Edmund Elys, son of a clergyman in Devonshire, author of some Latin productions in prose and poetry, replied to this work in 1(590, by the publication of "Animadversions upon some passages in a book entitled ' The True Nature of a Gospel Church, etc' "—Ed.
THE PEEFACE TO THE KEADER.
The church of Christ, according as it is represented unto us, or described by the Holy Spirit of God, in the Old and New Testament, hath but a twofold con- sideration,— as catholic and mystical, or as visible and organized in particular con- gregations. The catholic church is the whole mystical body of Christ, consisting of all the elect which are purchased and redeemed by his blood, whether already called or uncalled, militant or triumphant; and this is the church that God gave him to be head unto, which is his body and his fulness, and, by union with him, Christ mystical, Eph. i. 22, 23; and this is that -TrarAyvfn (the only word most fiilly expressing the catholic church used in Scripture), "the church of the first- born, whose names are written in heaven," Heb. xii. 23, that is, in the Lamb's book of life; and they shall all appear one day gathered together to their Head, in the perfection and fulness of the New Jerusalem state, where they will make a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, pr any such thing, but holy and with- out blemish. The day of grace which the saints have passed in the respective ages of the church was but the day of its espousals, wherein the bride hath made her- self ready ; but then will be her full mari'ied state unto Christ, then will be the perfection not only of every particular member of Christ, but of the whole body of Christ, called " a perfect man," and " the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ," to which we are called, edifying and building up by the ministry and ordi- nances of Christ, whilst we are " in via," in our passage unto this country, a city with a more durable fixed foundation, which we seek.
In order, therefore, unto the completing this great and mystical body, Christ hath his particular visible churches and assemblies in this world ; wherein he hath ordained ordinances and appointed officers for the forementioned glorious ends and purposes.
There is no other sort of visible church of Christ organized, the subject of the aforesaid institutions spoken of, but a particular church or congregation (either in the Old or New Testament), where all the members thereof do ordinarily meet together in one place to hold communion one with another in some one or more great ordinances of Christ. The first churches were economic, when the worship of God was solemnly performed in the large families of the antediluvian and post- diluvian patriarchs, where, no doubt, all frequently assembled to the sacrifices as then off'ered, and other parts of worship then in use.
After the descent of a numerous progeny from Abraham's loins, God takes them to himself in one visible body, a national but congregational church, into which he forms them four hundred and thirty years after the promise, in the wilderness; and although all Abraham's natural posterity, according to the external part of the promise made to him, were taken into visible church fellowship, so that it became a national church, yet it was such a national church always, in the wilderness and in the Holy Land, as was congregational, for it was but one congregation during the tabernacle or temple state, first or second. They were always bound to as- semble at the tabernacle or temple thrice at least every year; hence the tabernacle was still calleil " The tabernacle of the congregation." They were to have but one
4 THE PREFACE.
altar for burnt-offerings and sacrifices; what others were at any time elsewhere, called '• high places," were condemned by God as sin.
Lastly, When Christ had divorced this people, abolished their Mosaical consti- tution by breaking their staff of beauty and their staff of bands, he erects his gospel church, calls in disciples by his ministry, forms them into a body, fur- nisheth them with officers and ordinances, and after he had suffered, rose again, and continued here forty days, — in which time he frequently appeared to them and acquainted them with his will, — ascends unto his Father, sends his Spirit in a plen- tiful mannei' at Pentecost, whereby most of them were furnished with all neces- sary miraculous gifts, to tlie promoting the glory and interest of Christ among Jews and Gentiles.
Hence the whole evangelical ministry was first placed in the church of Jerusalem (so far as extraordinary, or such a part of it as was [not] to descend to churches of after ages) ; neither were they placed as abiding or standing officers in any other church, as we find. In this church they acted as the elders thereof; and from this church they were, it is very likely, solemnly sent, by fasting and prayer, to the exercise of their apostolic function in preaching, healing, and working miracles, gathering churches, and settling officers in them, even so as Paul and Barnabas were sent forth by the church of Antioch.
Their distinguishing apostolic office and charge (from which the evangelist dif- fered but little) was to take care of all the churches, — not to sit down as stand- ing pastors to all or any particular congregation, but at the fii'st planting to gather, to direct, and confirm them, in practice of their doctrine, fellowship, break- ing of bread, and in prayer. Wherefore this apostolic care committed to them proves nothing either of the catholic authority claimed by an oecumenic pastor, or that charge of many congregations claimed by diocesan bishops.