(4.) I must say, that I cannot discern the least necessity of any positive Rule or Direction in this matter, nor is any such thing required by us on the like occasion. For this distribution of Believers into particular Congregations, is that which the nature of the thing it self and the Duty of men with respect unto the end of such Churches, doth indispensably require. For what is the end of all Churches for which they are instituted? Is it not the Edification of them that do believe? They will find themselves mistaken, who suppose that they were designed to be subservient unto the secular Interest of any sort of men. What are the means appointed of Christ in such Churches for that end? Are they not Doctrines and Fellowship, breaking Bread and Prayer, that is, the joint Celebration of the Ordinances of Christ in the Gospel, in Preaching the Word, Administering the Sacraments, Mutual Watchfulness over one another, and the exercise of that Discipline which he hath appointed unto his Disciples? I desire to know whether there be any need of a new Revelation to direct men who are obliged to preserve Churches in their use unto their proper End, to take care of such things, as would obstruct and hinder them in the use of means unto that end of their Edification? Whereas therefore it is manifest that ordinarily these means cannot be used in a due manner, but in such Churches, as wherein all may be acquainted with what all are concerned in, the very Institution it self is a plain Command, to plant, erect and keep all Churches in such a state, as wherein this end may be attained. And therefore if Believers in any place are so few, or so destitute of Spiritual Gifts, as not to be able of themselves jointly to observe these means for their Edification; It is their Duty not to join by themselves in a Church-State, but ⟨p. 43⟩to add themselves as Members unto other Churches; and so when they are so many as that they cannot orderly communicate together in all these Ordinances, in the way of their Administration appointed in the Scripture, unto the Edification of them, it is their Duty by virtue of the Divine Institution of Churches, to dispose of their Church-state and Relation into that way which will answer the Ends of it; that is, into more particular Churches or Congregations.
(4.) I must say, that I cannot discern the least necessity of any positive Rule or Direction in this matter, nor is any such thing required by us on the like occasion. For this distribution of Believers into particular Congregations, is that which the nature of the thing it self and the Duty of men with respect unto the end of such Churches, doth indispensibly require. For what is the end of all Churches for which they are instituted? Is it not the Edification of them that do believe? They will find themselves mistaken, who suppose that they were designed to be subservient unto the secular Interest of any sort of men. What are the means appointed of Christ in such Churches for that end? Are they not Doctrines and Fellowship, breaking Bread and Prayer, that is, the joynt Celebration of the Ordinances of Christ in the Gospel, in Preaching the Word, Administring the Sacraments, Mutual Watchfulness over one another, and the exercise of that Discipline which he hath appointed unto his Disciples? I desire to know whether there be any need of a new Revelation to direct men who are obliged to preserve Churches in their use unto their proper End, to take care of such things, as would obstruct and hinder them in the use of means unto that end of their Edification? Whereas therefore it is manifest that ordinarily these means cannot be used in a due manner, but in such Churches, as wherein all may be acquainted with what all are concerned in, the very Institution it self is a plain Command, to plant, erect and keep all Churches in such a state, as wherein this end may be attained. And therefore if Believers in any place are so few, or so destitute of Spiritual Gifts, as not to be able of themselves jontly to observe these means for their Edification; It is their Duty not to joyn by themselves in a Church-State, but ⟨p. 43⟩to add themselves as Members unto other Churches; and so when they are so many as that they cannot orderly communicate together in all these Ordinances, in the way of their Administration appointed in the Scripture, unto the Edification of them, it is their Duty by vertue of the Divine Institution of Churches, to dispose of their Church-state and Relation into that way which will answer the Ends of it; that is, into more particular Churches or Congregations.
