exc.R.ncy

coram union is darkned

First, if we reft in any Church-priviledge we Cap. 22. have, and make that to be our Religion, and the How the ftrength of our fpirits be let out about thefe things for the we enjoy, more then others, fo as we begin to de- sis cline in the favour and power of godliness; if others that knew us before, when we had not those priviledges and mercies, that we have now, fhall fay, What good is to be had there? I knew fuch, and me thinks they had more favour and relish in the ways of God then now, more sweetness and warmth to be had in their company then now there is; Take heed of this, of giving occafion to any to fay fo. It is a very evil and a dangerous thing to rest in Church-priviledges, to make all our Religion to confift in being in a Church-way, we may have this revealed to us, and yet little of Heaven revealed. There were two vails of the Tabernacle, one covered the Holy of Holies, the other the place where the Priests entred, it may be we have had the first opened to us, but yet the fecond which leads to the Holy of Holics, may ftill be vailed.

Many whofe hearts are very carnal, may be much for Church-Ordinances. We have in the 24. of Ezekiel, ver. 21, 22. feven feveral expreffions of carnal hearts.prifing Church-priviledges. First, they accounted them their ftrength. Secondly, the excellency of their ftrength. Thirdly, the defire of their eyes. Fourthly, that which their fouls pitied. Fifthly, their glory. Sixthly, the joy of their glory. Seventhly, that whereupon they fet their mindes. What a noife did they make about the Temple of the Lord? The Temple of the Lord, The Temple of the Lord, Ier.7.4. and yet they were carnal: Take heed therefore

you

reft

2

Cap.22. reft not in the Church-priviledges, by this you will deceive your felves, and darken the excellency of this bleffed communion.

Secondly, take heed of darkning this by any scandalous way, as thofe do who profefs themselves to be the people of God, and yet by their wretched ways of fenfualities, or any other ways, are a scandal unto Gods people, this is an evil, and a bitter thing. Chrift walks amongst the golden candlesticks: Every Church fhould be a golden candlestick, holding forth light in the Doctrine of it, and golden in the holy converfation of it. We must take heed that there be not fo much as a dufting of this golden candlestick of the Lord, by the leaft loofeness, or earthlinefs of our lives. By fcandals in the wicked lives of those that are of Gods people, there is a ftain and blot caft upon Church communion; here the name of God is polluted; others that are prophane, pollute the creatures, and their own confciences, but Gods name is not fo much polluted by them; but Gods people do not onely pollute their confciences, by their fcandalous lives, but pollute Gods name, and it is worfe to pollute Gods name, then to pollute your confciences: And therefore know, that joyning to the Saints is an aggravation to every fin you commit afterward, and though it be true, that union with the people of God is a mitigation of every crofs and affliction, yet it is an aggravation to every fin.

Yea, if men were born for no other end and purpofe, but to do mischief, they could not do more then this, to joyn with the people of God, and then live fcandaloufly. O brethren, let us pray to God,

that

that we may never live to that day, to darken the Cap.22. great excellency of the fellowship of the Saints: It were better that God fhould take a thousand of us out of the world, then that we should live to darken the profeffion of Gods name, in union with his people; this does more mischief, then all the perfecuters under Heaven can do.

The Church of God hath never been in a better condition, then when their perfecuters have raged moft; the raging of perfecuters have not darkned the excellency of the Church, but the fcandalous lives of members of a Church have darkned the glory of the Church: though by perfecution others may be afraid to make profeffion of the truth, yet all the perfecution in the world cannot take off mens confciences, and caufe them in their consciences to think fuch are not in the truth, because they are perfecuted, but the fcandalous lives of those that are Profeffors, do make men think in their confciences that this way is not right, and therefore make them think they do God good service in hating fuch men, perfecuting fuch men, and there is more evil in this, to be an occafion to make men think this way is not good, then to make men afraid to venture upon this way. And therefore confider what a great deal of mifchief fcandalous lives do, and if you finde your hearts inclining to any fenfual way, that you are like to give fcandal, take heed of it, for it is the greatest mifchief that can be devifed. Those who joyn with the Church of God, fhould walk fo, as to be an ornament to it, not a stain, a blot, to caft filth upon it, Ifa. 49. 18. Behold thefe that gather themfelves to thee, thou shalt furely clothe thee with them all, as

Malo mife. randum

quam eru

Cap.22. with an Ornament : Confider how far many of you are from being an ornament to the Church, are not your lives rather blemishes? This is a fore evil. Better it is to endure any mifery, then to do that which fhall make Gods people ashamed of us.

befcen tum

Tert. de fuga. perl.

3.

regnante

resocavit,

O tantum

inter fe

bello inte

tino op pugnarent

The third thing that darkens the excellency of communion with Gods people,is diffentions in judgement or affection, this makes it appear to be black in Epifcopos the eyes of the world. Sozomen reports of a Devilish Conftantio policy of Fulian, to raile a fcandal against the xilio di Church: He fent for thofe Bishops that were banifhtos domi ed in Constantius his time, on purpose that he might caufe diffention in the Church by them. Take heed fine ut ipfe you have not a hand in darkning this excellent conb mutuam dition, no not in this way. In the body, folutio concontentione tinui, is more dangerous then the corruption of a humor: Let us labor fo far as poffibly we can, to make it excellent by peaceableness; this is that ecclefiam. which is prophefied of for the Church, Ifa. 33. 20. Thine eyes fhall fee Ferufalem a quiet habitation: And mark the bleffing that follows upon this quietnels; A Tabernacle that shall not be taken down; not one of the Stakes thereof shall ever be removed, neither shall any of the cords thereof be broken; but there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers, streams, &c. In Zech. 14.ver.9. there is a Prophetic, that the Lord fhall be King over all the earth, in that day there fhall be one Lord, and his name one: We now profels one God, but we do as it were call him by feveral names; but that will be a bleffed time, when as there fhall be but one Lord, fo his name fhall be one; there shall be a bleffed agreement in the profeffion of

his name, oneness of heart is a bleffing of the new Cap. 22. Covenant.

quantum

I remember Eufebius reports in the life of Conftantine, that he was fo much troubled for diffentions in the house of God, as he could not fleep in the night, and they did more difquiet him, then all his wars, yea he fays, they caufed him to fob and figh: and fo they should be difquietings to our spirits, and we should study to make up breaches. S. Augustine, ep. 15. hath this expreffion, fpeaking of the divifions of fome of the Church, fays he, I would fall downAd pedes at their feet, and defire them with all the might I prociderem have they would not do thus and thus, that they flerem would not caft reproaches upon one another. And poffum. obferve the spirit of St. Paul, Phil. 2. 1, 2, 3. If there be any confolation in Chrift, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfil ye my joy, that ye be like minded, having the fame love, &c. Doves cannot endure to be amongst Ravens,but where they fee meekness and love, there thofe of Dove-like difpofitions love to be; Ifaiah 60. 8. Who are they like Doves, that flie to their Windows? Brethren, if we would expect to grow up in the ways of godliness, it must be by love and union together, Coloffians 2.2. Being knit together in love, unto all riches of full affurance. When hearts are knit together in love,then a Church thrives,and grows up to all riches of grace.

As it is in the body of a man, when the members of the body are out of joynt, they can neither receive ftrength from the body, nor be useful to the body. And therefore the Apoftle would have us be careful,