3. Under the Old Teftament, a nation was in covenant with God, many of whom were inwardly difaffected to him. Now, thofe only, who have the fpirit and temper of Chrift, are true members of his church. The words exnia, fignify a people, not only called, but gathered by a call, who hearken to and comply with the offers of the gofpel, and are called, chofen and faithful," Rev. xvii. 14. who are called by that inward call of the spirit, which renders the outward call of the gofpel effectual. A call attended with invincible power, like that to Matthew, Mat. ix. 9. " fol low me;" or that John xi. 43. "Lazarus "come forth;" nay, like that by which God "calls the things that are not, as though they were," Rom. iv. 17. and "commands light to arife out of darkness," 2 Cor. iv. 6. Hence we read of the called according to God's purpose, Rom. viii. 28. and of the purpose of God according to election ftanding, not of works, but of him that calleth, Rom. ix. II. So that we may define the Chriftian church, a fociety of perfons effectually called; or a company of penitents, united by faith and love to Chrift as their head, and to one another as members of his myftical body, and on every proper occafion outwardly difcovering this union. Now, if the church of Chrift, is a fociety of perfons who obey the gofpel call, it is evident, hypocrites are no members of that church. For the gofpel calls to a humble penitent reliance upon Chrift, not to a bare profeffion of Chriftianity and invites us to fellowship with Jefus, 1 Cor. i. 9. and a right to his kingdom and glory, 1 Pet. v. 10. not to any external external fociety and advantages. The outward call of the gospel, conftitutes none members of the church, fave those who comply with it. Elfe even infidels, and openly profane perfons, who hear the gospel preached, would be members of the church. We are invited to come to the church, having on the wedding garment. To come, without it, we are not allowed. God has no where enjoined, thofe who want faith, to profess it. Indeed, it is impoffible, that the God of truth, fhould enjoin a falfhood. When therefore, we require a profeffion of faith in order to church privileges, we, on the matter, acknowledge faith itself neceffary. For the only reafon, why we regard a profeffion, is, our fuppofing, that he who makes it, is a true believer. Faith, or rather the righteousness it receives, we confider as the foundation of his title to church privileges, and profeffion only as an evidence of that title. He, who makes a credible profeffion, is accounted a member of the church, because from fuch profeffion, as an evidence, we judge that he poffeffes the proper condition of church memberfhip, not because fuch profeffion is itself that condition. So that we reckon none members of the vifible church, without reckoning them members of the invisible church likewife, or, in other words, without reckoning them united to Christ by a true and lively faith, and entitled to heaven through his perfect righteoufnefs. The union and communion of church members, one with another, is founded only on their union with Chrift. Confequently, where there is no real union with him, there can be no real union with the members of his myftical body. X LX. If there is an external church, effentially different from the internal, and confifting of different members, then Chrift has two churches in the world, and is the head of two myftical bodies. But if the fame perfons, and none elfe, are members of the vifible and invifible church, then hypocrites are really members of neither, though, from our ignorance of their hypocrify, they may be accounted fuch. Of old, indeed, God had two different kinds of people, the natural defcendants of Abraham and his fpiritual feed: Jews outwardly, and Jews inwardly thofe born after the flesh, and those by the promife. But, now, the flaves of fin, are no more a part of God's family, John viii. 35: those born after the flesh are caft out of the church, Gal. iv. 23, 30: and he only is Abraham's feed, and a Jew in the New Teftament fenfe of the word, who is one inwardly, walking in the steps of the faith of Abraham, and doing his works, John viii. 39. deb. ii. 16. Rom. ii. 28, 29. iv. 12. ix. 6,-8. As the prophets foretold, God has now but one people, who are all holy and circumcifed in heart, Ifa. iv. 3. xxxv. 8. l. 1. liv. 13. throughout. Ezek. xliv. ii. 9. have the law of God written on their hearts, and know the Lord from the leaft of them even to the greatest, Jer. xxxi. 33, 34. And John deferibing the New Teftament church, under the emblem of the new Jerufalem, tells us, that there fhall not enter it any thing that defiles, or worketh abomination, or maketh a lie, but they only, which are written in the lamb's book of life, Rev. xxi. 27. This alfo appears to be the meaning of that obfcure promife, Ifa. lxv. "There fhall be no more an infant of days, 20. "nor an old man that hath not filled his days: "for the child fhall die an hundred years old, "but the finner, being an hundred years old, fhall be accurfed." Children are governed by paffion and appetite, blind to their own beft intereft, and intent only upon present gratifications. If, in riper years, we ftill neglect our duty, and follow our natural depraved inclinations: then we continue in a puerile ftate, lofing nothing of childhood fave its innocence, neglecting the end of life, and confequently living in vain, and exchanging childish toys for follies more mifchievous. Ifaiah here foretells, that, in the Chriftian church, such a prolonged childhood fhould have no place (b). But we have Scripture-proofs, of this doctrine, ftill more exprefs. He only has a title to the honourable name of Chriftian, who departs from iniquity, 2 Tim. ii. 19. If any man has not the fpirit of Chrift in him, he is none of his, Rom. viii. 9. Chrift is the door of the fheep, and therefore none are God's fheep, who enter not in at this door, John x. 7. xiv. 6. He that believeth not, whatever he profefs, has no part in Chrift's falvation, but is condemned already, Nothing external is of any avail, under the gofpel, unless accompanied with the new creature, or faith that worketh by love, Gal. v. 6. vi. 15, Old things are done away and all things are become new, 2 Cor. v. 17. The Meffias is of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord, and does not judge after the fight of his eyes, nor reprove after the hearing of his ears, Ifa. xi. 3. It is the heart, not the outward appearance which (b) Dr. Heylin's Theological Lectures, p. 44. he he regards. The most splendid performances, if without charity, he accounts as nothing, I Cor. xii. 2. The Lord only knoweth them that are his, 2 Tim. ii. 19. Confequently that which constitutes one a member of the Chriftian church, is invifible to the human eye. Believing with the heart, as well as confeffing with the mouth, is a neceffary condition of the gospel falvation, Rom. x. 9. Those who are only outwardly, and in profeffion religious, are of the fynagogue of fatan, Rev. ii. 9. iii. 9. Spots in our feafts, 2 Pet. xi. 13. Jude 13. Children of the devil, 1 John iii. 10. Tares fowed by the wicked one, Matth. xiii. 38. Falfe brethren brought in or crept in unawares, Gal. ii. 4. Jude iv. Having no lot nor portion in the bleffings of Chrift's purchafe, because yet in the gall of bitterness, and bond of iniquity, Acts viii. 21, 23. Hence Paul pronounces a general fentence of excommunication against falfe-hearted profeffors, 1 Cor. xvi. 22. "If any man love not the Lord Jefus, let him be "anathema maranatha." And, indeed, who can be more deteftable, and worthy of a more dreadful curfe, than he who harbours in his heart enmity againft Chrift, under the mafque of pretended friendship? In the day of judgment, Chrift will profefs to all fuch, depart from me, I never knew you, ye workers of iniquity, Mat. vii. 22. He could not have faid in fo abfolute terms, that he was never related to them, if he had owned them, while on earth, as his church and people. Does not that rebuke, Matth. xxii. 12. "friend, how cameft thou in hither, not "having on the wedding-garment," import, that hypocrites have no right to a place among God's people? We are told, the man thus re buked |