CHAP. VI.

BEfore I examine Mr. H. his Reasons, take notice of what * Mr. H. saith, which may conduce to this:

The Keys and power (saith Mr. H.) must be given to a single society, i. e. to a sort and condition of men under some special re∣lation, To thee will I give, &c. as to a single society, not to them.

Ans. That the Keys must be given to a single; that is, ac∣cording to Mr. H. his sense, to a single Independent congrega∣tion onely, that they may exercise Jurisdiction onely within themselves, and that all others, though as free Churches as it, are 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, without is never proved by Mr. H. nor gives he •s a pattern of such a Church Independent in Jurisdiction.

2. His Argument, Because it is said, To thee, as a single so∣ciety,*not to them, is naught: Did not the Lord give, in Peter, the Keys to the twelve Apostles, and to six or ten sundry socie∣ties in Ierusalem? but they were one Church; so the combined Elders in a Presbytery is but one single society: yea but saith he, they are many Churches. Ans. They are, and may be but four societies meeting in four sundry places, and scarce all eight Page  341 hundred, and therefore a more single society than eight thou∣sand and above, which Mr. H. saith made but one congrega∣tional Church of Ierusalem: And is not the society of a Sy∣nod Provincial or National, one single society also by this ac∣count?

2. Let the Reader judge how our brethren use the word *Church, as Kid leather stretching it in and out at their pleasure, as it serves best for their turn, for here the single society capable of the Keys, is a new male Church of redeemed ones.

Also consider but the first proposition.

1. These words, The instituted Church of Christ in the Go∣spel,*to which Christ hath comm•tted the Keys, the power of bind∣ing and loosing, the seals, officers, are most ambiguously set down, and can hardly bear truth either in a passive or an active sense: for its false that the Keys passively are not committed to wo∣men, for they must be bound and loosed, and have the Seals and Tables of the Covenant, as well as men.

2. In an active sense, its false, that to women, understanding children, the dispensing of Censures, Seals and Tables are committed.

3. The power of the Keys are not committed to the Church instituted, as to the proper subject, but onely by those pious Authors, to a limb or wing of it, the male redeemed are never called, The instituted Church of the New Testament.

4. And how the seals are given to the male▪ Church as to the * subject, when they want Pastors, I see not: The Tables and Seals are given to men and women redeemed, as the end and object for their salvation and edification.

5. So they are given to Pastors, Doctors, Elders, Deacons, to all visible Saints, but in the intention of God, to all Rulers and ruled, men and women, not as meer visible professors (for God intends no such thing to a meer Magus, to whom agrees the complete essence of a visible member) but as invisible and chosen ones.

6. Nor is it either didactick or suitable to a Systeme of Church-policy, That the administration of all Christs publick Worship and Ordinances, is committed to a company of believers, for the active administration of Baptism and the Lords Supper, Page  342 and of the preached Word, is not committed to unofficed bre∣thren, or to women, who are members of this instituted Church of the Gospel; otherwise in a passive sense all are to partake of the Worship and Ordinances, according as their capacity is: but how the male-Church void of pastors can receive them, I know not.

7. I say not much, that its not Grammar to say that this Church is a communion of Saints: A community it is, which word is in our language a Concrete.

8. That its a combination of Saints meeting for that end (to partake of the Ordinances) by common and joynt consent into one congregation, is ut erly unsound; for as this is a delineation of * a New Testament Church-Assembly, to pa•take of the Ordi∣nances, so it makes it contrary to the institution of a Church under the Gospel, to members of another congregation to meet, to partake of pastoral preaching or seals in a Church, whereto they never gave common and joynt consent, as never being in∣churched members thereof; yea, and all of another congrega∣tion by this reason hear the Word in that forreign congrega∣tion, not as visible Saints, but as Pagans, and such as are with∣out. And its as strongly concludent against hearing in another congregation than their own, as against Church-rebukes, and (as our Brethren teach) Church judging, and admonishing be∣tween brother and brother: for as there is indeed a providen∣tial necessity of partaking of pastoral preaching and seals in an∣other congregation than the members own; so is there the same soul-necessity of the like rebuking and gaining of a bro∣ther, Mat. 18. 15. If the trespass be committed in another con∣gregation, * and be private as yet, as if it were done in the offen∣ders own congregation, except it can be proved that from Mat. 18. Christs minde is, if a brother of another congregation fall in a pit to the hazard of his salvation, I should let him perish there, I am not his keeper as touching any Church-remedy for gaining, according to Mat. 18. which sure we cannot do to our enemies ox, if he fall in a pit; yea, and there is as great, if not a greater necessity, to use the remedy of rebuking, Mat. 18. to gain him when he falls in a spiritual ditch in another congrega∣tion, as to preach pastorally, and to tender the Lords Supper Page  343 to him in another congregation, and as the Bread in the Lords * Supper (say our brethren with Mr Cot.) is one Bread, and a seal of our communion with the Lord Iesus; but also of our communion with his members not only of our own Church, but of all the Chur∣ches of the saints: so we are to gain our brethren by admoniti∣on, teaching rebuking, by Matth. 18 not only as they are members of the single independent body congregational, but of the whole Catholick body, 1 Cor. 12. 16. for whether one member suff•r, all the members suffer with it, or one member be honoured, all the members rejo•c• with it. And Rom 12. 4, 5. com∣pared with verse 15. for there is one Body (visible) one Spirit, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of all, Eph. 4. 4 5. and one body Catholick, into which all are baptized, Jewes and Gentiles, 1 Cor 12. 12, 13.

8. It is false that there is no Church which Christ in his Gospel hath instituted—but a particular visible Church, that meets in one place all of them: for Christ hath sanctified and clensed with the washing of water by the word, a Catholick Church, which he shall present as a glorious Church, without spot or wrinkle, Eph. 5. 25, 26, 27. and perfected body (visible) when we all meet in the unity of faith, Eph 4. 11, 12, 13.

9. That this instituted Church is to meet together all of them,*even the whole Church for the administration of the holy ordinan∣ces of God, to publick edification, 1 Cor. 14. 27. is a manifest de∣barring of Infants born within the visible Church, from being members of that Church, which Christ in his Gospel hath institu∣ted, &c. for they are neither capable of convening in one place every Lords day, nor of publick edification by prophecying, as is meant. 1 Cor. 14. 23. cited by them. How they defend Infant-Baptism, who make them incomplete and unconfirmed mem∣bers, let them see; the learned, pious, and grave Assembly at Westminster provided better, that particular visible Churches members of the general Church were made up of visible Saints, viz. of such as being of aged professed faith in Christ, and obed•ence to Christ, according to the rule of faith and life, taught by Christ, and his Apostles, and of their Children, Act. 2. 38, 41. Act. 2. v▪ ult. compared with Act. 5. 14, &c. There is not one word of In∣fants in this large discription of instituted Churches of the Go∣spel, Page  344 and to it, in all, the Anabaptists subscribe, yea, the seven Churches have, upon the matter the same description of the vi∣sible * Church, without one word of Infants.

Mr. H. That Church is here, Matth. 16. meant, which is built*upon the Rock Christ, by the visible confession of Peter, as expli∣cated immediately before; but the invisible Church is not built by a visible profession, such as Peters was. The second part of the assumption is clear by the opposition between visibility and invisibi∣lity. The proposition is proved by the meaning of the words, Thou hast made a confession of my selfe a Rock, and therefore are called〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and upon my self so confessed, will I build my Church.

Ans. The proposition is not true in his sense, the assumption most false, the conclusion both untrue and unjustly exprest: for the visible single congregation is not here meant, and I will build my Church congregational, in its frame, upon the Rock by this*confession. Except Mr. H. the place had no Author, no Divine, or any other for this sense, so destructive to the text. Therfore there hath been some trepidation of mind upon the pious man. Af∣ter many thoughts (saith he) floating in my mind, what might be the meaning of our Saviour, &c. And after many thoughts, he could not find a way to answer Mr. R. his Arguments, but by a Popish Exposition, for B•llarm. lib. 3. De Eccles. c. 13. brings this place to prove that the visible Church shall never fall a∣way. So the Jesuites of Rhemes, 1 Tim. 3. 15. cites the same place. D. Fulk answers, every true Christian is builded on the same Rock, which is Christ. So Cornel. à L•p. Matth. 16. the visible Church cannot erre: To the proposition Mr. H. yeel∣ded. That the Church to whom the Keyes are given, may receive Page  345 the Keyes by the intervening of an hypocritical confession, or profes∣sion of Christ, such as is in Judas and Magus. So the propositi∣on is false, to wit, that Church is here meant which is built up∣on the Rock Christ, by the visible confession of Peter so explicated; for it is explicated to be a visible confession.

1. Sometimes true, sometimes hypocritical.

2. Sometimes it is expounded to be the confession onely of the male-Church, excluding women.

3 Of the male Believers of a single Church void of Pastors: while the world stands, such a visible confession as may be false, and lying is no means of Christ to build the Church of men and women so upon the Rock Christ, as they shal persevere in saving * saith; so as the gates of Hell, and the temptations of the World, the Devil and the Flesh shall never prevail against them. The only internal and effectual way of building men upon the Rock, is the sincere real believing on Christ, coming from the revelation of the Father of Christ, Mat. 16. 17. And the exter∣nal building upon the Rock, is by the preached Gospel; this is also Popish, for by a lying profession none are builded upon the Rock Christ.

2 The Scripture makes being builded upon the Rock, all one with being builded upon God, the Rock of salvation. So the door of the Word is the house built upon the Rock, Matth. 7. 24. the spouse is the Dove that dwells in the clifts in the Rock, in the secret places of the Stairs, Cant. 2. 14. for which see the Interpre∣ters in the margin: the believing Ephesians are by saith built upon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets, as lively stones, Christ being the chief corner stone, and made the habitation of God, not through visible profession, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, by the spirit, Eph. 2. 21, 22.

3. It may make any to tremble, to see pious men do such vi∣olence to the word, for he tells us this or that particular con∣gregation may fall away, but the universal congregation, or Church, Page  346 existing in the particular Churches falls not away. Orthodox Di∣vines,*and Mr. R. grants that the visible Church doth not fall. The just contrary is taught by our Divines, that the Catholick Church shall never fall away; but there was a time when Elias complained, he only was left; The Council of Selencia and Arminium condemned the Nicene faith: Hieronymus, as also Hila•ius complain, that the Arrian heresie had overspread all the World, and that mountains, woods, lakes and prisons, in which the Prophets mourned, were more safe then the towns. Bellar. Valentia, Stapleton, Azorius, say the Church is ever visible, as a City on a mountain, D. Fulk answers the Jesuites of Rhemes, Calvin, Willet, and ours say, that the Catholick Church all the world over can never totally fail, because they are by faith builded upon the Rock, but that the frame of a particul•r congregation Independent, is a building upon the Rock Christ, never man dreamed▪ and that the gates of Hell cannot prevail against the visible frame of a single congregati∣on, is wild Divinity.

4. Calvin, Swinglius, Bucer, Marlorat, Pareus on this place, *Perkins De praedestinatione, D. Twisse extend this to all belie∣vers, of whom (saith Calvin) Singuli sunt Dei Templa, Every one is the Temple of God. Now it is clear, that the building on the Rock, signifieth the building of persons in the faith, not of the society, as a visible society and frame external: hence all who are builded on the Rock Christ by a firme faith, do trust in God, and can say, 1 Sam. 2. 2. Neither is there any Rock like our God, and so every single man so built, may say, God is my Rock, Psal. 18. 2. It is often a title of God himself (saith Ainswer t) Psal. 18. 13 46. Blessed be my Rock, Psal. 92. 16. Deut. 32. 4, 18, 30, 31. Psal. 71. 3. Psal. 42. 9. Ps. 62. 7. 2. He only is my Rock and my Salvation, the Rock of Israel, 2 Sam. 23. 3. Now how ordinary is it, that God is the Rock of his Saints? and insolent and dry when Mr. H. must say, my God is the Rock of this institution of a single independent frame? And whereas Page  347 persons are set upon a Rock, that this new institution is builded * upon the Rock by the hand of Christ; and whereas persons are tempted by the ports of Hell, but being upon their Rock they are kept, to say institutions are tempted, but being upon their Rock, they are kept, is new and insolent Divinity. If it be said, the persons are built by Christ in this Church-frame of In∣dependency, they believing and professing sincerity, it is almost the same.

For then 1. the persons in the very frame are kept in the * frame, so that the ports of Hell shall not demolish the visible frame, they sincerely believing; but since the promise is made to all that sincerely adhere to their profession, and fulfil the condition, shall all such godly incorporations, as by persecution and malice of Satan, and the ports or strength of hell are dis∣solved, and all godly and visible Saints, who by banishment, exile, or violent death, are pulled away from visible membership, be thrown off the rock Christ? And doth the gates of Hell prevail against such believers? If it be said, yet in a spiritual sense, such are eminently and satisfyingly made members of a more glorious society, even of the Church triumphant, as the promise of the fifth command, Eph. 6. of long life is fulfilled to an obedient gracious son, who dies young; and so here: I am sure it will not be found, especially in the New Testament, that the Lord tyes a promise spiritual of perseverance in grace, and deliverance from the prevailing temptations of Hell to any sin∣gle visible Church-frame.

But 2. the building on the Rock, and deliverance from the prevailing temptations of Hell, by this exposition is made by the grant of Mr. H. to the visible profession that may be in Iu∣das and Magus; and is it to be believed that Christ promiseth with his own hand to build upon the rock Magus and Iudas, who are as essentially stones of the building, and whose acts of the Keyes are a• valid as these of sincere believers, so as the gates of Hell shall never prevail against these sons of perdition? So Mr. H. expounds it.

Page  348 3• Many Martyrs faithfully perform congregational duties, yet doth not Christ make good this promise, for when members are dissolved by banishment, they are thrown off the rock. That which by our Saviour is set down, as contrary to their comfortable union with, and building upon Christ their rock, is being foiled with the Temptations of Satan and Hell, and be∣ing thrown off the rock, like the Hypocrite, Matth. 7. who is the house builded on the sand, for the strength of a war City, as Calvin noteth, and Pareus, were in iron gates and bars, Psal. * 127. 5. Deut. 3. 5. and so by this interpretation the Lords dissol∣ving of a Church, which often is a work of mercy, and putting of his children to an honourable condition of Martyrdom, and glorifying of God by suffering and scattering of his Church, as Acts 8. 12. must be a throwing them off the rock Christ, and a prevailing of the ports of Hell against them: contrary to the scope and intent of Christ in the Text.

6. It is a most uncomfortable doctrine, that men and women builded on the Rock Christ, and chosen to salvation, have on∣ly right, by this so expounded Text, to union with Christ their Rock, and victory over the gates of hell, in so far as they are inchurched covenant wayes into such an independent corporati∣on; when the Saints builded upon the Rock, and persevering by the grace of God, contrary to all the machinations of hell, may be scattered, 1 Pet. 1. 2. wander in the mountains and de∣sarts, Heb. 11. 38. and have no certain dwelling house, 1 Cor. 4. 11. and sojourning visible Saints, and be not so much as vi∣sible members, and it is cruelty to say such are no members of Christs visible body, but 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, without, and not builded on the Rock.

7. Mr. H. grants a man may give Petors confession, par. 1. * c. 6. page 62. and men may be scattered stones, visible Saints, and yet through some opinion concerning the visible Church, be members of no such congregation; are they for that not builded upon the Rock? and Mr. H. brings this interpretation. Page  349Salve ••liore judici•, by stress of argument.

2. As to the Minor; But the invisible Church is not built by a visible profession upon the Rock, as Peter was. It is most false; for there is a twofold invisibility, and twofold visibility.

1. Such as in the election of God only, and are not called yet, are invisible, as Saul persecuting; such indeed are not actually built upon the rock by visible profession, as Peter was.

But 2. Peter and all sincerely professing Christ, as Peter and the other ten are both the invisible Church, in so far as sincerity * of faith, and love is only in the heart, and known infallibly to none, but to God, and to the man himself, who hath received the white stone, the new name, Rev. 1. 17. and also they all such are, and may be built by the same visible confession of Peter, real and sincere (for of a sincere visible and audible confession only as real and saving our Saviour speaks, Mat. 16. as Mr. R. holds) upon the rock. I grant there may be degrees of real sin∣cerity, more or less in men and women, but the same in nature, *& sp••io, that is in Peter is in women, by which they are built up∣on the rock, and so they are invisible members in the latter sense, and are also built visibly & really upon the rock, by Peters faith coming out in a real visible confession, and the invisible Church in this sense is also the true real visible Church; and a visible confession or profession, is either real, or hypocritical and see∣ming, that it is real of which the Text speaks Mr. R. proves, because from it Christ pronounces Peter really blessed.

2. Because it was taught Peter by the Father of Christ, and not by flesh and blood; Mr. H. contend• that it may be seeming only. I desire he or any for him, may prove it was seeming on∣ly, or may be seeming only; yea, it was exclusive of Iudas the Traitor his confession, for he knew nothing of the revelation of the Father, nor was he blessed as Peter, nor is it our Saviours purpose to praise and commend hypocrisie, Mat. 16. and there∣fore there is not truth in that which M. H. saith, that there is a*contrari•ty or opposition between visibility and invisibility. So ex∣pounded, the opposition is not 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, nor 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as Aristotle and Ramus both require; and therefore it is granted, that the house of God, 1 Tim. 3. 15. in which Timothy was to be∣have himself right, was the visible Church of Eph•sus, and the o∣ther Page  350 Church Presbyterial; but that this cannot consist with invisibi∣lity is most false, it destroyes the ministry & faithful Apostles and * Pastors calling, who are sent to gather into Christ all the invisi∣ble members of Christs mystical body, and to make them visible professors.

And whereas he sayes, that this direction of Paul to Timothy; was to continue to all succeeding officers to the end, and that in all particular charges given to them, is truth seen through a cloud.

1. This direction in these Epistles was to continue to all suc∣ceeding officers; Ergo, the laying on of hands, and ordaining * watchmen and Bishops; and this direction appointing Elders, faithful men able to teach, and the rest belonging to the Keyes must b• g•ven to officers, not to the male Church.

2. Here is some succession of godly Pastors to the end, to all Pastors and Elders with such qualifications, as a Bishop must be blameless, &c. 1 Tim. 2. Deacons must be such, &c. the di∣rection is giv•n to all succeeding officers to the end: why not ra∣ther to the first proper subject of the Keyes to the male-Church?

3. That 1 Tim. 3. 15. The house of God is the pillar and ground of truth, and the body of Christ; for the perfecting and edi∣fying whereof, Eph. 3. 12. Christ gave Apostles, Evangelists, Pastors and Doctors, 10. 11. is the single particular indepen∣dent Church (Salvo m•liori judicio saith Mr. H. in his conjectu∣ral modesty) is contrary to all Scripture; and this is the very Church builded upon the rock, against which the gates of hell shall not prevail; and upon this account hearken to Mr. H. his * distinction.

Mr. R. propounded an argument never yet answered to prove that the Church builded upon the rock cannot be the single vi∣sible congregation, against Papists & Socinians, and our Brethren.

That Church is here Mat. 16. understood, against which the gates of hell shall never prevail; but against the visible independent con∣gregationall (the seven Churches of Asia now are fallen away) Church, the gates of hell hath prevailed. Ans. This or that particu∣lar Church or congregation may fall away; but there must be a Church universal existing in its particulars, this or that Church, which Christ will have while the world continues, Eph. 4. 11. D. Ames. medulla l. 1. c. 31. 37.

Page  351Ans. To begin with what Amesius saith, its utterly imperti∣nent: * The title of that Chapter is of the Mystical Church, the members of which can never fall away, but must be until the end of the world, as the title of the next Chapter is of the in∣stituted Church; yea, Am•sius saith, this place Matth. 16. is a special promise made to those built on a Rock, to the Mili∣tant Catholick Church, and to real believers onely, not to hy∣pocrites. Mr. H. by this teacheth the Patrons of the Apo∣stasie of the Saints, a distinction useful for their Errour. So cinus saith, The places which saith, They are saved who are written in the Book of Life before the world was, do not speak of some particular man th•• or that, (as Mr. H. this or that single Church may fall off the Rock) but some kinde of men, and therefore Mr. H. renders this a comfortless doctrine, which Christ makes a singular bulwark of Faith and Consolation to single persons, Peter, Mary, who believe, and are built upon the Rock, that such shall never fall away; but this or that congregation of some few persons, though true and real be∣lievers, may and do fall away. This is the down-right Apo∣stasie of believers.

2. This strongly savours of the Jesuit Ruiz. his Necessitas vaga (though Mr. H. hate Doctrine and Way, when his sharp * engine sees them) when a thing is necessarily to fall out, in, up∣on, or about the kinde of men, but not in, or upon this single man; as it is infallible and necessary that there be war and be peace, and that there be husbandmen and be sailers, but God determines and bows the heart of no single man to be a hus∣bandman rather than a sailer; he might say to be a King ra∣ther than a poor Beggar. This kinde of necessity is against the Page  352 providence of Gods special care, as to great things, as to King∣doms, Dan. 4. 32. so to all smaller things, the stirring of a Spar∣rows wing, Mat. 10. 29, & 30. the hair of the head, the grow∣ing and withering of a gourd, Ionah 4. 6. the motion of a worm eating the gourd; which confused providence, Suarez, Cumel,*Ledesma, forsake as shameful.

3. The particular Independent congregation is either built upon the Rock unmoveably, by a promise of the Gospel, as no Divine can deny, that the grace of perseverance (if such a grace, as it must be, be granted, for by Nature men persevere not) is given by a Gospel-promise, or by no promise. But men perse∣vere * without any Gospel-promise, as the Sea ebbes, the Wind blows, which yet cannot be said, if a promise there be, then when this particular Church falls away. Now Mr. H. grants the Apostasie of this or that particular Church of Ephesus from the Rock, and the prevailing of the gates of Hell against the single man or Independent Church of Ephesus: for he saith, the place Mat. 16. The gates of h•ll shall not prevail, &c. is to be meant of the Church Congregational existing it its univer∣sal nature in its particular Congregations, then he must mean, that some one single congregation of Ephesus or S•…, may and do fall off the Rock, which is a clear Apostasie of the Saints: for it cannot be said this or that single Church shall fall away so, being they pray and watch. For,

1. That is the very thing which the Arminians and Socini∣ans say on this place, that the Church Mat. 16. 18. remaining and persevering a true Church, remains unconquered by death and condemnation.

Page  353 2. Praying, and persevering in praying, and watching there∣unto, Ephes. 6 18. is a great part of persevering; and so perse∣vering is promised upon condition of persevering: and there∣fore Mr. H. must betake himself to a more unthrifty shift, and quit the place Mat. 16 and so gratifie Arminians and Socini∣ans, who say, that it proves not the perseverance of the Saints; and so must say, that the building of the Church upon the Rock is the Lords continuate act of forming single societies upon the Rock Christ, giving them victory over Hell. So that he miscarries and ••lls from his intended end, in keeping this or that single man or Church upon the Rock, but yet obtains his principal end in keeping the universal nature of man, and of an Independent Church upon the Rock. A more confused pro∣vidence than ever Pelagius or any devised, and a singular gra∣tifying of Jesuits and Sociniam.

3. If the keeping of believers 〈◊〉 Saints upon the Rock Christ, so that the gates of 〈◊〉 shall 〈◊〉 prevail to throw them off the Rock, and put those that once were justified, and by faith built upon the Rock Christ, in a state of condemnation, be referred to the De•rce of God, then must God have made the same general confused De•r••, That some by saving faith built upon the Rock Christ shall persevere, and some shall not per∣severe; but yet so, as God hath decr••d a visible single Inde∣pendent Church one or many there shall be, until all be gather∣ed in to meet in the unity of the faith. But

1. This is a Decree confused and general, so as the number * of the saved and kept upon the Rock, shall be indeterminate in the Decree of God, whatever it be in the prescience of God: But he who hath numbred in his Decree drops of water, rain, and dew, the blasts of wind, the stars by their names, Isa. 40. 12. Prov. 30. 4. Psal. 147. 4. Iob 38. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. & 39. 1, 2, &c. must in his Decree have fixed all the Churches, and all Church∣members, men and women, old and young, who shall be kept Page  354 on the Rock, and preserved by the power of God, through faith, unto salvation, 1 Pet. 1. 4, 5▪ 2 Tim. 2. 19.

2. What Popish trepidation and trembling of conscience * must it breed, that such as once were built upon the Rock, may be thrown off, and the gates of hell prevail against them? but some in the general nature of Independent Churches shall abide upon the Rock against all the strength of hell, until the second coming of Christ. But whether this can be a Gospel-comfort or not, that Christ builds the universal nature of Independent Churches upon the Rock; but though I be built upon it, whe∣ther I shall be thrown off it or no, I have no assurance from the promise, Mat. 16. 18.

5. If this or this individual congregation be built upon the Rock, so as they cannot fall away, as Christ promises, Mat. 16. * then all congregations must also continue upon the Rock, for a promise of perseverance made to all in Christ, must be su•e to all that seed, and to all single congregations of that kinde, if David, Solomon, and all single persons justified may fall away, then may all the justified fall away, nothing can be said in the contrary, but that the society may leave off to be a Church, but it follows not that they fall from the state of Justification. Ans. That is, they fall from Church membership onely, but remain believers. Ans. Nay, they fall from the Rock Christ, and the gates of hell prevail against them; and so by Mat. 16. must fall from saving grace. But it were cruelty to say, that such as are scattered and broken out of membership by perse∣cutors, and that for righteousness, that such were fallen off the Rock Christ, and that the gates of hell did prevail against them.

6. All built upon the Rock are to believe their own perseve∣rance, it being a promise of the Covenant of grace, Ior. 31. 35. & 32. 39, 40. Isa. 54. 10. & 59. 21. Mat. 10. 27, 28 and so to believe, they being once built upon the Rock Christ, they shall never fall away, as the promise is, Psal. 89. 31, 32, 33, Hos. 2. 18. 1 Ioh. 3. 9. Ioh. 14. 16. Psal. 125. 1. Ioh. 4. 14.

7. Promises of perseverance and of saving grace, as being built on the Rock, are made to the seed indeed, Psal. 89. 29, Page  355 36. 2 Sam. 7. 12. Isa. 59. 21. but never in the universal Gene∣rick nature to a visible society, but to single persons and indi∣vidual men, Ioh. 4. 14. Ioh. 11. 26, 27. Ior. 32. 39, 40. the ab∣stracted nature is not capable of the love of Election, of free Redemption, that is made to single persons.

8. So shall the number of the chosen and saved not be wri•∣ten, but unsure and dubious.