SEVERAL QUERIES concerning the CHURCH of JESUS CHRIST upon Earth, briefly explained and Resolved.  
Wherein is showed and proved, 

1. That there is a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth.  
2. What this Church is?  
3. How a People become a Visible Church?  
4. That the Churches in England were at first rightly Constituted?  
5. What manner of Government Jesus Christ hath ordained in and for his Church?  
6. What manner of Persons those aught to be, that may be continued in, or admitted into the Church?  
7. What is the duty of Church members towards Jesus Christ their head, and one another.    
By John Flower M. A. Preacher at Staunton in the County of Nottingham.  
London, Printed by T. Mabb for Edward Thomas and are to be sold at his Shop at the sign of the Adam and Eve in Little-brittain near the Church, 1658.   

TO THE Right Honourable, EDWARD Lord, WHALEY, Lieutenant General of the Army: under his Highness OLIVER Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging.  
Right Honourable,  
THis which was at first conceived for the use and direction of my own Congregation; I have at the desire of some private Friends, suffered to be brought forth to a more public view; and I have also made bold to tender it to your Honour, which though I confess unworthy either of your judgement or acceptance; yet the countenance and many respects which I have received from you, have heightened me to this presumption; hoping you will please to pardon that confidence in me, which your own favours and encouragements have begotten. I hope I have not in this offended against the truth; I am sure I have not willingly, nor wittingly, if I have through ignorance, or mistake, I shall willingly be rectified, and be glad to see my errors: Therefore in such ca●e— Let the righteous smite me, 
Ps. 141.5.  and it shall be a kindness, let him reprove me, it shall be an excellent oil which shall not break my head.  
In ●y pre●enting this small piece to your honour, my ambition is only to make an honourable and thankful mention of your name: your deserts have merited a better monument than I am able to elect for them.  
Your Noble and civil deportment towards all in the Counties, more especially under your Command; chief your countenancing and encouraging of the pious & painful Ministers of the Gospel, hath justly gained you a good report of all men, and of the truth itself; which honour that you may always have, by still co tinuing steadfast, and unmoveable, and always abounding in the work the Lord, is the prayer of  
Your Honour's most obliged in all duty and service, JOHN FLOWER.   

TO My much esteemed friends and neighbours the Inhabitants of the Town and Parish of Staunton, in the County of Nottingham:  
BY the providence of the most high, 
Isa 7. Acts 17.26.  that hath appointed the tithes that are coming, and shall come, an ●●etermined the bounds of each one habitation, I am seated among you in this place, 
Ps. 16.6.  and I hope I shall have no other cause but that I may say with the Psalmist, the lines are fallen unto me in a good place:  
I account not that so much a good place where there are good fields good corn, good pasture— But I account that a good place, where there is a good people, a people swift to hear, willing to be reform ready to submit to the Sceptre, and dominion of the Lord Jesus, and not crying ou● like those Rebellious Jews— 
Lu. 7.19.14  we will not have this man reign over us. I account such a place a good place, for it is not the fatness of the soil, but the fear of the Lord that maketh rich:  
I bless God I have received no discouragement since I came amongst you; I have not found you stubborn or perverse, froward, or refractory, or resisters of the word of truth, which hath been delivered to you, but I have found you rather humble and meek, and willing to embrace the Gospel, which as it is your praise, so it is also my happiness and joy;  
For what is it that makes the life of a Minister of the Gospel comfortable? I tell you (if he be a man that truly fears God, and is faithful to his master) it is not the greatness of his Living, the fullness of his barns— But it is the obedience of his people to gospel-precepts, their growing in grace, their adding to faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, 
2. Pet. 1.5.  and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity; their willingness to be reform, their readiness to receive the truth with love, their not being barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ:  
O! The blessing of God upon his labours in Spiritualizing his people, this refresheth him, when he seethe dead people quickened, enemies to Christ reconciled, children of wrath become children of grace, those that were afar off, now made nigh, strangers from the covenant now interested in the promise, there is no greater joy to a sincere minister of the Gospel than this.  
This was St. 
3 joh. 1.4.  John's greatest comfort— I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth.  
O what a rejoicing is this! when a Minister can say of his people, as St. Paul could of his Corinthians, 
1 Cor. 6.11 — But ye are washed but ye are sanctified— and to the Romans to whom he preached— Ye were the Servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine which was delivered unto you: 
Ro. 6.17.   
But ah! what woe is it to a faithful minister, that when he hath spent himself, and his pains for many years, yet is forced to complain with the Prophet— Lord who hath believed our report? 
Isa. 53.1.  They were servants of sin, and they are so still, they have not obeyed from the heart the form of doctrine delivered to them:  
They were thiefs, covetous, whoremongers, drunkards, Revilers, Scorners and they are so still,— they are not washed, they are not sanctified— an● this is an heart-breaking to a sincere Minister of Jesus Christ, and many such there are that with the Prophet, 
jer. 13.17.  mourn in secret for this thing.  
I must confess. I have what respects I can desire from you in relation to things temporal, and my endeavours shall be to gratify you with things that are spiritual, which are of the greatest concernment in the world.  
Our main business in this world should be, to labour to make your calling and election sure— To be diligent that at the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ to judgement we may be found without spot and blameless: men indeed make other business than this, But alas! That so little regarded saying of our Lord Jesus Christ will be proved true one day— What will it profit a man to win the world and lose his soul?  
While providence shall continue me among you in this place, my endeavour shall be (by God's assistance) to set you in heaven-way, to be plain, and faithful to you in things of soul concernment;  
To tell you that you are altogether such as ye ought to be, all real christians, a visible Church, such as have a right to the sacrament, an interest in the promises— I dare not sow such pillows under your arms if I should, well might you suspect me of daubing, I mean, with untempred mortar.  
But I shall endeavour to show you out of the Scriptures, who are Christians indeed, not only by a change of name, but by a change of nature also; who are a true visible Church of Jesus Christ: what manner of persons they are and aught to be, to whom Seals and Promises are given, and if you be, or become such, then may I tell you without deceiving you, that you are Christians indeed, a Church indeed, have a right to the Seals and promises of the Gospel indeed.  
If a Parish or People be altogether profane, atheistical, dead in sins and trespasses, without any favour or taste of spiritual things— To tell such a people that they are good Christians, a visible Church, have a right to the Sacrament— is no other than to cheat them of the truth, harden them in their sins, and lead them blindfold to destruction: A formal and general Preacher that words, and phrases out his own wisdom, tickling the ears without touching the hearts or awaking the consciences of his hearers, he may have the praise and applause of men, but not the praise and peace of God; give me the latter, let who will take the former.  
It will be worth all his pains and sufferings, if a Minister drawing men to his latter end, and ready to give up an account of his stewardship, can appeal unto God and his Congregation, as once Samuel (ready to die) did unto the people in another case, 1 Sam. 12.— Whose Ox or whose Ass have I taken? whom have I defrauded? So when a Minister,— what soul have I beguiled? What soul have I defrauded? What soul have I hardened in sin by covering, and not discovering the truth, and danger of its estate to it? What people have I deceived by telling them, they were Christians, when they were not? a Church, when they were not, had a right to the Kingdom of heaven, and the seals thereof when they had not? to be able to say thus, will be worth something one day; O that all that take upon them the Ministry of the Gospel would consider this. If plain dealing have outward disturbance, yet it hath inward peace.  
But indeed an ingenious people, whose reason and understanding is not quite lost, or infatuated, will in time make good that saying of the wise man's; Pro. 28.23. That he that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favour, than he that flattereth with his tongue.  
My endeavour therefore shall be to cause you to know your miserable estate by nature, and the remedy thereof by grace; To cause you to look into that great mystery, the infinite love of God in Jesus Christ, in that great work of your dedemption through him, that ye may know the Lord Jesus & the power of his Resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death: That when I am called to give an account of my Stewardship amongst you, I may do it with joy, and not with grief: Ministers of all men had need to look about them, for they must give account for more souls than their own; and if any be lost through their default, 
Ezek. 3.18  that blood will be required at their bands:  
I would not at the day of judgement be found in the condition of a negligent, idle, Pastor, that hath fleeced, and not fed his flock, for ten thousand worlds: Not in his condition, 
1 Cor. 2.4  that daubs with untemperd mortar, that speaks smooth things, that preacheth not in the demonstration of the spirit, and of power, but with the enticing words of man's wisdom.  
For fearful will be the end of such a man when Jesus Christ and he shall reckon together; for so many sheep, lost through the earelesness of the shepherd.  
It was the saying of one, That of all men that should be saved Ministers should be the fewest: Indeed they have the greatest charge, and are subject to the sorest temptations, and it is to be feared that many Ministers, either for fear or love, or some other worldly respect may offend too much against their commission, which bids them cry aloud and spare not, 
Isa. 58.1.  lift up thy voice like a trumpet, show my people their sins, and the house of Israel their transgressions; and so hazard themselves too near the picks of Gods eternal vengeance and displeasure; which thing of all other I most fear; and therefore through grace shall labour to avoid; which I cannot do, unless I look strictly unto you over whom I set an Overseer; therefore blame me not if I be plain and earnest with you to press you forward towards the mark of the price of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus; 
Phil. 3: 14.  If I should be negligent herein, your blood would be upon my head; The Lord pardon my neglects past.  
I had rather disturb my own peace (if it must be so) and trouble the water to stir you out of the lees of carnal security, than to have you curse me, and accuse me before God at the day of judgement, for the deceiver and betrayer of your souls.  
I bless God I can say (through the grace given me) that my destre is (so fare as I know my own heart) not to seek yours but you; I had rather see you thrive in spirituals than myself in temporals; and my greatest encouragement among you will be, to see you walking in and obedient unto the truth.  
If you will give up your names to Jesus Christ, if you will obey the Gospel, and not run with the wicked of the world into the same excess of riot, you must look for many oppositions, affronts, scorns, reproaches— but pass through all these with patience, looking unto the End, Jesus, the Author and Finisher of your Faith; who for the joy that was set before him, endured the Cross, despising the shame, 
Heb. 12.1.  and is now set down at the right-hand of God; and there if you run with patience the race that is set before you, shall you sit down also;— For which things sake I shall always bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, and that he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might, 
Ephes. 3.14.  by his Spirit in the inward man: That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith, that ye being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all Saints, what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge. That ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.  
Feb. 2. 1657. J. FLOWER.   

Several Questions concerning the Church of Jesus Christ upon earth.  
Concerning the Church of our Lord Jesus Christ upon earth, I find these Questions moved amongst others:  

First, WHether there be any such thing as a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth?  
Secondly, What is the Church of Jesus Christ?  
Thirdly, How do a people become a true visible Church of Jesus Christ at first?  
Fourthly, Whether the Churches of England were at first rightly constituted?  
Fifthly, What Government hath Jesus Christ Ordained in and for his Church?  
Sixthly, What manner of persons those aught to be, that are in the judgement of Charity to be looked upon as visible Members of the Church?  
Seaventhly, What are the duties of Church-Members towards Jesus Christ, and one another?    

Several Queries concerning the Church of Christ.  

Section I. Containing an Answer to the first Question.  
IF there were not those that denied the Scriptures to be the word of God, and Jesus Christ the Son of God, it might then be admired that any should question,  
Whether there be a Church of Jesus Christ a upon earth? For to deny this is to deny an Article of the Christian Creed, to accuse the holy Scriptures of folly and impertinences, to defame our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  
If there be no such thing as a Church of his upon earth, what meant our Lord Jesus Christ when he said— 
* Mat. 16.8  Upon this Rock will I build my Church? What meant St. Paul, 
1 Cor. 1.2. 2 Cor. 1.1.  when he directed his Epistle to the Church of God which is at Corinth? 
Rev. 2.  Why doth the Spirit write to the Angel of the Church of Ephesus, of the Church in Smyrna?  
Those therefore that deny a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth are not of so much worth as either to be named, or disputed withal, but they are to be rejected by all sober and judicious Christians, as those that have together with their Faith made shipwreck of their Reason also.   

Section. II. Containing an answer to the second Question, What is the Church of Jesus Christ?  
The word which in English is rendered a Church, is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which word is used in the Gospel to signify a Church of Jesus Christ: And this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, or Church doth signify A company Called out; from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which signifies to call out from among others.  
And again this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which we Translate a Church is sometimes used to signify any assembly called together upon any occasion; 
Act. 19.33.  For the Assembly was confused; the word then translated assembly is in the Original 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, so the same word is rendered an assembly, Act. 19.39, 41.  
But this word Ecclesia, or Church, we in our speech do use, to signify a sacred assembly or meeting, or combination of God's people.  
Our English word Church signifies an assembly of God's people, or those that desire to fear the Lord; For it is very probable that our word Church, comes from the Germane word Kirch, which is derived from the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which signifies the flock or people of God.  
We use the word Church also by a Metonymy, for the place, or house where the Church or the people of God meet, 
1 Cor. 11.18  Calling that a Church.  
But to speak properly, the Church of Jesus Christ is his people built of living and not of dead and senseless stones; 
1 Pet. 2.5.  and this Church of Jesus Christ is a company of people 
* Joh. 15.19. Rev. 18 4.  called out of the world, serving Jesus Christ as their Lord and King, 
* 1 Thes. 4 7. Rom. 6.17. Act. 2.42.  Living under, and submitting unto all his holy ordinances.  
A true visible Church of Jesus Christ is not a profane, wicked assembly, an assembly of Notorious Drunkards, Whoremongers Swearers, and the like; But an holy assembly, called out from among these; 
* 1 Cor. 6.11  Such were some of you, but ye are washed, but ye are Sanctified.  
Not an assembly of such as only serve their own bellies, lusts, passions sin, satan, the times, but an assembly of such as turn from these Idols to serve the living and true God.  
Not an assembly refractory, and disobedient to Gospel-Ordinances mockers & scoffers of holy things and duties, But such as do submit themselves to the Laws, commands ordinances of Jesus Christ as their duty, and but 
* Rom. 12.1.  Reasonable service.   

Section. III. Containing an answer to the third question? How do a people become a true visible church of Jesus Christ at first?  
A People become a true visible Church of Jesus Christ by entering into an holy covenant with the Lord, to take him for their God and King, to be ruled and directed by his word, and to submit unto all his holy ordinances.  
Thus we find in the Scripture when God did constitute Abraham's Family a church, I mean receive them into a church-estate, it was by entering them into such a 
* Gen. 17.  covenant as before, of which circumcision was a seal.  
That which they covenanted with God was, 
* Gen. 17.1  To walk before him and be perfect; and God covenanted with them to 
* verse 7.  be their God, and the God of their feed, and so they came into a church-estate. This was the way of the Apostles in their constitution of Churches; Those people whom the Apostles did receive into a church-estate, it was by engaging them to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and to submit to his holy ordinances.  
This is plain if we read the 2. of the Acts v. 41. There were three thousand received into a church-estate, which before neither were a church, nor of the church of Jesus Christ; And how came these to be a church? why v. 41. 
v. 41.  they gladly received the word preached to them; according to that word v. 38. 
v. 38:  they did evidence their repentance for Sin past, (which includes an engagement to serve God for the future) and upon this they were baptised, and became a church, v. 41.  
So when the Apostles received particular persons into the Church which before were not of it, these did covenant for to take the Lord for their God, to own, and serve him, & so they became added unto the church. Acts 19 many became added unto the Church, But we read that they were such as believed, such as confessed their sins, such as shown their deeds, such as burned their profane books,— Thus they covenanting to serve the Lord were received into the church.  
Thus it is clear that a company of people do become a church by entering into an holy Covenant with the Lord their God to own him, and serve him:  
Therefore the church is called the 
* Cant 4.8, 9 10.  Spouse of Jesus Christ, by which name the church could not properly be called, had she not entered into an holy conjugal covenant with Jesus Christ to be loyal and faithful to him, for this is essential to the relation of a Spouse or wife that she enter covenant with her husband to be loyal and faithful to him.  
And as the church is rightly called the Spouse of Jesus Christ by virtue of this her covenant, so is the Lord also called the husband of his church or Spouse, for he doth covenant with her, 
Levit 26.12 Gen. 11, 1.  that he will be her God, her shield, her exceeding great reward, that he will never fail her nor forsake her,—.  
The sum of the answer then to this third Question is this,  
That a company of people become a church or under the relation of the wife and Spouse of Jesus Christ, by entering into an holy covenant with him to take him for their Lord and God, and to submit unto all his holy Ordinances without such a covenant their could be no such relation betwixt Jesus Christ and the Church as there is, for all relations of that nature are founded upon Covenant.   

Section. iv Containing the answer to the fourth question: Whether the churches of England were at first rightly constituted?  
IF the people of England were constituted a Church, or gathered into a churchway, in that way and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a church, or Churches, or gather a people into a Churchway at first, than the people of England were at first rightly constituted a Church, or gathered into a Churchway:  
But the people of England were at first constituted a Church, or gathered into a Churchway in that way and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a Church, or Churches, or gather a people into a Churchway, Therefore the people of England were at first rightly constituted a church or gathered into a Churchway.  
The major proposition is undeniable; the minor I thus prove:  
If the people of England were constituted a Church, or gathered into a Churchway, upon their receiving of the word, forsaking of heathenish superstitions and idolatry, and embracing the faith of Jesus Christ, & engaging to serve him:  
Then they were constituted a Church, or gathered into a church way, 
Acts 2. chap. 19  in that way and after that manner, that the Apostles did constitute a Church or Churches, or gather a people into a Church way,  
But the people of England were constituted a Church, or gathered into a Churchway upon their receiving of the word, forsaking of heathenish superstitions and Idolatry, and embracing the faith of Jesus Christ, and engaging to serve him,  
Therefore they were constituted a Church or gathered into a Churchway, in that way, and after that manner that the Apostles did constitute a Church, or Churches, or gather a people into a Church way.  
The sequel of the major proposition is undeniable; The minor proposition is proved by all the histories relating to those times, which declare that the Infidel, Pagan people of England, by the preaching of salvation through Jesus Christ were converted unto the faith, forsaking heathenish superstition and Idolatry: And indeed our own sense and reason must needs induce us to be persuaded of this; for if this were not a truth, how then came they our progenitors by the name and religion of Christians; which we their successors do retain to this day, being derived from them to us.  
The name of Christian, by which they were called, the exercise of Christian religion, which they practised upon the preaching of the Gospel doth abundantly prove that relinquishing Paganism and Idolatrous worship; They did embrace the faith of Jesus Christ.  
And that they did also at that time covenant to take and own Jesus Christ as their Lord and only saviour by serving him and submitting to his holy ordinances, the very act of their Baptism is sufficient to inform and convince all intelligent and considerate persons; For what Infidel, or Infidels (I mean such as were so brought up, and so lived for many years) were ever baptised before they had given evidence of their faith in Christ, repentance, and resolution to own Christ as their Lord and King for the time to come.  
That the Apostles baptised none that were brought up in Paganism and Infidelity without such evidence, and engagement as before, is very clear in the Scriptures, yea, so evident, that it is past doubt or question: Shall we then think or dare to say that those who took upon them to be Ministers of Jesus Christ in those days, when England was an Infidel & Pagan Nation, and were sent hither to preach the Gospel to this Nation, then in such estate as before, I say shall we dare to judge or think, or speak that these baptised the people then of this Nation without evidences of faith & repentance, and engagements to own and serve Jesus Christ as their Lord, and God, I am sure if they did ever or could but read the Scriptures, they could not be ignorant whom they ought to baptise, and upon what evidence, and far be it from me to judge or think that they would be wittingly and knowingly so injurious to the truth, the Sacrament of Baptism, and practise of the Apostles, as to baptise the then people of this Nation without some manifestations of their faith and repentance, and resolutions to own and serve Jesus Christ for the time to come, as their Lord and Saviour:  
I can hardly believe that any man will censure the first converters, & Baptisers of our nation, either to be men ignorant of, or malicious against the truth, one of which they must needs judge them to be, if they say they baptised without such evidences of faith and repentance as before.  
But if these first converters did by the preaching of Jesus Christ to the Pagans of England turn them from their Idols to embrace the said faith, and upon the said evidences of faith, repentance and resolutions to cleave to Jesus Christ as their only redeemer, did admit them to be baptised, than they did rightly constitute them a Church, or gather them into a Churchway according to the manner and practice of the Apostles recorded in the Scriptures, which that they thus did, is both a probable and charitable judgement, That they did not, is a rash and unchristian like censure:  
Ob. But the Church of England had its constitution from Rome, therefore it was never rightly, constituted, neither is a true Church;  
Sol. To this I answer, that the antecedent is not altogether true, possibly it may be, grant it in relation to a part, not in relation to the whole.  
For aught I know, or any one can disprove, there might be a Church of Christ in England ne'er as soon as there was one in Rome.  
The Scriptures do indeed declare that there was a Church in Rome in the Apostles times, and therefore we may believe it; The Scriptures do not deny that there was a Church of Christ in England in those days, the Chronicles and Histories, relating to those times affirm it, and therefore I see not why it should be contradicted.  
'tis true those Histories say not that the whole Nation of England did embrace the Faith of Christ when it was first preached unto them (as is conceived either by some of the Apostles, or Apostolical then, as Philip, or Simon Zelotes, or Joseph of Arimathea) but part of the Nation did, and were then gathered into a Churchway;  
For about six hundred years after this, when Augustine was sent from Rome, by Gregory, the then Bishop of Rome, to endeavour the conversion of the whole Nation, he found both a Ministry and Churches of Jesus Christ settled in the Land:  
For at his first coming, he (as the History relates) assembled together the Bishops and Doctors of Britain to discourse and reason with them; and to request their assistance for the conversion of the Pagan English, So that we may say, and that truly, that Christianity was in England propagated, but not at first planted by Rome.  
But grant this that Augustine was the first that planted the Christian faith in England, and that there were neither Ministry nor Church, before ordained, and gathered by him, and his assistants, what is this to the now unchurching of the Church in England, or the wrong constitution of it at the time.  
Obj. The ministry and churches of England were ordained and constituted by Augustine and his assistants who were sent from Rome.  
Therefore the Ministry and Churches of England had no right constitution and Ordination.  
Sol. I deny the consequence; & if any man will go about to prove it, it will be necessary that he prove and make appear that the Ministry, and Church of Rome were at that time a false and Antichirstan Ministry and Church:  
But I think it is a clear case that the Church of Rome was then (though a corrupt) yet a true Church, & so continued for many years after that time.  
Yea, it is the opinion of some Godly, learned, and judicious, (from whom I see no Reason to descent) that the Church of Rome did not quite fall off from Christ, or turn utterly Antichristian until the Council of Trent, at which time the said Church of Rome did by a public Council disowne and destroy the very fundamentals of Christian religion, which she never did before that time; at which time these absurd & antichristian and unchurching errors were decreed and published as the faith of the Church of Rome, and all were accursed and excommumicated that assented not unto these abominations, 

1. Pope's supremacy.  
2. Dividing the bread and wine in the Sacrament, allowing the people no wine.  
3. Justification by works.  
4. Worshipping of images.  
5. That the people ought not to read the Scripturess.  
6. That Traditions ought to be believed as Scripture.    
Now these abominations, which make desolate (I mean unchurch) the Church of Rome, were not set up by public decree and consent in the said Church until the said Council of Trent:  
'Tis true the Mystery of iniquity did work before, and these abominations as before were creeping into that church, but they were corrected & exploded by several Counsels.  
The Counsels of Chalcedon, Africa, Constantinople, Milevi, Basil, decreed against the Pope's Supremacy; the Council of Basil decreed communicating in both kinds.  
The divine worshipping of Images was forbid by the second Nicene Council; the Council of Nice decreed that no Christian should be without a Bible: To believe Traditions to be equal with the Scriptures, to hold justification by works was never decreed by any Council, nor held out as the Faith of that Church before the Council of Trent.  
So that I may say, though the Mystery of iniquity was many hundreds of years a working, yet the disease came not to its full height and state, so as to destroy the body until that time, I mean the Council of Trent.  
So that the Church of Rome not having declared a public disowning of the Faith and Gospelfundamentalls until the Council of Trent, I see no reason as yet, why she may not be called a true Church until that time; I say a true Church, though a Church very corrupt; As a man may be called a true man, though never so sick, and weak, and diseased, until by the extremity and height of the malady he becomes dead; so a Church, may truly be called a Church, though very sick, diseased & corrupt, until by making shipwreck of the Faith, and erring in fundamentals, it expires.  
Thus it is clear that grant it were so (as it was not) that the Ministry and Church of England, as to the whole, were ordained and constituted by Augustine and other assistants from Rome, yet this concludes nothing at all against the right ordination and constitution of the Ministry and Churches of England, because the Church of Rome was at that time (though very corrupt) yet a true Church.  
Ob. But it is objected the churches of England were not rightly constituted, because the people became Christians not by the ministry of the word, but by the commands and edicts of their Kings who after they were converted, commanded all their subjects and people to embrace the said faith and religion.  
Sol. To this I answer that the matter of this objection is wholly false and Scandalous;  
It is wholly false that the Pagan people of England became Christians after the conversion of their Kings, by penal Laws and edicts of their said Sovereigns.  
After Augustine had converted Ethelberg King of Kent to the Christian faith, let any one, if he can show any such act or edict, put forth by him to enjoin all his subjects to embrace the said religion upon any penalty or forfeiture; If there were any such thing, it would surely be upon record.  
But we read the contrary of him, we read of this King Ethelberg that after he was converted, Innumerable others daily came in, 
Mr. Fox Acts Monuments 1. vol. page. 1656.  and were adjoined to the Church of Christ, whom the King did specially embrace, but compelling none, for so be had learned, that the faith and service of Christ ought to be voluntary and not coact.  
And so I read of the other Kings that then reigned in this Land; that after they were converted to the Faith of Jesus Christ, they encouraged Ministers to go into their Countries, and preach to their Subjects; and by this means became the Pagan people of England to be Christians, & a Church, by the preaching of the Gospel to them, and not by compulsatory Laws of their Kings: And they that do gainsay this, it will be easy to prove that they are either ignorant or perverse.  
Mr. Cotton late of New-England, a man of great learning and reverence, though he fully assented not to the way of the Churches of England, and therefore separated from them, yet he never found fault with their constitution at first, for as to this he declares himself thus:  
The efficient instruments of their first plantation (meaning the Churches of England) which were neither Apostles, or Apostolical men, whether Philip, or Joseph of Arimathea, or Simon Zelotes, as any of our Country men may read in Mr. Fox 's Book of Acts and Monuments, out of Gildas, Tertullian, Origen, Beda, Nicephorus, which being so, we cannot but conceive the Churches in England were rightly gathered and planted according to the rule of the Gospel: And all the corruptions found in them since have sprung from Popish Apostasy in succeeding Ages, and for want of thorough and perfect purging out of that Leaven in the late times of Reformation, in the days of our Fathers: 
Cottons way Churches New-England.  So that all the work now is, not to make them Churches which were none before, but to reduce and restore them to their Primitive Institution: Thus Mr. Cotton. And it being granted that the Churches in England were rightly constituted and gathered at first, it will easily be proved that there hath continued a true Church in this Land unto this day, though very corrupt and impure, especially when subject to the Papal yoke: Yet in those saddest times of corruption and persecution, God had his Church and Ministry in England, who witnessed to the Truth, and appeared for a Reformation of such corruptions & abuses in the Church, though many of these by the power of a prevailing faction in suffered for such zeal and love to the Church the Truth.  
I say, the Church in England under the greatest Corruption, was never without some Witnesses, some Names, which suppose they were but a few, in comparison of the greater part that corrupted themselves, and were made drunk with the wine of fornication spoken of, Rev. 14.8. Yet will not God disown that to be a Church when these (though but few) names be found.  
God owned them to be a Church in 
* Rev. 3.1  
* verse 4.  Sardis, and yet tells them they had but a few names which had not defiled their garments. And though the Church in England might be reproved of corruption in Doctrine, yet this did not unChurch her, no more than it did the Church of Pergamus, which God owned to be a Church, though they held the Doctrine of Baalam. 
Rev. 2.14.   
Though the Church in England might be justly reproved of corruption in manners, and discipline, yet this did not un-Church her, no more than it did the Corinthians, whom St. Paul calleth a Church of God; though in the same Epistle he reproveth them both for their corruption in manners and discipline. 
1 Cor. 11.21   
Though in the Church of England by the power of a prevalent factious party, 
cha 3.1, 2, 3 chap. 5.  many of the precious Saints of God were put to death, yet this doth no more un-Church her than the same sin did the people of the Jews, whom God all along owned as his Church, though a prevalent, wicked, factious party among them killed the 
* Mat. 23.37.  Prophets, and stoned the Messengers of the Lord that were sent unto them.  
The Church in England since its first Institution unto this day, cannot be justly charged to have made shipwreck of the faith of Jesus Christ, by disowning, or erring in any thing fundamental to that Faith, or necessary to the esse or being of a Church: Therefore the Church in England continues to be a Church of God still.  
As for her many and grievous corruptions both in Doctrine, discipline and manners, they are sadly to be bewailed, and diligently to be reform: These blemish and disbeautify a Church, and justly provoke God against it: These are inconsistent as to the well being, but not to the being of a Church.  
And though the Church in England did join with and own the Church of Rome, whilst the said Church held the fundamentals of Christian Religion, and was sound in matters of Faith; yet when the said Church of Rome did begin to falter there, to deny fundamental verities, and make shipwreck of the faith, which she hath done since the Council of Trent, at that very time did the Church in England refuse her the right hand of fellowship, disown, and separate from her, and so continues unto this day.  
After this manner also did the reformed Churches in Germany, Suevia, Denmark, France— separate themselves from that faction of Rome, and likewise so continue at this day.  
They that deny the Ministry and Churches in England to be a true Ministry and true Churches, must of necessity also assert, defend and affirm these (to me) most horrid and desperate Conclusions.  
First, Conc. 1 That the reformed Churches beyond the Seas, are no true Churches, but false and Antichristian Churches and Ministry.  
The Reason is, because the Church in England and these Reformed Churches reach out the right hand of fellowship to each other, have the same Baptism, the same Ordinances, the same Ordination, the same Discipline as to the substance of it: Therefore if the one be false and Antichristian, the other cannot be a true and Christian Church, or Churches.  
Secondly, Conc. 2 That Luther, Calvin, and all those famous Lights, and happy Reformers of the Churches beyond the Seas, were false and Antichristian Ministers.  
Thirdly, Conc. 3 That Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Tayler, and many more, who laboured much the Reformation of the Church in England from Romish superstition, and were famous instruments, as to that work, and afterward sealed unto the truth with their blood, and are now Triumphing in heaven, that all these were limbs of Antichrist, and no Ministers of Jesus Christ.  
Fourthly, Conc. 4 That there hath been no true Church nor Ministry of Jesus Christ for many hundreds of years upon earth: For if neither in England nor beyond the Seas, where then hath it been?  
Now if Satan did so prevail against the Church, as utterly to raze the very foundation of it, how will this consist with that word of our Saviour's? 
* Mat. 16.18  Upon this Rock will I build my Church, and the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. If there hath ever ceased to be a true Ministry upon earth, how will this again consist with that promise of our Lords, 
* Mat. 28.2.  Lo I will be with you unto the end of the world?  
Fifthly, Conc. 5 That there hath been no true conversion of Souls unto God for these many hundreds of years in England; but that all have continued dead in sins and trespasses, Children of wrath, without Christ, aliens from the Commonwealth of Israel, strangers from the Covenant of Promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: This was the condition of the Ephesians whilst they were no Church, 
Ephes. 2.  nor had a Gospel-Ministery amongst them: And this hath been for many hundreds of years, and still is the sad condition of England, if without a Church and true Ministers of Jesus. I cannot see how that ture conversion should be wrought by a false and Antichri-christian Ministry, 
* Jer. 23.32.  I sent them not nor commanded them, there fore they shall not profit this people at all saith the Lord. Therefore by what Ministry a people profit, & are converted from sin and Satan, to serve the Lord and fear him, from living profanely, ungodly, rudely, to live soberly, and righteously, and godly in the world, it is a sure sign that Ministry is from God, owned, and sent by him:  
Therefore seeing by denying the Church and Ministry in England to be a true Church and Ministry, such abhorred conclusions as before must also be asserted, it seems to me not only to be an error, but a furor, a frenzy in some men, to run themselves upon such dreadful Rocks as these.   

Sect. V Containing an Answer to the first Question.  
What Government hath our Lord Jesus Christ ordained in, and for his Church?  
TO this I Answer, That a Government and discipline in the Church is to be observed by divine right; for God is the God of order and not of confusion; without this, the Church would rather seem a Babel than a Bethel, and therefore we must of necessity conclude a Church-Government 
* 1 Cor. 12.28  by Divine right.  
But although the thing itself be granted, yet the manner how, or way, is much disputed by godly and learned men.  
Now as the Scriptures do clearly hold out that there ought to be a Church-Government, so they do also instruct us in the way, and not altogether leave us in the dark in a thing of so great concernment as this:  
Therefore let us search the Scriptures, they are sufficient to inform us as to this case; or else how can the Scriptures be truly said to be 
* P●●● Tim. 3. ●15  perfect, if they fall short and cannot inform in a case of so high concernment as this? How can they be said to be sufficient to make a man 
* 2 Tim. 3.17  wise, if they leave him ignorant in this so weighty a matter?  
How can they be said to be sufficient to make the man of God 
* 1 Tim. 5.17  perfect & thoroughly to furnish him unto all good works, if they inform him not as to the managing of church government, which is a great, and a good work, and whosoever manage it well, in St. Paul's esteem, are worthy of double honour.  
Therefore let us hear the Scriptures speak, as to the way of church-Government.  
To a Government be it either Civil or Sacred are necessary these three things.  
1. Ordinances. 
Ordinances to be submitted unto.  2. Officers. 
Officers to rule, and see to submissions unto and observance of God's Ordinances.  3. Penalties. 
Penalties to be inflicted on offenders.   
These are all necessary to church-Government: 
Prayer, Singing of Psalms, the Sacraments are Church-Ordinances   
1. There must be church Ordinances to be submitted unto and observed; and the Scripture tells us that these are,  
First, Prayer, so 1 Tim. 2.1.  
Secondly, Singing of Psalms, Psal. 9.11. Mat. 26.30. Acts 16.25.  
Thirdly, Ministry of the word, Rom. 10.15. Mark. 16.15. Eph. 4.12.  
Fourthly, The Sacraments of Baptism, Mat. 28.18.  
The Lord's Supper, Mat. 26.26. Luke 22.19.  
Thus for Church-Ordinances the Scripture declares clearly what they are that we ought to submit to and observe:  
2. There must be Church Officers too, or else no Government;  
Now as to Church Officers, the Scriptures do usually call some by the name of Elders, and do seem to make two Sorts of them.  
First, Elders that did both teach and rule,  
Secondly, Elders that ruled but taught not:  
Teaching Elders or Pastors and Teachers of the Church, the Scriptures declare that these are to be in the Church as Officers, Rulers, Overseers, for in the 4. of the Ephe. 8, 9, 10, 11. We there read that besides other extraordinary Officers which were but pro tempore in the Church, 
So Acts 20.17, 28. 1 Cor: 12.28  Pastors and Teachers are to be in the Church to the end.  
And as the Scripture tells us there aught to be Pastors and Teachers in the Church as Church-Officers, so it tells also first how these should be ordained to their Office. Secondly, How they should be qualified for their Office.  
First, How ordained to the Office, that is by 
* Acts 13.3 1 Tim. 4.14  Prayer and Imposition of the hands of the Presbytery.  
Secondly, How they should be qualified for the Office.  
First, They should be men of gifts and parts, 
* 2 Tim 3 2 1 Tim. 3.1, 2  apt to Teach.  
Secondly, Men of Holy lives and conversations, 
* 2 Tim 3 2 1 Tim. 3.1, 2  not Scandalous.  
A Second sort of Church. Officers, which the Scripture calls Elders also, seem to be such as were not (as we use to say) in Ecclesiastical Orders; but some of the Church, gravest and wisest of the Church, who were chosen to help and assist the Teaching Elders, in the Rule and Government of the Church: That there were such Church-Officers as these in the Apostles times, these Texts of Scripture seems to hold forth, 1 Tim. 5.17. Let the Elders that rule well— especially who labour in the Word and Doctrine.  
This place seems to speak of two distinct sorts of Elders, the one Ruling only, the other both Ruling, and Teaching also, and here the Apostle bids honour both sorts, but especially those Elders that Taught the Church as well as Ruled it.  
The word especially seems there to make this distinction of Elders, for this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 especially, is commonly used by St. Paul to distinguish persons or things, in the same place spoken of, so Gal. 6.10. Do good unto all, especially to those that be of the household of Faith; here the word especially signifies that there were some of the household of Faith, some not, we must do good unto all, but especially to those of that household: So, 1 Tim. 5.17. The Elders that Rule well account worthy of double honour, especially those that labour in the Word and Doctrine; here the word especially seems to signify that some of those Elders did labour in the Word & Doctrine, some did not, both were to be honoured, if they ruled well, but especially those Elders that both Ruled well, and laboured in the Word and Doctrine also: So in Rom. 2.6, 7, 8.— Or Ministry, let us wait on our Ministering, or he that Teacheth on teaching, or he that Exhorteth on exhortation, he that Ruleth with diligence; here seemeth to be an Officer that was not to wait upon teaching, but only upon ruling: And we seem to retain these Elders or Officers still in the Church in England, under the name of Churchwardens, the name signifies as much as Church-Guardians, or Church-Rulers.  
Another sort of Church-Officers that we find mentioned in Scripture are called by the name of Deacons, 
1 Tim. 3.8.  their office to gather the Church's contribution, and to administer to the poor members; of this Officer the Church will have always need, 
Mat. 26.11.  The poor ye have always with you:  
These Officers we have in the Churches in England, under the Name of Overseers of the poor,  
Thus the Scripture doth inform us what Officers are to be in the Church, for the rule and better ordering of it.  
3. There must be Church penalties; without a penalty to be inflicted upon obstinate Offenders, neither Ordinances nor Officers (in any kind of Government) will be regarded.  
Therefore, for the carrying on of discipline, and Government in his Church, and that a better respect may be had to his Ordinances, and Officers, our Lord Jesus Christ hath Ordained a penalty to be inflicted upon all obstinate offenders in this case; And this penalty is excommunication, or a casting out of the Church any obstinate Offiender, as a rotten and dead branch, no more worthy now to be accounted a member of the Church.  
This is a delivering up of such an Offender unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh: 
● Cor. 5.5.   
The power of excommunication our Lord Jesus delivered to the 
* Mat: 18. Joh. 20.23.  Church.  
And how the Church should proceed against an offender as to the case of excommunication, we have a Rule Mat. 18.15, 16, 17. Tit. 3.10. Thus is the Scripture sufficiently clear, and informing, as to the way of Church-Government; And that yet there is so much of difference and contention about this, it is to be feared that the causes are rather carnal than conscientious, arising as the Apostle saith from our Lusts, and not from any insufficiency or Darkness in the Scriptures as to this case.   

Sect. VI. Containing an Answer to the sixth Question.  
What manner of persons those aught to be that are in the judgement of charity to be looked upon as visible members of the Church?  
TO this I Answer, 
Sol.  first negatively, that no man as he is in his natural condition, without a change from that, aught to be admitted as a member of the visible Church of Jesus Christ:  
Res. For man in his natural condition is dead in Trespasses and Sins, a child of wrath, at enmity with God and to every good work reprobate; and therefore as such he is not, neither is to be accounted a member of the Church visible of Jesus Christ.  
For indeed whilst he is such, he is a visible member of the Synagogue of Satan.  
Secondly, I answer affirmitively, that members of the Church of Jesus Christ ought (according to the Scriptures) in some manner and measure to be prepared, and fitted for that building.  
The Church of God is compared unto a building, now when a house is to be built, the stones and timber are fitted & prepared by hewing and squaring before they are laid into the building; Timber as it is rough in the tree, and stone as it is in the Quarry or Rock is not fit to build an house withal, but these must be hewn and saw'n and plained and polished, and squared, and thus they become fit materials to build with all;  
Man, as he is in his Natural condition is like timber in the tree in the rough, like a stone in the Rock unhew'n, unsquared, undressed, and the fitting and preparing such for God's house as Materials to build withal is compared to a plaining and hewing of wood, Hos 6.5. I have hewn them by my Prophet. So that there must be a Spiritual hewing and squaring, and polishing men out of their rough and rocky condition before they be fit materials to build God an house withal.  
What man is there that builds an house of trees never hewn nor sawn, nor squared; of stones undressed, unpolisht; never such a thing was heard of: But suppose we such a thing as this, would it not be a most misshapen monstrous piece of building; would not every one that passeth by shake his head at it? And shall we build God an house, 
Was the Church in the Apostls' time so built.  a Church of such like materials as these? of men and women in their natural condition, of Drunkards, Whoremongers, Profane persons, Scoffers, Ignorant, and the like to these, persons in their rough and rocky condition, without any hewing, squaring, polishing, or fitting of them for such a structure? Surely such a Church as these are a monstrous building, a Congregation of evil * doers, 
Ps 26.5:  a confused Assembly, a building that Jesus Christ is no Corner stone of, nor will ever own as hi●?  
The visible Church of Jesus Christ is so far from being a Congregation of evil doers, of profane and dissolute persons, that indeed of right there ought to be none such in the Church, but as they are found and known, they ought to be weeded out by the sentence of * excommunication. 
1 Cor. 5.  What workman in the building of an house lays one row of hewn and polished stones, and another row of rough, unsquared, and unhewed stones? would not this be a ridiculous piece of building? Shall we then in God's building (for such is his Church) lay the stones after such a sort? Here a row of such as tremble at an oath, here a row of others that profane the holy name of God as often as they mention it, and swear as commonly as they speak: here a row of such as pray in their families, and teach their children and servants the ways and fear of the Lord, here a row 〈◊〉 others that never call upon God in their families all their lives, but by their example teach their children and servants to be Atheists, despisers of God's Ordinances, and to live without God in the world, here a row of abstemious and sober persons, that are afraid to abuse the mercies and creatures of God, to riot and excess, here a row of others that wholly give themselves to gluttony and drunkenness, whose Tables are, as the Prophet complains, Isa. 28.8. Full of vomit and filthiness, so that there is no place clean: Here a row of such as keep God's Sabbaths and reverence his Ordinances, here a row of others that are Ordinance despisers, contemners and mockers of holy things, and duties, Sabbath breakers, and murmurers that God should have this (though but one day in seven) to himself; of whom it may be too probably judged, that as well as privately to sport, and play, and drink, and the like— They would also Hawk and Hunt, and Plough, and Cart upon those days; had they not more fear to the Laws of men than regard to the Law of God: Here a row of such as have been Sanctified and cleansed with the washing of water by the Word, here a row of others that are filthy still, that mock and scoff at Sanctification, professing all ungodliness, and worldly lusts, and living unrighteously, unholily in the world:  
Will Jesus Christ say unto a Church built after this manner, Cant. 8.9. Thou art beautiful as Terza, comely as Jerusalem, chap. 6. ver. 4. Thou hast ravished my heart, my Sister, my Spouse, how much better is thy love than wine, and the smell of thine ointments than all spices? Will not a workman one day have cause to be ashamed of such a building? Nay, shall he not be sorely reproved for it, if he have not endeavoured a reformation?  
Those persons, the Apostles received into the Church, as members of it, were not profane and lewd persons, scandalous, of evil report, scoffers at Sanctification, despisers of God's Ordinances and holy duties; 
Acts 2 47. 4●.49.  But they were such as gladly received the Word, as were pricked in their hearts at the sense of their sins, such as continued in prayer and the exercise of other holy and Christian duties: They were such as burned their curious (because profane) Books; 
Acts 19.18, 19  Such as confessed their sins, and shown their deeds.  
Thus I Conclude in the first place, that those, which are received into the Church, or continued in the same as members thereof ought to be such as at least wise in outward appearance abstain from evil, as have a mark of Sanctification and holiness upon them.  
Secondly, Church-Members ought to be such as have some competent measure of knowledge, I conceive they ought to be so instructed that they may be able in some measure to give an account of their hope, and those fundamental truths that are necessary to be known for the praise and glory of God's Grace, and their own Salvation; the Apostle would have all Christians be able to give a 
1 Pet 3.15  reason of their hope.  
Thirdly, They that are received into, or continued in the Church as its members, aught to be such as are sound in the faith, as hold fast the form 
* Tit. 2.2.  of sound words, that they make not a rent or Schism in the Church, therefore an Heretic saith the Apostle, 
2 Tim. 1.13  after the first and second admonition reject.   

Sect. VII. Containing an answer to the Seventh Question.  
Quest. What are the duties of Church-Members towards Jesus Christ and one another?  
Sol. THe Church of Jesus Christ is called his body; We are the body Mystical, Christ is our Head, we are his Members: Now the duty and office of the Members of this body Mystical both towards their Head, and one another; may be more clearly seen into, if we consider the office of the Members in the Body Natural, from whence the Church, which is called the body of Jesus Christ, takes this sigurative denomination:  
First, The Members of the body Natural have a very special care of the Head, as of their principal and chief part, without which they cannot subsist: therefore the Members will endanger themselves to secure their head: If a blow be made at the head, the hand or arm will interpose itself, and receive the blow or wound upon itself, rather than it should fall upon the head: So the Members of the Church of Jesus Christ, aught to have a most special care of him their head: Is Jesus Christ their head made at? Do any go about to wound him, by striking at his Person, Natures, Death, Resurrection, Ascension, Justification by his blood? O now it is time for all the Members to look about them, to interpose betwixt their head and those that strike at him, to vindicate his honour, excellency, person, nature, and the like, as before, against all his Enemies and Assailants that would wound him in any of these. Though you may be in never so much danger of worldly loss or damage by making such a defence, yet care not where this blow lights, so it be warded off your head.  
It was a noble resolution of a French Martyr: After many persuasions of worldly friends to recant his profession, he considering how dishonourable this would be to Jesus Christ, how his head would be wounded and grieved by such a revolt, puts off all that persuaded him to so shameful an action, with this notable saying; Vivat Christus, pereat Servus, Let Christ live, let his Servant perish.  
Every member of Jesus Christ ought to be so minded, ready upon occasion at all times to say, let me, that am a poor and unworthy member of so honourable and excellent a head, let me be cut off, let me suffer in my name, estate, relations, let me be imprisoned, wounded, bleed So my Lord Jesus Christ, my head be not grieved, o he live and be glorified by my bonds, imprisonments, scars, bleedings, reproaches, rebukes, let all these and a thousand more befall me.  
Secondly, The members of the body natural are guided and governed, and move by the direction of the head and follow it; so the members of the body of Jesus Christ, the Church, they ought to observe the guidance, motion and steps of their head to follow his example, and tread in his paths, to be heavenly in their discourse, holy in their conversations, as he hath given them an example: every member of this body ought to walk the way of the 
* 1 Joh. 2.6.  head.  
Now as to the carriage and duty of Church members towards one another.  
First, The members of the body natural they are united, and at peace among themselves; one arm doth not strike another, one foot doth not spurn the other; the eye doth not say to the hand I have no need of thee and so of the rest.  
So the members of the body mystical, the Church, there ought to be a sweet harmony betwixt all and every member; Envy, Malice, Hatred, spurning at, and reviling one another— these things ought not to be heard of in the Church of Jesus Christ, because they are all members of his body.  
Secondly the members of the body natural, if some be weak or wounded, all the rest have a special care of the weak or wounded member; the whole arm will bind up the broken one, the strong leg will ease that that's lame and feeble.  
This mutual respect there ought to be among the members of the body of Christ the Church; the whole aught to bind up the broken, the strong aught to bear the infirmities of the weak, that they may not fail, nor be discouraged, nor faint in the way and service of Jesus Christ.  
Thirdly, The members of the body natural are ready to save and support one another, in case of any apparent danger; as if one leg trip, or stumble, the other will hast to relieve and support it; so the members of the Church of Jesus Christ, they ought to be watchful one over another, to be ready to save & support one another in case of apparent danger, as if one member do stumble or is ready to fall into errors of opinion or practice, the other should be ready to catch at such a falling member, to relieve, and strengthen, and support, to hold him up that he may recover, and not utterly fall into such temptations.  
Fourthly, The Members of the body Natural, are ready to supply according to their power, to each particular member what it stands in need of: So the Members of the body of Christ, the Church, these aught to be ready to the utmost of their ability to supply and relieve the wants of other fellow-Members, whose necessities crave it: As we are men we are commanded to do good to all, this is humanity, as we are Members of the Church of Christ we are enjoined especially to secure and relieve those that are of the same household; This is Christianity.  
In the Church of Jesus Christ, we should not every one look only at his own proper interest, but also at the welfare one of another. If an Heathen could say (& very truly that) Non solum nobis nati sumus, We are not only born for ourselves, but for one another also; I may surely then very confidently say, that Non solum nobis renati sumus, that we are not borne again for ourselves, but for one another also, for the comfort and help and mutual edification of all our fellow Members in Christ Jesus.  
Lastly, The Members of the body natural do all sympathize with one another, if a finger do but ache, all the Members condole it: So in the Church of Jesus Christ all the Members should condole and sympathize with one aching or afflicted Member; Christians, Members of the same body, should all sympathize and have a share together both in one another's crosses and comforts, Rom. 15.16. Rejoice with those that rejoice, & weap with those that weep, be of the same mind one towards another. The Lord Jesus Christ our head sympathises with all & every of his poor members, Isa. 63.9. In all their afflictions he is afflicted.   

Sect. VIII.  
FRom what hath been said in relation to the Solution of the Fourth Question, it appears that the first constitution, or planting, or gathering of the Churches in England was right and orderly, according to the Scripture-rule, and way of the Apostles, in that case; from whence I conclude with that Reverend Divine Mr. Cotton, (as before) that the great work of the Ministers of Jesus Christ in England now, is not to constitute and gather Churches anew, as if there had never been any before: But rather to labour to reform and purge and purify those Churches which were at first founded and built upon the foundation of the Apostles and the Prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner stone: I say to reform & purify those from that dross and tin, those many corruptions which time & neglect of discipline hath contracted.  
Therefore I shall declare what I conceive as to the way that every particular Church ought to take in this case; That is what is now to be done by every particular Church in this land that desires to be a true reformed and refined Church of Jesus Christ.  
It must needs by all be granted, that we have, even all the particular Churches and Congregations in this Land, 
Rom. 3.13.  I say that we have all sinned and come short of the glory of God, that our unfruitfulness under Ordinances, our neglect of discipline, our not sanctifying the Sabbath, our careless and unchristianlike conversations might justly have provoked God to have sent us a bill of divorce, to have sent his Messengers to us with a Loammi and a Loruhamah, plead with your mother, plead, for she is not my wife, 
Hos. 2.12.  neither am I her Husbend.  
Therefore, seeing we stand charged before God with so many high and heinous provocations, it is surely high time for every particular congregation in England, that is called by the name of a Church, and desires truly to be such, to meet God in the way with a peace-offering in their hands, that the just indignation of the Lord may be turned away from them, that they fall not by their iniquities, and become as dung upon the earth.  
We read of the * prodigal son after a long time of disobedience to his Father, 
Luk. ●1. 17  that when he came to himself, he bethought him of this way to be reconciled to his Father again, I will go, saith he, unto my Father, and will say unto him, Father I have sinned against heaven & before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son; Thus he humbling himself, and confessing his fault, his father welcomes him gladly: This my son was dead and is alive, was lost and is found.  
Here is a pattern, not only for one prodigal son or daughter, but for a prodigal assembly, or Congregation also to be reconciled to God their Father.  
Let a particular Church or congregation of people, that by their turning of grace into wontonness and abuse of spiritual mercies, have given God just occasion to disown them: I say, when these come to themselves, to have a sight and sense of their own state, and of the danger thereof, that is of their not being reconciled to God, and cleaving more close to him, let them gathering themselves together;  
First, Humble themselves before God, freely confessing their many provocations, the want of love, of zeal, of holy walking according to the Statutes and Ordinances of the Lord Jesus, their breach of Covenant with God, which they made in Baptism, let them say, Father we have sinned against heaven and before thee, & are not worthy the name of thy Church, or to be called thy people; let them confess the sins of their forefathers, the generations before them, let them humble themselves for these, and their own imitation of them; Thus did the Church of the Jews in the days of Nehemiah, and Ezra, being sensible of their Backslidings and Spiritual Fornications, and the danger they were in by reason of these; They assembled themselves, they confessed their sins, and the sins of their fathers, confessing God to be just in all that he brought upon them, Howbeit thou art just in all that is brought upon us, 
Neh. c. 93 3  
Ezek. 10.9.  for thou hast done right, but we have done wickedly.  
Secondly, Let every particular Church or Congregation renew their Covenant with God, even that Covenant they made with him in Baptism, to forsake the world, the flesh, the Devil, professing their sorrow and repentance for the breach of it, and solemnly engaging to observe it better for the time to come, in keeping a more strict watch over themselves, and one another, in forsaking all ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living more soberly, more godly, more righteously in this present world, as becometh Christians & the professed Members of the Church of Jesus Christ: Thus did also the Church of the Jews; you heard before that in relation to their better reformation and turning to God, they assembled themselves together, and humbled themselves before the Lord, confessing their sins and the sins of their fathers, and to this they added a solemn renewing of their * Covenant, 
Nehe. 9 38. 9 2.  or a new engaging to God to walk more orderly before him for the time to come.  
Thirdly, Let them separate themselves from achan's; I mean, let every particular Congregation of God's people put out from amongst them all the openly scandalous, ungodly, and profane, for these are botches and boiles of a Church, the dead and withered branches, which ought to be cut off by the sentence of excommunication, 1 Cor. 5.1, 2. Rev. 18.4. Nehem. 9.38.   

Sect IX.  
HAving spoken as to the way of refining and reforming a Church, I shall now use a word of Exhortation, in general to all the Congregations of this Land, called by the name of Churches, especially to my own Congregation, to stir up, and encourage you to so great, so good, so necessary, so acceptable a work to God as this.  
It is true, that by being a true reform, refined Church of Jesus Christ, you become engaged into many Duties, as you have heard * before: But for your encouragement, consider also you become invested into many privileges, a few of which I shall (by God's help) give you an account of.  
First, If you be truly Members of the Church of Jesus Christ, 
Privilege of a true Church  than you stand to him in the relation of a Spouse, a Wife,— then your Maker is your Husband.— I have espoused you to one Husband saith the Apostle, meaning Jesus Christ. The Church is called Cant. 4.8. the Love, the Spouse of Jesus Christ.  
Now by being the Spouse of Jesus Christ, by being married unto him by Grace, and so forsaking all our Beloved's for his sake, as the world, sin with all the lusts and pleasures of it; as a wife forsakes all Beloved's, as Father, Mother,— to follow her Husband; I say in so doing you become in vested into and interested in all the privileges that belong to a Spouse or wife by the marriage of her husband.  
First, 
First privilege.  a Spouse or Wife hath interest in all the relations, Friends, kindred of her Husband, his friends are her friends, his kindred her kindred, his servants are her servants, his possessions her possessions; then if you be espoused to Jesus Christ, if he be your husband, if this mystical knot be tied betwixt him and you, than all his is yours, all Christ's is yours, his kindred your kindred, his father your father, his God your God, My Father and your Father, my God and your God, Joh. 20.17. Now you need not stand afar off with the fearful Publican, but come in boldly and say, my God my Father: Then his friends are your friends, even all the Saints and members of Jesus Christ upon earth, whether Paul's or Apollo's, or Cephases, all are yours, all pray for you, all rejoice over you, all his friends will be your friends. Then his servants become your servants, his attendants become your attendants; his servants and attendants are the glorious Angels, Mat. 4.11. and these think it no debasement to wait upon the Spouse of their master: are they not called the Saints, Angels, Mat. 18.10. Their Angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in Heaven. Then his possession become your possession; Heaven, God's right hand, glory; fullness of joy, pleasure for evermore— all these you have a right unto by the right of your husband Jesus Christ.  
Secondly, 
A second privilege.  'tis a great privilege not to need to fear in the most dangerous of times and seasons; this is your privilege, if members of the Church of Christ, you need never fear or be discouraged, be the times never so evil or dangerous; when the times look lowering, threaten war, famine, pestilence— and then what fear and shaking is there among worldly men, men uninterested in Christ, whose help, and hope is only in this life, how do they then run to and fro, ever at their wit's end, Their hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things that are coming on the earth. as our Lord Jesus speaks Luk. 27.25, 26. Thus shall it be now in these last times.  
But if you be true members of the Church of Jesus Christ, you need not fear nor be dismayed at any troubles or changes that hang over the world; though there be signs in the sun, in the moon, in the stars, though there be in the earth distress of nations with perplexity, though the sea and the waves roar, yea though the earth be moved, and the hills leap one against another, Yet our Lord Jesus saith unto his Church and every member of it, Luke 12.33. Fear not little flock, for it is your Father's will to give you a Kingdom; Though your father shake the kingdoms of the world, yet your kingdom shall remain unshaken.  
Therefore, David Heb. 12.28. The Lord is my salvation, whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid Ps. 27.1. though an host should incamp against me, my heart shall not fear, though war arise against me, in this will I be confident.  
And again 'tis the language of the Church professing her confidence in God, Ps. 46.2. We will not fear though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea, though the waters thereof roar, and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swell thereof. And again the Psalmist speaking of a member of Jesus Christ saith, Ps. 112.7. He shall not he afraid of evil tidings, his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord. This is the privilege of a Saint, he needs fear no news, he needs not be afraid of any tidings, though they tell him the earth removes, and the mountains shake, yet he speaks not, for his heart is fixed trusting in the Lord.  
Thirdly, 
A third privilege of a Saint.  If ye be true members of the Church of Jesus Christ youneed not fear the curse of the law, you need not fear hell, death, judgement which is so terrible & dreadful to the wicked: O what would not a wicked man give when he lieth upon his Deathbed, and ready to give up the ghost, terrified with approaching death and judgement, I say what would not he give to be certain of his freedom from condemnation, that he might die the death of the righteous, look death in the facewith boldness, and comfort surely he would give a world, if he had it for this privilege, which some have upon their deathbeds confessed.  
All the true members of Jesus Christ (though they may want worldly comforts, and privileges) yet they have this privilege (which is worth a world foe all other) they need not fear death, or judgement, their peace is made, there is no Condemnation, Rom. 1.8. to them therefore they cry; O death where is thy sting, O grave where is thy victory, 1 Cor. 4.44.  
They look upon death with comfort, and upon the grave without fear, knowing that their Redeemer lives, and that at the last day their bodies shall rise again to live for ever with the Lord.  
Fourthly, 
A fourth privilege.  If ye be true members of the Church of Jesus Christ, you need not, neither shall ye fear the greatest shaking that ever shall be, I mean the shaking both of heaven and earth, when Christ our Lord shall come to judgement, yet once more, and I shake not the earth but the heaven also, Heb. 12.26.  
O when this last and great shaking shall be (which to be near at hand all these lesser shake do portend) when the earth shall burn as stubble under his feet, and the Elements melt with fervent heat, When there shall be a great earthquake, and the Sun become black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon become as blood, and the stars fall from heaven, and the heavens depart as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and Island removed out of its place, Rev. 6.12. 2 Pet. 3.10.  
What would not then a wicked profane person, that hath always before mocked at the Saints of Jesus Christ, now give to be as one of them? O how will he curse himself that ever he was such a mad man to slight preaching, and coming into Church-society, and not to have considered that he must come to judgement! how at this great and fearful day of the Lord, which shall be so terrible to all the wicked of the world, Rev. 6.15. That the tribes of the earth shall mourn, and the Kings of the great men, and the rich men, 
Rev. 6.15.  and the captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman and every freeman shall hid themselves in dens and in the rocks of the mountains, and shall say to the mountains and rocks fall on us and hid us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand.  
I say in this so terrible day of the Lord, 
2 Thes. 1.8.10.  shall our Lord Jesus Christ hid all his Saints under the hollow of his arm gather them under the covert of his wings, deliver them from the wrath that is to come upon all the wicked and ungodly of the world.  
Though this shall be a day of gloominess and thick darkness over all the land of Egypt, yet the sun shall shine on Israel; Luk. 21.28. When the ungodly shall at this day hang down, the Saints shall lift up their heads, because their redemption is at hand.  
Fifthly, If a Saint of Jesus Christ, 
A fifth privilege.  what ever befalls thee, shall befall thee for thy good, whether smiles or frowns, crosses or comforts, riches or poverty, sickness or health, all these shall be advantage to thee— Rom. 8.28. All things shall work together for good to them that love God. Thus highly privileged are all the members and Saints of Jesus Christ, therefore I conclude, Happy are the people whose God is the Lord.  
And now let me speak familiarly to you, are not all these as before high privileges? are they not worth the travelling for? O consider they are brought home unto you, they are offered you at your doors, and how can ye escape if ye neglect so great salvation? Such high privileges proffered you, on such honourable and easy conditions? therefore slack not, come into the Church of Jesus Christ, flock like Doves to these windows, and all these privileges shall be yours. Now will any man for the pleasure of sin which is but for a season, for the love of drunkenness, of uncleanness or the like— out himself of the Church? cause the members of Jesus Christ to reject him as an Atheist, an Infidel? I tell this person what ere he be, that he'll sadly rue this one day, he'll curse that fatal love to sin, those sensual delights and pleasures that now cost him his salvation, he'll then be ready for very grief, and madness at himself, to put out those eyes that have looked upon a woman to lust after her, to by't that tongue that hath so often cur'st and sworn and blasphemed the holy name of the Lord, scoffed at holiness; and mocked at the assemblings of his Saints; to cut that throat that hath so often poured down wine and strong drink till he hath been inflamed by it, and heightened to the acting of any impiety with a strangely brutish confidence: Thus I say he that now refuseth these great privileges proffered to him, and for the love of sin shuts himself out of the Church of Christ, a day will come when he shall wish, O that I had not sat in the chair of the scorner! O that I had joined myself unto the Congregation of the godly, then shall sorrow and sighing take hold on him, when he shall see those that have lived soberly and righteously and godly in their generations owned by Jesus Christ, with a come ye blessed, and led by him by the hand to sit down with Ahraham, Isaac and Jacob, in the kingdom of God, and he himself cast out.  
Think of this betime, all ye that as yet forget God, and Hos. 14.2. take with you words and turn unto the Lord, 
Hos. 14.2.  say unto him take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously. But if ye will not obey God, nor hearken to the voice of his Ministers that beseech you in Christ's stead to be reconciled to God, be ye sure of this, that a day will come when Jesus Christ shall appear 
2 Thes. 1.9.  in flaming fire to take vengeance on you, because ye have not obeyed the Gospel, yea, and shall say, Bring hither those mine enemies that would not that I should reign over them, 
Luk. 19.27.  and slay them before me.   

Sect. X.  
AS there are many privileges that the Saints are interested in, so there are many and sad penalties which shall be inflicted upon all those that do contemn the gospel, and separate themselves from the Church and Communion of Saints here upon earth.  
First, 
1. Penalty.  These shall be separate from the presence of the Lord, they shall never see God;— 
* Mat. 25.41  depart from me ye workers of iniquity: 
* Heb. 12.14. — without holiness no man shall see God.  
Secondly, These shall be punished with a very sore punishment, 
* Heb. 10.29. — Of how much sorer punishment suppose ye shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the Covenant, wherewith he was sanctified an unholy thing, and hath done despite to the Spirit of grace? It shall be more tolerable at the day of Judgement for Sodoxie and Commorrah, than for those that contemn the Gospel.  
Thirdly, Their punishment shall be an everlasting punishment, not for a day or a month or a year, but these shall be 
* Mat. 10.15  punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of the power. 
2 Thes. 1.9. Mat. 25.41 — Go ye cursed into everlasting fire.  
Fourthly, These shall be turned into 
* 4. Ps. 9, 17. Mat. 25.30.  hell, a place of horror and darkness, where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth: And now let me ask you, what do you think of all these sad judgements and penalties? are ye not afraid of them? are you not afraid to be separate from the presence 〈…〉 he Lord? are ye not afraid to b● punished with an everlasting punishment? are ye not afraid to be turned into hell, a den of smoke and darkness; Ah! what heart of stone will not break at the consideration of these things? Who can dwell with devouring fire? 
Isa. 33.14.  who can dwell with everlasting burn? 
Jam. 2.19.   
The Devils tremble at the thought of these, will men be worse than Devils?   

Sect. XI.  
THerefore Beloved, seeing we shall partake of such great privileges, if we reform and turn to God, yea, seeing there is much more in store for us than is as yet discoverable, for— eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the thought of man what God hath prepared for them that love and fear him. Seeing we shall escape such condemnation, and judgement through grace in so reforming ourselves as before, 
Heb. 12.1.  O let us then lay aside every weight, and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. 
Josh. 24.15.  Let us of this Congregation imitate Joshua, let us choose with him, let us say unto all the people, and congregations round about us, choose you whom ye will serve, choose ye whether ye will reform or not reform your ways, choose you whether you will own us or disown us, applaud us or hiss at us, countenance us or contemn us, join with us or separate from us, strengthen us, or labour to make our hands feeble, say we do well, or say we do ill, Speak friendly to us or scoff at us, yet we are resolved, what we will do, that we will leave Ashterch & Basaam. That we will say, what have we to do with Idols? And reform and repent and engage ourselves afresh to serve the Lord.  
Which that we may do, let us put in practice the rules before laid down;  
First, Assembling ourselves together, let us solemnly and sorrowfully confess and bewail our own sins, and the sins of our forefathers before God, 
〈◊〉 9.6.  let us say our God, we blush and are ashamed to lift up our faces unto thee, for our iniquities are increased over our heads and our trespass is grown up unto the very heavens: And having thus humbled ourselves before God let us,  
Secondly, Renew our covenant with God, our Covenant made so long since in baptism, which all of us have broken, and backslided from: let us say, truth Lord, other Lords besides thee have had dominion over us; the devil, the world, the lusts of the flesh have ruled over us; thou, O Lord, mayst justly charge us to have forgotten thee, and to have dealt falsely with thee in thy covenant, and therefore because of all this we make a sure Covenant with thee for the time to come, that we will have no other Lord besides thee, that we will walk in a more professed subjection to all thy holy ordinances, more carefully watching over ourselves and one another, that being cleansed from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, 
2 Cor. 7.1.  we may perfect holiness in thy fear. And having thus renewed our covenant, and engaged ourselves unto the Lord to be his, let us endeavour,  
Thirdly to purge out from amongst us every thing that defileth and is unclean, for a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump; one Achan may distress a whole Israel, one incestuous person, such as was in the Church at Corintb, one adulterer, drunkard or the like in a Church, if countenanced and tolerated by the same, and not reproved and dealt withal according to the rule of the Gospel, may bring wrath and a judgement upon a whole congregation, for by reason of such a toleration, and neglect of Gospel-discipline, the Sacrament of the Lords-Supper may be profaned and abused, as it was in the Church of Corinth, for which cause the Lord punished them with sickness and death for— For this Cause (saith the Apostle, 
1 Cor. 11.30  namely for the profanation of the Lords-Supper many are sick and weak among you, and many sleep.  
Therefore it much concerns every particular Church to purge out the old leaven, that they may be a new lump, and not to keep that feast with the old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice, and wickedness, lest the Lord stretch out his hand against them.   

Section XII.  
BUt methinks I hear some say, Ob. this Yoke is too straight, this burden is too heavy, these rules are too strict, restraining us of all liberty and freedom, we cannot drink, and be merry but we must be reproved and—.  
To these I Answer: Sol.  
First, If the way be straight, and strict, 'tis the more like to be Heaven way, 
Mat. 7.14.  for— straight is the gate and narrow is the way that leads to everlasting life. If the way proposed were large and broad, you might well suspect it the way to hell and death, 
Mat. 7.13.  for wide is that gate and broad is that way.  
Secondly, To such pleaders for unbounded liberty, I say Rejoice, O young men in your youth, 
Eccl. 9.11.  and let your hearts be merry— Let the harp and the viol, and the tabret, and the pipe, and wine be in your feasts.— But for all this know you shall come to judgement.  
Thirdly, To such I say, cursed is he that saith, The yoke is straight that Christ Jesus hath said is easy, that the burden is heavy that he hath said is light: Cursed is he that discourageth the People of the Lord, 
Mat. 11.30  and brings an evil report upon the land of Canaan; let their carcases rot in the wilderness, and let them not see the salvation of the Lord.  
Fourthly, I say that the ways and rules of the Lord, to which we are bound to submit, are not grievous— his commandments are not grievous. These restrain not so, 
1 Joh. 5.3.  but that we have liberty sufficient, liberty to eat, to drink, to meet friends with friends, and to rejoice together; yea, if we be such as are received into favour with God, and justified by Jesus Christ, there's then cause enough for us to rejoice and be cheerful; the Scriptures than give and encourage us to this freedom— 
* Eccles. 9.1.  Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart, for the Lord now accepteth thy works. Thus may it be said to any one, that is truly a member of Jesus Christ: The service of the Lord is not slavery but freedom. But here is the madness and misery of men, they account nothing liberty, but what's licentious; they account it not liberty to eat and to drink, unless they may eat to gluttony, and drink to drunkenness; no liberty to be merry, unless they may be profane, curse and swear.  
But alas is this the liberty and freedom you so contend for? Indeed this is hellish bondage, hellish slavery; Is this liberty to be overcome with wine and strong drink? to have thy legs so bound thou canst not go, thy tongue so tied thou canst not speak? Thy eyes so inflamed thou canst not see? Thy reason and understanding so captivated and lost, that 'tis hard to distinguish whether man or beast? Is this liberty, that thou canst not be merry, but thou must mock God, scoff at holiness, reproach the Saints? O cursed liberty if this be it! This is worse than that Egyptian bondage that made the Jews so sigh and cry under it; and it would make thee also groan under it, were't thou but in the least sensible of thy own condition.  
'tis the Lord Jesus Christ that by your coming in unto him would set you at liberty, make you Freemen; 'tis he that proclaims liberty to the captive, the opening of the prison, 
Isa. 61.2.  to them which are bound—. Jesus Christ would have you Freemen, at liberty; to be so much Lords over yourselves and the creatures, as to eat and drink and not to surfeit, or be drunken, as to be merry and yet not in sin; The Devil keeps men in slavery, in slavery to their lusts, in slavery to their passions, in slavery to their meat, drink, apparel; Oh! It is not liberty you contend for, but bondage; not freedom but slavery; and you will see and understand this, if ever your eyes be opened; for they are now blinded—. 
2 Cor. 44.  In whom the God of this world hath blinded the eyes of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the Image of God, should shine unto them. I say if ever your eyes be opened, you will cry out against yourselves for being such willing slaves to Satan, when you might long ago have been the Lords freemen, Then may I say unto you as St. Paul to the enlightened Romans, What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? 
Rom. 6.21.  And now to conclude all, I say, that, Blessed are all they that so hear the good word of the Lord as to practise it. Blessed are they that hearing that there is a Church of Jesus Christ upon earth, how constituted, & what it is, do labour and desire to add and join themselves unto it, and become true members of it. Blessed are they that hearing what government our Lord Jesus Christ hath ordained in and for his Church, think not his yoke uneasy, nor his burden heavy; but cheerfully and willingly submit to all his holy, just, good and reasonable Commandments. Blessed are they that hearing what manner of Person those aught to be that are to be received into, or continued in the Church of Jesus Christ as visible members thereof, do labour to purge and purify themselves from all uncleanness, both of flesh and spirit, that they may be thought worthy of admittance into such membership. Blessed are all they that hearing the duty of the members of Jesus Christ towards him their head, and one another as members, do set about and practise the same. Blessed are they that hearing the necessity of a reformation, the acceptableness of it to God; the profit and privileges that follow it, if practised, The judgements and penalties that are unavoidable, if this be slighted, do suddenly and seriously set about this work; 1, By a full and free confession, and a sad and sorrowful lamentation of their sins before God: 2, By a renewing of their Covenant with God, entering into a new and sure engagement to serve him: 3, By endeavouring to purge out from among them those obstinate and unruly persons that profane holy things, & bring a contempt upon God's Ordinances: If we that belong to this Congregation be not rebellious and refractory, but obedient and willing to set about this work; I dare affirm it, that when we assemble ourselves together, the presence of our Lord Jesus shall be with us, the blessing of the most high shall be upon us; Then shall he crown our years with goodness, and his paths drop fatness upon us; then instead of having that doleful message— 
* Hos. 2.2.  Ye are not my Wife, neither am I your Husband; we shall hear this joyful sound from heaven, saying, Ammi, Ruhamah, ye are my people, ye have obtained mercy,   
Soli Dei gloria.