Of the Nature, Formation, and Fellowship of the Christian Church

Having elsewhere exhibited a representation of the typical church of the Old Testament, and its ordinances, our present hints shall immediately respect the New Testament church. The Greek word Ecclesia, which wre render church, denotes any assembly met about business, whether lawful or unlawful. Acts xix. 32 — 39. But, when it respects the objects of the new covenant, it denotes, 1. The whole body of the elect considered in their relation to Christ, those on earth being called the militant, and those in heaven the triumphant church, Eph. i. 22. v. 25. Mat. xvi. 18. Heb. xii. 23. 2. All those men and women

in this world who profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him, and their children, 1 Tim. iii. 15. Eph. iv. 11, 12. 1 Cor. xii. 12, 13, 28. 3. Some particular assemblies of the worship¬

pers of God in Christ united together in special fellowship for their own mutual edification, and subjected to their respective governors, Acts viii. 1. xv. 41. xx. 17. Rev. i. 11, 20. ii. 1, 7, 8, 11, 12, 17, 18, 29. iii. 1, 6, 7, 13, 14, 22. 2 Cor. i. 1. Gal. i. 13, 22. 1 Thess. i. 1. 4. A particular congregation of per¬

sons professing faith in Christ, love to him, and regard to his ordinances as distinguished from their spiritual governors, Acts

xiv. 23. 5. A particular assembly of the professed followers of

Christ that ordinarily meet in one place for the dispensation of gospel ordinances, their rulers being among them, Acts ix. 31.

xv. 41. 2 Cor. viii. 1. Gal. i. 2, 22. Tit. i. 5. 1 Cor. xiv. 34. Acts xx. 7. Col. iv. 15. Rom. xvi. 5. Philem. 2. 6. A meeting of church rulers constituted in Christ’s name, for ordering of the affairs under their charge, which is often called a church representative, Mat. xviii. 17. Acts xv. 3. xviii. 22. xxi. 20, The church being founded upon revelation alone, ought to be wholly regulated by the measuring reed, and the line of God’s word, Eph. ii. 20. Ezek. xliii, 11, 12. Heb. viii. 5. Rev. xi. 1. xxi. Ezek. xl. — xl viii, - The visible church on earth is a so¬

ciety of believing and holy persons, whom God, by the gospel, has called from among mankind, to fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, 1 Cor. xii. 12. Acts ii. 41, 47. Heb. iii. 1, 6. 1 Cor. i 9. xii. 6 — 28. Eph. ii. 19 — 22. Col. i. 13. 1 Pet. ii. 5, 9.- This society is, 1. Holy, Heb. iii. 1. John iii. 3, 5. Eph. ii. 21. Ezek. xliii. 12. 1 Pet. ii. 9. 2. Spiritual, formed by the

Holy Ghost, — through, and for, ordinances and services of a spiritual nature, — and of men made spiritual, — blessed with spiritual blessings, — living on spiritual provision, and built up a spiritual house for God, Eph. ii. 22. 2 Cor. x. 3 — 5. John vi. 63. 1 Cor. ii. 15. x. 3. Eph. i. 3. John vi. 27 — 57. Rev. ii. 17. 1 Pet. ii. 5. 3. Independent of all human wisdom and au¬

thority, Isa. xxxiii. 22. Matth. xxiii. 8 — 10. Psalm ii. 6. Heb, iii. 1., 4. Orderly, 1 Cor. xii. xiv. 5. Visible, Matth, vii. 16, 20. xviii. 15 — 17.

Real Saintship is not the distinguishing criterion of the members of this visible church on earth. None, indeed, with¬ out it, can honestly offer themselves to church-fellowship. Rut, for the mere want of it, they cannot be refused admission. 1. God alone can judge men’s heart. Deceivers can counter¬ feit saintship, and often believers doubt of, or deny their real grace, 1 Sam. xvi. 7. Rev. ii. 23 2. God himself admitted

many whose hearts were unsanctified, as members of the Jewish church, Deut. xxix. 3, 4, 13. John vi. 70. 3. John Baptist

and the Apostles, in order to baptism, required no more than outward appearances of faith and repentance, Matth. iii. 5, 7. Acts ii. 38. v. 1 — 10. viii. 13 — 23. 4. Many that were admitted members in the churches of Judea, Corinth, Philippi, Laodicea, Sardis, &c. were unregenerated. Acts v. 1 — 10. viii. 13 — 23. 1 Cor. v. xi. xv. Phil. iii. 18, 19. Rev. iii. 5, 15 — 17. 5. Christ compares the gospel church to a floor, on which corn and chaff are mingled together; — to a net, in which good and bad fishes are inclosed; — to a field, in which tares grow up with the wheat, Matth. iii. 12. xiii. 24, 47.

But in order to their being received into church-fellowship, it is necessary that men profess their faith in Christ and obedience to him, and be apparently holy. 1, They must manifest no prevailing inclination to any kind of wickedness, 1 Cor. vi. 9 — 11. v. 11. 2 Tim. iii. 2 — 5. 2. They must have escaped

the corruption that is in the world through lust, and manifest a readiness to receive Christian reproof from neighbours or church rulers, Matth. xyiii. 15 — 17. Lev. xbt. 17. Prov. xxix.

1. 3. Having received the knowledge of the truths of God re¬

vealed in his word, they must profess to esteem and love them, Eph. i. 1. Acts viii. 12. James ii. 14 — 26. 4. In consistency

with the habitual tenor of their practice, they must make an open and judicious profession of the subjection of their conscience to the authority of Christ in the gospel, and of their readiness to yield obedience to all his institutions, Psalm xv. xxiv. 3 — 5. Isa. xxxiii. 15, 16. Heb. iii. 1. Tit. ii. 11 — 13. Rom. x. 9, 10. 2 Tim. ii. 19.

The end of such persons uniting in church-fellowship ought to be, 1. The maintaining and exhibiting a system of sound principles, 2 Tim. i. 13. iii. 14. 1 Tim. vi. 3, 4. Rom. vi. 17.

1 Cor. viii. 5, 6. Eph. iv. 21. Col. ii. 2. Rev. ii. 13 — 15, 20. iii. 2, 3, 10, 15, 16. Gal. i. 6. Prov. xxiii. 23. Heb. ii. 1.

2. The maintaining the ordinances of gospel-worship in their

purity and simplicity, Deut. xii. 31, 32. Rom. xv. 6. 3. The

impartial exercise of church-government and discipline, Heb. xii. 15. x. 24, 25. Gal. vi. 1. 2 Tim. ii, 24 — 26. iv. 2. Tit. iii.

10. 1 Cor. v, 1 Tim. v. 20 — 22. James iii. 17. ii. 1 — 10. Rev.

11. 4. The maintaining and promoting holiness in all manner of conversation, Phil. i. 27. ii. 15, 16. 2 Pet. iii. 11. Mic. vi. 8. 2 Cor. vii. 1, 10, 11. Tit. ii. 10 — 14. iii. 8, 14. Phil. iv. 8.

The embracement or profession of nothing but what is really divine truth, and tends to promote peace and holiness, and or¬ der, ought ever to be made a term of admission to church-fellowship, 2 Cor. xiii. 8. 1 Cor. xiii. 6. xiv. 32, 40. 1 John ii. 23. 2 John 9. Rom. xiv. 19. Heb. xii. 12 — 14. Psalm xciii. 5.

Ezek. xliii. 10, 12. - The forming church-connections upon

this ground consists in mutual, judicious, and candid covenanting, express or implicit, with or without an oath, to make a joint profession of the faith of the gospel, 1 Tim. vi. 3, 4. Jude 3, 20. Phil. i. 27. Col. ii. 2; and to walk together, each in his station, in the order of the gospel, as becomes saints, Rom. xv, 5 — 7. Eph. ii. 12 — 22. iv. 1. 2 Cor. viii. 5. Phil. i. 27. Col. i. 10, 11. This plainly appears, 1. From the inspired representations of the Church, as a body, Rom. xii. 4, 5; an house, Eph. ii. 19 — 22; a city, Heb. xii. 22; a kingdom, Col. i. 13; a nation, 1 Pet. ii. 9. 2. An entering into church fellowship

is called a joining to the Lord, and being added to the church, 1 Cor. vi. 17. Acts ii. 47. v. 3, 14; and continuance in it is called a standing fast in one spirit, and striving together, Phil, i. 27. 3. This connection is represented as a marriage, Isa,

lvi. 4. lxii. 5. 4. None are subjects of church government, un¬

less they be within her communion, 1 Cor. v. 12. 2 Cor vi. 14 — 16. Mat. xi. 29. 5. Such covenanting is requisite to found

that intimate fellowship which subsists in the church, Eph. iv. 1 — 6. 6. The general use of Creeds and Confessions of faith, in all the Christian churches for 1700 years past, is a strong, though subordinate argument in its favour.

The union and communion of the Christian church is of great importance. — True believers being, by the inviolable bonds of the Spirit and faith, connected with Christ as their head, and with their fellow-saints as one with him, there can be no schism in, or separation from his invisible church, or mystical body,

1 Cor. xii. 25 — 27. Eph. v. 30. 1 John iii. 14. - The mem¬

bers of the catholic visible church on earth, which comprehends all those in the world who profess the true religion, and their children, are united in their acknowledgment of Christ as their ojie Head, — profession of the same fundamental truths, — and practice of the same principal holy duties, 1 Cor. i. 2. Eph. iv.

3 — 6. Luke ix. 49, 50. - Members of particular churches are

united by a joint profession of adherence to the same faith and order of the gospel, in doctrine, worship, discipline, and government, Acts ii. 41. Eph. iv. 6. Acts iv. 32. Rom. xv. 5 — 7.

Christian fellowship consists in church-members’ conjunction in faith and practice, and joint walking in all the ordinances of God’s worship and service, for their mutual comfort and welfare in every thing pertaining to vital, powerful, and sincere religion.

- - In order to maintain this Christian fellowship, I. Personal

holiness and devotion, attended with purity and uprightness of conversation, must be carefully studied, Tit. ii. 10 — 14. iii. 8, 14. 2 Cor. i. 12. Acts xxiv. 16. 1 Tim. iv. 8. vi. 11, 12 2 Tim. ii. 22. Phil. iv. 8. II. As families regularly managed are arepresentation of churches, — religion, with respect to instruction, worship, discipline, order, and edifying example, ought to be carefully promoted in them. 1. The light of nature represents family religion as a just debt due to God, — and as the chief end of the erection of families, and of great advantage to all in them: And hence the heathens had their household gods. 2. God has expressly commanded such diligence in family religion, Col. iv. 2. 1 Pet. iii. 7. Eoh. vi. 18. 3. It is recommended by the approved example of many saints, Gen. xvm. 18, 19. Job i. 5. Josh. xxiv. 15. 2 Sam. vi. 20. Horn. xvi. 5. 1 Cor. xvi. 19. Col. iv. 15. Acts x. 2. 4. Many are the advan¬

tages which attend it, and the evils which follow the neglect of it. Psalm xxx. ci. Jer. x. 25. — It is therefore mournful, that by their regular constitution of families through marriages not in the Lord, Deut. vii. 3. 2 Cor. vi. 14. 1 Cor. vii. 39; by the neglect or frequent omission of family religion at the first erection of families, — by sinful bashfulness in the heads of them, — by their want of zeal for God, — or by their immoderate inclination to company, or hurry of worldly business, — family worship, and its proper attendants, are so much neglected. III. Christians ought to join in private societies for prayer and spiritual confer-OF CHURCH FELLOWSHIP.

ence. 1. The relations of saints to one another require this, Eph. ii. 19. Phil. ii. 25. Rev. vi. 11. Gal. vi. 10. Rom. viii,

17. Matth. xxiii. 8, 10. 1 Cor. xii. 12. Rom. xii. 5. 2. God

is much pleased with such social meetings, Mai. iii. 10, 17. 3. The Scripture much recommends them, Eccl. iv. 9 — 12. Gal. vi. 2. Matth. xviii. 19, 20. Col. iii. 10. Heb. iii. 13. x.

24, 25. 4. In Scripture there are approved examples of such

meetings, Psalm Iv. 13, 14. Song i. 7, 8. Dan. ii. 17, 18. Esth. iv. 16. John xx. 19, 2G. Acts xvi. 13. 5. Such social meetings

are of great use, if rightly managed, — for promoting the know¬ ledge of divine truths, Col. iii. 10. Psalm cxi. 2; — and Christian sympathy, Gal. vi. 2. Rom. xii. 15; — for mutual encouragement and confirmation of one another in the way of holiness, Heb. x. 24, 25. Esth. iv. 15, 16. Heb. iii. 13; — for mutual communication of one another’s gifts and experiences, 1 Pet. iv. 10,11. Psalm lx vi. 10; — for promoting mutual watch¬ fulness over, and admonishing one another, 1 Thess. v. 14. Heb. iii. 13; — for invigorating their mutual prayers and praises, Matth. xviii. 19, 20; — for recommending religion to others, Matth. v. 16. Phil. ii. 15, 16; — for anticipating the delightful fellowship of the saints in heaven, Heb. xii. 22; — and for sham¬ ing the wicked from their social meetings for carnal conversation, drunkenness, idle diversion, &c.

The duties of church fellowship are, 1. Earnest study to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, Eph. iv. 3. Phil, ii. 2, 3. iii. 15, 16. 2. Bearing one another’s burdens, Gal.

vi. 1, 2. 3. Earnest and constant endeavouring to prevent

all occasion of stumbling, 1 Cor x. 32, 33 xi. 1. Rom. xiv. 13. 1 Pet. iii. 15, 16. John iii. 21. Phil. ii. 15, 16. James ii.

18. v. 16. Matth. xviii. 15 — 17. Lev. xix. 17. 4. Stedfast

continuance in the faith and worship of the gospel with one another, Acts ii. 42. Phil. i. 27. iv. 1. 1 Cor. xi. 2. Heb. x.

25. Song i. 8. Prov. viii. 34. ix. 5. 5. Strict and conscientious fulfilment of relative duties, which mightily tends to promote order in the church, 1 Cor. vii. 24, 39. 1 Pet. iii. 7. 1 Tim. v. 1 — 3. Eph. v. 22, 25. vi. 1 — 9. 2 Sam. xxiii. 3. Rom. xiii. 1 — 7. Heb. xiii. 7, 16, 17. 1 Tim. v. 17. Acts vi.

1 — 3. Rom. xii. 6 — 10. Phil. ii. 3, 4. - These duties are in¬

culcated upon us, 1. By the light of nature rightly under¬ stood. 2. By the word of God, Eph. iv. 1 — 6. Psalm exxii. cx xxiii. Song i. 7 — 9. Phil. i. 27. Heb. x. 25. 3. Instead of

being needless, selfish, or hurtful, as some pretend, such fellowship prevents much mischief, and produces much good. 1. It encourages particular Christians boldly to profess and practise their religion. 2. Hereby multitudes are instructed at once, and devotion is excited and prayers rendered more prevalent. 3. Every one being a pattern, guide, monitor, and reprover to another, apostacy and sinful stumbling are much prevented. 4. Christians thus mutually connected and acquainted, can better assist one another in duty. 5. It fits us for the heavenly fellowship of angels and saints. 6. Hereby we much glorify Christ, and God in him, as our God, John’ xvii. 11, 21, 23

It is chiefly with respect to the union and communion of Christians in particular churches, that schism in the church, or separation from it, takes place. Schism is properly an imcharitableness and alienation of affection among church members, who, in the main, continue in church fellowship with one another, 1 Cor. i. 10, 12. xi. 18. xii. 15. Or, it consists in church members carrying on their religious disputes with sinful eagerness and want of Christian affection to one another, 2 Cor. xii. 20. It proceeds from pride, self-love, jealousy, hatred, evil speaking, &c. James iv. 1. It ought to be prevented by self-denial, taking up our cross and exact following Christ, Matlh. xvi. 24. Phil. ii. 1 — 5. 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Horn. xiv. 19. xv. 5, 6, 7. xvi. 17, 18. Acts iv. 32. Eph. iv. 31, 32. v. 1, 2. Matth. xviii. 21. Mark xi. 25, 26. Horn. xiv. 13. xv. 12. 1 Cor. xiii. 4 — 7. Gal. vi. 1, 2. Rom. vi. 3 — 5. 2 Tim. ii. 16, 17, 22, 23, 24. Tit. Hi. 9. 1 John iv. 1.

There can be no separation from the Catholic church without abandoning the fundamental principles and practices of true religion, and so becoming no Christian at all. But separation from a particular church is a schism in the Catholic church, and is sinful, when members separate from the communion of a church, the prevailing part of which appear candidly to endeavour conformity to that system of faith and practice which Christ has, by his word, fixed as a standard of church fellowship, Jude 19. 2. When the prevailing part of a church

make any addition to, or alteration of the scriptural system of faith, worship, discipline, or government, an essential condition of fellowship with them: In this case, the prevailing party are the real separatists, and they who are obliged to withdraw from their communion rather than sin, are the true adherents to the church, cleaving to her constitutional laws, and only forbearing fellowship with offending brethren in public and sealing ordinances, in so far as is consistent with an adherence unto the laws of Christ.

As an individual person, obstinate in notorious wickedness, ought to be cast out from church fellowship: So it is only when the prevailing part of a church become obstinate in notorious apostacy from attained reformation in doctrine, worship, discipline, or government, that a separation from a particular church can be lawful. The churches of Corinth, Galatia, Ephesus, Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Laodicea, &c. which were tainted with several corruptions, not having be¬ come obstinate therein, the Lord enjoins no separation from them, 1 Cor. i. iii. v. viii. x. xi. xiv. xv. Gal. i. 6. iii. 1. iv. II. v. 7. Rev. ii. iii. — -This obstinacy is manifested in a continued disregard of the faith, obedience, and fellowship of the gospel, which had been formerly embraced; and in an incorrigible refusing reproof dutifully offered, which is often attended with severity of edicts, or censures against the mpdest but faithful remonstrants. — Or, separation from a particular church becomes necessary when we cannot continue in her public fellowship without complying with something sinful as it is circumstantiated, or omitting some necessary duty. — In such a case, the sin of separation is only chargeable upon them that have occasioned the withdrawment, except in so far as the withdrawers mismanage the manner of their conduct.

Schism, properly so called, and separation on insufficient grounds, or forcing others from church fellowship, by making any term of it in any respect sinful, is an horrible scandal and crime. 1. Jesus Christ died, intercedes, and bestows his Spirit and grace, in order to pi’omote the unity and peace of his church, Eph. i. 10. ii. 15, 16. Col. i. 20. John xiv. 16, 17, 27. xvii. 21, 23. Jer. xxxii. 39, 40. Ezek. xi. 19. xxxvii. 15 — 27. 2. God much commands and urges the promoting peace and unity in his church, Rom. xii. 9, 10, 16, 18. xv. 1 — 6. xiv. xvi. 17, 18. 1 Cor. i. 10. 2 Cor. xiii. 11. Eph. iv. 2, 3 — 6, 23, 31, 32. v. 1, 2, 30. Phil. i. 27. ii. 1 — 5. iv. 2. Col. ii. 2. iii. 12 — 15. 1 Thess. v. 13, 14. Psalm cxxii. cxxxiii. Zech. viii. 19. 3. Schism and sinful separation spring from base lusts,

and are very dishonouring to God and hurtful to men, Prov. xiii. 10. xv. 1. x. 12. James iv. 1. iii 15, 16. 1 Cor. iii. 1 — 4. Mark iii. 24. Rom. xv. 1, 2. xiv. 19. Jude 19. Isa. lxv. 5. lxvi. 5.