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Ch.4 Abufes blemish not, but their toleration.125

13,14.

Secondly, this doth teach us that not use 2. abuses, but the toleration of them doth blemish a Church, and detract from the perfect beauty of it; for otherwife in the Primitive Churches were found Schifms, Herefies, a denying the Refurrection, 1 Cor.11. uncharitable going to Law, Inceft,love-19.-22. feafts in the Lords Supper, ftrange & 14. & 15. Chap. tongues in the publicke worship, and yet because the Apostles ftood out against thefe and reformed them, the Church ftill retaines her perfect beauty. In the Church of Ephefus there were falfe Apoftles*, yet it was a Church; fo it is, * Rev.2.2 corruptions not cut off defile a Church: As we then defire the Church fhould be pure, leave we all our finnes and corruptions which may any way blemish the beauty of the Church.

* Cant.

Thirdly, this teaches us to be ready to use 3. extoll and acknowledge (as occafion ferveth) other mens labours above our owne. Chrift gathered a Church in his owne time which hee called, Faire *; but this Church gathered by his Apostles he calleth, All faire. It grieveth him not to afcribe thoufands to himfelfe, and ten thousands to them; yea, he foretold

it

4.

* Cant. 4.

7.

126

When we may leave a Church. Ch.4

15. 10.

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Ioh.14.12 it, and promised it freely aforehand: How farre was he from a Spirit of envie and emulation, though indeed all their fucceffe was by his grace and bleffing, as *Cor. Paul faid, * By the grace of God I am that I am The contrary Spirit of emulation hindereth Churches from taking that which is their owne from one another. Fourthly, hence wee learne in what cafes one Church may step from another, to wit,

ufe 4

Firft, when Chrift leaveth a Church, and goeth away with us from it; Come with me from Lebanon (my spouse,) with me: So when Chrift leaves and forfakes a Church, wee may leave it and

with him.

goe out

Secondly, when a Church is become an univerfall spotted Leopard, and a cruell Lion,blafpheming and perfecuting

A&t. 19. the Gofpell of Chrift, as

9. & 13. 50,51.

*

These things were found in Rome,from whence wee departed not in England, (bleffed be the Lord)from whom the Separatifts would have us to depart: But Chrift ftill vouchfafes to be with us,converting foules, feeding his lambes, hearing our prayers; We may also worship

Christ

Ch.4 How to knit Chrifts heart to us. Christ in truth without feare of lawes, yea with acceptance. When Chrift goes, let all his faithfull fpoufes goe with him, when there are dens of Lions, and men cannot keepe the profeffion of Christ, but fall into their mouthes, then it is time to goe: But are there these causes now? doth not Chrift dwell here in the fimplicity of his ordinances? As long as Chrift is here in England,let us not goe away: but fay,as Peter and Fohn, Lord, to 68. whom fhall wee goe? thou haft the words of eternall life. As long as Chrift is pleased to feed us, to drop milke and honey into our foules, let us not depart.

127

* Ioh. 6.

* A&.11.

23.

Verfe. 9.

Fifthly,this may teach us how to knit use 5. the heart of Chrift to us in ravishing affection, by cleaving to Chrift with fetled purpose, by abounding in helpfulneffe to the Saints, by procuring and keeping faithfull fhepherds, by burthening the Church not with many chains of lawes, but onely with few,and thofe neceffary: all thefe are formerly mentioned in the Church of Antioch. As ever we defire to have the Lord Jefus Chrift to love us, let us grow in knowledge, faith, and all faving graces of his Spirit, and hereby

fhew

128 How Ministers may become amiable. Ch.4.

Ufe 6.

fhew our love to him, and then we fhall finde Chrift ravished with our love.

Sixthly, this doth teach us what kind Verfe 10. of love Chrift acknowledgeth and embraceth; to wit, faire, ftrong, fweet, cheerefull, in an enlarging our felves to the reliefe of his poore Saints.

ufe 7.

Verfe it.

ufe 8.

Seventhly, this doth teach Ministers how to make their Ministry amiable to Christ, (not to preach once a moneth, or quarterly, by the preaching of the Law, but to be full as the honey-combe dropping out of it felfe, to preach fweet do&trine as honey, and wholesome as milk, for the nourishment of Chrifts lambs.

The Paftors and Minifters of the Primitive Church did this without help of Univerfities; what a fhame then is this for us to come short of them in such abundance of outward helpes and means? Would't thou be a faithfull Minister ? let thy doctrine drop as honey, preach willingly, freely, fweetly, comfortably.

Laftly, this may learne and stirre up Chriftians fo to walke, and fo to furnish our felves with inward graces, and with outward commendable carriage,as may yeeld a fweet favour and fmel to God

and

Ch.4.The Church under the 10.Perfecutions.129

and man, that it may be like the fmell of Lebanon, that men may smell a fweet favour that come neere them : let our hearts be inwardly furnished with the graces of God as with fweet oyntments; and our outward garments, our outward conversation fo directed with honesty, integrity,humility, meekeneffe and love, &c. that our names be not difhonoured, much leffe God by our meanes. Caft we afide ftinking drunkenneffe, whoredome, malice, covetoufneffe, &c. And Rom. 13. thus doing, wee fhall take away all of- | 13› 14 fence; fo doing, Chrift fhall looke at us as his faire spouse, and fay, Thou art all faire my love,verfe 7.

* A garden inclofed is my fifter, my Spouse:]

After the Church gathered by the Miniftry of the Apoftles, next followeth that under the ten perfecutions, which is here defcribed,

First, by her restraint,verfe 13. Secondly, by her privacy,verfe 14. Thirdly, by her fruitfulneffe, refreshing and watering others, verfe 15. Fourthly, by her prayer in this eftate: wherein confider,

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* Cant. 4.

12.te cha.

5.2.

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