Now see what degeneration grew in time. The Material building, which they called the Church, the House of God, they gave a relative sanctity to; they made it holier then other places, but a real sanctity, or personal holiness of those men, who indeed were the Church, and the House of God, that they persecuted and destroyed. Isidore Pelusiota, in an Epistle of his, speaketh excellently to this purpose, reproving a Bishop that adorned the Church-building with Images and costly Ornaments, but persecuted those that were the Church indeed. The latter he calleth [Greek or Hebrew], and the building, [Greek or Hebrew]. So then, take off your thoughts from all superstitious conce••s about holiness in places. Gods House, Gods Church, are the persons and men that do outwardly profess his way, and live accordingly: Whose House we are. Heb. 3 6. With those God is present. Indeed 1 Chron. 7. we read of a Temple, a great stately House dedicated to God, with a relative holiness, with Prayers that God would be present there; his eyes and his heart would be in that place. But to argue from that Temple, to our material Churches, it's very unsafe: [It is true, Mr Made ⟨p. 118⟩(whose opinion about the relative holiness of Churches in Gospel times, is publicly known) doth endeavour to answer this Argument thus, viz. That though we have not such a command as the Jews had about the Temple for our Churches, yet by Analogy, such a Jewish command will bind, &c. But through this w•de gate the whole Jewish administration may crowd in upon us, &c.] For, the Temple was typical of Christs body, and therefore was destroyed with all the other significative Ceremonies. So then, they err on one hand too rigidly, who think we may not call this material building, a Church: for, we may call it so, by a figure, which is ordinary about such things. And they on the other hand, who take of their thoughts from minding the true Church indeed, and House of God, by holiness and purity of life, addicting themselves to curious building, goodly Images, and external worship. But this occasionally only. We see here, the Apostle speaks of persons, and not of places; and he saith, They are Gods building. All our particular Societies should be of such men for knowledge and godliness, that we may say they are Gods House, not the Devils den.
Now see what degeneration grew in time. The Material building, which they called the Church, the House of God, they gave a relative sanctity to; they made it holyer then other places, but a reall sanctity, or personal holiness of those men, who indeed were the Church, and the House of God, that they persecuted and destroyed. Isidore Pelusiota, in an Epistle of his, speaketh excellently to this purpose, reproving a Bishop that adorned the Church-building with Images and costly Ornaments, but persecuted those that were the Church indeed. The latter he calleth 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, and the building, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉. So then, take off your thoughts from all superstitious conce••s about holiness in places. Gods House, Gods Church, are the persons and men that do outwardly profess his way, and live accordingly: Whose House we are. Heb. 3 6. With those God is present. Indeed 1 Chron. 7. we read of a Temple, a great stately House dedicated to God, with a relative holiness, with Prayers that God would be present there; his eyes and his heart would be in that place. But to argue from that Temple, to our material Churches, it's very unsafe: [It is true, Mr Made ⟨p. 118⟩(whose opinion about the relative holiness of Churches in Gospel times, is publiquely known) doth endeavour to answer this Argument thus, viz. That though we have not such a command as the Jews had about the Temple for our Churches, yet by Analogy, such a Jewish command will bind, &c. But through this w•de gate the whole Jewish administration may croude in upon us, &c.] For, the Temple was typical of Christs body, and therefore was destroyed with all the other significative Ceremonies. So then, they erre on one hand too rigidly, who think we may not call this material building, a Church: for, we may call it so, by a figure, which is ordinary about such things. And they on the other hand, who take of their thoughts from minding the true Church indeed, and House of God, by holiness and purity of life, addicting themselves to curious building, goodly Images, and external worship. But this occasionally only. We see here, the Apostle speaks of persons, and not of places; and he saith, They are Gods building. All our particular Societies should be of such men for knowledge and godliness, that we may say they are Gods House, not the Devils den.
