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Ch.6. We no dowry to give to Chrift. 185 Concubines, though fecondary wives, yet were but as fervants, fave onely they were admitted to the fellowship of the bed.

Fourthly, chiefe wives brought forth children, to whom belonged the Inheritance; whereas Concubines children had, for the most part onely, some gifts given them. That Dan and Genef.25. Naptali, Gad and Afber, the fons of 5,6. Bilbab and Zilphah had Inheritances among their brethren, was by extraordinary difpenfation.

Queenés then are fuch Reformed Congregations where fuch properties of Queenes are found: Chrift (indeed) lookes for no Dowrie from us for his owne ufe, he needeth nothing of ours, neither have we any thing to give him, but our owne nakedneffe, filthineffe, and beggery. Here therefore looke at Ezek 16. Chrift in the perfons of the Minifters, 5,6. whofe Vicegerents they are, and Embaffadours alfo and in whose name they being married to the Churches, doe beger children to Chrift; though Mi-1 Cor.4.15 nifters confidered in comparison with Chrift,

186 Confent between Minister and people.

|Chrift, they are but as the friends of the Bridegroome, not Bridegroomes Iohn 3.25. themfelves. Such Churches then, and Congregations are Queenes, whom the Ministers and Congregations doe with mutuall free confent chufe either the other; as when the people do give 2 Cor... up themselves, first, to the Lord, and then to the Minifters by the will of God. Of this fort are fundry Congregations in England, and very many in the Reformed forraigne Churches: other Congregations, which have Minifters, thraft upon them without their liking and confent, and whom Ministers have to them by fome clandeftine conveyances, are more like to Concubines.

Againe, fuch Congregations as come to their Minifters with a good dowry, and comfortable and honou. rable maintenance,they are like wives. Others who bring little or no maintenance with them, are like to Concu bines, though indeed the former condition is more effentiall to lawfull marriage; to wit, free confent, and

mutuall

The keyes in the hands of the Church. 187 mutuall ftipulation on both fides; for as fometimes lawfull wives have but poore dowries, and Concubines fometimes bring large maintenance with them: fo fome Congregations that freely confent to the acceptance of their Minifters can allow them but flender maintenance, whereas fome others upon whom Minifters thrust themselves are richly endowed: Furthermore, fuch Congregations as enjoy the power of the keyes, they are as Queenes, lawfull wives. The keyes of the Kingdome of Heaven, are

First, the one of knowledge, Luke

11.52.

Secondly, the other of Jurifdiction, Mat. 18.18. and both of them mentioned, Mat. 16.19.

Where then a Congregation enjoyeth a faithfull Miniftry, opening an entrance into the Kingdome of Heaven to penitent believers,and fhutting it againft impenitent hypocrites and fcandalous livers, there the power of the keyes is not wanting; and if withall they have liberty exercifing

188 The keyes in the hands of the Church. Jurifdi&tion, there is their Queen-like, or wive-like authority more compleat. Of this fort are divers, both English and forraigne Churches, though fundry Germane Churches difpenfing the keyes of knowledge more corruptly in their Do&rine of the Sacrament, and predeftination,and neglecting the ufe of excommunication, doe rather turne to the condition of Concubines.

But fuch Churches as have no Preachers,or fuch as have no power in their gifts to open and fhut the Kingdome of Heaven, to the confcience and foules of men, they are as Concubines.

Laftly, fuch Congregations where the people remaine still ignorant in darkneffe, and are not brought on to be begotten of God by the lively word of Regeneration, but continue altoge ther ignorant, worldly, and prophane; they are as Concubines, whofe children inherit not, though God may give them outward bleffings. But fuch Congregations where the word islively to the begetting of foules to

an

Scarcity of Preachers at first reformation. 189 an immortall inheritance,they are lawfull wives, yea Queenes: Ofthis fort our English and forraigne Churches have many, (God be bleffed) though

the Church of Sarde hath but a few Reval.3.4.

names.

Damofels are without number, &c.] Damofels, or Virgins in this marriage fong are of leffe reckoning, as being yet either not spoken to in way of marriage by Chrift and his Ministers, or coily refufing him. Of this fort there were many Churches at the first reforming of the Gofpel, to whom for want of Minifters Readers were fent; whence one of the Martyrs wifhed, that every able Minifter might have ten Congregations committed to his charge, till further provifion could be made; fo that fuch Churches there were, even ten to one, abundantly many that scarcely heard of Chrifts knocking at their hearts by any conscionable Ministry; yea, and how many be there at this day, that either doe want fuch Minifters as doe espouse them to Chrift, or else doe

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