Clarke - BV4500_C46_1659_v1

44 306 QHeJtions,and Cafes ofConscience Chap. 30 IV. V. i't IV. 4.12. Rev. 3.12. Heb. ii. 1 o. Rcv. 1 z. 97. Cant. 5.2. and 6.8. 2 Cor. 6.16. Matth. 7. 25. and .16. I ä. 1 7 im. 3. 15. 'Rom. 1. 7. 1.Cor. I. 2. and I 0. Fourthly, For the lawful Governours of the Church, to whom the CenCures , of the Church doe of .right belong, Matt 1 -IS. 17. This is the Church' repre- fentative.. Fifthly, For a Material Temple. So t Cor: 14. 34. and 1 1.18. Its put alio for all thole that ihall be faved,Eish.I2.z3.the profefforsof Chri(l, Aft. 8.. a .the faithful of fame one Province, 2 Thef.1.i.Sorne notable Aifembyof the faithful partaking together in the word and Sacraments, r f 01.14,4. Amul- titude of any, whether good or bad, meeting together, Att. 19. 3 z, 39. Quell. who is the builder of»the Church ? . Anfw, Chrift,for theChurch is made an houfe of God, and the leveral mem- bers of the Church , fo ordered, and qualified as they make up that Church, and all thisby aria. By Chri 1, they which by nature are dead in fin, arequick=. ned, and made lively Clones : by him they are quickned,and gathered together,and endued with allneedful graces, whereby they become an holy houfe , and a fit Temple fot God to dwell in, John 5.21. Ephef, i. 1o. foh. I. 16. Hence Ephef. T. 22. (left. why doth Chritl build up his Church ? e4nfiv. Firft, Becaufe the Members of the Church, before they wereMem- bers, were dead, and fcattered, and deflitute ofall grace, therefore there muff be fomer to quicken, gather, and furnifh themwith grace.. Secondly, Chris of all others is fittefato doe this : He is the very wifdom and power of the Father : By him all things were made, and ait preferved,, fuftained, and ordered : therefore its moll meet that the Church thould receive her fpirituall being , preCervation and every good thins from, and by Chritl. Thirdly, For working the great work, of mans redemption, which is proper to the Church , Chritl humbled himfelf, even to death , the death of the Crofs, therefore its molt meet that he fhould have the honout of building up his Church : Thus he fees of the travel of,his foul, and is, fatisfied, as Ifa. S3.11. Phil.2.8,9,10,11. Quell. Hath Chritl a fßecialpropri ty in hie Church? Anfw. Yea, and that for thefe reafons. 1. Becaufe he purchafed it with his own blood, Atl. 20, 28. 2. He built it : Hence,1 Tet.2.4,5.Ephef.z.zz. 3. God hath given the Church to his Son, Pfal.a 8. Que(E. How, and wiy is Chri f Paid to be the Lordofhis Church ? Anfo. Firtl, By Gods ordination, `Pfa1.2.6. Epbef.i,2z., Secondly, By the redemptionwhichdui(' ' bathmadeof hisChurch : SoExo. 20. 2. therefore thefe two Titles of Lordand Redeemer are oft joyned together, Ifa. 43.14. and44. 2.4. Thirdly, By a mutual Covenant between Chritt and his Church , as of old be- tween God and Ifrael: God avoucheth Ifrael to be his peculiar people, they avouch himto be their God, Deut. 26.17,a 8. This wasoft foretold by the Pro- yhets, ter. 31.33. Hof.2.23.Zach. 1 ;.9. and is accomplifhed in the Christian W.hurch, Heb.8.1o. Chritl its. andby the Gofpél , and Sacraments offers himfelf to be our Lord, and we take him fo to be, by our fubje&ing ofour felves to his Ordinances. Fourthly, By the Laws, and Ordinances which Chrift bath given tohis Church, Its the part of a Lordragive. Laws, and he is their Lordin fpecial to whom he gives Laws :But Gods wordwherein thofe Laws are contained, is in fpecial given to the Church, Pfa1.147. 19,2o.Hence theChurch is ailed the 7'iltar,andground oftrurl,I 7 ím.3.15. Fifthly,

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