Chap; 3-o. about the Church. 315 nett. why is the Church called amother ? Ga1.4.26. Anfw. Becaufe the word of Cod is committed to the keepingof the Church, which word isfeed , a Pet.i.z3. IiiiIk , I Cor.3.z. flrorT meat, Heb.5. 14. and the Church is a mother which by the Mrnillry ofthe word, brings forth children i. unto God ; and when they Are born, feeds themwith milk out of the two brealls of the Old and New Teflaments. Quelf. uhire ere we tofeck.for our mother the Church? o- Anfv. She is to be fought for,and found in the true vilïble Churches,the cer- Cainmarks whereof are three. I. The preachingof the word out of the writings of the Prophets and Apo - ales, with obedience, joh.IO.28. Eph.2.zo. Z. True invocation of God the Father, in the only nameofChritt , by the af- fiflance of the Spirit, ait.9.14. I Cr. r.z. 3. The right ufe of the Sacraments , Baptifine, and the Lords Supper , 1 c2farrb.2ä.IS. and by thefewe(hallfinde the true Church of Cod in Eng- I land , &c. Quell. Are all Chrtffians bouml to One themfelvcs tofoamparticularChurch, or Cos?Rre,oatton ? An w:.Yea, they are in afpecial manner bound to it , and that for theft 1 Reafons. r. In regardof Gods inlditution,CM st.i ú.I 7. wherein is contained a necellity both in regard of the precepr,and the means. i. In regard of the pretence ofGod and Chrill there, Rev. r.r 3. For if we will come toGod, we muff come alto to that afíembly where God doth in a fpecial manner, manifefl his pretence, and is foundof thofe that feek him there. 3. Inregard of Gods glory, which is much advanced publickly by this means : For asGod under the Law placed his name-in 3 es afalem, fo under the Gofpel he doth it in thefe publick aIemblies. r q. In regardofthe Covenant and promife of God : For theywhich are mein- bers of the Church, they are, as it were, direct}ly under the promifes andbleflings ofGod to be poured out upon them, 'f4.65.5. and 1 33.3 5. l'n regardof our profelfion ; becaufe otherwife it cannotbe that the helee- 1. very fhouldbe ditlinguif,ed from. infidels; I Cor. 5. 12. 1 6. In, re:.átd of mutual edification , which follows from this combination ofthe godlp'iamongtl themfelves : Heh. i o. 24, z5. I Cor. it. 17. and 12. 25, 27. Rom. I. 72. Quell. What church mst/I we joys our felves to ? Anfv. Firth, only to thetrue Church which profeffeth the true faith. Secondly, ifwe be uningaged, we null as much,as we may, joyn our felves to I. I the purefl Church. II. S Thirdly, though we may joyn our felves to that Church,in which necefrarily III. manydefe6fs are to be tolierated, yet we may not joyne our felves to fuch a Church in which we muffi*ceffarily partake with her in her fins,- Eph.5. t t. nei- ther ntnfI we fix our felves to any Church with a miede to favour her defe6ts,by out (hence (but fo far as it may be done with edification) we mull aflìllin ta- king theth Away. Quell. Arewe to affociate ourfelves with filch aChurch pis 'alienates. the wicked, r and oopofer the godly ? I Anf*. Firlh, to tollerate notorious wickedneffe is a great finne in a Church , io i Revet t. zo, and in its nature rends to the corru?tine of the Church , I Corin7Ir. -f.6. Secondly, it defiles thecommunion to tholewicked men that are tone rated , II. and rö rhòfe that are the`caufe of their tolleration, Hag, i.1'3. S f z Third-
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