Chap.31. The Old and New Covenant. 2'2 5 I may be required for the well ordering and regulating of it; where a people accept of a King and receive his LaWs; there he hach a Kingdome, there he is a Monarch, yet much more is required for the ordering of fuch a Monarchy, for the publick weale and fafety fo it is where a Church is, a Church of God accepting 1 the Lawes of heaven, there the Lord Chrift reignes as a Mo- I of it , according to his will , and the Lawes by him tendred and f narch , yet farther care -muff be ufed for the right regulating received by them. Secondly, A people in a vicinity and neighbourhood dwel- ling together,ought to aflociate themfelves and joyne together A peOpie ill a` with thofe of that neighbourhood; according to their belt con - vicinity or ivenience, for the participation of ordinances. As, it is a ainft all 1ogdbo"r- dictates of reafon , that a people fcattered at a great di:fance ado Oé áe to fhould combine themfelves in a Church-way for ordinances in cording to which God rules, fo it is as clear againtl the Scriptures. You their bct cap read of a Church of God at Ephele4, at Corinth, at Philippi,at I veu.ence, fcr Theffalonica, at Laodicea : But you read not of any Church made rord ä up of membes reeding at all thofe places , or in any places at Dances. like diffance. Cohabitation or dwelling together makes not up a Church congregational will be eafily granted; for ( Infidels,. Pagans may cohabit , they may make an Idol-Church, but not a Church of God,) but co-habitation or dwelling together is one ingredient; Saints co- habiting, that is (in New Teffament- language) men feparate for God, not J ewes, nor Infidels, but Chriftians, and joyning in ordinances, as in duty they ought, are a Congregational Church. A Paffour ought to watch over his people,and a people ought to attend to their Paffour, which how it can be when the Paffour makes hisrefidence at E. helm, the people force at Éphe¡iu,fome at Corinth, force at Philipp;, and fo i fcattered, it cannot be imagined. We enc(e leven feveral Epiftles written from heaven to. (even feveral Churches, all which had their abode at the place whence the Church bore its name ;; thefe are Scripture Churches. Now if any one Church be Made up of Chriffians, force inhabiting at one of thofe places, lome at another, a third at a third place, fcarce three of one Town , no more then of one minde; here is not Scripturekorder,which ,is of God, but an Apocryphal confufion ; exceptions may be ta- ken at the over -large extent and difordered fituation of divers G g - __ Paro I s
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=