An enquiry into the original, nature, institution, power, order and communion of evangelical churches.…

3. This grant of the Father may be considered with respect unto particular Churches, or Congregations. And the end of these Churches is twofold. (1) That Believers as they are Internal, Spiritual, real Subjects of Christs Kingdom, may together act that Faith, and those Graces, whereby they are so, unto his Glory. I say it is, that true Believers may together and in Society, act all those Graces of the Spirit of Christ, wherein both as unto Faculty and Exercise, their internal Spiritual subjection unto Christ doth consist. And as this is that whereby the Glory of Christ in this World doth most eminently consist, namely, in the joint exercise of the Faith and Love of true Believers; so it is a principal means of the increase and augmentation of those Graces in themselves, or their Spiritual Edification. And from this especial end of these Churches, it follows, that those who are Members of them, or belong to them, ought to be Saints by calling, or such as are endued with those Spiritual Principles and Graces, in whose exercise Christ is to be Glorified. And where they are not so, the principal end of their Constitution is lost. So are those Churches to be made up Fundamentally and Materially of those who in their single capacity are Members of the Church Catholic invisible. (2) Their second end is, that those who belong unto the Church and Kingdom of Christ under the ⟨p. 46⟩second consideration, as visibly professing subjection unto the Rule of Christ and Faith in him, may express that subjection in Acts and Duties of his Worship, in the Observance of his Laws and Commands, according unto his Mind and Will. For this alone can be done in particular Churches, be they of what sort they will, whereof we shall speak afterwards. Hence it follows that it belongs unto the Foundation of these particular Churches, that those who join in them, do it on a public Profession of Faith in Christ, and Obedience unto him, without which this end of them also is lost. Those I say who make a visible Profession of the Name of Christ and their subjection unto him, have no way to express it regularly and according to his mind, but in these particular Churches, wherein alone those Commandments of his, in whose Observance our Profession consisteth, do take place; being such Societies, as wherein the solemn Duties of his Worship are performed, and his Rule or Discipline is exercised.

3. This grant of the Father may be considered with respect unto particular Churches, or Congregations. And the end of these Churches is twofold. (1) That Believers as they are Internal, Spiritual, real Subjects of Christs Kingdom, may together act that Faith, and those Graces, whereby they are so, unto his Glory. I say it is, that true Believers may together and in Society, act all those Graces of the Spirit of Christ, wherein both as unto Faculty and Exercise, their internal Spiritual subjection unto Christ doth consist. And as this is that whereby the Glory of Christ in this World doth most eminently consist, namely, in the joynt exercise of the Faith and Love of true Believers; so it is a principal means of the encrease and augmentation of those Graces in themselves, or their Spiritual Edification. And from this especial end of these Churches, it follows, that those who are Members of them, or blong to them, ought to be Saints by calling, or such as are indued with those Spiritual Principles and Graces, in whose exercise Christ is to be Glorified. And where they are not so, the principal end of their Constitution is lost. So are those Churches to be made up Fundamentally and Materially of those who in their single capacity are Members of the Church Catholick invisible. (2) Their second end is, that those who belong unto the Church and Kingdom of Christ under the