A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their public fast, Novemb.…A sermon preached before the Honourable House of Commons, at their publique fast, Novemb.…

Mistake me not, I pray. A Church is considered two ways; As a meeting of people, men and women; O• as a Church ⟨p. 26⟩meeting, a meeting of Saints, apparent Believers, coe•us sidelium. I do not say that the Word is to be the only line and rule to the Church in the first respect, so reason may be a rule to men as men; but in the second respect it is, the Word is able to reach unto all things belonging unto a Church as a Church. Our Commission is not larger now then the Apostles Commission was, and their Commission ran thus, Go teach and baptize, &c. teaching men to observe what ever I command you, Mat. 28. If not commanded by Christ, then not to be preached by them nor by us. Jesus Christ was and is as fully Christ in his Prophetical as Priestly office, and his Priestly satisfaction reached unto all our sins, though they were never so small, therefore his Prophetical direction reacheth to all our duties,¹ though they be never so little. That which cometh not from heaven, can never bring you into heaven. If you say, There are some things indifferent; It is true, but Christs command is to keep them so then, and not to alter them. If you say that Circumstances are left unto the Church; Either you mean all Circumstances, or some; If you mean only some, then you conclude nothing, for a particular Proposition cannot make a general Conclusion; If you mean that all Circumstances are left unto the Church, then you do at once and at one stroke cut off three Commandments from the Decalogue; the first Commandment, Thou shalt have no other Gods but me, commandeth the substance of worship, the second the means, the third the manner, the fourth the time; and means, manner,² and time are circumstances. Herein Luther speaks well, Whatsoever a man believeth, or learneth, or teacheth besides ⟨p. 27⟩the Word, it is sin; and again saith he, The Church³