CHAPTER XXXII.

Of the Church Instituted.

1. THE Church as it lives upon Earth, although it be not wholy visible together, yet it is visible in its parts, both dividedly in the severall members, and joyntly in companies or Congregations.

2. The former visibility is by mens personall profession which doth not make a Church simply visible, but in certaine members, or visible members of the Church, although the Church in it selfe or in its integrall state is not visible in the same place. Acts 19. 1. Paul came to Ephesus where he found certaine Disciples.

3. That visibility, which is in distinct companies or congregations, doth not only make a visible Church, but touching the outward forme doth make so many visible Churches as there are distinct congregations. Revel. 1. 4. The seven Churches. 2 Cor. 8. 1. 19. The Churches of Macedonia, all the Churches.

4. For those congregations are as it were similary parts of the catholick Church, and so doe partake both of the name and nature of it.

5. Therefore a particular Church in respect of that common nature which is found in all particular Churches▪ is a Species of the Church in generall, but in respect of the catholick Church which hath the respect of an whole, it is a member compounded of divers severall members gathered together, and so in respect of those members it is also an whole.

6. Such a congregation or particular Church is a society of believeres joyned together by a speciall band

among themselves▪ for the constant exercise of the communion of Saints among themselves.

7. It is a society of believers: because that same thing in profession doth make a Church visible, which by its inward and reall nature doth make a mysticall Church, that is, Faith.

8. But because true Faith hath holinesse joyned with it, which it doth effectually worke. Acts 15. 9. And so the profession of true faith cannot be disjoyned from the profession of holinesse, therefore the Church is promiscuously and in the same sense called, a society of believers, and of Saints. Eph. 1. 1. To the Saints which are at Ephesus and faithfull in Christ Iesus. 1 Cor. 1. 2. compared with, 2 Cor. 1. 1. Rom. 1. 7. Colos. 1. 2.

9. Hence visible and particular Churches also, by reason of this Faith which they professe, are rightly said to be in God the Father, and in the Lord Iesus Christ. 1 Thess. 1. 1. 2 Thess. 1. 1.

10. It is also very probable that there is no such particular Church in which the profession of the true Faith flourisheth, but in the same also there are found some true believers.

11. But those who are onely believers by profession, so long as they remaine in that society are members of that Church, as also of the catholick Church as touching the outward state, not touching the inward or essentiall state. 1 Iohn 2. 19. They went out from us, but they were not of us.

12. Among believers there are to be accounted as members of the Church the children of those believers who are in the Church. 1 Cor. 7. 14. Your children are holy. For they are partakers of the same covenant, and the same profession with their parents.

13. Yet infants are not so perfect members of the Church, as that they can exercise acts of communion, or be admitted to partake of all the priviledges thereof, unlesse there doe first appeare an increase of Faith: but

they are not to be excluded from those priviledges which pertaine to the beginning of Fait and entrance into the Church.

14. Believers doe not make a particular Church, although peradventure many may meete and live together in the same place, unlesse they be joyned together by a speciall bond among themselves: for so some one Church should often be dissolved into many and manyal[gap]o should be confounded into one.

15. This bond is a covenant, either expresse or implicite whereby believers doe particularly bind themselves, to performe all those duties, both toward God and one toward another, which pertaine to the respect and edification of the Church.

16. Hence it is that in the old Testament wee doe for the most part so often read of the renewing of their covenant, as there is related any solemne reformation of the Church.

17. Hence none is rightly admitted into the Church, but by confession of Faith and promise of obedience.

18. This joyning together by covenant doth onely so far forth make a Church as it respects the exercising the communion of Saints: for the same believing men may joyne themselves in covenant to make a City or some civill society, as they doe immediatly respect a common civill good, but they doe not make a Church but as in their constitution they respect holy communion with God among themselves.

19. Hence the same men, may make a City or politicke society and not a Church; or a Church, and not a City; or both a Church and a City.

20. Hence it is that those meetings that are formally Ecclesiasticall, are said to be had in the Name of the Lord. Math. 18. 20. 1 Cor. 5. 4.

21. Neither yet doth some suddaine joyning together, and exercise of holy communion suffice to make a

Church: unlesse there be also that constancy, at least in intention, which brings the state of a body, and members in a certaine spirituall politie.

22. This Cureh is instituded by God and by Christ, Heb. 3. 3. 4. He that builded the House, for every House is built by some, and in this respect it differs from the mysticall Church, the gathering of which together into one is not prescribed unto men, but performed immediatly b[gap] divine operation, but the gathering together into an instituted Church is so perfomed by God, that his command and mans duty and labour doe come betweene. Hebr. 10. 25. Not forsaking the assembling our selves together.

23. But it is ordained by God and Christ onely, because men have neither power of themselves to institute, or frame a Church unto Christ, neither have they by the revealed will of God any such power committed to them: their greatest honour is, that they are servants in the House of God. Heb. 3. 5.

24. It is not therfore in the power of man either to take away any of those things which Christ hath granted to his Church, or to ad other to them of the like kind: although he may and ought by all lawful meanes to provide, that those things which Christ hath ordained may be farthered, and confirmed.

25. But Christ hath so instituted the Church, that it alwayes depends upon himselfe as upon the head, so that if it be distinctly considered without Christ, it is not a compleat body.

26. Hence the Church itselfe may not properly make new Lawes to her selfe of new things to be ordained, but thee ought onely to care for this, that shee doe well find out the will of Christ, and observe his ordinances in order and decently, with greatest fruit of edification.

27. But because the ordinances of Christ have alwayes

a blessing of God joyned with them, therefore here are divers promises of God made to the Church of the presence of Christ. Mat. 18. 20. 1 Cor. 5. 4. So as in a speciall manner hee is said to be conversant and to walke in the Churches. Revel. 2. 1. Esay 31. 9. And of the presence of the Holy Spirit, Esay 59. 21. So that a more ample and certaine blessing of God may be expected in the Church of God instituted, then in any solitary life whatsoever.

28. They therefore that have opportunity to joyne themselves to the Church, and neglect it, doe more grievously sinne, not onely against God in respect of ordinance, but also against their owne soule in respect of the blessing adjoyned. And if they doe obstinatly persist in their carelessenesse, whatsoever they doe otherwise professe, they can scarce be accounted for believers truly seeking the Kingdome of GOD.

29. The profession of the true Faith is the most essentiall note of the Church.

30. This profession may in some company goe before the solemne preaching of the Word, and administration of the Sacraments.