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Ch.4. Abuses blemish not,

but their toleration.

125

I Cor. 11.

13,14. 19.-22.

& 14.&

15. Chap.

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, uncharitable going to Law, Inceft, lovefeafts in the Lords Supper ftrange tongues in the publicke worship; and yet because the Apostles ftood out against these and reformed them, the Church ftill retaines her perfect beauty. In the Church of Ephefus there were false Apostles, yet it was a Church; fo it is, *Rev.2.2. corruptions not cut off defile a Church: As we then defire the Church should be pure, leave we all our finnes and corruptions which may any way blemish the beauty of the Church,

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* Cant. this Church gathered by his Apostles 4.1. hee calleth, All faire. It grieveth him Cant.4. not to afcribe thousands to himselfe, and 7 ten thousands to them ; yea, hee foretold

126

When we may leave & Church.

Ch.4.

Joh.14.12. it, and promifed it freely aforehand: How farre was hee from a Spirit of envie and emulation, though indeed all their fucceffe was by his grace and bleffing, as 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 own from one another.

* 1 Cor. 15.10.

ufe 4.

f

Fourthly, hence we learn in what cafes one Church may ftep from another, to wit, ded

› First, 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 goe out with him.21

Secondly, when a Church is become an univerfall spotted Leopard, and a cruell Lion, blafpheming and perfecuting *A&.19.9. the Gofpell of Chrift, as*

& 13.50,

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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; wee may also worship

Christ

Ch.4. How to knit Chrifts heart to use

י

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127

Christ in trueth 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 keep the profeffion of Christ, but fall into their mouthes, then it is time to goe: But are there thefe caufes now? Doth not Chrift dwell herein the fimplicity of his ordinances? As long as Chrift is here in England, let us not goe away: but fay, as Peter and John, Lord, *Joh.6.68. to whom shall we go? thou haft the words of eternall life. As long as Chrift is pleafed to feed us, to drop milke and honey into our foules, let us not depart.

* A&.11.

-Fifthly, this may teach us how to knit ufe 5. the heart of Chrift to us in ravishing affection,by cleaving to Chrift with fetled purpose, by abounding in helpfulnesse to the Saints, by procuring and keeping 23. faithfull fhepherds, by burthening the Church not with many chaines of lawes, Verfe9. but onely with few, and thofe neceffary: all these 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

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ufe 6. Verse 10.

ufe 7.

How Minifters may become amiable. Ch.4. fhew our love to him, and then we shall finde Chrift ravifhed with our love.

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

Seventhly, this doth teach Minifters how to make their Ministery amiable to Verfe 11. Chrift, (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 Doctrine as honey, and wholesome as milke, for the nourishment of Chrifts lambs.

ufe 8.

The Paftors and Ministers of the Primitive Church did this without help of Univerfities; what a fhame then is this for us to come short of them in fuch abundance of outward helps and meanes? Wouldeft thou be a faithfull Minifter? 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 sweet favour and fmell 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 sweet 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, meekneffe and love, &c. that our names be not dishonoured, much leffe God by our meanes. Caft we aside stinking drunkenneffe, whoredome, malice, covetoufneffe, &c. And thus doing wee shall take away all offence; fo doing, Chrift shall look at us às his faire fpoufe, and say, Thou are all fairé my love, ver.7.

A garden inclofed is my fifter, my Spouse.]

After the Church gathered by the Ministery of the Apostles,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, verse 15.

Fourthly, by her prayer in this eftate: wherein confider,

Rom.13.

13,14.

Cant. 4.

12. to cha.

5.2.

I

i. The

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