THE Greatest, the Noblest Work, that ever is done among the Chil­dren of Men, is this Day to be done in this Assembly. The very Angels of Heaven, fly to the Win­dows of Heaven, that they may be the Glad Spectators of Such a WORK done among the Children of Men upon Earth. It is, To E­rect a TEMPLE of God. And what? An American Wilderness be the Place, where the Glorious LORD shall See Temples Erected for Him! O Sovereign GRACE! O Won­derful [Page 2] GRACE! It is even so, Lord, because it Pleases thee!

Indeed, the Whole CHURCH of GOD, collectively taken, is a TEMPLE, which our Magnificent Solomon is Building for Him. The Building is not yet Finished. The Pe­riod which answers to the Seventh Year, wherein the Temple of Solomon was finished, is not yet arrived. When it is arrived, the Acclamations [and Solomons too among the rest!] will be such as no Age ever yet heard: they will be Astonishments, beyond all that were ever yet seen in the World. In the mean time, we are told; All the Building fitly framed together, groweth unto an Holy Temple in the Lord. The Temple is Growing, in the Con­version of Sinners unto GOD; and the Ad­dition to the Church daily of those that shall be Saved. When a Sinner is Converted, a New Stone is brought and laid in the Building of the Temple. The Temple grows bigger and higher, as often as any Sinner is Converted. God fetches in Matter for His Church, from all Corners of the World. He will go on doing so, till all the Elect are Effectually Called. The Top-stone of the Church will not be laid, until the Last of the Elect be called home to God, that ever shall be so. What a Shout will be given upon that Stroke, It is Finished! It is Finished! Until this be done, this is the Reason why we are so earnest with our Hearers, to Repent of Sin, and Return to [Page 3] God, and Believe on Christ, and Lay Hold on Eternal Life. The Ministers of the Gospel are Workmen about the Temple. Their only Work in the World should be, to build the Temple of GOD. For this we are in conti­nual Agony. Oh▪ That this Consideration might prevail with our Hearers, to become Seriously Religious. ‘Children; At the Mo­ment that you do indeed Resolve to become Seriously Religious, the Temple of GOD, re­ceives a desireable Growth by your Accession unto it. You will contribute unto the Growth of the Temple, in the Day that you turn unto God. Oh! Happy Souls, that are Stones in the Temple of the Lord! Oh! Glorious Happiness, to be a Part of such a Temple! GOD will own you for His, in the Day when He makes up His Jewels.’

But there is another Observation, unto which we are now to be invited. As the Ʋniversal Church is the Temple of GOD, So E­very Particular Church is to be a Temple.

There were Three Things of High Ac­count, among the Ancient People of GOD; The City of Jerusalem; The Family of David; And, the Temple of the LORD. In the CHURCH of our Lord JESUS CHRIST, there is a bright Constellation of all those Glories meeting together. That CHURCH, which is the Body of them, that Love the Lord, and Hate Evil, and hope for Blessedness in the Heavenly World. Our [Page 4] Apostle assures us, That this Church, is, The City of God; and▪ The Family of God; and, The Temple of God. And, Oh! who would not give himself up unto the Conduct of a Glorious CHRIST, that he may be brought into a Church of so great a Character!

Now, the Apostle having said, That the Ʋniversal Church is the Temple of God, pre­sently sayes to the Church of Ephesus; You also are builded together. The Particular Church of Ephesus; the Congregational Church, was also a Temple.

I may then, without any Obstruction in the way, pass on to this Doctrine and Admoni­tion of the Lord.

A Particular Church, is, A Society of Christians▪ combining for the Worship of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, in the ways that He has Instituted. Or, as our Catechised Children can tell us; 'Tis a Congregation of Saints joyned together in the Bond of the Covenant, to Worship the Lord, and Edify One another, in all His Holy Ordinances. I make no Scruple, to call it, A Congregational Church. For it is un­questionable, That a Congregational Church is an Instituted Church. If a Church of another [Page 5] Form, should pretend unto Institution, still 'tis the Congregational Church, that has the First claim, and a Plain claim it has, unto it. The Churches mention'd in the New Testament, were every One of them, evidently Congrega­tional. And the most Judicious, Laborious and Impartial Searches into Christian Anti­quity, do declare, That they can't find any other Churches, in the First Ages of Christia­nity, but what were Congregational. This Truth will most certainly gain, as Ignorance, and Prejudice, and Passion, in the Treating of such matters, does abate in the World. Concerning such a Particular Church, we are now to receive divers Propositions.

1. Unto what may a CHURCH of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, be likened? Unto what, so well as unto an House, unto which our Lord JESUS CHRIST Himself has likened it. You shall find this comparison asserted; 1. Tim. 3.15. The House of God, which is the Church of the Living God. In ma­ny Articles [...] the Comparison be carried on; we will with Delight and Profit, Reflect upon several of them.

Has not an House, a Builder? A Church has One. And 'tis the Lord Himself, that is the Builder of it. We read, Heb. 3.4. Every House is built by Some Man; but he that built all things (here) is God.

Has not an House, an Owner? A Church has [Page 6] One. And it is the Lord JESUS CHRIST Himself that is the Owner of it. We read, Heb 3 6 Christ is a Son over His own House, whose House we are.

Is there not Skill required unto the Buil­ding of an House? An Architect should be an Artist. It is no little Skill, that is requisite unto the producing of a Church, the Ordering of it, and the Managing of it. It calls for the greatest Skill in the World. We read, 1 Cor. 3.10▪ A Wise Master-builder, must be con­cerned.

Does an House consist of Good and Choice Materials? A Church must not consist of what is Rotten; But of Saints, that are Styled Cedars; and, Comparable to find Gold. Nothing but what is Good and Choice, is to be Admitted here; Except we would make a Vile Cottage of it. We read, Eph. 1.1. They must be, Saints, and Faithful in Christ Jesus.

Must the Materials of an House be well Prepared, that they may be laid into it? They that are laid in the Church, must be fetch'd out of the Rude Heap of Mankind▪ and form'd and hew'd and Squar'd and Shap'd for a Place among them that are Sanctified. A Work of Effectual Calling, and Regeneration, and Sancti­fication, is to pass upon them, to prepare them for it. We read, 1. Pet. 2.5. As lively Stones, (not such Lifeless Things, as the Temple of old, was composed of,) ye are built up, a Spiritual House; an Holy Priest-hood. [Probably Peter [Page 7] now had in his Eye the words, which our Saviour had formerly Spoken unto him, Matth. 16 18.]

Must the Materials of an House, be well Joyned unto One another? It will never be an House, if they be not so. The Form of it, arises from the Conjunction of the Materials. In the Church there is a Conjunction of those, of whom it is made up. Their Conjunction is by a Covenant of God. In some sort or other, they do Resolve and Engage together to Serve the Lord. We read; Psal. 122 3. It is compact together.

What is the End of an House? 'Tis to Dwell in; 'Tis a Dwelling-place. A Church is the Lords Dwelling-place. 'Tis an Habitation of God. We read, Rev 2 1▪ He walks there.

Finally; In an House there are various Vessels and Ʋtinsels And in a Church there are so too. We read, 2 Tim 2 20. In a great House, there are not only Vessels of Gold and of Silver, but also of Wood▪ and of Earth; and some to Honour, some to Dishonour. Godly and Sincere Persons in a Church, these are Vessels of Honour▪ Golden Vessels ▪ or, The Plate of the House. Wicked Persons, and the men of this World, are Vessels of Earth. Such as Disho­nour God by Sin are Vessels of Dishonour God Save us from coming under such a Denomi­nation▪

But, if a Church be an House ▪ I Suppose it will put us in mind. That Church Work is [Page 8] Building-Work. I do not wonder then, that Church-Work does go on with Difficulty; Or, that it goes on with Deliberation; Or, that it is Expensive to carry it on. To Build such an House, must needs be an Hard Work, a Slow Work, and a Costly One.

II. But what kind of an House, is a Church of the Lord JESUS CHRIST? It is an House that may be called, A Temple. Do but say, Who's House it is, and you presently deter­mine it, A Temple. It is an House of GOD. Hence we read; 2 Cor. 6 16. Ye are the Tem­ple of the Living GOD.

In affirming a Church to be a TEMPLE, there are Two very Important Things af­firm'd concerning a Church.

First▪ It is to be Remembred, That a Church, is like a Temple, Dedicated and Con­secrated unto the Special Service of GOD. What is a Temple? 'Tis an House Dedicated unto the Worship of GOD. What is a CHURCH? 'Tis a Company of Men, who have Dedicated themselves unto the Worship of GOD. GOD & the Lord JESUS CHRIST, is Worshipped in the Church. The very De­sign upon which a Church is Erected, is, That the Lord might be Worshipped there. A CHURCH is, as we read, 1 Cor. 1 2. To call upon the Name of JESƲS CHRIST▪ our Lord. The Lord JESUS CHRIST affords unto men in His Church, peculiar Opportu­nities [Page 9] of Communion with Himself. A Church is gathered upon this Intention; That Men may therein Enjoy a Special Com­munion with GOD, and the Lord JESUS CHRIST. The Language, the Pretence, the very Motto of a Church ▪ is that; 1 Joh. 1.3. Truly our Fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ. In a Church, the Children of Men present their Offerings unto GOD; and in a Church, GOD Visits the Children of Men, with Communications of Light and Life and Grace unto them. A Temple is made for this Purpose; That there may be upon Earth, in the Devotions of Men, Some Conformity to what is doing in Heaven; And that here may be a fit Recepta­cle, to take in Such Communications from Hea­ven, as God will favour Men upon Earth withal. This, This is the very purpose of a Church, 'Tis made, that Heaven and Earth may therein come sweetly together; 'Tis made, that God and Man may therein Con­verse with one another.

Secondly. It is to be Remembred, That a Church is to take its measures, in many Things, from the Temple, which the Lord had of old, in the Land of Israel. There was a Tabernacle, which Moses built for the Special Service of GOD, according to a Pattern which God had shown him, of what is Existing, and Managed, in the Heavenly World There was a Second Edition of the Tabernacle in an Illustri­ous [Page 10] Temple, built by Solomon, for the Speci­al Service of GOD, according to the Further Directions, which the Visions of God, had given unto his Father David; who had a clearer view than Moses had, of particularly, the Throne of Glory, in the Third Heaven, or that Apartment of the Heavenly World, which was answered, by, The Holy of Holies, in the Temple. The Dying Servant of God, left that charge; 1 Chron. 22.19. Now set your Heart and your Soul, to Seek the Lord your God; Arise therefore, and Build ye the Sanctuary of the Lord. This Temple of GOD, is now laid in Ashes. GOD has fulfill'd unto the Jews, His Threatning; Your House shall be Left unto you Desolate. The Jews are making that bitter complaint; Our Holy and our Beauteous House, where our Fathers Praised thee, is burnt up with Fire. But the Temple was built on a Spot of Land, bought of a Gentile! GOD has many a Temple now in the Land of the Gentiles. Every CHURCH of the Lord JESUS CHRIST, is now to be a Temple of GOD. It is remarkable, That all the Furniture of the Temple, Seen by John, in the Heavenly World, is introduced, as Liv­ing. The very Lamps, are Spirits; The very Horns of the Altar have a Voice; The Throne it self Speaks. A Church is more like the Tem­ple in the Heavenly World, than any Inanimate Composition that has been called a Temple. 'Tis Living, every part of it. But that it may have the more of a Temple in it, what was in [Page 11] the Temple of old, must be Imitated and Spiritualized in the Church of the LORD. A Church is to consider, what was to be Seen, and what was to be Done, in the Tem­ple; and to take its Measures accordingly. I fore-see▪ That I must anon Resume this Admonition.

But if a Church be a Temple, Methinks All that are in the Church are hence Admo­nished. Holiness becomes this House for ever!

It becomes them, to take up this Resolu­tion. ‘Well; I am in an Holy Place: I am where the Holy God is present, with Singu­lar Discoveries of Himself. Oh! Let me be very Holy. In such an Holy Place, Let me do nothing Offensive unto the Lord, who is greatly to be feared in the Assembly of the Holy Ones, and to be had in Reverence of all them that are about Him.’

III. But what Regard should the Parts of a Church have to one another? They should ly well Together, that they may be a Temple of GOD. A Church of the Lord JESUS CHRIST must have this property, Built together. It cannot pretend unto the Consistency of a TEMPLE, if it be not so.

First. By a Church-Covenant, the seve­ral Parts of a Church are to be Brought and Laid well Together. While men ly Scat­tered one from another, and are not come [Page 12] Voluntarily together, and are not come into a Voluntary Relation unto each other, they cannot be a Church of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. And how can they do this, but by a Mutual Confaederation? The Formation of a Church, is by a Church-Covenant, wherein men bind themselves to Walk toge­ther, according to the Order of the Gospel. 'Tis a Sacred Corporation. Every Corpora­tion is made so by a Covenant. It must be by a Covenant, that men are Incorporated into an Evangelical Church-State before the Lord. Tho' the Hazard of having the Word mis­construed among Malignant Enemies, might make the Apostles forbear using the Word, Covenant, yet we find the Thing in the Apostolical Writings. We read; Act. 5.13. about, Joyning to the Church. The Origi­nal Word, carries this in it; A Cleaving to­gether; which implies, Their Mutual Promi­ses to Keep together: A Joyning in that Co­venant or Agreement, in which that Church Associated for the Worship of the Lord. The Word is the same that is used for the Marri­age-Covenant. A Church is a Spouse of Christ; It is by a Covenant that they approach unto Him. Brethren, This is the Day of your E­spousal unto the Lord. Where men do not Im­plicitly at least, Agree and Engage, together, to Worship the Lord JESUS CHRIST accor­ding to His Laws, 'tis almost on all hands Agreed, they neither are, nor can be, A Church. [Page 13] All Reasonable men, will grant as much as this comes to. An Implicit Covenant is ne­cessary to the very Being of a Church. And indeed, the Essence of a Church is preserved, where there is but an Implicit Agreement of a Company of Believers, declared by their constant Practice, in coming Together for the Publick Worship of God, and Subjection to His Ordinances. But then, an Explicit Co­venant is Expedient, is Profitable, is Desirea­ble; Yea, 'Tis a Duty. Our GOD must be Served with Our Best. We must not Put off the Lord with a Defective Thing, when we have a Better. And we are certain, That an Explicit Covenant is better than an Implicit. The Officers of the Church, are chosen by the Church, and come in with the Consent of the Church. As there must be a Covenant be­tween the Church and its Officers; thus there must be a Covenant in the Church, to Qualify, to Distinguish, to Enable them, that they may Chuse their Officers. Accordingly, Eccle­siastical and Unquestionable History Reports to us, A Covenant, which the Primitive Christians had among them. Tertullian thus describes a Church, Corpus Sumus, de Spei Faedere, as Incorporated with a Covenant. Pliny relates, That Some Renegado Christians being Examined by him, Confessed, They had a Covenant among them. Justin Mar­tyr Speaks of Three Things, then demanded of all that were Admitted into the Church; A [Page 14] New Birth; A Sound Faith; and, A Promise to walk in Obedience to the Gospel. Zep­per tells us, of many Reformed Churches in these Later Ages Reviving this Discipline of the Primitive; That they who were Admit­ted unto the Lords-Supper in them, Solemnly Entred into a Covenant, That by the Grace of God they would Order their Lives according to His Word, and Submit unto the Discipline of His Church. Parker sayes; Admittitur, non Sine Solenni Pactione, cum Deo, et cum Ecclesiâ.

By the Church-Covenant, is meant, The Covenant of Grace applied unto those Duties of the Covenant, which a Church of the Lord is to Observe, that the Order of the Gospel may be maintained in it. There are Particular Duties, which the Members (the Pastors and Brethren) of Particular Churches, owe to one another. They that will not Seriously, and Solemnly Acknowledge their Obligations to the Duties, are but poorly Qualified to be Ac­knowledged as Members of the Churches. Now the Church-Covenant in our Churches, is nothing else, but that Acknowledgment.

Some Disaffected and Ʋnacquainted Persons, may decry the Covenant by which our Churches are formed, as a Singularity. But even in this Day of Deviation from the Pri­mitive Discipline, the Lord ever now and then raises up, some Testimony for it. I will at this time only Recite the Words, of Mr. Ostervaldt, [Page 15] a late Outlandish Writer on, The causes of the present corruption of Christians.

‘The Order which I mean, is this, First, That when Persons desire to be Admitted unto the Sacrament, they should be Instruct­ed for Some Weeks before, and that the same time, they should be informed of the Sacredness and Importance of the Action, and of the Promise they are to make, that so they may prepare for it betimes. In the next place, that they should be Examined, and that they should Publickly render an Account of their Faith. This Examination, being over, that they should be required, to Renew and Confirm in a Publick and Solemn manner, their Baptismal Vow, to Renounce the Devil and his Works, the World and the Pomp of it, the Flesh and its Lusts; and to Promise, that they will Live and Dy in the Christian Faith. And then, that they should be Admitted, to the Communion, by Benediction and Prayers.’

[He Proceeds.] ‘The Order I propose, will be thought a Novelty, by none but such as do not know what was anciently Practi­sed, and who call Innovations, every thing which does not agree with the Custom of their Country, or their Church. Besides, this Establishment being altogether Suitable unto the Nature of the Christian Religion, it ought not to be Rejected. I Offer this with the greater Confidence, because an Order [Page 16] like this, has been Settled of late, in some Churches, and is there observed with Extra­ordinary Success.’ [Thus my Author.]

Briefly, The Covenant for the Duties of the Church-State, is the Cement of a Church. The Stones of a Temple are to be well Cemen­ted and Ʋnited unto one another, by an Holy Covenant.

Secondly. The Several Parts of the Church must Keep well together, in attending to the Duties of the Church-Covenant, which are now Expected from them. A Temple must Hold well together, in the Discharge of the Duties, whereto the Church-Covenant has obliged them that are in it. The Tem­ple falls to Pieces, when the Church-Members may have it said of them; Psal. 78 37. They are not Stedfast in His Covenant.

Church-Members, You have given your selves unto the Church whereto you do be­long; Engaging, That in the Fellowship thereof you will attend upon the Ordinances of the Glo­rious Gospel, while your Opportunities to be there­by Edified in your most Holy Faith shall be conti­nued. There is much that you have now to Do Together, in waiting on the Lord, that So you may be Built Together as a Temple of the Lord

There are Duties, which the ELDERS of the Church, are to do towards the Brethren. Oh! That our Glorious LORD would help [Page 17] us to Study and Practise our Duties! Oh! That we may Spend our Time, in Praying for our Flocks, in Treating with our Flocks, in a continual Travail for their Salvation! Oh! That we might Watch for the Souls of our People, as they that must give an Account; and be Prudent and Faithful Stewards of the Heavenly Mysteries unto them! Will you, Brethren, Ask for us those Mercies of God?

I readily acknowledge, Very many, very awful are the Duties of the Elders. But will my doing so, obtain for me the Liberty now to say, That the Duties between the Elders and the People are Mutual? If the People would allow this Concession, they might be con­vinced presently of several Miscarriages, which We can hardly take the Liberty to mention; Only by considering, Should the Elders neglect the Church, as much as the Bre­thren of the Church often cast off the Elders, doubtless, there would be loud complaints concerning it.

But between the Elders and the Bre­thren, Methinks, I see the DEACONS, in a Seat of Eminency, demanding, — And what shall we do? Sirs, You must be Men of Gravity, of a Grave and Solid, and Comely Behaviour. You must be Sincere men, Tem­perate men, Bountiful men; and Hold the Mystery of Faith in a pure Conscience. You must with much application Study the Tem­poral [Page 18] Interest, both of the Elders and of the Brethren. You must see as far as you can, that none Suffer by want. You must use all Discretion as well as Fidelity, for Augmenting as well as Dispensing, the Churches Treasury. You must have one Vertue more, which is perhaps too little considered; that is, Much Boldness in the Faith. The meaning is, That you must Speak Plainly, Freely, Boldly, on the behalf of Christ, and His Church, to Such as you find Strait-handed People, not contri­buting according to their Ability. You must not be Asham'd nor Afraid, but with much Boldness tell your Neighbours, when they are Defective in doing their Part, for the Support of Christianity.

I will now go on to say; There are Duties which the BRETHREN of the Church, owe both to the Elders, and to one another. When Things Ly well together in the Temple, the Brethren become well disposed both towards the Elders, and towards the Bre­thren. We will describe their Disposition. Oh! That while we are uttering the Des­cription, the Spirit of Grace may so fall upon You, Our Brethren, as to bring you into it!

The Disposition of the Brethren towards the Elders, is thus to be Expressed.

Oh! what a Lovely Temple Built toge­ther should we see in this Place, if here might be a Church thus disposed!

IV. But a Temple Built thus together, what must it be Built upon? It must be Built upon our Lord JESUS CHRIST. In Him a Church is to be Built together.

Excellent Things are implied in this.

First. In Him! — Every Church-Mem­ber should be In Him; Every Church-Mem­ber should have an Ʋnion with the Lord JE­SUS [Page 21] CHRIST. Who are they, that are fit for for Church-Fellowship? we read, Eph. 1.1. The Saints, and Faithful in Christ Jesus. Before we come to be in a Church, we should be in the Lord Jesus Christ. They that are not in the Lord JESUS CHRIST, and that are not New Creatures, and that are not Holy Ones Par­takers of the Heavenly Calling; are not Sound Members of the Church. Our First work must be to make sure of this, That we be in the Lord JESUS CHRIST, by Accepting of Him, as He is Offered unto us. Then we may come to be in the church, and welcome. And the Grand care of every One, that is in the Church, it should run upon this; Am I in the Lord Jesus Christ, or no? It is not being in the Church, that will deliver a man from the Wrath of God. No; 'Tis being in the Lord JESUS CHRIST. Our main care must be that; Phil. 3 9. Oh! That I may be found in Him!

Secondly. In Him! — 'Tis a Respect unto Him, that must hold us together. Church-Members must be United in Respect unto the Lord JESUS CHRIST. This, This must be the Ʋniting Principle among us. All Church-Members must hold together in making the Lord JESUS CHRIST their Foundation. 'Tis no Temple of GOD, which is not Ʋnited upon that Foundation. We read, Col. 2.19. Holding the Head, is necessary. A Church falls, if the Members thereof, do [Page 22] not concur, in their Apprehensions of the Lord JESUS CHRIST; in their Inclinations to the Lord JESUS CHRIST. The Ʋniting Prin­ciple of a Church must be This; All the Members of it, must believe, That JESUS is CHRIST, and that CHRIST is GOD; and, That the Things Reveled and Reported in the Gospel, are Faithful Sayings. And all the Members of it, must Prize CHRIST, as the Pearl of Great Price, and Love CHRIST, as the Altogether Lovely One, & Serve CHRIST as their only Lord, and prefer a Portion in CHRIST above any Worldly Portion. This is One of the admirable Instances of our GODS Gathering together all things in CHRIST. The Members of the Church are Gathered together; and it is their Belief of CHRIST, and their Homage to CHRIST, by which they are Gathered and Ʋnited.

Thirdly. In Him! — 'Tis on the ac­count of Him, that we are to take up a Kind­ness for one another. All Church-Members must be Kind unto One another, because of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. There is, 2 Pet. 1.7. A Brotherly-Kindness, that must Sweeten the whole carriage of Church-Members towards One another. Now this Brotherly-Kindness, wherein we are to Love as Brethren, what must it be Built upon? It must be Built upon the Command of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. Be­cause the Lord JESUS CHRIST, has given us this Command, Love One another, Therefore [Page 23] we should forbear Injuring or Provoking one another; Therefore we should Please each other to Edification; Therefore we should be Serviceable to each other, and be ready to do each other all the Good that ever we can. Again; It must be Built upon the Image of the Lord JESUS CHRIST. We may See something of the Image of the Lord JESUS CHRIST in One another; Therefore, and so far, we should have a Value for One another; Therefore we should bear One anothers Bur­dens, and make as light as we can of the In­firmities wherewith any render themselves Burdensome unto us; Therefore we should close with one another, and come together cheerfully and heartily.

Thus we shall render our selves, A Tem­ple of God, built up together in our Lord Iesus Christ.