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…

For why should it be otherwise with a Society, then every member of it taken singly? Now it's certain in such a supposed Society, where all are professors, but not one member truly godly, there every individual person, notwithstanding all Church enjoyments, yet hath no lively interest in Christ, he is but as a glass eye or wooden leg in the body, that hath no vivifical nourishment, or is animated by the soul; and therefore such are said to be De corpore Ecclesiae, but not de animâ, if then ⟨p. 55⟩this be true of every member of that Church, it must be also true of the Church taken collectively: Only this is true, if we consider such a company relatively to God. But then, if we consider them quoad nos, in respect of men, who cannot judge the hearts, nor know when true grace is in any mans soul, then such a Church, or a Society may be called truly a Church. For it is the external profession, and outward submission to Christs order, that doth make a Church visible to us; and therefore in such a Church, there are true Ordinances, true Administrations. And this is the rule we must go by in joining our selves to a Church, and keeping external communion with it, if it be a called Church, though not elected, and be so far orthodox and pure, that we may have communion with them without sin. This is a Church to us, howsoever God may look upon them, as having a name to live, but were dead, as God said of Sardis, Rev. 3. 1. which yet was a Church. This distinction is of a two-fold use, to prevent two mistakes:

For why should it be otherwise with a Society, then every member of it taken singly? Now it's certain in such a supposed Society, where all are professors, but not one member truly godly, there every individual person, notwithstanding all Church enjoyments, yet hath no lively interest in Christ, he is but as a glass eye or wooden leg in the body, that hath no vivifical nourishment, or is animated by the soul; and therefore such are said to be De corpore Ecclesiae, but not de animâ, if then ⟨p. 55⟩this be true of every member of that Church, it must be also true of the Church taken collectively: Only this is true, if we consider such a company relatively to God. But then, if we consider them quoad nos, in respect of men, who cannot judge the hearts, nor know when true grace is in any mans soul, then such a Church, or a Society may be called truly a Church. For it is the external profession, and outward submission to Christs order, that doth make a Church visible to us; and therefore in such a Church, there are true Ordinances, true Administrations. And this is the rule we must go by in joyning our selves to a Church, and keeping external communion with it, if it be a called Church, though not elected, and be so farre orthodox and pure, that we may have communion with them without sinne. This is a Church to us, howsoever God may look upon them, as having a name to live, but were dead, as God said of Sardis,