16 TRUE NATURE OF A GOSPEL CHURCH.
(2.) There is requked unto it a 'professed subjection of soul and conscience unto the authority of Christ in the church, Matt, xxviii. 18-20; 2 Cor. viii. 5. This in general is performed by all that are baptized when they are adult, as being by their own actual consent baptized in the name of Christ ; and it is required of all them who ai'e baptized in their infancy, when they are able with faith and understanding to profess their consent unto and abiding in that covenant whereinto they were initiated.
(8.) An instruction in and consent unto the doctrine of self- denial and bearing of the cross, in a particular manner ; for this is made indispensably necessary by our Saviour himself unto all that will be his disciples, Matt. x. 87-89; Mark viii. 34, 88; Luke ix. 23; Phil. iii. 18; Actsiv. 10, 11, 20, xxiv. 14. And it hath been a great disadvantage unto the glory of Christian religion that men have not been more and better instructed therein. It is commonly thought that whoever will may be a Christian at an easy rate, — it will cost him nothing. But the gospel gives us another account of these things; for it not only warns us that reproaches, hatred, sufferings of all sorts, ofttimes to death itself, are the common lot of all its professors who will live godl}' in Christ Jesus, but also requires that at our initiation into the profession of it, we consider aright the dread of them all, and engage cheerfully to undergo them. Hence, in the primitive times, whilst all sorts of miseries were continually pre- sented unto them who embraced the Christian religion, their will- insf enofagfement to undergo them who Avere converted was a firm evidence of the sincerity of their faith, as it ought to be unto us also in times of difficulty and persecution. Some may suppose that the faith and confession of this doctrine of self-denial and readiness for the cross is of use only in time of persecution, and so doth not be- long unto them who have continually the countenance and favour of public authority. I say, it is, at least as they judge, well for them; with others it is not so, whose outward state makes the public avow- ing of this duty indispensably necessary unto them. And I may add it as my own thoughts (thougb they are not my own alone), that notwithstanding all the countenance that is given unto any church by the public magistracy, yet whilst we are in this world, those who will faithfully discharge their duty, as ministers of the gospel especially, shall have need to be prepared for sufferings. To escape sufferings, and enjoy worldly advantages by sinful compliances, or bearing with men in their sins, is no gospel direction.
(4.) Conviction and confession of sin, with the luay of deliver- ance by Jesus Christ, is that " answer of a good conscience" that is required in the baptism of them that are adult, 1 Pet. iii. 21.
(5.) Unto this profession is required the constant j^erformance of all Icnoiun duties of religion, both of piety in the public and private
THE SUBJECT-MATTER OF THE CHURCH. 1 *J
worship of God, as also of charity with respect unto others, Matt, xxviii. 19, 20. "Show me thy faith by thy works," James ii. 18.
(6.) A careful abstinence from all known sins, giving scandal or offence either unto the world or unto the church of God, 1 Cor. x. 32; Phil. i. 10.
And the gospel requires that this confession be made (" with the mouth confession is made unto salvation") against, — (1.) Fear; (2.) Shame; (3.) The course of the world; (4.) The opposition of all enemies whatever.
Hence it appears that there are none excluded from an entrance into the church-state but such as are either, — (1.) Grossly ignorant; or, (2.) Persecutors or reproachers of those that are good, or of the ways of God wherein they walk; or, (3.) Idolaters; or, (4.) Men scan- dalous in their lives, in the commission of sins or omission of duties, through vicious habits or inclinations; or, (5.) Such as would partake of gospel privileges and ordinances, yet openly avow that they will not submit unto the laiu and commands of Christ in the gospel; concerning whom and the like the Scripture rule is peremptory, " From such turn away."
And herein we are remote from exceeding the example and care of the primitive churqlies ; yea, there are but few, if any, that arrive unto it. Their endeavour was to preach unto all they could, and they rejoiced in the multitudes that came to hear the word; but if any did essay to join themselves unto the church, their diligence in their examination and instruction, their severe inquiries into their conver- sation, their disposing of them for a long time into a state of expec- tation for their trial, before their admittance, were remarkable; and some of the ancients complain that the promiscuous admittance of all sorts of persons that would profess the Christian religion into church-membership, Avhich took place afterward, ruined all the beauty, order, and discipline of the church.
The things ascribed unto those who are to be esteemed the proper subject-matter of a visible church are such as, in the judgment of charit}^, entitle them unto all the appellations of " saints, called, sanc- tified,"— that is, visibly and by profession, — which are given unto the members of all the churches in the New Testament, and which must be answered in those who are admitted into that privilege, if we do not wholly neglect our only patterns. By these things, although they should any of them not be real living members of the mystical body of Christ, unto whom he is a head of spiritual and vital in- fluence, yet are they meet members of that body of Christ unto which he is a head of rule and government, as also meet to be esteemed subjects of his kingdom; and none are excluded but such as concerning whom rules are given either to withdraw from them or to cast them out of church-society, or are expressly excluded by