National Council 1. The present state of all the first Councils and of all the Churches combined with them 2. All the Causes that are transmitted by them unto the National Council 3. The Appeals if any such be All these being first read are delivered to them and so they are sent with their prayers and blessing 11. If these Councils foresee any future Sessions this quarter they may now agree upon the same if any Fasts or Feasts are to be kept by all their Churches they may now agree upon it and propose the Causes thereof 12. When these Elders do next meet in their first Councils they must prudently and faithfully report the good state of all the rest of the first Councils in the Province and of all the Churches combined with them and all other weighty affairs fitting to be communicated that so they may relate them to their Churches that these things may be mutter of joy praise thanksgiving prayer and obedience in all the Churches The particular Works of the National and highest Ecclesiastical Council within the Nation THe National Council being met at the stated time and place agreed on compleated and blessed then 1. The Moderator with the co attestation of the Ruling Elder his Associate is to declare unto them the present good estate of that Provincial Council which sent them as also the state of all the first Councils and particular Churches with them combined Also he declareth such casesâ—…s â—…s are transmitted by them unto this Council and such Appeals as are made unto them as part of the presentâ—… business of this Council All these things to be delivered in writing distinctly unto the Notaries who reade them all and then record the present good estate of that Province and all the Councils and Churches therein combined as also the matters that are from them dilated unto the present Council 2. The Moderator calleth all the rest of the Provincial Representatives in order who are to make the like declaration â—…s the Moderator hath done with the co-attestation of their Associate Ruling Elders All their Papers are to be delivered to the Notaries who are to reade and then record them distinctly with the present Ecclesiastical state of all the Provinces in the Nation whose Representatives do there appear make declaration thereof before the National Council 3. The Notaries are orderly to propose all the matters presented by the Provincial Councils when the Moderator requireth the same Care being had that the persons concerned be present and have free and competent liberty to argue answer object in due reverent and modest manner and to do what may be necessary for the finding out of the truth 4. If there be no Cases transmitted to them nor Appeals the affairs of all the Churches in the Nation are presently issued with glory and praise to the Lord Iesus the King of Peace 5. If any other person or persons within the Nation or of any other Nation have any Cases or Questions about Religion they may now have liberty of proposing the same to receive an answer 6. If any Cases of difficulty be such as that they cannot obtain an issue and resolution satisfactory then the Case must be recorded and stay untill by further consideration and discussion God shall please to reveal further light therein because there is no Higher Council to appeal unto for light within the Nation And in such casés so the Apostles did walk and teach the Churches to walk Phil 3. 15 16. Let us therefore as many as be perfect be thus minded and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded God shall reveal even this unto you Nevertheless whereunto we have already attained let us walk by the same rule let us minde the same things But if the matter be of due weight and worth then either by Transmission or Appeal it may ascend unto an Occumenical Council 7. If any person or persons whose opinion or practice receiveth a judgement with counsel and advice in reference to the person or persons concerned and he or they rest not therein as to Peace and Order then if he or they be they many or few be not already under Church Censure the Church to which they belong are to proceed according to the determination of this Council in the case unto their Censure as the Church of Corinth did upon the advice of Paul 1 Cor. 5. 4 5. for the healing of their soules and bringing of them unto repentance and good order Which being effected the end of all this acting both in Conviction and Correction is attended And thus within the compass of one year the whole Order of Ecclesiastical Discipline hath its course and that in a most difficult case 8. But yet if he or they rest not such are high disturbers and must be suppressed by civil Power And in civil Order he that doth not submit unto and rest in as to peace and order the sentence of the Supreme Power is guilty of a Capital Offence and ought to be put to death by the Law of God Deut. 17. 10 11 12 13. and the reason is because Order is better then any of our lives It is a greater good to preserve Order then to preserve the lives of the wilfull and obstinate violaters thereof And the loss of Order and Peace in Ecclesiastical Government in the way of the Churches is of greater consequence then the loss of their lives Zec. 13. 3 6. 9. All things that are to be commended or committed to Civil Authority either from the Churches or in behalf of the Churches and Religion are to be resolved and acted by the National Council Where great care is to be had to keep a clear distinction betwixt Civil and Ecclesiastical Power and not to meddle or in the least intrude or intrench upon Civil Authority The usurpation of Antichrist upon the Civil Authority must ever keep the Ecclesiastical Councils in a vigilant fear of that aspiring pride a worm too apt to breed and grow in the breasts of learned and eminently gifted men if there be not a vigilant spirit of mortification and humble subjection unto Order 10 It will be necessary that an appointed Committee of this National Council be alwayes some or other of them resident near unto the Supream Civil Authority that they may speedily have notice of all occurrences that may have respect unto or concern the Ecclesiastical affaires of the Churches and may receive Commands from Authority about Fastings or Feastings according to the well or ill being of the affaires of the Nation or the Churches either at home or abroad and may call together the whole Council if there be any cause that it should be so c. 11. Such publick Fasts and Feasts as concern all the Churches in the Nation to solemnize which are not first commanded by civil Authority why may they not be appointed and agreed on by the National Councilâ—… such publick sins as are to be bewailed such mercies as are to
liberty we finde more and more need to insist upon and that in such a fixed and ordered way as that thereby men may be tyed to attend unto Counsel IV. A Council is constituted Acts. 15. where the wisdome of the holy Ghost hath given us a Pattern of the least and of the greatest Councils as our N. E. Divines have well observed There cannot be a less Council then that was for there were but two Churches mentioned and there cannot be a greater and more compleat one because there were the greatest Counsellors a most compleat Pattern even the Apostles of Jesus Christ teaching That if there be but two Churches they may enjoy the Ordinance of mutuall Counsel though more incompleatly But if there he many Churches then they are to be ordered according to the Pattern of Comblning Churches into compleat Councils Of which in the next Chapter V. Christ who hath all power Mat. 28. 20. hath derived all Ecclesiastical Power first unto the Apostles that they by Institution miâ—…ht distribute the same unto several Offices in the Church Hence As all Church-Officers especially Elders and more especially Teaching Elders are ordinary Successors of the Apostles in their several branches of Church power So Councils of Churches are their eminent ordinary Successors in point of Counsel and that in several respects First Because in Councils there is most light and nearest to infallibility and the more compleat the better though the most compleat Council may erre because they have not a promise of infallible assistance Secondly Because when the Apostles themselves had constituted Churches they did guide and counsel them how to use their power as Paul did the Church of Corinth 1 Cor. â—… 4. the Apostle did not act the Censure himself and so is that of Paul to be interpreted 1 Tim. 1. 20. I have delivered to Satan viz. as I did the incestuous Corinthian by giving such counsel to the Church whereof they were Members In thus doing Councils succeed the Apostles VI. Inasmuch as Councils are Publick Assemblies and that not onely Ecclesiastically publick but Civilly also when they are held with openness and boldness Hence Civill Authority hath influence by Law and Command to give allowance unto such Assemblies and so they have an Extrinsecall Efficiency in calling Councils but the Intrinsecall and proper Efficients of a Council are the Churches who elect and send Messengers to that end VII The Members constituent of a Council are Church-Messengers The persons sent ought to be Elders of both Orders Teaching and Ruling to represent the whole Church or in defect of Ruling Elders to represent the people Faithful Brethren eminent in holiness and wisdome who are as Elders Acts 15. 2. Certain other of them Ver. 22. Chosen men chief men among the Brethren Ver. 32. Being Prophets also themselves And the reason hereof is Because as the temptation of Learned men is to affect a Prolacy over the people So the temptation of the Fraternity is to affect a Morellian Democracy And therefore the wisdome of God hath by institution ballanced all Ecclesiastical Councils with Members of both sorts that may ballance each other by Number at least though not in Weight yet enough to prevent any prevalency of a temptation either to subjugate the Churches under any Prelatical Usurpation of the Learned or to elevate and intoxicate the Fraternity to affect any inordinate power which rather and more effectually teâ—…ds to enervate and evacuate Government then to preserve any Lawful and just Liberty of the Brotherhood The end of the Churches sending these Messengers is to manage the Ordinance of Counsel in due order VIII The Organick parts of a Council whereby they are enabled to manage their affairs in Prudence and Order are Moderators â—…nd Notaries the choice of whom is the first act they do to compleat themselves to be fit for action It may sometimes edifie to change Moderators every new Session partâ—…ly to train up each other unto that special work of Christ in the management of the Affairs and in caring for the publick welfare of all the Churches and also to take trial of mens Gifts Spirit and Abilities unto that high service that so when there may be special need they may know who is most fit to manage the Council at such â—… time for the glory of God and for the most effectual Edification and publick well being of the Churches Though Moderators may be often changed it is not fit that the Notaries should be so often changed IX The Power of Ecclesiastical Councils is onely Dogmatical or Doctrinal Power of Censure is by the Lord fixed in the Church and hence when any appeal unto a Council it is for further and more clear light from the Scripture and for conviction thereby but not for the Exercise of any Juridical Power CHAP. II. Of the Gospel-Measuring-Reed by the Number Twelve I. SEeing particular Congregations in Gospel-Order are Churches and these Churches for their well-being need to hold and exercise Communion by Councils and one Church as Antioch may need the greatest and highest Counsel Hence in such places where through the riches of the Grace of Christ Churches are numerous it will be necessary that the management of these Councils should be in Order according to the Pattern of Compleat Councils Acts 15. For multitude unordered by â—…ow much the greater they are the greater is their cumber and unaptness to operate in Order unto their end Lesser Bodies are more readily ordered and have a greater aptitude to be active in their Order unto their end Ordo anima rerum II. Order is one of the Beauties of Heaven and so it is of the Churches Let all things be done in Order 1 Cor 14. 40. Ierusalem is a City compacted Psal. 122. 3. and the more orderly Bodies are the better are they compacted Bodies that are compacted are so ordered by Number and Measure The New Ierusalem is the most glorious City that ever shall be on Earth and we see that it shall be compacted by Number and Measure Rev. 21. 12 to 18. and the Foundation Number is Twelve as appeareth ver 14. The wall of the City had twelve Foundations And this Number Twelve is multiplied by Twelve as appeareth ver 16 17. it is square Twelve every way which amounteth to One hundred forty and four III. The Twelve Tribes in the Old Testament and the Twelve Apostles in the New do make that Number famous in the Churches and fundamental in ordering and compacting of Churches into Ecclesiasticall Combinations of Councils The Twelve Tribes compacted in order was the most beautiful and heart-ravishing Camp that ever the worlds Eye did look upon Numb 24. 2 5 6. The Twelve Loaves of Shew-bread did represent the whole Visible Church before God in the Temple The Twelve Precious Staâ—…s in the Breast-plate of the High Priest shew That iâ—… such a Number Christ is pleased to order and represent the whole Militant Church before his Father in Heaven And
be iâ—…plored for our Churches or for the Nation or for forreign Churches and Nations such motions and designes of spreading and propagating religion as are in hand c. These are to be presented to all the Churches as matter of Prayer both ordinary and extraordinary 12. When these Members of the National Council return unto the Provincial Councils whose delegates they immediately are they are to report unto them the state and affaires of all the Churches in the Nation and in forreign Nations also And they are to report them to all the first Councils and they unto all the Churches as matters of praiâ—…e and prayer to God and of incouragement to obedience unto government And that this communication of Ecclesiastical affaires may be the more readily expedited 1. All the first Councils or some one of every Council may meet that day seven night after the Provincial Councils meeting to hear the affaires of all the Province And some of the Provincial Council may be there to declare the affaires of all the Churches in the Province 2. So likewise the Provincial Councils or some of every Provincial Council may meet that day seven-night after the Session of the National Council to hear the affaires of the whole Nation and some of the National Council may be there to give information of all things â—…ing to be communicâ—…ted But experience will put men upon the best wâ—…y of Order in these things The pâ—…rticular duties of the Oecumeniâ—…al Council I pass in silence I leave them to their consideration whose happy 〈◊〉 it shall be to see those glâ—…rious times when such Councils shall be called Notwithstanding these publick Orders of Councils it is lawful for any person or parties or Church to take any private â—…unsel that he or they will or câ—…n obtain according to God 〈◊〉 they â—…ay have occâ—…sion CHAP. VII Concerning the way to bring every Christian Parishional Congregation to be an explicite Reforming Congregational Church I. EVery Parishional Congregation who solemnly renouncing all their sins and evils both personal and â—…cclesiastical shall willingly by what wayes means or motives soever thereunto induced submit themselves and their children to the Government of Christ in Gospel-Order and particularly to be guided in the common concernments of Religion by the holy advice of the forenamed Orders of Councils and do by their pious and prudent counsel and concurrence orderly elect all Officers both Elders and Deacons among themselves and promise for themselves and their households to walk in the Christian exercise of all Gods Ordinances according to Rule in the Faith and Order of the Gospel That Parish or so many of them as shall herein concurre is to be owned a particular Reforming Congregational Church and is to be received into the Communion of the Churches in this Order of Government They delivering this act of theirs in writing unto that first Council with whom they associate there to be recorded II. It may by the good blessing of God greatly promote Relâ—…gion and the Reformation of particular Churches if such of the godly Gentry of the Land who are not in Civil Authority would please to do that honour to Christ to subject themselves to his service in accepting of the Offices of Ruling Elders and Deacons in the â—…urches of Jesus Christ. It would much strengthen the hands of Church-government and be no small honour to themselves and they will hereby render themselves great in the Kingdome of Heaven III. By the Ordinance oâ—… 〈◊〉 prudentlâ—… exercised both publickly in the Church and in private houses all tâ—… Church are to be trained up unto a competency of knowledge in Jesus Christ. IV. Special â—…are is to be had in the training up of Youth in the good knowledge of God made manifest to the Church by their publick account answer or confession thereof aâ—…d unto an explicite acknowledgement of Christ with subâ—… and engagement of themselves unto the Câ—…urch wherein they give up themselves and their children unto God to be ruled by Religion in the Faith and Order of the Gospel Which done their Children are to be baptized V. Upon the due evidence of some hopeful reall work and change of heart by Faith and Repentance duely manifested to the Church whereby the persons concerned may be in Charity conceived able to examine themselves â—…o discern the Lords body in the Sacrament and spiritually to judge of a spiritual cause such ought by the Church to be received unto Communion in the Sacrament of the Lords Supper and such Males unto Voting in the Church because ordinarily such as are able to discern Christ in the Sacrament are also able spiritually to discern of a spiritual cause and thereby capable to Vote in such cases wherein the Fraternity is called to Voting in the Church CHAP. VIII Touching the Maintenance of these Councils I. THough it be meet that all their necessary Charges be born for them for who goeth on a warfare at his own charge yet it is in no wise meet that any Profits or Revenues should be annexed unto any of the Councils from the lowest unto the highest Worldly Profit Power and Splendor are beneath the spirit and aim of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Onely the Notaries Place being a service of much â—…bour pains and diligence it is meâ—…t that some consideration be had for some convenient recompence for their labour II. If any godly minded Christian out of a love unto and zeal for the honour of the Kingdome of Jesus Christ should desire to give and annex Maintenance unto any of these forenamed Councils more then conveniently to bear their Charges as Noble Constantine did for the worldly splendor of the Bishops it ought not to be permitted but religiously opposed for it will certainly prove an Inlet of great Corruption Ambition Avarice and Strife unworthy and unfit persons will endeavour to Brâ—…be themselves into Places more for the Wages then for the Work III. The honour of the Service and the glory of Christ that is upon the Messengers of the Churches these are iâ—…separable from the Work and are as much as flesh and blood we being in the flesh and state militant will be able to weather and keep from running â—…ground upon But Revenue and Profit are separable from the Work â—…d must be religiously and earnestly kept off It being a Worâ—… that will surely corrupt â— this blessed Work and glorious Service of Iesur Christ. IV. A small Revenue will maintain the government of Churches by Councils even in a great Nation in comparison of the vast revenues which the Antichristian Hierarchy havâ—… faâ—…ed and inriched themselves withall which also hath advantaged them to arrogate unto themselves and 〈◊〉 civil Authority And by these carnal 〈◊〉 unto the Church Religion hath been corrupted most men have been damned and â—…ew saved Therefore the Church ought now in our reformation and resâ—…rection to despise the World and not to suffer great revenues to be annexed unto this part of the kingdome of Christ especially V. The religious meetings of Councils must be 〈◊〉 of all meetings of all men throughout the Nation for they are many shining Lights met together and all men will mark what they do and one Inch of exâ—…ss in them who aâ—…e the Center will be an Ell in the people Hence they must strive to be patterns to all men 1. In Gravity not full of Miâ—…th Laughter and Jesting â—… In Sobriety no excess in drinking wine and strong drink 3. In Moderation of diet Ornaments or any Pomp. 4. In Seduâ—…ity and Diligence it is the Lords work and Cursed be he that doth the work of the Lord negtigently 5. In all Holiness of Discourse and Behaviour 6. In Patience and Meekneâ—… of Spirit in all matters 7. In Care for the publick Cause of Christ and welfare of 〈◊〉 the Churches the chief care of all which doth firstly and chiefly ly upon the Moderators VI. Great care is to be had of the first Councils that there may be some grave and exemplar Eâ—…ers in every one of them because according to ouâ—… custom there may be sundry that are young raw and weak and need to be trained up unto the gravity prudence and holiness of the affaires of Christ his Ecclesiastical kingdome Care is also to be had that Grave Sober and Prudenâ—… Ruling Elders may be sent such as may be an awe unto grâ—…en and young Schollars where need may be Care is also to be had that they stay no longer then necessary business and just imployment holdeth them that there may be no temptations like company-keeping in vanity and smoaking away their precious time VII Their entertainment may be 8 d. Ordinary at â—…oon and 6 d. at night provided they be necessitaâ—…ed to tarâ—…y â—…ll night otherwise their charges are but their dinner and horse meaâ—… For the defrâ—…ying of which charge the Deacons of that Church where they meet may be authorized so to order the matteâ—… with the Deacons of all the Churches in that combination as that the charge shall be by them defrayed and not put to the accompt of any of the Elders And by the same hands some recompence may be given to the Notaries for their labour and service For the supply of which charge the voluntary Contributions of every Church will be such a treasury as will never know want so long as Religion and love to Christ remain and rule among them VIII The Provincial Councils will be more choice and grave assemblies and their treatment must be with more respect and reverence but their expences with the like moderation and sobriety It is to be supposed that these dwell more remote are fuller of work and must tarry longer If the State entertain these and allow them 10 li. a Session for their four stated Sessions in a year and 5 li. for the Notaries it will not be a great charge And if the National Council have 100 li. per annum for their Attendance and Notaries One thousand pound per annum will suffice for a great Nation where they may be in twenty Ecclesiastical Provinces And this charge will be less then the the revenues of some one Bishoprick The design of Antichrist was to pamper the flesh the design of Christ is to mortiâ—…ie it and to honour Grace FINIS ⸫ 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉