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…

First, From the name Church ordinarily given to •olievers. Now a Church is a Society or Company met together; and therefore it is not lawful for thee to live alone, or be a Minister of Sacraments, and all things to thy self. Even as Aristotle said of him, that would live alone, not joining himself to any humane Society, he must be aut Deus, aut Bestia; It is applicable here, he must be made even like God; that needeth no growth of grace; yea, that is above all duty or homage to God; or else a very beast, one that hath no sense or feeling about a God, and his Worship. The synonymous names also to a Church, doth evidence this; They are called Christs body; now it's necessary for the members of the body to be joined together, else there cannot be that mutual help and furthering of one another. They are also called an House, and a spiritual Building, wherein they are to be as living stones; and such must be close, and well compacted together.

First, From the name Church ordinarily given to •olievers. Now a Church is a Society or Company met together; and therefore it is not lawfull for thee to live alone, or be a Minister of Sacraments, and all things to thy self. Even as Aristotle said of him, that would live alone, not joyning himself to any humane Society, he must be aut Deus, aut Bestia; It is applicable here, he must be made even like God; that needeth no growth of grace; yea, that is above all duty or homage to God; or else a very beast, one that hath no sense or feeling about a God, and his Worship. The syonymous names also to a Church, doth evidence this; They are called Christs body; now it's necessary for the members of the body to be joyned together, else there cannot be that mutual help and furthering of one another. They are also called an House, and a spiritual Building, wherein they are to be as living stones; and such must be close, and well compacted together.

Secondly, From the communion of Saints, which is a duty so often prescribed in Scripture; such as to watch over one another, to provoke one another, to comfort and rebuke, if need be. Now how can this be, if Saints be dispersed from each other?