For saith David which had so much acquaintance, When I shall have learned. The professors of the Christian Religion were primitively called Disciples or Learners, Act. 6. 2. [Greek or Hebrew], The multitude of the Disciples; there seems to be the true definition of a Church, the Genus and Difference; The Genus is the community or multitude of men united among themselves as a Corporation, City or Household. The Difference or Form is Disciples, those that gave up themselves to Christ to be taught and governed, and to be instructed in this way and Doctrine. So Act. 11. 26. it is said there, The Disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Christians are the Disciples, and to difference them from the Disciples of other men, they are the Disciples of Christ. (1) The School, that's the Church, where there are public Lectures read to all visible Professors; But the Elect getting saving knowledge, they are not only taught of men, but taught of God, they have an inward light. (2) The Book that's the Scripture, which is able to make wise to salvation, to make the man of God perfect, 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. Some run to tradition, others cry up their own reason to the wrong of the Scripture, they make Christ to be their Disciple, rather than they his, when they will not receive things upon his testimony and revelation, as the Socinians. (3) The Teacher is either supreme or subordinate. The supreme teacher is Christ, he is the great Prophet of the Church, so it is said, Joh. 6. 45. They shall be taught of God. This is such a teacher that not only opens the Scripture, but opens the understanding, Luk. 24. 45. The subordinate Teachers are the Ministers of the Gospel whom God useth for this work; not out of any indigence, but indulgence; not for any efficacy in the Preacher, but out of a suitableness to the hearer, as a means most agreeable to our frail estate, to deal with us by way of counsel. God can teach us without men, by the secret illapses of his Spirit; but he will use those that are of the same nature with our selves, that have the same temptations, necessities and affections, which know the heart of a man. He would use them, who if they deceive us, must deceive themselves; he would use men of whose conversation and course we are conscious; we know their walk and way; he would use them as Ambassadors to pray us in Christs stead to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor.
For saith David which had so much acquaintance, When I shall have learned. The professors of the Christian Religion were primitively called Disciples or Learners, Act. 6. 2. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, The multitude of the Disciples; there seems to be the true definition of a Church, the Genus and Difference; The Genus is the community or multitude of men united among themselves as a Corporation, City or Houshold. The Difference or Form is Disciples, those that gave up themselves to Christ to be taught and governed, and to be instructed in this way and Doctrine. So Act. 11. 26. it is said there, The Disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. Christians are the Disciples, and to difference them from the Disciples of other men, they are the Disciples of Christ. (1) The School, that's the Church, where there are publick Lectures read to all visible Professors; But the Elect getting saving knowledg, they are not only taught of men, but taught of God, they have an inward light. (2) The Book that's the Scripture, which is able to make wise to salvation, to make the man of God perfect, 2 Tim. 3. 16, 17. Some run to tradition, others cry up their own reason to the wrong of the Scripture, they make Christ to be their Disciple, rather than they his, when they will not receive things upon his testimony and revelation, as the Socinians. (3) The Teacher is either supreme or subordinate. The supreme teacher is Christ, he is the great Prophet of the Church, so it is said, Ioh. 6. 45. They shall be taught of God. This is such a teacher that not only opens the Scripture, but opens the understanding, Luk. 24. 45. The subordinate Teachers are the Ministers of the Gospel whom God useth for this work; not out of any indigence, but indulgence; not for any efficacy in the Preacher, but out of a suitableness to the hearer, as a means most agreeable to our frail estate, to deal with us by way of counsel. God can teach us without men, by the secret illapses of his Spirit; but he will use those that are of the same nature with our selves, that have the same temptations, necessities and affections, which know the heart of a man. He would use them, who if they deceive us, must deceive themselves; he would use men of whose conversation and course we are conscious; we know their walk and way; he would use them as Ambassadors to pray us in Christs stead to be reconciled to God, 2 Cor.
