mulation, as real partakers in the same faith, hope, and salvation with themselves, as living members of the mystical body of Christ.

2. That on all ensuing occasions, they may be minded of their own profession and engagements to stir them up thereby unto faithfulness, steadfastness, and perseverance. Hereupon are the elders of the church to judge by the rule of truth in love and meekness concerning their condition, and meetness to be laid as living stones in the house of God: so as that they may,

(1.) Reject false hypocritical pretenders, if in or by any means their hypocrisy be discovered unto them. Acts viii. 20. 23. Titus i. 10. Jer. xv. 19.

(2.) That they may direct, and encourage in the way, such as appear to be sincere, instructing them principally in the nature of the way whereinto they are engaging, the duties, dangers, and benefits of it. Acts xviii. 20. xiv. 22. 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23.

(3.) To propose them, their condition, their desires, their resolutions, unto the church after their own expressions of them, to be considered of in love and meekness; Acts ix. 26, 27. Whereupon those that are approved, do give up themselves unto the Lord, to walk in the observation of all his commands and ordinances, and to the church for the Lord's sake, 2 Cor. viii. 5. abiding in the fellowship thereof, whereunto they are admitted. Acts ii. 41, 42.

Quest. 51. Wherein doth the especial form of a particular church whereby it becomes such, and is distinguished as such from all others, consist?

Ans. In the special consent and agreement of all the members of it, to walk together in the observation of the same ordinances numerically; hence its constitution and distinction from other churches doth proceed. Exod. xix. 5. 8. xxiv. 3. 7. Deut. xxvi. 17. 2 Cor. viii. 5. Acts xiv. 23. xx. 28. Heb. xiii. 17.

EXPLICATION.

It hath been before declared, what especial agreement or covenant there ought to be among all the members of the same church, to walk together in a due subjection unto,

and observance of, all the institutions of the Lord Christ. And this is that which gives it its special form and distinction from all other churches. In the general nature of a church, all churches do agree, and equally partake. There is the same law of the constitution of them all; they have all the same rule of obedience; all the same head, the same end; all carry it on by the observation of the same ordinances in kind. Now besides these things which belong unto the nature of a church in general, and wherein they all equally participate, they must also have each one its proper difference, that which doth distinguish it from all other churches; and this gives it its special form as such. Now this cannot consist in any thing that is accidental, occasional, or extrinsical unto it, such as is cohabitation (which yet the church may have respect unto, for conveniency, and furthering of its edification) nor in any civil or political disposal of its members into civil societies for civil ends, which is extrinsical to all its concernments as a church; nor doth it consist in the relation of that church to its present officers, which may be removed or taken away without the dissolution of the form or being of the church; but it consisteth, as was said, in the agreement or covenant before mentioned. For,

First, This is that which constitutes them a distinct body, different from others; for thereby and no otherwise do they coalesce into a society, according to the laws of their constitution and appointment.

Secondly, This gives them their especial relation unto their own elders, rulers, or guides, who watch over them as so associated by their own consent, according unto the command of Christ. And,

Thirdly, From hence they have their mutual especial relation unto one another, which is the ground of the especial exercise of all church duties whatsoever.

Quest. 52. Wherein consists the duty of any church of Christ towards other churches?

Ans. (1.) In walking circumspectly, so as to give them no offence. (2.) In prayer for their peace and prosperity. (3.) In communicating supplies to their wants according to ability. (4.) In receiving with love and readiness the mem

bers of them into fellowship, in the celebration of the ordinances of the gospel, as occasion shall be. (5.) In desiring and making use of their counsel and advice in such cases of doubt and difficulty, as may arise among them. (6.) In joining with them to express their communion in the same doctrine of faith. (1) 1 Cor. x. 32. (*) Psal. cxxii. 6. Eph. vi. 18. 1 Tim. ii. 1. (3) 2 Cor. viii. 4. 6. Acts xi. 29, 30. Rom. xv. 26, 27. (4) Rom. xvi. 1, 2. 3 John 8, 9. (5) Acts xv. ii. (6) 1 Tim. iii. 15.

EXPLICATION.

Churches being gathered and settled according to the mind of Christ, ought to preserve a mutual holy communion among themselves, and to exercise it, in the discharge of those duties whereby their mutual good and edification may be promoted. For whereas they are all united under one head, the Lord Christ, Eph. i. 22, 23. in the same faith and order, chap. iv. 5. and do walk by the same rule, they stand in such a relation one to another, as is the ground of the communion spoken of. Now the principal ways, whereby they exercise this communion, are the acts and duties enumerated in the answer unto this question. As,

First, Careful walking so as to give no offence unto one another; which although it be a moral duty in reference unto all, yet therein especial regard is to be had unto other churches of Christ, that they be not in any thing grieved or tempted. 1 Cor. x. 32. Give none offence; neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God.'

Secondly, In constant prayer for the peace, welfare, edification, and prosperity one of another. Rom. i. 9. Col. i. 9. Eph. vi. 18. And this because of the special con-cernment of the name and glory of our Lord Jesus Christ, in their welfare.

Thirdly, In communicating of supplies for their relief according unto their ability, in case of the outward wants, ⚫ straits, dangers, or necessities of any of them. Acts xi. 29, 30. Rom. xv. 26, 27. 2 Cor. viii. 1-4. 6. 14.

Fourthly, The receiving of the members of other churches to communion, in the celebration of church ordinances, is

an other way whereby this communion of churches is exercised; Rom. xvi. 1, 2, 3 John viii. 9. For whereas the personal right of such persons unto the ordinances of the church, and their orderly walking in the observation of the commands of Christ, are known by the testimony of the church whereof they are members, they may without farther inquiry or satisfaction given, be looked on 'pro tempore' as members of the church wherein they desire fellowship, and participation of the ordinances of Christ.

Fifthly, In desiring or making use of the counsel and advice of one another, in such cases of doubt and difficulty, whether doctrinal, or practical, as may arise in any of them; Acts xv. 2. 6. And from hence it follows, that in case any church, either by error in doctrine, or precipitation, or mistake in other administrations, do give offence unto other churches, those other churches may require an account from them, admonish them of their faults, and withhold communion from them, in case they persist in the error of their way; and that because in their difficulties, and before their miscarriages, they were bound to have desired the advice, counsel, and assistance of those other churches, which being neglected by them, the other are to recover the end of it unto their utmost ability; Gal. ii. 6. 11. And hence also it follows, that those that are rightly and justly censured in any church, ought to be rejected by all churches whatever; both because of their mutual communion, and because it is, and ought to be presumed, until the contrary be made to appear, that in case there had been any difficulty or doubt in the procedure of the church, they would have taken the advice of those churches, with whom they were obliged to consult.

Lastly, Whereas the churches have all of them one common faith, and are all obliged to hold forth and declare it to all men as they have opportunity, 1 Tim. iii. 15. to testify this their mutual communion, their interest in the same faith and hope, for the more open declaration and proposition of the truths of the gospel which they profess, and for the vindication both of the truth, and themselves, from false charges and imputations, they may, and if God give opportunity, ought, to join together in declaring and testifying

their joint consent and fellowship in the same doctrine of faith, expressed in a form of sound words.'

Quest. 53. What are the ends of all this dispensation and order of things in the church?

Ans. The glory of God, the honour of Jesus Christ the Mediator, the furtherance of the gospel, the edification and consolation of believers here; with their eternal salvation hereafter. Rev. iv. 9-11. v. 12, 13. 1 Cor. iii. 22, 23. Eph. iv. 11-13.