Concerning the Church of Jesus Christ Upon Earth, Section 6
Sect. VI. Containing an Anſwer to the ſixth Queſtion.
What manner of perſons thoſe ought to be that are in the judgment of charity to be look't upon as viſible members of the Church?
TO this I Anſwer, Sol.firſt negatively, that no man as he is in his naturall condition, without a change from that, ought to be admitted as a member of the viſible Church of Jeſus Chriſt:
Reſ. For man in his naturall condition is dead in Treſpaſſes and Sins, a child of wrath, at enmity with God and to every good work reprobate; and therefore as ſuch he is not, neither is to be accounted a member of the Church viſible of Jeſus Chriſt.
For indeed whilſt he is ſuch, he is a viſible member of the Synagogue of Satan.
Secondly, I anſwer affirmitively, that members of the Church of Jeſus Chriſt ought (according to the Scriptures) in ſome manner and meaſure to be prepared, and fitted for that building.
The Church of God is compared unto a building, now when a houſe is to be built, the ſtones and timber are fitted & prepared by hewing and ſquaring before they are laid into the building; Timber as it is rough in the tree, and ſtone as it is in the Quarrie or Rock is not fit to build an houſe withall, but theſe muſt be hew'n and ſaw'n and plain'd and poliſh't, and ſquar'd, and thus they become fit materials to build with all;
Man, as he is in his Natural condition is like timber in the tree in the rough, like a ſtone in the Rock unhew'n, unſquar'd, undreſt, and the fitting and preparing ſuch for Gods houſe as Materialls to build withall is compared to a plaining and hewing of wood, Hoſ 6.5. I have hew'n them by my Prophet. So that there muſt be a Spiritual hewing and ſquaring, and poliſhing men out of their rough and rocky condition before they be fitt materialls to build God an houſe withall.
What man is there that builds an houſe of trees never hew'n nor ſawn, nor ſquard; of ſtones undreſt, unpoliſht; never ſuch a thing was heard of: But ſuppoſe we ſuch a thing as this, would it not be a moſt miſhapen monſtrous piece of building; would not every one that paſſeth by ſhake his head at it? And ſhall we build God an houſe, Was the Church in the Apoſtls time ſo built.a Church of ſuch like materialls as theſe? of men and women in their natural condition, of Drunkards, Whoremongers, Prophane perſons, Scoffers, Ignorant, and the like to theſe, perſons in their rough and rocky condition, without any hewing, ſquaring, poliſhing, or fitting of them for ſuch a ſtructure? Surely ſuch a Church as theſe are a monſtrous building, a Congregation of evill * doers, Pſ 26.5:a confuſed Aſſembly, a building that Jeſus Chriſt is no Corner ſtone of, nor will ever own as hi…?
The viſible Church of Jeſus Chriſt is ſo far from being a Congregation of evill doers, of prophane and diſſolute perſons, that indeed of right there ought to be none ſuch in the Church, but as they are found and known, they ought to be weeded out by the ſentence of * excommunication. 1 Cor. 5.What workman in the building of an houſe layes one row of hewn and polliſht ſtones, and another row of rough, unſquared, and unhewed ſtones? would not this be a ridiculous piece of building? Shall we then in Gods building (for ſuch is his Church) lay the ſtones after ſuch a ſort? Here a row of ſuch as tremble at an oath, here a row of others that prophane the holy name of God as often as they mention it, and ſwear as commonly as they ſpeak: here a row of ſuch as pray in their families, and teach their children and ſervants the wayes and fear of the Lord, here a row … …thers that never call upon God in their families all their lives, but by their example teach their children and ſervants to be Atheiſts, deſpiſers of Gods Ordinances, and to live without God in the world, here a row of abſtemious and ſober perſons, that are afraid to abuſe the mercies and creatures of God, to ryot and exceſſe, here a row of others that wholly give themſelves to gluttony and drunkenneſſe, whoſe Tables are, as the Prophet complains, Iſa. 28.8. Full of vomit and filthineſſe, ſo that there is no place clean: Here a row of ſuch as keep Gods Sabbaths and reverence his Ordinances, here a row of others that are Ordinance deſpiſers, contemners and mockers of holy things, and duties, Sabbath breakers, and murmurers that God ſhould have this (though but one day in ſeaven) to himſelfe; of whom it may be too probably judg'd, that as well as privately to ſport, and play, and drink, and the like—They would alſo Hauk and Hunt, and Plough, and Cart upon thoſe dayes; had they not more fear to the Lawes of men than regard to the Law of God: Here a row of ſuch as have been Sanctified and cleanſed with the waſhing of water by the Word, here a row of others that are filthy ſtill, that mock and ſcoff at Sanctification, profeſſing all ungodlineſſe, and worldly luſts, and living unrighteouſly, unholily in the world:
Will Jeſus Chriſt ſay unto a Church built after this manner, Cant. 8.9. Thou art beautifull as Terza, comely as Jeruſalem, chap. 6. ver. 4. Thou haſt raviſhed my heart, my Siſter, my Spouſe, how much better is thy love than wine, and the ſmell of thine oyntments than all ſpices? Will not a workman one day have cauſe to be aſhamed of ſuch a building? Nay, ſhall he not be ſorely reproved for it, if he have not endeavoured a reformation?
Thoſe perſons, the Apoſtles received into the Church, as members of it, were not prophane and lewd perſons, ſcandalous, of evill report, ſcoffers at Sanctification, deſpiſers of Gods Ordinances and holy duties; Acts 2 47.4….49.But they were ſuch as gladly received the Word, as were pricked in their hearts at the ſenſe of their ſins, ſuch as continued in prayer and the exerciſe of other holy and Chriſtian duties: They were ſuch as burnt their curious (becauſe prophane) Books; Acts 19.18, 19.Such as confeſſed their ſins, and ſhewed their deeds.
Thus I Conclude in the firſt place, that thoſe, which are received into the Church, or continued in the ſame as members thereof ought to be ſuch as at leaſt wiſe in outward appearance abſtain from evill, as have a mark of Sanctification and holineſs upon them.
Secondly, Church-Members ought to be ſuch as have ſome competent meaſure of knowledg, I conceive they ought to be ſo inſtructed that they may be able in ſome meaſure to give an account of their hope, and thoſe fundamental truths that are neceſſary to be known for the praiſe and glory of Gods Grace, and their own Salvation; the Apoſtle would have all Chriſtians be able to give a 1 Pet 3.15reaſon of their hope.
Thirdly, They that are received into, or continued in the Church as its members, ought to be ſuch as are ſound in the faith, as hold faſt the form *Tit. 2.2.of ſound words, that they make not a rent or Schiſme in the Church, therefore an Heretique ſaith the Apoſtle, 2 Tim. 1.13after the firſt and ſecond admonition reject.