282 The Gofpe! Myßery DireFt. members of Chrift, as as well from him as towards him : whereas if we do good to others without we do good only for Chrift's fake, but not to him, Mat. xxv. 35.-_.49. Pfal. xvi. 2, 3. We have advantage in general, to do all duties that belong to us as mem- bers of Chrift to fellow- members ; which we can - not do, if fcparate from them ; as a natural member cannot- perform its office to other members, if fepa- rate from them. SCONDLY, The means muff be ufed rightly, for the attaining of holinefs only in Chrift. t. One rule is, Do not truft on church member fhip, or on churches, as if this or that relation in fellowfhip commended you to God of itfelf ; where- as, a church-way is but a help to fellowfhip with Chrift, and walking in the duties of that fellowfhip. The Ifraelites Rumbled at Chrift, bytruting on their carnal privileges, and fet them in oppofition to him ; whereas they fhould have only made them fubfervi- ent to him. Confidence in them fhould have been abandoned, as Paul's example teacheth, Phil. iii. 3, 4, 5, ßìc: We muff not glory in Paul, Apollos, Ce- phas, but in Chrift; elfe we glory in the flefh, and in men, a- Cor. 12, 13. and iii. 2r. Trufting on church privileges is an inlet to formality and licen- tioufnefs, Jer. vii. 4, 8, 9, to. and thence the cor- ruption of churches, Ifa. i. io. 2 Tim. ii. 20. 2. Follow no church any farther than you may follow it in the way of Chrift ; and keep fellowfhip with it only upon his account, becaufe it follows him, and bath fellowfhip with him, i John i. 3. Zech. viii. 23. If a church revolt from Chrift, we muff tot follow it, how ançient foever it may be ; as the I fraéìit ifh churchwas not to be followed, when it per- fecuted him and his apoftle.s ; and many, by adher- ing to that church, fell fromChrift, Phil. iii, 6. Afts vi" r3, 14. and xxi. 28. We are indeed to hear the church, but not everyone that calls itfelf fo, and none any farther than it fpeaketh as a true church, accord-
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