THE PREFACE. 9
of evangelical churches, their original, institution, etc., with a vindication of them from the charges laid in against them by the author of " The Unreasonableness of Separation." This he lived to print, and promised to handle the subject more particularly ; which is here performed. He lived to finish it under his great bodily infirmities, whereby he saw himself hastening to the end of his race; yet so great was his love to Christ, that whilst he had life and breath he drew not back his hand from his service. This work he finished, with others, through the gracious support and assistance of divine power, and corrected the copy before his departure. So that, reader, thou mayst be assured that what thou hast here was his (errata of the press only e.xcepted), and likewise that it ought to be esteemed as his legacy to the church of Christ, being a great part of his dying labours ; and therefore it is most uncharitable to suppose that the things here wrote were penned with any other design than to advance the glory and interest of Clu"ist in the world, and that they were not matters of great weight on his own spirit. And upon the perusal that I have had of these papers, I cannot but re- commend them to all diligent inquirers after the true nature, way, order, and practice, of evangelical churches, as a true and faithful account, according to what understanding the professors thereof, for the most part, have had and practised. Whoever is otherwise minded, he hath the liberty of his own light and conscience. Lastly, whereas many sei'ious professors of the faith of the Lord Jesus, it may be well grounded in the main saving truths of the gospel, are yet much to seek of these necessary truths for want of good information therein, and there- fore walk not up to all the revealed mind of Christ, as they sincerely desire, let such, with unprejudiced minds, read and consider what is here offered to them, and receive nothing upon human authority, follow no man in judgment or practice any.farther than he is a follower of Christ. And this is all the request of him t'- is a lover of all them that love the Lord Jesus Christ. J. C.i
' The initials probably of Isaac Chauucey. See vol. v. p. 404, aud vol. vii. p. 503.
THE TKUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH AND ITS GOYEENMENT.
CHAPTER I.
The subject-matter of the church.
The church may be considered either as unto its essence, constitu- tion, and being, or as unto its power' and order, when it is organized. As unto its essence and being, its constituent parts are its matter smdform. These we must inquire into.
By the matter of the church, we understand the persons whereof the church doth consist, with their quahfications ; and by its form, the reason, cause, and way of that kind of relation among them which gives them the being of a church, and therewithal an interest in all that belongs unto a church, either privilege or power, as such.
Our first inquiry being concerning what sort of persons our Lord Jesus Christ requireth and admitteth to be the visible subjects of his kingdom, we are to be regulated in our determination by respect unto his honour, glory, and the holiness of his rule. To reckon such persons to be subjects of Christ, members of his body, such as he re- quires and owns (for others are not so), who would not be tolerated, at least not approved, in a well-governed kingdom or commonwealth of the world, is highly dishonourable unto him, Ps. xv. 1-5, xxiv. S, 4, xciij. 5; 2 Cor. viii. 23; Eph. v. 27. But it is so come to pass, that let men be never so notoriously and flagitiously wicked, until they become pests of the earth, yet are they esteemed to belong to the church of Christ ; and not only so, but it is thought little less than schism to forbid them the communion of the church in all its sacred privileges. Howbeit, the Scripture doth in general represent the kingdom or church of Christ to consist of persons called saints, separated from the world, with many other things of an alike nature, as we shall see immediately. And if the honour of Christ were of such weight with us as it ought to be, — if we understood aright the nature and ends of his kingdom, and that the peculiar glory of it above all the kingdoms in the world consists in the holiness of its subjects, such a holiness as the world in its wisdom knoweth not,
12 TEUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
— we Avould duly consider whom we avow to belong thereunto. Those who know aught of these things will not profess that persons openly profane, vicious, sensual, wicked, and ignorant, are approved and owned of Christ as the subjects of his kingdom, or that it is his will that we should receive them into the communion of the church, 2 Tim. iii. 1-5. But an old opinion of the unlawfulness of separa- tion from a church on the account of the mixture of wicked men in it is made a scare-crow to frighten men from attempting the refor- mation of the greatest evils, and a covert for the composing churches of such members only.