An expository comment, doctrinal, controversial, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…An expository comment, doctrinal, controversal, and practical upon the whole first chapter to the…

Concerning the Efficient, Instrumental, Formal and Final Cause of a Church.

2 COR. 1. 1. To the Church at Corinth.

WE are describing the nature of a particular visible Church; and in that have discussed the Efficient Cause, with the manner of his efficiency, expressed in those words [Called of God] what is implied in that, hath been examined: only there remaineth a necessary distinction to be attended unto, of Gods call; that it is two-fold, either External only, or External and Internal also; or an Effectual, and Ineffectual Calling. For though this distinction be hated by some men, yet the Scripture is very clear, That there are many called, who yet are not chosen: and when he saith called, it is not meant only actively on Gods part, as some were called, but yet refused, and would ¹not so much as outwardly profess obedience, but called is to be understood passively on mans part, so that he giveth some outward conformity to Gods call. There is an external reception, and submission to it, but yet there is no true inward sanctification: Insomuch that some who are called the children of the Kingdom shall be cast forth; and they are said not to be all Israel, who are of Israel. In the Old Testament we read of many who outwardly submitted to the profession of Gods commands, who yet were not found at heart; and therefore our Saviour in the course of his Ministry did not direct his preaching more to any subject almost then this, viz. to have the internals of grace, as well as externals; so that we may say, There is a called and elected Church, and a called Church only not elected; and this is to take off all Churches from idolizing and doting upon the Ordinances and external administrations which are in a Church, as the Jews did, and as most Christians do. We are to go further, and to see whether we be indeed and really Christs body, as well as seemingly. For if we do compare a Church called only, with the Church called and elected, and to the spiritual privileges that are promised; so our Divines use to say, That it is but equivocally a Church; they have no true acceptance with God. If there should be a Society professing faith in Christ, and have pure administrations, but not one in the Society having true real sanctifying grace; this Society in respect of God and Christ hath no true communion with them. They have but the name, not the nature, and so are equivocally, not univocally a true Church.