The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

But of these he hath a special regard as to their Foundation, Matter, Constitution and Order, he gives forth an exact pattern from Mount Zion, as of that Typical Tabernacle from Mount Sinai of Old.

But of these he hath a special regard as to their Foundadation, Matter, Constitution and Order, he gives forth an exact pattern from Mount Zion, as of that Typical Tabernacle from Mount Sinai of Old.

The Foundation part of a visible Church is the credible Profession of Faith and Holiness, wherein the Lord Jesus Christ is the Corner Stone, Eph. ij.20. Matth. xvi.18. This Profession is the Foundation, but not the Church it self. It's ⟨image 6⟩not Articles of Faith, or Profession of them in particular individual Persons that make an organized visible Church. We are the Household of Faith built upon the Foundation, &c. 2. It's Men and Women, not Doctrine, that are the Matter of a Church; and these professing the Faith, and practising Holiness. The Members of Churches are always called in the New Testament Saints, Faithful, Believers: They was such that were added to the Churches; neither is every Believer so as such, but as a professing Believer, for a Man must appear to be fit Matter of a visible Church before he can challenge Church Privileges, or they can be allowed him. 3. It's not many professing Believers that make a particular Church. For though they are fit Matter for a Church, yet they have not the Form of a Church, without a mutual Agreement and Combination (explicit or at least, implicit) whereby they become, by virtue of Christs Charter, a spiritual Corporation, and are called a City, Household, House, being united together by Joints and Bonds, not only by internal Bonds of the Spirit, but external; the Bonds of Union must be visible as the House is, by profession.

The Foundation part of a visible Church is the credible Profession of Faith and Holiness, wherein the Lord Jesus Christ is the Corner Stone, Eph. ij.20.