SCRIPTURE A PERFECT RULE FOR CHURCH-GOVERNMENT Delivered in a Sermon at Margaret's Westminster, before sundry of the House of COMMONS. By William Seigwich Minister in Farnham in Essex. Published according to Order. LONDON, Printed for Ralph Smith at the sign of the Bible in Cornhill near the Exchange. SCRIPTURE A PERFECT RULE FOR CHURCH-GOVERNMENT Isaiah 9.6. The Government shall be upon his shoulders. THE text is a Prophetical solemnity of the incarnation and inauguration of Christ, and sets forth his birth and reign, Christ in the womb and on the throne. The second is expressed very fully, in a stately and lofty stile, apt and fit to the greatness of the matter: every word swells with royal and Princely excellencies, so full of evangelical glory that the Septuagint were astonished at the Majesty of it, and therefore durst not express it, but render it in their translation veiled and obscured: but Christ by his coming hath expounded them to us, and we see them a very excellent, plain, and full description of the Kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ, showing to us. 1. His regal office, to govern; the government. 2. The burden and weight of this office, it was not honds, but onus, not a crown upon the head, but the government upon his shoulders, the part employed with bearing heavy and pressing burdens. 3. His propriety to it, it lay upon his shoulders alone; he had no help from others; he suffered and reigns alone. 4. After this there comes a troop of titles setting forth those royal graces which do adorn & assist the crown of Christ. The first showing the nature and kind of this government; it is not an ordinary, vulgar, or a carnal kingdom, but wonderful, mysterious: other states have some mysteries in them, this is a state of mysteries. The second shows how it is assisted with wisdom and counsel, the great support of states; and that too within himself, he needs not go to others for it, and therefore the more faithful and safe; he is the counsellor. The third title sets forth his power: he is wise to prescribe laws, and as potent to execute them, able to defend his Laws and Subjects in their obedience to those Laws; the mighty God. The fourth sets forth his love: he can do all things, but his love limits him, and sets his wisdom and power on work: his government is not tyrannical but paternal, his Subjects are his children, he is the everlasting Father. The fifth shows the success of it: a government so well assisted and composed must needs be very peaceable, the Print of peace. The sixth shows the continuance: what is peaceable will continue, war either open or civil being the ruin of states; and of his government shall be no end. We will take only the head of all, the subject of these excellent properties, the government. And concerning it observe but these considerations by way of explication of the text, and we shall draw up our conclusion to be insisted on. Considera. 1 That under this term of government is meant all Christ's power extending to internals and externals. By the first he rules internally in the Souls of men by grace and holiness. By the second he rules externally, the outward man together with the inward in his worship. We omit the first, although the more excellent and glorious, and aim at the second, as more seasonable, the external government. That this is here included as well as the former (beside the extent of the word, reaching to all in which Christ exercises dominion) two acts of his government expressed vers. 7. show. 1. He order it, which is properly a right disposing of things externally. 2. To establish it with judgement and justice, etc. and an act of justice is properly ad extra: and therefore though it be not only understood, it cannot be excluded, external government. Considera. 2 Consider that the text is evangelical, and what was here promised we must expect it to be performed under the Gospel. Considera. 3 That there is a twofold government. 1. Supreme, Lordly, legislative, unlimited. 2. Subordinate, inferior, shut within bounds. By government here is meant the first, the power of constituting Laws, of ordaining and laying a government: for the second may be and is in the Church-officers, but the first proper to Christ. These three considerations laid down, the conclusion naturally flows from the text. That Christ hath left or constituted an external government, or a government in externals for the Church under the Gospel. Before we come to the proof of it, two things need explaining. 1. What the Church is that is the subject of this government. 2. What this government is, and what is the extent of it. Concerning a Church, the original, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, was used to express civil Assemblies, any Congregation of men met together for a civil use, Act. 19.32, 39, 40. and is in Scripture taken sometime in a good, sometime in a bad sense. It is used in spiritual things variously. Acts 19 32.39.40. We will not trouble you with the several acceptions of the word Church in Scripture, but take it in its common and most ordinary use, and that which accords best with the original use of it in the new Testament, It is a particular or congregational Church, which is a similar part of the Catholic, and hath the nature of the whole entire, viz. immediate fellowship with Christ, and right to all the ordinances. The Church is visible or invisible; a distinction not of genus into several species, but of the subject into the several adjuncts; for the same Church may be and is visible and invisible. We are to consider of the Church only as visible, for so it is the subject of that government we are to speak of, a visible and external body for an external policy. It is ordinarily defined thus, to be a company of believers joined together in the name of Christ to enjoy fellowship with God and each other in all God's ordinances according to the word. The matter of this Church must be Saints, faithful men; such whereof Christ may be the head: Art. of Church of England 19 they must all be members that make up a body, (i) visibly and in appearance. These materials cast into a visible union knit together in one body: in Gospel-order, whereby they are apt and fit for communion with God in holy things: and that in the name of Christ this is a Church called his house and family, Jun. de Eccl. his City and Kingdom in Scripture. I shall not need to spend much time in showing what this Church is. It will conduce much to the business in hand to prove that there is a visible political Church whose government is distinct from the invisible, instituted by Christ; And this will appear, 1. From the word Church, applied to particular congregations in many places of Scripture, to the Church of Corinth, Antioch, the seven Churches in Asia. 2. 1 Cor. 15.24. The Apostle speaks of a Kingdom to be delivered up to God at the last: which is not the invisible Kingdom of grace, for that is perfected in the end, and so to continue for ever; nor the external Kingdom of the Jews, that already is dissolved: but this ministerial and evangelical dispensation of ordinances: which agrees with that of the Apostle, Ephes. 4.13. Those offices and administrations must stand till we all come in the unity of the faith, etc. For as the coming of Christ in the flesh abolished the levitical Church, so the coming of Christ in glory shall thrust out the evangelical. 3. Hebr. 12.28. Wherefore we receiving a Kingdom let us have grace, etc. It cannot be meant of the internal, for that consists in grace: the Apostle argues from this Kingdom to grace, which were absurd if they were but one. The consequence is not good any otherwise but thus, having a visible and glorious Church, let us have grace to enter into it, and to walk worthy of it. And that the external Church is meant, is apparent from the antithesis that it hath with the Jewish Church, vers. 18. etc. For nothing is opposite to the external Church under the Law, but an external under the Gospel. 4. Many places in the Gospel where Christ speaks of this Kingdom to come can be meant of no other. Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. Matth. 4.11. & 10.7. Christ intending to set up his government, prepares materials, converts Saints. And Matth. 11.11. he compares the ministry of John with the ministry of the Gospel, which he calls a Kingdom. He that is least in the Kingdom, etc. i. e. He that is the weakest Minister in the Church under the Gospel is greater than John. And that Christ hath instituted such a society and Kingdom, such a visible Church, reasons prove it. If there were not such a Church, there would be no communion of Saints here on earth. That there is such a communion the Scriptures are plentiful, it will be granted: the consequent will appear, if we consider what communion is, it is an arct, close, orderly, and profitable fellowship. For as in civil society, that political virtue that is in a man is not exercised toward men in a crowd, for a man may be solus in civitate, alone in a multitude; to be political or in society, is to be united to families, Cities, Kingdoms. So this spiritual fellowship is not with Christians as Christians, nor many Christians within a same walls, but with Christians united together in one body spiritual, 1 Cor. 12.20. Psal. 122.3. Ephes. 4.16. and that rightly compacted and fitly joined together, Minister and people, etc. such as are to exercise offices, and to administer to each other. Now the reason why God would have such a fellowship is, 1. For himself, that he might enjoy the perfection of mankind, which is men in society: political is a step above reasonable. By this his service is more rich and glorious, having the grace and strength of many in one. That we may with one mind and one mouth glorify God. It is a goodly and beautiful service that is thus presented to God, Rom. 15.16. and is very acceptable, as that Psalm is interpreted, How good a thing it is for brethren to live together, etc. 2. For us, Psal. 133. there is as great necessity of communion in divine as civil things. First, in respect of our weakness. It is not good for man to be alone, was God's judgement of man in innocency; and now man cannot be good alone. When we are as scattered Sheep the Lions will devour us: while we are as ears of corn growing alone, Jer. 50.17. we shall be carried away with every wind of Doctrine: against which toss this is a remedy. Ephes. 4.14. Church-fellowship having a Kingdom of sin and darkness to fight with, we need the power of a Kingdom to resist them. Secondly, in respect of our graces. God that gives us grace, gives us it to profit with. A man cannot be happy alone, 1 Cor. 12.7. nor good alone: grace will fade and whither if it want objects to work upon, and is never so glorious as in propagation. God that hath given us grace, hath given it for others as to ourselves; as a faculty in a member is for the whole body: the eye sees for all, the ear hears for all, etc. And therefore there is a necessity of communion, and so necessary there should be a Church. There must be a Church that there may be ordinances. For clearing this, consider but these two things. 1. That a Church is a chief ordinance; 2. That the Church sanctifies and upholds all other ordinances. First, that it is the chief ordinance. It is God's Temple under the Gospel, 1 Pet. 2.5. Heb. 3.6. called his building, and house, therefore the greatest. 1. Compare it with the Temple under the Law in whose place it comes, and under which this is prophesied of familiarly in the Prophets: that was the greatest under the Law, so this under the Gospel. 2. Compare it with the substance, Christ's body, which is the Temple of all worship. Destroy this Temple. In whom the Godhead dwells bodily. Joh 2.19. Col 2.9. That which serves to so high a use as to represent Christ, and in the main work of Christ to bring us into the presence of God, must needs be the greatest. 3. It is fullest of Christ, many believers shining with the graces of God's Spirit, each having some of the divine nature, all united in one body. It sets forth the glory of God, and in them Christ is complete; so full of Christ that it obtains the name of Christ. 4. Other Ordinances were made for the Church, not the Church for them: Man was one made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath for Man; so other ordinances for the Church. Therefore as under the Law the Temple was greater than the gold of the Temple, so the Church is greater than the Ordinances of the Church. 1 Cor. 11.12. Secondly, other Ordinances subsist not but in the Church. The ministry of the word; a steward is not a steward but to a house, a Pastor is not a Pastor but to a flock. How can a man Preach except he be sent? Rom. 10.14, 15. and a true mission doth require an external call. Discipline is not exercised but in the Church; 1 Cor. 5.12. What have I to do judge them that are without? The Church's censures reach not till they be within the Church, the keys are nothing without a Kingdom. All the Ordinances and Sacraments, they are not due to Christians as Christians, nor as members of the Catholic, but to Christians in society, in relation, ministers and People: therefore there is and must be an external and visible Church distinct from the internal. And hence it is that there are distinct callings to the internal and external Church. 1 Cor. 1.2. He writes there 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, which is a company called out; and afterward 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, called to be Saints, a calling seperatim, and a calling conjunctim, as Junius, and vers. 9 called to the fellowship of the Saints. Expositors observe a double calling from the words. One to be members of Christ and of the invi●●ble Church; and another of a particular Church: to believe, and to be added to the Church. So that as a man is considered as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, and as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, as reasonable, and as political; so a Christian may be considered as a Christian or member of Christ, and as a member of a visible Church. We have, been large in this, being a special means to clear the whole truth: and the ignorance of this causeth much mistake in the world about Church-matters. The second thing to be explained is the government of this Church. Being a Kingdom, or City, or Family, it must have a policy; being not a worldly but a spiritual Kingdom, it must have a spiritual policy; and being a visible Kingdom, it must have a visible policy: such as the body is, such must be the government of it. To show what this is, For the name, the Apostle helps us to a very apt one, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Ephes: 2 14. the policy of Israel: and what that is the Philosopher tells us, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, it is order, the word used here, vers. 7. and Col. 2.5. their faith and order. So that by government we understand, that order left by Christ to the Church for the administering of Church affairs or holy things. For the extent of it, we take it in the largest sense; not only for that part of government called commonly discipline, or jurisdiction, or the power of one over another, etc. but more largely, for the whole ordering of the Church in all Church-affaires. All are reduced to these two heads. 1. The order of the parts of the body, 1 Cor. 12.14. called the tempering of the body, a right disposition of the parts every one in their place; Pastors, and Elders, and Deaeons', every one in their ranks. 2. The order of the administrations and services of these parts to God and to each other, as Prayer, Word, Sacraments, Discipline, and all the holy things of God. And that we take in the largest sense too, including the matter and manner; for both come within this policy: Christ commands the things themselves, and the rites and ceremonies belonging to them. For, 1. Christ would not ordain ordinanecs, and leave, them confused, imperfect, and half composed, and subject them to humane skill to receive their form and beauty. 2. All things that God made in the world were perfect, and every creature brought its shape into the world with accidents suitable to its being; and sure God would not leave his holy ordinances and this second and more glorious world of the Church imperfect. 3. If man were to prescribe the manner man had (i.e. to command that we should enjoy them in their manner or not at all) a negative voice, which is a greater power than God ever left man in his own ordinances to admit and refuse. 4. Christ hath left rules for them; not only for Preaching, but by whom, and to whom; so in Baptism and the Supper, how they should be administered and to whom, only admit of this distinction. Some things, viz. such as are religious, and immediately and particularly belong to the nature of the things themselves, are peculiarly commanded: such as are more remote, as natural and civil things, are only in general rules prescribed. How these are distinguished, we shall see hereafter. For the extent of this government we shall lay these two grounds. First, for all internals, Christ hath laid down some internals, both persons and things. As 1. For matters of Doctrine, and faith, and inward sanctification, there are Word, Sacraments, and Pastors and Teachers to administer them. 2. For matters of conversation, there is watching, admonition, etc. for which there are Elders to join with the former, as helps of government. 3. For matters of charity, there is collecting and distributing of Alms, and for that are Deacons appointed. For these externals are as the bark of a tree, or as a vain in which the blood runs, in these the inward life of grace is conveyed, and to these three heads are they by Authors reduced. Secondly, that Christ hath laid down all externals that are for the good of the Church. That's the property of a good Law, to contain all and leave nothing to the Judge but the interpreting of such Laws and the executing of them. Christ the King of his Church hath made as many Canons as need: all that is left for the Church is to execute these rules, and in cases of doubt or difficulty to draw out the rule to particular occasions. Or, to conclude this point, the government laid down by Christ, is ordinances of divine service, or a liturgy, a complete way of serving the Lord in all his ordinances, so called, Hebr. 9.1. Having explained these two main terms, we proceed to prove the point. The point will be sufficiently proved in demonstrating these five propositions. 1. That it is necessary there should be a government of such an extent, with all the rites and ceremonies belonging unto it. 2. That it is necessary that Christ himself should prescribe it. 3. That Christ hath actually done it, and that sufficiently. 4. That this government so commanded is perpetual. 5. That neither the Church, nor any other hath power to alter any part of it, or to add any thing to it. Propos. 1 First, It is necessary there should be such a government, showing the persons, administrations, with the rites and ceremonies belonging to them. 1. Necessary by the Law of nature to the Gospel as a Religion: for there never was a Religion without such. The Egyptians, Romans, Turks, had their Priests, Temples, Rites belonging to them, and shall Christ be defective in that which even nature requires? Nature requires some, Christ prescribes what. 2. Necessary by the natural Law, by the second Command. The affirmative part of a command is of the same nature with the negative, the negative denies external devised manners of worship, therefore the affirmative requires a form of Gods devising. The Jewish ceremonies did append to the second Command. With out a prescribed form the Law is imperfect, therefore there must necessarily come a Law of service in the place of that which is abolished, to supply the room of it: for till that be added, a rule of external worship, the command binds in affirmatives but potentially, viz. to worship God in his own way when he should prescribe it. 3. Necessary to our natures consisting of soul and body, both created by God and redeemed by him, 1 Cor. 6. ult. therefore God must be worshipped by both. 4. Necessary to t●●… Church as a Kingdom or City, for policy is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the life of a City: and without a Law for officers, and duties and bounds and limits for them, it is ananarchy, not a policy. Christ should leave a miserable City without a policy. 5. Necessary to the Church as visible and external: for being visible, it must have something visible to knit it to the head, Christ. For as the invisible is knit to Christ by faith, so is the external united to Christ by these external things: neither is there any means, any ligaments to tie the body to the head, or the members to each other externally, but these prescribed by Christ. The Apostle, Colos. 2. being to deal upon this subject against humane impositions and will-worship, he brings his main argument from Christ and our union to him; which were no argument if these did not knit us to Christ, vers. 7. we are rooted and built on him. By these we are knit, as the tree to the root, not only by the body, but by the bark. And vers. 19 they that set up any other worship or order than that which Christ prescribes, they hold not the head, they quit Christ; which sets a high price upon these things, and makes them necessary. By them the Church doth immediately close with Christ, and in them the fullness of Christ is seen, and the life of Christ conveyed, and therefore necessary as nerves and sinews to the body. 6. It is a necessary part of the Gospel: by the Apostle accounted a principle, and a fundamental one, Hebr. 6.2. setting down the principles, he counts this as one, laying on of hands, which is a part of this external policy, a ceremony belonging to ordination; and if a part be fundamental, than the whole is. I am not ignorant, that some interpreters carry this another way, viz. for confirmation: but there is little reason for it. 1. Because confirmation is not commanded in any one Scripture but this, and therefore not likely to be a principle in Religion that hath footing but in one text. 2. Confirmation hath nothing fundamentally distinct from baptism being but to confirm the same, and not to add any thing new. Some esteem it exegetical, as an ●●position of baptism going before: but that were not agreeable to the Apostles intent, being to set down a brief epitome of the principles of Religion. Yea laying on of hands, is more dark than baptism, and therefore cannot be an exposition of it. Therefore it is meant of that laying on of hands in 1 Tim. 4.14. and 5.22. etc. a part of ordination. So not only the Sacraments, but ministry, calling, ordaining with the ceremonies of them are fundamentals of the Gospel. Do not mistake me, I count them not absolutely necessary to salvation; For, he that believeth shall be saved. Nor are they all necessary to the being of a Church; a Church may subsist without part of them; a Church gathering and beginning, or a Church in persecution, or a Church corrupted and lame, and declining, may be a true Church without some of them: but necessary they are necessitaee praecepti, as a rule for every Church to walk by, and to the bene esse of a Church. They are necessary with the same necessity as the levitical rites were to the Jews, they were bound to perform them, and incomplete in the want of them: but when they were in Babylon and deprived of them, or through negligence had lost them, yet than they were a Church: So is it in these things under the Gospel. But being necessary so many ways, either Christ hath left them for his Church, or else he hath not left all things necessary. Propos. 2 It is necessary they should be laid down by Christ, none else can be the author of them. Because he is the only Lord of his Church, 1 Cor. 12.5, 6. Many ministrations, but one Lord. The only husband of the Church, and Lawgiver, the only captain, head, King; and therefore the Church ought, not to subject hen self to any but Christ: Isa. 33.22. Jam. 4.12. she is his Spouse, and so not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, not to be her own rule, nor may any other lord it over her. Christ only gives the being to the Church, Jun. de Eccl. the being of the Church is relative, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, two or three gathered together in the name of Christ, and therefore from him only can come the operations of that being: all the actions flow from the form, Quod dat esse dat operari: and therefore the essence of the Church being divine, all that the Church doth as a Church must be divine. In relatione hac magnified omnia divina, Jun. in Psal. 122. In this divine relation all things are divine. And the same Author, Quicquid tangit, audit, etc. Id. ibid. Whatsoever the Church touches, hairs, sees, enjoys, aught to be divine. The things themselves are such as none but Christ can be the Author of them. The Apostle gives a right character of worship, Rom. 12.1, 2. That it is meant of service or worship, the last word of the first verse shows. That it is external, we see in the sequel of the chapter: 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. the Apostle is upon Church-officers, and their manners of administration. In the verse there is sacrificing, an external rite, and that of the body. So that it must be understood of external worship, that cannot be excluded. Of this he required it should be, 1. Living; being to serve the living God, it must not be dead service, there must be nothing dead in it. And therefore of Christ, for no man can give natural life, much less spiritual. It is the word that quickens. Man may shape a service, but he cannot give life unto it, it will be vain and dead. 2. It must be holy; now nothing that is holy can come from man that is unclean; none but Christ can ordain holy things: the things in themselves must be holy, whatsoever infirmity be in the doing them. He that errs in the weak performing them, errs in the doing of his duty; but he that invents some of his own, errs more than he needs; what we invent we must justify; Christ will warrant no more than he commands, what his wisdom commands, his righteousness shall make good. Therefore the Pope to make good his authority in enjoining Church-matters, claims an unerring faculty, and so he had need. 3. It must be acceptable to God, and therefore according to his own mind, as in the second verse: now who knows the mind of the Father, but the Son? or what do we know of God more than is written? Therefore Christ only is able to prescribe such service as God would have, living, holy, acceptable, and consequently able only to prescribe a policy in his Church. And sure he did what belonged to him to do. Propos. 3 Christ hath actually done it. You will say, here is the great work, prove this and we have done. We might prove it undeniably by producing the particulars, and set them up before you: And if I should, you would say as the Jews said of Christ, He hath done all things well, he hath well provided for the government of the Church, and that it is so perfect, it needs no addition. But that were a task neither befitting the time, nor my weakness. I shall labour according to my power to prove there is one; and then I hope you in whose hands the work lies, will employ more able men to find it out. It will be so full and satisfactory, that no man will find a place to add any thing to it, and therefore the best confutation of humane policy. The Epistle to the Hebrews being well searched will afford abundant proofs, it being the main business of the Epistle to persuade them to leave the Jewish Ordinances, and to accept the Ordinances of the Gospel that came in the place of them: note this through that Epistle. The government of the Gospel is said to be a better Testament, and a more perfect Covenant. It is not meant of the internal, for that is the same, Christ yesterday, to day, and for ever; but of the externals that were brought in new, they are said to be better. 1. In their use, they present Christ to the Soul more lively and clearly, more feelingly and spiritually, more fully and abundantly. 2. In their end, they end in heaven, the coming of Christ to glory; whereas they of the Law had their period in the grave of Christ. 3. In themselves, this is a more perfect Testimony; the rites being fewer, the questions and controversies are not so many as did arise concerning the legal ceremonies. First, A Plain place it Heb. 7.12. There being a change of the Priesthood, there is necessarily a change of the Law. The Basis of that text is this, that a Priesthood and Law are inseparable, and indissolubly united. Cornel. a Lap. in loc. Every Priesthood must have precepts, promises, punishments and ceremonies annex-to it; It must be so or else these holy things whereof he is a Priest, must needs suffer profanation. That which he infers is this; the old Priesthood is abolished, and we have a new, to wit, Christ the High Priest, and Servants under him: (we confess there is not under the Gospel an expiatory Priest, or a Priest of intercession, but Christ, but an Eucharistical and of oblation, which is nothing but a Steward or Minister of holy things.) Having a new Priesthood we must have a new law, the old Law will not serve a new Order, we must have a new one, and such a new one as was the old: that abolished contained Ordinances, Sacraments, Rites, so must the new. The sum is this, the Apostle would prove, that Moses and Aaron are met together in one Christ; for he is not only a Priest as Aaron, but a Lawgiver as Moses, he did both their works; a Highpriest to succeed Aaron, and an Apostle to succeed Moses, as Heb. 3.1. they are joined together: he is Aaron in sacrificing, and Moses in prescribing Laws for holy administration. Secondly, There is a plain place, Heb. 3.2, 3, etc. commonly urged to this purpose, where the Apostle compares the faithfulness of Christ and Moses. To enforce it, consider, 1. That their faithfulness was both in ●…conomy or homhold government, one as a Servant, the other as an owner, and this cannot be without external policy. 2. Their faithfulness is compared in those things wherein they differ, and so it is more effectual. Christ was not faithful only in laying down that which Moses did, viz. doctrine and internals, but Moses was faithful in setting down his legal service, Christ in setting down his evangelical service. Object. Some object, that there was no government committed to Christ as the pattern of the Ark was to Moses. Sol. It was committed to him here in the text in general, although not in the particulars of it, God laid the government upon his shoulder, that he might appoint one in his Church. And in this text (Heb. 3.2.) by commission and designation of the Father: He was faithful to him that appointed him: and by nature, vers. 6. he is the owner, the Father of the family, and therefore the government of the family is naturally in him: naturally government is seated in the Father, and so in Christ: Christ says he delivered what be had heard and seen, and what he had received of the Father. Therefore could not Christ be as faithful as Moses, if he had not prescribed and laid down a government for his Church. 3. If we have so many externals as do make an Image of Christ, and represent Christ to the Soul, we have a sufficient platform in Scripture, but we have such an Image. Heb. 10.1. For the Law being a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things. There are three things spoken of. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 1. The good things themselves, the truth, the substance, which is Christ and those mercies that flow from him. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. 2. There is a part ante, a shadow, or a rude inperfect picture, such as painters draw with a coal. And 3. à parte post, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. an Image, a more lively and complete representation of them: which Image is in externals, (for internals are part of the good things) and it is composed of the whole policy of the Church, all the administrations thereof. As the shadow included all under the Law, so the Image all under the Gospel, Word, Sacraments, and Ceremonies annexed to them. The Apostle expresseth the ministration external under the Gospel in this manner, 1 Cor. 13.12. Having spoken of the Church and all her gifts and operations, he saith, We see Christ as in a glass, i. e. they do represent the image of Christ. So 2 Cor. 3.18. speaking in the former part of the Chapter of the ministry of the Gospel, uses the same expression. And these externals being an image, they must belong and appertain to the second Commandment, and are a part of it. Give me leave for the clearing this truth, and the vindicating the second command, to digress a little. We shall find in Interpreters that there are two things forbidden under the name of an Image in the second Command. First, that great Idolatry then in use among the Gentiles, worshipping of an Image. And secondly, all feigned and devised ways of worship: as in other commands, viz. The seventh forbids adultery and all wantonness, lasciviousness, etc. and things conducing thereunto. And as two things forbidden, so two things commanded. Fir●t, The first is Christ, the sum of that command: it is Zanchies opinion, and there is good reason for it. 1. Because he is the true and express Image of the Father, H●b. 1.3. Col. 1.15. 2. He is the only medium of worship. In him the Father is found. He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life: 2 Cor. 5.18. Phil. 2.10. and in him shall every knee bow; i. e. all worship must be done by Christ and in his name, to the Father by men and Angels. 3. Because of that diametrical opposition that is in Scripture betwixt Christ and all false worship, Gal. 1.6. Col. 2.8. often in the old and new Testament. 4. From the strong fence set about this command; God's jealousy, his greatest, hottest, and most implacable rage: God will propagate his wrath to the third and fourth generation, count them haters of him that break it, and esteem them to love him that keep it, and binds himself to thousands that observe it. God doth not use to lay such words upon matters of small moment: there is something more in it then ordinary, and what can that be but Christ? Secondly, but there is a second Image commanded, and that is that external worship prescribed by Christ. As the way prescribed by Antichrist is called the Image of the beast, Rev. 13.14, 15 so the way prescribed by Christ is his Image, which is that we have spoken of; and is meant in this, Heb. 10.1. So that having an Image, such externals as do represent Christ fully, we need no more, but such an Image we have. A fourth proof is in Act. 1.3. speaking of those forty days after the resurrection of our Saviour, he saith, in them he taught them all things belonging to the Kingdom of God. To parallel this with the forty days that Moses was in the mount with God would little help us, (you may think) we need it not. That by the Kingdom of God is here meant that visible Kingdom that we have spoken of, is apparent. 1. From consent of other Scriptures, wherein we shall find that Christ's great business after his resurrection was ordaining of Ministers, Matth 28.18. Ma k. 16. dispatching their commissions, prescribing them rules for that purpose. 2. Because the Apostle treating of things of this nature, 1 Cor. 14.37. challenges this honour to his rules that they were Commandments of the Lord: how did the Lord command them? not by writing extant in the old or new Testament, nor by ordinary revelation or inspiration; for in another case in that Epistle, giving rules for married Estates, and resolving some doubts saith, ● Cor. 7 12. This speak I, not the Lord, i. e. not the Lord in any part of the word then written, but I, not as a private person, but as inspired by the Holy Ghost. Therefore calling them the Commandments of the Lord, he must need mean those orders left by Christ's mouth to the Apostles for the ordering of the Church, and which by them were to be derived to the Church. 3. That which helps to confirm this, is, that Christ did but rarely touch upon this point of his government in his life, but taught matters of faith and holiness of life. The reasons were, 1. He was but a Minister of the circumcision, Rom. 15 8. and therefore would not prescribe Laws as a King. 2. The old government was not abolished: and to teach a new before the old was displaced would have caused a confusion and rent in the Church: he took away the old, that he might set up the new. Heb. 10.9. 3. The people were not fit for this new government: he would not put this new wine into old bottles; he therefore prepares them by the doctrine of repentance for it. 4. His Kingdom was to be laid in blood: he must first triumph on the Cross, and then on the Throne, and therefore he spoke Prophetically of his government, of his kingdom to come. Matth. 28.8. After his resurrection he saith, All power is committed to me in heaven and earth; now go teach all Nations; therefore he left this part of his doctrine, till this season after his resurrection. There is a fifth proof, Rom. 12.1. That he speaks of outward worship hath been proved already: concerning this he requires it should be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, both words prove a form prescribed in the word. 1. It must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, service, and therefore commanded; for there can be no other reason given of service to God but his commanding of it. Obedience is better than Sacrified. 1 Sam. 15. Obedience makes Sacrifice acceptable, and when Sacrifice is without obedience, God disclaims it; Sacrifice thou wouldst not. Psal. 40. Nor can there be imagined a reason why God should favour any service, but because God commands us to bring it him; there being no reason why God should require service, but that we might show our obedience. Not because he needs them; rivers of oil, Mic. 6.7, 8 the beasts of a thousand mountains are nothing to him. Nor because they are beautiful; there is nothing beautiful but himself, and that which comes from him; God is not taken with glory. Nor because it is chargeable to thee: if it be thy body to be burnt, he cares not, if it be not commanded: worship not required is no worship. 2. This service must be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, it is translated, reasonable; this translation will help us sufficiently; for what can be reasonable in spiritual things but mens Christi, that is vera ratio, the rule of reason: neither may we think any thing reasonable in divinity, but that which is according to the principles of divinity, Christ's mind. But we may well wave that interpretation. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly, word-service, or a service agreeable to the word, from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉. And so the same word is used, 1 Pet. 2.2. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, the milk of the word, and therefore why not here, the service that is agreeable to the word? and Christ may not require word-service, if the word be not a rule. We might argue from the sufficiency of the word; It teacheth us every good way, saith Solomon. It will make the man of God perfect for every good work. And this is a good work, the chiefest work of all, to have fellowship with God in his ordinances. The Scriptures instruct us (as they did Timothy) how to behave ourselves in the house of God. 1 Tim. 3.16. If Timothy's religion will serve us, he had no other Canon; what need we? All confess that Christ instituted part of this government, and why not all of it; being of the same nature? What he did he did perfectly: and the Church did retain all, till carnal ease, pride, and ambition wrought this strange metamorphosis. neither is that to be despised, Acts 20.20. The Apostle saith, He kept bacl nothing that was profitable. If there had needed any more, he would not have suppressed it. And verse 27. he declared the whole counsel of God. When we say, Christ hath left his government for us in the Scriptures, we mean the whole Scripture, commands, and examples; for both are binding rules to us. 2. It is in Scripture either in plain words, or else in good and suffici-consequence: either actually, and in the letter, or else potentially, and by clear and good deduction: Although it be not laid down in one continued methodical discourse, but scattered in small pieces here and there in Scripture: and although not obvious to a slight and superficial view of the letter, but lies deeply and closely couched: yet it will doubtless be found by those whose faithful labours God shall assist in the search of it. Propos. 4 Our next proposition is: This government is perpetual. We might take all Christ's institutions for perpetual, and not seek a particular reason to entail them upon the Church: but there being a contrary opinion, we shall meet it with three or four arguments. 1. From 1 Cor. 15.24. a place formerly quoted, and proved to be meant of the external Kingdom which Christ will render up to his Father. If the Kingdom stand, the policy will stand too. 2. Heb. 12.27. It is called a Kingdom that cannot be shaken. Christ hath set it upon such firm pillars as never to be removed, till he come himself to pull it down by erecting a full Kingdom of glory. 3. Eph. 4.12. etc. Those officers are to continue till we all come in the unity of the faith, etc. That which the Apostle said of the Sacrament of the Supper, is true of all the rest, It is to keep in remembrance his death till he come. Beside Scripture there is reason for it. It is a Law, a Commandment, called so in many places: the word doth perpetuate it. See 1 Tim. 6.14. because a Commandment, therefore to be kept till the appearing of Jesus Christ. What is made a Law, no authority can pull it down but that which sets it up. Therefore the Apostle backs the command with Christ's regal power, Who is the only Potentate, King of Kings, etc. a sufficient reason to prove his Laws unalterable, because made by the supreme and highest power: and therefore they are to stand till a greater than Christ come. This government was universal in respect of places, and why not in respect of times? In all Churches thus I ordain, 1 Cor 4.17. & 7.17. thus I teach. If the disposition of the subject had required a different rule, the Apostle was very barren to tie all up to one: or the Church of Corinth abounding with variety of gifts, and so richly furnished, might take it ill that she should be kept in the same bounds with others, and have no state and honour more than the poorest Church. The government prescribed in the word is ordinary, and therefore perpetual: for there is nothing that is in the word that can be thought temporal, but that which was occasional and extraordinary; but the government prescribed by Christ is ordinary. Things ordinary and extraordinary are found to differ. 1 In their gifts. Ordinary officers have ordinary endowments, such as are of perpetual use in the Church, as the gifts of Pastors and Teachers, To look to the flock, to be apt to teach, to be wise, etc. but the gifts of Apostles were extraordinary, the gift of tongues, miracles, etc. 2. In their employments and ends. Pastors and Teachers are to edify the Church, to build us up in faith, a work of perpetual use, and cannot decay in the Church; Eph. 2.20. but to be the foundation, to lie in the bottom of the building, and to be a Masterbuilder, this proper to extraordinary officers, 1 Cor. 3.10. viz. Apostles. It is not hard to show; what is ordinary and necessary, and what occasional and accidental. Object. That which is urged against the perpetuity of this policy, is weak; That it was fit for the times in which it was practised, being times of persecution: but when the Church hath peace, another government may be more profitable and useful. Answ. For answer to it, know that this is a project that the Scripture is ignorant of, and affords no colour for it; and that is reason sufficient to reject it. But they that know what our souls are, know that we have always need of such offices and such ministrations as are in the word commanded. And on the contrary, the government now pleaded for, would have better suited with times of persecution. 1. For one Priest to serve two congregations, three if need be, is it not better for a poor persecuted Church, then to maintain Pastors, Teachers, Elders, and every one to have double honour, maintenance or allowance? Sure Paul knew not this way of saving charges. Why should he that desired to free the Church from burdens, and did labour with his own hands, to do it, not suffer this new way of Curates? 2. For officers to dispatch business privately in a chamber, is safer a great deal in bad times then to make a public business of it! Why did the Apostle ordain all Church affairs to be public? 1 Cor. 4.5. When you come together, cast out that person. And that which they would thrust out, is fit for times of prosperity. 1. It is a strict and exact way, close bands, that give not that liberty that the other doth, and therefore sittest for such times wherein men are apt to take the greatest liberty. Persecution is a discipline itself, and then men may be left more to themselves: but profaneness is apt to grow in times of pence, and then it is no wisdom to have the remedy (discipline) 20. or 40. miles absent. 2. Mercies should make us better, not worse. If God gives Kings to be nursing Fathers, shall the Church grow wanton upon such bounty? shall so happy a blessing make us worse? We have a Christian King, shall we therefore grow Antichristian? Men say, persecution was an occasion of the Apostles setting up such a discipline, we are sure persecution hath kept it out. Object. But men object, That Church-government ought to hold good proportion with the civil; and episcopal government suits best with a Monarchy, and that which men would ground upon the word is dangerous to Monarchies. Answ. If it be prejudicial to Monarchy, it is strange the Apostles would practise it under persecuting Monarches. It was no wisdom to run themselves into a praemunire, to endanger the splitting of the Gospel in every place by giving just occasion to Princes of persecution. Or indeed they were not persecutors in opposing the Gospel, but just opposers of enemies to their state; neither were the Apostles Martyrs, but seditious persons, that brought in things dangerous to Caesar, and so died justly. But this is an old trick of the Devil, to set Christ and Caesar at difference; a plot as old as abominable, and so gross that a man may easily discern it. Not to speak any thing of the difference between corporals and spirituals, between Moses and Aaron, King and Priest, of so wide a distance that they cannot interfere, nor one endanger another. States have stood entire without Church-government, yea without Christian Religion: and the government of Christ hath stood in all States without molestation. Religion confirms what it finds in a Kingdom, meddles with nothing that is civil to alter it. It makes princes better rulers, and people better subjects, but changeth neither. The government endangers Princes honours and royalties no more than men's private estates. It requires nothing of Princes but protection and favour, that they be nursing Fathers, and pays them again in a more firm loyalty and zeal for their honour and safety. Can these men make good their charge, that ever Prince was molested in his government by the Disciplinarians? Did they ever conspire their ruin, combine with their enemies, lift up their heels against them or their power over them, as the Episcopacy hath? Or hath not the discipline been faithful to heathenish Princes, having the chef throw a bowl of rabbit droppings at your headom. 13.1 and will it prejudice Christian? Or do we think that Jesus Christ, by whom King's reign, will institute or allow of a government that shall by the remotest consequence undermine it? Or, Christ being to carry the Gospel round about the World, would he so compose the government of it, that he should justle down the civil powers, or clash with them? These are odious aspersions; and they that charge Christ's government with this, are guilty of it themselves. It is easily proved they have been, and it is dangerous they will ever be encroachers upon Prince's rights. If any government endanger Monarchy, 'tis Monarchical. The Ivy that pretends to uphold the Tree, sucks away the sap of it: they that dare challenge so much interest in Thrones as to support them, may come to challenge the disposing of them. By such ascents, the Pope risen so high as now to come between heaven and Kings. Kingdom's depending lose part of their glory. The Throne is established by God and Righteousness: and needs not the help of a faction to support it. But these weak arguments do put jealousies not reason into Prince's heads; when it shall be considered that it is Christ's, these aspersions will fall off, and his institution will stand bright, clear, and perpetual. Thus much of the fourth Proposition. Propos. 5 The fifth is this, Christ hath so established his government in all the parts of it, that no man may alter either part or whole, none may add to it or take from it. 1. For any man to do so, were directly against the command of God. Deut. 4.2. and 12.32. He doth not say, you shall add nothing to the levitical Law: but, you shall add nothing to that which is commanded: so that the reason is the same now, that it was then: and therefore confirmed Rev. 22.18, 19 as a close of the Bible. For though that be particularly and especially meant of that book, yet the reason of it concerns the whole Scripture. 2. Contrary to the second Commandment, that forbids all feigned worship and manners of worship. 3. Contrary to Colos. 2.18. which forbids all voluntary or will-worship. 4. The Church never had any power given unto her to command any thing in the Church. The highest power that ever was in the Church, was but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ministry, Act. 1.17. or Ministration: a step above that is to Lord it, and will be in danger of that charge against Antichrist, 2 Thes. 2.4. to rule in the house of God. Reason's there be strong ones. 1. If the Church may alter one, she may alter many; Reas. if she may add one, she may add twenty; and so a wide gap opened to all the superstitions of Rome. We may bow to an Altar, to a Crucifix, modo interponatur autoritas: let authority command it, it is no longer superstition. 2. If the Church or any humane power may enjoin any thing external, 'tis to signify something internal: but of man can confer such a power to any thing to set forth the spiritual things of God. If he may appoint things to that end, he may separate, consecrate to that use, and confer a power supernatural, for naturally no artificial thing or natural thing can signify divine grace. This is to entrench upon God's peculiar, whose right only it is to institute signs, yea signs of this nature are Sacraments or Sacramental. 3. Men cannot invent any thing that can edify; not affirmatively, and of its nature. In civils, things may be ordered to edification negatiuè, i. e. so that edification be not hindered. 4. Nor for ornament: The design of God is clean contrary. God hath chosen the mean, base things, 1 Cor. 1.27, 28. etc. Upon this conclusion we give this reason, why the Lord made choice of water and bread and wine to set forth the great mercy of Christ, because they were ordinary, mean, low things, that men might not look for great state in his service, but that his state is spiritual: And therefore to erect a stately Priesthood, Altars, Worship, 'tis a design above Gods, and non honour, sed dedecus, si vel praeter vel contra mandatum. Chrysost. quoted by Bishop Andrew's on second Commandment. That which men boast of a star of reason to be sufficient to direct us in things external; 'tis strange to suppose that so poor a guide should serve us in things of so high a nature. In those things that are natural or civil, reason sanctified may advise something, but in things religious she is to be excluded. Consider man's insufficiency and unfitness to such a work, to invent any thing for the service of God. Man is ignorant, not able to judge of spirituals: all imaginations that are in man of God beside the rule are idolatrous; neither can we safely suffer a thought of God beside what is written. Every thought changes the infinite nature of God into a comprehensible frame and model, and subjects God to man's capacity: therefore we may not bring the object to our souls, but by revealed truths raise our hearts to the object. And man that brings a service not commanded, thinks of God above what is revealed. He that comes to God must believe, etc. As we believe, so we come: that which is the rule of believing, must be the pattern of service. If God have revealed as much as we many know, he hath commanded what he will accept: he is not a God that can be prescribed service, nor is man able to do it. As man is unable, so an enemy. The wisdom of the flesh is enmity to God; and God hath no reason to trust an enemy in moulding his service. Besides, the heart of man is crooked, false, deceitful: and therefore why should god put out his worship to man to make? Consider on the other side the high nature of God's public worship. 1. It is to have communion with God, who is everlasting burn; and therefore it is no wisdom to bring wood, ●●●y, stubble, Cor. 3.12. etc. or any combustible matter of humane inventions. 2. It is public communion, which is the greatest honour that God hath of man; and therefore not fit that man should rule any thing in it. 3. They are such things as come out of God's bosom. If he be a God, he is to be worshipped according to his own mind. They are a part of the moral Law positive, not natural. It is natural there should be external worship; but what that is, is positive: for what reason can there be given for any part of God's worship? What reason in nature why Baptism or the Supper should be a service to God more than any thing else? only he commands them. 4. They are evangelical, things that have their use about Christ; and Christ is purely supernatural. There may be natural Theology, but no natural Christianity: therefore reason hath little to do in the things of God's worship. Object. But what power hath the Church? none at all? Sol. What she hath may be seen in the names given the Church. She is called the pillar of truth. 1 Tim. 3.15. So that she may as a pillar, hold up the truth in her practice, and maintain and defend it from errors and profaneness; she may keep the truth committed to her. Or she hath the power of a Spouse, to make known her Lord's mind and see it performed: Ephes. 5.23, 24 she hath power of service, dispensation, ministration, preservation, etc. but no lordly or legislative power. Object. Are there not some things indifferent, and in them the Church hath power? Sol. Suppose the Church rightly constituted, and she hath power: but that power is not in another; neither hath it power till the Church be a Church: the accident cannot subsist without the subject. But here will arise a double question. 1. What things are indifferent. 2. What power the Church hath in them. For answer to the first, we must know, that nothing that is religious is indifferent, but necessary, externals as well as internals; Religion requires the one as necessarily as the other. Those things that are indifferent and not religious, but in the power of the Church, may be reduced to three heads. 1. There be some natural circumstances which attend the worship of God, in respect of those natural actions employed in it, as speech, motion, which require circumstances of time, place; which the Church may order. 2. Civil circumstances. The congregation being a civil thing, though applied to a spiritual end, yet retains its civility, and so hath suitable circumstances, as a distinct place for meeting, decency and comeliness in utensils, table, cloth, cup, pulpit, and such like, which are in the power of the Church. These are more ordinary: but there are somethings 3. Extraordinary, such as concern not the things themselves, but something without, viz. the consciences of the weak, which occasioned some temporary commands in the Church, as forbearing of blood, etc. In these things the Church hath a power, but what? not perpetual, absolute, unlimited, but occasional, respective, and bounded by general Laws, and that during the occasion offered; which being removed things ought to cease, and the Church is free again. Which power is not so much of making Laws, but of wise instructing of us how to keep Laws already made. But how shall we discern between things religious and civil? Their nature and use will descry them: take in stead of many, these three rules. 1. Such things as are not competent to civil societies, nor ordinarily used in them, but of particular use in Religion, are religious. 2. Such as have been religious and appointed by God, or were religious if God should appoint them, are religious, as vestments in worship, orders of Priesthood and degrees, signs of internal and spiritual things: these are religious. 3. Such as do that which religious things do, that which God commands his ordinances to do, viz, teach, edify, instruct, confirm in grace, etc. Object. these are religions and only in God's power to assign them. Answ. The Apostle saith, Let all things be done decently and in order; doth not that give authority to ordain ceremonies? A text much abused with small reason. Know this text is a rule not of commanding, but of doing; a rule so general; and appliable to all particulars, as it is laid down to prevent further Laws. Let all things be done in order, that is, not new things commanded, but things commanded rightly placed, so that one doth not dash against another; and so order is opposite to confusion spoken of before in the chapter. And decently, that is the comeliness of that order, a comeliness that ariseth from things well set together, not borrowed or added beauty from other things, otherwais the Apostles did not serve the Lord comely that neglected these garbs, gestures and vestures. Thus you have this point cleared to the former, that no man hath power to alter, or add, or diminish any thing in the worship of God. I hope the point is sufficiently proved; let us now see what use we may make of it. Use 1 Let it persuade all men to embrace this truth. I know it is a persecuted truth, and hath been much maligned: The profane Esau's have had an evil eye at this Jacob, and have counted it a supplanter of their honours and great places, which is their blessing, and of their lordly priority, their birthright. They have pursued it so close that they have driven it almost out of the minds of good men. They have buried it under so much error and malice that it is almost forgotten: which shows their malice, that would not only deprive us of our privileges, but either corrupt or obliterate our Charter, and so prevent our claim for ever. But we hope, you that have freed them that suffered for truth, will not suffer truth itself to be imprisoned. It gins to spring forth, let it have favour and it will flourish. Give us leave to set it up in your souls. We know some have laboured to poison men's minds with false principles, and fill their heads with prejudices; but we hope you are ready to receive it with a love of it: I know it will be acceptable to a godly heart: Do not think government is not in Scripture, because you yet see it not: that were too much, to think our knowledge the rule of what is knowable, especially in a thing so much suppressed: but whatever have preoccupied your understandings, give me leave to expect what Paul did of the Corinthians in the same case, having the chef throw a bowl of rabbit droppings at your head Cor. 14.37. He that is spiritual will acknowledge that these things are the Commandments of the Lord. To remove jealousies, consider, That in all ages the Church hath her external policy 1. In Paradise, two Sacramental Trees. 2. In the infancy of the Church while the Church was within families, they had Sacrifices and a Priesthood, the firstborn. 3. When the Church grew to be a Commonwealth, and a subject fit for a Law of ordinances, he prescribed them a compl te form: In the Wilderness a worship apt, a moving Temple, a Tabet nacle; in Canaan a fixed house with holy things. This is 〈◊〉 pupillaris, Gal. 4.2. 4. There is aetas juvenilis, now under the Gospel, no more children, Eph●s. 4.14. all though in comparison of Heaven but a childhood; ● Cor. 3.11. and now we must expect a rule proportionable. Yea these must continue till the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, that aetas constans, that full stature, 〈…〉 19 for the Church hath no old age: but in Heaven there will be an eternal external glorious way of worship. If Christ had left humane reason his deputy to ordain ceremonies in the Church, the condition of the Church under the Gospel had been more slavish than the Church under the Law; for one ceremony of man's is worse than ten of Gods: man's darken and oppress the truth, Gods illustrate and clear it: but God hath promised our condition should be more ingenuous, Gal. 4.7. Christ should show but little love to the dear beloved of his soul to subject her to humane inventions. The Philosopher accounted the committing of a Commonwealth to man, a committing of it to beasts, in regard of their passions; but the committing of it to Laws he esteemed it a committing it to God and the Laws. And shall we think that Christ will leave his Spouse, his body, his beloved, his Church, where a Heathen would not leave a City? If this were not true, that Christ had laid down an exact rule, the Church would never know her load, never attain a settled estate. For if there were a liberty for men to add, it were a duty too; and so every Highpriest in his time would be careful to contribute something to the Church's benefit; and so though Christ lay no other burden, Rev ●. ●4. yet man might and would. If Christ have not prescribed a form, there will arise divisions, varieties, inconformities, for men would all set up their own way: One Bishop require one thing, and another forbidden it: We shall never have peace so long as this Jezabel of humane power in spiritual things and her whoredoms remain. If this be denied, Scripture will receive a blow: for Laws stand while they stand together; their power is in their authority, which is wounded when any one of them is violated. And we see by experience that those that deny the Scriptures to be the rule of discipline, have robbed them of much of their authority in other things, if not of all: for they set their own feet upon the neck of Scriptures, and will tie them to speak, not their own, but the Church's interpretation. Humane traditions will make the commandments of God of none effect: Matth. 15.6. wherever they are planted and suffered, they will draw much honour from the holy Scriptures. The contrary opinion derogates from the wisdom of Christ, that he should not see what would be good for the Church, or if he saw it, that he should not communicate it. Many arguments more might we bring to induce you to believe it, let these be sufficient: it is not a new truth, but a banished one returned, and a truth of very great consequence. Till Christ be restored to this his lost dignity, he will never rise, nor Antichrist fall. Use 2 Secondly, Christ hath left a rule for his worship in all things: here is work for you that God hath called to the weeding of his garden, the Church, to pull up every plant that our heavenly Father hath not planted. I speak to you whom God hath honoured with a power, and I hope blest with a will to do it. I know you are not ignorant that there are many things yet standing that never came into God's mind to command his Church. It is an act of greatest mercy to ease consciences of these burdens, humane impositions in divine things. God doth now with you as with Saint John, Rev. 11.1. He puts a reed into your hand to measure the Temple, he gives you the Scripture, a right measure; lay it to the work, and the outer court, all humane inventions, cast it out to the Gentiles, send them home to Rome from whence they came. What is not agreeable to this rule, reject it as having no light in it. Try all things, Isa. 8.20. and hold fast that which is good, separate the precious from the vile; and know in your work the rule of innovations is not man's Law, but Gods: all substructions and additions to Christ's rule, are truly innovations; against them must your zeal burn. Do as Hezekiah did, 2 Chron ●9. command the Levites to carry all the filth out of the Temple. Gather them that are faith full, and charge them as Constantinus Magnus did them of the Nicene Council, Deposit â omni hostili discordiâ, literarum divinitus inspiratarum, etc. that they should resolve all things in question by the word of God. To move you to this consider, It exceedingly provokes the wrath of God to see humane inventions stand by his own: he cannot endure Priests and Sacrifices not commanded. The idolatry threatened and so often punished in the Jews, was but false rites of worship, which yet caused war in their gates, sold them into the hands of their enemies. Especially he hates any new order of Priesthood not enjoined by himself. It was no less than death under the Law for any man to press upon the Priest's office without a call from God, Num. 18.3.7. and he hath executed what he threatened. Look upon the examples of his displeasure in Vazah and the men of Bethshemesh. 1 Chron. 13 7.10. And is not the office as sacred now as ever? yea the ministration is more glorious, and therefore every intrusion more dangeous. Num. 4.5.15. Yea if particular acts were so grievous and punishable, how much more a standing office which was never ordained of God; and Aaron whose rod never budded, that never had the Vrim and Thummim put upon him? They have made a breach in Israel, and if they be not broken off we may fear God will make a greater. Things set up by man, set up another Gospel, we see it by woeful experience in this Kingdom. Ga●. 1. Hundreds of congregations are constituted by humane Laws, and look after no more for their Religion then Canon an Law. To be a Minister is required no more but observance of Canon, and to be a Christian it is enough if he be regular, and observe the commands of the Church: neither will ever men look for a better till this be pulled down. They make men distaste the pure streams of divine truth. Humane institutions are carnal, easy, such as reach not the heart, and therefore much desired and doted upon, being our own, and suitable to our natures. The power of Religion, the spiritual things of God are above us, and require more of us to perform them, and therefore loathed by carnal hearts: therefore remove these as enemies of Christ, secretly drawing the hearts of the people from him. None such opposers of Christ as these Samaritans, who have mixtures of their own. They beget a thirst after more of them. A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump: Cal. 5.9. these left behind beget a desire of eating of Rome's fleshpots. You will never stop all passages of returning to Rome but by pulling down this bridge of humane impositions and superstructions yet standing. But a man may deal with them upon their own claim. They have hitherto stood as things convenient, things in themselves mutable and changeable; and as taken up upon good ground, so to be laid down again, (except prescription be a better) they never yet had any other title. And if they be added, by the same power, and upon the same reason, if they be found inconvenient and hurtful, they may be removed. Therefore if they be found inconvenient, I hope all men will yield them up: and that they are so appears in that, They are much distasted by some, and that by the best; witness the general Petitions that come to your hands from all parts for their removal. By them and your own experience you see they do as the sin of Elies' sons, cause the Lords Sacrifice to be abhorred: they trouble and offend the consciences of many. And however others (cruel Butchers of souls) are pitiless to men's consciences, you have learned with Paul, the high price of souls for which Christ died, and cannot but count one of those thousands of souls that are offended, of more worth than all that trash. They are as much adored by some, as distasted by others, made very Idols: never were there grosser Idols in Rome then these things as they are used by some; and what is abused to superstition, ought not to be retained. The brazen Serpent, though Gods own institution, when made an Idol, that could not warrant his standing. They that are zealous of God's glory will burn up what ever doth rob God of his honour. Crosses and Crucifixes not more abused by Papists, than some things now standing are abused by popishly affected Protestants. Upon these different affections what divisions will necessarily arise, if not prevented, yea what persecutions? We have felt the heat of their rage already: the bondwoman and her seed have persecuted the free woman and her seed, and worse ●ill be if they be not prevented. But if we should take away all, we should cast a blemish upon antiquity, and despise our Ancestors, holy Martyrs, that lived and died in a love and liking of those things we oppose. Sol. We injure them not, but give them all honour due to their learning and piety. To look no further than the reformers of our Church, we say, that what might be then tolerable, may be now superstitious and idolatrous. Paul circumcised Timothy, and yet after opposed it. And they that did at first tolerate these things, had they lived to see them abused, and the power of Religion thrust out by them, they would themselves have thrown the first stone at them. Beside, they have left their mark upon them, that they did but admit them for the present, and accounted the reformation imperfect because of them. But suppose they counted them good, yet the Apostle teacheth us to save the men and destroy their work, 1 Cor. 3.12. if it be hay or stubble, and will not endure the fire. And we may without arrogance think the Gospel hath gotten something in these fourscore years, there is some more clear light. They lived in the dawning of the day, we enjoy more light, that which succeeds us will be greater: and therefore it is no dishonour to them for us to proceed in a further reformation. Object. But corruptions flow not from the things themselves, but from persons abuse of them: the things may be good, if you teach men to use them well. Sol. The things themselves are a corruption. All humane inventions have a malignity in them, and smell of the fountain from whence they come. The wisdom of the flesh is enmity, and they cannot be otherwise that come of it. They will do mischief secretly or openly, i● not as Lions, yet as Foxes, many Laws will not prevent evil to be done by them, one will make them sure if it abolish them: better a Devil be cast out then tied up. Object. Another government may degenerate. Sol. Christ's government hath no corruption in it, no hidden things of dishonesty, 2 Cor. 4.2. no false end●, no deceitful 〈◊〉 come, it is sound. Men may swarve much under it, but hardly fundamentally decay till government be neglected. It is the pattern of wholesome words, it hath an active sanity in it, 2 Tim. 1.13. and if men decline they will not endure it. There is a great difference between humane Laws and divi●●mans Laws must be kept, the Magistrate is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, but God's Laws will keep the men. Object. To remove all not commanded would endanger the shaking of the whole frame of Religion. Sol. Fear not that: those things that are to be removed, Religion will stand the surer without them: they have little Religion in them, they are only riotous branches, grown out of the abundance of worldly policy and carnal affection; the Church may spare them as well as the body ill humours. They are heterogeneous to the truth, and like the clay in the feet of Nebuchadnezars image, it would not cleave to the iron: The spirit of judgement and burning that the Lord hath given to you, will separate the dross without damage to the gold. Object. But we shall shake our own Laws by it, and make a great breach in them. Sol. It is good to maintain humane right, but much more Gods. The Apostle argues so, Gal. 3.15. if a man may not add to a man's Testament, much less to Gods. It is good to maintain our Laws against all but God, who must keep us and our Laws too. The best way to keep a State is to purge it from sacrilege: if there be any thing of God's wound up with them, it may justly cause God to pick a quarrel with the whole. Keep God's Laws and God will keep yours. Observe this, all arguments for them are political, and they are but weak in divine things; therefore let them not move you to retain any thing against Christ's institution. Use 3 If there be a cure to be wrought on the Church, hear another reasonable motion, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Arist. polis. to cure according to the principles of Art, the word. Methinks Christians should make no doubt of this. Search the Scriptures, is always necessary, but then especially when we are at a loss and want truth, which is our condition. Here all good reformations have begun, Hezekiah's, Joseah's, Nehemiah's. Send to the Priests and Levites, and let them produce the Law. Therefore if you want a rule, we send you to the Law and Testimonies. Now we are to inquire, Isa. 8. non quid aliitante nos, sed quid ●aelestia testimonia quae a●te omnes. The Pharisees will fly to traditions, Cyprian. the Samaritans to their Fathers, but the voice of God is, to the Scriptures. When the Church of Corinth was corrupted, Joh. 4. Paul leads them to the institution of Christ. The Churches of Asia were lapsed, 1 Cor. 11. they have no other physic but, Harken what the Spirit saith to the Churches. And there is nothing to be done now but searching the Scriptures and holding forth that light that is in them, and promoting the practice of it. The work is great, let not God have cause to complain when you have done, Isa. 30.1. you look counsel, but not of me. Use 4 Let me persuade you a step higher, to set up the government of Christ. It is a work God hath called you to, and an honourable one, to build the Lords Temple, and to encourage others in it to set him up an house. We have been in Egypt; what God said to Pharaoh as an enemy, he entreats you as friends, Let my people go● that they may serve me. We have served our taskmasters, and they have served their lusts of us; let us now serve the Lord. Set yourselves cheerfully to the work, you will meet with difficulties, but the reward will answer your pains. 1. Do this and you shall be assured of God's perpetual presence. This is the mount in which he hath said he would dwell for ever; and manifold are the promises that God hath annexed to it. 2. By this means you will whither Popery at the roots. Set up this wall of discipline and it will keep out Antichristian errors. Take Christ's materials to build a Church with, and venomous beasts will not endure to dwell in it. 3. Truth and righteousness shall flourish: it is a fruitful soil, they that are planted in the Courts of God's house shall bring forth much fruit in their old age. 4. The way to Heaven will be more comfortable, easy, and short. It hath much of Heaven in it. 5. Hereby Christ will be honoured, the Church flourish, Religion increase and grow, when the Lords mountain is exalted above every mountain, Isa. 2.2. then shall Nations flow unto it. It will have so much order, beauty, and glory in it, as it cannot but prevail and win where ever it cometh. Honoured Senators, It hath been often tendered to the Parliament and refused, but never so hopefully as now, when the Father of Spirits hath sent in the spirits of the people to help you. It is God's opportunity, and therefore embrace it, and your reformation will succeed as Hezekiahs'. The Lord prepared the hearts of the people, 2 Chron. 29. ult. and the work was done suddenly. As the work will be easy, so the guilt great if refused. But never yet did any government challenge jus divinum but this, and therefore it is dangerous receiving it. We should not expect that any should refuse it for this reason, because it is Christ's. Shall we take the advantage of Christ's absence so as to disclaim him, and say as the Citizens in his absence, we will not have this man to rule over us: but our King comes, and then what shall be done to such? The Heathens did all they could to challenge jus divinum; and to honour their Laws, would pretend they came from the gods, and shall we refuse that which comes in the name of the Lord? Rather at the first hearing of such a mercy as a government of Christ, search, seek earnestly for it. For every line of truth that comes from Christ is full of his blood, every piece of this building is full of divine excellency, and therefore we should count every dust of it Gold and precious. What can any man say against the yoke of Christ? he saith himself it is easy, and his burden is light. God offers a Jubilee, and if we love not freedom, it is just with God to boar our ears and keep us servants for ever. Object. There be variety of opinions, there be divisions amongst men that challenge a government of Christ's institution. Sol. It is no wonder, considering the darkness that we have been kept in. God brings back our captivity as the rivers of the South, and we are as men that dream, our thoughts angles and 〈◊〉 counter. We have not yet had leave to talk of discipline. When we have more light, and may see each others faces and thoughts, we doubt not but we shall consent quickly. I dare prophecy as Paul, Phil. 3.15.16. If any man be otherwise minded, the Lord shall reveal even this unto him. There is no argument can be good against this truth, and therefore practise it. I dare not charge you to do it, but a greater hath, Paul, and in him Jesus Christ, 1 Tim. 6.14. It concerns all that profess Christ to the end of the world, till Christ's coming, and therefore you. The command he speaks of is this of discipline especially, and therefore not easily wiped off. I give thee charge in the sight of God who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession, that thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. I know the great affairs of Church and Commonweal lie heavy upon you, take the encouragement this text affords. For this part Christ offers his shoulders to bear the burden. God laid it there, you need do no more but take care to lay it there tod. He hath been wonderful in bringing you together, and will do wonders by you. If you see yourselves to do it, ●eare not want of advice, he will be your Counsellor; nor strength to go through with your work, he will be a mighty God unto you; nor encouragement, he will be your everlasting Father, and give you a place in his house better than of sons and daughters. Christ will rule in peace, and oppression shall be far from us; Christ shall be our King for ever: and happy are the people that are in such a case. If you are not so zealous as to do it, we are sure the zeal of the Lord of Hests will perform this. FINIS.