A gospel-church, or, God's holy temple opened wherein is shewed from the scriptures ... / by Stephen Ford ...

CHAP. I.

Of an Instituted Gospel-Church, and the Ex∣tent thereof.

MY purpose and design is to discourse only of a particular instituted Gospel-Church: and in my proceedures, I shall not concern my self with any Mens conceptions of a Church in any other sense; but keep clôss to the subject or Church under consideration, without medling with the controversies that are amongst learned men in their different appre∣hensions of Churches and their concernments. For as I desire (and hope I may without offen∣ding any) to have liberty to declare and pra∣ctise my own light, faith and perswasion in

these things; so, I think it most reasonable to leave others to their own perswasions, expres∣sions and practice in these matters, without any Reflexions.

It is the profit of such as I am concern'd with∣all that I aim at; and I judge my self obliged in duty to make known the whole will of God to those I have the oversight of, according to my Light, Abilities, and Opportunities, and that by all the regular ways and means I can find out and obtain the knowledge of: And it is for them that I chiefly intend these Lines, although they may probably fall into other mens hands.

Therefore, waving the thoughts of men, I shall proceed to acquaint you (who shall read this discourse) with the will of God in this matter, so far as I know & believe, and as may be profitable for you; which I shall do by way of Question and Answer.

1. Quest. What is a true Instituted Gospel-Church?

Answ. A true Instituted Gospel-Church is, a Society or Congregation of persons called out of the world, or their state of death, blind∣ness and unbelief, by the Word and Spirit of Christ; to the knowledge of Christ and his will, and unto the Obedience of faith: or, A company of Believers united together in a holy Band, by special and voluntary agreement; who by the grace and power of Christ in their hearts under the conviction of their duty, do give up themselves to the Lord, and to one ano∣ther by the will of God; to live and walk toge∣ther as Saints, in love, peace, and in the con∣stant

celebration and practice of all the Laws and worship of Christ; and in the observation of all his Gospel-Ordinances, in Obedience to his Holy Will, for his Glory and their own Spiritual profit, Rom. 1.5, 6. 2 Cor. 8.5. Heb. 3.1. 1 Pet. 2.5. Eph. 2.21, 22. 2 Cor. 4.6. 1 Pet. 2.9. Eph. 2.1.5. Col. 2.6. 2 Thes. 1.5.

This Church, so united and built, is called a Church, a House, a Temple, Habitation of God and Jesus Christ; and they own it as their own, call it by their own Names, and confirm it with their Presence in it. And as such a Church, it is the proper seat and subject of all the Gos∣pel-worship and ordinances of Christ in the world, as will appear in the other Chapters; and therefore I shall not insist on it here. Onely take these sew hints of this Church, along with you.

1. It is an Instituted Church of Jesus Christ; namely a Church of his own appointment and erection; of his own making, and forming, accor∣ding to his own will and pleasure, by his own Authority and Approbation.

2. The materials or persons constituting this Church are said to be holy persons, called out of their old worldly state of death, blindness and unbelief, unto the knowledg (that is, the sa∣ving knowledg) of Christ and his will, and unto the Obedience of Faith.

3. The Instruments that call them and work them for this state; and that is the Word and Spirit of Christ.

4. The form of this Church; namely their own free, special and voluntary agreement

among themselves, giving themselves to the Lord (before each other) and then to one ano∣ther by the will of God: entering into a holy band or Engagement, to live and walk toge∣ther, (through divine assistance) in Love, peace, and in the celebration and practice of all the Laws, worship and ordinances of Christ in the Church; in obedience to his holy Will.

5. The ends of their so doing, namely, the Glory of Christ and their own spiritual profit. These are some of the chiefest things to be ob∣served in this definition of an Instituted Gos∣pel-Church: All which I shall (through God's help) prove and demonstrate hereafter, under several heads.

2. Quest. Of what Extent should an Institu∣ted Gospel-Church be; or, how many persons should it consist of?

Answ. It should be formed of so many per∣sons as may capacitate them to perform all ne∣cessary-Church Acts, in pursuance of Christ's Laws and Rules, by which the Society ought to walk: Mat. 18.15, 16, 17. and of no more than may conveniently meet together in one place, for the celebration of all Gospel-Ordi∣nances, and the Edification of the whole Church. Now, How many persons (precisely) are requisite to make and constitute such a for∣mal Church, I cannot determine: but un∣doubtedly, there ought to be such a number, as may orderly and regularly deal with and proceed against a delinquent-member, accor∣ding to that Rule in Mat. 18. And as the Church should consist of so many, so it should have no more persons in it, then (as was said) may

comfortably and conveniently meet or assem∣ble together for the worship of God, and profit of the whole Church, in one place: and that (1.) because they are one congregation by their own consent and agreement, and so ought not to devide and separate themselves one from another in the worship and ordinances of God, but there (at the same times) with one heart and one mouth, glorify God, Rom. 15.6. (2) Be∣cause the whole Church is bound at all times (excepting extraordinary cases) to wait and at∣tend on the administration of their own Offi∣cers, by virtue of Christs Law, Heb. 13.17. enjoyning them so to do, and also by virtue of their own engagement and relation they stand in to them. (3) For their own comfort and edi∣fication, in the Church and ordinances of God. This is one of the great ends of Churches, and the worship and ordinances of God there, namely, the profit and edification of all, 1 Cor. 14.3, 31. But how can it be, unless they can all hear, and joyn one with another, in the ordinances? (4) Because a Church ought to observe ordinances, and worship God as a Church, and not as, or under the notion of single and individual Believers; but, as an uni∣ted Body and society they must all at once, and in the same numerical duties and ordinances, in one place, joyn together as with one Heart, Mouth, Mind and Judgment; designing, aim∣ing at, and carrying on the same holy Ends in all the worship of God. Therefore a Church of Christ may not exceed such a number of mem∣bers, as may conveniently meet altogether in one place, 1 Cor. 5.4. But I shall not enlarge on this head.