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…

Now for such Notes of the Church, the Protestants say, there are these three ¹only.

1. 1What are the Notes of a true Church.

1. The pure preaching of the Word, with the public receiving and professing of it. 2. The right and orderly administration of the Sacraments. 3. The due use of holy Order and Discipline. Where these things are, there we may conclude, that certainly Gods true Church is, and with such a Society we may lawfully join.

1. The pure preaching of the Word, with the publick receiving and professing of it. 2. The right and orderly administration of the Sacraments. 3. The due use of holy Order and Discipline. Where these things are, there we may conclude, that certainly Gods true Church is, and with such a Society we may lawfully joyn.

Thirdly, Only when we give these three Notes, we do not make all of the same equal necessity. Discipline and holy Order is for the well-being of a Church. This Church of Corinth was a Church, though that was neglected. It is true, this is greatly to be pressed for, and the introducing of Christs order into a Church, is like the bringing of the Ark into Obed-Edoms family. So that without this, manifest impiety being suffered, God will be so highly provoked, as to give a Bill of Divorce to it, and take away his Gospel from such an unworthy, people; yet this is not made essential to the being of a Church. So also the administration of Sacraments. There was a time, when the Church had none, viz. before Circumcision was appointed; but since Christs appointment of them, there they ought to be used, where the way and manner he hath appointed can be attained. For the dispensers of those holy Mysteries must take heed, That they give not pearl to swine, nor encourage profane men in their impieties, by giving them the testimonies of Gods love, whom yet he abhorreth. Therefore that which is infallibly necessary, and always accompanying a true Church, is the preaching of the Word in a right manner, with the public receiving and profession of this. I add, the public profession; because the Word may be purely taught to a people, who yet are not the Church, because they do