Use 1
USE 1.
For Information: Learn hence,
1. How injurious they are to these, who deny them a room in God's Vineyard, who disown and reject them from having any relation to the visible Church of Christ; who reckon them among those that are without; and consequently debar them of, and thrust them from these privileges. Such there be, but what wrong they do to these, no, how much they set themselves against Christ, is easy to observe. Are we wiser than he? Or shall we dare to control him? Shall he say, I have planted these in my Vineyard, and shall we say they are in the Wilderness? A great reason why many do thus, arises from their mistaking and misapplying the word [Church] and want of distinguishing between the Church of the first-born, and the visible Church, and the privileges which are peculiar, and those that are common. Church, is sometimes taken for the Called and Converted, every visible professor is not of this (Romans 9:6): all are not Israel, that are of Israel. Sometimes for all such as are externally in Covenant with God, and so it includes them (Psalm 50:5). There are some benefits that none do actually partake in but the Converted, and these are the more inward saving benefits of Christ, which are applied to them, and only offered to others. There are other privileges are common, being given to the Church visible, and serviceable to Conversion, as well as to Edification; and these have all visible professors a share in.
It is true, there are some of those, that every professor may not ipso facto partake in, there being qualifications requisite, by Christ's Appointment, to fit them for them; yet all that are so visibly qualified, are not of the invisible Church; and the other privileges are to fit them hereto. And a plant may be in the Nursery, though it be not as yet fit to set out; yet it is so in the vineyard, and has both its fence and tillage belonging to it. It is an awk-way to bring souls to Christ, by disinteresting them in the Covenant-hopes, which are their great encouragements, and they of old, thought it was as good as saying, go serve other Gods (Joshua 22:24, 25).
2. Are visible professors fig-trees? Then what do briars and thorns in God's Vineyard? It speaks terror to all such as prove themselves so. How amazing a thing will it be, when God comes to look into his visible Church, and instead of finding them there to be fruit-bearing trees, and such as answer the end of their being there, he shall observe that it abounds with cursed plants that are appointed for burning? When he shall say, I planted you a Fig-tree, how comes it to pass that you are degenerated into a bramble? Will they not then be speechless, like him that was found at the Supper, without a Wedding Garment? Let no such then be proud or boast of their station; whatever their privilege be, I am sure the danger is greater, and they shall find it, when he shall come to take out of his Kingdom whatever does offend; when the Tares shall be separated from the Wheat. And mean while the place they are in, exposes them to be the sooner rooted out of the world, as will afterwards be made evident.
3. Are visible professors planted by God's own order in his visible Church? Then certainly God looks for more from them than others. All privileges have duties annexed to them; and every talent that any have received must be accounted for. The Husbandman expects that his Vines and Trees that are under his careful tilth, should grow faster, and bear better and more fruit than such as are in the open field, neglected. And let me assure you that are children of godly parents, that have partaken in the Seal of the Gospel-Covenant, that have acknowledged yourselves to be of God's People, openly owned his Covenant, submitted to his Government, and promised Obedience to him; that you ought not to live as others do, in the vanity of their minds; that you are not called to uncleanness, but to Holiness, and if you resolve to do as others do, and live as others live, you will greatly provoke the Holy God to jealousy against you.
