A chronological discourse touching, 1 The Church. 2 Christ. 3 Anti-Christ. 4 Gog & Magog. &c. The substaunce whereof, was collected about some 10. or 11. yeares since (as may be gathered by an epistle prefixed before a tractate, called, The visible Christian) but now digested into better order; and first published, by the author himselfe, H. Cl.

CHAP. iiij. (Book 4)

Touching Church-people. (Book 4)

THe word Ecclesia or Church, doth somtimes in∣tend, the* 1.1 whole mysticall Body of Christ Iesus, contayning not onely such Christians as be here Milita•••• (that is fighting against the Di••el, world, and flesh) but also that part of the holy Armie; which hauing in the last act of life trod Satan vnder foote, are now in Heauen, Triumphant.

In some good sense, the good Angels (* 1.2 Our Fellow-seruants, and of our Brethren the Prophets) may be put into the Churches Albe: But seeing by Church, we properly vnderstand Mankind (with whose nature, he hath Com∣municated, * 1.3 not with that of Angels) I therefore in this

Discourse must so be vnderstood.

And passing by the triumphant Church, as they haue passed from the Sanctum here, to the Sanctum sanctorum a∣boue; we are to consider this Militant Church, as it is Knowen to God, or, as it is Knowen to Vs. As it is knowen to God, so* 1.4 The Lord (not we) doth know who are his. And in that sense, the Church is to vs inuisible, or vnseeable. As it is knowen to vs, so it is like vnto* 1.5 Noahs Arke, contai∣ning not onely a reuerend Shem, but an hollow-hearted Cham; not onely Beastes cleane, but also vncleane. Or it is like to the Tabernacles Sanctum, where were not only holy oblations but also some ashes and light-snufs, which were to be cast out of the Sanctam.

Againe, this Militant Church, is to be considered, not onely in the Whole, for which it is called in our Creede, The Catholique Church, but also in the parts, whereof eue∣ry Society is termed a Communion of Sa••••tes. By which phrase, the Brownist vnderstandeth ordinarily, a Society of People Really Sanctified for the whole, testified in obedience to the whole of Gods will reuealed. Such a Communion can they finde me one? In Adams few, it was not so. In Noahs Eight, it was not so. With Rebec∣ca••s. Twins, it was not so. With Israels Conuention it was not so. With Iudahs assemblies, it was not so. With Christs Twelue, it was not so. With Corinths Church it was not so. Fiue of Asiaes seauen Churches, were not so. And as for 〈◊〉〈◊〉 & Philadelphia, they be praised for the Generall of their obedience, not for euery particular: for, * 1.6 In many things (as the Holy Ghost witnesseth) we sinne all.

That the Catholike Wheate-field or Church (euen Christs possession through the World; For by World there is intended the Earths Largenes, as in Psa. 2. 8. that in it should be Weedes, yea, inseperable Weedes, our Sa∣uiour teacheth in Math. 13. from which parable may be

obserued.

1 That it is the* 1.7 Kingdome of Heauen (neuer taken in the ill part, as some times the word World is) which is there compared.

2 That the seed of the Kingdome, is sowen through the World.

3 That in the midst of that good seed, the Tares be sowen; and not without the Church, as some Schisma∣tikes would.

4 That such euill is sowne, when Christs seruants are a sleepe: into the midst of Gods temple, the aduersary so got.

5 The Seruants awaking, see these personall Euils keeping-vnder the personall Good. And therefore the euill ones visible, euen as visible as the Wheate, and not onely Hypocrites, as some badly haue taught.

6 A purgation of all such Visible euill, cannot with the Churches good be made, till the Lord in the worlds end do come vnto iudgment. And therefore meane time to be permitted, which without rending the church, can∣not be seuered. That for the estate of the Church Catholique.

That a Particular Church, is no more priuiledged then the Totall or vniuersall, must necessarily follow; for that Sathan (as an enuious man) sowes his Tares) Ana méson tou sitou) euen through the middest of that Wheate; his malice being no lesse against the partes, then the whole: as may appeare in Reuel. 12. where not preuailing against that Woman, hee goes and warres with the remnant of her seed. And no maruaile it be so, seeing euery parti∣cular person still sinneth, whereupon still that petition is in force, Forgiue vs our trespasses. In which respect also it is,* 1.8 that in Leuiticus is appoynted sacrifice, both for the whole Congregation erring, and for the partes of that whole;* 1.9 as Priest, Prince, People. So Gregories Decretall

concludes: Iudicium D••••veritat•• quae non fallit, nec fallitu••, s••••pe•• i••nititur. Iudicium autem Ecclesiae 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Opinionem sequitur, quam & fallere saepe contingit & fallj •• propter quod contingit interdum, vt qui ligatus est apud Deum, apud Ecclesi∣am si•• so••utus; & qui liber est apud Deum, ecclesiastica sit sen∣tentia innodatus.

Particular Congregations, are therefore called Com∣munions of Saints, or Holy-ones; not because they all Really and indeed be such; but for that they be called to be such; as also haue vndergone the outward Signes and Meanes of sanctitie or holines: Heereupon. Israel became an* 1.10 Holy-nation, though not al of them indeed holy. So Israel (after the Schisme from Iudah) is called Gods sonne, and Gods people, and yet the most of them turners aside to grosse Idolatry, which (of all sinnes) di∣uorceth frō God. So the Corinths are Saints by calling, & yet amongst thē grieuous kinds of sinners, both against Faith and good Manners. This I speake not (as the Schis∣matique raileth) for iustifiing faults, but for iustifying the Churches true-being, notwithstanding such faults.

Let the Schismatique looke into himselfe, let him search into the meanders and turninges of his heart; and then let me see, if he can say vnto God, My heart is cleane; there is no spot in mee. If he be of the minde, whereof one in Lyn-regis was, that Dauid did lie of himselfe, when he sayd to the Lord, I was borne in iniquitie, &c. then I will say to sir Schismatique as I sayd to him; I am too lowe, to talk with one that is so hie. Or as Constantine the great, vnto the Nouatian Bishop Acesius,* 1.11 Prouide thee a Ladde••, (ô pure Puritane) and thy selfe aione climbe vp into heauen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Coloss. 1. 18. 20.
• * 1.2

  Reue. 22. 9.
• * 1.3

  Hebr. 2. 16.
• * 1.4

  2. Tim 2. 19.
• * 1.5

  Beda. on Rom. 8. from Aug. on S. Iohn. 6. compares it so, for the Doue and Rauen.
• * 1.6

  Iames. 3. 2. 1. King. 8. 46.
• * 1.7

  Quid Regnū caelorū in nouo testamento, nempe, ecclesia fidelium. Zuingl. in expos. eius. artic. 34.
• * 1.8

  Leuit. 4.
• * 1.9

  Decretal. v. 5. cap. 28.
• * 1.10

  Exod. 19. 6.
• * 1.11

  Socrat. schol. l 1. ca••. 10.