SERM. XIV.

YOu have heard what is to be vnderstood by this expression of a Church. The true Doctrine about this being so necessary, I shall further in∣large my self, not entring into the whole Common-place of a Church: for that would be too prolix, and ere this Epistle be ended, we may hap∣pily meet with more Texts, that may afford further knowledge in this point. Only I shall after the popular definition of a Church, give you the Notes, or Marks, whereby we may come to know, what is, or where is the true Church. For this hath been a great controversie between Papists, and us.

There are indeed some of late, as the Remonstrants Episcopius, &c. * who say, This dispute and enquiry about the marks of a Church, is wholly uselesse and needlesse. For (say they) either we have to do with an Infi∣del, or a Believer; if with an Infidel, it is absurd to tell him of the Notes of a Church, who doth not believe there is any such thing as a Church at all. And for a Believer, he is in the Church already, and so they are use∣lesse to him. But this is meerly frivolous. For

1. When we have to do with an unbeliever, we must not in the first place * deal with him about a Church, to prove that we are the true Church, but that there is a God, who is to be worshipped, as natural light will convince of this. Then, that this God hath made known how he will be worship∣ped. Next, that the Scriptures do contain this revealed will of God. And when this foundation is •aid, then out of Gods Word we are to inform Page  59 him of a Church. So that in order, there is, first, The Word of God to be discovered: 2. What is the true sense and meaning of it. Lastly, That what society hath this, there is a true Church. And

Secondly, Even Heathens by hearing of the Word preached, have by the Grace of God been converted, and so the Word preached, which was at first instrumental to convert them, doth afterwards by way of a sign or mark, confirm them therein. The Apostle tells us of an unbeliever, coming into Church-meetings, who is so wrought upon, that he crieth out, Verily God is here, 1 Cor. 14. 25.

And as to the Believer the notes of a Church are necessary, for the fur∣ther confirming and establishing of him. For seeing that every Party or Sect saith, They are the true Church, and with them onely is Communion to be had, condemning other meetings, as false, as the Synagogue of Satan, and as necessarily damning all those that continue in that Communion differ∣ent from them: It is thereby of great use, that we should have such Notes or Marks, to conclude that where such are, certainly there is a Church; for we are not to be Scepticks or Seekers. When the Scripture commands us, To tell the Church, Mat. 18. To conjoyn our selves to the Church of God, it plainly intimateth, that such a Society may be known. Even as there was a Star to guide the Wisemen unto Christ.

In the second place, There are three things necessary to make a Note, or a * Mark of a Church.

• 1. It must be more known than the thing it self.
• 2. It must be proper and peculiar to that thing alone, of which it is a Note. For if it be common to others, it cannot be a Note. Sense is not a Note of a man, because it's common to a beast. And

Lastly, It must be inseparable. For if it doth not alwayes agree to it, then we cannot tell how to discern that we look for.

Now for such Notes of the Church, the Protestants say, there are these three * only.

• 1. The pure preaching of the Word, with the publick receiving and professing of it.
• 2. The right and orderly administration of the Sacraments.
• 3. The due use of holy Order and Discipline. Where these things are, there we may conclude, that certainly Gods true Church is, and with such a Society we may lawfully joyn.

Thirdly, Only when we give these three Notes, we do not make all of the same equal necessity. Discipline and holy Order is for the well-being of a Church. This Church of Corinth was a Church, though that was neglected. It is true, this is greatly to be pressed for, and the introducing of Christs order into a Church, is like the bringing of the Ark into Obed-Edoms family. So that with∣out this, manifest impiety being suffered, God will be so highly provoked, as to give a Bill of Divorce to it, and take away his Gospel from such an unworthy, people; yet this is not made essential to the being of a Church. So also the ad∣ministration of Sacraments. There was a time, when the Church had none, viz. before Circumcision was appointed; but since Christs appointment of them, there they ought to be used, where the way and manner he hath appointed can be attained. For the dispensers of those holy Mysteries must take heed, That they give not pearl to swine, nor encourage prophane men in their impieties, by giving them the testimonies of Gods love, whom yet he abhorreth. There∣fore that which is infallibly necessary, and alwayes accompanying a true Church, is the preaching of the Word in a right manner, with the publick receiving and profession of this. I adde, the publick profession; because the Word may be purely taught to a people, who yet are not the Church, because they do Page  60 refuse and reject the Gospel tendred to them, as the Jews did, and ma∣ny Heathens; so that there must be a manifest and publick profession of it. And besides the true preaching of the Word is only a sign of a true Mini∣ster, not of a true Church, unless they give their consent thereunto. So that when our Divines say, The pure preaching of the Word is a Note of the Church; They include and suppose the publick receiving of it by the peo∣ple; yea some do clearly expresse it. By this pure and true preaching of the Word, we may discern the true Church from Jewes and Pagans, as also from Heretical and Idololatrical Societies, yet pretending to a Church.

Fourthly, When these Notes, especially the former, are said to be pro∣per and inseparable to the Church of God: You must alwayes remember here is a latitude in the application of these Notes. For some Churches may have the Word more soundly preached, and the Sacraments more dispensed than another, and yet for all that not to be denied to be Churches. This Church of Corinth was foully out of order: And so most of those Church∣es in Asia were sharply reproved, yet they did not cease to be a Church. Yea the Church of Israel had many corruptions both in worship and life, yet it was a long while ere God did cast her off. So that we must not for some defilements either in the Doctrine, Worship or Manners of a Church, presently deny her to be a Church, and separate from her, for this is against Scripture information. Yea, there is no Church so perfect, but needeth some Reformation. They may build hay and stubble, though they keep the foundation. So that he must go out of the world, that would live in a Church, where nothing is amiss. Even that Church of Smyrna the Apostle mention∣eth, Revel. 2. 8. that was as her Name, signifying sweet smelling, and fragrant like a Garden, or bed of Spices, yet she was troubled with some, who said, They were Jews, but were not, but were of the Synagogue of Satan. But of this more, when we come to the next Doctrine.

Fifthly, These then being the visible Marks of a visible Church, we must not confound them with the properties of the Church invisible. The Church of God hath as it were a two-fold Form; one Internal and Essential, which con∣sists in their Union with Christ, and communion with his benefits. Now none but those that are truly godly are of the Church in this invisible manner, he must be regenerated and graffed into Christ, that can have any saving benefit by Christ. But then,

2. The Church of God hath an External and outward Form, which consists in the external profession of faith, and observance of Christs Ordinances. Now a man may be of the Church in respect of this outward standing, though he be not truly godly. Therefore D^r Ames said well, That it was a false thing, which Bellarmine objected to us, about the constitution of a Church; as if we required internal graces, to the making of a man a member of the Church, in respect of the visible state of it. We read in the New Testament, that upon the outward profession of their faith, they were baptized, and re∣ceived into the Church, though it's plain all of them had not true internal grace. So then, when the Question is put, Whether may a man that is not truly godly, be of the Church or no? You must distinguish between the in∣ward form of the Church, which is union with Christ the Head, and so he is not, no more than a wooden leg is a member of the body, that is not ani∣mated by the soul, and the External visible state of it, and so he is of the Church, till by his obstinacy in wickedness, he be cast out as unworthy. We must not therefore give those Notes of the Church as visible, which belong to it only as invisible, viz. Election, Vocation, and Justification, &c.

Sixthly, The Papist to avoid this extream, he giveth such Marks of a Page  61 Church, as savour rather of worldly ambition and pride. Yea the true Church of God many times is known by the contrary Marks; they give amplitude and universality, as also temporal felicity. Now this is rather a Description of some worldly Monarchy than Gods Church. For, as for the Churches am∣plitude, though absolutely in it self, it may be sometimes numerous, yet at other times it hath been brought into a narrow compasse. Elijah thought none was left, and God speaks of but seven thousand that did not how the knee to Baal, which was a very inconsiderable number to the Idolaters. Therefore respectively to the wicked of the world, even when they are most ample, they are but a little flock. And as for any glorious felicity, though the Church of God hath sometimes had her respite and halcyon dayes, yet for the most part a crown of thorns hath been on her head; and therefore she is justly called, the Militant Church, while in this world, because of her spiritual conflict with all sorts of enemies. So that the Church of Christ may sometimes say, as Christ once did, The Foxes have their holes, and the Birds of the air their nests, but the Sonne of man hath not where to lay his head. Thus the Foxes of the world, the crafty subtil men have great abundance many times, when the Church hath hid her self in the wilder∣nesse. And Fowls of the air, men of proud and lofty minds, have their nests; when the Church like Noah's Dove, hath not where to set her foot.

Seventhly, I shall not enlarge my self to prove these only to be the pro∣per Notes of the Church, only consider that place, Act. 2. 41, 42. where you have all of them conjoyned together: 1. They received the Word gladly. There is a solemn profession of it. 2. There is the administration of the Sa∣craments; They were baptized, and continued in breaking of bread, with prayers. There is the solemn calling upon God. And as an epitomizing of all this it's said, Then were added unto the Church about three thousand souls. Thus 1 Tim. 3. 15. the Church is called, The pillar and foundation of the truth, that is, by the Ministeries preservation of it, and the peoples submitting unto it.

Lastly, If to this it be objected, as Socinians do, who hold this way of Notes to find out a Church, to be useless and vain, That true Doctrine cannot be a sign of the Church, because it's the Form and Essence of it. Now * that which notifieth the essence of a thing, must be distinct from it. To this it is answered, That the form, as it giveth being to a thing, so it gi∣veth to distinguish from others, Forma dat esse, & distingui. Although we do not say, True Doctrine is the Note of a Church, but the external preaching, and receiving of it, that is a Note, incurring into our senses: Even as Reason, though it give a man his rational being, yet speaking is the proper and true sign, that manifests this: So let true Doctrine, or a true faith be the soul and life of a Church, yet the external profession is the outward Note and Sign of it. And if further it be said, That every Sect doth claim to it self the pure preaching of the Word, and the right ad∣ministration of Ordinances; Therefore these cannot be a sign. It's an∣swered, The consequence is denied, for true preaching and confession is a sign, although Hereticks pretend thereunto. As true Miracles were a sure Argument to prove the truth, although others have done, and Antichrist will pretend to true Miracles. And indeed, though all Sects, as the Socini∣ans especially, pretend much to the Scripture, yet it is not the words on∣ly, but the sense of it, that is by the Context and Scope to be discovered, that is the word of God. Therefore Irenaeus of old said elegantly, That Hereticks making the Scripture to speak what sense they pleased, did as if a man should take the Statue, or Image of a King, and so transpose the Page  62 parts of it, as to make it the image of a Dog, or some other vile thing.

These things concluded on, let us draw some Uses by way of Corolla∣ries. As

1. In that the holy Ghost is pleased to appropriate this Word in the New Testament to his people, which among the Heathens signifieth the meaner sort of people; for that they called Ecclesia, and it was opposite to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, the Senate, which consisted of more noble men. Hence we may see, who they are that are most commonly called to be of his Church, even the mean∣er sort, Not many rich, not many noble hath God called, 1 Corinth. 1. We should not despise the Church of God, if it be not so externally pompous and glorious as Kingdoms and States. For Christ is more peculiarly present with his Church, and shed his bloud for that.

2. That if we speak properly, the Church is not a material place, not this building of stones and wood, but the people of God meeting there. Indeed it may tropically be well enough, called a Church, as Synagogue is applied to the place, He built us a Synagogue, whereas properly it signifieth the peo∣ple meeting together, as you heard. Thus Concio amongst the Latines, sig∣nifieth both the place, and the company met together. Bellarmine would have the word to signifie a place, 1 Cor. 11. as also where it is said, Let the woman keep silence in the Churches. And those learned men Fuller and Mede ex∣pound it so in 1 Cor. 11. But there is no necessity of such Interpretation. But though the Scripture doth not call it so, we may by a Trope give it that name, and use must authorize in these things. Though Ifidore Pelusiota in one of his Epistles, sharply reproving a Bishop, that adorned the mate∣rial place with Images and Ornaments, but neglected the Church of God, the true professours he persecuted, doth call the people 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the place 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

Lastly, Is it a Church, a company called by God? Then this sheweth of what consequence Unity and Concord is amongst all the Members thereof. How can a body be kept together without ligaments and nerves? How can the building stand, if the wood and straw be not aptly fastned and cement∣ed together? How can the Church subsist, if there be not Love, Union and Concord? It's observable, Phil. 4. 2. that the Apostle thought it not too low a thing, even in canonical Scripture, to intreat two women that were at difference to be of the same mind, I beseech Euodias, I beseech Syntyche, that they be of one mind. Two godly women differing, the Apostle doth passionately intreat reconciliation and agreement, how much more then would he have intreated the Pastors and Officers in the Church, to take heed of discord?