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peculiar People unto God: A Body, and but one Body; and the Union of a Body fuppofeth an Union of all its Parts and Members; and that Union being an Union of that People unto God, whereby they become the Church of God. It is God alone that can eftablish a Covenant for founding his own Church, even as it is the Prerogative of the King to grant a Charter to any civil Society or Corporation of Men in his Kingdom. And fuch a Covenant did Almighty God make with Abraham, whereby he and his Pofterity became his Church, and a peculiar People unto him under the Old Teftament; and fuch a Covenant, even a new Covenant hath God alone made with all Mankind, in and by Jefus Chrift, ratified by his Blood, who is therefore

faid to be a Mediator of a better Heb. 8. 6. Covenant, founded upon better Promifes, and from thence it is called the Chriftian Church. Now this being well confidered, will make the Answer to the next Question very eafie.

Queft II. What is it to be a Member of the Chriftian Church?

Anf. To be taken into covenant with God, and to be received into the Church of Chrift, and to become a Member thereof, is one and the fame thing: For a Man becomes a Member of the Church of Chrift, by being admitted into the Covenant, and on the contrary, no Man 'can be a Member thereof vifibly, that is nor "vifibly admitted into the Covenant. But what

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Number of Men foever they be, that are fo admitted into the Covenant, they are all to be confidered of, and they are to look upon themfelves in more than their private Capacities, even as Church-members united to God, and to one another in a regular Church-fociety, even into one Body.

Queft. III. How, or when, are Men thus vifibly received into covenant with God, fo as thereby to be made Members of the Church of God?

Rom.4.11.

Col. 2.12:

Anf. It is done in and by their Baptifm, for Baptifm is a Seal of the new Covenant to us Chriftians, even as Circumcifion was given by God to Abraham, to be a Sign and Seal of the Covenant betwixt him and his Seed, even of the Righteoufness of the Faith which he bad when he was yet uncircumcifed*. For Baptifm fucceeds Circumcifi on under this very Notion as a Seal of the Covenant t. And as Circumcifion was the only Rite and Form ordained by God for admitting Men into Covenant, and into his Church under the Difpenfation of the Old Teftament, fo is Baptilm the only Rite and Form inftituted by Jefus Chrift, for admitting Men into covenant with God, and into his Church under the Gospel ; and therefore he at his Afcenfion into Heaven, ordained and authorized a particular Order of Men to receive Men into his Church upon CoB*

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Matt. 28. 19, 20. Compared with Pet. 3721.

venant-terms, and Conditions by baptizing them,*, There is a Neceffity for all Perfons taking ftrict notice of these Inftructions, for fettling their Judgments aright in the Notion of a Church, and of their Church-membership; because it is not a being admitted into the Divine Covenant by Baptifm, that will ferve Men's turns to make them Church-members, if they have a mind to be Independents, unlefs they will allo enter into a particular Covenant with an Inde pendent Paflor or Minifter. So that, whereas the Church of Christ confifts of Perfons bapti zed, and is founded on a Divine Covenant, into which they are admitted in their Baptism, the Independent Churches are founded on an human Covenant, a particular Covenant made with this or that Independent Minifter, and without entring into fuch a Covenant no Man is a Member of Christ's Church with them, altho' he be baptized; which is in effect to make Men no Chriftians, unless they will be Independents; by which means they gather here a Church and there a Church, confifting of fuch as will enter into covenant with them, out of many Parochial Churches, and thofe perhaps at a great Diftance; and whereas Baptifm feparates Chriftians only from them that are no Chriftians, by this human Invention of another particular Church-covenant, the Independent Paftors feparate Chriftians from other Chriftians in Parishes and Towns, nay in very Families. For which the Presbyterians before the late Indulgences, and Tolerations re

proved them very harply, but have now clearly fallen in with them in the matter of gathering Churches and Separation, though not yet in the Method of putting People to enter into particular Covenant with them, fo far as we know.

* Acts 2.

41.47.

Now it is very eafie to fhew what a mere human Iuvention, having no foundation in the Scriptures, this is: For there is no other account in them of the Apoftles manner of forming and gathering the Chriftian Church, or Churches, out of Jews and Gentiles, whereever they came, but by baptizing them, whom they converted to the Chriftian Faith. There was 3000 Souls converted by St. Peter's Sermon after the Defcent of the Holy Ghoft; and they receiving the word gladly, were immediately baptized, unto whom as a Church were daily added fuch as fhould be faved; where it is very plain that they were imbodied, as it were, into a Church-fociety by Baptifin, without any the leaft Intimation of any other particular Covenant betwixt them and St. Peter, or any other Apoftle; and in the fame Courfe did the Apoftles form Churches, and make them whom they converted Members of the Chriftian Church, fo far as can be seen in the Acts of the Apoftles, For any Church-hiftory. But of no force or value is Baptifm with the Independents, as to bringing of Men into a Church-ftate, or to make them Church-members, fo as to have a Right and Title to the Privileges, or to be obliged to the Duties of Church-membership, unless they become Members of fome particular Indepen

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dent Church, by entring a particular Covenant with fome particular Paftor; nor is it a being converted to Chriftianity in common that they feek, but a being converted from it; and the Converfion they require is a Converfion from Communion with the Catholick or Univerfal Church to a total Independency upon it, and from all manner of Relation or Subjection to it. So that, baptized Perfons without this are little better efteemed of with them, than as Heathens or Infidels. How unfcriptural this is, I may upon the forefaid Grounds appeal to any ordi nary Capacity, and fo proceed to explain two or three common Diftinctions of the Church.

Queft. IV. What is meant by the Catholick Church, and what by a particular Church?

Anf. All particular Churches as thofe of Judea, Afia, Syria, Galatia, Macedonia, and the like, which we read of, or which we commonly call Churches, are but fo many Parts or Members of the Catholick Church; which takes fo many particular Denominations from the Coun tries or Cities where the Gospel comes; thofe particular Churches being only faid to be diftinct Churches as the Chriftians in them are under the Inspection and Government of one Bishop with his Presbyters, and that the Church under the Gospel is now Catholick or Universal, this is that wherein we Gentiles rejoice. For it is not now confined to any one Place or People, as it was under the Old Teftament-difpenfation,

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