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…

But to open this, let us consider what is implied in this, when a Church is said to be the Church of God.

First therefore, this showeth, That a Church is a supernatural Society, it's ⟨p. 65⟩spiritual company of men. So that a Church is not like a civil Corporation, or like Kingdoms and Commonwealths, which are by mere humane Institution and agreement, though Magistracy it self it be of God, but are supernatural; and therefore it's called the Kingdom of Heaven, and Jerusalem which is from above; so the Church is called Gal. 4. 26. even while it is here on Earth, before it is triumphant in Heaven. Now the Church is a supernatural Society many ways, in which respect it may be called the Church of God in a more eminent manner. For in respect of its Efficient, so God alone is the author of it, called therefore Ecclesia, because God by his Word calls them from their Heathenish Idolatries and practises, making of them a Church. Thus the people of Corinth, when they were securely indulging themselves in all manner of impieties, having no thoughts or desires to be a Church, God by Paul calls them to be one. Even as God by his breath, caused the dry bones to gather together, and to live; or as at the day of Judgment, God by the voice of an Arch-angel, will raise the dead in the grave who have no life or sense in them. Thus it's the Lord that made Churches every where in the preaching of the Gospel. It was the gracious work of God that found us out in Britain, and made a Church to himself, so that we are loca inaccessa to the grace of God and his Spirit, though to humane power. It is true indeed, God is the God of the world, he created Heaven and Earth with all therein; yet though God did thus immediately create the world at first, we do not say the creatures therein are Gods grace, or that they have a supernatural being. For it's not enough to make a thing grace or supernatural, that God doth immediately create it, but that his power be in a peculiar and extraordinary manner, and that for supernatural effects and ends. Oh therefore, how greatly should we be affected with the grace and power of God in creating to himself a Church out of the world? He might have no more made a Church here, or there in the Earth, then he did in Hell; and he that at first planted a curious Garden, and put man therein, is much more wonderful in making of a Church to himself; yet how brutish and earthly are we?