A great number therefore coming to Church together in the name of Christ, have there, that is to say in the Church, their God and Saviour Christ Jesus, presently among the congregation of his faithful people, by his grace, by his favour and godly assistance, according to his most assured and comfortable promises. Why then ought not Christian people to build them Temples and Churches, having as great promises of the presence of God, as ever had Solomon for the material temple which he did build? As touching the other point, that Solomons temple was a ⟨p. 165⟩figure of Christ: We know that now in the time of the clear light of Christ Jesus the Son of God, all shadows, figures, and significations are utterly gone, all vain and unprofitable ceremonies, both Jewish and Heathenish, fully abolished. And therefore our churches are not set up for figures and significations of Messiah and Christ to come, but for other godly and necessary purposes. That is to say, that like as every man hath his own house to abide in, to refresh him self in, to rest in, with such like commodities: So almighty God will have his house and palace whither the whole parish and congregation shall resort, which is called the Church and temple of God, for that the Church, which is the company of Gods people, doth there assemble and come together to serve him. Not meaning hereby, that the Lord whom the heaven of heavens is not able to hold or comprise, doth dwell in the Church of lime, and stone, made with mans hands, as wholly and only contained there within, and no where else, for so he never dwelt in Solomons temple. Moreover, the Church or Temple is counted and called holy, yet not of it self, but because Gods people resorting thereunto, are holy, and exercise themselves in holy and heavenly things. And to the intent ye may understand further, why Churches were built among Christian people, this was the greatest consideration: that God might have his place, and that God might have his time, duly to be honoured and served of the whole multitude in ⟨p. 166⟩the parish. First there to hear and learn the blessed word and will of the everlasting God. Secondly, that there the blessed Sacraments, which our Lord and Saviour Christ Jesus hath ordained and appointed, should be duly, reverently, and honourably ministered.
A great number therefore comming to Church together in the name of Christ, haue there, that is to saye in the Churche, their God and Sauiour Christ Jesus, presently among the congregation of his faythfull people, by his grace, by his fauour and godlye assistance, according to his moste assured and comfortable promises. Why then ought not Christian people to buylde them Temples and Churches, hauing as great promises of the presence of God, as euer had Salomon for the materiall temple whiche he did buyld? As touching the other point, that Salomons temple was a ⟨p. 165⟩figure of Christ: We knowe that nowe in the tyme of the cleare light of Christe Jesus the sonne of God, all shadowes, figures, and significations are vtterly gone, all vayne and vnprofitable ceremonies, bothe Jewishe and Heathenishe, fully abolished. And therefore our churches are not set vp for figures and significations of Messias and Christe to come, but for other godly and necessarie purposes. That is to saye, that lyke as euery man hath his owne house to abyde in, to refreshe him selfe in, to rest in, with such like commodities: So almightie God will haue his house and palace whyther the whole parishe and congregation shall resort, whiche is called the Churche and temple of God, for that the Church, which is the company of Gods people, doth there assemble and come together to serue him. Not meaning hereby, that the Lord whom the heauen of heauens is not hable to holde or compryse, doth dwell in the Churche of lyme, and stone, made with mans handes, as wholly and onely contayned there within, and no where els, for so he neuer dwelt in Salomōs temple. Moreouer, the Churche or Temple is counted and called holy, yet not of it selfe, but because Gods people resorting thereunto, are holye, and exercyse themselues in holy and heauenlye thinges. And to the intent ye maye vnderstand further, why Churches were buylte among Christian people, this was the greatest consideration: that God myght haue his place, and that God myght haue his tyme, duely to be honoured and serued of the whole multitude in ⟨p. 166⟩the parishe. Fyrst there to heare and learne the blessed worde and will of the euerlasting God. Secondly, that there the blessed Sacramentes, whiche our Lorde and Sauiour Christ Jesus hath ordayned and appoynted, should be dulye, reuerently, and honorably ministred.
