OF PUBLIQVE REFORMATION OF A CHURCH. Of this Reformation we are to know What it is. This reformation is a bringing of men back unto God, by putting away evil, and by renewing the performance of all holy duties decayed, especially in the public societies of God's children. 2. Chron 19 4, 2. Chron. 34. 35. 2. King. 18. 4. 23. 4. 20. 2. Kings 23. 21. 2. Chron. 29 3, 25. 30. 30. per totum. 31. 2. ad finem. 2 The necessity of it, which may appear 1 By the commanundement of the Lord, not only exacting of every see man repentance (whereof this is a most solemn kind) but also giving charge for this matter, jer. 7. 23, 24, 1. King. 18. 36 Psalm 2. 2 By the extraordinary ministery of Prophets, and other persons when God so often raised up, taught, and assisted extraordinarily, that they might be his instruments to bring men again to God and to reform things amiss. Which extraordinary work if the Lord, done for the reformation of his Church, declareth the necessity of it. 3 By the fearful plagues which God brought upon the neglectors of reformation. Eli, because he reclaimed not his sons, and so the people which for the great iniquity of the young men abhorred the offering of the Lord, lost the Priesthood, and make his neck. The young men also perished in a great slaughter of the people. 1. Sam. 2. & 4 joash and his people, because they would not obey the word of the Lord in the mouth of Zachariah, to reform that which was amiss, were forsaken of the Lord, and delivered into the hands of their enemies. 2. Chron. 24. 20. 25 For this cause the people of Amaziah fell before joash. jerusalem was sacked, the king himself taken prisoner, and afterward slain by treason. 2. Chron. 25. 16. 23. 24. 27. 3 The parts of this reformation, which are 1 Suppresunng of every idolatrous, superstitious, filthy and strange hind, doctrine, office, use, or ceremony remaining. Wherein heed must be taken, that no remnant of the aforesaid be suffered to contunie, because such remnants provoke God to anger, and were always hurtful to the Church. judg. 8. 27. 2. Chron. 20. 23. 2 Conforming and reducing of the whole state of the Church, that is to say, of the doctrine, officers, form of government, order etc. of it, to their ancient integrity: that is, to the prescription of the word, or of Christ and his Apostles, whereby the Church was first established. See the 5. point. 2. Kings 23. 24. 2. Chron. 29. 25. 4 The persons who are to work this reformation, which are these. 1 The author & efficient cause of reformations God himself. isaiah 62. 7. who if he turn not the hearts of men to obey his servants persuading to reformation it is because he mindeth to destroy them. 2. Chron. 25. 16. 20. 1. Sam. 2. 25. Pro. 21. 12. 2 The instruments wh●ch the Lord hath sanctified for this work, these are 1 The prince whose duty is 1 To call and compel both ministers and people to return to the ordinances of the Lord, set down in his word 2. King's 2●. 2. Ch●on. 29. 4. 5, 15. 2 To be himself foremost in the pra●ise of public actions of godliness, that his example may ●…ere up and strengthen other. 2. Sam. 6. 2. 5. 15. 16. 2. Kings 23. 2. 3. 3 To make laws for the co●… of reformation. 2. Chron. 15. 13. 2 The ministers, to whom it belongs 1 To pray earnestly and contenually into the Lord, for the setting up and reforming of his Church. Esay. 62. 7 2 To make known the word of Gain that behalf to the Prince and people. 2. King's 2●. 8. Exod. 4. 14 & 5. 1. 3 To join with the people, and to ●oe before them in all their suits to them in authority, for reformation. Esay. 62. 10. Exod. 4. & 5. 3 So many of the people, especially of the Elders, know the will of God, to whom it belongeth not only to join in prayers is God for the good of his people. Hest. 4. 16. but also in prayer and godliness to join in this sun with the ministers. 1. Kings 18. 30. Exod. 3. 18. and at the Prince's commandment to deface the monuments of idolatry. 2. Kin. 11 18. 10. 27. 5 The rule and squere whereby the servants of the Lord must perform this reformation, which is the word only, of which we are to observe 1 The reasons why the word is to be used for the only rule of reformation, which are First, seeing to reform a church is nothing else buthe renewing of the first building and beauty of it, and by the word only it was first built up & beautified: therefore by it also it must be reform. Secondly, forasmuch as the redressing of every muss several ways is to be performed by the word. Psal. 11 9 a whole church cannot otherwise be reform. Thirdly, sith the Lord reproving the ungodly for haing, reformation, verifieth it hereby, because they cast his laws behind their backs, Psal. 50. it cannot be avoided but the reformation of a church is to be deruied from the word. 4 By the examples of such as at the commandment of God, have either accomplished or laboured any such reformation, who always have brought and called men to the rules of the word of God. 2. Kings 23. 2. 3. Nehem. 8. 1. 2. 3. 4. Nehem. 10. 29. Gal. 6. 16. Revel. 3. 3 2 The man not how to use this rule aright where men are to observe that in Abolishing things they must judge by the word, what's idolatrous, what superstitious, what strange or crept in without warrant from the Lord. etc. and so to abolish them. Conforming. if it be In matters of discipline, 1 Where express commandements of Christ, and examples of the churches are found. 1 They must carefully mark of these commandments and examples, which are tempora●… and extraordinary, which otherwise 2 They must embrace and 〈◊〉, without gainsaying and conditions that which is ordinary, not only as the best, but as the only true and allowed ordinances of the Lord, leaving the extraordinary things to the Lord, or whole only power it is to break the ordinary rules of his word. 2 Where express direction i● not found, as in some matters of order, and other circumstances, they must take heed that they admits nothing which is contrary to the general rules ●f order, comeliness, and edification set down in the word. In doctrine likewise, where express and lasting rules are found, they must receive them as the undoubted Oracles of God: where any thing is in question that hath not such pla 〈…〉 es they must order and determine every matter by the analogy of faith. 6 The adversary eudevors against in where we are to note the wiliness of Satan, which hath a several charmeta bring a sleep it it may be, every one that hath any hand in the work, as for the 1 Prince, he putteth into his head by flattering courtiers, etc. 1 That these seekers of reformation intend of strengthen themselves, that they may the better rebel against him. Nehem. 2. 9 whereas the end of reformation is, that no disobedient person may he suffered. Rom. 13. 1. and reformation hath never suffered men to rebel against the enemies of it, how much less will it against the friends? 2 That such exquisite reformation will make 〈◊〉, and withdraw the people from following their vocations. Exod. 5. 4. whereas contrariwise, reformation cannot away with any that walk ●…ly. 2. Thess 3. 6. 3 That it is the honour of Princes not to correct the doings of their godly ancestors, 1 Kings 12. 14. whereas the godly kings are commended for reforming not only that which their wicked ancestors brought in but also which their godly predocessors left unreformed. 2. Chron. 35. 18. 30. 5. 2. King. 18. 4. 4 That such Reformation will be more troublesome ●han commodious, which declareth that these politics are possessed with a lying spirit, for how know they that the Lord will not give a blessing of peace to his own ordinary. 2. Chron. 15 7. Again, what devil taught them that greater trouble than commodity would be in serving God, as through the abandoning of evil made not the troubles susteyed therein great commodities and blessings to him that suffered them. 2 Ministers he moveth tyrants to draw them back, 1 By accusing them to be pestulent and seditions fellows, and maintainers of forts. Acts 24. 5. Heretics. Acts 24. 14. 〈◊〉 persons. jerem. 15. 10. troublers oft estate. 1. Kings 18. 17. 2 By imprisoning them. jerem 20. 2. and threatening them with death except they cease Exod. 10. 28. 2. Chron. 25. 16. jere. 11. 21. yea many times slaying some of them to 〈◊〉 other from following the work of the Lord. 3 By causing their friends to forsake them. Tit. 4. 10. 16. All these things being promoters of the ministers blessedness. Mat. 5. ought to make them more bold and forward in the work. Acts 9 21. Acts 13. 45. 46. Philip. 1. 14. knowing that the Lord will assist them. Tit. 4. 17. 3 The people whom he seeketh to hinder also 1 By upbraiding them with lack of learning and knowledge. john 7. 40. 2 By causing tyrants to oppress them by all ungodlymenes. Exod. 5. 6. 7. 8. 3 By sending out false teachers to withdraw them. Against all which the people must arm themselves with knowledge and patience, not forsaking the work of the Lord for any thing. 7 The solemnity & manner of receiving this reformation, (after the hindrances thereof overcome) whereof we are to know, 1 The points & several degrees of this solemnity, which are 1 A gathering together of all the states of that place where the reformation is to be made. 2. Kings 23. 1. 2. Nehe. 8. 1. 2 A faithful laying open of the word by preaching in the cares of them all, that they may see where reformation wanteth. 2. Chron. 34. ●0. Nehem. 8. 4. 8. 3 〈◊〉 prayer, with praising of God for his goodness in 〈…〉 them a sight of their wants, and a way to reform them, with humble confession of their former rebellions, disobediences, and backslidings. Nehem. 8. 6. to the end. 4 A solemn covenant to be made with God by the whole state. 2. Kings 11. 17. 2 Chron. 15. 14. 15. In which covenant they promise hence forward to forsake all their own ways and intentions, and to cleave to the commandments of God alone. Unto this promise was adjoined an oath, and a curse or desire of vengeance to come upon themselves, if they forsake the ways of the Lord for any other 2. Kings 11. 17. Nehem. 10, 29. 2 The reasons why such manner of receiving this reformation is needful, which are, 1 Because in a public deformation of the Church the covenant of our peace is generally broken: wherefore it behoveth us in returning and reforming ourselves, to renew the same covenant, as generally, and that in as solemn manner as may be, seeing we are to deal, not with earth and ashes, but with the God of infinite majesty, with whom to deal in light and dissolute manner, especially in such a work, were great sin. 2 Because of the commandment of the Lord, who in the public rebellion of Prince and people, chargeth them which are in authority with that people, not only to receive instruction, to rejoice before the Lord in trembling, etc. but moreover requireth of them and theirs, a solemn covenant, and the outward testimony of it, if they will avoid the anger of God. Psalm 2. 8 The fruits & blessings which follow the receivers & workers of this reformation. the Lord always giveth a reward unto it 2. Chron. 15. 7. Forhe 1 Heareth the voice of such, and their prayer cometh up into hearin, to his holy habitation. 2. Chron. 30. 27. 2 forgiveth their former transgressions, and though they were is red as crimson, or scarlet, he maketh them as white as snow or wool. Esay. 1. 18. 19 3 Causeth them to dwell in their own land, and not to remove. jerem. 4. 1. 7. 3. 4 Maketh them to eat the good of the land. Esay 1. 19 62. 89. yea he openeth the windows of heaven, and poureth down upon them the blessings of the earth in abundance. Malach. 3. 10. 5 giveth them rest and quietness from their enemies. 2. Kings 11. 20. 2. Chron. 14. 5. 15. 15. 19 20. 30. Esay 31. 7. 8. 9 6 giveth them strange victories, and mighty great spoils of their enemies. 2. Chron. 14. 12 15. 15. 2. 20. 14. 23. 7 Maketh them to rule over many nations, & suffereth not other to reign over them. Deu. 15. 6. 8 Maketh at things to prosper that they take in hand. 2. Kings 18. 7. 9 giveth to that Prince honour & riches in abundance, establishing the kingdom in his hand 2. Chron. 17. 5. These and infinite blessings follow this Reformation, wherefore they that wilfully withstand it evidently declare, that they seek not the wealth, peace, plenty, godly pre-eminence, and flourishing estate of their Prince and Country. FINIS.