The Temple Measured, Part 3
Concerning the Form of the Church.
EXplicite and particular covenants are not neceſſary to the conſtitution of Churches.Pro. 1. Heb. 10. Acts 19.9. 1. Chriſtians fell into fellowſhip without any ſuch form in Primitive days. The Ordinances, brotherly relation, cohabitation, were natural motives: the directions and exhortations of the Apoſtles and Elders did concur, Acts 19.9. Paul is ſaid to ſeparate the brethren in Epheſus. 2. Elders were ordained without any explicite covenants, both before and ſince the time of the Goſpel: we read of a charge, but not one ſyllable of a covenant. Now if Officers were ordained without any covenant, May not members (by proportion) be admitted without any explicite covenant? 3. One ground may be the unity of the Church in general: we muſt not ſo cloſe with a particular Church which is but a part of the Church, as to break relations with the whole Church univerſal, in confining members ſtrictly to one particular Church. 4. Another ground may be this: Fellowſhip in a particular Church is conditional and tranſient, and a duty of no greater moment then many other which are not to be inſtanced in, unto admiſſion. 5. In the Acts there is no appearance of explicite covenanting with the Church, in particular or general. There was an explicite profeſſion of faith and repentance, and a cleaving unto the Lord, Acts 2.8. No ſhew of covenanting to cleave to each other in Church-fellowſhip; no ſhew (I ſay) of any ſuch explicite covenanting. Chriſtians counted themſelves next brethren, one and the ſame houſhold, and were exhorted to maintain the unity of the Spirit, as one body at one table, as much as might be for edification. The myſtical Church in the Temple was repreſented by twelve cakes on the table, called The bread of faces, becauſe all Saints ſit there together face to face feeding on the Lord Jeſus in way of communion. The viſible Church, or Church of the outward court, is alſo called to one and the ſame table myſtical, as far as all may ſit together. 6. We finde no explicite covenanting in Iſrael but with God; and Iſraels covenanting with God was ſolemnized and attended as occaſion did urge in collapſed times. There is not any evidence of their covenanting conjoyntly with God at their firſt conſtitution: there may be granted an explicite covenant of reformation, but not of conſtitution; of confirmation or reformation, not of admiſſion.
Object. It is recorded in Neh. 10.29, that they clave to their brethren.
Anſw. It is explicated in the ſame verſe how they clave to their brethren, namely, to covenant with God. They did not covenant to cleave to their brethren; but they clave to their brethren to covenant with God. Beſides ſome duties that concerned the Houſe of God and the Officers of the Houſe of God, are there particularized; but Churchfellowſhip is made no part of the covenant. For an explicite covenant of reformation, we have Nehemiah, Hezekiah, Jehoiada, &c. authentick examples; but for an explicite covenant of conſtitution, we have authentick examples to the contrary, the Apoſtles themſelves, ſuch as it muſt needs be preſumption in us to oppoſe. In the Old Teſtament it is uſual to ſpeak of a covenant of converſion and reformation; but neither in the Old or New, can we finde an explicite covenant of conſtitution of Churches and admiſſion of members. A people profeſſing faith & a reſolution to embrace the Ordinances of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt together, is a Church before there be any explicite covenanting together, & there is an implicite covenant in ſuch a profeſſion.Pro. 2.
When a company of Chriſtians are called to dwell together where there is no foundation of a Church, there is need of ſome explicite conjunction or conſent. Such are to make known their deſire and faith to one another, either by teſtimony or by their profeſſion. And where Elders of ſome neighbouring Church may be procured, it is meet to requeſt aſſiſtance for exhortation together with prayer and bleſſing, as alſo for the ſatisfaction of other Churches concerning the faith and order of ſuch a Church. But for a Faſt of conſtitution, for a concourſe of Churches and their meſſengers, and ſolemnities in way of covenant unto the rearing of particular Churches, I finde no Apoſtolical direction, or footſtep of primitive practice. A feaſt of dedication may ſeem as ſutable as a faſt for conſtitution. Apoſtles and ſuch like were preſent, and did ſomething in ſeparating the brethren: but for explicite covenanting (pro modo & forma) I finde nothing. Explicite covenanting and ſearching of the conſcience, may be a diſpenſation too violent and compulſory in reſpect of the facility of Gods grace in point of acceptance. The Ordinances of the covenant of grace are ſutable to the grace of the covenant. The Elders of the cities of refuge did not expoſtulate with ſuch as fled before the avenger of blood, in way of any explicite covenant or exquiſite examination, Joſh. 20. The Eunuch did not promiſe by any covenant explicite what he would be; he onelyonly ſhewed what he did believe, or what he was. Exceſſe of complements in ſolemnities, formalities, punctualities, is unſutable to the ſimplicity and ſpirituality of the Goſpel, and alſo fully forbidden in the ſecond commandment. Calvin in his commentary on Rom. 14.3, 4. maketh Knowledge a ſufficient teſtimony that a man is received of God. When thou ſeeſt a man (ſaith he) illuminated with the knowledge of God, Satis teſtimonii habes quod a Deo aſſumptus ſit. And he addeth that we ought to hope well of any one in quo cernimus aliquid Dei. Confeſſions of Faith have been deemed ſufficient for mutual communion of Churches, either by writing or word of mouth.