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therefore let us in due time break off our Sins by Repentance, that we may efcape the Wrath to

come.

CHA P. XXVIII.

Of the CHURCH, with the DISTIN ATTRIBUTES, and

CTIONS,

NOTES thereof.

O much of the Benefits which Chrift hath procured by his Mediation: Now follow the Partakers of those Benefits; and they are the faithful Members of the Church. For the fpecial Benefits of Redemption are conferred on thofe only, who belong to the Church. And there is no ordinary way of Salvation out of the Church.

THE Church is an orderly Society of Men, profeffing the true and entire Faith of Chrift without Mixture of pernicious Errors. This Church is one Body united by one Spirit under one Head. For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the fame office: So we being many are one body in Chrift, Rom. xii. 4, 5. Though there be many particular Churches; yet being all united in the fame Head Jefus Chrift, and communicating in the fame Doctrines and Worship, they are all but one true Church. There are four things concerning the Church chiefly to

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be

be confidered. 1. The Diftinctions of it. II. The Attributes of it. III. The Notes of it. IV. The Head and Members of it.

I. THE Distinctions of the Church are divers; but the principal are thefe. First, The Church is diftinguifhed into the Church Triumphant and Militant.

THE Triumphant Church is that bleffed Company of holy Angels, and of the Spirits of juft Men made perfect, who reign with Chrift in Glory, Heb. xii. 22, 23. The Saints in Heaven triumph over God's Enemies, and their own, and rejoyce for that Victory which God hath given them. The Angels alfo rejoyce with them for their Dignity and Felicity. And all conjoyn in worfhipping God, and in praifing and glorifying his holy Name, faying, Bleffing, and glory, and wifdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might be given unto our God, for ever and ever, Amen, Rev. vii. 12.

THE Militant Church is the Society of Chriftians, who in this World fight under the Banner of Chrift against their fpiritual Enemies, in Hope and Expectation of their Crown and Triumph. The Life of true Chriftians is a Warfare And no fooner are, we lifted under the Standard of Chrift, and marching towards Heaven, but divers Enemies affault us; and endeavour, both by fecret Treachery, and open Violence, to ove:come us. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, againft powers, Haint the rulers of the darkness of this world, against fpiritual wickedness in high places, Eph. yi. 12. And refore, as good Soldiers, of Jefus Chrift, we uft endure Hardnefs, and fight the good Fight

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of Faith; taking unto us the whole Armour of God, that we may be able to withstand in the evil Day, 2 Tim. ii. 3. and iv. 7. Eph. vi. 13. Secondly, THE Church Militant is distinguished into the Invifible and Vifible Church.

THE Invifible Church is the Company of fincere Christians, who do not only profefs the true Faith of Chrift, but do alfo live according to their Profeffion, and ferve God in Righteoufnefs and true Holinefs. And thofe faithful Chriftians, who are the Invifible Church, are the best and principal Members of the Vifible Church. And if the Church be ftrictly taken for that Society, which is the mystical Body of Chrift united to him by the Spirit, then the Faithful only are the Church of Chrift.

AND the Faithful are called the Invifible Church, not because their Perfons, or their Profeffion and Works are invifible, but because the Purity of their Hearts, and their inward Holiness, are not feen by Men. For the Church is not called Invifible, in this Senfe, that true Believers and their Profeffion fhall become invifible. But the true Church, from the Beginning of Christianity, hath always been, and fhall continue in fome State of Vifibility, though fometimes more confpicuous, fometimes lefs. For Chrift hath promifed to be with his Church unto the End of the World, Matth. xxviii. 20. And he hath affured us, that the gates of hell fhall not prevail againft his Church, Matth. xvi. 18. Though certain particular Churches, fuch as the Roman is, may forfake the Truth, and wholly perish: Yet fome Society of Men, profeffing the true Religion, fhall continue unto the End of the World. And if there were not fome found that profefs

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the true Faith, and worship God in Chrift, there could not be a Church.

INDEED fometimes it may happen in time of great Perfecution, or fpreading Herefies, that the Number of true Profeffors may be small, and the World may take no notice of them, or perfecute them as Enemies to the Truth. This was the State of the Chriftian Church in the Time of Athanafius, who with a few others maintained the true Faith against the Arian Herefie. And fo the true Profeffors in the Roman Church, before the Reformation of Religion, were much obfcured by a prevailing Faction, which held erroneous Doctrines. But yet there were many wife and good Men long before Luther, who openly complained against the Corruptions in the Roman Church, and earnestly defired a Reformation, as the Epiftle of Bishop Grofthead, the Writings of John Gerfon, the Hiftory of the Waldenfes, and others, do fufficiently teftifie.

THE Vifible Church is a Society of Men openly profeffing the true Faith of Chrift. Though the Faithful only are Members of Christ, and most properly the Church of God: Yet all that profefs Chriftianity in all humane Accounts are Members of the Vifible Church. For the Churchi largely taken containeth good and bad Members, who agree in outward Profeffion, and have Communion in all external Duties of Divine Worfhip. For the Church is compared to a Field containing good Seed mingled with Tares, Matth. xiii. 24, to 31. And it is alfo compared to a Net caft into the Sea, which gathereth into it all forts of Fishes, good and bad, which are not feparated one from another, 'till they be caft out upon the Shore, Matth. xiii. 47, 48.

AND

AND that Vifible Church, which maintaineth all things neceffary to Salvation, and doth not impofe any pernicious Errors, is the true Church with which we ought to hold Communion. For we muft be. Members of the true Vifible Church, if we would be Members of the Invifible. And fo long as we may communicate with a Church in Doctrine and Worfhip without finning thereby, we cannot juftly feparate from it. But when a Church doth not only err in Fundamentals of Religion, but alfo enjoyns all that will hold Communion with her to partake in Sin and Error, then there is a juft and neceffary Caufe of Separation from her. For God himfelf hath commanded us to separate from a Church, when we cannot communicate with it without committing Idolatry, or fome other Impiety, 2 Cor. vi. 17. And feeing we could not worship God according to his Will, unless we left Popery, therefore there was a Neceffity for us to forfake it. For the Romish Church was fo corrupt in Doctrine and Worship, that we could not continue in the Communion thereof without the Profeffion of known Errors, and the Practice of known Corruptions. And becaufe Rome would not reform her Errors, nor fuffer a Reformation to be made, it was lawful and neceffary for us to reform our felves. And we are not guilty of Schifm in feparating from her, but the that gave the juft Occafion of it.

II. THE Attributes of the Vifible Church are two. 1. Sanctity. 2. Univerfality.

THE Church is called Holy for feveral Reafons. She is Holy in regard of Vocation, because all her Members are called to be Saints, and are appropriated unto God, and fo are relatively

Holy.

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