The true nature of a Gospel church and its government

3. They are to be such as visibly answer the Description given of Gospel Churches in the Scripture, so as the Titles assigned therein unto the Members of such Churches, may on good grounds be appropriated unto them. To compose Churches of such persons as do not visibly answer the character given of what they were of old, and what they were always to be by virtue of the Law of Christ or Gospel-constitution, is not Church Edification but Destruction. And those who look on the things spoken of all Church Members of old, as that they were Saints by calling, lively stones in the house of God, justified and sanctified, separate from the World, &c. as those which were in them, and did indeed belong unto them, but even deride the necessity of the same things in present Church Members, or the Application of them unto those who are so, are themselves no small part of that woeful Degeneracy which Christian Religion is fallen under. Let it then be considered what is spoken of the Church of the Jews in their Dedication unto God, as unto their Typical Holiness, with the Application of it unto Christian Churches in real Holiness, 1 Pet. 2.5, 9. with the Description given of them constantly in the Scripture, as Faithful, Holy, Believing, as the House of God, as his Temple wherein he dwells by his Spirit, as the Body of Christ united and compacted by the communication of the Spirit unto them; as also what is said concerning their ways, walkings and duties; and it will be uncontrollably evident of what sort our Church Members ought to be; nor are those of any other sort able to discharge the Duties which are incumbent on all Church Members, nor to use the Privileges they are entrusted withal. Wherefore, I say, to suppose Churches regularly to consist of such persons for the greater part of them, as no way answer the Description given of Church Members in their Original Institution, nor capable to discharge the Duties prescribed unto them, but giving evidence of Habits and actions inconsistent therewithal, is not only to disturb all Church Order, but utterly to overthrow the Ends ⟨p. 6⟩and Being of Churches. Nor is there any thing more scandalous unto Christian Religion, than what Bellarmine affirms to be the judgment of the Papists in opposition unto all others; namely, that no internal Virtue or Grace is required unto the Constitution of a Church in its Members. Lib. 3. de Eccles.