A TRUE DESCRIPTION OUT OF THE WORD OF GOD, OF THE VISIBLE CHURCH. 1599. A TRUE DESCRIPTION OUT OF THE WORD of God▪ of the visible Church. AS there is but a Genes 1. 1. Exo. 20 3, one God and Father of all, one Lord over all, and one Spirit: So is there but b 1. Tim 2. 4. Phil. 2, 25. Ephe ●. 18. john 8. 4● one Truth, one Faith, one Salvation, one Church, called in one hope, joined in one profession, guided by one c Deut. 6. 25. Rom 10, 8. ●, Tim. 3, 15 john 8, 51 1. john ●. 3. 4. etc. rule even the word of the most high. This Church as it is universally understood, containeth in it all the d Gen. 17. 1, Pet. 1. 2, Revela. 7. 9 1. Cor. 10 ● john. 17, 10. Elect of God that have been, are, or shallbe: But being considered more particularly, as it is seen in this present world, It consisteth of a company and fellowship of e Psal. 1 ● 1. 1. & 149, 1. Isai, 62. 12. Ephe. 1. 1, 1. Cor, 1. 2. Deut. 14. 2. faithful and f Deut. 12, 5. john. 6, 37 & 3. 14. & 12. 32. Luke 17, 2. holy people gathered in the name of Christ jesus their only g Gen 44. 10. Psal. 45. 6. Zacha. ●. 9 Heb. 1, 8. King, h Rom 8. 34. john. 17. Heb. 5. 9 & 8. 1. & 4. 14 Priest, and i Deut 18, 15. Mat. 17. 15 Hebr 1. 1. Gen 14. 18. Prophet, k Exo. 20. 7. 8. Levit 10. 5 john 4. 23. worshipping him aright, being l Mat 11. 29. 1. Cor, 11. 16 Mar, 13. 24. reave 22. 8. peaceably and quietly governed by his Officers and laws, m Ephe 4. 3. 1. Cor. 1. 13 Mar. 9 50. keeping the unity of faith in the bond of peace & n john 13. 34. ●. Cor. 13. 4 1. Pet. 4. 22. 1. Ioh 3. 1●. love unfeigned. Most o Psal. 87. 2. joyful, excellent and glorious things are every where in the Scriptures spoken of this Church. It is called the p Psal. 87. 2. City, q 1. Tim. 3. ●5. Heb 3. 6 House r 1, Cor. 3, 17. Temple, and s Isaiah ●. 2, Micha, 4, ● mountain of the eternal God: the chosen generation, t Zach 8, 3. 1. Pet 2. 9 the holy nation, the peculiar people, the v Isaiah 51. & 27. 11. vinyeard, the x Cant 4. 12. Isa. 51. ●. garden enclosed, the spring shut up, the sealed fountain, the orchchyard of Pomgranades with sweet fruits, the y Isaiah 9 25. heritage, the z Micha 3. 2. john 3. 5. kingdom of Christ: yea his a Can 5. 2. sister, his love, his spouse, his b Psal. 45. 9 Queen, & his c 1. Cor. 12. 27. Ephe. ●. 2● body, the joy of the whole earth To this society is the d Gal. 4. 28. covenant and all the promises made of e Psal. 147. 14. 2 Thess. 3. 16 peace, of love and of f Isay. 46. 13. Zach. 14. 17 salvation, of the g Isai 60. Ezec. 47. Zach. 4 12. presence of God, of his graces, of his power, and of his h Eze. 48. 35. Mat. 28. 20. Isai. 6●. protection: And surely if this Church be considered in her parts, it shall appear most beautiful, yea most wonderful, and even i 〈◊〉. 4. 9. ravishing the senses to conceive, much more to behold, what then to enjoy so blessed a communion. For behold her k Isai. 62. 11. Ioh, 12. 15. H●h. 7. 8. King and Lord is the King of peace, & Lord himself of all glory. She enjoyeth most holy and heavenly l Mat 11. 30. 1 joh. 53. laws, most faithful and vigilant m Acts ●0. Pastors, most sincere & pure n Rom. 12. 7. Teachers, most careful and upright o Rom. 12. 8. Governors, most diligent and p Acts 6. trusty Deacons, most loving and sober q Rom. 12. 8. relievers, and a most r Mat. 5. 5. Ezech 36. 32. Isa. 〈◊〉. 8. humble, meek, obedient, faithful and loving people, every s 1. King 7. 9 Zach. 14. 21 1. Pet, 2. 5. stone living, elect and precious, every stone hath his beauty, his t Gala. 6. ●. burden and his v ●, Cor. 1●. Rom. 12. 3. order. All bound to x Hebr. 10. 24. edify one another, exhort, reprove & comfort one another y Devit. 19 17. 1. Thes, 2. 9 lovingly as to their own members, z C●●os. 3. 2●. 1. Ioh, 〈…〉 faithfully as in the eyes of God. No a 2. Cor. ●. 17. 2. john g. Office here is ambitiously affected, no b ●. Tim. 4. 2. 3. Gal. 6. 12 law wrongfully wrested or c 1. C●r. 5. wilfully neglected, no d ●ere 23. 28. 1. Tim. 3. 15 truth hid or perverted, e 1. Co●. ●. & 14. 30. Col● 4 7. every one here hath freedom and power (not disturbing the peaceable order of the Church) to 〈◊〉 his complaints and griefs, and freely to reprove the transgresions and errors of an●e without exceptions of persons. Here is no f john. 10. 1. intrusion or climbing up an other way into the sheepfold, then g Acts. 1. 23. & 6. 3. & 14 23. by the holy & free election of the Lords holy and free people, and that according to the Lords holy and free people, and that according to the Lord Ordinance, humbling themselves by fastings and prayer before the Lord, craving the direction of his holy Spirit, for the trial and approving of his Gifts, etc. Thus they orderly proceed to ordination by fasting and prayer, in which h 1. Tim. 4. 14. & ●. 22. action the Apostles used laying on of hands. Thus hath every one of the people interest in the election and ordination of their officers, as also in the administration of their offices upon i Luke 17. 3. Rom. 16. 17 Col. 4. 17. transgression, offence, abuse, etc. having an especial care unto the inviolable order of the Church, as is aforesaid. Likewise in this Church they have holy k Mat. 5. 19 1. Ti. 1. 18. laws, as limits & bonds, which, it is lawful at no hand to transgress. They have laws to direct them in the choice of every officer, what kind of men the Lord will have. Their Pastor must be apt to l Deut ●3. 10 Mal. 2. 7. 1. Tim. 3. ●. teach, no young Scholar, m 2. Ti. 2. 15 able to divide the word aright, n 'tis 1. 9 2. Tim. 4. 2 holding fast that faithful word, according to doctrine, that he may be able also to exhort, rebuke, improve, with wholesome doctrine, & to convince them that say against it: He must be a man that loveth goodness: he must be wise, righteous, holy▪ temperate: he must be of life o Tit. 1. 7. 8 on reprovable, as God's Steward: he must be generally well reported of, & one that ruleth his own household under obedience with al-honestie: he must be modest, humble, meek, gentle, & loving: he must be a man of great p Numb. 1●. 7. Isay. 50. 4. jere 3. 15. Eze. ●●. 18. Acts 20. patience, compassion, labour and diligence: he must always be careful and watchful over the flock whereof the Lord hath made him overseer with all willingness & cheerfulness, 1. Pet. 5. 1. 2 ● 3▪ 4, not holding his office in respect of persons, but doing his duty to every soul, as he will answer before the chief Shepherd, 1. Tim. 2. 20 1. Tim. 3. etc. Their Doctor or Teacher must be a man apt to teach, able to divide the word of God aright, Titus. 1. 2. Tim. 2 15. and to deliver sound and wholesome doctrine from the same, still building upon that sound ground work, he must be mighty in the Scriptures, 1. Cor. 1, 17 & 2, 4. 〈…〉. able to convince them gainsayers, & carefully to deliver his doctrine pure, 〈…〉 sound & plain, not with curiosity or affection, but so that it may edisie the most simple, approving it to every man's conscience, he must be of life unreprovable, one that can govern his own household, he must be of manners sober, temperate, modest, gentle and loving, etc. Their Elders must be of wisdom and judgement: endued with the Spirit of GOD, able to discern between cause and cause, Numb. 11. 24 between plea and plea, 2. Chro 19 8 Acts 15. 1. Tim. 5. and accordingly to prevent and redress evils, always vigilant and intending to see the statutes, ordinances and laws of God kept in the Church, and that not only by the people in obedience, but to see the officers do their duties. These men must be of life likewise unreprovable, governing their own families orderly, they must be also of manners sober, gentle, modest, loving, temperate, etc. Their Deacons must be men of honest report, having the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience, Acts. 6. 2. 1. Tim. 3. &. 9 endued with the holy ghost: they must be grave, temperate, not given to excess, nor to filthy lucre. Their relievers or Widows must be women of 60, years of age at the least, 1. Tim 5. 9 10. for avoiding of inconveniences: they must be well reported of for good works, such as have nourished their children, such as have been harborous to strangers: diligent and serviceable to the Saints, compassionate and helpful to them in adversity, given to every good work, continuing in supplications and prayers night and day. These Officers must first be duly proved, then if they be found blameless, ●. Tim. 3. 10 administer, etc. Now as the persons, gifts, conditions, manners, life and proof of these officers, ●. Cor. 1●. 12 1●. is set down by the holy Ghost: So are their offices limited, severed, and divers: The pastors office is, levit. 10. 10 11. to feed the sheep of Christ in green and wholesome pastures of his word, and lead them to the still waters, Num. 1●. ●. even to the pure fountain and river of life. Ezek 44. 23. and ●4. 33. He must guide and keep those sheep by that heavenly sheephook and pastoral staff of the word, Psal. 23. john ●1. 15. thereby drawing them to him, thereby looking into their souls, even into their most secret thoughts: Thereby discerning their diseases, and thereby curing them: applying to every disease a fit and convenient medicine, according to the quality and danger of the disease, Acts 20. 1 Pet. 5. 1. and give warning to the Church, Zacha, 11. 7 that they may orderly proceed to excommunication. Revel. 2●. 2. Further, he must by this his sheephooks watch over and defend his flock from ravenous beasts and the Wolf, Luke 12. 42. and take the little foxes, 2. Cor 10. 4. 5 Heb. 8. 12. etc. The Doctors office is already set down in his description: Ezech 33. 1. His special care must be, 1. Cor. 11. 19 to build upon the only true groundeworke, joh. 10. 11. 22 gold, silver, and precious stones, levit. 10. 10 that his work may endure the trial of the fire, and by the light of the same fire, Ezech 44. 24. reveal the Timber, Hay, Mal. 2. 6, and Stubble of false Teachers: he must take diligent heed to keep the Church from errors. ●. Cor. 3. 11 And further he must deliver his doctrine so plainly, 1. Cor 1. 7. simply, 2. Tim. 4. 16 and 6. 20. and purely, that the church may increase with the increasing of God, Ephe. 2. 20. & grouwe up unto him which is the head Christ jesus. Heb. 6. 1. The office of the ancients is expressed in their description: Numb. 11. 16 Their especial care must be, Deus. 16. 18 to see the ordinances of God truly taught and practised, 2. Chro. 19 8 asweell by the officers in doing their duty uprightly, Exod. 39 42 as to see that the people obey willingly and readily. 1. Tim. 3. 15 It is their duty to see the Congregation holily and quietly ordered, 2. Tim. 1. 13 and no way disturbed, 1. Cor. 11. 16 and 14. 33. by the contentious and▪ disobedient, froward and obstinate: Gal 2. 5. 5. not taking away the liberty of the least, Colos 1. 16. but upholding the right of all, wisely iudgginge of times and circumstances: Acts 20. They must be ready assistants to the Pastor and Teachers, 1. Pet. 5. 1. helping to bear their burden, Rom. 1●. 8. but not intruding into their office. The Deacons office is, Acts 6. faithfully to gather, and collect by the ordinance of the Church, the goods and benevolence of the faithful, and by the same direction, diligently and trustily to distribute them according to the necessity of the Saints. Rom. 12. 8. Further they must inquire and consider of the proportion of the wants both, of the Officers and other poor, and accordingly relate unto the Church that provision may be made. The Relievers & widows office is, 1. Tim. 5. 9 to minister to the sick, lame, weary, & diseased, such helpful comforts as they need, by watching, tending and helping them. Further, Rom. 12, 8 they must show good example to the younger Women, in sober, modest, & godly conversation, avoiding idleness, vain talk, & light behaviour. These Officers, though they be divers and several, yet are they not severed, Luke. 9, 46. lest their should be a division in the bodle, john. 13. 12, but they are as members of the body, having the same care one of another, ●. Cor. 12. 12 ● 25. ●8. jointly doing their several duties to the service of the Saints▪ and to the edification of the Body of Christ, Ephe, 4. 11. 12. 13. 16. till we all meet together in the perfect measure of the fullness of Christ, by whom all the body being in the mean while, thus coupled and knit together by every joint for the furniture thereof, according to the effectual power which is in the measure of every part, receiveth increase of the body, unto the edifing of itself in love: neither can any of these Offices be wanting, without grievous lameness, & apparent deformity of the body, yea violent injury to the Head Christ jesus. Thus this holy army of saints, is marshaled here in earth by these Officers, Rom. 12, under the conduct of their glorious Emperor CHRIST, 1. Cor. 12. that victorious Michael. Thus it marcheth in this most heavenly order, Revel. 14. ●. 2 & gracious array, against all Enemies both bodily and ghostly. Revel. 12. 11, ● Peaceable in itself as jerusalem, terrible unto them as▪ Cant. 6. ●. an Army with banners, triumphing over their tyraimie with patience, their cruelty with meekness, and over Death itself without ing. Thus through the blood of that spotless Lamb, and that word of their testimony, they are more than conquerors, Rom. 8, 38, 39 bruising the Head of the Serpent: yea through the power of his word, they have power to cast down Satan like lightning: Luke 10. 18. 19 to tread upon Serpents and Scorpions: to cast down strong holds, and every thing that exalteth itself against God. Mat. ●6, 18. The Gates of Hell and all the Principalities and powers of the world, Rom 1. ●3. 39 shall not prevail against it. Further, Mat. 16. 19 he hath given them the Keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, That whatsoever they bind in earth by his word, john. 10, 〈◊〉. shallbe bound in heaven: and whatsoever they lose on earth, Mat. 18. 18. shallbe loosed in heaven. Now this power which Christ hath given unto his Church, john. 20. 23. and to every member of his Church, to keep it in order, Mat. 16. 16. and 18. 18. he hath not left it to their discretions and lusts to be used or neglected as they will, Deut 12. 32 but in his last Will and Testament, Revel. 22. 18. he hath set down both an order of proceeding, and an end to which it is used. If the fault be private, Levit, 19 17. 18, private holy & loving admonition & reproof is to be used, with an inward desire & earnest care to win their brother: Mat. 18. 15. But if he will not hear, Deut. 19 15 yet to take two or three other brethren with him, whom he knoweth most meet for that purpose, Mat. 18. 16. that by the mouth of two or three witnesses, every word may be confirmed: And if he refuse to hear them, then to declare the matter to the Church, which ought severely and sharply to reprehend, gravely to admonish, and lovingly to persuade ●he party offending: showing him the heinousness of his offence, and the danger of his obstinacy, and the fearful judgements of the Lord. All this notwithstanding the Church is not to hold him as an enemy, ●, Thess. 3, 15. but to admonish him and pray for him as a Brother, proving if at any time the Lord will give him repentance. For this power is not given them to the destruction of any, 2. Cor. 10. ● and 1●. 10. but to the edification and preservation of all. If this prevail not to draw him to repentance, Mat. 18. 16. Then are they in ●he Name and power of the Lord JESUS, with the whole Congregationn, reve●entlie in prayer to proceed to excommunication, casting him out of the covenant and protection of the Lord, for his disobedience and obstinacy, 1. Cor. 5. 5. and committing him to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the Spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord jesus, if such be his good will and pleasure. Further, Mat. 18. 17. they are to warn the whole Congregation and all other Faithful, 1, Cor. 5. 1●. to hold him as a Heathen and a Publican, and to abstain themselves from his society as not to eat or drink with him, etc. unless it be such as of necessity must needs, as his Wife, his Children and Family: yet these (if they be Members of the Church) are not to join to him in any Spiritual exercise. If the Offence be public, 1. Tim. 5. 20 the party is publicly to be reproved, Gal, 2. 14. and admonished: if he then repent not, Io●●●7 19 to proceed to excommunication, ut supra. 2, Cor. 7. 9 The repentance of the party must be proportionable to the Offence, levit. 19 18, viz. Pro. ●0. 12. If the Offence be public public: Rom. 12. 19 & 〈◊〉. 10 and 14. 1. If private, private: humbled, submisive, sorrowful unfeigned, giving glory to the Lord. Gal. 6. 1. 2. Mark 9 50, Ephe. 4, 29. Mat. 18. 15. Lam 5. 15. 19 ●0. There must great care be had of Admonitions, that they be not captious, or curious finding fault where none is. Neither yet in bitterness or reproach, for that were to destroy and not to save our brother: but they must be carefully done, with prayer going before, they must be seasoned with truth, gravity, love & peace. Moreover in this Church is an especial care had by every Member thereof, Luke. 1●. ●. of Offences: The Strong ought not to offend the Weak, Pro. 10. 12. nor the weak to judge the Strong: Rom. 14. 12. ●●9. but all graces here are given to the service and edification of each other in love and long suffering. Gal. ●. 2. In this Church is the Truth purely taught, and surely kept: Gen, 1●. here is the covenant, the Sacraments, and promises, isaiah, 44. 3. the graces, the glory, the presence, the worship of God, Gal. ● 23. etc. ●nd ●. 1●. Isay. 60. 15. Deut, 4. 13 Isay. 56. 7 1. Tim. ● 15. Isay. 5●. ●. Into this Temple entereth no unclean thing, isaiah 52. 1 neither what so ever worketh Abominations or lies, Ezek 44. 9 but they which are written in the lambs Book of life. Isay. 35. 8. Zach 14. ●1. 〈◊〉, 21. 27. But without this CHURCH shallbe dogs and Enchanters, Rom. ●. 9 & Whoremongers, Revel. 22. 19 & Murderers, and idolaters and who so ever loveth & maketh lies. FINIS.