, in open or ſecret wayes, to obſtruct this way, by ca…ting in need…eſſe and groundles doubts and ſcruples into it, and unjuſt … & aſp… ſions Compaſſionate Samaritan. Theotnak.upon it, ſeeking thereby ſo farre to diſtaſte and diſrelli… it with the people, ſo to prejudicate them againſt the reſults not onelyonly of the preſent, but of all future Councels and Aſſemblies of this na…re, (though never ſo regular) that whatever advices ſhall be propounded by them, be they never ſo wholſome, never ſo ſafe, never ſo ſoveraigne, never ſo ſacred, yet they ſhall be rejected eo nomine, becauſe they come through their hands. Which, what is it, but (as I ſaid before) as if one ſhould aſſay to loath a ſick man of the medicine which ſhould ſave his life, onelyonly becauſe it is preſcribed by ſuch a Phyſitian, or prepared by ſuch an Apothecary? But my ayme hitherto hath been rather to informe you, then to inveigh againſt others. And therefore having now done what I projected and propounded when I firſt took the Text in hand, I ſhall commend it and you unto the God of Rom. 16. 25. 1. Pet. 5. 10, 11.all grace, who is of power to make you perfect, eſtabliſh, ſtrengthens ſettle you; To him be Glory and Dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
FINIS.
ERRATA.
PAg. 7. lin. 29. for confutation, read conſultation. p. 12. l. 35. f. Firſt, …. i▪ c. p. 16. l. 18. f. ordering r. ordaining. l. ult. r. do. p. … de▪ l▪ 13. for Obſet. … Obj…ct. p. 20. l. 6, f. blot r. bolt.
End of the text · John Brinsley, The Sacred and Sovereign Church Remedy (1645)