Sweet and Soul-Persuading Inducements Leading Unto Christ, Chapter 11
CHAP. XI. Treating of Carnall mans Alienation from Chriſts Church.
THe ſecond thing is the Exemption of all prophane men from this common-wealth, from the Church of Chriſt, and all the ſpirituall prerogatives and priviledges belonging thereunto. The Gentiles before the comming of Chriſt were altogether aliens hereunto, having no place at all in this common-wealth: Prophane men ſince the comming of Chriſt, though they be in this common-wealth, living within the pale of the viſible Church, as the uncleane beaſts within the Arke yet they are alſo aliens to this common-wealth, aliens to that holy and e…ectuall vocation wherewith this common-wealth is called, aliens to the heavenly and ſaving power of that Word and Spirit, by which this commonwealth is ruled and guided, aliens to that ſweet and gracious Communion which the members of this common-wealth have with Chriſt by faith, and among themſelves by love; and this is one great miſery of all corrupt and carnall men, being without Chriſt, they are alſo aliens to the common-wealth of his Iſrael; as he that is an alien to the King, is an alien to that common-wealth which is under the King. Whence obſerve, That,
All Prophane and carnall perſons are aliens to the true Church of Chriſt and all the ſpirituall priviledges therof. Doct.The Lepers under the Law were excluded the camp, ſeparated from the ſociety of cleane perſons, ſhewing the effect of the Law in ſinners, which driveth them from the communion of God and his people, till by repentance and faith they come unto Chriſt; and alſo figuring the putting and excluding of all uncleane ſinners, from the Church of Chriſt, and the priviledges thereof, according to the charge of the Apoſtle, put away g1 Cor. 5.13.from among your ſelves that wicked perſon. Adam eating the forbidden fruit was debarr'd from the Tree of Life, and ſhut out of the Garden of Eden: The poſterity of Adam feed…ng upon the forbidden fruit of ſinne, making a trade and practiſe of ſinne, are excluded from Chriſt, the true Tree of Life, and ſhut out of the Church of Chriſt, the incloſed Garden of which Chriſt is the Keeper and dreſſer. Hence prophane men living within the pale of the Church, are likened to hMat. 3 12.chaffe mingled among the wheate in the floore, which though it be among the wheate, yet it is not of the wheate: To a man at the wedding feaſt, without a iMat. 22.12.wedding garment, who though he was among the gueſts, yet he was not of the number of the true and welcome gueſts, and therefore was caſt out, as having of right no place there; and to thornes and bryars, which thou…h they ſometime grow within the Orchard, yet are not Trees of the Orchard, not planted, watered, and manured by the Keeper of the Orchard, as other Trees are. And for this the Church is ſtiled a kCant. 4.12.Garden incloſed, in reſpect of Gods protection, and preſervation of her, in reſpect of her ſeparation from them that are prophane and carnall, by grace and holy calling, and for the Churches care and vigilancy, that no enemies invade her, that no uncleane thing, or vitious perſons pollute and defile her. And for this cauſe the Church is tearmed a chaste virgin, l2 Cor. 11.2.for her internall and externall purity, for her holy chaſtity, for her fidelity and fervent love to her husband Chriſt, for her alienation from the world, from all idolatry and falſe worſhip, and for her ſeparation and diſtinction from all that pollute and defile themſelves with Idols, the world, or any carnall luſts. And the Church is charged to preſerve and keep her ſelfe from all intimate and familiar communion with them that are openly ſcandalous and uncleane. I have m1 Cor. 5 11.written unto you (ſaith Saint Paul) not to keep company, If any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner, with ſuch a one, no not to eat, not familiarly and friendly to converſe: He forbids not the exerciſe of the neceſſary offices of humanity and charity towards them, but the having of intimate communion with them. And if any man (ſaith the Apoſtle to the Theſſalonians) obey not our Word by this Epiſtle, but be rebellious and obſtinate againſt the holy and wholſome Doctrine delivered, n2 Theſ. 3.14.note that man and have no company with him: Whereby we ſee, that the Lord denyes them that are obſtinate and carnall, communion with ſuch as are truly holy, and ſpirituall; there can be no ſweet and ſeemly fellowſhip between common harlots and chaſte virgins. What o2 Cor. 6.14.fellowſhip (ſaith Paul) hath righteouſneſſe with unrighteouſneſſe? and what communion hath light with darkneſſe? Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye ſeparate, ſaith the Lord, and I will be a Father unto you, and ye ſhall be my ſonnes and daughters: Carnall men are not ſpirituall brethren to them that are Gods children, they are not begotten of the ſame heavenly parent, they are not united to the ſame ſpirituall head, they are not endowed with the ſame gracious qualities, and therefore are aliens to Gods ſonnes and daughters. And pRev. 21.15.without (ſaith Chriſt) are doggs and ſorcerers, and whoremongers and murtherers and idolaters and whoſoever loveth and maketh a lye: theſe are without, without the number of Gods holy and ſanctified Church and people, without the Prerogatives granted to Gods gracious children, without the company of the Citizens of the new Jeruſalem here, and without glory and happineſſe hereafter; and of ſuch S. John ſaith expreſly, however they have a place within the Church, yet they are not of the Church, They went q1 Ioh. 2 29.out from us, but they were not of us, for if they had beene of us, they would no doubt have continued with us, but they went out that they might be made manifeſt that they were not all of us.