Direa. XIII. Of SanEïjFcation. 233 ing to the voice of the fhepherd, John X. 27. We mufffubje& ourfelves tominiffers of Chrift, and itew- ards of his myfteries, t Cor.. iv. i. but mutt give u,p ourfelves firft to Chrift abfolutely, and to the church according to the will of Chrift, 2 Cor. viii. s. Our fear mutt not be taught by the precepts ofmen, Mat. xv. The doctrines of any men are to be tried by fcripture, whatever authority they pretend to, Ats xvii. r r. An unlimited following church guides, brought the church intóBabylon, and into all man- ner of fpiritual whoredoms and abominations You are not baptized into the name of the church, but into the name of Chrift, r Cor. i 13. 3 Do not think, that you muff attain this or that degree of grace, before you join yourfelfin full com- munion with a church of Chrift in all ordinances. But when you have given up yourfelf to Chrift and learned the-duty of communion, give up yourfelf unto a church of Chrift, though you find muchweak- nefs and inability. For church ordinances of fpeci al communion ferve to ftrengthen you ; and how canyou get heat, beingalone? Thedifciples, as foon as converted, embraced all fellowfhip, AEts ii. 42. And churches, that they may forward holinefs in them- felves and others, mutt be willing to receive Chriít'á weak ones, and to feed his lambs as well as better- grown fheep, and bear them on their fides, Ifa. lxvi. 12. How elfe (hall Chrift's weak ones grow ftrong by that nourifhment that other parts fupply ? They are very unreafonable, that expeEt Chriftians fhould grow, out of church fellowfhip, to as high a degree of grace, as thefe that are in thofe paftures of tender grafs; and are unwilling to receive any that they are like to have occafion to bear with : whereas bearing and long- fufl'ering are great duties of church fellow- fhip, Eph. iv. 2, 3. Rom. xiv. I. The weakeft have molt need to be ftrengthenedby church communion; and we are bound to receive them, as Chrift hath re- ceived us, Rom. xv, 7. We do not reject or feparate N n z
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