When he had landed at Cæsarea, and gone up and saluted the church, &c.-Acts xviii. 22.

Paul sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.-Acts xx. 17.

Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you; greet the church in the house of Aquila.-Rom. xvi. 3. 5. 23; Philem. 2.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth.-1 Cor. i. 2; 2 Cor. i. 1. As I teach every where, in every church.-1 Cor. iv. 17.

In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, &c.-1 Cor. v. 4. When ye come together in the church, &c. when ye come together therefore into one place, &c. despise ye the church of God? &c. Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another. -1 Cor. xi. 18. 20–33.

If therefore the whole church be come together in one place, &c. let him keep silence in the church, &c. as in all churches of the saints. Let your women keep silence in the churches, &c. It is a shame for women to speak in the church.1 Cor. xiv. 23. 28. 33—35.

As I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. The churches of Asia.-1 Cor. xvi. 1. 19. The churches of Macedonia, &c. throughout all the churches, &c. and chosen of the churches, &c. brethren, the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ, shew ye to them, and before the churches the proof, &c.-2 Cor. viii. 1. 18, 19. 23, 24; Rom. xvi. 16.

Paul, &c. unto the churches of Galatia, &c. unknown by face unto the churches of Judea.-Gal. i. 1, 2. 22. Ye Philippians, &c. no church communicated with me, as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only. Phil. iv. 15.

When this epistle is read amongst you, cause that it be read also in the church of the Laodiceans.-Col. iv. 16.

To the church of the Thessalonians which is in God.-1 Thess. i. 1.

The churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Jesus.-1 Thess. ii. 14.

So that we ourselves glory in you, in the churches of God.-2 Thess. i. 4. The church at Babylon, &c. saluteth you.—1 Pet. v. 13.

Borne witness of thy charity before the church, &c. I wrote unto the church, but Diotrephes receiveth us not, and, &c. casteth them out of the church, &c.-3 John 6. 9, 10.

The seven churches of Asia, &c. Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamos, &c.— Rev. i. 4. 11; ii. 7. 11. 17.

SECONDLY. The Dignity, Privileges, and Blessings belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ in general

as such.

Ir is said of Joseph, that though he should be persecuted, &c. yet his bow should remain in its strength.-Gen. xlix. 23, 24.

The angel of the Lord appeared out of the midst of the bush, and though the bush burned, yet it was not consumed.-Exod. iii. 2.

I will set my tabernacle among you: and my soul shall not abhor you; and I will walk among you, and will be your God, and ye shall be my people.-Levit. xxvi. 11, 12; Ezek. xxxvii. 26-28.

There is no enchantment against Jacob, nor divination against Israel. Numb. xxiii. 23.

The cloud filled the house of the Lord, so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord had filled the house.-1 Kings viii. 10, 11; ix. 3; Exod. xl. 34.

Why do the heathen rage? &c. the Lord shall have them in derision, &c. yet have I set my king upon my holy hill, &c.-Ps. ii. 1. 4. 6.

There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High: God is in the

:

midst of her, she shall not be moved God shall help her, &c. The Lord of hosts is with us: the God of Jacob, &c.-Ps. xlvi. 4, 5. 7; xlviii. 1. 8. Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined.-Ps. 1. 2.

The hill of God is as the hill of Bashan, an high hill; why leap ye, ye high hills? This is the hill which God desireth to dwell in, yea, the Lord will dwell in it for ever.-Ps. lxviii. 15, 16; lxix. 35, 36; lxxiv. 2. Deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked.-Ps. lxxiv. 19.

In Judah is God known, his name is great in Israel; in Salem also is his tabernacle, and his dwelling place in Zion.-Ps. lxxvi. 1, 2.

He delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemies' hand he gave his people over also unto the sword, and was wroth with his inheritance.-Ps. lxxviii. 61, 62.

How amiable are thy tabernacles, O Lord of hosts! &c. Blessed are they that dwell in thy house, they will be still praising thee, &c. they go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God.-Ps. lxxxiv. 1. 4. 7.

The Lord loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob: glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God, &c. and of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her, and the Highest himself shall establish her.-Ps. lxxxvii. 2, 3. 5.

Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish, &c. they shall still bring forth fruit.-Ps. xcii. 13, 14.

Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.-Ps. xciii. 5.

The Lord is great in Zion, and he is high above all people.-Ps. xcix. 2; xlviii. 1, &c.

The Lord hath chosen Zion, he hath desired it for his habitation. This is my rest for ever, here will I dwell, for I have desired it: I will abundantly bless her provision, I will

satisfy her poor with bread, &c.-Ps. cxxxii. 13–17; xlviii. 14.

The Lord shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations.-Ps. cxlvi. 10.

Praise thy God, O Zion, for he hath, &c. blessed thy children within thee. He, &c. filleth thee with the finest of the wheat, &c. He sheweth his word unto Jacob; his statutes and his judgments unto Israel: he hath not dealt so with any nation, &c.-Ps. cxlvii. 12—14. 19, 20.

The mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills, &c. out of Zion shall go forth the law.-Isa. ii. 2-4; Micah iv. 1-7; Ps. xlviii. 8, 9.

The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Zion, and upon her assemblies, cloud and smoke by day, and the shining of a flaming fire by night for upon all the glory shall be a defence.-Isa. iv. 5, 6.

The Lord of hosts, which dwelleth in Mount Zion.-Isa. viii. 18.

The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, &c. they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain.—Isa. xi. 6-9.

Cry out and shout, thou inhabitant of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.-Isa. xii. 6.

The Lord hath founded Zion, and the poor of his people shall trust in it.-Isa. xiv. 32.

The moon shall be confounded, &c. when the Lord of hosts shall reign in Mount Zion.-Isa. xxiv. 23.

In this mountain shall the Lord of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, &c. and he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, &c.—Isa. xxv. 6, 7.

A vineyard of red wine, I the Lord do keep it; I will water it every moment, lest any hurt it: I will keep it night and day.-Isa. xxvii. 2, 3.

As when an hungry man dreameth, and behold he eateth; but he awaketh and his soul is empty, &c. so shall

that fight against Mount Zion.-Isa.

xxix. 8.

As the lion, &c. so shall the Lord of hosts come down to fight for Mount Zion, and for the hill thereof. The Lord whose fire is in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem.Isa. xxxi.4.9. Look upon Zion, the city of our solemnities; thine eyes shall see Jerusalem, a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that shall not be taken down, &c. but there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams, &c. the Lord is our judge, &c. our lawgiver: the Lord is our King, &c. the inhabitants shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven, &c.Isa. xxxiii. 20-22. 24.

God threatens nations, as recom penses for the controversy of Zion.Isa. xxxiv. 1, 2. 8.

The ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs, &c. and they shall obtain joy and gladness; and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.-Isa. xxxv. 10; li. 11, 12.

Great promises are made to the church of God.-Isa. xli. 8, &c.

I will place salvation in Zion, for Israel my glory.-Isa. xlvi. 13.

Zion said, The Lord hath forsaken me, &c. Can a woman forget her sucking child? &c. yea, they may forget; yet will I not forget thee: behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of mine hands: thy walls are continually before me, &c. Isa. xlix. 14-16.

The Lord shall comfort Zion, he will comfort all her waste places.Isa. li. 3; Ps. 1xix. 35, 36; Isa. liv. Zion thy God reigneth.-Isa. lii.

7.

I will bring them to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.-Isa. Ivi. 7.

The great glory the church of God shall have upon her.-Isa. lx; Zech. xii; xiii.

Say ye to the daughter of Zion,

I will take you one of a city, and two of a family, and I will bring you to Zion, and I will give you pastors according to mine heart.Jer. iii. 14, 15.

Do not abhor us, for thy name's sake: do not disgrace the throne of thy glory.-Jer. xiv. 21.

The place of my throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel for ever.-Ezek. xliii. 7.

And ye shall know that I am the Lord in the midst of Israel, &c. for in mount Zion and in Jerusalem shall be deliverance, as the Lord hath said. -Joel ii. 27. 32.

The Lord also shall roar out of Zion, and utter his voice from Jerusalem, and the heavens and the earth shall shake; but the Lord will be the hope of his people, &c. I am the Lord your God, dwelling in Zion, my holy mountain, &c. and a fountain shall come forth of the house of the Lord, and shall water the valley of Shittim. Judah shall dwell for ever, &c. for the Lord dwelleth in Zion.-Joel iii. 16-21.

For I, saith the Lord, will be unto her a wall of fire round about, and will be the glory in the midst of her, &c. many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee, &c. and the Lord shall inherit Judah's portion in the holy land.Zech. ii. 5. 10. 12.

Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion, &c. behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, &c.-Zech. ix. 9.

Upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.-Matt. xvi. 18.

For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.-Matt. xviii. 20.

Feed the church of God, which he

hath purchased with his own blood. -Acts xx. 28.

The churches, the glory of Christ. -2 Cor. viii. 23.

The church, which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all. Eph. i. 22, 23; iv. 13.

To the intent that now unto principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, &c. unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, &c.-Eph. iii. 10, 11. 21.

That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle.-Eph. v. 27.

The house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.--1 Tim. iii. 15.

Ye are come unto Mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, &c.—Heb. xii. 22, 23.

Who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks.-Rev. ii. 1.

THIRDLY.

The Qualifications of Members of the Church of God: what they should be.

AND the Lord spake unto Aaron, saying, Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle, &c. That ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean, &c.-Levit. x. 8-10. Holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.-Ps. xciii. 5.

They shall call them the holy people: the redeemed of the Lord.-Isa. Îxii. 12.

Her priests have violated my law, &c. they have put no difference between the holy and profane: neither have they shewed difference between the unclean and the clean.-Ezek. xxii. 26.

Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people: Ephraim is a cake not turned.-Hosea vii. 8.

Can two walk together, except they be agreed?-Amos iii. 3.

To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints.-Rom. i. 7.

Grant you to be likeminded one toward another, &c. that ye may with one mind, and one mouth, glorify God, &c. I myself am persuaded of you, brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, &c.-Rom. xv. 5, 6. 14.

Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, &c. I beseech you, &c. that ye all speak the same thing, &c. that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment.-1 Cor. i. 2. 10.

By one Spirit we are all baptized into one body, &c.-1 Cor. xii. 13.

Be not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? &c. Ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, &c. wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, &c. and I will receive you. -2 Cor. vi. 14-18.

First they gave their ownselves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.-2 Cor. viii. 5.

Ye are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone: in whom all the building, fitly framed together, groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord in whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God, through the Spirit. -Eph. ii. 20-22.

To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse.-Col. i. 2.

Ye are all the children of the light, and of the day we are not of the night, nor of darkness, &c. I charge you, that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.-1 Thess. v. 5. 27.

Be ready always to give an answer

to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you, with meck

ness and fear.-1 Pet. iii. 15.

FOURTHLY.-Of the Property that particular Churches had in their Members, and of others joining

themselves to them.

AND great fear came upon all the church, &c. and they were all with one accord in Solomon's porch; and of the rest durst no man join himself to them; but the people magnified them.-Acts v. 11-13.

And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples; and they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple but Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them, how he had seen the Lord, &c. and he was with them, coming in and going out at Jerusalem. Acts ix. 26-28.

They determined, that Paul and Barnabas, and certain others of them, should go up to Jerusalem, &c. It pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch, &c. Judas and Silas, chief men among the brethren.-Acts xv. 2. 22.

Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea.-Rom. xvi. 1.

Because of false brethren unawares brought in, who came in privily to spy out our liberty, &c.-Gal. ii. 4.

Epaphroditus my brother, &c. but your messenger, &c. I sent him therefore the more carefully, that when ye see him again ye may rejoice, &c. he was nigh unto death, &c.Phil. ii. 25-28.

Onesimus, &c. who is one of you, &c. Epaphras, who is one of &c. saluteth you.-Col. iv. 9. 12.

you,

Our friends salute thee; greet the friends by name.-3 John 14.

FIFTHLY. Of Letters commendatory; or the Churches receiving of such as were recommended to them from others, by Word or Letter. BARNABAS took Paul and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord, &c. and he was with them coming in, &c.-Acts ix. 27, 28.

When Apollos was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much.-Acts xviii. 27.

I commend unto you Phebe our sister, &c. that ye receive her in the Lord, &c.-Rom. xvi. 1, 2.

If Timotheus come, see that he may be with you without fear for he worketh the work of the Lord, as I also do.-1 Cor. xvi. 10, 11.

Need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you?-2 Cor. iii. 1-3.

He remembereth the obedience of you all, how with fear and trembling ye received him.-2 Cor. vii. 15.

Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner, &c. or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches: wherefore shew ye to them, &c.-2 Cor. viii. 23, 24.

Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, touching whom ye received commandment; if he come unto you, receive him.—Col. iv. 10.

The brethren testified, &c. whom if thou bring forward, &c. we therefore ought to receive such, &c. I wrote unto the church; but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not, &c. and forbiddeth them that would, &c.-3 John 3. 6. 8. 10.

SIXTHLY. Of the Order of the Churches in their Assemblies and Meetings: their stated Regulations in their constant worship.

GOD is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints; and to be