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4.

For the Governours and Rulers of the Church in any City or Nation,Matt. xviii. 17. Εἰπὲ τῇ ἐκκλησίᾳ τελ ̓ ὅξι τοις προεδρεύσιν. Chryf. See what follows, Matt.xviii. 18. John xx. 23. 5. For the Body collective of all Chriftians in the World, whereof Chrift is Head, Col. i. 18. Eph. i. 22, 23. c. V. 23, 25.

Thus Chrift himself ufeth the Word, Matt. xvi.

18.

And thus it is understood in the Creed, and in the Text.

II. What are the Properties of this Church. I. It is One. Εις ἕνα καθολικὴν Σποςολικὴν.

1. As having one Head, and built upon one Foundation, Cor. iii. 11. Eph. ii. 19, 20. 2. As agreeing in one Faith, Eph. iv. 5. 3. Lead by one Spirit, Eph. iv. 3, 4

Hence we should all conform to the Doctrine and Rites of the Church in general, 1 Cor; xi. 16.

2. The Church is Holy.

1. Negatively.

1. Not fo as that there were no unholy Perfons in it; for Chrift compares it to,

A Floor, Wheat and Chaff, Matt. iii. 12.
A Field, good Seed and Tares, Matt.xiii.24,25.
A Cafting-Net, good and bad Fishes, Matt.
xiii. 47, 48.

An House, Veffels of Honour and Dishonour, 2 Tim. ii. 20.

2. Not as if any were perfectly Holy in this World, 1 John i. 8.

2. Pofitively Holy. Because,

1. It calls Men to Holinefs, 2 Tim. i: 9.

2. It engageth Men to Holiness, 2 Tim. ii. 19. 3. In it many are fincerely Holy, Tit. ii. 14.

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4. It

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3.

4.

It brings them to perfect Holiness hereafter, when the Church will be all Holy, Eph. v.

26, 27.

Catholick or Univerfal; as,

1. Spread over all Places and Ages, Matt. xxviii. 19. Mark xvi. 15. Rev. V. 9.

Kalorian, appellatur quod per totum orbem diffunditur. Aug

2. It teacheth all neceffary Truths, Job. vii. 13, Διὰ τὸ διδάσκειν καθολικῶς καὶ ανελλείπως ἅπαντα. Cyril.

3. It enjoyns univerfal Obedience, and the Exercife of all Graces, 1 Pet. i. 15.

Διὰ τὸ καθολικῶς ἰατρέυειν καὶ θεραπεύειν επαν τὸ ἁμαρτιῶν εἶδος. Cyril.

III. Such as fhall be faved are brought into the Church by God.

1. The Lord brings or adds them to the Church, Jahn vi. 44. Acts xvi. 14.

2. They that fhall be faved are thus brought by the Lord into the Church, Acts iv. 12. Acts xvi. 31.

Habere nequit Deum Patrem qui non habet Ecclefiam

Matrem.

USE.

1. Thank God for your being brought into the Church, the pureft upon Earth, Matt. xi. 25. 2. Continue in the Church, and live up to the Doctrine and Difcipline of it, Matt. v. 16, 1 Pet. ii. 12.

Unless ye do this, it will avail you nothing. If you do, you will get to the Church Triumphant, Heb. xii. 22.

P ́s ▲ L. xvi. 3.

But to the Saints that are in the Earth.

Ommunion of Saints.

Cants
Saints in Heaven, Col. i. 12. Jud. xiv.

I Theff. iii. 13.

Saints in the Earth.

I. Who may properly be faid to be Saints.
II. How they did, and we may become fuch. -
III. What Communion there is among them.

1. Who are truly Saints, and may properly be called fo; and what is to be a Saint.

In general; 1.Some are faid to be Saints, or Holy, only because separated from the profane and heathenifh World, to the Worfhip of the True God, Deut. vii. 6. c. xiv. 2. Rom. i.

6.7.

Dr, to fome efpecial Service in the Worship
of God, as, Holy Priefts, Levit. xxi. 6, 7.
Numb. xvi. 5, 7. Holy Prophets, Luke i. 70.
Holy Apoftles, Eph.iii. 5. Rev. xviii. 20.
2. Some are Saints by Covenant with God,
Pfal. 1. 5. Exod. xix. 5, 6. 2 Cor. i. 1. Thus
every one baptized is a Saint, 1 Cor. vii. 14.
Rom. xi. 16.

3. Some are Saints only by Profeffion, Deut.
xxvi. 17, 18, 19. 1 Cor. i. 2. with c. iii. 3.
Some are really and truly Saints by Parti-
cipation, of all true Grace and Virtue, 1 Cor.
VI. I, 2, II.

Con

1

I,

Concerning which, in general, obferve, 1. There are but very few of them in the World, Matt. xxii. 14. Luke xii. 32. Tò μixejv ποίμνιον.

μικρὸν

2. It is an hard Matter to know, who are and who are not Saints in this World. Judas among the Apostles.

Foolish among Wife Virgins, Matt. XXV. 3, 4, 5. Matt. vii. 22, 23.

3. It is no eafie Matter for a Man to know, whether he himself be a true Saint or no, Jer. xvii. 9. Luc. xviii. 11. Matt. XXV. 11, 12. 4. It is a very hard and difficult Matter to be a true Saint, Matt. vii. 13, 14.

But bleffed be God, it is poffible for us.

In particular:

A true Saint,

1. Is one that is renewed and fanctified by the Spirit of God, the only Principle of all true Sanctity, Job.iii. 5, 6. Tit.iii. 5.2 Theff. ii. 13. 1 Pet. i. 2. 2 Pet. i. 4. 1 John iii. 24. 2. He is acted and guided by the fame Spirit, Rom. viii. 1, 9, 14. Gal. v. 18, 25.

3.

Hence the Actions of a true Saint differ from all moral or humane Actions, 2 Cor.iv. 13. Eph. vi. 18. Phil. iii. 3. Col. i. 8.

1. They proceed from fpiritual Motives, and are directed to spiritual Ends, 2 Cor.

i. 12.

2. They are performed in a spiritual Man

ner:

With Zeal and Fervency, Rom. xii. 11. and

and yet with Order and Regularity too. Ἐι ζῶμεν πνεύματι, πνεύματι καὶ ςοιχῶμεν, Gal.v.25. That is, orderly and methodically, not against Reason.

4 Hence

4. Hence alfo, he carefully abftains from Sin, as contrary to the Principle of Grace that is in him, 1 John iii. 9.

1. The Bent and Inclination of his Heart is against it, Pfal. cxix. 113. Pfal. xvii. 3. 2. Hence he cannot fin without Reluctancy and great Difficulty; as it were, Violence offered to himself, 2 Cor. xiii. 8. Acts iv. 20.

3. He avoids Sin as Sin, because offenfive to God, and contrary to his Laws, Gen. xxxix. 9. Pfal. 51. 5.

4. Hence he fets himself against all Sin, I Theff. 5. 22.

Hidden and fecret, as well as open Sins. Pride, Uncharitableness, as well as Theft or Swearing.

Sins of Omiffion as well as Commiffion. 5. He chufeth the greatest Suffering, rather than the leaft Sin, Job xxxvi. 21. Num. xxii. 18.

V. A Saint is Holy in all manner of Converfation, 1 Pet. i. 15. He that is Holy at all, iş all Holy, universally Holy.

1. In Respect of the Rule he walks by, the the Word of God: Where, Gal. vi. 16. 1. He believes all the Truths there revealed, 1 John iii. 23. Gal. v. 20. 2 Pet. ii. 1. c. iii. 16, 17. Jude 19.

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2. Trufteth on all the Promises there made, Rom. iv. 20, 21, 22. Pfal. xxvii. 1. Heb. xi. 13.

3. Obeys all the Commands there enjoined, Pfal. cxix. 6. Luke i. 6.

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